Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application John passed away on May 1st in his home after a 19-month battle with cancer John accepted his diagnosis with dignity and strength to John Taylor and Ruth (Williamson) Mathis John graduated from Bondurant High School from the Class of 1964 John was active in sports throughout high school earning a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in School Counseling John’s career was rich and rewarding to all the lives he touched throughout his career with Des Moines Public Schools John devoted his work to students and staff in every building John served as Vice Principal at Willard Elementary; he founded the Elementary guidance program for Des Moines Public School John ended his career working with gifted and talented middle school students at Central Campus Students who completed the requirements of the middle and high school curriculum were given the opportunity for a scholarship from the University of Iowa John was an adjunct professor at Drake University His instruction provided educators from Des Moines and surrounding districts with the tools needed to be a successful teacher an effective disciplinarian in the classroom and a skilled communicator to parents and staff John served in the Army National Guard for 10 years He finished his Guard career as Sergeant First Class John loved hunting and fishing with his boys coaching them in Little League and following their high school sports John was happiest when he could spend time fishing John and Mary were Sacred Heart Catholic Church members in West Des Moines John was a member of the Knights of Columbus John was active in Christ Renews His Parish and assisted with Religious Initiation for incoming Catholics Taylor and Ruth Mathis; infant sister Joan; brother Robert; father and mother-in-law sister-in-law Therese Mahoney; brothers-in-law Jack (Therese) Mahoney Both will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in West Des Moines John and Mary are eternally grateful to our family Behrens’ team at Mission Cancer and Unity Point Hospice for the care and support that John received in his final months memorial contributions can be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in West Des Moines or a charity of your choice Add to Calendar Add to Calendar Add to Calendar This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors If you are the site owner (or you manage this site), please whitelist your IP or if you think this block is an error please open a support ticket and make sure to include the block details (displayed in the box below) so we can assist you in troubleshooting the issue Iowa — A West Des Moines native is on the verge of accomplishing a lifelong dream is already a champion and now he’s aiming for a gold medal WHO 13’s John Sears has more on the silver bullet wearing the red The week of April 27-May 3 was another one filled with action for Des Moines metro-area high school female athletes Girls track and field teams continued to work toward getting best times and distances in the week between the Drake Relays and state qualifying meets There were several exciting girls soccer games and area girls golfers and tennis players also stepped up their game with the postseason rapidly approaching Here are the Des Moines Register's female Athlete of the Week candidates from the Des Moines metro area for the week of April 27-May 3 DesMoinesRegister.com readers vote to determine the winners who will be announced at the end of the week Hofbauer did an excellent job distributing the soccer ball for the Class 2A No 2 Dallas Center-Grimes' girls soccer team during a 10-0 victory at Newton on April 29 Hofbauer dished out three assists during the Mustangs' victory Fair had a strong night on offense for the Class 3A No 3 Ankeny Centennial girls soccer team during a 4-0 victory over Kaneland (Ill.) on May 2 at the Bettendorf Tournament of Champions in Bettendorf Fair got off four shots on goal and she pulled off a hat-trick for the Jaguars by putting three goals into the net Waukee NorthwestWiig was the individual medalist during the Waukee Northwest girls golf team's 166-183 victory over Dowling Catholic in a nine-hole dual meet at the Willow Creek Golf Course in West Des Moines Wiig shot a 39 during the meet to beat teammate Lola Minnick by one stroke for medalist and she also joined up with teammate Sophie Schmitz to win the No 1 doubles match during the Ankeny girls tennis team's 11-0 victory over Southeast Polk on April 29 Francel swept Southeast Polk's Addison Bartles in straight sets Francel and Schmitz took down the Rams' team of Bartles and Kylie Ciesielski by scores of 6-2 and 6-0 Coghlan won both the 100 and 400-meter hurdle races and she also helped Adel-Desoto-Minburn take first in the shuttle hurdle relay during the Tiger Invitational girls track and field meet on April 29 at Adel Coghlan won the 100 hurdles in 14.96 seconds and the 400 hurdles in 1:03.65 She ran the third leg on the ADM shuttle hurdle team that clocked in at 1:02.51 Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at jrandleman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page but to less than half (47%) of West Des Moines residents which covers about 32% of West Des Moines households is our choice for the best fiber internet provider in the area but you can also get fiber-optic service from Quantum Fiber The cheapest internet provider in West Des Moines is Mediacom's $20-a-month plan for speeds of 250Mbps expect a hike in the price by an additional $30 monthly Another cheap alternative is US Cellular's fixed wireless plans starting at $50 monthly for speeds up to 300Mbps Verizon 5G Home Internet is around that price point you can bump down that monthly cost to $35 Two internet providers in the area offer the fastest speeds: Quantum Fiber and Google Fiber Both providers offer multi-gigabit plans and symmetrical speeds ranging from 1,000Mbps to 8,000Mbps You get comparable pricing and potential discounts when bundled with qualifying mobile plans The best internet deals and top promotions in West Des Moines depend on what discounts are available during a given time but we look frequently for the latest offers.  West Des Moines internet providers, such as Mediacom and T-Mobile Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including CenturyLink and Google Fiber run the same standard pricing year-round.  For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.  Note that these are only guidelines -- and that internet speed service and performance vary by connection type For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need We use the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page Mediacom's Xtream is the best internet service provider in West Des Moines This cable internet provider has the widest coverage of all providers in the area Xtream covers 98% of West Des Moines households The cheapest internet provider in West Des Moines is Mediacom's $20-a-month plan for speeds of 250Mbps Another cheap alternative is US Cellular's fixed wireless plans but if you're an eligible mobile customer you may be looking for things to do with your family Try some of these family-friendly activities across Iowa Summer bucket list: Try these things to do in Iowa for summer 2025 Spend a day or two at the Adventureland theme park in Altoona, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. Take a ride on the Tornado, a roller coaster landmark and the park's oldest ride or try something newer with the Flying Viking Escape the summer heat by playing games of skeeball and Pac-Man at one of Iowa's arcades. There are several in the metro, including Up-Down which opens its doors to families one Sunday a month from 10 a.m Des Moines Performing Arts will host the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus The free shows will take place at parks around the Des Moines metro area Watch a drive-in movieCheck out the latest summer blockbuster at Valle Drive-In The Newton drive-in offers double features every night during the summer Other drive-in movie theaters are in Blue Grass There are plenty of free and paid activities and attractions for families at the Iowa State Fair The Little Hands on the Farm exhibit allows children ages 2-10 to experience life on a farm by completing chores and selling livestock at the