Author Archives: Jeff

Sep 21

South Tama is running out of Internet

Really. (Warning: WHO’s website autoplays video now. Additionally, the livestream now requires a reload every 20 minutes.) I don’t understand how this hasn’t been a significant topic the past few months: For significant numbers of students and school districts, it … Continue reading

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Sep 18

Mormon Trail signed in Lee County (again?)

The historic Mormon Trail of the 1840s, which Latter-day Saints followed across southern Iowa from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City, got new signs in Lee County, according to an article in the Keokuk Daily Gate City. That’s neat and good, … Continue reading

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Sep 17

941

The Humboldt County town of Pioneer has unincorporated. After reading the funeral announcement — aka the City Development Board minutes of August 12 — it died of loneliness and apathy. (The word “apathy” is actually in there. There were only three … Continue reading

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Sep 15

Some positive sports news

The Carleton Effect: How Chatham, Ontario’s Bridget Carleton has helped turn the Minnesota Lynx offence around (via NBA Canada by way of Cyclone Fanatic) Carleton has only played in 22 games, but she’s already the highest-scoring former Cyclone in WNBA … Continue reading

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Sep 14

Pizza Hut closed in Grundy Center, Vinton, other towns

Benton County is out of Pizza Huts. The restaurant in Vinton closed the day after Labor Day. It and 14 others in Iowa were shuttered as one of Pizza Hut’s largest franchisees filed for bankruptcy and announced it would close … Continue reading

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Sep 10

Football (still)(*)(?)(*)

This weekend, the ISU football team is slated to play, a slate that is in easily erasable chalk this year. But instead of at the Fighting Ferentzes, it’s home vs. the don’t-call-them-ULaLa Louisiana (-Lafayette) Ragin’ Cajuns. Like I did for … Continue reading

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Sep 08

Yup, we’re getting another license plate variety

The Daily Nonpareil in Council Bluffs, citing a state representative and Pottawattamie County treasurer, reports that the “Flying Our Colors” license plate will be available to the public starting in the middle of this month. This is one of the … Continue reading

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Sep 04

Manilla school has come down

May 22, 2014: The entrance to the 1915 school building at Manilla. Here is a photo gallery from that day, including pictures from the inside. In 2014, I wrote for the Des Moines Register that the IKM-Manning school board had … Continue reading

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Sep 03

Derecho claims the King Tower Cafe

The King Tower Cafe on the east side of Tama is closed for good, the Tama-Toledo News-Chronicle reported last month. 🙁 “Unfortunately after the epidemic we were hit very hard financially after having to be closed for those weeks that we … Continue reading

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Sep 02

Nevada city council favors west interchange

The ongoing issue of making US 30 a full freeway between Ames and Nevada took another step last month. The Nevada City Council voted in favor of an interchange at Airport Road/W 18th Street/610th Avenue on the west side of … Continue reading

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