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News
La Porte Police Department assist in take down of Mexican Money Launderer
A Chicago‑area man who acted as a money launderer for a Mexico‑based drug trafficking organization was sentenced June 11, 2025 to nearly five years in federal prison. Jose Eladio Medina Valenzuela, age 45, from Cicero, Illinois, received the prison term after a January 6, 2025 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Officers Attend 2025 COLT
By: Co-Reporter, Abby McKennaOn Friday, June 7th, 2025, the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA officer team attended COLT (Chapter Officer Leadership Training) at Hawkeye Community College. This annual event brought together FFA chapter officers from across the Northeast District to build leadership skills, connect with one another, and prepare for the year ahead.
Clean-Up Crew: FFA Strong!
By: Co-Reporter, Bri DulinOn Saturday, June 7th, Vinton-Shellsburg FFA members helped to clean up cans after the Hairball concert in Vinton. Thank you to H2 Pizza for providing pizza to eat prior and Brian Halstead for taking the cans to redemption after the clean up! Wrapping Up the Year in V-S FFA with the Awards Banquet!
By Co-Reporter, Izzie BirkerThe annual Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Awards Banquet was held on Saturday, March 3rd. President Andrew Pingenot opened the evening by welcoming guests and thanking them for their support. Officer at Large Bri Dulin gave the blessing, and the meal was catered by Merchant's Grilling with cupcakes from Susan Meyer, and soda bar run by the Alumni & Supporters members who also conducted a silent auction during the dinner to raise funds for chapter activities. Lawsuits over alleged fuel-pump conspiracy are settled out of court
By Clark KauffmanA lawsuit accusing Casey’s General Stores and an Iowa Board of Regents member of colluding with others as part of an illegal conspiracy to limit competition at fuel pumps has settled out of court.The lawsuit was filed 10 weeks ago in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa by a JF Acquisitions, a North Carolina company that builds and installs gasoline pumps found at convenience stores.
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Susan (Ervin) Judkins Named 2025 Leadership for Iowa Award Recipient
Leadership Iowa, Iowa’s premier issues-awareness program provided by the Iowa Association of Business
and Industry (ABI) Foundation, has named Susan Judkins from Clive, Iowa, as the recipient of its annual
Leadership for Iowa Award. Susan will be honored on June 12 at ABI’s Taking Care of Business Conference
in Council Bluffs.The daughter of Keith and Kathie Ervin, Susan grew up in Vinton and graduated from Washington High School as a member of the class of 1976. Eastern Iowa Honor Flight Honored with Governor’s Volunteer Award
Prestigious award recognizes significant contributions through volunteer service across IowaCedar Rapids, Iowa – On June 4, 2025, Eastern Iowa Honor Flight board members were honored with prestigious Governor’s Volunteer Award in Des Moines, Iowa. The honor recognized the organization’s outstanding commitment to honoring Iowa’s military veterans through volunteerism. CPU FFA wraps the year at Awards Banquet
On Saturday May 17th the Center Point-Urbana FFA chapter concluded the year with their annual awards banquet to honor the achievements of the chapter and members. Dozens of awards were handed out to members who achieved success through the year and the new 2025-2026 officer team was installed at the end of the night.17 members were awarded their Greenhand degree, and 15 members received their chapter degree.
The courthouse clock has returned!
The Benton County Courthouse Clock is officially HOME!The clock arrived in Vinton at about 7:15 p.m. With the help of Benton County Supervisor, Tracy Seeman and his son Trevor as well as Justin Birker and the clock's restoration professional Rory Demesy, the clock made the trek from the north side of the courthouse, to the west entrance. The clock itself was painstakingly secured in its trailer for the trip from Minneapolis to these doors. Gov. Reynolds signs bill to expand firefighter cancer coverage
Governor Kim Reynolds signed HF 969, a bill that expands the definition of cancer for the Peace Officers’ Retirement System and 411 Retirement System to include all types of cancer. “The selflessness of our first responders is inspiring and deserves our deepest gratitude. This means thanking them for their service, but it also means ensuring they receive the care they need,” Gov.
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