🌱 Patch AM: Where West Des Moines Valley lands in the newest 5A rankings

Good morning West Des Moines! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Where West Des Moines Valley lands in the newest 5A rankings
• Why Bravo Italian Kitchen suddenly closed its West Des Moines location
• How a West Des Moines park became Iowa's clean-water rallying point

Also on today's calendar: Blue Plate Mystery Dinner & Auction and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Why are crows so alert and curious? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Sunday: Cooler with a few showers, with a high of 68 and low of 57 degrees.
• Monday: Showers and a heavier t-storm, temps: high: 79, low: 66.
• Tuesday: Showers and a heavier t-storm, with a high of 72 and low of 59 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• IGHSAU volleyball rankings for 9/10/26 (1630kcjj.com) — West Des Moines Valley's volleyball team is ranked eighth in Iowa's latest Class 5A poll, keeping the Tigers firmly in the statewide conversation. The new IGHSAU rankings also show how nearby powers like Waukee Northwest, Dallas Center-Grimes and Ankeny are stacking up, giving West Des Moines fans a clear picture of the competition this season.
   

• Bravo Italian Kitchen closes several restaurants (nrn.com) — A Bravo Italian Kitchen location in West Des Moines has closed, part of a wider wave of shutdowns for the Italian restaurant chain after its recent bankruptcy. The company has been shrinking nationwide, with multiple Bravo and Brio locations shuttered as management tries to stabilize the struggling casual-dining brands.
   

• Water quality and cancer are top of mind for many Iowa voters. This new coalition is calling for change (iowapublicradio.org) — A new "Protect Water Prevent Cancer" campaign just launched at Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines, pushing state leaders for stronger protections against carcinogens in Iowa's water. Policy experts, health professionals, and farmers say cleaner water and lower cancer rates are a bipartisan priority, and they're urging residents to contact lawmakers and support nature-based farming solutions.
   

📸 Around West Des Moines

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🗓 Upcoming Events in West Des Moines

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Monday September 14
• Alpha →
  Valley Church, 4343 Fuller Rd, West Des Moines
  5:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Tuesday September 15
• Regroup →
  Valley Church, 4343 Fuller Rd, West Des Moines
  10:00 am
• Dad's Connection Group →
  The Gathering, 4343 Fuller Rd, West Des Moines
  7:30 pm
Wednesday September 16
• CrossTrainers →
  Valley Church Chapel, 4343 Fuller Rd, West Des Moines
  6:30 am
• Middle School Wednesday Night →
  Valley Community Center, 4444 Fuller Rd, West Des Moines
  5:30 pm
Saturday September 19
• 2026 Art Center Gala →
  Val Air Ballroom, 301 Ashworth Rd, West Des Moines
  6:00 pm
Sunday September 20
• Speakers Bureau: Diversity in Iowa: The Case of Perry →
  West Des Moines Public Library, 4000 Mills Civic Pkwy, West Des Moines
  3:00 pm
Monday September 21
• Alpha →
  Valley Church, 4343 Fuller Rd, West Des Moines
  5:00 pm
• Hand in Hand Mom's Support Group →
  The Gathering, 4343 Fuller Rd, West Des Moines
  6:30 pm
Tuesday September 22
• Mom's Night Out at Pause Studio →
  Pause West Des Moines, 7120 University Avenue, West Des Moines
• Regroup →
  Valley Church, 4343 Fuller Rd, West Des Moines
  10:00 am
Saturday October 3
• Blue Plate Mystery Dinner & Auction →
  Cass County Community Building, 805 W 10th St, Atlantic
  5:00 pm

📣 West Des Moines Shout Outs!

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.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making West Des Moines PatchAM possible:

• Tech Stack Digital Solutions — (515) 855-6499

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• About a month ago I made a post here about our mama foster cat, who raised her own six kittens plus a little stray.
  Her babies have all been adopted in the time we've had her, and as of yesterday, she has too. By us. She's staying here. We were hoping she would… (Nextdoor Hamlet)

• P.F. Chang's China Bistro posted a job opening for Line Cook in West Des Moines. Apply here.
• Planet Fitness posted a job opening for Overnight Closer in West Des Moines. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near West Des Moines here.

🗞 Nearby News

Clive

• Ferrell Injury Law - United States Firm (bestlawyers.com)
• Iowans warned about cleanup, repair scams after severe storms (kcci.com)

Urbandale

• 4744 173rd St, Urbandale, IA 50323 (zillow.com)
• Mother advocates for kindness on Suicide Prevention Day after son's tragic death due to bullying (weareiowa.com)
• 3 takeaways from Valley's win over Urbandale (amestrib.com)

Ok West Des Moines! 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: They start each day with a cup of caw-fee. (Thank you Curt K. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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