Your Ames Voice

Thursday, June 4, 2026

June 04, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Happy Thursday!

We’ve had an eventful week with Tuesday’s primaries. I had the chance to help our interns cover the results, which can be found in today’s newsletter.

I’m excited to say we met a personal goal of mine: having an abundance of stories to share in the newsletter. We’re lucky to not only have two wonderful interns, plus other volunteers and reporters, but also to have such an engaged and supportive audience — thank you.

Our top story is a look at the current and future operations of the city's aging power plant.

In other news, there’s a photo preview of the new indoor aquatic center, Ames schools begin a new program that prepares students for life after high school, and the primary winners — including the county, state and federal levels — have been determined.

In sports, the Ames Little Cyclones girls softball team's winning streak ended last week, and in Community Voices, the spotlight is on Daniel McCarthy, who installed the county's first steam plant.

Also, we have obituaries on our website. They are free to submit and read. If you have one to publish, use this submission form.

Correction: In Tuesday’s Ames, Set, Go!, the start time for the Roosevelt Summer Sunday concert was incorrectly listed. It begins at 7 p.m.

Thank you for your continued support,


Amber Mohmand, News Editor
[email protected]

Top Story

Director of Electric Services Donald Kom stands in the control room of the Ames Municipal Power Plant. | Photo by Bill Monroe

A deep dive into the future of the Ames Municipal Power Plant

by Bill Monroe | Staff Reporter | Published on June 2, 2026

Ames residents see the massive structure at the end of Main Street and most recognize it as the Ames Municipal Power Plant, part of Ames Electric Services. It’s been there in some form since 1896, reliably providing power for Ames residents and businesses.

But the plant is now experiencing a generational transformation. The Ames Voice recently toured the plant with Director of Electric Services Donald Kom to learn more about it and its future.

Kom’s department includes 80 employees. Of those, 41 people work inside the plant. The citizens of Ames own the plant that serves 28,000 customers — as measured by the number of electric meters. Most of those customers are within city limits.

No property tax dollars are used to fund the plant, which generates revenue primarily from energy sales to customers and selling excess power to other utilities.

 

The Ames Voice thanks its advertisers. | Become one

 

City of Ames

Parks and Recreation

Photos: First look at the new Fitch Indoor Aquatic Center

by Bill Monroe | Staff Reporter

Ames residents got their first look inside the new Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center during an open house May 30, giving the public a chance to explore the facility before its full opening.

Ames Schools

New Ames school framework aims to prepare students for careers, lifelong learning

by Lara Jones | Staff Reporter

The Ames Community School District is rolling out a new program to prepare students for life after high school by curating job experiences and elevating academic success.

 

More from City of Ames

Civic Calendar

Mon: Story County Conservation Board, 5:30 p.m., Story County Conservation Center, McFarland Park
Mon: Historic Preservation Commission Meeting, 6 p.m., Council Chambers, Ames City Hall
Tue: Board of Supervisors, 10 a.m., Administration Building (Nevada)
Tue: Ames City Council, 6 p.m., Council Chambers, Ames City Hall
Wed: Zoning Board of Adjustment, 6 p.m., Council Chambers, Ames City Hall

Election

Iowa Primaries

Here are the candidates who will be on the ballot this November

by Lara Jones | Staff Reporter

Ballots cast in the Iowa 2026 primary on Tuesday revealed which candidates will represent their party for state and federal offices in the upcoming general election on Nov. 3.

Sports

Girls Softball

Comets rally in 6th to defeat Little Cyclones, 7-4

by Davin Bakerink | Staff Reporter

ALLEMAN — The Ames Little Cyclones saw their unbeaten streak come to an end Friday night as North Polk scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally for a 7-4 victory.

Community Voices

People of Ames

Ames Notables: Daniel McCarthy

by Ames History Museum | Contributor

Daniel McCarthy, a prominent Ames citizen, was born in Ontario, Canada. In 1856, he moved to Story City (then called Fairview) and installed the first steam plant in the county in a sawmill owned by Mr. House.

 

More from Community Voices

In Other News