Flag Day 2011 - A Sioux City Salute

Flag Day 2011 over Sgt. Charles Floyd's grave site located south of Sioux City, Iowa. Sgt. Floyd was a member of Lewis & Clark's Corps of Discovery. This flag represents the number of states that made up the United States at the time of his death in 1804. Know that.

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On the Road to the Witness Tree

In 42N country's western Illinois, there is a country road with huge vistas of ankle high growing corn. Take the time to follow these roads, sometimes you will be surprised with what you find.

This boulder is placed just off of County Road 1210N, northwest of Neponset, Illinois. It makes the location of the first white settler's cabin in Bureau County. The Studley family established a log cabin on this site in the fall of 1837. From the looks of it the boulder was recently placed here. 

Around the corner from the boulder or about three miles south of Mineral, Illinois on the east side of County Road AA is this giant burr oak tree. Native Americans of this area used it as a meeting place. The tree received its name because it was a witness, or reference point, for surveyors of the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad during the building of the railroad through Mineral Township. Additionally the nearby landscape is in a state of reclamation from coal mining operations performed a hundred years ago. An interesting area indeed.

Take US Highway 6 or I-80 just a few miles from this location and you might never know about these landmarks. If you have the time (and gas) take the road less traveled. You'll still get where you are going but will be more knowledgeable for the effort. Know that.

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Rain Slows National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library Move

Yesterday's 95F temperature made moving the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library only 200 feet a slow process but that was by design. The building is designed to move at 1/8th mph. The plan yesterday was to move in a straight line then pivot for the next phase. The pivot was not completed due to heavy rains and hail that fell mid-evening.

Today's forecast includes rain and temperatures in the 70s. Steel plates placed on the ground yesterday for traction will not be as effective in providing support for the multi-ton structure with rain. Since the building won't be pivoted today, workers organized things and re-checked the 40 sets of wheels below the museum.

Workers told me that this process of moving the museum will be a several week process if all the weather conditions, mechanics and personnel cooperate. In the end, the Czech Village area of Cedar Rapids will once again have a world-class museum dedicated to a portion of the city's heritage. Know that.

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National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library Moving Day

Nearly three years ago to the day (June 13th) the Cedar River flooded Cedar Rapids to heights not seen since the glaciers melted around 42N country a little over 10,000 years ago. One casualty that day three years ago was the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. River water crested about halfway up this structure. Fast forward to today. After nearly two months of rain delays the museum rolled off its foundation and stopped 200 feet to the north in a move to relocate the structure.

The structure is being moved to its new home this week and will be lifted 11 feet atop a new parking structure. This allows for the building to remain in the city's Czech Village area and will minimize any possible future river flooding.

Structure mover, Jeremy Patterson and company from cable TV fame (TLC's Heavy Haulers) is here in Cedar Rapids with his talented crew to move the museum. The move is also being video tapped for a future show.

This afternoon the packed clay dirt was reinforced with steel plates. These will serve as a road to pivot the museum from its present location to its new home.

Crews worked this extremely hot afternoon by turning 40-some wheel pods 90 degrees in preparation of arching the path of the building in the next phase of moving the museum. A severe thunderstorm this evening may delay the pivoting on Thursday but the project will move forward. Know that.

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Hauling One Big Scoop of Iowa

Near a small town in eastern Iowa, a John Deere hauls a scoop of black soil. The grass and weed infested hill behind the driver is a set aside mound of premiere Iowa topsoil from some past project. On this day, a vintage JD takes a scoop and tracks across the road to town for whatever project he has in mind. No questions asked. Know that.

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A Look at Memorial Day 2011 in Iowa

Every veteran's grave site is marked with a flag at the Iowa Veteran's Home Cemetery in Marshalltown, Iowa on Memorial Day 2011.

American flags fly on display in the stiff wind at the National Cemetery near Vining, Iowa. Know that.

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Golden Rails For Moving Corn

Railroad tracks near a Cargill plant in southeast Cedar Rapids shine in the late day sun. The line allows grain to be brought to the plant and corn milling products to be shipped out. Know that.

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