🌱 Patch AM: Meet the Cedar Falls teen hero riding in the Rose Parade

Hello again Cedar Falls! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Meet the Cedar Falls teen hero riding in the Rose Parade
• How Cedar Falls’ Jaden Merrick ran to a state title
• How a Cedar Falls native powers Iowa’s football recruiting machine

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

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Intervals of clouds and sun, with a high of 23 and low of 17 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Partial sunshine, temps: high: 29, low: 17.
• Saturday: Some sun, then turning cloudy, with a high of 32 and low of 18 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Cedar Valley Hero to be Celebrated at 2026 Rose Parade (kwwl.com) — A Cedar Falls High School student, Bailey Miller, is being honored nationally after rescuing her neighbor from a sinking vehicle in a lake behind her home. Her quick actions with a kayak and police baton earned her Mercy One’s 2025 Heroes Among Us Award, and she’s now riding on the Iowa float in the Rose Parade while nominations for the 2026 award remain open.
   

2. 2025 Year In Review: Top high school sports stories (wcfcourier.com) — Cedar Falls readers can celebrate senior runner Jaden Merrick, who capped 2025 by winning the Class 4A state cross country title in Fort Dodge. His victory is featured in a yearlong roundup of standout Iowa high school sports moments across multiple teams and championships.
   

3. 5 Takeaways from Iowa's win over Vanderbilt: Iowa confirms Heisman voters made right choice picking Fernando Mendoza over Diego Pavia (qctimes.com) — Cedar Falls readers will notice hometown native Rhett Smeins highlighted as a key figure in the Hawkeyes’ recruiting operation after Iowa’s 34–27 ReliaQuest Bowl win over Vanderbilt. The piece breaks down how Iowa’s recruiting “in the margins” and past brushes with Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza and runner‑up Diego Pavia shape the program’s trajectory.
   

4. UPDATE: Cedar Falls carjacking leads to I-380 Hiawatha police shootout (kwwl.com) — Cedar Falls police say a robbery and carjacking at a Marine recruitment office on Brandilynn Boulevard led to a multi-county pursuit and shootout on I-380 near Hiawatha, ending with the suspect hospitalized. Authorities report the suspect fired at officers during the chase before being shot and captured, and multiple agencies are now investigating while emphasizing there is no ongoing threat to the public.
   

📸 Around Cedar Falls

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Cedar Falls

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Friday January 2

• Kid Librarian!
  Cedar Falls Public Library , 524 Main Street , Cedar Falls
• Inauguration Ceremony
  Cedar Falls Calendar Cedar Falls, IA 50613
  11:30 am
• Remember to put the trash out for Friday garbage pickup!
  Cedar Falls Calendar Cedar Falls, IA 50613
  7:00 pm

Saturday January 3

• Quilling Club
  Cedar Falls Public Library , 524 Main Street , Cedar Falls
  9:30 am
• Resume Workshop
  Cedar Falls Public Library , 524 Main Street , Cedar Falls
  12:00 pm
• Knitting and Crocheting Group: The Sheep Baatiquers
  Cedar Falls Public Library , 524 Main Street , Cedar Falls
  12:00 pm

Sunday January 4

• Sunday Funday for Grown-Ups! DIY DĂŠjĂ  vu!
  Cedar Falls Public Library , 524 Main Street , Cedar Falls
  2:00 pm

Monday January 5

• Baby Storytime
  Cedar Falls Public Library , 524 Main Street , Cedar Falls
  10:30 am

📣 Cedar Falls 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

Thursday January 1

• New Year's Day
  Black Hawk County Main Calendar , 316 E. 5th Street , Waterloo
  8:00 am

Friday January 2

• Alzheimer's / Dementia Support Group
  CedarStone Senior Living , 4715 Algonquin Drive , Cedar Falls
  1:00 pm

Saturday January 3

• Quilling Club
  Cedar Falls Public Library , 524 Main Street , Cedar Falls
  9:30 am
• Knitting and Crocheting Group: The Sheep Baatiquers
  Cedar Falls Public Library , 524 Main Street , Cedar Falls
  12:00 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 Cedar Falls 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

• Recommendations needed for small family owned auto detail work.
  I’m getting ready to sell a 2019 Chevy Suburban XLT and would like it detailed before I sell. (Nextdoor College Square)

• Office Pride posted a job opening for Cedar Falls Office Cleaner in Cedar Falls. Apply here.
• University of Northern Iowa posted a job opening for Assistant Professor of Graphic Design in Cedar Falls. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Cedar Falls here.

Ok Cedar Falls! 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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