Category Archives: Tama County

Sep 16

Lincoln Highway bridge needs repairs again

Posted on Tuesday, September 16, 2014, at 11:01 AM by Jeff

The historic unique Lincoln Highway bridge on the east end of Tama is about to celebrate its centennial. It underwent an extensive rehab project in 1987, but flooding and time have raised the need for more work to be done, … Continue reading →

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Sep 09

Old US 30 motel in Toledo could be torn down

Posted on Tuesday, September 9, 2014, at 10:57 AM by Jeff

Both old as in “Old Highway 30”, and as in “old motel”. The Budget Inn, itself built on the 1954 realignment of 30 from Tama to Montour, was a victim of the bypass opening in 2010. A company is interested … Continue reading →

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Aug 11

Tama County got presidential disaster declaration

Posted on Monday, August 11, 2014, at 10:40 AM by Jeff

President Obama notified the governor’s office Aug. 5. The Tama News-Herald/Toledo Chronicle website notes the declaration is “in response to significant damage that was caused by severe weather that produced damaging winds, tornadoes, heavy rains, hail, and thunderstorms beginning June 26 … Continue reading →

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Aug 07

100th anniversary of Tama County Indian powwow

Posted on Thursday, August 7, 2014, at 2:58 PM by Jeff

The centennial celebration of the Meskwaki (Mesquakie) Indian Powwow on the settlement west of Tama starts today and goes through this weekend.

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Aug 02

Chelsea Sesquicentennial

Posted on Saturday, August 2, 2014, at 11:19 AM by Jeff

July 7, 2013: The backside of the “Vitame Vas do Chelsea” welcome sign is friendly, too. The white pickup can turn right on V18 or go straight ahead on the Lincoln Highway. Chelsea, the often-flood-beleaguered Tama County stop on the … Continue reading →

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Jul 18

T69 north of D65 has been blacktopped

Posted on Friday, July 18, 2014, at 10:20 AM by Jeff

For the first time in decades, Tama County has (sort of) paved a new rural road. County Road T69, L Avenue, runs north-south just west of Dinsdale. It comes south from IA 175 as paved, but that stopped at the … Continue reading →

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Jul 11

Composite map of Traer tornadoes’ paths

Posted on Friday, July 11, 2014, at 10:30 AM by Jeff

I know it doesn’t look great, but the NWS used two mapping services and I had to play with sizing. The slightly darker black line running north-south and then along the bottom left of the map is US 63. The … Continue reading →

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Jul 10

Tama, Benton counties declared disaster areas

Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2014, at 10:15 PM by Jeff

Full notification due after my earlier post. Tama County received both the disaster emergency and Iowa Individual Assistance Program qualification. Benton County only received the former.

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Jul 09

Tama County did not get a disaster proclamation

Posted on Wednesday, July 9, 2014, at 4:02 PM by Jeff

This is very interesting. Despite an EF2 tornado chewing up part of Traer with tree damage throughout town, and severe flooding on the Iowa River bad enough to close US 63 and swamp Chelsea (again), the list on the Iowa … Continue reading →

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Jul 08

Second Traer tornado rated EF1

Posted on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, at 10:13 AM by Jeff

The National Weather Service makes quick work of storm damage surveys. It has a combined report for the July 6 Reinbeck and Traer tornadoes*, both rated EF1. I was going to make a composite map with the June 30 track, … Continue reading →

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