Memorial Day 2015 - Czech National Cemetery - St. Wenceslaus Gym Cedar Rapids, Iowa

A Memorial Day service from the Czech National Cemetery held due to weather at the St. Wenceslaus gym in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, May 25, 2015 at 11:30 a.m.

Aluminum Overcast Visits Cedar Rapids During D-Day + 70 Years - Part 1

One of perhaps 13 flying B-17s left in the world is Aluminum Overcast, a B-17G Flying Fortress from the WWII era.

Today, June 7th is D-Day +70 Years and one day, was also day two of the B-17 visit to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Aluminum Overcast last visited our post on the prairie in 2010. There are many area vets, relatives and interested people who came for a look at a piece of aviation history.

A local EAA volunteer takes photos of the plane for her collection. She also offered to photograph visitors using their camera and helped people get safely around the aircraft.The B-17's pilot and his copilot can be seen on the far right.

Filled with 10 paying passengers, Aluminum Overcast needs only a short distance to take off and land. The aircraft flies around the Cedar Rapids area for about 30 minutes. During this visit I have seen and heard it flying slowly around town at relatively low altitudes on four different occasions. Last year Fifi the only flying B-29 provided the same type of visit.

This is Aluminum Overcast's tail gunner. The dummy sports goggles, mask and a helmet from the WWII era. His scarf is stitched with the name of Lee. The historic aircraft will be here through tomorrow (Sunday, June 8th). Go to the former PS Air terminal on the west side of the airport by FEDEX operations. The ground walk around of the plane is free. Cost to go inside is $10 and $449 person to fly in WWII bomber comfort for 30 minutes. Call ahead of time, I believe one of the support crew told me only a few seats remain for Sunday series of flights.

New Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway (CRANDIC) Locomotive at Penford

Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway (CRANDIC) has introduced a new locomotive recently to its fleet. The RELCO built locomotive serves the Linn, Johnson and Benton Counties area for heavy industry customers. This afternoon the 201 locomotive, one of eight new engines, was working at the Penford plant in downtown Cedar Rapids, moving filled cars situated on the new, post 2008 flood bridge.

Wyoming Coal Delivery Via the Union Pacific

The lights came on, the bell started ringing and the gates came down. Traffic stopped at the UP crossing in SE Cedar Rapids to let a fast moving train zip on by. Locomotive 6053 moved pretty quickly from the west pulling several cars filled with coal, that is most likely from the Gillette, Wyoming area mines.

One of the highlights of this fast mover was the cloud of snow that was kicked up by the moving train. The effect produced a small snowstorm in the immediate area as the powder snow settled nearby after the train past.

At the end of the train, where the traditional caboose would have been was an unexpected surprise. A pusher locomotive occupied the last position giving the train a bit more oomph to move that coal. Commonplace? Maybe, but its interesting to see how the nation's infrastructure works on the rails - in the winter - with a load of coal - moving fast.

Take the Road to Grant Wood Country

Eastern Iowa is Grant Wood country. Not far from Cedar Rapids is a road that runs north of State Highway 151. On county road X28 the Grant Wood Scenic Byway commences. It leads to nearby Stone City where you can see the stone quarry, church and general store that Grant painted (titled, Stone City.) The byway continues to nearby Anamosa where Wood is buried. Back in Cedar Rapids Wood's studio has been preserved for visitors and much of his work can be seen at the art museum. His most famous work, American Gothic hangs at the Art Institute Museum in Chicago.

United Express Continues Long Tradition of Air Service to KCID

United Express routinely flies into the Eastern Iowa Airport (KCID) generally from Chicago and Denver hubs. These photos of arriving and departing aircraft are from last week's visit to the airport when a special NASA jet flew in for avionic testing. 

United Express flies Embraer ERJ-145s planes in and out of the major hubs to spoke metro markets like Cedar Rapids.

In the foreground is a waiting area where departing planes stop to receive final permission to get airborne. I'm no expert but believe that departing pilots talk to both the Cedar Rapids tower and regional control in Chicago for the go-ahead to fly.



Arriving aircraft make their way past the tower and eventually to the passenger terminal. In years past United Airlines flew 737s to Cedar Rapids. Now smaller capacity, but higher occupancy aircraft continues the decades long tradition of serving the City of Five Seasons.

Lockheed S-3 Viking Makes a Visit to KCID

A fellow eastern Iowa blogger let me know that a special aircraft flew in today to the Eastern Iowa Airport (KCID) in Cedar Rapids. This is a Lockheed S-3 Viking aircraft which is now owned by NASA. Rockwell Collins, a local manufacturer of aerospace avionics is testing equipment on the Viking, as part of a new communications system for unmanned aircraft or drones. Read Gazette article here.

