Hello again Waukee! We're bringing you the latest town highlights. Don't miss out, keep going! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Today's riddle: What has a neck but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Waukee High School Lockdown Lifted After Gun Report Found No Threat (ground.news) — Waukee schools briefly went into lockdown Friday morning after a report of someone with a gun near Waukee High School, but police later confirmed there was no active threat. Waukee High and Prairieview quickly returned to normal operations once officers and Westcom Dispatch determined no weapon was found, though a large emergency response surrounded the campus.
2. Meta Settlement, Des Moines Budget Cuts, Skydiver Recovery and Waukee Coach Suspension (westerniowatoday.com) — Waukee readers should know their high school head football coach, Gabriel Bakker, is suspended for the first two games after an OWI arrest, with assistant coach Matt Jeter stepping in. The broader roundup also covers Iowa's Meta settlement money, Des Moines' proposed budget cuts, and a Knoxville skydiver's recovery.
3. Cities grapple with uncertainty and concern as they gear up for budget season under new property tax law (iowapublicradio.org) — Waukee officials say the new state property tax cap will likely slow city hiring but expect strong new construction to mostly offset revenue losses, keeping residents' bills relatively stable. The law's 2% general-fund cap and new homestead exemption are already forcing many Iowa cities to cut services, raise fees, or delay projects as they prepare budgets for 2027 and beyond.
4. Pella High School given all clear after bomb threat determined to be fake (kcci.com) — Waukee residents should know that local schools were locked down Friday after a report of an armed person near Waukee High School and Prairieview, but no weapon or injuries were found and classes resumed. The same report also describes a fake bomb threat at Pella High and explains Iowa's tougher felony penalties for dangerous swatting calls.
5. 3 takeaways from Ankeny's Iowa HS football win over Waukee Northwest (desmoinesregister.com subscription) — Waukee Northwest's football team opened its season with a hard-fought 28–20 loss to Ankeny, despite preseason expectations for the Wolves. The game highlighted big plays from Ankeny's ground attack and a standout two-way performance by senior Dawson Whitinger, while Waukee Northwest battled through key injuries and still moved the ball effectively.
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
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.
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
Ok Waukee! 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: A bottle (Thank you Netty W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Waukee Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.