Author Archives: Jeff

Nov 09

North Tama to discuss dropping to 8-player football

The inevitable has, in all likelihood, arrived. North Tama, the smallest public school in Iowa with 11-player football, is having a meeting tonight about dropping down to 8. For 2021-22, North Tama had a BEDS number of 108 students in … Continue reading

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Nov 07

Speaking of getting an hour back

Did the Iowa State Fair make any actual announcement about cutting back its hours, or did it just happen? It was easy to remember, and there were stickers if you forgot: Buildings Open 9 to 9. But now the buildings … Continue reading

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Nov 03

I-380 unifying southbound Exit 0

This morning, southbound I-380 Exit 0A and 0B became Exit 0. After a few months where the exit for Iowa City came before the exit for Des Moines, the two exit points are unified. Now all traffic exiting to I-80 … Continue reading

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Oct 31

Tama County vote about more than board size

Wind energy is on the ballot in Tama County — indirectly. A successful petition last summer placed a question on the November general election ballot on increasing the membership of the Tama County Board of Supervisors from three to five. … Continue reading

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Oct 28

The Crimson Monkey: Interlude

He slowly opens his eyes to see a figure clad in cardinal and gold. “Hello, Norman.” He squints. “Ames?” “Amy. Only my friends can call me Ames.” “Where am I? What am I doing here?” “It’s that unfamiliar, I see. … Continue reading

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Oct 27

North Tama volleyball going to state

Again! North Tama is making its fourth trip to the state volleyball tournament in six years. The Redhawks defeated Southeast Warren at Newton on Wednesday night in straight sets. (Story: Marshalltown Times-Republican) North Tama will play AGWSR on November 1. … Continue reading

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Oct 26

A ‘reduced-conflict intersection’ by any other name

The Iowa DOT’s “Transportation Matters” blog has a post extolling the virtues of a new type of intersection southeast of Fort Dodge. It is a new type of intersection in Iowa, but it’s not the first time one like this … Continue reading

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Oct 24

Congressional district table updated

The Legislative Services Agency’s second map of 2021 made things annoying when it came to numbers. The designation for the 1st and 2nd Congressional Districts flipped. There’s something about a rule of “easternmost.” Eyeballing the map, the geographic center of the … Continue reading

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Oct 21

A new name in the records

State football playoffs for the four smallest classes begin today. It seems wrong to me that they start so early, but that’s what happens when you have to wedge in an extra round but also only play one game a … Continue reading

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Oct 18

NT volleyball begins quest for state

The high school volleyball postseason began Monday for the smaller classes. Six teams in Class 1A received byes, in alphabetical order: Ankeny Christian, Burlington Notre Dame, Don Bosco, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, North Tama, and Springville. The cluster of four teams in a … Continue reading

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