farmers' market. Families can also race each other on the iconic Giant Slide More: What are the Iowa State Fair Grandstand 2025 concerts? Here's who's coming to the stage Play bags and other lawn games at Smash ParkPlay pickleball while grabbing a drink and a bite to eat at the 47,000-square-foot facility in West Des Moines Head to Knoxville to race go-karts at Slideways. The track is roughly a mile from the Knoxville Raceway and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum Slideways also serves food and has a miniature golf course The Iowa Children’s Museum is a place for kids to play and learn at the same time the museum features 18 permanent exhibits with a focus on arts & culture the National Farm Toy Museum shows families how far toys and farm equipment have evolved over the last 100 years The museum features exhibits and a children's play area Visit the Oskaloosa Sweet Corn SerenadeTravel to Oskaloosa in July for the 38th-annual Sweet Corn Serenade and pies will be provided by the Mahaska County Cattlemen and Jaarsma Bakery petting zoo and pedal pull along with live music Rail Explorers in Boone offers riders a unique way to experience the scenic landscapes of the Des Moines River Valley Riders can travel on a 12.5-mile round trip via a pedal-assisted rail bike with Rail Explorers offering nighttime and early morning tours Sky Zone Trampoline Park and Get Air Trampoline Park in the metro offer activities for various age groups the Des Moines staple will be open for its 2025 season from May to October Dive into a water parkMany Iowa towns have their own outdoor aquatic parks or you can visit a large-scale waterpark like Adventure Bay at Adventureland in Altoona or Lost Island in Waterloo More: USA TODAY ranked this Iowa water park among the best in the country. Which one is it? The Wells Visitor Center gives fans of ice cream a chance to learn about how it gets from the farm to the grocery store. Located in Le Mars, the visitor center and ice cream parlor is operated by Wells Enterprises the Iowa-based maker of Blue Bunny Ice Cream See animals of all shapes and sizes at Des Moines' Blank Park Zoo Or head to the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Prairie City for driving tours where you have a good chance of spotting a bison or an elk Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth Des Moines area restaurant fans love to know what's new what's hot and what favorite chef just launched a second effort that should be tried With that, the Des Moines Register updates its hot list, a look at some of the newest restaurants that diners can't get enough of Here's a look at 12 of the hottest new restaurants in the Des Moines metro, an alphabetical list that will be updated monthly as new restaurants arrive with newcomers removed as they reach six months old Is your favorite new restaurant missing from the list? Drop us a line at sstapleton@gannett.com and we'll check it out Café MadeleineChef David Baruthio returns to the Des Moines dining scene with a reservations-only restaurant with tasting menus The third menu focuses on a seafood-forward menu through early June with grill octopus in a saffron aioli English pea vichyssoise with milk-poached smoked haddock pan-seared scallops in a confit orange butter sauce seared halibut with an herb crust and lobster emulsion An up-close experience with the chef as he presents dishes and discusses the stories behind the food Truly something different for Des Moines diners to experience in a café-like setting in downtown Contact: 515-815-0924 or thecafemadeleine.com More: Chef David Baruthio returns to Des Moines with a tasting menu restaurant, opening Jan. 28 Upscale comfort food with the chef Ryan Cooper touch now has a home in Norwalk Cooper teamed up with Jason Rieper to open Cooper’s Central Table & Cocktails a combination of two favorite dining and drinking establishments in Valley Junction The food side of the menu includes about 50 percent of the Cooper’s on 5th dishes while the look and feel of the 3,025-square-foot restaurant hearkens back to the design of The Winchester with dark wood with unique dishes such as a pot roast and a rotating egg roll of the day Contact: 515-675-5605 or coopers-norwalk.com Hours: Open Tuesday through Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m. More: Two Valley Junction favorites come together at the new Cooper's Central Table & Cocktail who retired in October after a decade of operating in the botanical center Hoque said the menu at Flora will continually change He already estimates about 90% of the menu meets those guidelines the bison and the squash on the menu are sourced from Iowa farms Location: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden at 909 Robert D Contact: floradsm.com Wednesdays through Saturdays and from 10 a.m More: Meet the restaurant Flora from HoQ's Suman Hoque — now open at the botanical garden This new brewery from the team behind Cooper’s on Fifth and more opened this ode to music in Valley Junction Spend some time looking at the wall of albums that line the staircase heading to the second level with its entertainment space and access to the two-level patio including David Bowie from his Viva Glam era The menu here has fun riffs on classic favorites Dig into dishes such as birria grilled cheese HiFi also brews beers such as the Brown Eyed Girl mild brown Contact: 515-415-1085 or hifibrewlounge.com Happy hour: Tuesday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m opened Istanbul Grill Café & Bakery in February with Turkish cuisine and a chance to explore this savory menu This hidden gem in Urbandale offers kebabs made with lamb or chicken and pide (Turkish flatbread) made with cheese and firin sutlac (a salted Turkish rice pudding) all on display in a case for dine in or take out Contact: 515-207-1292 or istanbulgrilliowa.com Hours: Open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m Darren Warth of Smokey D’s BBQ fame ate breakfast at Sorriso Grille in Ankeny every morning He loved it so much that he bought the restaurant when Melinda Strable decided to retire after a decade in business Now the breakfast and lunch spot offers dishes such as avocado toast topped with an egg design-your-own loaded hash browns or omelets and the must-order homemade tarts that look like Toaster Strudel The restaurant is packed during prime breakfast hours on the weekend Contact: itsmyjamcafe.com More: This barbecue restaurant owner is opening a breakfast and lunch diner outside of Ankeny The long-awaited KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot debuted in West Des Moines inside the former Wahlburgers space just south of Jordan Creek Town Center The restaurant specializes in both all-you-can-eat barbecue where diners cook their own meats and veggies over a grill at the table noodles and vegetables dunked in a pot of broth One side of the menu is dedicated to barbecue dishes Flip the menu over to find items to order for hot pots Contact: 515-630-1577 or thekpot.com Hours: Open Sunday through Thursday from noon to 10 p.m and Friday and Saturday from noon to 10:30 p.m More: Everything to know about KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot before it opens in West Des Moines Cory Wendel opened his second location for Lachele's Fine Foods making the move to Highland Park in a 5,500-square-foot space divided into two restaurants — Lachele’s on the north and The Fitz on the south That makes the seating area more than double what the Ingersoll location has but a smaller roster than Ingersoll carries and fried chicken sandwiches are on the menu The Fitz has a clubby feel and leans more into cocktails Contact: 515-330-6876, lacheles.com, or instagram.com/lachelesfinefoods for specials More: From steam burgers to Schnitz: What to eat at Lachele's Fine Foods, The Fitz in Highland Park Oscar Juarez already has Filet Steakhouse and Bubbies BBQ in Ankeny Now he split Filet in two to make way for Oceanside Grill Find everything from crab legs and lobster tails to Mahi Mahi and swordfish on this tight menu Start with an Oscar-style crab cake or shrimp stuffed with crab red snapper and Atlantic salmon all appear on the menu as do a limited number of steaks and combos with seafood Try the lobster and crab dinner for $36.99 Note that customers cannot order from Filet Steakhouse at the restaurant Contact: 515-289-8200 