WMT's Great Eastern Iowa Tractorcade 2013 - Day 3 Finish

Day three of WMT's Great Eastern Iowa Tractorcade 2013 concluded at noon today after a trip from Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids to nearby Swisher, Shueyville and Ely. This was the third loop in three days of riding from Hawkeye Downs to various locations nearby. Interesting note to self: On day 3 the Tractorcade runs a short route as to be back to the starting point by noonish. Above is the second to last group of tractors heading for home base. 

Ron and Jamie Ginkens of Chariton, Iowa load their 1963 Farmall on a flatbed trailer for the 140 mile trip home. After tying down the tractor Ron and Jamie made their way to the Tractorcade luncheon on the Hawkeye Downs property.

Ron told me this was the last production model for the 560 which actually sold into 1964. A decade later he bought this Farmall as his working tractor. Now, after refurbishing the tractor he parades the 50 year old machinery any place he can.

Some 530 tractors and riders made their way around eastern Iowa for three days. The weather was perfect with only today's potential for severe weather developing. Many farmers left the grounds as soon as they returned from the loop today to get ahead of the weather. But the balance of the riders and their supporters came in for a brat and hamburger lunch. Many will see each other in other regional tractorcades this summer. Radio station sisters WMT (Cedar Rapids) and WHO (Des Moines) both sent announcers to the site for live updates and interviews. Check it out next time when Tractorcade rolls near you. Sunday staging photos here.

WMT's Tractorcade 2013 Ready to Roll on Monday Morning

Radio station WMT (600 AM) annual Tractorcade is ready to roll. The procession of new and vintage tractors staged this evening at Hawkeye Downs in preparation of running three routes in three days. 

Staging for the three day event was made convenient on the Hawkeye Downs property and nearby hotels. Each day will find the drivers covering a different route in eastern, Iowa but returning to Cedar Rapids by evening using a hub & spoke logistics plan.

If you encounter a column of these slow moving tractors be sure to slow down or pull over over and watch them. You'll see a wide range of tractor brands from several decades. I saw a hand crank Oliver from the 1940s and late model John Deeres on the track, both shined and ready to go.

Update: Day 3 photos here.

Aermotor Windmill Still Stands Over Seminole Valley Farm

Seminole Valley Farm is a preserved farm site dating from 1900. The property is located along the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids, Iowa near the Ushers Ferry Historic Village. Flood waters in 2008 severely damaged the site. Progress has been made to fully recover the structures and interior furnishings however the museum remains closed. Among the structures located on the grounds is this Aermotor windmill. I don't recall if the blades were spinning at the time of the photo but it is representative of the many same-aged windmills found throughout the state. Must have had a good marketing and advertising campaign along with a sales staff to populate the midwest with these iconic windmills. Also it didn't hurt that many windmills could be mail ordered through the Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalogues and such.

Rising Cedar River Threatens Cedar Rapids Again

Workers at Penford Products move concrete barriers on top of earthwork levees yesterday along the rising Cedar River in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Almost five years to the week of the devastating flood of 2008, the Cedar is expected to reach 19.5 feet through downtown. The 2008 historic flood crested at 31 feet. City officials say that at 12 feet the river begins to reach streets and back up sewers.

From the same vantage point as the top two photos, you can see two bridges in the foreground. Behind the bridges is May's Island where the city jail sits along with the Veteran's Memorial Building. Vet's was the site of city government until the 2008 flood. Flood preparations are being executed in and around this area as the river continues to rise and the rains continue to fall.

Cedar Rapids Memorial Day Observance 2013

I have never attended a Memorial Day ceremony. In the past the 42N team has traversed cemeteries and parks on Memorial Day to see flags and people but never actually attended a live event. That changed today. Cedar Rapids' Metro Area Veterans Council Memorial Day Event was conducted at the ice arena because of rain in the forecast. Inside the lobby were hundreds of people, many of them elderly, dressed in attire identifying themselves as U.S. veterans.

Master of Ceremonies, Cary J. Hahn (news director at radio station KMRY) and a U.S. Navy veteran spoke about the occasion and introduced speakers. The one hour event was broadcast live on 1450 KMRY.

The guest speaker was U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Mike Brown (retired.) Mike was a certified B-52 bombing and navigation systems technician and served in Desert Storm with the 806th Expeditionary Bombing Wing. He spoke of the service of his father, the loss of his friends and colleagues during a B-52 explosion and the war-readiness condition his units maintained during the height of the cold war with the Soviets.

The New Horizons Band played Sousa marches and other patriotic music before during and after the ceremonies. Poignant portions of the ceremony included playing each service's theme. Mr. Hahn asked members of the audience to stand as they heard their service music. Veterans of the Navy stood when 'Anchors Away' was played, then the Air Force, Army and Marines stood in succession upon hearing their songs. Hahn recited a portion of the poem, 'In Flanders Fields' as the band played. The reading brought tears to many people.

