Sarah Emery moved to Story County around 1856 and in 1862, she was hired as the first schoolteacher for Ames, teaching students at the one-room Hoggatt School.
by Davin Bakerink, Staff Reporter Published April 8, 2026
The Iowa State Girls Basketball Tournament is where champions are crowned, Cinderella runs take shape and players carve their names into history. From the outside, it’s all about the games. From the media side, it’s about everything else.
Carole Sager Horowitz moved to Ames in 1961 and upon seeing limited opportunities for children to gain exposure to theater, co-founded Ames Children's Theater and became a promoter and advocate for the arts.
by Jim Colbert, Contributor Published March 18, 2026
Heading north out of Ames on County Highway R38 (“County Line Road”) one soon descends into the Ioway Creek valley. Immediately north of the creek on your right (east) is one of Story County Conservation’s newest public properties: Prairie Valley Preserve, which includes the contiguous “Landers Prairie.”
Dorothy Schwieder began teaching at Iowa State University in 1966 as the first and only female professor for the history department. She went on to authoring and editing a vast assortment of books and publications on Iowa history.
by Nolan Sagan, Contributor Published March 4, 2026
In Story County, EV registrations rose 26% last year to over 2,000. EV owners are enjoying lower fueling costs, less pollution, better performance, less maintenance and the convenience of at-home charging. However, the industry ran into headwinds over the past few months as federal EV subsidies were repealed.
William Ricketts came to Iowa in 1881 and after trying his hand at farming, he moved to law enforcement, which he would do for 26 years. He served as Ames' town marshal and Story County Sheriff over the years and was the first to wear an official officer uniform.
by Jim Colbert, Contributor Published February 18, 2026
There is a “little treasure” just east of I-35 and a bit north of 13th Street – Jim Ketelsen “Greenwing” Marsh. This 68-acre public area, acquired in 1987, commemorates the life of Jim Ketelsen, an outdoors person who tragically died while duck hunting in the Des Moines River.
Abbie Sawyer came to Ames in 1917 after studying at the University of Chicago and the Kindergarten Collegiate Institute of Chicago. She established the first public kindergarten classes in Ames.
Wes Buchele came to Ames in 1963 to be an agricultural engineering professor at Iowa State University. Having grown up on his family farm, Buchele was passionate and knowledgeable about everything in agriculture, particularly how to stay safe.
