🌱 Patch AM: Think you were scammed in a crypto deal? Ankeny police want details

Good morning Ankeny! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Think you were scammed in a crypto deal? Ankeny police want details
• How a federal oil-theft ring allegedly funneled loot through Ankeny
• Why an Ankeny massage business just drew state disciplinary action

Also on today's calendar: Mystery Book Club.

Today's riddle: I got fired from the M&M factory. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high of 33 and low of 22 degrees.
• Sunday: Clouds and sun, temps: high: 39, low: 28.
• Monday: Partial sunshine, with a high of 48 and low of 32 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Ankeny police seeking possible victims of crypto scam (weareiowa.com) — Ankeny police are asking anyone in Ankeny or the Des Moines metro who dealt with Charles Spencer Burri or Burri Asset Management and lost money in a supposed cryptocurrency investment to contact authorities. Missouri investigators say Burri met with people locally in July 2025, and Ankeny officers are now trying to identify any additional victims tied to that case.
   

2. Cops bust huge ring that stole used cooking oil to be sold as biodiesel (truckersnews.com) — Ankeny is directly tied to a federal case where prosecutors say stolen used cooking oil from restaurants across Iowa and several other states was shipped to a warehouse in the city. Thirteen people are facing racketeering, interstate theft, and money laundering charges in Des Moines federal court, with trials and initial appearances scheduled in the Southern District of Iowa.
   

3. Licensing board takes action in two massage-therapy cases (kcci.com) — State regulators have suspended a Waterloo massage therapist during an investigation and separately sanctioned Ankeny massage therapist Li Labee over unlicensed employees at Bandung Massage in Ankeny. Labee reached a settlement that includes a warning and $2,000 civil penalty, though documents differ on whether her license was voluntarily surrendered.
   

4. Looking back at notable Iowans who died in 2025 (desmoinesregister.com subscription) — Ankeny readers will especially note the passing of former mayor Merle Ollie Johnson, who led the city through rapid growth and helped secure land that became the Prairie Trail neighborhood. The broader piece remembers many influential Iowans lost in 2025, from state leaders and educators to veterans and community advocates whose work shaped cities across the state.
   

📸 Around Ankeny

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Ankeny

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Sunday January 4

• Dungeons & Dragons
  Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library, 1250 SW District Dr, Ankeny
  2:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday January 14

• Mystery Book Club
  Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library , 1250 SW District Dr , Ankeny
  1:00 pm

Tuesday January 20

• January's Membership Meeting
  Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library , 1250 SW District Dr , Ankeny
  11:30 am

📣 Ankeny 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 January 3

• Dome for the Holidays
  Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden , 909 Robert D. Ray Dr , Des Moines
  5:00 pm
• Shaun Johnson
  The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand , 558 28th St , Des Moines
  7:30 pm
• Dirty Blonde
  xBk Live , 1159 24th St , Des Moines
  8:00 pm
• Doc Bullfrog
  xBk Live , 1159 24th St , Des Moines
  8:00 pm
• Motley Scrue
  Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack, & Hotel , 1 Prairie Meadows Dr , Altoona
  9:00 pm

Sunday January 4

• January Flea Market
  Varied Industries Building , 3000 E Grand Ave , Des Moines
  9:00 am
• Beer Yoga At 515 Brewing
  515 Brewing Company , 7700 University Ave Suite C , Clive
  12:00 pm
• Botanical Blues
  Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden , 909 Robert D. Ray Dr , Des Moines
  1:00 pm
• Live Music with Courtney Krause
  Big Grove Brewery & Taproom , 555 17th St , Des Moines
  6:00 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! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• We have spots for daycare and drop in at your house.
  Take advantage. We also board. Send your dog to a dogcation. Or your kitty cat to their very own purrtreat. Https://www.rover.com/sit/brianm87304 - … (Nextdoor Applewood)
• Hi i'm dad of 3, happy new year !!!
  i have my small business here in neighborhood. (Nextdoor West Watercrest)

• ABM posted a job opening for Janitorial Warehouse Cleaner in Ankeny. Apply here.
• DRM Arbys posted a job opening for Team Member 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 kept throwing out all the W’s.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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