Today's ceremony included a volley salute from the Marine Corps League, who stepped outside the door to fire their weapons before taps was played. Many audience members consisted of veterans, their spouses and children. While this group represented each branch of service, missing were various segments of ordinary citizens. While the few hundred person turnout didn't phase the vets the most important issue was remembering those who did serve and lost their lives so that freedom and liberty can remain cornerstones of our lives.

Flying to Fun Places

Allegiant Air flies from here (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) to fun domestic destinations like Las Vegas, Orlando, Phoenix, Tampa, etc. On Sunday this jet, on final approach, flew directly overhead where I was positioned some 17 miles from the airport. Local travelers on that plane know (or should know) that here in mid-America we have fun things to see and do. Perhaps they tire of Midwest fun and long to see other sites. Its a theory.

Power of Water

Last week at this time Indian Creek was on the rise. Inflatable dams were deployed in the neighborhood to ward off waters from the creek. As fast as it rose, the creek came back within its banks in a few days and now is tranquil.

After each flood episode it is always interesting to see the aftermath. This time the creek pushed tons of pebbles and sand out of the bed onto the surrounding plain and downstream. The creek's water pressure wanted to create a new channel. With each event like this, the surrounding park takes time to recover with new plant growth. Who knows what seeds were washed to this location? We will see in a few weeks as temperatures warm.

Spring 2013 Flood of Indian Creek Update

Nearby Indian Creek swelled this week from over 4 inches of rain in two days. On Thursday as the creek spilled out of its bank partially filling a greenway park, the city of Cedar Rapids deployed inflatable tiger dams to help prevent residential flooding. Fortunately the early afternoon crest of the swollen creek did not reach the road this time.

By Friday afternoon crews deflated the dams and travel was allowed to use the streets again. Today the tiger dams and related straps, tubes and sandbags were still evident. With rain in the forecast for the next several days, the city can take its time in packing these preventative materials away.

Tiger Dams Installed in Cedar Rapids for 2013 Spring Flood of Indian Creek

Orange tube Tiger Dams are being installed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa this morning. Along Indian Creek the dams are being placed, filled with water and tied down to prevent rising waters damaging local homes.

Dams were installed at this very location in 2009 but were ineffective due to their installation at the time.

We received over 4 inches of rain in two and a half days. The drought is over but at the expense of rising water and flooding rivers and streams. 

City crews have learned best practices since the 2009 flood.

While this is the second time tiger dams have been deployed at this site, the amount of effort for workers and equipment seem enormous. Another alternative to stop this flooding is being debated today.  

The Cedar Rapids city council is expected to discuss the flooding issue at this morning's meeting. Back on the agenda is the construction of a berm along Cottage Grove Parkway (parallel and to the right of the road above.) Flood money is already approved according to Councilwoman Ann Poe (who was on the scene this morning) but the go-ahead seems to be at the council level and with the Iowa DNR.

Ready to Run

At first this looks like a line of trucks ready for their next long distance haul. But the numbering scheme and flame artwork tell another story. These are racing trucks parked for the off season. I haven't seen trucks race in person but maybe the roar from Hawkeye Downs' half mile track will lure me there.

Nighttime Glow of Cedar Rapids on the First Day of Spring

During a second evening dedicated to photographing Comet Pan-Starrs, the city of of Cedar Rapids presented itself as a more attainable target than the fading ice ball in space. From the hill where Mount Mercy University sits you can see much of the downtown area of Cedar Rapids including the historic Quaker Oats mill. However from this perspective the comet would be located far to the right (off frame) and near the horizon.

Much more evident in this photo, which is slightly to the left (south) of the previous shot, is the force of the northern wind. In the 23 F air the windchill had to be -700 F. That's what it felt like. These photos show the extent of mercury or sodium vapor (orangish glow) light pollution. Unfortunately that glow was also evident in my photos of the comet too.

Captured! Comet Pan-Starrs

Comet Pan-Starrs makes its appearance over Cedar Rapids tonight along with an airplane complete with blinking lights. I shot the comet (just above the center tree and to the right) from Mount Mercy University hill looking 280 degrees west and about 15 degrees off the horizon. I only found it using binoculars - no naked eye sighting. Photo specs: 10 sec exposure, 800 ISO, 105 mm focal length at 8:47 PM CDT.

SaPaDaPaSo 2013 - Many Faces of Irish Celebration

Cedar Rapids' annual St. Patrick's Day Parade Society (SaPaDaPaSo) stages an hour and a half parade each March 17th regardless of weather conditions. Last year the unseasonable weather provided 82 F temps. This year the parade began with temps at 28 F. That didn't diminish the number of participants or number of watchers (candy gatherers) from coming out to have a good time.

LaSheila Yates, Mrs. Iowa International braved cold temps to wave to the assembled masses, as all queens should. LaSheila will compete in the Mrs. International pageant later this year. Her platform is to encourage young people to study more science, technology, engineering and math (STEM.)

Any excuse to have a good time.

For more SaPaDaPaSo 2013 photos click here.