Skip to Main Content
Mid-Iowa Community News

Ames Voice

Ames Voice

Mid-Iowa Community News

Ames Voice

City of Ames

Ames City Council

City council reviews public nuisance ordinance

by Bill Monroe, Reporter
Published July 24, 2025
The city’s new public nuisance ordinance, which includes rules on outdoor storage, overgrowth and campers, led to an increase in complaints in its first year. City staff received 996 complaints in 2024 compared to 826 the previous year.
Future site of Ames Animal Shelter

City moves closer to approving new animal shelter

by Bill Monroe, Reporter
Published July 23, 2025
The Ames City Council moved a step closer to spending $588,000 to hire architects to design a new animal shelter at 2715 Dayton Ave. The project received a major boost from a $3 million anonymous donation and will replace the old, outdated shelter at 325 Billy Sunday Road.
Rummage RAMPage started in 2016 as a way for used goods to find new homes instead of going into the landfill.

Your trash is someone else’s treasure at Rummage RAMPage

by Kyle Werner, Reporter
Published July 23, 2025
In Ames, your trash can easily become someone else’s treasure. This weekend marks the beginning of Rummage RAMPage, a nine-day long sale at the Ames Intermodal Facility parking ramp where used furniture and housewares are saved from the landfill and find their new homes as mid-summer leases expire and students move to and from Ames.
A rendering of the future location of Friendship Ark and The Arc of Story County.

JAX campus gets new life as hub for area nonprofits

by Kyle Werner, Reporter
Published July 23, 2025
The three Ames nonprofits Friendship Ark, the Arc of Story County and Overflow, are coming together to take over the JAX Outdoor Gear campus, 4723 Lincoln Way. The sporting goods store will close later this summer after 70 years. The nonprofits make the move to expand services and space, which will operate as administrative offices, meeting space, recreational facilities and a new thrift store.
A sign in front of what used to be Mullet's shows a new restaurant, Patio Bar & Grill, will soon open in West Ames.

New Mexican restaurant to fill vacancy in west Ames

by Kyle Werner, Reporter
Published July 22, 2025
A sign with margaritas and a palm tree has been erected in front of Dakota Crossing, signaling a new tenant for the space suddenly vacated by Mullet’s in April. Juan Dominguez, who owns other Mexican restaurants in Iowa, hopes to open Patio Bar & Grill before the end of the summer.
Ames Community School District office located on 24th Street.

School board to have 4 openings this fall, hears of testing changes

by Kyle Werner, Reporter
Published July 16, 2025

Four seats will open on the Ames School Board for the 2025 election. Along with the four openings announced at Monday’s board meeting, there was news of other changes to the Ames Community School...

Ames City Councilpersons Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, left, Gloria Betcher and Amber Corrieri announced recently they will seek reelection in November.

3 city council members announce reelection bids

by Anthony Capps, Reporter
Published July 15, 2025

Ames City Council members Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, Gloria Betcher and Amber Corrieri have announced they'll seek reelection in November. The incumbents’ seats are up for reelection on the six-member...

A look at downtown Ames looking west on Main Street from the Douglas Avenue corner from the 1920s or early '30s. (Provided by Ames Public Library)

4 fun facts about the history of Ames

by Kyle Werner, Reporter
Published July 9, 2025

What began as a platted piece of land in 1864, the city of Ames grew from its humble beginnings into a bustling university town. With beginnings dating back to 1864, after the founding of what would...

Mexican restaurant La Casa Maya, 631 Lincoln Way, was denied renewal of its liquor license at the July 8 meeting of the Ames City Council.

City council denies liquor license renewal for La Casa Maya

by Bill Monroe, Reporter
Published July 9, 2025
The Ames City Council voted to deny the liquor license renewal for La Casa Maya restaurant, located at 631 Lincoln Way, after it failed too many alcohol compliance checks.
Members of the Ames City Council met in regular session July 8 to consider a modified agenda of topics. However, due to a power outage at city hall, the meeting had to be held online with several items tabled until future meetings.

City approves sending solid waste to Carroll County through 2047

by Bill Monroe, Reporter
Published July 9, 2025
As the city moves away from its current waste-to-energy system, which burns trash to make electricity, for a new approach that focuses more on recycling and sending leftover waste to landfills, the Ames City Council voted Tuesday to approve a deal to send the city’s solid waste to Carroll County’s landfill from 2027 to 2047.
Kids (and grown-ups) eagerly wait for a refreshing splash to beat the Fourth of July heat.

Ames celebrates Independence Day

by Amber Mohmand, Reporter
Published July 7, 2025
Red, white and blue flooded the streets for a festive Fourth of July weekend, with fireworks lighting up the night Thursday and the parade bringing crowds out on Friday.
Kate Solko puts herbs out for sale at the June 28 Ames Farmers' Market.

Farmers’ Market vendor spotlight: Root to Rise Farm

by Kyle Werner, Reporter
Published June 30, 2025
Beets, leeks, herbs and an array of leafy greens ready for your table can be found at the Root to Rise Farm booth at the Ames Main Street Farmers' Market.