Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How three straight Ankeny snowstorms hit small shops’ holiday sales
And check out Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council Meeting on the Ankeny Patch calendar
Morning Ankeny! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How three straight Ankeny snowstorms hit small shops’ holiday sales
- How an Ankeny family joined Iowa’s tribute to fallen soldiers
- What happens to Ankeny’s protections after Iowa’s trans rights rollback?
Today's riddle: What did the little needle say to the mother needle when it brought home a failing report card? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Ankenyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Thursday: Misty; fog in the morning, with a high of 46 and low of 41 degrees.
- Friday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 49, low: 36.
- Saturday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 57 and low of 31 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Early Iowa snowstorms impact small business sales (who13.com) — Heavy early-season snowstorms in Ankeny disrupted key holiday shopping weekends, forcing local shops like Real Deals to scramble with shovels, skeleton crews, and online sales to keep revenue flowing. Owner Lindsey Foss says repeated Saturday storms hurt many small businesses and urges residents to keep supporting local stores through the winter. 
Find out what's happening in Ankenyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
• Iowans mourn along procession route honoring fallen Iowa National Guard soldiers (kcci.com) — An Ankeny woman whose husband serves in the Iowa National Guard joined more than a hundred Iowans in Des Moines to honor two fallen Guard soldiers in a solemn Christmas Eve procession. Residents lined the route at Gray’s Lake Park, waving flags and then falling silent as the hearse passed, reflecting the community’s deep respect and shared grief.
• Some communities keep trans civil rights rules despite Iowa law change (desmoinesregister.com subscription) — Ankeny is one of several Iowa cities that still list gender identity as a protected class in local civil rights ordinances, even after the state removed that protection this year. Local and state experts say these policies may face legal and political challenges, but for now they signal communities’ intent to shield residents from discrimination as much as they can.
📸 Around Ankeny
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📣 Ankeny Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
- Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council Meeting
Colfax City Hall , 20 W Howard St , Colfax
6:00 pm - Festival of Trees + Lights
Edencrest at The Tuscany , 1600 8th St SE , Altoona
9:00 am - Colfax Livestock Sales
Colfax Livestock Sales Co , 335 N Walnut St , Colfax
9:00 am - Candlelight: Holiday Special Featuring 'The Nutcracker” & More
World Food Prize Hall of Laureates , 100 Locust St , Des Moines
4:30 pm - Richie Lee & the Fabulous 50's
Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack, & Hotel , 1 Prairie Meadows Dr , Altoona
11:00 am - 12/30- Clive, IA- La Dolce Vita New Year's Eve
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant , 12801 University Ave , Clive
7:00 pm - New Year's closings - Library
Madrid Public Library , 100 West 3rd Street , Madrid - 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 - City Buildings Closed New Year's Day
Grimes, IA Calendar Grimes, IA 50111 - New Year's Day
Urbandale, IA Calendar - Winter Blues Fest
Des Moines Marriott Downtown , 700 Grand Ave , Des Moines
9:00 pm
Thursday December 25
Friday December 26
Saturday December 27
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 Ankeny PatchAM possible:
- Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- FREE!!!!
- 3 gallons of milk (fat free, skim or 1%), 1 dozen eggs, and 2 jars of peanut butter! I get this stuff with my WIC but my family doesn’t drink… (Nextdoor Otter Creek) - Hi everyone!
I am missing an Amazon delivery! It is a flat package with a calendar and a dog ruff! (Nextdoor NW 70th Ave)
- Iowa Staffing posted a job opening for Yard Spotter/Material Handler - The Toro Company in Ankeny. Apply here.
- Qcells posted a job opening for Equipment Coordinator in Ankeny. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Ankeny here.
🗞 Nearby News
Johnston
- Johnston nurse who worked under fraudulent credentials awarded license (desmoinesregister.com)
- $1.7 billion Powerball jackpot set for Christmas Eve drawing (publicgaming.com)
- Dodger wrestlers ranked 13th (messengernews.net)
Polk City
- Sen. Chuck Grassley announces nominees for US military academies (kcci.com)
Altoona
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 guess I’m not as sharp as I thought.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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