Author Archives: Jeff

Jun 14

Orient-Macksburg to dissolve

Posted on Friday, June 14, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Orient-Macksburg school district in southwest Iowa will cease to exist at the end of the 2024-25 school year. The district made the decision Monday. WOI, KCCI, and Iowa Starting Line all have stories. The last goes into the most detail. … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Orient-Macksburg to dissolve
Jun 12

Goldfield school to be demolished; sale Friday

Posted on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

June 10, 2024: The padding and backboards in the Goldfield gym date to before 2007, based on family video archives. The Goldfield school will be torn down starting next month. I got wind of this through an alumna of Goldfield … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Goldfield school to be demolished; sale Friday
Jun 10

An extended correction to the IA 39 page

Posted on Monday, June 10, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Good news! I was wrong … mostly. On the page for IA 39, I said that present-day US 30 west of the west edge of Denison, following the railroad, was never part of the Lincoln Highway. Well, in the course … Continue reading →

Posted in 1920 Highway Sytem, Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on An extended correction to the IA 39 page
Jun 07

The kolach inflation index

Posted on Friday, June 7, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

For the first time in five years, St. Ludmila’s Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids is having a real kolach festival. There was no celebration in 2020 or 2021 (but there were sales), and 2022 was somewhat but not quite normal. … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on The kolach inflation index
Jun 05

Des Moines’ Grand-Fleur intersection undergoing big change

Posted on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The intersection of Fleur Drive (originally SW 21st Street) and Grand Avenue on the west side of downtown Des Moines had a history in the state highway system. Fleur was the main way for downtown traffic to get to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Des Moines’ Grand-Fleur intersection undergoing big change
Jun 03

Springville interchange still four years out

Posted on Monday, June 3, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

It has been more than a decade since the US 151-X20 intersection at Springville gained notoriety as a crash-prone spot. It’s been five years since upgraded warning signs were placed there. A long-proposed interchange will not be built for another … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Springville interchange still four years out
May 31

The sign of ‘Freedom’

Posted on Friday, May 31, 2024, at 11:00 AM by Jeff

I wrote something last week that starts with something very much in my zone but goes a little beyond it. I wouldn’t suggest extrapolating it too much into my thinking of things. It got picked up by the Iowa Capital … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on The sign of ‘Freedom’
May 28

South Page to resume sending students to Clarinda

Posted on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

South Page will be sending students in grades 7-12 to Clarinda in the fall. According to both an article on KMA and Clarinda’s report of a March 19 work session, South Page will “tuition out” its upper grades to Clarinda. … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on South Page to resume sending students to Clarinda
May 24

Orient-Macksburg could dissolve

Posted on Friday, May 24, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Iowa’s next school dissolution could happen next year. The Creston News-Advertiser reported in mid-May that Orient-Macksburg students did a presentation on the possibilities for the tiny district and recommended whole-grade sharing with Nodaway Valley. KSIB radio reported that at a … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Orient-Macksburg could dissolve
May 20

My trivia night with Iowa PBS

Posted on Monday, May 20, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Where are both Captain James T. Kirk and Thomas Jefferson key to a trivia quest? In Iowa, of course!

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on My trivia night with Iowa PBS