POLK COUNTY NEWS
Diamond switch foiled at JC Penney in Des Moines
Des Moines police are trying to learn the name of a man who tried to steal a pair of diamond earrings from JC Penney using sleight of hand.
Rethink cuts, Des Moines school board told
Parents and students tell leaders that student achievement will lag without arts programs.
Fire does $30,000 damage to Des Moines duplex
Fire raced through the second floor of a duplex at 1523 Des Moines St. early Wednesday.
Des Moines woman says man exposed her to HIV
An 18-year-old Des Moines woman told police Monday that a man lied to her about being disease free before having sex with her.
Iowa Politics Insider: Branstad says he’ll do...
Former Gov. Terry Branstad’s campaign said Tuesday that he would participate with other Republican governor candidates in three debates before the June 8 primary - April 7 at KTIV in Sioux City, May 1 in Cedar Rapids and The Des Moines Register’s debate, which has yet to be scheduled.
Girl, 8, at center of stabbing investigation
An 8-year-old girl stabbed her uncle three times after her mother ordered the child to grab a knife during a fight at a west-side Des Moines apartment Monday morning, police said.
Fewer bus routes dropped in new plan
A handful of Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority bus routes were kept off the chopping block Tuesday following a payment from the city of Des Moines and an anticipated change to the agency’s debt service plan.
Blind pedestrian hit by bus sues DART
A blind Des Moines pedestrian who was injured in a 2008 bus crash alleges in a lawsuit that the driver had worked an "unsafe number of hours" in the days before the accident.
Ankeny council OKs budget plan; tax rate unchanged
The Ankeny City Council voted unanimously Monday to approve the proposed budget for fiscal 2010-11, which begins July 1.
Kates to lead Sixth Avenue renovation group
Alecia Kates has been named executive director of an organization that plans to renovate the Sixth Avenue corridor with improvements from Interstate Highway 235 to the Des Moines River bridge.
Aviva stays downtown in accord with D.M.
Aviva Investors North America plans to keep its headquarters in downtown Des Moines and add 100 high-paying jobs under a free-parking deal that was unanimously supported by the City Council on Monday.
D.M. police probe death of Down syndrome teen
Des Moines police are investigating the death of a 17-year-old girl with Down syndrome and health problems who had been left unattended in a bathtub.
Middle schoolers protest budget cuts
A Merrill Middle School teacher led dozens of her students in protest Monday against the Des Moines school district’s proposed budget cuts.
D.M. district urged to explore all options
The Des Moines school district’s plan for ways to cut $33 million from next year’s budget will lead people to flee the city and will make it difficult to attract businesses, residents repeatedly told school leaders Monday night.
welldone
Army National Guard Pvt. Tyler L. Malsom has graduated from the Infantryman One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. The training consists of Basic Infantry Training and Advanced Individual Training. He is the son of Peter and Lisa Malsom of Polk City and a 2008 graduate of North Polk Junior-Senior High School in Alleman.
Guest column from State Rep. Kevin Koester:...
The education budget will be ready for its first vote at the Capitol this week. It appears that K-12 schools and community colleges will see increases in some needed areas.
Guest column from State Sen. Larry Noble: Majority...
Last week proved to be very dysfunctional. We immediately went into session early on the morning of March 1 and after a few minutes recessed until the afternoon. We have discussed very few appropriation bills and held a few committee meetings, but little else.
Guest column from State Rep. Ralph Watts: Little...
Last week marked the close of the second funnel that is designed to cull the number of bills available for debate in the few remaining weeks of this year’s session. Any bill that hasn’t been passed out of committee in both chambers is automatically thrown overboard and is ineligible for further consideration - unless the leadership decides they want to resurrect it.
Guest column from Sen. Jerry Behn: Informed...
Last week was the second funnel week of the 2010 session. The funnel is the self-imposed deadline for bills to make it out of their respective committees of both the House and Senate, or they are no longer eligible to be addressed in this year’s session. Those that do survive the funnel are then eligible for full floor debate. Many bills are now eligible to be debated and I’ll try to keep you up-to-date on the ones that are controversial.
Guest column from State Rep. Erik Helland:...
Last week I had the honor and privilege to attend the presentation of a resolution honoring Capt. Daniel Whitten in the governor’s office. Whitten sacrificed his life serving in Afghanistan; he grew up in Grimes, graduated from Johnston High School, and subsequently West Point Military Academy. On behalf of our community, I want to thank the Whittens for their sacrifice and ask you all to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Election: Uncontested, Cirksena runs for Clive mayor
Scott Cirksena is running for mayor in an uncontested election Tuesday to fill the seat vacated by retiring Mayor Les Aasheim.
Crime Report - West Des Moines, Clive, Waukee
3100 block of Vine Street, Feb. 24 - Police arrested a 28-year-old Des Moines woman for possession of marijuana.
