Author Archives: Jeff

Oct 22

Blues to the Future

Posted on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I can’t be the first person to notice this, but a glance through Internet searches doesn’t bring up any immediate hits. Watch part of this clip from The Blues Brothers, starting at about 1:33. The relevant part is pretty short. … Continue reading →

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Oct 21

US 63 in Waterloo to open in weeks

Posted on Monday, October 21, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

KWWL reports that the overpass for US 63 over the railroad tracks north of downtown Waterloo will open next month. I can’t embed the video. Plans for the overpass were put forth at the end of 2013 and construction began … Continue reading →

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Oct 18

Out of the Boondocks

Posted on Friday, October 18, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Boondocks, USA (Williams, Iowa), October 19, 2018 — I had never eaten at the Boondocks. Here it was, this famous truck stop, in the middle of Iowa at a once-major junction, a place I passed near many times on family … Continue reading →

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Oct 17

Photo 36,000

Posted on Thursday, October 17, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 11, 2017: A milestone in American history at the tip of Cape Cod. This milestone photo has extra significance besides being at a historic monument. I have an ancestor who was on the Mayflower. Some backfill from another event made … Continue reading →

Posted in Sequences, Trip Reports | Comments Off on Photo 36,000
Oct 16

GMG has the helmets, but not the headcount

Posted on Wednesday, October 16, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Almost three weeks ago, KCCI had a story about GMG having state-of-the-art helmets for its football team. (Video with story, un-embeddable. Also check out GMG’s new gym. Well, almost-decade-old gym.) But high-tech helmets don’t provide any protection from being a tiny … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports, Tama County | Comments Off on GMG has the helmets, but not the headcount
Oct 15

Interstate 880 coming to Iowa!?!

Posted on Tuesday, October 15, 2019, at 10:10 AM by Jeff

July 24, 2019: For a limited time only The fall meeting of the AASHTO Special Committee on Route Numbering, which took place Oct. 5, has a doozy of a bombshell. Immediate reaction: W.T.F. Item No. 5 – State: Iowa Route: I-880 Action: … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous, Iowa Miscellaneous, Maps | Comments Off on Interstate 880 coming to Iowa!?!
Oct 14

Youngville interchange won’t open until next year

Posted on Monday, October 14, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Weather has slowed down construction of the US 30/218 interchange in Benton County and it’s not going to open until next year, KCRG reported last week. The five-year plan had all the construction set in fiscal 2018 but it has … Continue reading →

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Oct 11

Minnesota drops two spur routes

Posted on Friday, October 11, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

 2017 Iowa map Minnesota turned over MN 253 and MN 254 to Faribault County on Oct. 1. Both of these routes ran south of I-90, to Bricelyn and Frost, respectively. Minnesota still has spur routes going to not just small … Continue reading →

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Oct 10

Submarine Veterans Highway dedication Monday

Posted on Thursday, October 10, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Submarine Veterans Highway, running from the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown to the State Capitol, will be dedicated Monday. The Marshalltown Times-Republican has more. A Marshalltown native died when a submarine sank off the coast of New Hampshire in 1939. … Continue reading →

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Oct 09

The core dilemma for rural revitalization

Posted on Wednesday, October 9, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

This story from Stateline/Pew Charitable Trusts about disappearing rural grocery stores is mostly about areas with lower population density than Iowa, but there’s some Iowa stuff in here. An important quote comes from Drake University’s Jennifer Zwagerman: “How do you … Continue reading →

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