or oceanside-grill.com and Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. This new Vietnamese restaurant in West Des Moines reopened after the owner vacationed in Vietnam in January Pho Viet offers the more casual dishes of the cuisine — noodle soups a pork chop with an egg cake served with rice The restaurant specializes in hot pot with tom yum or sweet pork broth Contact: 515-599-0055 or phovietiowa.com James Thyberg and Ryan Flattery — who also operate the tiki-themed Bellhop, Mexican and tequila destination Coa Cantina, and bar The Lamp in the East Village, as well as 300 Craft & Rooftop in downtown Des Moines — now have Sunset Lounge in Norwalk along with co-owner and chef Matt Linford The restaurant and bar offers a mix of pub fare and a kitchen that’s open daily from 10:30 a.m The restaurant also only serves customers who are age 21 and older Contact: facebook.com/sunsetloungenorwalk or instagram.com/sunsetloungenorwalk/ Hours: Open Sunday through Wednesday from 10:30 a.m Happy hour: Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m More: Meet the adults-only Sunset Lounge, now open in Norwalk with smash burgers, fried pickles Sam Summers brings the heyday of the supper club back to life under the Val Air Ballroom Tom Archer’s Poor Man’s Country Club offers memories of the original Val Air owner Tom Archer and his family through photos and memorabilia on the walls and a look back at some of the big names who entertained the crowds over the years The supper club vibe extends from the decor to the food Key menu items include popovers made with tallow and baked as they are ordered and a classic wedge salad with Maytag blue cheese and Nueske’s bacon which Skinner calls “Midwest charcuterie,” features a “delightful mix of pickled vegetables Pastas also make an appearance on the menu Contact: 515-855-6797 or tomscountryclub.com Reservations: tables.toasttab.com Hours: Accepting reservations from 4 to 9 p.m Tuesday through Saturday and on show nights More: The Val Air Ballroom introduces its new supper club, Tom Archer’s Poor Man’s Country Club Sign up for our new dining newsletter, The Dish, which comes out on Wednesday mornings with all the latest news on restaurants and bars in the metro. You can sign up for free at DesMoinesRegister.com/thedish If you see a new restaurant opening or a beloved place closing, send me some details at sstapleton@gannett.com A haven for exotic car fans is listed for sale in the often-overlooked suburb of Cumming 3,564-square-foot property is equally suitable for new owners with an enthusiasm for entertaining family and friends in style The home is located within the private Greenbrier Estates an upscale development that features a beach and stocked lake Realtor Brett Fine noted even locals sometimes have a challenging time geographically placing Cumming on their mental maps and the area’s partially rural setting can fly under the radar despite its advantageous position as part of the West Des Moines School district and located less than a 15-minute drive from major retail hubs the home’s original 1989 exterior façade and interior layout have been updated in recent years to create a bright and modern environment that Fine described as an elaborate imported chandelier welcomes guests The lower-level footprint includes an open-plan layout and a sunken living space “adds a little bit of character.” The kitchen remodels now include quartz countertops tile floors and improvements to the cabinetry and appliances Diners can opt for a formal dining space or casual seating around the kitchen island four bedrooms are headlined by a spacious primary bedroom upgraded with an estimated $200,000 budget “one of the largest I've been in,” Fine added plus its own outdoor patio and a bathroom with heated tile flooring On the 1,330-square-foot finished lower level a gym could be converted into a second home office space The large kitchen and easy access to the outdoor 1,400-square-foot patio with a wood-burning fireplace were planned to inspire family gatherings and to entertain friends Although the backyard is missing a water feature “There is ample room for somebody to add their own dream pool.” While the house already offers an attached three-car garage one of the home’s highlights resides inside a separate building at the rear of the property appropriately dubbed the “car studio” by the current owner the 1,350-square-foot structure is wired with a dedicated audio system and adds polished floors and glass windows in roll-up-doors to showcase the collection But if the next owners are not car enthusiasts Fine noted the studio already includes a three-quarter bathroom to simplify a bedroom conversion or to set up “an art studio Fine expressed surprise Cumming is frequently neglected by many home hunters You've got the beautiful drive out to the property by the Dale Maffitt Reservoir,” he said “And then the Greenbrier Estates has its own private pond and a private beach You can canoe or kayak out there if you want People cruise by on golf carts in the summertime The home is listed at $1,525,000 by Brett Fine with The Fine Group at RE/MAX Concepts Contact him at 515-314-8673 for more information and a private showing Richard Lane is a freelance writer for the Des Moines Register. If you have a home we should feature, reach out to Susan Stapleton at sstapleton@gannett.com Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett says he is stepping down and he wants Des Moines resident Greg Abel to take over the trillion-dollar conglomerate as CEO by year's end Buffett, the world's sixth-richest person and arguably its most famous investor, had named Abel as the Omaha-based company's successor in 2021. Buffett, called the Oracle of Omaha, said May 3 at the company's annual meeting that he was springing his decision to move Abel to CEO on his board of directors "I think … the time has arrived where Greg should become the chief executive officer of the company at year end," said Buffett adding that he would notify the company's 11 directors at the board meeting "I think they’ll be unanimously in favor of it," said Buffett sustained standing ovation after the announcement "That would mean that at year end Greg would be the chief executive of Berkshire "I would still hang around and conceivable be useful in a few cases but the final word would be what Greg said," said Buffett adding that he had "zero" intention of selling any of his Berkshire stock "The decision to keep every share is an economic decision Because I think the prospects are better under Greg's management than mine," Buffett said More: 7 things to know about Greg Abel, the Iowan in line to lead Berkshire Hathaway is expected by investors and analysts to uphold the conglomerate's track record of investing in companies for the long haul and eschewing dividend payments to shareholders Berkshire, which owns railroads, insurance companies and an ice-cream maker, has been planning for decades for the eventuality when Buffett Tim Cook, chief executive of Apple, in a post on X expressed confidence in Abel have been inspired by his wisdom," Cook wrote "It's been one of the great privileges of my life to know him And there's no question that Warren is leaving Berkshire in great hands with Greg." a regular dad who coaches his son's hockey and baseball teams and joins friends at the Iowa State Fair for concerts In a 2022 Des Moines Register profile whose son's hockey team shared practice times with Abel's son's team a volunteer coach on his son's team who dug pucks out of the net after practice and handed out praise and fist bumps when the boys left the ice Abel just wanted to spend time with his kid 300,000-square-foot RecPlex in West Des Moines during a visit three years ago to the RecPlex in addition to being designated as upcoming leader of a company that ranks sixth on the Fortune 500 list is chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Energy and oversees MidAmerican Energy It donated $5 million for the RecPlex naming rights and Abel added his own check for at least $1 million who came to Berkshire Hathaway when it acquired Des Moines-based MidAmerican Energy Holdings in 2000 a voracious reader who absorbs vast amounts of information More: Iowan Greg Abel is a ‘regular guy’ with a ‘shocking workload.’ He’s also Warren Buffett’s chosen successor. And even though Abel travels the world leading Berkshire Hathaway's noninsurance companies — including the BNSF railway and other firms — he makes time to grab pizza and beer with friends and schlep suitcases with other parents traveling with the hockey team Following in the footsteps of Buffett might seem intimidating for the more reserved Abel. But friends say he didn't seem fazed as he prepared to join the annual meeting stage in 2022 with Buffett; Charlie Munger, Buffett's longtime business manager who died in 2023; and Ajit Jain who leads Berkshire Hathaway's insurance businesses steeped in the culture of the diverse conglomerate which sells everything from Geico insurance to Pampered Chef cooking pans director of the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware "There's going to be anxiety and uncertainty" when the change in leadership finally comes a retired Wells Fargo executive in Des Moines said three years ago that his friend Abel has many of the same financial analytical and leadership skills Buffett has certainly in part because Warren Buffett is its leader," said Oman who's a director of First American Financial Corp. "But Greg Abel also is an incredible leader," he said "We wouldn't be having this conversation if Warren Buffett didn't think so as well." grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Edmonton according to the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans His mother worked at home and his father was in sales in the oil town they didn't," Abel said in a Horatio Alger video But they "were all working hard to try to advance their families." Abel said his parents emphasized education as the foundation for a bright future "One thing I saw early in my life was that with your family around you it gives you the opportunity to dream," he said His first job was delivering advertising fliers getting about a quarter of a penny for each one "You had to do the job and do it right," said Abel who also cleaned discarded bottles and redeemed them for deposits Abel for a time was a laborer for a forest products company he worked for a company that filled fire extinguishers "I think hard work leads to good outcomes," he told the Horatio Alger Association He graduated from the University of Alberta in 1984 with a degree in commerce and joined PricewaterhouseCoopers in Edmonton as an accountant then moved to the company's San Francisco office Abel joined CalEnergy a 500-employee geothermal power company that was a client of the accounting firm CalEnergy bought Des Moines' MidAmerican Energy Holdings for roughly $4 billion in cash and debt an investor group led by Buffett bought MidAmerican for about $9 billion taking the publicly traded company private Abel was MidAmerican Energy Holdings' president adding the title of CEO in 2008 and becoming board chairman in 2011 MidAmerican Energy Holdings renamed itself Berkshire Hathaway Energy in 2014 and has grown into a diversified global holding company with about 24,000 employees Abel joined Berkshire Hathaway's board as vice chairman of noninsurance operations in 2018 Jain was named vice chairman to lead Berkshire's insurance operations Munger dropped a big hint when he said Abel would "keep the culture" of the vast and decentralized business Buffett confirmed Abel would become CEO of the company if anything happened to him Abel received $21 million in total compensation for his Berkshire Hathaway work, this year's company proxy statement shows Abel told a teenager it would take "hard work" to someday reach her goal of working at Berkshire Hathaway "I think hard work takes all of us a long ways in life "And I would never diminish that there are a lot of things that matter in life but if you start with a great work ethic and have that attitude .. you're going to go a long ways in life and find great enjoyment," Abel said This story was updated to add new information and a video An Iowa nursing home administrator accused of threatening workers with retaliation and falsifying records has agreed to surrender her license to the state served as the administrator of West Des Moines’ Promedica Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center The Iowa Board of Nursing Home Administrators alleges that in June 2023 when Smith was still overseeing the day-to-day operations of the home Appeals and Licensing identified several regulatory violations related to Smith’s work the Iowa Board of Nursing Home Administrators charged Smith with violating an unspecified rule or regulation related to the profession The board noted that while Smith was in charge at Harmony West state inspectors cited the home for failing to administer a home in a way that maintained the well-being of all residents; failing to adequately evaluate residents’ needs in terms of the home’s staffing needs; failing to make a good-faith effort to correct deficient practices at the home; failing to ensure a qualified infection preventionist was employed at the home; and failing to ensure that nurse aides completed their training Smith recently agreed to surrender her license — although that action has little practical effect given the fact that her license expired in December 2023 Smith agreed to surrender the license with the understanding that she can apply for reinstatement in one year State inspection reports indicate Harmony West was cited for numerous violations in addition to those cited by the Board of Nursing Home Administrators In February 2023, state inspectors visited the home to investigate a backlog of 23 complaints and cited the home for 20 state and federal violations One of the issues related to a resident who died after being sent to the emergency room with an anal fissure and gangrene that the home allegedly failed to treat The resident had been “screaming and you could hear it down the hall,” a licensed practical nurse reportedly told inspectors inspectors returned to investigate a backlog of 11 additional complaints some of which were directly related to Smith’s conduct two workers at the home reported they were hesitant to speak due to fear of retaliation Four workers alleged the administrator and director of nursing had told them that when the inspectors asked questions “they needed to respond everything was fine” and “if they wanted a paycheck they better not say anything bad.” One worker reportedly told inspectors the administrator was falsifying records by backdating documents and directing other workers to falsify records Other workers alleged the daily work-assignment sheets made it appear the home was adequately staffed but in reality some of the employees were not actually scheduled to work State records show a federal fine of $101,177 was later imposed against the home and a temporary manager was placed in charge of the facility The Des Moines Children's Museum wants to stay in West Des Moines as it contemplates its future when it moves from Valley West Mall The nonprofit museum's lease is up at the end of the year at the mall, which is in foreclosure and now for sale The city is giving the museum an advance to help secure a new building and stay in its limits West Des Moines City Council members April 7 approved giving the children's museum $57,000 which includes two years of advanced payment from the upcoming fiscal year's hotel/motel tax revenue budget The museum received $18,000 from the city in the current fiscal year Julie Burtnette, executive director of the Des Moines Children’s Museum told the Register the museum has a building in mind in West Des Moines that it could potentially purchase this summer Burtnette could not say more about the possible location She said it's important for the museum to stay in West Des Moines because of its central location in the Des Moines metro and easier access to parking told the Register in an email in February that museum staff wants to buy an at least 20,000-square-foot building with more than 200 parking spots the city's community and economic development director said West Des Moines does not have a lot of other similar facilities or museums The children's museum got its brick and mortar start in West Des Moines and the city wants to help it grow to become more of a regional draw for visitors For a year it was a traveling exhibit before moving to Valley West in 2018 Moffatt said there are no tax increment financing or other development incentives