The good

Residents of the Birdland Park neighborhood finally have something to celebrate after devastating floods ravaged the area in 2008. The $1.8 million contract to reconstruct the Birdland Park levee is moments from completion. The upgrade is said to increase protection against future flooding of homes, businesses and North High School. Although final grading and seeding are still underway, officials say the new levee system will be able to withstand flooding even at its current, unfinished state. To celebrate, the Rock Island District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Des Moines welcome the public to a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. on Nov. 15 at the intersection of Saylor Road and Guthrie Avenue.

Approximately 230 people attended the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau (GDMCVB) Annual Celebration in conjunction with the Des Moines Area Sports Commission. This year, three new Visitor Choice Awards were added to the list, which include: Restaurant of the Year (Centro), Hotel of the Year (Chase Suites Hotel) and Attraction of the Year (Iowa State Fair). The GDMCVB invited visitors to nominate their favorite attraction, hotel and restaurant for the Visitor Choice Award, and the winners were selected based on the quantity of nominations. “Greater Des Moines continues to attract 2.9 million visitors each year thanks in part to the support and assistance from these organizations and community champions,” said Greg Edwards, GDMCVB President and CEO. “As a community, we truly are stronger and better together.”

The bad

Way to set a good example for your kids. Des Moines resident Andrew Long was arrested last week after he beat up his wife. The kicker is that the couple had just left a meeting with Lincoln High School staff dealing with one of their kids fighting at school. When they arrived at the school, Andrew was told by his wife to wait in the car. But when she returned after the meeting, he “felt disrespected by being told to wait in the car” and allegedly punched her in the face and choked her while driving. When they arrived home, Andrew got into an argument with his wife’s 17-year-old son, and punches were thrown. Andrew also threw a coffee pot at the boy, causing a laceration. He was arrested and charged with domestic assault and assault causing bodily injury.

Stay out of my head! Utah resident Michael Selleneit, 53, was arrested last week after he opened fire on his neighbor, hitting him in the back and the leg. According to police, Selleneit stated that his neighbor had been “telepathically threatening” him and his wife and had also “telepathically raped his wife on many occasions.” Selleneit was charged with attempted homicide and possession of a firearm by a restricted person.

The ugly

Florida resident Janet Overdurf, 45, was arrested last week after offering an undercover officer oral sex for less than $20. According to police, Overdurf flagged down a vehicle, which happened to have an undercover officer inside. She offered the driver oral sex for $25, but the officer’s crafty bargaining skills got the woman to lower the price to $17. When Overdurf agreed, the man reveled himself to be an undercover officer. While searching Overdurf, officers found a crack pipe near her genital area. She was charged with prostitution and possession of drug paraphernalia.

This Florida man apparently wasn’t enough for his woman, and he didn’t like it. Jeffrey Bowers, 53, was arrested last week after he beat up his girlfriend. The reason? He woke up to find her pleasuring herself with a sex toy. According to police, Bowers invited his girlfriend over for the evening. After dinner, the couple retired to the bedroom, but the mood quickly changed when Bowers woke up in the middle of the night to the sounds of his girlfriend masturbating. Bowers grabbed the woman by the hair and dragged her through the house. He kicked her in the face, and then pushed her outside, locking the door behind her. Upon arrival, officers found the alleged victim standing by the door with bruises and a swollen eye. Bowers was arrested and charged with battery, while his girlfriend was relieved and charged her battery. CV