Author Archives: Jeff

Oct 09

Let’s go to the hop

Posted on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I’m attempting to make up for lost time from last week (long story) so here’s the story I stumbled upon by happenstance on my way back from the Okoboji Writers’ Retreat. (Yes, of course the way back involved hitting Lyon … Continue reading →

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Oct 07

US 30 four-lane in Benton so, so almost close to finished

Posted on Monday, October 7, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

For a variety of reasons, I’ve been going back and forth on US 30 in Benton County the past couple of weeks. This summer, crews have been working on the last part of the four-lane, from the Luzerne corner (V44) … Continue reading →

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Oct 02

Barn tour becomes different story

Posted on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I was a little busy last week, so I didn’t get some posts prepared. Here’s my story from Sept. 17, when I originally intended to write about the statewide barn tour but instead learned about a woman who dedicated her … Continue reading →

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Sep 30

Wapello bypass at meeting stage again (now with 100% more exits!)

Posted on Monday, September 30, 2024, at 10:10 AM by Jeff

Tuesday night is going to have a rarity for highway construction plans nowadays, a formal meeting. An “updated preliminary design” for the US 61 Wapello bypass comes six years after the initial proposal. It includes a huge change. The new … Continue reading →

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Sep 24

License Plate Letters — OZZ

Posted on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

No, we’re not off to see the wizard. We’re off to read about the infamous bat incident. “When did Ozzy become an actor?” the band Bowling for Soup asked in the song “1985”, which was released in 2004, which means that … Continue reading →

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Sep 20

Civil War re-enactment at Clark’s Park this weekend

Posted on Friday, September 20, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

An event originally planned for last year as part of Traer’s sesquicentennial will be held this weekend. A re-enactment of the May 1864 Battle of the Wilderness will take place at T.F. Clark Park Friday through Sunday. An abbreviated schedule … Continue reading →

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Sep 18

Ed Wilson gave some love to Traer

Posted on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Yes, it happened during RVTV week, the Thursday before Iowa State beat Iowa. However, Nexstar holds all its newscasts hostage for two hours, forbidding streaming, so it was new to me. The prompt was a grandmother who lives in Traer. … Continue reading →

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Sep 16

Janesville’s north connection to 218 changing

Posted on Monday, September 16, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Starting today, according to an Iowa DOT press release, the intersection of US 218 and Maple Street on the north side of Janesville will be closed. A new road will be built alongside the railroad tracks heading north to a … Continue reading →

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Sep 12

Advice for the Class of 2025

Posted on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I made the Iowa Capital Dispatch last week with my Substack piece from the previous week about being old obsolete washed-up 25 years removed from my senior year of high school.

Posted in Schools, Tama County | Comments Off on Advice for the Class of 2025
Sep 10

Big Boy in Belle Plaine

Posted on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 10:01 AM by Jeff

I managed to scrape together a story about Big Boy’s travels while barely returning to work on time. (The train showed up late.)

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