Author Archives: Jeff

Jul 23

Dubuque deals with US 20 bridge closure

Dubuque is one of the few places on Iowa’s borders where you can close a bridge across the river and have another one relatively close by. So while the Julien Dubuque Bridge into Illinois is closed until the end of … Continue reading →

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Jul 22

“Southeast Valley” continues trend toward vague district names

June 4, 2014: Prairie Valley Elementary School (K-4) is not in Farnhamville itself, but rather at the intersection of P41 and D26, a couple miles southeast of Somers. It is one of only two schools in Iowa I am aware … Continue reading →

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Jul 21

Oxymoron of the week

“RAGBRAI Nutrition”.

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Jul 20

When will the next ‘giant leap’ be?

October 3, 2013: Painting at the Neil Armstrong Museum in Wapakoneta, Ohio. Again, 45 years ago to the minute. More than 60 percent of Americans alive today were born after the moon landing. (That’s age 44 and under, 2010 census, … Continue reading →

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Jul 20

Tranquility Base Here

“The Eagle Has Landed.” Forty-five years ago to the minute. Related, from 2009: ISU alumnus was honored for role in Apollo 11

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Jul 19

25th anniversary of United 232 crash

On July 19, 1989, one of the nation’s worst aviation disasters — and one of the best under-the-circumstances success stories of heroism and emergency response — happened in Sioux City. The Argus Leader and AP have stories on the anniversary … Continue reading →

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Jul 18

T69 north of D65 has been blacktopped

For the first time in decades, Tama County has (sort of) paved a new rural road. County Road T69, L Avenue, runs north-south just west of Dinsdale. It comes south from IA 175 as paved, but that stopped at the … Continue reading →

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Jul 17

Spirit Lake, Okoboji part of RAGBRAI “Okoboji” stop

The official route announcement in January was for the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa to stop in “Okoboji,” but the maps only show the route following A34 through Milford. It was the Iowa Great Lakes area as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Maps | Comments Off on Spirit Lake, Okoboji part of RAGBRAI “Okoboji” stop
Jul 16

Where is 219th Lane?

A curious item in this month’s Iowa Transportation Commission minutes: Transfer of Jurisdiction – 219th Lane in Boone County Most of US 30 through Boone County has the rural address of 220th Street. The only 219th Lane I see on … Continue reading →

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Jul 15

New school name is half a loaf for North Liberty

Last week, the Iowa City school board determined names for buildings soon to be built, including a high school on the east side of North Liberty. That one will be called Liberty High School. But why not “North Liberty High”? It’s both … Continue reading →

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