involved with the museum's move from the mall.The museum already conducted a feasibility study that recommended moving elsewhere from Valley West. “We always knew the mall was a temporary location,” Burtnette previously said She also previously said the museum would need to raise $4 million to cover relocation costs Burtnette said Wednesday that the campaign has not publicly launched Phillip Sitter covers the suburbs for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com or on X at @pslifeisabeauty. Find out more about him online through the Register's staff directory Allen, 35, of West Des Moines tearfully apologized in court April 30 to the family of 67-year-old Sheila Albert, whom he fatally struck with his truck in October 2024 He pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for her death Ramirez sentenced Allen to two years in prison overruling a plea agreement recommending probation argued that Allen should have faced more serious charges for her death Allen said that reckoning with the pain he'd caused "hurt my heart for so long." "I’m so sorry for all the hurt I’ve caused everybody," he said Fatal crash followed failure to stop at stop signAllen driving a full-size pickup truck with lifted wheels 21 in the parking lot of the Hy-Vee store on Euclid Avenue She was declared dead four days later at a hospital Investigators found that Allen had run a stop sign and was driving the wrong way on a one-way parking lane when he hit Albert Although Allen has a history of drug offenses investigators did not find that impairment was a factor in the crash and he remained at the scene and reportedly attempted to render aid Both prosecutor and defense attorney had asked the judge to sentence Allen to time served and probation Defense lawyer Corbin Gardner said that Allen has made strides since his arrest in completing treatment for his longtime drug addiction and wanted to keep that momentum going "What happened here is an absolute tragedy Allen in prison isn’t going to solve or heal that tragedy." Prosecutor Jaki Livingston said that Allen's actions were "egregious" and that video showed he was travelling too fast in the busy mid-day parking lot But she also said that Allen "has held up his end of the bargain" by completing substance abuse treatment and joined in the recommendation for probation Ramirez decided that further prison time is in order Allen will receive credit for nearly four months already spent in detention The judge said that Allen is "a difficult individual to assess," and that while he believed Allen didn't mean to hurt anyone his past record showed "a reckless disregard for other people." There are no life sentences coming out of this case," Ramirez said you’re going to be back out in the community Sister: this was more serious than an 'accident'Stevie Overton addressed the court to ask for the stiffest sentence possible and to criticize police and prosecutors for their handling of the case "An accident is when somebody stumbles or skins their knees," she said Overton described how important her sister was in her life and said she still thinks sometimes she hears her walking and talking around the house they grew up in doctors kept Albert alive long enough to arrange donations of her kidneys many of which have been successfully implanted Overton finished with a prayer to the Great Spirit asking to "guide us through the time of mourning and help us remember the beauty of Sheila Albert’s life." Allen has filed a notice he intends to appeal his sentence William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166 West Des Moines animal control is considering releasing unclaimed cats — feral or not — back onto the streets after the animals are neutered as it works to adapt to its previous shelter provider ending care for stray cats The City Council approved a first reading of the proposal Monday but have more approvals to go before any changes are implemented Its proposal has animal advocates worried that West Des Moines will release people's lost pets before they're recovered or adoptable animals onto the streets before they can find new homes neuter and release cats could have cost savings for West Des Moines though officials did not immediately know how much Staff anticipate reduced costs for cat care and having fewer feral cats in the city because it would reduce breeding West Des Moines' interim public services director unclaimed cats would be neutered after 14 days and then released in the area where they were captured Unclaimed and unadopted cats also would be vaccinated against rabies and three other viral diseases have their ears notched and have a microchip implanted for future identification before they're released Those cats would be considered "community cats" that residents could still provide some care to such as food "I think we're being responsible," Rank said of the proposed changes the city ordinance change would only impound dogs and cats with identification — such as a license or collar — for 14 days Identifiable animals must already be held for no less than seven days West Des Moines spokesperson Lucinda Stephenson previously told the Register the city will continue to partner with AHeinz57 to provide shelter services for other animals besides cats The city first tries to identify animals' owners at a city-run holding facility before turning them over to AHeinz57 for adoption The proposed ordinance changes do not set a limit on how long an unidentified animal could be kept Mayor Russ Trimble said Monday the proposed changes would be better policy than what the city currently has and might create more space for animals than the city's had before Rank could not speak to previous space availability but said "we should have an adequate amount of kennels to take care of what we have coming in." He said the city's costs last year for holding cats was $11,600 The city budgeted in the current fiscal year receipt of $3,000 in animal impoundment fees and anticipates receiving $4,000 from fees in the coming fiscal year More: Here's what a new animal control agreement in Waukee means for a stray cat or dog Some local animal rights groups expressed concern about the changes "We're going back a decade on animal welfare," Britt Gagne told council members Monday Gagne, executive director of Furry Friends Refuge in West Des Moines thinks the city should not put a time limit on how long it would hold animals that could potentially be claimed because "adoptable pets" don't belong on the street Gagne said Monday the city never adequately funded Furry Friends for its services Tom Colvin, CEO of Animal Rescue League of Iowa told the Register after AHeinz57's announcement that it was ending cat care that he's generally a proponent of spaying or neutering feral cats and releasing them "Let’s rescue the animals that have to be rescued and not just try to accommodate those animals that don’t need to come into a shelter," Colvin said But West Des Moines' proposed ordinance has concerned him and the Animal Rescue League Colvin wrote in an email Tuesday that West Des Moines' proposal is "confusing and concerning about how it will impact cats and their welfare" and could not support its proposed ordinance changes as presented The organization said the city would not be giving enough impoundment time for cats to be adopted "We believe that any community animal management plan must include a clear and viable adoption pathway for cats who are friendly and able to thrive in an indoor environment," according to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa's statement The ARL suggested West Des Moines create an adoption program alongside a trap neuter and release program that it said would not only be more humane but potentially more fiscally responsible neuter and release programs but not for non-wild animals that are socialized to be around people city and school goings on and other things in the suburbs but I've also covered presidential politics Years at the Register: One year and nine months — I started in May 2023 I graduated from: University of Notre Dame and lots of friends in lots of places who are family to me and the world I have seen people rise to the challenges of the moment and take care of their neighbors and work together to build something better I remind myself of what people have sacrificed to build futures I think