🌱 Patch AM: See which Ames swimmers shined in the Ottumwa dual meet photos

Hey there, Ames! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• See which Ames swimmers shined in the Ottumwa dual meet photos
• Are you accidentally killing your holiday poinsettias and Christmas tree?
• How an Ames ICU became a wedding chapel in seven hours

Also on today's calendar: Teen Silent Book Club and 2 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Ames Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. Everyone deserves to be connected. That's why T-Mobile and UScellular have joined forces to connect people from big cities to small towns and everywhere in between. UScellular is now a part of T-Mobile. Find out more at T-Mobile.com/Better-Together.
Find a T-Mobile store near Ames.

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Breezy in the afternoon, with a high of 30 and low of 27 degrees.
• Saturday: Breezy in the morning, temps: high: 42, low: 15. ⛄️ Brr!
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 36 and low of 27 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. See the photos of Ames vs Ottumwa swimming dual meet in Ames, Iowa (amestrib.com) — Ames High School swimmers faced Ottumwa in a boys’ dual meet Thursday night at Dan Flannery Pool in Ames, with local athletes featured in several key races. A new photo gallery spotlights Ames standouts like Brandon Terry, Davis Cowan, and teammates in freestyle, medley relay, and individual medley events from the Dec. 18 showdown.
   

2. Keep holiday plants fresh and festive with these tips (mississippivalleypublishing.com) — Holiday plant advice from an Iowa State University horticulture expert in Ames can help your Christmas trees, wreaths, poinsettias, and amaryllis look better and last longer this season. Learn how to water, place, and care for each plant now, plus smart ways to reuse trees and greenery after the holidays instead of tossing them out.
   

3. This Is Iowa: Iowa couple marries in hospital ICU to fulfill bride's mother's final wish (kcci.com) — A young couple’s wedding moved to Ames’ Mary Greeley Medical Center so the bride’s terminally ill mother could witness their vows from the ICU. Hospital staff rushed to create a chapel ceremony in just hours, transforming a difficult diagnosis into a deeply personal celebration of family, community support, and love.
   

4. Iowa Sen. Zach Wahls hopes to become US Senate's youngest member (amestrib.com) — A U.S. Senate hopeful made a campaign stop in Ames this week, outlining plans to tackle affordability and political corruption if elected. State Sen. Zach Wahls, currently Iowa’s youngest senator, is seeking the Democratic nomination for Joni Ernst’s open seat and emphasizes protecting LGBTQ rights, reproductive rights, and public schools while refusing corporate PAC money.
   

📸 Around Ames

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Ames

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 20

• Family Storytime
  Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave, Ames
  10:30 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Saturday December 20

• Teen Silent Book Club
  Ames Public Library , 515 Douglas Ave , Ames
  11:00 am
• Holly Jolly Holidays With Howie And Jenn
  Ames City Auditorium , 520 6th St , Ames
  2:00 pm

Monday December 22

• Mannheim Steamroller Christmas
  Stephens Auditorium , 1900 Center Dr , Ames
  7:30 pm

Tuesday December 23

• Story County Board of Supervisors Meeting
  Story County Administration Building , 900 6th Street , Nevada
  10:00 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

Saturday December 20

• Gilbert Library is Open
  Gilbert, IA Calendar , 207 Main Street , Gilbert
  10:00 am

Sunday December 21

• Skunk River P.R.S. – Iowa – Open To Public – Monthly COF
  2066 Stagecoach Rd , Ames
  2:00 pm

Monday December 22

• Hidden Candy Cane Hike
  McFarland Park , 56461 180th St , Ames
  12:00 pm
• Perry Girls Varsity Basketball @ Nevada
  Nevada High School , 1001 15th St , Nevada
  6:00 pm

Tuesday December 23

• Preschool Storytime & crafts at the Library
  Gilbert, IA Calendar , 207 Main Street , Gilbert
  8:30 am

Wednesday December 24

• Red Buchman Community Room Reserved
  Gilbert, IA Calendar , 207 Main Street , Gilbert
  7:00 am

Tuesday December 30

• Intro to Musical Theater: A Winter's Tale
  Story Theater Company , 1609 Golden Aspen Dr #105 , Ames
  9:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Iowa Staffing posted a job opening for Custodian I - Part-Time in Ames. Apply here.
• Dunham's Sports posted a job opening for Cashier 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 don’t think you know the gravity of this situation.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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