Author Archives: Jeff

Jul 21

Lansing bridge update

Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, at 11:00 AM by Jeff

The final design for the replacement of the Black Hawk Bridge over the Mississippi River at Lansing … looks a lot like the old bridge, except as a unified piece. The “Blue Alternative” is slightly upstream of the present bridge, … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Lansing bridge update
Jul 19

Redhead Express pulled into the terminal

Posted on Monday, July 19, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

While looking through old blog posts related to the Iowa State Fair I noticed that a link I had in one of them had 404’d. The band Redhead Express, a four-sister act I happened to catch in 2018, disbanded the … Continue reading →

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Jul 16

A new (old) wrinkle in Vinton’s highways

Posted on Friday, July 16, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Vinton is a larger town than you might think. By that, I mean it has a population above 5,000, but because the highways are only in the west and middle, much of it is residential areas where travelers don’t go. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1920 Highway Sytem | Comments Off on A new (old) wrinkle in Vinton’s highways
Jul 14

Photo 39,005

Posted on Wednesday, July 14, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 27, 2018 After Iowa State’s 40-31 Homecoming victory over Texas Tech, we looked at the decorations on campus. The preceding pictures were chalk on Victory Lane, so I’m posting this instead, which was near the stadium entrance. This, like … Continue reading →

Posted in Sequences, Sports | Comments Off on Photo 39,005
Jul 12

Interstates rearranged in DC

Posted on Monday, July 12, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

June 26, 2009: This sweet old sign on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, will have to come down, if it hasn’t already. Notice the faint markings of a previous interstate shield under the DC-marked I-395 shield. The AASHTO’s Special Committee … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Interstates rearranged in DC
Jul 09

US 65, IA 14 serve as each other’s detours

Posted on Friday, July 9, 2021, at 10:05 AM by Jeff

From the Iowa DOT and Corydon Times-Republican: Starting earlier this week and lasting through next week, US 65 is closed in Humeston for a sewer project. The official detour is on US 34, IA 14, and IA 2, sending US 65 … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on US 65, IA 14 serve as each other’s detours
Jul 07

A notable non-event of 2020-21

Posted on Wednesday, July 7, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Sure, a lot of things didn’t happen in the past year and change. One thing that didn’t happen, though, is unique. In 2020-21, for the first time in the 55-year modern era of Iowa school districts, no community lost its … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on A notable non-event of 2020-21
Jul 05

Behold the power of polka

Posted on Monday, July 5, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Tama County’s festivals are back this year, and three of them will offer a chance to polka until you drop. Barefoot Becky and the Ivanhoe Dutchmen will be making three appearances: Tuesday, July 6, in Clutier, starting at 7 PM … Continue reading →

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Jul 01

Newell to get new ‘core’ building?

Posted on Thursday, July 1, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

June 5, 2014: The oldest portion of the Newell-Fonda Community School opened on February 5, 1912. “The new building marks an era of progress in the Newell schools. In coming years, it will be a monument of foresight of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Newell to get new ‘core’ building?
Jun 30

Iowa history update

Posted on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

One of my 1993 4H projects is now out of date.* Johnson County, Iowa, is now named … Johnson County, Iowa. From NPR: It will still be Johnson County. But henceforth, the county is taking its name from a different … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Iowa history update