Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Where in Ankeny you can still find gas under $2 today
Happening soon: Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council Meeting on the Ankeny Patch calendar
Good morning Ankeny! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Where in Ankeny you can still find gas under $2 today
- How an Ankeny contractor’s fraud case ended in prison time
- Which Ankeny students earned NIACC’s 2025 fall academic honors?
Today's riddle: I used to work in a doughnut shop. 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Ankenyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 45 and low of 36 degrees.
- Thursday: Mostly cloudy, afternoon mist, temps: high: 45, low: 41.
- Friday: Some sun, with a high of 49 and low of 39 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Gas under $2 a gallon? Here's where you can find it in central Iowa (kcci.com) — Ankeny drivers can now fill up for under $2 a gallon at Costco, Sam’s Club, and Fleet Farm, with prices as low as $1.94. A Grimes QuikTrip has also dipped below $2, while the Des Moines-area average sits around $2.12, far cheaper than last month and last year. 
Find out what's happening in Ankenyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
2. Ankeny man sentenced to 3 years behind bars for bankruptcy fraud (weareiowa.com) — An Ankeny business owner has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for making false statements in a bankruptcy case after taking large deposits for home improvement work he didn’t complete. Prosecutors say he ran Legacy Siding and Windows in Ankeny, took hundreds of thousands of dollars from customers, and admitted to spending victims’ money on gambling and other irresponsible expenses.
3. NIACC announces 2025 Fall Term President's and Dean's List (northiowatoday.com) — Ankeny students are among those honored on North Iowa Area Community College’s 2025 fall President’s and Dean’s Lists, recognizing strong academic performance by hometown. The extensive roster highlights students from across Iowa, other states, and several countries who met the GPA requirements for these distinctions.
4. 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 from Iowa law. Local and state advocates are watching to see whether lawmakers try to block these city-level protections, leaving Ankeny residents with important but potentially vulnerable local safeguards against discrimination.
📸 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 - New Year's Day
Urbandale, IA Calendar - City Buildings Closed New Year's Day
Grimes, IA Calendar Grimes, IA 50111 - 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.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Bakery Wrapper / Clean Up in Ankeny. Apply here.
- Valvoline posted a job opening for Assistant Service Center Manager 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 got tired of the hole business.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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