(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a couple from Council Bluffs, who sued Council Bluffs Water Works for damages to their home and property, resulting from multiple water main breaks. Court documents indicate Jim and Angela Sutton’s house in Council Bluffs sits near an intersection where an underground water main broke in November 2020, sending water flowing to the surface. The Suttons alerted Council Bluffs Water Works to the problem and, over the next eight weeks, crews inspected and repaired breaks to the pipe on five different occasions. The escaping water soon became standing water.

The Suttons allege that all the water caused their house to settle, resulting in damage to its foundation, interior walls, garage floors, and doors. They sued Water Works under two legal theories: count 1, strict liability; and count 2, negligence. Water Works moved to dismiss the strict liability claim, arguing that the Iowa Municipal Tort Claims Act doesn’t permit a strict liability claim against it. The district court denied the motion.

Water Works’ officials appealed the decision to deny the claim. In making its decision, the Justices had to consider “Whether the Iowa Municipal Tort Claims Act allows a claim for strict liability—liability that doesn’t depend on negligence or intent to do harm—against a municipality for damage caused by an underground water main break.” They concluded Water Works attorneys failed to show that the Iowa Municipal Tort Claims Act bars the Suttons’ claim for damages based on strict liability. They therefore affirmed the district court’s denial of the motion to dismiss this claim.

Their decision was filed today (Friday).

(Johnston, Iowa) — The Johnston Police Department is warning residents about a new imposter scam. The scammers are impersonating a member of the Johnston Police Department. While impersonating, the scammers will attempt to solicit payment. “Calls threatening you or asking for money are flat-out scams – don’t become a victim,” said Johnston Police Chief, Dennis McDaniel. “These scammers steal the names of real agency personnel solely to scare you into paying them. While the scammers may change up the phone numbers they are calling from; they are calling for one mission, to get you to share your account information, or send money.”

Tips to avoid scam calls:

• Don’t trust caller ID readings – scammers often spoof names and numbers to make them appear like a local caller.
• Let numbers you do not recognize go directly to voicemail. And do not call unknown numbers back.
• Hang up on anyone who threatens you with arrest, legal action, or seizure of your accounts.
• Do not converse with anyone online that you do not know, and certainly do not share any personal photos of yourself.
• Hang up if anyone directs you to pay using store gift cards, money wires, or mailed cash. These are often used because they are difficult to trace.

If you do receive a scam call, please contact the Johnston Police Department at 515-278-2345.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report five people were arrested, Thursday. Two of them, 20-year-old Emily Rae Marie Dohrn, and 36-year-old Christina Marie McDonald, both of Creston, were arrested at around 1:10-p.m. at 800 W. Taylor Street, on drug charges. Dohrn was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. McDonald was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine 1st Offense. Both women were was cited and released on a Promise to Appear.

A man and a woman from Creston were arrested at around 5:24-p.m. Thursday, in Creston, for Violating a No Contact/Protective Order – Contempt of Court. 37-year-old Douglas Edward Woodward III,and 33-year-old Rachel Marie Colburn, were arrested at 806 Laurel Street. They were being held without bond in the Union County Jail, until seen by a Magistrate.

And, at around 6:44-p.m. Thursday, Creston Police arrested 43-year-old Julio Cesar Villalpando Castro, of Creston, at 302 N. Pine Street. Villalpando Castro was charged with Burglary 3rd Degree. His cash or surety bond was set at $5,000.

(Radio Iowa) – If you fancy yourself a road trip this weekend, consider the 82nd annual Orange City Tulip Festival. This year’s Tulip Festival is currently under way. The event Queen is Amanda Hulstein, a senior at MOC/Floyd Valley High School. She says the excitement of being named Tulip Queen has been building since she was crowned last November. “Just through the day I was very excited and it just brought me memories from other tulip festivals that I’ve been involved in. And when we went back out on stage to find out who the Queen was, I was a little nervous but I was always so smiley. And then when Mayor de Haan read my name, I was almost in shock because I didn’t know that it would actually be me,” she says.

Hulstein rode the queen’s float Thursday afternoon as things got underway and says she learned something about the event as it took off. “One thing that I realized that many people don’t notice is all of the people that work behind the scenes and work year round to make these three days in may happen it’s just crazy how many people are involved and how much they do for our town,” Hulstein says.

The Orange City Tulip Court: Nevaeh Sampson, Kinzie Van Kekerix, Queen Amanda Hulstein, Elizabeth King, and Katelyn Huizenga. (OCTF photo)

Hulstein offers advice for people attending the Orange City Tulip Festival. “Get outside, get involved with anything that you can,” she says. “When the Dutch dancers asked for you to be pulled out into the crowd, definitely go out there. Make sure you get to all the different events like the Dutch dozen. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which is the night show this year. See all the tulips take lots of pictures and enjoy.”

Hulstein plans to attend Iowa State University when after graduation. The Orange City Tulip Festival runs through Saturday. Go to octulipfestival.com to see the full schedule of events.