The Daily Dose: Vacation, VEISHEA, Teen Suicides and More

You probably didn't notice but I took a little vacation over the weekend. 

Three of my girlfriends and I took a long weekend trip to St. Petersburg, Fla. for a little rest and relaxation. It was divine. There's nothing like three full days of laughter and just hanging by a pool to recharge a girl. 

Still, so much happened while I was away. 

I'm not an Iowa State grad but I've lived in Iowa long enough to know the history of the VEISHEA celebration and all the incidents that have marred this otherwise great event. While it was not a result of any VEISHEA activities, could still leave outsiders with a negative impression of this campus-wide celebration. How sad. 

Is anyone else alarmed by the in the Des Moines area? It's disheartening to hear that so many teenagers are taking their own lives, no matter what the reason. This world is fraught with problems but none so severe that they should force a young person to think that taking themselves out of it is the right answer. 

On a lighter note, Waukee residents have come out in droves to vote for their favorite photographer in . We're talking almost 1,300 votes. That's crazy! If you haven't yet, jump on and cast a vote for your favorite. 

Do you have questions or concerns about happenings in the Waukee Community Schools? If so, you should consider attending a meeting of the Waukee Board of Education. There's one tonight at 7 p.m. at . It's your chance to make your voice heard on issues affecting your children. 

It looks like a nice start to the week, according to the National Weather Service. The forecast is as follows for the next couple days:

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 64. North northwest wind between 7 and 10 mph. 

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming south southwest. 

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Southwest wind between 7 and 13 mph. 

Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. 

Have a great day, Waukee!