🌱 Patch AM: How Ankeny kept its edge over West Des Moines in new counts

Good morning to you Ankeny! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How Ankeny kept its edge over West Des Moines in new counts
• Ankeny pork leader’s 12-pound beard earns national bragging rights
• Why Carl Moyer’s legendary Ankeny car collection is leaving town

Today's riddle: I think I’ll wear only one boot today. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Cloudy, with a high of 40 and low of 13 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Thursday: Partly sunny and colder, temps: high: 29, low: 20.
• Friday: Partly sunny, with a high of 28 and low of 21 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. West Des Moines has a new population count. What the numbers mean (desmoinesregister.com subscription) — Ankeny remains the Des Moines metro’s second-largest city, holding a lead of more than 2,200 people over West Des Moines after both cities’ recent special censuses. New figures confirm Ankeny’s population at about 76,200, cementing it as Iowa’s fifth-largest city and underscoring its rapid growth compared with neighboring suburbs.
   

2. Be There or Be Square: Meet Your 2025 Best Beards in the Pork Industry Winners (porkbusiness.com) — An Ankeny resident, Cody McKinley, earned fourth place in a national “Best Beards in the Pork Industry” contest, recognized for his massive, well-groomed beard grown since his daughter’s birth. McKinley, who works for the National Pork Producers Council, joins winners from across the country sharing lighthearted tips on beard care and celebrating their ties to hog farming.
   

3. Carl Moyer's car collection to be auctioned in Florida (kcci.com) — Ankeny readers will recognize the late Carl Moyer’s famed car collection, once housed in local garages, as it heads to a no-reserve auction in Kissimmee, Florida on Jan. 17. His family says caring for nearly 40 pristine hot rods became impractical, but parting with the collection that grew from his Karl Chevrolet legacy has been emotionally difficult.
   

4. Iowa bird rehab overwhelmed by avian flu calls (kcci.com) — Ankeny residents are among those flooding Iowa Bird Rehabilitation with calls about sick and dead waterfowl, as avian flu activity spikes around the Des Moines metro. Wildlife experts urge people not to handle birds themselves, instead reporting clusters to Iowa DNR and contacting rehabilitators with photos or video so they can safely assess risks to people, pets, and other wildlife.
   

📸 Around Ankeny

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🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday December 31

• Library closes early at 5:00 p.m. for the New Years Holiday
  Johnston Public Library - Johnston IA 50131
  5:00 pm
• New Year’s Eve Bash with Count It Off
  Hawk Heaven Tavern , 805 17th Ave SW , Altoona
  9:00 pm

Thursday January 1

• New Year's Day
  Urbandale, IA Calendar
• City Buildings Closed New Year's Day
  Grimes, IA Calendar Grimes, IA 50111
• Civil Service Commission- no meeting held
  Urbandale, IA Calendar , 3600 86th Street , Urbandale
  9:00 am

Monday January 5

• Girls Basketball: North Polk vs Des Moines Roosevelt (JV1)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  6:00 pm
• Johnston City Council Meeting
  Johnston, IA Calendar , 6221 Merle Hay Road PO Box 410 , Johnston
  7:00 pm
• Girls Basketball: North Polk vs Des Moines Roosevelt (Varsity)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  7:30 pm

Tuesday January 6

• Girls Basketball: Des Moines Roosevelt vs Des Moines East (JV1)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  4:45 pm
• Boys Basketball: Des Moines Roosevelt vs Des Moines East (JV1)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  4:45 pm
• Boys Swimming: Ottumwa vs Des Moines Roosevelt (Varsity)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  5:30 pm
• Boys Swimming: Ottumwa vs Des Moines Roosevelt (Junior Varsity)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  5:30 pm

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 Ankeny PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Iowa Staffing posted a job opening for Produce Clerk in Ankeny. Apply here.
• AHEPA Management Company posted a job opening for Janitorial for Senior Apartments in Ankeny. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Ankeny here.

Ok Ankeny! 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 heard there’s only a 50 percent chance of snow.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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