Terry Feldt, the executive director of the Wellmark Y, hopes to complete construction of the aquatic center in March 2018, according to a spokesperson for the Y. (Correction: This story initially included the wrong projected completion date for the pools. They are expected to open in March 2018.)
The YMCA of Greater Des Moines announced in September that it had finally raised enough money to start construction on the aquatic center, but the digging to build the pools appeared only recently.
The aquatic center will feature an Olympic-sized 50-meter pool, a 25-yard pool and stadium seating. Construction stalled after the YMCA struck out on several grant applications, a misstep that led to the ouster of the Y's previous CEO.
Jan. 1: Martin Sprock, attorney at the Patterson Law Firm, 65.
Jan. 2: Dean Oestreich, retired chairman Pioneer Hi-Bred International, 65; Richard Lozier, attorney at the Belin McCormick law firm, 73; Chris Diebel, managing director at LPCA Public Strategies and founder of the restaurant Bubba, 36.
Jan. 4: Dennis W. Linderbaum, president of the UnityPoint Health Foundation, 68.
Jan. 5: Charles C. Edwards Jr., retired dean of Drake University and former president and publisher of the Des Moines Register, 70; Jerry Parkin, retired state public affairs director at Deere & Co. and Iowa State Fair board member, 67; Henry B. Tippie, University of Iowa benefactor and namesake of Tippie College of Business, 90.
Jan. 6: John P. Smith, vice president for university advancement at Drake University, 47.
Jan. 7: James Swift, retired chairman of Holmes Murphy, 59; David Lyons, principal at the Iowa Institute and former CEO of CoOportunity Health, 59; Mary Wellman, owner of the Club Car restaurant in Clive, 61.