News Flash

JBS USA says it plans to spend $100 million to buy and expand an Ankeny production facility that Hy-Vee announced in April it was closing.

New Horizon Cuisine, a company that makes organic soups, broths and vegetable stocks for the food service industry, plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Ankeny.

The Iowa Association of Business and Industry and MidWestOne Bank announced today the winner of the 2025 Coolest Thing Made in Iowa competition: the CP770 cotton picker, manufactured by John Deere in Ankeny.

Today, at approximately 8:08 AM, the Ankeny Fire Department was dispatched to a residential structure fire in the 500 block of SW Ash Drive in the Uptown area of Ankeny.  The homeowner, who was home at the time of the fire, was alerted by a smoke alarm, smelled smoke, saw fire, and evacuated to a safe place before calling 911.

The Ankeny Fire Department arrived on-scene in under four minutes to find a well-involved fire coming from a rear-bedroom window and dense dark smoke throughout the residence. Crews immediately began a transitional attack, flowing water from the outside to begin extinguishing the fire, before entering the residence to fully extinguish the fire and aggressively search for any occupants or pets. No injuries were reported to the homeowner nor responding personnel, and the fire was brought under control within approximately 10 minutes. Firefighters were able to save two cats.

The Ankeny Fire Department reminds residents of the critical importance of having working smoke alarms, staying low while exiting a fire to avoid heat and smoke, and calling 911 only after safely evacuating to a secure location. In this incident, the smoke alarm that alerted the homeowner was installed by the Ankeny Fire Department as part of a Community Risk Reduction Campaign. In this video, there is a distinct line of heat and smoke, reinforcing why staying low during a fire can be lifesaving. 

The Ankeny Fire Department would like to thank these agencies for their assistance: Ankeny Police Department, Johnston-Grimes Metropolitan Fire District, Mid-American Energy, and the Polk County Sherriff’s Office Communications Center. The cause of the fire is under investigation and no other information is available at this time.   

The Ankeny Fire Department reminds everyone of these holiday safety tips:

• Water live Christmas trees daily and keep them away from heat sources. A dry tree can ignite quickly.
• Turn off holiday lights before leaving home or going to bed. Inspect cords for damage and avoid overloading outlets.
• Keep cooking areas clear and never leave food unattended while cooking or baking.
• Place space heaters at least 3 feet away from furniture, curtains, and decorations. Turn them off before sleeping.
• Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.
• Plan and practice a home fire escape plan with two ways out of every room and a designated meeting place outside.

Ankeny Fire Department Responds to Gas Leak at Ace Hardware

ANKENY, IOWA (Nov. 11, 2025) – Today, at approximately 2:35 PM, the Ankeny Fire Department was dispatched to a gas leak at Ace Hardware, located at 3020 SW Oralabor Road in Ankeny.  The 911 call came in from a company on-site that was doing maintenance on the propane filling station.  Initial reports from the company completing the maintenance work indicated that in the course of replacing a pump, a leak occurred just below a valve on the underground propane tank which had about 600 gallons of propane in it.      

When crews from the Ankeny Fire Department and Ankeny Police Department arrived, they found a white vapor cloud coming from the area of the propane filling station on the NW side of the Ace Hardware.   Crews immediately began to evacuate an adjacent neighborhood and cordoned off the area as a precaution.  In addition, crews evacuated the entire row of businesses at the location and shut off utilities to Ace Hardware, 1 Source Solar, and other suites. 

The Ankeny Fire Department dispatched the Des Moines Fire Department Hazardous Materials team to the scene and together, along with the propane company on-site, were able to mitigate the situation in about 4 hours.  Neighbors were allowed back into their homes, and the incident was turned back over to the property owners and the propane company.

The Ankeny Fire Department would like to thank these agencies for their assistance:  Ankeny Police Department, Johnston-Grimes Metropolitan Fire District, Des Moines Fire Department and the Polk County Sherriff’s Office Communications Center. 

The Ankeny City Council is pleased to announce Mike Schrock is the new city manager for the City of Ankeny, effective immediately. Schrock has served as the interim city manager since January and prior to that was the assistant city manager since 2021.

As assistant city manager, Schrock has played a key role in advancing major city projects, overseeing daily operations, and supporting Ankeny’s continued growth. With more than 20 years of public administration experience, including 12 years as a city manager in Iowa, he brings a strong background in leadership, strategic planning, and community development.

“Mike Schrock has been a steady, trusted leader for our City. During the past year as interim city manager, he demonstrated clear understanding of the Council's priorities, strong leadership with our staff, and a thoughtful approach to management. I am confident Mike's experience, integrity, and commitment to this community will serve Ankeny well into the future,” said Mayor Bobbi Bentz.

