Author Archives: Jeff

Mar 10

North Tama bond issue fails by six votes

Posted on Friday, March 10, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Based on my research, the core school building in Traer is likely among the 50 oldest in use in Iowa. Following Tuesday’s failed bond referendum, it’s going to be that way for a while longer. A $14.25 million bond issue … Continue reading →

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Mar 08

A floating museum with screen time

Posted on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Monday’s episode of “Quantum Leap” was set in 1989 aboard what the script and visual effects intend to be the USS Montana, BB-77. According to the US Navy’s battleships page, that vessel doesn’t exist, although Wikipedia says that “Montana-class battleships” … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on A floating museum with screen time
Mar 06

C is for Coburg

Posted on Monday, March 6, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

September 17, 2014: The addition to the Coburg school in southern Montgomery County was used for less than 15 years (1956-57 to 1968-69). This is what’s visible of what’s left; the original school was demolished in 1979. The Coburg and Essex … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools, Sequences | Comments Off on C is for Coburg
Mar 03

Virtual radio, virtual article

Posted on Friday, March 3, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Eagle Grove has a new radio station. Sort of. “Eagle Grove Classic Hits” is an online-only radio station (link here). Its music collection is “classic rock, classic country, and oldies”, according to a story at the Eagle Grove Eagle. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Virtual radio, virtual article
Mar 01

Woodbury County exit takes another step

Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

A new exit on I-29 about halfway between Sergeant Bluff and Salix is in progress, but construction is a ways off. KTIV reports the Woodbury County supervisors Tuesday approved money to build the “Southbridge Interchange”. According to a KTIV story … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Woodbury County exit takes another step
Feb 27

Did Grand Junction almost lose the Lincoln Highway?

Posted on Monday, February 27, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

While working on some updates for the 1920 highway series, I noticed a curious thing on the 1920 state map: IA 6 between Grand Junction and Ogden is in the wrong place. By “wrong”, I mean that the blue line … Continue reading →

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Feb 24

Blairsburg school slightly older than initially thought

Posted on Friday, February 24, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

For a while now, I have been basing what I know about the Blairsburg school building on a student newspaper article. However, it turns out some of it was faulty, but in a potentially interesting way: I knew that its … Continue reading →

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Feb 22

Special deliveries

Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

First, the old: The Reinbeck Courier bound volume archives have been relocated to Reinbeck’s City Hall. The story (both at the Marshalltown Times-Republican and Sun-Courier websites, the latter with more photos) references “the now vacant halls of the Tama Newspaper … Continue reading →

Posted in Tama County | Comments Off on Special deliveries
Feb 20

Township population list misaligns certain numbers

Posted on Monday, February 20, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

While working on the Tama County Board of Supervisors post back in October, I wondered if there was a comprehensive list of populations of Iowa areas by township. This agglomeration of information, including cities independent of townships, is a building … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Maps, Tama County | Comments Off on Township population list misaligns certain numbers
Feb 17

Marcus intersection will eventually get roundabout

Posted on Friday, February 17, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 23, 2009: Eastbound IA 3 at the south end of IA 143. The intersection of IA 3 and 143 just south of Marcus is on the Iowa DOT’s horizon for installation of a roundabout. The Cherokee Chronicle Times reports … Continue reading →

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