Sports-related stories ruled on West Des Moines Patch in January.

You clicked on stories about already famous West Des Moines athletes, like Olympic gold medal winners Shawn Johnson, a native, and Gabby Douglas, who trained here. And you also loved the story about West Des Moines Valley senior Jake Campos, who’s headed for Iowa State University and the Cyclone football team in the fall.

• Away from West Des Moines Gym for Extended Period, Can Gabby Douglas Still Make Rio in 2016?
• Shawn Johnson Hits Ski Slopes, Talks About Opening West Des Moines Gym
• West Des Moines Valley Senior Jake Campos to Play in Army All-American Bowl

With the Iowa Legislature back in session, some Iowans argued that the Sandy Hok Elementary School tragedy in Connecticut and other mass shootings offered a narrow window to expand the conversation on reforming Iowa’s mental health-care delivery system:

• Mom Whose Son Struggled with Mental Illness Says Shootings Should Change Conversation in Iowa, Nationally
• Legislators Say $20 Million in Mental Health Funding Needed; DHS Says Only $1.5 Million Required
• West Des Moines Lawmakers Differ on Medicaid Expansion, Seen as Key in Funding Mental Health Care Redesign

This has been one long, drawn out election season and it won’t come to an end until Feb. 12 when the last domino falls in a special election to fill a vacancy on the West Des Moines City Council. A bit of background: Because the late Senator Pat Ward died too late for her name to be removed from the November general election ballot, a special election was held to fill the Iowa Senate District 22 seat. Charles Schneider, at the time the Ward 2 council representative, won that race and an election was called to fill his unexpired term.

• Two-Way Race Shaping Up in West Des Moines Ward 2 Special Council Election

The West Des Moines Police Department blotter offered this helpful reminder that Internet – unlike true love in this case – is forever:

• West Des Moines Woman Says Naked Pictures Resurfaced Now That She’s Moved On

And it made you wonder:

• Self-Employed Musician Wants to Know Who'll Pay for Finger Surgery Following Bathroom Line Bar Brawl

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