Sex Offender, House Explosion, Obama, Holiday Weather and the Best Idea Ever: Pick of the Patches

The Patch community includes nine sites in Iowa. Here are some of what was shared on our Patches around the state over the past week.

A house explosion in Waukee jolted some residents and destroyed the home, but things could have been much worse. Local Editor Jody Gifford of the resident and of her small dog.

In Urbandale, Local Editor Anne Carothers-Kay but didn't -- only to be located four years later.

Need a last-minute tip for a short holiday trip in Iowa?

President Obama kicked off his Iowa campaign at the State Fairgrounds. Carothers-Kay of his stop, the first of many expected by both presidential candidates leading to the November election.

Speaking of which … Johnston Local Editor Ashlee Kieler has been named to the Iowa Women for Obama Steering Committee.

After Ankeny Local Editor Megan Verhelst wrote about a proposed $78.3 million athletic complex, citizen comments began flowing into Patch and still haven't stopped. You can .

Our West Des Moines local editor, Beth Dalbey, . This week, challenger Jeff Mullen cried foul when the president of Iowa State Bar Association requested that Mullen's ads about gay marriage be pulled because they are "false and defamatory." Keep an eye on this one.

Heading out east, Marion Local Editor Scott Raynor reports this holiday weekend, with the National Weather Service issuing a hazardous weather outlook for the region.

Also, be sure to check this out from Raynor:

More good news out of Cedar Falls, . For the second time this month, Cedar Falls High School has been ranked one of the top schools in Iowa by a national news organization.

And finally, from Iowa City, Local Editor Stephen Schmidt says . The schedule for this year's fun summer music series has been released.