“I am excited to continue serving the Ankeny community as city manager. Together, with the leadership of the City Council, this past year has allowed our team to refocus and reprioritize our goals to continue to position Ankeny as an attractive place for residents, businesses and visitors,” said City Manager Mike Schrock. “I look forward to leading our team of dedicated employees through the complex challenges of providing services to a rapidly growing and dynamic community.”

Schrock was selected after a nationwide search. The City of Ankeny will begin recruiting for an assistant city manager to fill his former position.

The City of Ankeny is saddened to share the passing of former Mayor Merle Johnson, who served the community from 1998 to 2005.

“Merle guided Ankeny through a period of remarkable growth and change,” said Mayor Bobbi Bentz. “He cared deeply about this community and the people who call it home. We are grateful for his years of service and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”

Mr. Johnson’s tenure marked the City’s first major period of expansion. According to the 2005 special census, Ankeny’s population grew to 36,161, up from 27,117 in 2000. The City’s boundaries also expanded to 26.45 square miles. His leadership helped the city navigate the opportunities and challenges that came with such rapid growth.

Among the major milestones during his time as mayor were the acquisition of 1,000 acres of former Iowa State University research land in 2003 and the selection of a master-planned community proposal for what became Prairie Trail in 2004. In 2005, the City sold the land to the developer, launching the 1,000-acre mixed-use neighborhood. 

The City will recognize Mr. Johnson’s service during the next City Council meeting.

The City of Ankeny is pleased to announce it has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its FY 2026 Budget document. The award was presented by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA).

Recipients of the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award demonstrate a commitment to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the award, the City had to satisfy national guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines assess how well an entity’s budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide and a communications tool. The award represents a significant achievement by a government and its management. The City was also awarded a Special Recognition for achieving outstanding ratings for the strategic goals and strategies section in the budget document.

This is the 27th consecutive year the City of Ankeny has received this award from GFOA.

The City of Ankeny will be conducting prescribed burns periodically throughout Ankeny beginning today, Jan. 12 through April 30. Weather conditions and safety considerations will determine the exact date and time of the fires. 

Prescribed burning will take place in Northwest Ankeny beginning at approximately 1 p.m. today.

The prescribed burns will be administered by certified park staff. The public is asked to avoid areas being burned. It is expected that the areas will take less than a day to a few days each to burn. The burns must be completed when there is less than 15 mph wind in order to keep smoke from traveling far. The burns will take place between sunrise and sunset. The Ankeny Fire Department, Polk County Dispatch and Polk County Air Quality will be notified of all planned burns in advance.

What is a prescribed burn?

Prescribed burning is any fire intentionally ignited to meet specific land management objectives. The Parks Department uses prescribed burning as a natural management tool in the native seeded areas in the parks.

Why do we perform prescribed burns?

Central Iowa’s landscape was once dominated by tall grass prairies. These ecosystems have an abundance of plants, insects, birds, mammals, and reptiles. The native grasses and forbs (flowers) also provide seed and nectar for insects, butterflies, birds, and small mammals. In nature, fire is essential to maintain the integrity of the native prairie plant species located in our parks. Fire is a natural occurrence that helps the plant and animal communities in a park and controlled burning offers a safer way to use fire in a helpful manner. The benefits of prescribed burns include the following:

• Aid in reducing the undesirable plants from invading native prairie areas
• Help to maintain a rich diversity of wildflowers and grasses
• Decreases the threat of wildfires by decreasing the accumulation of combustibles
• Benefits water quality by aiding in the establishment of deep-rooted natives
• Improves the natural beauty and enjoyment of Ankeny parks

Golf fanatics have just one week to enjoy a round of golf at Otter Creek Golf Course; the golf course and driving range will officially close for the season on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025.

The Pro Shop will remain open to sell holiday gift certificates and golf merchandise, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information about Otter Creek Golf Course or to reserve a tee time, visit ottercreekankeny.com or call 515-965-6464.

Polk County Public Works will begin working on the Heritage Park Stream Restoration Project Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. The project will stabilize and restore about 1,700 feet of stream within Heritage Park. The project is expected to be completed by March 31, 2026. The park will remain open during construction.

The project includes removing the existing low-water stream crossing and building a new crossing that will be underwater less often. The stream crossing will be closed during construction.

The contractor will primarily access the site from a driveway off East First Street but will also use an access point north of the parking lot for some of the work. Visitors should park in the parking lot and avoid using or parking in the driveway off E. First Street.

