Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Why Ankeny chose its interim leader as permanent city manager
Happening soon: Pages for Early Ages Storytime @ the library 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:
- Why Ankeny chose its interim leader as permanent city manager
- How an Ankeny-installed smoke alarm helped save a home and pets
- How is Ankeny’s Congressman Zach Nunn responding to the deadly Syria attack?
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Ankeny? Post it to Ankeny photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Find out what's happening in Ankenyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Ankenyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Wednesday: Freezing fog in the morning, with a high of 40 and low of 37 degrees.
- Thursday: Winds becoming strong; colder, temps: high: 42, low: 10. ⛄️ Brr!
- Friday: Variable cloudiness, with a high of 33 and low of 29 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Ankeny names a familiar leader as new city manager (desmoinesregister.com subscription) — Ankeny has officially promoted interim city manager Mike Schrock to the permanent role after a nationwide search, keeping a familiar leader at City Hall. With decades of public administration experience and several years in Ankeny leadership, Schrock and city officials say they’re focused on guiding the fast-growing community’s priorities for residents, businesses, and visitors. 
2. Smoke alarm installed by Ankeny Fire Department alerts homeowner of fire; 2 cats saved (kcci.com) — An Ankeny homeowner safely escaped a Monday morning house fire after a smoke alarm installed by the Ankeny Fire Department alerted them, and firefighters also rescued two cats. Crews quickly contained the blaze on SW Ash Drive, and officials are using the incident to urge residents to follow key holiday fire-safety tips for trees, lights, cooking, and space heaters.
3. Iowa National Guard soldiers from Marshalltown and Des Moines killed in Syria (radioiowa.com) — Ankeny residents will recognize Congressman Zach Nunn, who condemned a deadly ISIS attack in Syria that killed two Iowa National Guard soldiers and wounded three others, including members of a Boone-based unit. State leaders ordered flags to half-staff while federal and state officials, including Nunn, discuss how the U.S. should respond to the ambush overseas.
4. Mile posts: Items on Mallory Lindaman, Millie Hill, Mike Jasa, Chase Knoche, Julia Gehl, Dylan Grandon, Courtney Sporrer (desmoinesregister.com subscription) — Two former Ankeny standouts shined in recent college track meets, with Ankeny Centennial grad Millie Hill setting a 3,000-meter meet record and Ankeny High alum Jake Bosch placing sixth in the 600. The roundup also spotlights strong performances by numerous Iowa-connected runners across several December invitationals.
5. Disability Rights Lawyers Threatened With Budget Cuts, Reassignments (kffhealthnews.org) — A national fight over Trump administration cuts to disability rights lawyers directly affects an Ankeny family whose 7-year-old son, Isaac, relies on a specialized wheelchair won through legal advocacy. The story explains how federally funded groups like Disability Rights Iowa help residents secure essential equipment and services, and why advocates fear reduced funding could push more people with disabilities into institutions instead of community life.
📸 Around Ankeny
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📣 Ankeny Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
- Pages for Early Ages Storytime @ the library
Madrid Library , 100 West 3rd St. , Madrid
10:00 am - Parks and Recreation Commission
City Hall , 3600 86th Street , Urbandale
5:30 pm - Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Des Moines
Des Moines Performing Arts , 221 Walnut St , Des Moines
7:00 pm - Board of Appeals
Grimes, IA Calendar
12:01 am - Clive Emerging Leaders: Getting It Together: Build Your Life Admin System
ServiceMaster by Rice - Construction Division , 7605 University Ave , Clive
1:00 pm - Boys Wrestling: Triangular – DM Roosevelt DM Lincoln Fort Dodge (Junior Varsity)
Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
5:30 pm - Boys Wrestling: Triangular – DM East DM North-Hoover Ames (Varsity)
East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
5:30 pm - Boys Wrestling: Triangular – DM East DM North-Hoover Ames (Junior Varsity)
East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
5:30 pm - Boys Wrestling: Triangular – DM Roosevelt DM Lincoln Fort Dodge (Varsity)
Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
5:30 pm - Canceled - Board of Adjustment Meeting
Johnston, IA Calendar , 6221 Merle Hay Road PO Box 410 , Johnston
6:30 pm - Board of Adjustment Meeting
Johnston, IA Calendar , 6221 Merle Hay Road PO Box 410 , Johnston
6:30 pm - Pilates 101
Pilates at Mend , 480 Center Pl suite b , Altoona
6:30 pm
Wednesday December 17
Thursday December 18
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
- Neighborhoods in Ankeny with fun Christmas lights?
Hello all, I am looking to take my niece to look at Christmas lights here in Ankeny, what would be some good spots to cruise around through for them … (Nextdoor Otter Creek) - I've noticed a large number of cars driving around the area at night with no tail lights on (but headlights are on).
This makes you very hard to see, and increases your chances of getting hit. If you've noticed people "flashing" you, you might check to see if what… (Nextdoor Westwinds)
- Sam's Club posted a job opening for Freezer, Cooler and Deli Stocker Associate in Ankeny. Apply here.
- Wal-Mart posted a job opening for Merchandise and Stocking Associate 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 don’t know. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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