Your Ames Voice

Thursday, July 16, 2026

July 16, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Happy Thursday!

I hope everyone is staying cool and hydrated during this July heatwave. My favorite method to beat the heat is a tasty iced drink or treating myself to some ice cream. 🍦

In today’s newsletter, our top story is about Reiman Gardens’ new baby gnome, who needs a “gname.”

Also, the city council delayed its decision on whether to approve or reject a data center and decided to stain the indoor aquatic center, even though the contractor says it may sue the city over the fix.

A vet is offering mobile euthanasia services so families can say goodbye to their pets at home, and the Ames girls softball season ended Saturday with a loss to Des Moines Roosevelt. Community Voices profiles Dakins Lake, a great place for camping and stargazing.

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Amber Mohmand, News Editor
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Top Story

Reiman Gardens recently unveiled its new permanent baby gnome (who still needs a name). (Photo: Rick Bartosh/Reiman Gardens)

by Fiona Winn

Reiman Gardens recently welcomed a new baby.

The public gardens unveiled a new permanent baby gnome sculpture last week as part of its 2026 “Big and Small” exhibit.

Unveiled during an “ungnoming” ceremony, the baby sculpture sits right next to Elwood, the world’s largest concrete gnome, and gives visitors a new garden attraction to see.

Garden officials said the addition was an excellent fit for this year’s exhibit.

“We thought that a baby gnome would be the perfect complement to Elwood,” said Andrew Gogerty, the marketing and communications director for Reiman Gardens. “We already have a big piece in Elwood, so it just made sense to add a small piece to go along with him.”

 

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News

City Council
by Bill Monroe

The Ames City Council delayed a decision about a proposed data center until representatives get more answers to residents’ concerns that range from noise to rising utility costs.

 

City of Ames
by Lara Jones

Families can give their pets a final goodbye in the comfort of their home after a mobile euthanasia service expands throughout central Iowa.

 

More from Story County

🏛️ Ames is moving forward with the aquatic center fix despite a legal threat from the contractor.
🚧 Summer road construction is reshaping traffic on Bloomington Road and South 16th Street.

 

Civic Calendar

Tue: Board of Supervisors — 10 a.m., Administration Building (Nevada)
Thu (July 23) : Civil Service Commission — 8:15 a.m., Council Chambers, Ames City Hall
Thu (July 23): Ames Human Relations Commission — 5:30 p.m., Room 235, Ames City Hall

Arts & Entertainment

Ames Events
by Lara Jones

The Ames annual road race Midnight Madness returned for its 55th year of 5K fun last Friday, bringing folks back to its summer Ames tradition.

 

More from A&E

🖼️ David Schmitz was names as the new director and chief curator of University Museums.

Sports

Girls Softball
by Jared Larson

The Ames girls softball season came to an end Saturday as the Little Cyclones were shut out 8-0 by No. 10 Des Moines Roosevelt in Class 5A – Region 3 postseason action.

 

More from Sports

🏈 Former Cyclone Andrew Mevis added 17 points for Green Bay in its victory over the Iowa Barnstormers.

Community Voices

Story County Conservation
by Jim Colbert

In 1960, Dakins Lake was the first park acquired by Story County Conservation. Currently, the park consists of 103 acres, including two lakes totaling 20 acres.

 

More from Community Voices

🏛️ Maria Pearson helped transform protections for Native American burial sites.

In Other News

🏈 ISU athletics director Jamie Pollard plans to retire in June 2027 after more than 20 years at the helm. (ESPN)
🐔 The Coop Chicken Fingers is now expanding into Kansas and across Iowa (Ames Tribune)
🎁 An Ames couple keeps their son’s spirit alive through Warrior Wagons, which provides newly diagnosed childhood cancer families with practical items, toys and comfort goods. (Des Moines Register)
⚕️ Those with a brick or plaque at the Israel Family Hospice House are asked to fill out a form to retrieve them. (MGMC)

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