🌱 Patch AM: Which big-money West Des Moines properties just changed hands?

Hey hey West Des Moines! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Which big-money West Des Moines properties just changed hands?
• How a troubled coach ended up working in West Des Moines
• What West Des Moines residents should do if they spot sick birds

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

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Partly sunny and colder, with a high of 30 and low of 18 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 33, low: 24.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high of 38 and low of 25 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Commercial Real Estate Transactions in Polk County from July 25, 2025, to Aug. 18, 2025 (dmcityview.com) — If you follow commercial property values in West Des Moines, this roundup shows two sizable sales there in late July and early August 2025, including a multimillion-dollar Fairmeadows Village transaction. It also details dozens of other Polk County commercial deals that help sketch the broader regional real estate market.
   

2. AP report: Sources say Olympic watchdog failed to close abuse case (tucson.com) — A national investigation into how sports watchdogs handled abuse allegations centers partly on West Des Moines, where the coach once worked at Chow’s Gymnastics and later at a local medical center. The report raises questions about how long warnings went unheeded and what protections athletes and families can reasonably expect from oversight agencies.
   

3. Iowa bird rehab overwhelmed by avian flu calls (kcci.com) — Residents in suburbs including West Des Moines are reporting more sick and dead waterfowl, contributing to a surge of avian flu calls to Iowa Bird Rehabilitation. State wildlife officials urge people not to handle sick birds, instead contacting rehabilitators or the Iowa DNR and keeping pets away to reduce risk and slow the spread.
   

4. AP sources: In 'Nassar 2.0,' Olympics watchdog failed to close abuse case against gymnastics coach (timesfreepress.com) — A former gymnastics coach later worked at a West Des Moines medical center and a prominent local gymnastics gym despite being under a national sports suspension, raising concerns about how thoroughly organizations share safety information. The investigation focuses on alleged failures by the U.S. Center for SafeSport to impose a permanent ban and highlights broader questions about how well young athletes are protected nationwide.
   

📸 Around West Des Moines

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday January 1

• All City offices CLOSED in observance of New Year's Day
  Waukee, IA Calendar Waukee, IA 50263
  8:00 am
• Civil Service Commission- no meeting held
  Urbandale, IA Calendar , 3600 86th Street , Urbandale
  9:00 am

Friday January 2

• Snacks & Facts: Picking Priorities in the City Budget
  Waukee, IA Calendar , 950 S. Warrior Ln. , Waukee
  11:30 am

Monday January 5

• City Council Regular Meeting
  Waukee, IA Calendar , 230 W. Hickman Rd. , Waukee
  5:30 pm
• 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

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

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 West Des Moines 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

• Any private landlords or companies that accept second chance housing.
  No evictions but regarding balance owed to another property that's from a few years back? I'm in desperate need to finding a place as I'm about to… (Nextdoor University Ave)

• Target posted a job opening for On-Demand: Guest Advocate (Cashier), General Merchandise, Fulfillment, Food and Beverage, Style (T0069) in West Des Moines. Apply here.
• Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Loss Prevention Clerk in West Des Moines. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near West Des Moines here.

Ok West Des Moines! 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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