The Biggest Weekend of the Summer

Good morning Ankeny! Based on overall consumption & population, the average American eats 70 hot dogs per year. Meanwhile, Joey Chestnut ate almost that many (66) in 10 minutes on Saturday to win his 18th Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest.

In today’s digest:

Lets get started.

— Chase & Chance

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This Fourth of July weekend was a rollercoaster in every way imaginable. Heavy storms rolled through Thursday into Friday morning, dumping a reported near foot of rain on Ankeny & surrounding areas in less than 24 hours.

The near unprecedented amount of rain had a rippling effect on our town. Fourmile Creek, which runs along the east side of the metro and through parts of the Ankeny, rose roughly 12 feet in just 12 hours, coming close to record levels. Basements, streets, and I-35 flooded as flash flooding poured across our town.

One local business caught in the middle of it all was Nolte and Sons Lawn and Irrigation on SE Creekview Drive, located just east of the interstate. Rising water poured into their building early Friday, causing a fire to break out. Flash flooding kept crews from reaching the building right away, and it took a total of 13 hours to get the fire fully put out. The company posted that all their employees are safe, and that although it hurts, walls can be rebuilt and machinery can be replaced. Ultimately, the people are what matter. This is the kind of small business that becomes part of a town's fabric over 15 plus years. Ankeny has leaned on Nolte and Sons for a long time. Now might be a good time to lean back. (more)

Dustin Villhauer's Hy-Vee career started in the bottle room when he was 14 years old, and it's grown into something the company doesn't hand out lightly. He was named one of just 14 recipients nationwide of Hy-Vee's Legendary Customer Service Award this year, chosen from roughly 70,000 employees.

Ankeny Hy-Vee store director Andrew Cochran said the compliments about Villhauer outpace anything he's seen for a single employee, with customers writing in unprompted, letter after letter, to praise how he goes out of his way for people. Cochran pointed to one example that stuck with him: Villhauer once drove out on his own time to get medicine to a patient who couldn't make it to the pharmacy.

Villhauer credits the people around him for making the honor possible, and says showing up each day to be a bright spot for someone who isn't feeling well is what keeps him going. His photo will soon ride around on a Hy-Vee semi truck as a reminder of what everyday kindness looks like. (more)

Dowling Catholic broke things open with an eight-run outburst Wednesday, building what looked like a comfortable lead over No. 2 Centennial. By the bottom of the seventh, the Jaguars were down four runs, on their final out, and staring at an upset loss.

Then it all came apart for Dowling. Ava Faber kept the inning alive with a single, Dowling committed an error on a routine grounder, and Mady Ott turned that into a three-run homer to cut the deficit to one. A walk and a wild pitch moved the tying run into scoring position, and Delaney Wyble hit a triple to tie it at 8-8. Four runs while being one out away from a loss that never came.

Centennial wasn't done. Kori Lincicum, who'd thrown three scoreless innings, led off the eighth with a double that scored pinch-runner Lydia Lacey for an electric 9-8 win.

The victory pushed Centennial to 32-2 on the year, a half-game up on Waukee Northwest for first in the CIML, with a team home run total of 77… already a state record. The Jaguars host Valley Thursday for a conference doubleheader. Keep it rollin’ ladies! (more)

A year ago, Tate Duax was tearing it up as a senior at Ankeny Centennial, riding a two-goal outing against Iowa City High into a state championship game appearance. The Jaguars fell short against Waukee Northwest, but Tate closed the year with 28 goals and a Gatorade Player of the Year award. Instead of taking a breather before heading off to Northeastern, he's suiting up this summer for the Des Moines Menace, part USL League Two… Right alongside his older brother, Ty.

The two shared the pitch at Centennial, two years apart, and the sibling rivalry never really left. Ty admits the competition with his little brother keeps him sharp, and both are hoping to share the field together again soon in a Menace uniform, chasing a bit of that high school magic one more time.

