🌱 Patch AM: Will Walnut Creek Campus really close after next school year?

Coffee in hand, West Des Moines? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Will Walnut Creek Campus really close after next school year?
• How a new UnityPoint COO from West Des Moines will shape care
• How a West Des Moines case is driving Iowa’s Roblox crackdown

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Find a T-Mobile store near West Des Moines.

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Very windy; colder, with a high of 42 and low of 9 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Breezy in the afternoon, temps: high: 35, low: 30.
• Saturday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 42 and low of 19 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Community calls on West Des Moines schools to delay Walnut Creek closure (kcci.com) — Parents, students, and alumni are pressing the West Des Moines School Board to delay closing Walnut Creek Campus, saying its alternative program can’t be quickly replaced. District leaders argue a new model at Valley High and earlier interventions would better address systemwide issues. The board is set to decide Dec. 12, with community feedback shaping any transition plans.
   

2. KXEL Morning News for Tue. Dec. 16, 2025 (kxel.com) — UnityPoint Health, based in West Des Moines, has promoted Jenni Friedly to Chief Operating Officer, putting a key health system leader in a role that affects care access and operations across Iowa. The broader news roundup also covers Dubuque ending its airline subsidy, Iowa National Guard casualties in Syria, and a historic Cedar Rapids bakery building gaining new life.
   

3. Iowa lawsuit against Roblox seeks better child safety features (desmoinesregister.com subscription) — An Iowa lawsuit against Roblox highlights a disturbing case involving a West Des Moines girl who allegedly met an abductor on the platform and was later assaulted in Tennessee. Attorney General Brenna Bird accuses Roblox of weak child-safety protections and seeks stronger safeguards or a ban from doing business in Iowa, along with financial penalties. Parents here may want to reassess how their kids use the game.
   

4. Top 10 North American grain majors (world-grain.com) — Heartland Co-op, headquartered in West Des Moines, ranks among North America’s top grain majors, with 72 grain facilities and more than 157 million bushels of storage. The list compares the continent’s largest grain companies by capacity, highlighting how significant this local cooperative is in the broader agricultural economy.
   

📸 Around West Des Moines

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• CHOW Chamber Happenings, Opportunities & Wisdom
  Country Lane Lodge , 29300 Prospect Ave , Adel
  11:30 am
• Clive Emerging Leaders: Getting It Together: Build Your Life Admin System
  ServiceMaster by Rice - Construction Division , 7605 University Ave , Clive
  1:00 pm
• Band Concerts; 5/6th gr, 7/12th Jazz, Concert
  Van Meter Comm School District Van Meter, IA 50261
  5:00 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 (Junior Varsity)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  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 Roosevelt DM Lincoln Fort Dodge (Varsity)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  5:30 pm
• Santa Comes To Town
  Edencrest at The Legacy , 2901 Cedar St , Norwalk
  6:00 pm
• Park Board Meeting
  Waukee, IA Calendar , 230 W. Hickman Rd. , Waukee
  6:00 pm
• Board of Adjustment Meeting
  Johnston, IA Calendar , 6221 Merle Hay Road PO Box 410 , Johnston
  6:30 pm
• Canceled - Board of Adjustment Meeting
  Johnston, IA Calendar , 6221 Merle Hay Road PO Box 410 , Johnston
  6:30 pm

Friday December 19

• Girls Basketball: Des Moines East vs Ottumwa (JV1)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  4:45 pm

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

• Hi Super Bowl fans!
  What's your favorite part about the Super Bowl? Do you remember a great game, host a party or did you attend the Super Bowl? Or do you just watch the… (Nextdoor Coachlight Drive)
• Hi neighbors!
  Yes, I was the crazy lady standing in Woodland yelling at a group of high school boys. My apologies for that. I witnessed one of the boys get out of… (Nextdoor Valley West Drive)

• Signet Jewelers, Ltd. posted a job opening for Maintenance - Jared Jewelers - Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines. Apply here.
• Whole Foods Market, Inc. posted a job opening for In-Store Shopper - Part Time - Seasonal 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 don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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