Pick of Iowa Patches: A Police Chase, Movie Ban, Evicted Cats and Booted Occupiers

Editor’s Note: The Patch community in Iowa includes nine cities: Ames, Ankeny, Cedar Falls, Iowa City, Johnston, Marion, Urbandale, Waukee and West Des Moines. We thought it’d be a good idea to give you a sampling each week of what’s been appearing on Patch around the state.

Last week in Iowa's Patchland, we covered people from two noble professions squaring off against each other - a doctor versus law enforcement. We told you of the additional pain of a parent whose two toddlers died years ago -- and the consolation she got from the thoughtfulness of a stranger. And we told you about the wide-ranging debate over a bill backed by Iowa lawmakers for Congress to forgo pay if they can't pass a budget on time.

Last weekend, police from across the Des Moines metro stopped — and pulled their guns on — a West Des Moines physician racing to a twilight hour emergency call. The story raised debate about whether police responded properly, and it inspired a thoughtful column by the regional editor for Iowa Patches, Todd Richissin, whose father was a police officer. 

In Iowa City, the Occupy Iowa City movement appears to be over-- in the sense that they won't be occupying the park anymore, anyway. Protesters decided not to appeal the city's decision to not renew their permit to set up in College Green Park. Readers of an Iowa City Patch poll resoundingly declared it time for Occupy Iowa City to end its occupation of the park.

In Urbandale, a bittersweet story played out with an ending that showed how thoughtful strangers can be and the responsiveness of a business that did all it could to make up for a mistake. Connie Thomas requested a touch up at Christian Photo of the last photos taken of her two toddlers, who died in 1996 in a car accident. Thomas was devastated to learn the shop accidentally sent the photos home with a different customer. On Friday they were returned to her, and Thomas said she felt "overwhelming joy" to have them back, along with extra prints, a backup copy of the negatives on a CD and a bouquet of flowers.

From Cedar Falls Patch, U.S. Representatives Bruce Braley, D-Waterloo, and Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa City, have co-sponsored a bill to forfeit congressional pay if Congress can't pass a budget bill on deadline. Some states already operate this way. The article sparked a lively debate. Follow the link to join in.

Also, in the Des Moines metro, we learned of felines Bear and Tigger, who were staples of the Earl May Nursery and Garden Center in Waukee, until getting their walking papers thanks to a new company-wide policy. Waukee Patch also originated an especially controversial Parents Talk column about whether dad Jordan was right to record a YouTube video in which he shot his daughter Hannah's laptop after she criticized her family on Facebook.

In Marion, Public Library officials are exploring whether or not to remove a movie called The Orphan from its shelves. Some feel the 2009 horror film negatively portrays adoptions and orphans in the film.

The Scanlon brothers of Johnston put up respectable performances in the state wrestling championships. In the quarter-final round, Jake Scanlon, a sophomore in the 285-pound 3A bracket, lost his match against Bettendorf's Nate Shaw in a 4-2 decision. Joe Scanlon, a senior in the 220-pound 3A bracket, beat Fort Dodge's Ben Schnurr in a 1-0 decision. All of Iowa Patches have had a liveblog of the state duals throughout the tournament.

In Ames, local editor Jessica Miller profiled tech business Global Reach, which continues to grow but struggles to find suitable workers despite high unemployment rates.

In Ankeny, police arrested a West Des Moines man on several charges after he allegedly punched his ex-girlfriend in the face after she tried checking his phone. And, Nick Eilers was one of many students who attended the Friendship Dance at the Lakeside Center on Saturday. The event was put on by Circle of Friends, a social group formed at the high school to help students form lasting relationships and learn valuable social skills.