Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How one longtime board member helped reshape Ames schools for students
You won't want to miss Red Buchman Community Room Reserved on the Ames Patch calendar
Greetings Ames! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How one longtime board member helped reshape Ames schools for students
- How many leaders has Iowa State had before its new 17th president?
- How could massive USDA staff losses reshape Ames’ federal research footprint?
Today's riddle: I used to work in a doughnut shop. 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Amesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Wednesday: Cloudy most of the time, with a high of 41 and low of 34 degrees.
- Thursday: Mostly cloudy, afternoon mist, temps: high: 43, low: 40.
- Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 48 and low of 37 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Longtime Ames School Board member recognized for years of service (amestrib.com) — A former Ames School Board member, Carolyn Jons, has been honored statewide for decades of leadership that helped shape local schools, from closing and opening elementary buildings to championing a district-wide model focused on high achievement for every student. After 15 years on the board and key roles with the Iowa Association of School Boards, she’s still volunteering in Ames to support young children and families. 
Find out what's happening in Amesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
2. Who has been president of Iowa State University? See their photos: (amestrib.com) — Iowa State University’s long line of presidents, from Seaman Knapp to newly named 17th president David Cook, is highlighted with photos and dates that matter to Cyclone country. The piece culminates with Cook’s November introduction at the Memorial Union in Ames, underscoring the university’s evolving leadership in the heart of the city.
3. USDA inspector general reports about a fifth of staff has left agency (amestrib.com) — Ames’ National Centers for Animal Health have already lost 16% of their USDA staff, part of a nationwide wave of departures that could affect animal health and food safety work here. Iowa leaders are also pushing to relocate parts of USDA’s Agricultural Research Center from Maryland to Ames, which could eventually bring new federal jobs and research capacity to town.
4. Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Ames metro area (southernminn.com) — Home values around the Ames metro are still climbing overall, even as national price growth slows, with several nearby cities seeing notable gains over the past year and five years. If you own or hope to buy in the Ames area, these updated Zillow figures show how quickly typical home prices are changing across the region’s communities.
📸 Around Ames
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
📣 Ames Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Red Buchman Community Room Reserved
Gilbert, IA Calendar , 207 Main Street , Gilbert
7:00 am - Camelot Movie: Love Actually
Camelot Theater , 1114 6th St , Nevada
7:00 pm - Gilbert Library is Open
Gilbert, IA Calendar , 207 Main Street , Gilbert
10:00 am - Christmas Tree Pickup Begins
Gilbert, IA Calendar Gilbert, IA 50105 - Preschool Storytime & crafts at the Library
Gilbert, IA Calendar , 207 Main Street , Gilbert
8:30 am - Intro to Musical Theater: A Winter's Tale
Story Theater Company , 1609 Golden Aspen Dr #105 , Ames
9:00 am - New Year's closings - Library
Madrid Public Library , 100 West 3rd Street , Madrid - Cribbage & Mahjong
Sixty Forward , 205 S Walnut Ave , Ames
1:30 pm - Fire Department Meeting
Gilbert, IA Calendar , 105 SE 2ND STREET , Gilbert
6:00 pm - Midwest All-Service ROTC Retreat
Riverside Bible Camp , 3001 Riverside Rd , Story City
5:00 pm
Thursday December 25
Friday December 26
Saturday December 27
Monday December 29
Tuesday December 30
Wednesday December 31
Thursday January 1
Friday February 13
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Ames PatchAM possible:
- Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Good morning and God bless us all!
I hope and pray we all have a wonderful week ahead with Christmas approaching I’m sure we all will be running around. Be safe, be positive and kind… (Nextdoor Lincoln Way) - Hi neighbors!
I’m putting some feelers out to see if there’s interest in a small, in home daycare for 3-4 year olds here in Ames. I currently homeschool my own… (Nextdoor West Campustown)
- Pizza Hut posted a job opening for Team Member in Ames. Apply here.
- Bath & Body Works posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Sales Associate-NORTH GRAND MALL in Ames. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Ames here.
Ok Ames! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I got tired of the hole business.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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