Iowa City Weirdness — And Other Picks from Our Iowa Patches

Iowa City is a tough place to beat when it comes to weird news, and this week was no exception, as Local Editor Stephen Schmidt can attest. He wrote about a guy who was arrested for "criminal mischief with the cheese," which you need to read in full to fully appreciate — or not.

The big news in Cedar Falls, still, has revolved around UNI. Local Editor Alison Gowans has been covering the university like a blanket, and this week told us how its president and provost have been defending cuts.

Ames Local Editor Jessica Miller wants to know: What would residents and business owners do with a particular empty building on Northridge Parkway? We'll be doing more questioning about empty spaces in all of our Patches, so weigh in now, Ames, and have some say about your city.

Tallgrass Grocery Co-op in West Des Moines is looking for some help, reports Local Editor Beth Dalbey. As Tallgrass general manager Tim Clark tells it, the business in the tightly knit Valley Junction area isn't going under — but it needs more traffic to thrive.

In Johnston, Local Editor Ashlee Kieler told city residents why they can count on paying an extra $69 per year, and she, and the city, welcomed Tim Deatrick as the newest senior pastor at First Baptist Church.

Scott Raynor, Marion Patch local editor, reported that the group behind the Cedar Rapids Extended Sales tax has called it quits. And he told a great story about Marion's David Wendell's presentation of Iowa's Civil War heroes.

Urbandale Local Editor Anne Carothers-Kay told residents — and those passing through town — why they better be buckled while they're behind the wheel. She also told us about a very cool Urbandale mom and inventor who could use your help.

Everybody's a critic? They are in Brookview Elementary's third-grade classes. Waukee's local editor, Jody Gifford, gave the kids free rein to call them how they see them when it comes to nearby eateries. She also wrote an informative story about why some of the people eluding police right now are doing so with full tanks of gas.

Finally, let's leave you with a soft and cuddly story, courtesy of Megan VerHelst, Ankeny local editor. We'll give you one hint: It's an "Irish" video that's sort of catty.