ByErin Monaghan What are Educational Savings Accounts? How do school vouchers work? Is there a downside to school choice? How could all the proposed changes impact our public schools? Significant changes have been made to school funding and many more changes have been proposed at both the state and federal level.

Learn how to properly pot a plant. The Benton County Extension Council and the Benton County Master Gardeners have teamed up to bring you an event. On Saturday July 15th at the Benton County Fair, stop by the Benton County Extension and Outreach Booth between 9am and 6pm located in the Expo building.

The Benton County Corn Growers have arranged to have the Iowa Corn Mobile Learning Center at the Benton County Fair on Friday, July 14 from noon to 6 pm.

REFIT ® fitness instructor, Teresa Erger has announced that the Virginia Gay Hospital Health Care Foundation's Reach Out and Read program will benefit from any funds raised through this exercise class in July.

Garrison's annual Fun Day Celebration will take place this Saturday, July 8. A Poker Run will begin the day with registration beginning at the Hitchin Post at 9 a.

We're feeling the heat. LifeServe Blood Center is urging all blood donors, whether you roll up your sleeve a few times a year or if you've been away for a while, to hop in the donor chair and make a lifesaving gift this July! Summer often brings a dip in donations due to vacations and other summer fun.

Kailey Lazenby holds a poster inviting area residents to the Color-A-Thon. The Vinton-Shellsburg High School students who are planning their trip to Washington, D.

The Benton County representatives at the 2016 Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest at Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, including 2016 Cookout Grand Champion Dawn Richards.

A Gospel Music Concert featyrungSteve Hess & Southern Salvation will take placeFriday, June 30th, at 7:00 pm at theBrandon United Methodist Church,507 Main St, Brandon.

A summer kids' event called Maker Fun Factory VBS will be hosted at Bethlehem Lutheran Church from July 30th to August 2nd. At Maker Fun Factory, kids discover that God made them"”and for a purpose! Kids participate in memorable Bible-learning activities, sing catchy songs, play teamwork-building games, make and devour yummy treats, experience one-of-a-kind Bible adventures, collect Bible Memory Buddies to remind them of God's love, and test out some science experiements.