🌱 Patch AM: Which big Ankeny properties quietly sold for millions last summer?

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:

• Which big Ankeny properties quietly sold for millions last summer?
• How Ankeny residents can get free Christmas tree pickup next week
• What Ankeny police say you can and can’t do with fireworks

Today's riddle: Playing golf is bad for your brain. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Partly sunny and colder, with a high of 29 and low of 18 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 32, low: 23.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high of 36 and low of 23 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Commercial Real Estate Transactions in Polk County from July 25, 2025, to Aug. 18, 2025 (dmcityview.com) — Several notable commercial properties in Ankeny changed hands in late July and August 2025, including a major $11.96 million sale of Campus Town on SW 28th Street. Smaller parcels and sites along Ankeny Boulevard and White Birch Circle also sold, alongside numerous deals across Polk County, offering a snapshot of local development and investment.
   

2. How to dispose of Christmas trees around the Des Moines metro (weareiowa.com) — Ankeny residents can get live Christmas trees hauled away for free on Jan. 5, with services sweeping the city once and requiring trees at the curb by 7 a.m. The article also explains options for homes with private garbage collection and contrasts Ankeny’s plan with other Des Moines metro disposal programs.
   

3. State law signed earlier this year limits how communities can restrict fireworks on New Year's Eve (kcci.com) — If you’re planning fireworks in Ankeny this New Year’s, you can legally set off consumer-grade fireworks from 9 a.m. on Dec. 31 until 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 1 under a new state law. Ankeny police stress that fireworks must be used only on private property, not streets or parks, and warn that citations are possible after 12:30 a.m. or if safety rules are ignored.
   

4. 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, with a 2024 special census showing its population up 12.3% to 76,200, edging past West Des Moines by more than 2,200 residents. West Des Moines’ new partial census boosts its tax revenue, but Ankeny’s rapid growth now makes it Iowa’s fifth-largest city, ahead of Iowa City.
   

5. Ankeny Christian wanting to take next step come postseason play (kmaland.com) — Ankeny hoops fans have plenty to cheer about as Ankeny Christian’s boys basketball team rides a 6-1 start built on stingy defense and balanced scoring. Coach Jay Nihart highlights strong three-point shooting, unselfish ball movement, and a looming showdown with Madrid as key steps toward a deeper postseason run.
   

📸 Around Ankeny

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday January 1

• 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

• Boys Basketball: Des Moines Roosevelt vs Des Moines East (JV1)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  4:45 pm
• Girls 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 (Junior Varsity)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  5:30 pm
• Boys Swimming: Ottumwa vs Des Moines Roosevelt (Varsity)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  5:30 pm
• Girls Basketball: Des Moines Roosevelt vs Des Moines East (Varsity)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  6:15 pm
• Boys Basketball: Des Moines Roosevelt vs Des Moines East (JV2)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  6:15 pm
• Boys Basketball: Des Moines Roosevelt vs Des Moines East (Varsity)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  7:45 pm
• Girls Basketball: Des Moines Roosevelt vs Des Moines East (JV2)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  7:45 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

• Target posted a job opening for Specialty Sales (Style, Tech, Beauty) (T1767) in Ankeny. Apply here.
• PetSmart, Inc. posted a job opening for Retail Sales Associate Part Time 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 just heard a golfer say he had four strokes on the first hole!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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