News -

Primary Voting happening Today

By Valerie Close, Editor · June 2nd, 2020

Voting in this year’s primary is going to be so much different, or has been so different already. In the last Presidential primary election year around 300 absentee ballots had been sent out. This year nearly 3,400 had been sent out, more ballots than had voted in 2016. As of about 9:30 this morning 25 additional voters made their way to the skate center, right now there have been 48.

Shellsburg Library now Open

By Shellsburg Today · June 1st, 2020

We are so excited to announce that the Shellsburg Library will be open again starting Monday, June 1 at 10am!The library has determined to operate under “yellow” status. Yellow status means specific protocols we’d like everyone to be aware of:Library hours will remain the same as before.Patrons are encouraged to wear a mask and sanitize hands with provided sanitizer upon entry to the library.

Americorp in Vinton to help alleviate food crisis across the state

By Valerie Close, Editor · June 1st, 2020

Last week Governor Kim Reynolds announced that the state will be providing $3.5 million in funding to support projects like "Pass the Pork" food program. This program was organized to help farmers send their pigs to slaughter using local meat lockers rather than the processing plants which are having difficulty catching up with the backlog of hogs and other animals after recent closures.

Oh deer!

By Valerie Close, Editor · June 1st, 2020

Sera Seely was quick to snap this photo while riding in the car with her mother along the 600 block of 8th Street on Friday afternoon. The two were out to find bargains at a garage sale when this baby deer ran across a lawn in the area. I guess it's true, you never know what you'll find at a garage sale!Remember the rule, don't swerve to miss a deer, even if you're in town, of course, hopefully, brakes are good enough to avoid a collision inside the city limits!Thanks, Sera for your quick clicking!

Birthday breakfast with Lillie, Carli...and Mo!

By Jeff Holmes · May 29th, 2020

So yeah, today is my birthday, and it started out pretty nice with our weekly talk with Lillie Lamont, Carli Lang and Carli's sister Morgan who joined them in New Jersey last night.It's a short talk, but a fun one as the girls have big plans for the next week or so!Click to view!

Middle School Teachers Send the Class of 2024 off for the Summer

By Valerie Close, Editor · May 29th, 2020

Teachers have had to come up with all sorts of ways to continue education when the classrooms closed this year. They also needed to create new memories for the children after the usual activities were canceled.Teachers gathered in the middle school parking lot on Thursday evening for a send-off for students leaving the 8th grade, their last year of middle school.

Body of Missing man recovered

By Benton County Sheriff's Office · May 27th, 2020

On 5-26-2020, at about 7:44 PM, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a missing person at Wildcat Bluff county park. The missing person was Gerry Edwards, age 62, from the Urbana area. He was reported to have gone fishing at the park at about 1:00 PM and had not returned. His vehicle was found at the park.

Emily Sexton recognized as Teacher of the Month

By Valerie Close, Editor · May 26th, 2020

A few weeks ago I was leaving the home of one of my kids when I noticed a sign in the yard of the neighbor. It said, "You are amazing and I miss you -your teacher." It was one of those signs that made you say, "Awwww, that is SO cool! I wonder which teacher did that?" Tilford's 4th Grade teacher, Mrs.

Lone Musician takes it upon himself to continue Memorial Day Tradition

By Valerie Close, Editor · May 26th, 2020

We might be in the middle of a pandemic and things are not as they are supposed to be, but one man didn't let that stop him. Chad Newton has played Taps for the Mt. Auburn Legion since he was 16 or 17 his mom Teddi said. But she was sure than he didn't play this year until I shared the photo above of him with her.

Garrison Fire destroys home

By Vinton Today · May 26th, 2020

The Garrison Fire Department was paged to a house fire at 200 West Maple St. @ 0523 on Sunday morning, 5/24/2020.The department arrived to find the story and a half house fully engulfed. Due to the extent of the fire we utilized a defensive mode. The house was a total loss. The “B” side exposure 20 feet away had only slight damage to the vinyl siding.