For more a complete list of Ankeny parks, visit www.ankenyiowa.gov/parks. 

Update:

The Ankeny Police Department has identified the victim in a murder investigation that occurred at a residence in the 1000 block of NE Crestmoor Place.

The victim has been identified as Ankeny resident Sharon Jellue (30). 

As previously reported, officers responded to a welfare check at approximately 8:53 a.m. on Jan. 5, 2026, at 1010 NE Crestmoor Place, Unit 201. Upon entry, officers located Jellue deceased inside the locked apartment. The investigation determined she had sustained fatal injuries. 

Her long-time live-in partner, Johnson Chayee Browne, has been charged with Murder in the 1st Degree in connection with her death. Browne remains in custody at the Polk County Jail. This case remains an active investigation.

Previously:

The Ankeny Police Department has charged Johnson Chayee Browne of Ankeny with Murder in the First Degree after responding to a welfare check at a residence in the 1000 block of NE Crestmoor Place.

Around 8:53 a.m. on Jan. 5, 2026, officers responded to a welfare check at 1010 NE Crestmoor Place, Unit 201. When officers arrived, they found a deceased adult female inside the residence with an apparent stab wound.

Through investigation, Ankeny Police Detectives identified Johnson Chayee Browne of Ankeny as the suspect, and he was charged with one count of Murder in the First Degree. Browne and the victim knew each other.

At the time Ankeny Police became aware of the deceased victim, Browne was already in custody in the Polk County Jail. This custody stemmed from an Ankeny Police arrest on Jan. 4 around 5:30 p.m. when officers were dispatched to a call of a suspicious male attempting to break into a vehicle. Officers arrived on scene, located Browne, who became combative and was subsequently arrested for Assault on a Police Officer and for Interference with Official Acts causing bodily injury. Browne was taken to Polk County Jail at that time on those charges.  

There is no threat to the public. This remains an active investigation. The identity of the victim will be released at a later time. Browne remains in custody at the Polk County Jail. No further information is available at this time.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Ankeny Police Department at 515-286-3333, ext. 5.

The Ankeny Police Department is asking members of the public to contact police if they believe they may be a victim of a cryptocurrency investment scam connected to an individual recently investigated and arrested in Missouri.

The Ankeny Police Department was recently contacted by the Columbia Police Department in Missouri regarding a fraud investigation leading to the arrest of Charles Spencer Burri in their jurisdiction. According to Missouri authorities, Burri is the owner and operator of Burri Asset Management LLC and is accused of soliciting money from individuals for “cryptocurrency investments.” According to Columbia Police, after receiving money from the victims, Burri would stop responding to them resulting in significant financial loss.

Missouri investigators have informed Ankeny Police that during their investigation, they uncovered evidence that Burri possibly met with individuals in Ankeny and the Des Moines metro area during July 2025. Based on this information, Ankeny Police believe there may be additional victims in the local area who have not yet come forward.

Anyone who believes they may have been contacted by Burri or Burri Asset Management LLC, or who experienced financial loss through a similar fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scheme, is encouraged to contact the police non-emergency line (515-286-3333 ext. 5) and file a report.

ANKENY, IOWA (August 4, 2025) – Ankeny police arrested Trenton L. Nelson on Monday for harassment in the first degree following an investigation into a report of inappropriate comments he made to juveniles at the Ankeny Skatepark.

On Sunday, Aug. 3, officers responded to a report of a suspicious person who had made lewd comments to juveniles at the skatepark the day prior. Multiple juveniles reported that a man, later identified as Nelson, made inappropriate advances toward them and attempted to persuade them to go to secluded areas with him.

Detectives took Nelson into custody without incident and located methamphetamine in his possession during the arrest. He was booked into the Polk County Jail. Nelson was also issued a trespass notice prohibiting him from returning to the skatepark and the Miracle League Park in Ankeny.

Ankeny police are continuing to investigate. Anyone with information about this incident or similar encounters of this nature with Nelson is encouraged to make a report to the Ankeny Police by calling the non-emergency line 515-286-3333 (ext.5).

Arrested: 

Trenton L. Nelson

Charges: 

- Harassment 1st Degree 

- Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd or Subsequent Offense - Methamphetamine

SW Des Moines Street between SW Ordnance Road and SW Kenworthy Drive will be closed to through traffic beginning Monday, March 31 at 8 a.m., weather permitting. Project closures also include:

• The SW Kenworthy Drive and SW Lynn Drive intersection will be periodically closed to through traffic.
• SW Kenworthy Drive will be closed from SW Lynn Drive to SW Des Moines Street.