Crime Report - West Des Moines, Clive and Waukee
3320 Westown Parkway, Feb. 14 - Police arrested a 21-year-old Johnston man for trespassing at the Boom Boom Room. The man was asked to leave the property by security, and then by police. He allegedly refused and yelled an expletive at police instead.
Every School Every Thursday - West Des Moines,...
The West Des Moines school district won a $1,000 mini grant from the Iowa Arts Council. The money will be used to commission composer Matthew Armstrong to create a piece that will be performed May 11 by sixth-graders from the district’s elementary schools at the 2010 district sixth-grade honor festival. The piece will be the first to be commissioned at the elementary level.
Crime Report -- West Des Moines, Clive & Waukee
3650 Woodland Ave., Jan. 26 - Police charged a 17-year-old West Des Moines girl and a 16-year-old West Des Moines girl with disorderly conduct after the two got into a fight at Valley High School.
Well Done -- West Des Moines, Clive & Waukee
F. Warren Pitcher of West Des Moines, a senior volunteer with The Blood Center of Iowa, has been selected as the recipient of the Humana Starlight Award, honoring the efforts of senior citizens who volunteer in the Des Moines area. In recognition of his service, Humana awarded a one-time $10,000 grant to The Blood Center of Iowa.
Clive council candidate plans move to Texas
One of five candidates vying for two at-large seats on the Clive City Council plans to move to Texas at the end of the year.
Crime Report - West Des Moines, Waukee, Clive
5000 block of E.P. True Parkway, Oct. 21 - A West Des Moines woman reported a theft from her unlocked vehicle. A global positioning system was taken.
Waukee student learns of food issues
Lizzie Mueller, 16, of Waukee has a new view of hunger after taking part in this year’s Global Youth Institute as part of the recent World Food Prize Symposium.
Ugandan child soldier tells his story to Waukee...
It isn’t easy for Charles Opiro to talk about his story, but he’s willing to talk if it helps people understand.
Clive Citizen of the Year nominations are open
Clive, Ia. - The Clive Lions Club is seeking nominations for the 2009 Clive Citizen of the Year. Nominees should be Clive residents who have given their time for the betterment of Clive. The service may have been made over any number of years and is not limited to 2009
Waukee 9th-graders relish big victory over rival...
Waukee’s ninth-grade volleyball team ended its home season with a win on Oct. 13.
Crime Report -- West Des Moines, Clive, Waukee
5600 block of Mills Civic Parkway, Oct. 14 - Police arrested a 31-year-old West Des Moines man for driving with a suspended license.
W.D.M. plans to extend Raccoon River trail
The city of West Des Moines will pump $60,000 over three years into an extension of the Raccoon River Valley Trail.
World’s Strongest Man keeps bus load of kids...
Football player, weight lifter, professional wrestler, World’s Strongest Man.
W.D.M.’s church’s Pumpkin Party runs...
Organizers of the Great Pumpkin Party expect more than 5,000 pre-Halloween revelers for three nights of hayrack rides, inflatables, and fun and games Oct. 26-29 at Valley Church in West Des Moines.
W.D.M. district can cover cuts by state to...
West Des Moines school officials say they have enough cash on hand to cover a $4 million budget cut ordered by Gov. Chet Culver and there is no plan to raise property taxes as a result.
Waukee’s ’Seussical Jr.’ strikes a...
When Horton hears a Who, audiences at "Seussical Jr." are going to hear a lot of singing.
FBI: Man embezzled $1 million from firm
A Clive man accused of attempting to embezzle more than $1 million from a Des Moines company got as far as Bogota, Colombia, last week as federal investigators were closing in on him.
Clive man arrested for fraud after alleged $1M...
The finance director for a Des Moines-based temporary employment company is in federal custody in Florida following his arrest on a wire fraud charge stemming from his alleged embezzlement of more than $1 million, court records show.
Clive parks officials to review playground gear
The Clive Parks and Recreation Department will meet to review proposals for Walnut Ridge Park from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Clive City Hall Community Room, 1900 N.W. 114th St.
Southwoods fans get their game faces on
Ashlyn Niehaus, 8, of Clive has seen a lot of Waukee football and baseball games because of her brothers.
Valley High freshmen suspended for huffing...
When Lynn Doescher got the telephone call - school officials said her son had intentionally inhaled from a can of computer dust remover to get high - her memory locked on a recent conversation with a former West Des Moines Fire Department emergency worker.
Clive at-large candidates discuss buses, wind...
Five candidates will vie for two at-large seats on the Clive City Council in the Nov. 3 election. The seats are currently held by Paul Leighton, who is seeking re-election, and Ronni Begleiter, who will not run for another term.
Clive artist will display her work at Metro Arts...
Laurie Rhiner can’t remember a time when she didn’t draw. Art has always been a part of the Clive woman’s life.
Chefs will bring the heat to Billy Joe’s...
Al Bickell knew he wanted to change a few things when he bought the former Billy Joe’s Pitcher Show in West Des Moines earlier this year.
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