Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How Ames residents can help track monarchs with just a smartphone
Also check out Roach Motel Zine Club — Kristin M Roach on the Ames Patch calendar
Hello Ames! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How Ames residents can help track monarchs with just a smartphone
- How an Ames teacher brings farm-to-table lessons into local classrooms
- Why Iowa State in Ames just ranked among America's best-value universities
Also on today's calendar: Loft Reserved.
Today's riddle: What did the Buffalo say when his son left? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
Today's Ames Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Ames Patch AM possible.
Find a T-Mobile store near Ames. 
- Sunday: Partly sunny and nice, with a high of 79 and low of 58 degrees.
- Monday: Cloudy most of the time, temps: high: 75, low: 60.
- Tuesday: Humid with a thunderstorm, with a high of 82 and low of 63 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• New tech, citizen reports to aid Iowa monarch migration research (who13.com) — Researchers in Ames are asking local residents and landowners to help track monarch butterflies as they migrate through Iowa by reporting roosting spots and using a new Bluetooth tagging app. Reiman Gardens staff say extra rain is boosting monarch numbers, and the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium will soon release tagged butterflies, giving Ames-area participants a chance to directly support cutting‑edge migration research. 
• The Lobe Rangers say conservation and commercial success go hand in hand (iowapublicradio.org) — Ames readers may recognize Anna Brooks, an Ames High School agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, who's featured for her award-winning farm-to-table lessons on Iowa Public Radio's Talk of Iowa. The episode also profiles three farmers calling themselves the Lobe Rangers, who argue conservation practices can boost both the land and farm profitability across the state.
• America's best value public universities in 2026 (localnews8.com) — Iowa State University in Ames has been ranked the No. 6 best-value public university in the country, highlighting strong graduation rates and earnings for graduates relative to cost. For Ames residents, that's a national nod to the hometown campus's affordability and outcomes, reinforcing the city's appeal to students and families weighing college options.
📸 Around Ames
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Ames
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Roach Motel Zine Club — Kristin M Roach →
Kristin M Roach Art, 138 Main St, Ames
4:00 pm
Friday September 11
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Loft Reserved →
Dog·Eared Books, 203 Main St, Ames
9:00 am
Tuesday September 15
📣 Ames Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Grace LIfe Church
North Polk Comm School District North Polk High School Auditorium
7:00 am - Girls Tennis: Carroll vs North Polk (Varsity)
Middle School North Polk High School Tennis Courts
4:00 pm - Volleyball: Roland-Story "Early Bird" Quad (Varsity)
Roland-Story Comm School District Roland-Story High School South Gym
5:00 pm - Girls Tennis: North Polk vs Boone (Varsity)
North Polk Comm School District Boone - McHose Park
4:15 pm - Girls Tennis: North Polk vs Boone (Level 2)
North Polk Comm School District Boone - McHose Park
4:15 pm - Girls Cross Country: Jaguar XC Invite (Level 2)
Middle School DMACC Ankeny Campus DMACC XC Course
5:00 pm - Volleyball: Volleyball Quad (Varsity)
Middle School Ankeny High School Main Gym
5:00 pm - Volleyball: (JV 2)
North Polk Comm School District Ankeny High School Aux Gym
5:00 pm - Girls Cross Country: Jaguar XC Invitational (Varsity)
Middle School DMACC Ankeny Campus DMACC XC Course
6:20 pm - HS Picture Day
Middle School Alleman, IA 50007
8:24 am
Sunday August 23
Monday August 24
Tuesday August 25
Wednesday August 26
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Does anyone have a recommendation for someone who could repair a Criterion dishwasher?
Apparently Greg of Greg's appliance repair is not longer in service. And I reached out to Crise in Madrid and they don't work on Criterion appliances… (Nextdoor Hillside Court) - Hey neighbors!
I'm the owner of Potent Technology, a local IT business right here in Ames. I started Potent because I wanted to offer another option for people who… (Nextdoor 215th St)
- Government Jobs posted a job opening for Adult Sports Officials/Umpires in Ames. Apply here.
- J. C. Penney Company, Inc. posted a job opening for Cashier - North Grand Mall in Ames. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Ames here.
🗞 Nearby News
Nevada
- New crop of Cubs begins title defense in Nevada (kcci.com)
- Director Douglas Beals Buys More Shares of Ames National Corp (A (gurufocus.com)
Boone
- Boone girls' tennis sweeps Fort Dodge (kwbg.com)
- Boone woman honors Midland linemen who saved her after fall (amestrib.com)
- CEAT Specialty to Launch Two Ag Tires at Farm Progress Show (moderntiredealer.com)
Ok Ames! 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: Bison! (Thank you Judy M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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