Obama Visiting (Again), Tragic Fall During VEISHEA Week, Olympic Wrestling Trials and Shooting at Student Housing: Pick of the Iowa Patches

The Patch community includes nine sites in Iowa. Here are some of what was shared on our Iowa Patches over the past week.

The sitting president doesn't often make his way to Iowa, but we guess with campaign season heating up we should get used to it. President Barack in Iowa City on Wednesday to talk student loan debt, and First Lady Michelle Obama has two stops planned in Des Moines on Tuesday. 

Iowa City is also hosting Olympic Wrestling Trials this weekend. Fans from across the state and nation are pouring in. Former Iowa star Brent Metcalf and former Iowa State standout Jake Varner are among some of the ones to watch, according to longtime wrestling writer Dan McCool.

In Ankeny, city officials were divided about whether to give raises to city employees, but wound up narrowly approving 4.4 percent increases for non-union staff.

Several docs from the Waukee area (and some from other areas) are fielding questions on medical issues as part of the "Ask the Patch Pro" feature. Questions are still coming in, so add yours.

Some scary news out of Marion Patch. Police are still investigating a near Kirkwood Community College campus. The shooter or shooters are still at large and three victims were in critical condition. 

In West Des Moines, the community came together to discuss suicide prevention. Residents and classmates are still mourning the loss of 14-year-old Carson Scott Vandeventer, of West Des Moines.

Also in West Des Moines, parents were advised about how to deal with a counter-culture holiday you may or may not have heard of.

In Urbandale, officials are still discussing how a local school responded when a child brought a very real-looking pellet gun to school. Also, an Urbandale man following a debate on Iowa Patches about a public university program called "tuition set aside," in which some students are forced to subsidize tuition for others, responded with with his thoughts on the "scheme." Join in the conversation.

In Cedar Falls, residents have concerns about a 20-year vision for the city that city officials are working on. In some positive news, a local high school teacher put together a video guide to the outdoors in Cedar Falls. Give it a watch, you won't regret it.

Here's a tidbit that may have Iowa college hoops fans salivating. Jarrod Uthoff, the 6-foot-8 high school basketball standout who spurned the Hawkeyes for Wisconsin, was at the center of controversy this week. His big name coach Bo Ryan tried to block Uthoff transferring out. Well, Ryan got a black eye, and Uthoff gets to leave. Northern Iowa and Iowa State are said to be on his list, and he hasn't ruled out the Big Ten, although there are some restrictions. 

In Ames, students and the community are celebrating VEISHEA. The and other activities drew plenty of excitment. However, VEISHEA 2012 will also be remembered for a 21-year-old man who fell to his death in what police are calling an accident.

Finally, in Johnston, one unlucky man not only fell asleep in a driveway, he wound up with a fine. Turns out, according to police, he was intoxicated. 

All of our Iowa Patches are running contests looking for the best local photographer. Great photos are being submitted and there is still time to add more. Click on the story and click "Upload Photo and Video," or just click on "Pics and Clips" on the home page.