Author Archives: Jeff

Apr 26

Taking a run through every town, updated

March 19, 2022: Unincorporated towns on the Iowa map include Voorhies, in the southwest corner of Black Hawk County. About a year and a half ago, I ran a blog post about Tyler Sullivan, who is doing the every-town thing … Continue reading

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Apr 24

Malvern’s ‘End 41’ found a new home

March 13, 2002: The only photo this site has of IA 41’s south end before decommissioning, taken by Neil Bratney. IA 41, a spur to Malvern, was an original 1920-series highway that was killed off in the Second Great Decommissioning … Continue reading

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Malvern’s ‘End 41’ found a new home
Apr 21

Pomeroy school’s future unclear

Pomeroy-Palmer merged with Pocahontas Area a decade ago. The building in Pomeroy has been vacant nearly as long, except that the gymnasium has remained in use for practices*. But Pocahontas Area doesn’t want the facility anymore, KCCI reports, and the … Continue reading

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Apr 19

US 30 bridges in C.R. under construction

Now for the worst kind of construction update, the kind that affects me: Bridge deck overlay projects in a couple spots on US 30 in Cedar Rapids west of I-380 will reduce freeway traffic to one lane in both directions. … Continue reading

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Apr 14

RAGBRAI L map notes and analysis

July 29, 2021: RAGBRAI riders enter Center Point. RAGBRAI was not held in 2020, so 2023 marks the 50th ride. (The plague ended a lot of continuous/consecutive records.) My analysis (with passing corrections) of the RAGBRAI L map is based … Continue reading

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Apr 12

What’s next for NT after bond issue failure?

North Tama’s year-plus planning for a decades-plus future of the school complex failed by six votes last month. Now, writes Superintendent David Hill, the board is looking for advice on what to do next. Tonight, the North Tama school board’s … Continue reading

Posted in Schools, Tama County | Comments Off on What’s next for NT after bond issue failure?
Apr 10

When Hoover visited Le Grand

Le Grand Reporter, April 4, 1923: Herbert Hoover calls on relatives LeGrand included in Iowa itinerary — Uncle Davis and Aunt Amelia warmly greeted. LeGrand entertained distinguished company Thursday afternoon and evening. Herbert Hoover, member of President Harding’s cabinet and … Continue reading

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Apr 07

Crescent school will close

Six years ago, when the Council Bluffs school district proposed closing Crescent Elementary, a tremendous outcry from area parents resulted in the school being kept open. It didn’t escape the ax this time. The Council Bluffs school board approved new … Continue reading

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Apr 05

Tama County V18 at US 30 closing for paving work

Here’s a small but interesting construction notice from the DOT: V18 at US 30 is closing today “to do concrete paving in the area.” My theory is that it’s related to the old roadbed for 30 that was bypassed with … Continue reading

Posted in Construction, Tama County | Comments Off on Tama County V18 at US 30 closing for paving work
Apr 03

IA 3 construction in Dubuque County restarting

An eight-month-long closure of IA 3 in Dubuque County starting today will continue the $15 million rebuild of the highway, an Iowa DOT press release says. This segment, originally scheduled for 2021, is specific to the segment between Boy Scout … Continue reading

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