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Mid-Iowa Community News

Ames Voice

Ames Voice

Mid-Iowa Community News

Ames Voice

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Thunderstorms have brought about several watches and warnings to Story County so far this summer. (Stock photo)

Why so stormy? Iowa’s rainy summer brings severe weather to Ames

by Kyle Werner, Reporter
Published July 30, 2025
Iowa is known to have mood swings when it comes to weather, but this summer it seems to have gotten angrier than normal. In Ames, there has been heavy rain, storms and severe weather warnings for most of the month. The city has received more than 11 inches of rain just in July — a deviation of over 7 inches from average rainfall this time of year.
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 The project received a major boost from a $3 million anonymous donation and will replace the old, outdated shelter at 325 Billy Sunday Road.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.
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.