about the lives my cousins and friends want for their kids and the dreams of so many students I have interviewed over the years and their families' dreams for them And I think about friends and loved ones of theirs who deserve justice and should be safe and reunited I want to support that every day in every way I possibly can and getting to see the global through the local Some stories I’m working on next: I am looking into the past of one of our metro communities and I am excited to share what I learn about a family and the city's role in history My favorite Iowa haunts: local restaurants Fun fact about me: My family and I have made an effort over the past few years to see U.S I am pleased with how many of the world's volcanoes I have seen: Kilauea but Glacier in Montana is a strong second; the rest of my top five is Arches If you are the site owner (or you manage this site), please whitelist your IP or if you think this block is an error please open a support ticket and make sure to include the block details (displayed in the box below) West Coast hip-hop is coming to Des Moines this summer as the Kings of the West tour makes a stop at what will then be known as the Casey's Center Here's what to know and how to get tickets Kings of the West will be a night full of rap The lineup features West Coast hip-hop legends like: This hip-hop event will be hosted at the Casey's Center Tickets go on sale Friday, May 2 at 10:00 a.m. at Hy-VeeTix.com. Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR Hidden from neighboring housing developments over the last four decades a secluded and serene Prairie-style home is listed for sale in West Des Moines Realtor Reid Peterson has repeatedly heard the house wouldn’t look out of place in the “Waterbury or the South of Grand neighborhoods,” and noted the enduring appeal of its ornate windows Completed in 1979 as the personal home of the original builder the house predates the construction of the West Glen Town Center Glen Oaks Country Club and Jordan Creek Town Center all now situated within a convenient three-mile drive to the west Displaying immediate curb appeal and surrounded by a buffer of mature trees the home’s driveway connects to an attached three car-garage and an inviting frontage that echoes the interior design plan 3 1/2 bathrooms and 4,005 square feet of living space and the lower level adds an extra 1,350-square-foot layout that hosts three of the bedrooms Remodels and upgrades by the current owners have helped create a kitchen with seating space around an island and the opportunity to dine in a formal setting facing the large backyard A kitchenette and wet bar have been installed on the walk-out Peterson explained the brick-walled wine cellar with room for hundreds of bottles has occasionally served double duty as an indoor storm shelter The home is surrounded by shade trees and enhanced by an attractive private pond in the front yard Peterson also noted that relaxing seating areas have been added to each of the property’s four corners to enjoy the natural setting throughout the year and catch the sun at any time of the day Placing a high priority on easy access to the outdoors the home includes an enclosed gardener’s room and a paved area for entertaining around a fire-pit The home is located less than three miles from the West Des Moines school district and annual HOA fees of $1,200 cover snow removal and trash collection on the trio of private streets that comprise the surrounding neighborhood Already experiencing a rush of interest in the property Peterson explained it would probably cost double the home’s listed price of $1,075,000 to build a similar house in this very popular section of the metro even if a new buyer had the good fortune to find a similar plot of land The home is listed at $1,075,000 by Reid Petersen of RP Real Estate with Agency Iowa Contact Peterson at 515-991-5335 for more information and a private showing After performing at Val Air Ballroom Friday night Bill Murray and his bandmates slipped away into a "candlelit booth" in the recently opened Tom Archer's Poor Man's Country Club located right under the ballroom in West Des Moines Bill Murray and His Blood Brothers performed Friday night, but in a post from Tom Archer's Poor Man's Country Club, a supper club beneath Val Air Ballroom that opened in January he joined his bandmates for a toast after his show "Some chase glory at Augusta," a post from the country club says referring to the Master's Tournament taking place at the Augusta National Golf Course located in Augusta Murray is shown in a private dining room that was once the Encore Room It was converted into a space for bands to relax after a show while sitting at a long table and closing burgundy curtains for privacy Murray is joined by his "Blood Brothers" Mike Zito Sitting between Murray and Castiglia is Jimmy Vivino The country club reposted the photo from the Bill Murray and His Blood Brothers Instagram page The band's caption read: "such a great time!!!" then heads to the Curaçao BlueSeas Festival in Pietermaai Tom Archer's Poor Man's Country Club, which opened in January, a year after the Val Air Ballroom reopened after an extensive remodel is a supper club full of memories of owner Tom Archer and his family decorating the walls The supper club vibe extends from the decor to the food from executive chef Ryan Skinner While diners can come on nights without concerts in the ballroom, walk-ins, and reservations can be made Tuesday through Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m Diners can feast on an array of appetizers More: What to order from Tom Archer's Poor Man's Supper Club at the Val Air Ballroom mushroom Wellington or various cuts of beef are served with seasonal vegetables are the chef's suggestions when Murray and His Blood Brothers relaxed after their show A full menu can be found on the Tom Archer's Poor Man's Country Club website Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@dmreg.com Valley High School in West Des Moines is set to get a new principal The West Des Moines Community School District on Wednesday named Shane Christensen as Valley's next principal Christensen will start as principal July 1 Christensen is currently the principal at Indian Hills Junior High where's he held that position for 19 years He's worked for the West Des Moines school district for 24 years “I take very seriously the challenge of supporting all students and staff around the 'Four A's': Academics Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed," Christensen said in a district news release He said he would be honored to lead Valley The district credited his "collaborative nature and ability to think systemically" for having a direct impact in student outcomes with Indian Hills seeing a "marked improvement" on Iowa School Performance Profiles over the last six years “His passion for education and the care he shows for his students and staff are unmatched He is the right person to lead Valley High School," Superintendent Matt Adams said in the release Valley's current principal, David Maxwell on July 1 will become the district's first director of strategic outreach and systems change District spokesperson Bryan Geelan said in an email that Maxwell's new position will "oversee the enrollment and registration process and be integral in building strong relationships with families The role will also be responsible for outreach to drive organizational growth strengthening the district’s internal and external partnerships and advancing systemic change in the district." On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina closed its doors permanently at Jordan Creek Town Center Jordan Creek spokesperson Ali Phillips confirmed the closure Tuesday with the Register but could not say why or when the restaurant at 140 S The West Des Moines location is no longer listed on the company's website and Google lists it as "permanently closed." There is a sign taped in the front door of the restaurant that says the location is permanently closed West Des Moines' On the Border opened in October 2004 as part of a wave of initial restaurants opening at the mall complex It's next to a now-closed Joe's Crab Shack The restaurant's building is owned by the mall Where have other On The Border locations closed?All of the On The Border locations in Arizona recently closed, according to the Arizona Republic. Other locations have closed in Michigan The Dallas-based chain opened in 1982 and became an international brand in 2007 after opening a store in South Korea The Tex-Mex chain was acquired by Argonne Capital Group, the company behind IHOP and Applebee's, in 2014, according to the Republic. Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17 What is believed to be the most expensive residence in the Des Moines area built without a predetermined buyer is about to hit the market for $3.3 million Built by Ankeny custom home builder Kimberley Development Stonewood Drive on the outskirts of West Des Moines is about 10 minutes south of Jordan Creek Town Center said he designed the home to be like one he would want to live in As home prices and building costs increase he hopes it will appeal to a buyer who doesn't want to wait the two years it typically takes for a custom luxury home to be designed and constructed with construction commending about a year ago in a lot of areas would be $7 million," Kimberley said We've got so many people coming in from Chicago a luxury real estate agent who began tracking the number of million-dollar homes sold in the Des Moines area with his Realtor wife Marcia in 2004 He confirmed it tops the list of costliest spec homes ever built in the Des Moines metro "You occasionally see a home built for $2 million (without a buyer)," Wannamaker said The contemporary, multi-level house is part of the new Stonewood executive home development. The subdivision on wooded land has 1-3 acre lots Kimberley Development bought five lots for more than $500,000 each The one where it built the spec home has views of the Raccoon River "This was the first lot coming into the development It had these great expansive views," Kimberley said "We felt like we needed to put up a spec house so people that want to build out in West Des Moines will see this and hopefully we'll get to build some custom homes out here." Last year, 131 homes sold for $1 million or more in the metro. Among them was a purpose-built Kimberly home that went for $3.5 million "Our business was really good on the upper end," Kimberley said and the Des Moines market has stayed really strong for … homes like this." More: West Des Moines home breaks $5 million barrier, tops list of metro's 10 priciest of 2024 The home is nestled into a hillside and has more than 7,000 square feet of living space including heated floors in most parts of the home The heated and air-conditioned five-car garage and covered patio and deck bring the space under roof to 10,000 square feet spacious for family holidays or for hosting parties with up to 200 people The larger of two kitchen islands can seat four people as well as a walk-in pantry with a sink "so you don't have to have that mess out on your countertops," Kimberley said The home also was designed so its owner can "age in place," he said with entryways and a shower in the master bath sized to fit a wheelchair Also in the bathroom are a urinal and a toilet with programmable settings and a heated seat The walk-in closet in the master suite feels as big as a locker room A steamer cabinet take wrinkles out of dress shirts and suits without taking them to the dry cleaner The master suite is on the first floor and "everything is wide But there's no reason you have to go upstairs." They're becoming more of a trend in luxury homes But only a few luxury homes in the area have them you have an elderly parent come stay with you a two-story home is no longer an issue because you have this elevator to take people up and down," Kimberley said "I think you're going to start seeing more elevators put in luxury homes That way people they can stay here no matter what condition they're in." The top level takes advantage of the hillside the home was built into Each of the three bedrooms on the second level feels like a private suite with walk-in closets and its own bathroom and shower Bedrooms at the back of the house also have private patios The backyard has a built-in fire pit and room to build a pool near it "If this would have been my own house I would have put a pool and a pool house," he said or if you really want a big area you just take that sitting area out and put it right there." Near the entryway from the garage on the first level is the main laundry area There's a second washer and dryer in a second-level bathroom The second level has two main areas for entertaining guests microwave and refrigerator and leads to a rooftop patio An indoor-outdoor cigar room adjoins the party space and has ventilation designed to whisk cigar smoke out of the house without being noticed bar-pub table that you'd play cards with," Kimberley said "Then you can have your cigars right here (under a fan) and not bother the people up there." Philip Joens covers retail and real estate for the Des Moines Register He can be reached at 515-284-8184 or pjoens@registermedia.com The countdown clock is already on for the arrival of the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck to make a stop in the Des Moines metro On May 24, the pop-up event parks outside Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines from 10 a.m Look for it in front of the Century Theaters on the southeast side of the mall and parent company Sanrio celebrates the birthday of the 8-year-old little girl (she’s technically not a cat) with another tour around the country with her merch and foods The pink truck draws long lines of fans who want to buy Hello Kitty limited-edition gear Expect an Instagram feed filled with images of fans scoring key chains mugs and more decorated with Hello Kitty and her friends What kind of food will the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck have?On the food side of the menu fans can find huge cookies almost too cute to eat The year also marks the 10th anniversary of the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck which first started rolling cross country in October 2014 Aside from the stop in West Des Moines, other nearby pop-ups include Minneapolis on May 31 at Ridgedale Center in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and Omaha on June 7 at Village Pointe Shopping Center Where to find the Hello Kitty Cafe TruckLocation: Near the Century Theaters at Jordan Creek Town Center Info: sanrio.com Black Cat Ice Cream is on the prowl for its new location, opening in Valley Junction in February Owners Alex and Angela Carter are putting the final touches on the space Angela Carter told the Des Moines Register that a Feb The 1,700-square-foot space at 134 Fifth St in West Des Moines previously occupied by a retail store will have more seating inside for customers and a larger kitchen for experimenting on new flavors and novelty ice cream dishes such as the nuggets fans who want to help Black Cat live up to its name can bring in a framed photo of their favorite black cat to display at the restaurant Drop off photos at the Black Cat Ice Cream shop in the Drake neighborhood at 2511 Cottage Grove More: The most anticipated restaurants and bars set to open in 2025 in the Des Moines metro Just because the Carters are building toward the Valley Junction opening doesn't mean they haven't kept busy at the original location Alex Carter and his chef James Doyle have been busy conjuring up breakfast-based ice creams Saturday is National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day and Black Cat has an all breakfast-based ice cream menu this Saturday only Brûlée’d French Toast — maple butter ice cream with French toast and brûlée’d sugar pieces Hawaiian Sunrise — pineapple ice cream with candied Spam and a pepper jam swirl Reese’s Puffs and Pop Tarts — peanut butter and chocolate cereal and Chocolate Pop Tarts Everything Bagel and Marmalade Swirl — savory cream cheese ice cream with a marmalade swirl Mimosa Sorbet — orange juice and Champagne (vegan) English Beans and Toast — baked bean ice cream with toasted caraway seed Jelly Doughnut — glazed doughnut ice cream with a raspberry jelly swirl Bowl of Cereal — Honey Nut Cheerio ice cream with carmelized bananas Cinnamon Roll — cinnamon ice cream with a brown sugar cinnamon swirl and cinnamon roll pieces Bloody Mary Sorbet — tomato juice-based sorbet with candied bacon and celery salt More: Black Cat Ice Cream goes on the prowl for a second location coming