Author Archives: Jeff

Apr 18

US 63 closing from Toledo to IA 96 for months

There’s a little detour to get around the future roundabout at old 30, and then there’s this project. US 63 from the north end of Toledo to just south of the IA 96 junction is going to be pulverized to … Continue reading

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Apr 16

At a famous site, learning about famous Iowans

Jeff Stein brought his “Stories of Famous Iowans” series to Terrace Hill Historic Site in March. Visitors to the event also got to tour the site, the current Iowa governor’s residence. The presentation had expanded versions of his radio stories, … Continue reading

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Apr 14

State Center shuts down J-turn

In mid-March, the Iowa DOT reversed itself on plans to change the US 30 intersection on the south side of State Center into a specialized type that limits turning. It’s about the “J-turn”, rebranded a “reduced-conflict intersection,” which involves traffic … Continue reading

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Apr 13

‘Women in the American Founding’

As a relative of Abigail Adams, I couldn’t not go to this presentation about notable women in the American Revolution. (Our common ancestors are also the parents of Gov. John Winthrop of Massachusetts Bay Colony, not that I’m humblebragging or … Continue reading

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Apr 09

Governor Larrabee and Clermont

On the last day of February, far northeast Iowa got some snow. The divide between Arlington, which had nothing, and Clermont, which had light flakes, was stark. The weather added some flavor to pictures I took at Montauk, the historic … Continue reading

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Apr 07

Toledo roundabout construction starts this week

We knew it was coming, and now it’s here. Construction on the first roundabout in Tama County starts this week. It’s at the intersection of US 63 and Business 30 in Toledo. Stage 1A, according to the DOT’s press release, … Continue reading

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Apr 02

Dish-Gray dispute enters another week

It’s been a while since I’ve posted about a retransmission dispute, but there’s two of them going on, and one may be severed permanently. Five Gray Media (formerly Gray TV) stations serving Iowa were pulled off Dish on March 10: … Continue reading

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Mar 31

Traer pharmacy to close

NuCara Pharmacy in Traer, which for a long time was Wright Pharmacy, is closing forever today. The NuCara pharmacies in Conrad, Ackley, and Zearing are also closing. This is not, or at least not directly, related to Traer’s loss of … Continue reading

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Mar 26

🚨 Mid-America Publishing reportedly shutting down

A tip from a reader led to this bombshell printed in the Eagle Grove Eagle: Nineteen Iowa weekly newspapers are at immediate risk of closing. Their owner, Mid-America Publishing, sent a message to employees that the company “will shut down … Continue reading

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Mar 24

Boyson Road interchange opens

The second diverging diamond exit of three for the Cedar Rapids area opened Monday, KCRG reports. The Tower Terrace Road exit on the far north side of the metro has been open a while. The airport exit on the far … Continue reading

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