Weird Iowa: 'Twilight Zone' Workers, Samurai Swordsman at Kum & Go, Search for Bra Turns Up Pot, Keep Childhood Icon Floppy

Parents whose children attend Magellan Christian Academy were given only a few hours notice Thursday that the center at 2995 86th St. would close. The center's officials blamed a “low quality of work force in Iowa” for the decision. It’s “been like the Twilight Zone, how bad it is up there,” Tom Blitch, one of the owners of the day-care provider, told WHO-TV.

Don't mess with childhood memories.
When news spread that the State Historical Museum planned to retire the 21-year-old display dedicated to the popular canine character and star of the children's program "The Floppy Show," which aired from 1957 to 1987, Waukee residents joined those from around central Iowa voicing protests. Floppy starred in the show with his real-life partner Duane Ellett. A group of protestors gathered at the Museum on Floppy's 56th birthday to make sure organizers knew that Floppy should remain on display.

And, we have several head-scratchers from the police blotter.

Hy-Vee is known for its slogan, "There's a helpful smile in every aisle." Not so much if you try to steal a cart full of groceries.

Two women face felony robbery charges for allegedly stealing a cart full of groceries from an Ankeny Hy-Vee and using mace to get away, according to Ankeny Police. Calleus Orr, 41, of West Des Moines and Tessa Davis, 34, of Des Moines were both charged after they allegedly pushed a cart full of “un-sacked” groceries toward a vehicle. When a Hy-Vee employee asked the women for a receipt, Davis reportedly sprayed the employee in the face, and the pair drove off in a Volkswagen Jetta. The Iowa State Patrol soon stopped them.

In Ames, a resident who thought he saw someone shining a flashlight in a window and feared that someone might be trying to break in turned out to be correct. When police arrived about 4 a.m., they searched around the home and found Daniel Smith, 33, lying in the bottom of an egress window on the west side of the home. He was charged with second-degree attempted burglary and public intoxication.

When a woman told a West Des Moines police officer that a Wal-Mart security officer was mistaken in stopping her for shoplifting,she unwittingly caused more problems. Kimberly Ann Walker of Des Moines denied that she had stolen any merchandise and her only reason for being in Walmart was to return a bra. She told police the bra should turn up in a search of the car. The officer searched the vehicle and instead found marijuana, so Walker was arrested on drug charges, fifth-degree theft and an outstanding Dallas County warrant.

And a lesson learned: Don't steal bikes in the middle of the afternoon.

Four Waterloo teens face felony burglary and theft charges after police said they stole bicycles out of garages in Cedar Falls. Police said a witness reported seeing the four men removing a bike from a garage in the 300 block of Olive Street at around 2:45 p.m. Tuesday and riding away. All four were charged with third-degree burglary and second-degree theft, both Class D felonies.

An Iowa City man was arrested and charged with an aggravated misdemeanor when his presence outside a Kum & Go armed with a guitar, a samurai style sword, and throwing knives alarmed Tiffin residents enough that they called police.

When officers arrived, they reported seeing Deandre Lamar Ronald Irby, 21, standing outside the gas station holding a guitar, and a handle of some sort sticking out of the back of his shirt, which he told officers was a sword. Irby also had a flask of white powder that he allegedly said was "probably coke." Irby was charged with possession of a controlled substance and carrying weapons.

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