to Valley Junction Contact: 515-689-7466 or blackcaticecream.com Hours: Open Tuesday through Saturday from 1 to 7 p.m The indoor water park complex has been called a game-changer for the city and is expected to cost $400 million Mayor Russ Trimble said the Grand Experience water park would be double the size of the Great Wolf Lodge water park in Kansas City And the 34,000-square-foot conference center attached to the multi-story, 260-room hotel would be the same size as the Meadows Events and Conference Center in Altoona The city has agreed to commit to issuing property tax rebate installments of up to $85.5 million for the project in addition to 2/7ths of the hotel/motel sales taxes collected from the water park hotel for a period of 20 years City staff estimate that the sales tax incentive could amount to $5.7 million but that will depend on the hotel's occupancy and the average daily rate for a room told the Register in an email that the incentive package is "definitely in the territory of one of the biggest financial incentives offered for a development project" in the city Other contenders might include Jordan Creek Town Center and infrastructure projects associated with Microsoft data centers But the data center agreements are structured differently and therefore difficult to compare to the Grand Experience A portion of the Grand Experience property tax rebates would not be doled out until the developer builds at least 150 affordable apartments for residents earning up to 80% of the area median income But a majority of the tax incentives — $70 million — will go toward building the water park to ensure it's completed as it is "anticipated to be the largest driver of visitor traffic and economic impact with the project," according to city documents Hoag shared concerns with council members on Monday about employment at the Grand Experience being tied to eligibility for the on-site housing as well as the project's increased demand on city services such as fire and police lower subsidies for the project and the addition of bus service to the area talked about the positive economic impact the project is anticipated to have The city is estimating that the water park and conference center will bring in more than 1.1 million visitors every year to the area Trimble said the positive economic impact will ripple throughout the city Council members Doug Loots and Renee Hardman talked about keeping growth momentum going in the city and making West Des Moines a destination for visitors — before another nearby community might develop a similar project The development agreement also includes a more than 5-acre donation of land to the RecPlex for what will be a future 500-vehicle parking lot as well as requirements for the developer to make several improvements to streets in the area This includes widening Grand Avenue to six lanes from Interstate 35 to South Jordan Creek Parkway and widening and improvements on South 60th Street and South Jordan Creek Parkway About $15 million of the tax rebates would pay for those improvements Trimble also said preference in the on-site affordable housing would be given to Grand Experience workers but employment in the complex would not be a guarantee of on-site housing He added that there would not be a link between maintaining employment and having housing with the housing likely to have different management than the rest of the complex though it could take 8 to 10 years to fully build out the Grand Experience Register reporter Addison Lathers contributed to this report Phillip Sitter covers the suburbs for the Des Moines Register Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com or on X at @pslifeisabeauty Night-time repair work will close part of Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines throughout April Starting Sunday, April 13, the southbound lanes of Jordan Creek Parkway from University Ave to Interstate 80 will be closed, according to the city of West Des Moines. The work is part of the city's concrete patching plans for the year the following morning and will continue overnight for 7 to 10 days After repairs are finished on southbound lanes northbound lanes of Jordan Creek Parkway from University Ave to I-80 will also be closed for overnight construction That work is expected to last 7 to 10 days as well drivers will follow the marked detour route The route instructs drivers to continue east on University Avenue to get around the closure They'll head south on 60th Street and use Vista Drive to head back west and reconnect with Jordan Creek Parkway Drivers who want to head eastbound on I-80 can merge onto the interstate from 60th Street but westbound drivers will need to reconnect from Jordan Creek or stay on University Avenue to connect at 50th Street A similar detour will be used when northbound lanes are closed A Waukee-based insurance brokerage is expanding into a second office in the Des Moines metro Holmes Murphy will move about 200 of its employees about 3 ½ miles east to West Des Moines to give the company more room to grow “We are simply growing at a pace that exceeds our ability to match it within the space we have now," Dan Keough Holmes Murphy's headquarters is at 2727 Grand Prairie Parkway in Waukee Its second metro office will be at the Arcadia building at 7000 Vista Drive in West Des Moines which used to be home to Wells Fargo offices "Having the additional Arcadia building location will allow for our Waukee headquarters to be used in the manner in which we had always intended — to be open and spacious and to have several collaboration areas in which our employees can truly connect and do their best work," Tom Stewart president of the Holmes Murphy PLUS Family of Brands and its real estate spokesperson How much will the project cost?The move will cost about $8.4 million according to information from the Iowa Economic Development Authority which awarded the company $413,900 through the High Quality Jobs program in December Stewart said the company still is determining a cost for the project "but we can assure the Des Moines-metro community that we will have a first-class experience for our employees and business partners and everyone will be happy and proud of the final product." Stewart added the company's decision to open a second location was not based on funding or incentives What's going to happen to the office in Waukee?Stewart said the Waukee headquarters has 5 acres of land that the company owns and could develop in the future moving 200 of its 550 employees to West Des Moines will free-up space in the office for more collaboration areas that Stewart said are vital to employees' experiences and spaces where we encourage our employees to connect or simply get a change of scenery that doesn’t feel so formal in nature and is conducive to collaborating in a more stress-free environment," Stewart said Company spokesperson Amanda Joubert said in an email that some employees will be hired ahead of the move Joubert added there also is potential for some new post-move hires How big is Holmes Murphy?Stewart said the company has more than 1,200 employees at 16 existing office locations The addition of the Arcadia building will bump that up to 17 The Holmes Murphy office at Arcadia will occupy 75,000 square feet The first K-pop-themed store in the metro will open in West Des Moines at the start of February K-pop is a genre of music originating from South Korea R&B and hip-hop sounds with Korean elements Mins Studios will be the go-to spot for K-pop albums co-owners James Lin and Emma Walker told the Register is located near the intersection of 50th Street and EP True Parkway in West Des Moines When will Mins Studios open?Mins Studio will have a soft opening from 1 p.m The grand opening will take place from 11 a.m What grand opening giveaways will Mins Studios do?Those who show up on Feb The first 15 customers will receive a gift bag Anyone who spends $50 will get a spin on the prize wheel Those who leave a Google review will earn a chance to win a free lightstick of the winner's choice if you take a photo at the store and tag Mins Studios on Instagram and Facebook you'll be entered for a chance to receive a $100 gift card (This story was updated to add new information.) CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article misspelled the last name of one of the store's co-owners