Catch the Duax brothers in action! Check out the Menace's schedule at menacesoccer.com and go grab a seat at Mediacom Stadium sometime this summer. (more)

Water Dodgeball @ Centennial Park - Cool off at the Centennial Park Shelter. Teams of 15 go head-to-head with water-soaked sponges for the ultimate summer throwdown! For grades 5–12, choose either the 11am or 1pm session. (info)

Granny Square Crafts @ Public Library - A hands-on crochet session where you'll make your own multicolor granny square and discover all the projects it can grow into! Yarn and crochet hook provided, no experience necessary. 6pm (info)

DJ Bingo @ The Other Place - Free, weekly bingo with… A DJ! 7pm (info)

Bingo Night @ Chick-fil-A - Come hungry, leave a winner. Only the first 100 guests get in on the fun! 9-10am

Beats & Eats @ Market & Pavilion - A fun Thursday evening featuring live music from Brad and Kate, mini golf, airbrush art with Leanne Otting, parkour with Paul Hubbard, and activities with the Ankeny Art Center. Plus food trucks from Amigos, Happy Day K-Street, Main Street Cafe and Bakery, and Outside Scoop, with drinks from the Iowa Beer Bus! 5-7:30pm

Island Art Camp @ Kids Create - Dive into a 2-day Moana-inspired Art Camp on July 9th–10th. K–4th graders will explore a variety of art mediums, learn new techniques, and complete cool island-themed projects, with free play, snack time, and half the Moana movie with popcorn each afternoon built right into the day! Tuition is $110, led by Rock Creek Elementary art teacher Mrs. Jetmund. 9am - 3pm (info)

Community Night @ The Outside Scoop - Show the flyer linked below to have 20% of your purchase donated to Breakthrough T1D. Supporting life-changing research and advocacy for those living with type 1 diabetes! Bring your friends, family, and sweet tooth, because every scoop makes a difference. 2-8pm (link)

Summerfest Carnival - The Carnival opens! Go ride, spin, and scream your way through all the classic rides, games, and carnival fun you look forward to all year long! 4-9pm

🎸Orphan Annie & The Hot Mess @ The District - 4-6pm

🎸The Schmidt Brothers @ The District 6:30 - 8:30pm

🎸Not Quite Brothers @ The District - 9-11pm

AYP Family Fun Night @ Market & Pavilion - Kick off SummerFest weekend with free, family-friendly games and fun presented by Holt Plumbing and Heating! Don't miss the Annual Kiddie Parade themed "Jingle in July" presented by St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic School. Registration at 5:30pm, judging at 6pm, and the parade rolling at 6:30pm.

Taste of Hope 5k & Kids Fun Run @ Lutheran Church of Hope - 5K kicks off at 8am starting and ending at Hope Ankeny, with a Kids' Fun Run (ages 11 and under) in the church parking lot at 9am, no registration required for the little ones! (info)

Kiwanis PancakeFest @ Ankeny Bandshell - Fuel up for the SummerFest Parade with all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, and a drink for just $8 per person, right at the Bandshell on the parade route! Grab-and-go breakfast available too if you're on the move. 7-10:30am

SummerFest - Start your Saturday at the Grand Parade starting at 9am. The carnival, vendors, and Entertainment Garden open at 11am, the Lip Sync Contest kicks off at 11:15am, and live bands take the stage at 1pm for a full afternoon of music and good times. ankenysummerfest.com

🎸School of Rock @ 1-2pm

🎸BS & The Liars @ 2:30-4:30pm

🎸Bad Friends @ 5-6:30pm

🎸Rebel Queens @ 7-8:30pm

🎸Bird Child @ 9-11pm

Summerfest - The Entertainment Garden, carnival, vendors, and live bands in The District all firing up at 1pm for another full afternoon of fun! Cap the weekend the right way with fireworks lighting up the sky at 9:30pm. ankenysummerfest.com

🎸The Sons of Gladys Kravitz @ 1pm-2:30pm

🎸The Sheet @ 3pm-4:30pm

🎸Dirty Champagne @ 5pm-6:30pm

🎸Rival 5 @ 7:00pm-9pm

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See you next week.