Author Archives: Jeff

Mar 09

When a daily isn’t

At any point in the previous century this would have been earth-shattering news: The Des Moines Register is not going to print Saturday editions. Its last physical Saturday paper was March 5. Given developments over the past two years in … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on When a daily isn’t
Mar 07

Gladbrook school to be demolished this year

From the Sun-Courier, on last month’s Gladbrook-Reinbeck school board meeting: Bid documents were approved for the demolition of the vacant school building in Gladbrook. The project is currently out for bid through Align Architecture. The project would seek to remove … Continue reading

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Mar 04

East Sac construction, destruction update

The East Sac school district adjusted its building timeline after voting to close the Wall Lake school in February 2020. The old(er) school in Sac City, used as East Sac Middle School, had its closure delayed one year and will … Continue reading

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Mar 02

Linn County’s oldest bridge to be replaced

A historic truss bridge in Linn County will be demolished and replaced this year, just short of its 150th birthday. The Bertram Road Bridge over Indian Creek just south of Mount Vernon Road was built in 1876, or at least … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Linn County’s oldest bridge to be replaced
Feb 28

Jeopardy contestants go 0-for-Iowa

Last Friday’s “Jeopardy!” had a collision of two of my favorite categories — college football and geography — with questions about the Big Ten Conference. (There was another college sports-related category just on Feb. 10, “Their Current College Conference.”) But … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Jeopardy contestants go 0-for-Iowa
Feb 25

The ghost of the Traer Sale Barn

The Iowa DOT’s migration of old construction plans to its online portal has revealed how fastidious its record-keeping is. The weak spot is that the plans don’t always indicate exactly what year the project was completed. Having the letting date … Continue reading

Posted in Construction, Tama County | Comments Off on The ghost of the Traer Sale Barn
Feb 23

Stop sign added on Winterset bypass

The US 169/IA 92 bypass on the west and north of Winterset will no longer have unimpeded traffic between the junctions. Today, the intersection with 8th Avenue becomes a four-way stop, the Iowa DOT says in a press release. A … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Stop sign added on Winterset bypass
Feb 21

West Branch six-laning in two parts

Expansion of I-80 to six lanes from the present end of that section in Iowa City to just east of the West Branch exit is on the DOT’s five-year plan. Based on a construction letting, I think it’s being broken … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on West Branch six-laning in two parts
Feb 18

Millions for graphics, but not one cent for proofreading

Or, Misbegotten Tales of W-H-O-A Super Bowl Sunday: KWWL Wednesday: That graphic is watermarked with the initials of an organization that does graphics for TV news! It’s in the URL too! *bangs head on table repeatedly* UPDATE 2/19: IT’S ALL … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Millions for graphics, but not one cent for proofreading
Feb 16

State wrestling tournament time

A post solely to push this tweet: As we creep closer to state wrestling in #IOWA I need to admit the first 39+1 yrs of my life I spent not appreciating wrestling like apparently my entire adopted state does, did … Continue reading

Posted in Sports, Tama County | Comments Off on State wrestling tournament time