Author Archives: Jeff

Jul 11

Next phase of mixmaster redesign in letting stage

This is an excerpt from a contract being let July 19, showing the I-35 flyover in red and grading work in tan. Grading in the southwest and northeast corners of the northeast mixmaster in Des Moines, and the new I-35 … Continue reading

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Jul 08

License Plate Letters — MAP

This combination is easy to illustrate! May 9, 2007: A panel at Itasca State Park, headwaters of the Mississippi River, is about the Jefferson Highway. February 8, 2012: The Civil War in Missouri, as seen at Battle of Lexington State … Continue reading

Posted in License Plates | Comments Off on License Plate Letters — MAP
Jul 06

How much for just the stick?

Prices at the Iowa State Fair are going up. KCCI has a story (not embeddable), including an interview with a major concessionaire who says prices are going up 50 cents to $1. Perhaps the first sign of this was last year, … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on How much for just the stick?
Jul 01

Marion celebrates new trail bridge

The city of Marion had a ribbon-cutting this morning (July 1) for a “CeMar Trail Gateway Bridge”. Here’s a press release from the city and story at Corridor Business Journal. The bridge is part of the CeMar Trail. The trail … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Marion celebrates new trail bridge
Jun 29

Iowa’s 1920 highway system: IA 48, a Highway of Theseus

August 23, 2019: The current Essex school, which opened in 1970, is at the southwest corner of town. A vacated portion of original IA 48, an extension of South Avenue, ran through part of the building’s footprint and across home … Continue reading

Posted in 1920 Highway Sytem | Comments Off on Iowa’s 1920 highway system: IA 48, a Highway of Theseus
Jun 27

Clutier’s 1942 trophy needs new home

May 18, 2005: A closeup of the girls’ basketball display at the Iowa Hall of Pride shows the top of Clutier’s 1942 state championship trophy. The display case also included memorabilia from the 1968 Union-Whitten title team. The Iowa Hall … Continue reading

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Jun 24

Continued peasantry

Stewart Mandel, in the Athletic, did his every-five-years ranking of the college football hierarchy. The landed gentry in Iowa City got even more landed, moving up to Baron. Ames? Well, there’s some lovely filth down here in peasantdom. If I … Continue reading

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Jun 22

Gladbrook school demolition in final stages

June 17, 2022: The southeast corner of the Gladbrook school building, as seen last week during Corn Carnival. A piece of paper on one of the few remaining windows of Gladbrook’s school building announces the fitness center — the half-million-dollar … Continue reading

Posted in Schools, Tama County | Comments Off on Gladbrook school demolition in final stages
Jun 20

Meeting on I-380 expansion Tuesday

Tomorrow night the Iowa DOT will hold an in-person information meeting in Cedar Rapids about six-laning part of I-380. The meeting is at the DOT office near Kirkwood Community College at 5 PM. An “at your own pace” meeting will … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Meeting on I-380 expansion Tuesday
Jun 17

Seven days in June, 1972

June 17, 1972, is depicted in cinema, with the actual security guard playing himself: June 23, 1972, saw President Nixon sign the Education Amendments of 1972, including Title IX, into federal law, enabling scenes like this: January 29, 2012: Iowa … Continue reading

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