🌱 Patch AM: Ankeny family remembers the life of Aurelia Greenig

Hi Ankeny! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Ankeny family remembers the life of Aurelia Greenig
• Ankeny's own Max Pelham lands on elite national punter watch list
• Meet the woman who crushed Jethro's massive food challenge in Ankeny

Today's riddle: Why did the man leave his watch in the bank? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Humid with drenching t-storms, with a high of 80 and low of 63 degrees.
• Wednesday: Mostly cloudy and humid, temps: high: 80, low: 60.
• Thursday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 81 and low of 63 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Aurelia Greenig (mississippivalleypublishing.com) — Family and friends in Ankeny are mourning Aurelia Greenig, 88, who died August 1 in Kansas City but leaves close ties here through her daughter Cindy Long and granddaughter MacKenzie Long of Ankeny. Remembered as a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she is survived by children in Iowa and Missouri, grandchildren in several states, and three great-grandchildren, with another on the way. Private services are planned.
   

• SDSU Punter Max Pelham Names to FCS Preseason Watch List (gowatertown.net) — An Ankeny native is earning national attention on the football field: South Dakota State punter Max Pelham, a graduate student from Ankeny, has been named to the 2026 FCS Punter of the Year preseason watch list. After a standout 2025 season averaging 47.2 yards per punt and earning All-America honors, he's again in the running for the national award to be announced in December.
   

• Meet the award-winning competitive eater crushing area food challenges (pigeon605.com) — One of competitive eater Karen Meyer's most jaw-dropping feats happened right in Ankeny, where she conquered a massive multi-meat platter challenge at Jethro's BBQ with just 10 seconds to spare. The Brandon-based lab tech and mom has quickly built a reputation by smashing food challenges across Iowa and beyond, often turning five-pound-plus meals into personal records while balancing work, family, and intense training.
   

📸 Around Ankeny

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🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday August 18
• Music at the Market - Joe Demerath Music →
  Johnston, IA Calendar Johnston, IA 50131
  4:00 pm
• Girls Tennis: Oskaloosa vs North Polk (Varsity)
  West Elementary School Caldwell Park - Pella Tennis Courts
  5:00 pm
Wednesday August 19
• Johnston Middle School - Open House
  Johnston Comm School District Johnston, IA 50131
  4:00 pm
• MS/HS Welcome Back Nights
  Middle School Alleman, IA 50007
  4:00 pm
Thursday August 20
• Excel & Launch - Open House
  Johnston Comm School District Johnston, IA 50131
  4:00 pm
• Summit - Open House
  Johnston Comm School District Johnston, IA 50131
  4:00 pm
• Elementary Meet the Teacher
  Johnston Comm School District Johnston, IA 50131
  4:00 pm
• Library Board Meeting →
  Johnston, IA Calendar, 6700 Merle Hay Road, Johnston
  5:30 pm
• Football: North Polk vs Urbandale (Varsity)
  North Polk Comm School District Urbandale High School Frerichs Field
  6:30 pm
• Board of Adjustment Meeting →
  Johnston, IA Calendar, 6221 Merle Hay Road PO Box 410, Johnston
  6:30 pm
Friday August 21
• Girls Cross Country: PreSeason Scrimmage (Varsity)
  Middle School North Polk High School
  4:15 pm
• Boys Cross Country: Nevada vs North Polk (Varsity)
  Middle School North Polk High School
  4:15 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Looking for a lost cat, he is about 10, his name is Winston.
  My friend lives in the Redwood neighborhood (her cat) trying to see if anyone has seen him. He is very friendly but hard of hearing. Has a little bit… (Nextdoor Westwinds)
• Lawn mower stopped working and don't think I can limp the lawn much longer.
  Any teens in the neighborhood want to make a quick $40? front yard / back yard on NW 35th St Ankeny (Nextdoor NW 70th Ave)

• Hy-Vee Supermarket posted a job opening for Meat Clerk in Ankeny. Apply here.
• Fareway Stores, Inc. posted a job opening for Grocery Clerk (Oralabor Road) in Ankeny. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Ankeny here.

🗞 Nearby News

Johnston

• World Cup boost inspires push to get kids on field (who13.com)
• Identify yield-limiting factors (agrinews-pubs.com)

Polk City

• Here's how many people attended the Iowa State Fair on Saturday (desmoinesregister.com)
• 16 takeaways from the first week of Iowa high school football practice (desmoinesregister.com)
• State health officials confirm 11 new measles cases in Iowa (desmoinesregister.com)

Altoona

• A Fast Jet & A Faster Car Equals $200,000 (speedsport.com)

Ok Ankeny! 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: So he could save time! (Thank you Lorraine S. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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