Detour route: SW Elm Street between SW Ordnance Road and SW Third Street.

Project Details:

This closure is necessary for the SW Des Moines Street Utility Improvements – SW Ordnance Road to SW Kenworthy Drive project, including:

• New water main, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, street pavement and sidewalks along SW Des Moines Street will be constructed.
• New water main, pavement and sidewalks along SW Kenworthy Drive between SW Lynn Drive and SW Des Moines Street will be constructed.

What’s Next:

This project will be constructed in three stages. Work is expected to be completed in the spring of 2026. Construction will shut down in winter 2025 with all roads, driveways and sidewalks fully paved and open to traffic through the winter.

Why it Matters

This project is part of Ankeny’s Capital Improvement Program and will replace existing storm sewer infrastructure that was constructed in the 1940s and 1950s that has significantly deteriorated.

Stay Informed

Visit www.ankenyiowa.gov/construction for detour maps, updates, and timelines.

View the 2025 – 2029 Capital Improvement Program: www.ankenyiowa.gov/CIP.

JAN. 24, 2023 UPDATE: The Public Services Building has reopened to the public. 

12/30/22: The Public Services Building will remain closed to the public until further notice due to the extensive water damage from a sprinkler/water line break,. All residents, contractors and others are encouraged to do business with the City via phone, email or the website www.ankenyiowa.gov.

Community Development515-963-3550

Parks & Recreation515-963-3570

Public Works515-963-3520

Municipal Utilities515-963-3520

The Ankeny Fire Department was dispatched to the 300 block of NW 9^th Street today, Dec. 26 at 11:10 a.m. for a residential structure fire.

Initial arriving companies found smoke coming from the rear of the residence and heavy fire inside the kitchen of the home.  The main body of the fire was quickly extinguished but crews were on scene for approximately two hours checking for fire extension into the attic and other areas of the residence. The fire caused significant damage to the home.

No one was home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries reported.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation and no other details are available at this time.

The Ankeny Fire Department was assisted by the Ankeny Police and Public Works departments and the Polk City, Altoona, Johnston/Grimes, and Bondurant fire departments. The Ankeny Fire Department would like to thank these partners in assisting with this fire response in the extremely cold weather conditions.

Today multiple citizens have contacted the Ankeny Police Department to report they had received a phone call from Lieutenant Brian Huggins of the Ankeny Police Department who told them they had warrants out for their arrest for failure to appear and contempt of court.  The person they spoke with was not Lieutenant Huggins, but someone impersonating him.  This imposter then told these people he will transfer them to his Captain for more details.  They are then transferred to another person who claims to be Captain Greg Throckmorton, but this person is also an imposter (It should be noted Captain Throckmorton retired from the Ankeny Police Department 11 years ago).  The citizens are then told they need to go to Wal-Mart where they will be sent a code so they could pay a for their fines without going to jail.  At this time the Ankeny Police Department is unaware of anyone who has sustained a monetary loss. 

Additionally, caller ID will show the calls are coming from the “Ankeny PD” and a fake voice mail account has been set up so when citizens call these numbers back it sounds like you are calling the Ankeny Police Department, but the Ankeny Police Department would like to assure the public this is a fake voice mail account.  Two of the phone numbers associated with these calls have been identified as (515) 420-5075 & (515) 428-7995, but these scam calls could be coming from a several different phone numbers. 

The Ankeny Police Department and the City of Ankeny would like to publicly state neither the Police or Fire Departments will ever call and ask for money over the phone.

If anyone ever calls claiming to be from any law enforcement agency (local, county, state or federal) or the IRS and asks for money, social security numbers, credit card information and/or gift cards, hang up call the local authorities and report the call.  No law enforcement agency will ever ask you for money or to purchase gift cards for them over the phone. 

The Ankeny Police Department has received a $9,853 Community Betterment Grant the Polk County Board of Supervisors and Prairie Meadows to purchase new advanced radio earpieces for all current and future officers.

These earpieces feature cutting-edge micro speaker technology, allowing officers to hear radio transmissions clearly without blocking out surrounding sounds. This improves both situational awareness and safety during daily operations. The earpieces are also designed for comfort and long-term wear, helping reduce ear fatigue to the officer.

“One of the most critical tools an officer uses while serving the public is their radio,” said Ankeny Police Chief Darius Potts. “This grant helps ensure our officers can communicate clearly and safely, which directly impacts the level of service we provide to the community.”

The Ankeny Police Department is grateful for the partnership with Prairie Meadows and the Polk County Board of Supervisors for advancing our commitment to providing officers with the latest and best tools to improve communication, enhance safety, and better serve the public.