Q: Just north of the 4-way intersection of Highway 44 and Highway 4 is a milEage sign indicating that Estherville is 138 miles. Who really cares?
A: Well, clearly you don’t have any interest in the 437-pound meteor that fell north of Estherville in 1879. Specimens of this are on display in the Estherville Public Library and Chamber of Commerce.
According to the Iowa DOT, distance signs are installed outside of cities to give drivers an idea of how far away certain cities are. Highway 4 is considered a “primary intrastate route.” Iowa DOT’s Traffic and Safety Manual provides the following guidance for what cities should be listed on distance signs on primary intrastate routes:
Line one – The next city on or adjacent to the route regardless of population (Yale).
Line two – The next county seat or city of 500 or more on or adjacent to the route (Jefferson).
Line three – The next county seat or city of 5,000 or more on or adjacent to the route (Estherville).
Q: I heard that with all the construction going on, access to Guthrie County Hospital has changed. How so?
A: Guthrie County Hospital is implementing temporary access changes for patients while the new construction progresses. All patients visiting the GCH Specialty Clinic should use the entrance located just south of the ambulance bay. Parking for GCH Specialty Clinic appointments will also be located in the lot south of the ambulance bay. Signage will be posted to help guide patients to the correct entrance and parking areas. The GCH Clinic – Guthrie Center has temporarily relocated to the trailer south of the hospital. Pediatrics, which is offered on Tuesdays only, has also moved to this temporary location on its clinic day. A newly designated parking lot is available directly adjacent to the trailer, providing access for all GCH Clinic and Pediatric appointments. Patients are encouraged to allow a few extra minutes for parking and navigation during this time. Guthrie County Hospital staff will be available to assist anyone needing direction or support. For questions, contact the hospital’s main line at 641-332-2201 or visit www.guthriecountyhospital.org for the latest updates.
Q: How deep in the ground are utility poles usually buried?
A: Engineering rules, soil variables and wind loads are all factors that determine how deep utility poles must be buried for optimal stability and safety. Typically, though, according to various sources, utility poles are buried to a depth of about 10% of their height plus an additional 2 feet. For example, a 40-foot pole would be set approximately 6 feet deep.