Category Archives: Iowa Miscellaneous

Jul 03

The Great Interruption

Traditions are still no match for the plague. The latest victims: Pufferbilly Days in Boone and the Knoxville Nationals. But it’s not just the big stuff. Let’s look just in southern Benton County in the first half of 2018: February … Continue reading

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Jul 01

Those old-time town shenanigans

Have you heard how the Sioux Rapids Boosters slickered the smart guys up at Spencer? Well here is the tale. Sioux Rapids sent a bunch of boosters out in cars to advertise the Fourth of July celebration. Spencer merchants made … Continue reading

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Jun 24

Woodbury County to sign Historic US 20

Radio Iowa (via KSCJ) reports that Woodbury County will be signing its original US 20 route. This is another step for the Historic Route 20 Association in getting the highway recognized across the country. The only part of original 20 … Continue reading

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Jun 15

Luther College cancels Homecoming

From Decorah News: “Luther College is cancelling the in-person observance of Homecoming scheduled for October 9th, 10th and 11th.” I’m posting this because this is the first fall event I know of — that is, not your typical summertime celebrations, … Continue reading

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Jun 11

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 🙁 #BREAKING: The Iowa State Fair will not be held in 2020 because of concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. The Iowa State Fair board made the decision in a live vote during Wednesday’s board meeting. https://t.co/PUKb7TYDo2 — Des Moines … Continue reading

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May 21

Reinbeck cancels Independence Day weekend

Announced Tuesday. 🙁 It is with heavy heart that the Citizens of Reinbeck 4th of July Committee and Reinbeck City Council have jointly decided not to have this years July 4th festivities. UPDATE: Dysart cancelled last week.

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May 19

Centerville, Knoxville, Pella losing their newspapers

The Centerville Daily Iowegian, Pella Chronicle, and Knoxville News-Sentinel, all of which have been around for about a century and a half, have become victims of the coronavirus. The first, which stopped publishing a Monday paper 14 months ago and stopped … Continue reading

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May 13

Cronk’s Cafe closing in Denison

The pandemic has claimed Cronk’s Cafe. The Denison restaurant started in 1929, the WHO-TV story says. That would mean it opened right when US 30 was paved in Crawford County. The cafe is located where the north-south route intersected 30 … Continue reading

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Apr 22

New Hampton’s Heartland Days cancelled

The coronavirus is starting to wipe out small-town summer festivals. KCHA Radio reported last week that New Hampton’s summer celebration, Heartland Days, scheduled for June 12-13, will not be held. I’m posting this because it is the first festival of … Continue reading

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Apr 15

Back-to-back ‘Iowa Almanac’ moments

From last week, heard on KXEL, in Jeff Stein’s “Iowa Almanac”. Go to near the top of the April archives to hear more about these two events: On April 9, 1913, the Iowa Highway Commission became a state agency separate … Continue reading

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