Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Johnston family joins Iowa communities in mourning Alan Kruthoff
And check out Back Roads Lounge on the Johnston Patch calendar
Hi Johnston! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Johnston family joins Iowa communities in mourning Alan Kruthoff
- How much are Johnston’s license-plate cameras really tracking your movements?
Today's riddle: What did the boat dock say when it was arrested? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Johnstonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Saturday: Colder with snow, 1-3", with a high of 10 and low of -13 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
- Sunday: Mostly sunny and cold, temps: high: 9, low: 5.
- Monday: Partly sunny and not as cold, with a high of 38 and low of 17 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Alan Kruthoff of Ames formerly of Lake View (1380kcim.com) — A Johnston family is among those mourning the passing of 83-year-old Alan Kruthoff, whose daughter and her family live in Johnston. Kruthoff, a longtime funeral director and community leader in Lake View and Sac County, died December 11 in Ames. Services will be held next week in Lake View, with visitation and funeral arrangements handled by Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Homes. 
Find out what's happening in Johnstonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
• Iowa license-plate cameras may be invading your privacy, ACLU claims (desmoinesregister.com subscription) — Johnston is among several central Iowa communities using automated license-plate cameras that civil liberties advocates say may threaten residents’ privacy. A new ACLU of Iowa report urges cities to pause vendor contracts and presses state lawmakers to set stricter rules on how camera data is stored, shared, and used by law enforcement and private companies like Flock Safety.
📸 Around Johnston
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Johnston
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Back Roads Lounge
Back Roads Lounge, 8460 Birchwood Ct Suite 900, Johnston
7:00 pm
Saturday December 20
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- City Council Meeting
Johnston, IA Calendar , 6221 Merle Hay Road PO Box 410 , Johnston
7:00 pm - Board of Adjustment Meeting
Johnston, IA Calendar , 6221 Merle Hay Road PO Box 410 , Johnston
6:30 pm - Canceled - Board of Adjustment Meeting
Johnston, IA Calendar , 6221 Merle Hay Road PO Box 410 , Johnston
6:30 pm
Monday December 15
Thursday December 18
📣 Johnston Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Tail Waggin Readers
Grimes Public Library , 200 NE Beaverbrooke Blvd , Grimes
9:00 am - Little Buds & Blooms - Christmas Craft Fun 2!
Bentley Ridge Tree Farm , 4400 W 1st St , Grimes
10:00 am - Wreaths Across America: Honoring Veterans at McDivitt Grove Cemetery
Urbandale, IA Calendar , 7001 Meredith Drive , Urbandale
10:00 am - Dome for the Holidays
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden , 909 Robert D. Ray Dr , Des Moines
5:00 pm - 6th Annual MotleyKISSmas Show
Sherwood Forest Event Center , 7400 Hickman Rd , Des Moines
7:00 pm - DIY Christmas Patio Pot 5 - 2025
Bentley Ridge Tree Farm , 4400 W 1st St , Grimes
12:00 pm - A Christmas Carol
Stoner Theater , 221 Walnut St , Des Moines
2:00 pm - JC Collectibles Show
2100 NW 100th St , Clive
3:00 pm
Saturday December 13
Sunday December 14
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- The Des Moines Fire Department responds to a commercial structure fire on University Avenue, resulting in road closures and no reported injuries.
7:09AM on Dec 11: University Avenue in Des Moines is closed as fire crews battle a structure fire. (Nextdoor )
- A. Duie Pyle, Inc posted a job opening for Dockworker Outbound in Johnston. Apply here.
- CROSSMARK posted a job opening for Product Demonstrator in Johnston. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Johnston here.
🗞 Nearby News
Grimes
- How much snow did we get? See Iowa snowfall totals from Thursday. (desmoinesregister.com)
- Don't let snow or ice build-up on your gas meter; important safety reminders from Black Hills Energy (dubuqueinpursuitnews.com)
Urbandale
- New metro coalition taps businesses to solve homelessness (axios.com)
Ankeny
Ok Johnston! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I demand a jury of my piers.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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