News

The 2023 City/School Election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Polling places will be open on Election Day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Information about voter registration is at the bottom of this column)The following candidates and public measures are included on the November ballot for Benton County.Belle PlaineSchool Director at LargeVote for no more than threeAlicia JacobiShirley ColesBenjamin ReinekeTylar GallagherBelle Plaine Public MeasureSummary: To adopt a revenue purpose statement to authorize the expenditure of revenue from the State of Iowa Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund received by the Belle Plaine Community School District.

Updated: This is on the Supervisor's Agenda for Tuesday, October 3, 2023 to be revised to change the date to June 30, 2025.---Second Update:The Benton County EMS Association has requested the following levy to be placed on the ballot, this coming November. The Benton County Ambulance service is one of over a dozen members of the Benton County EMS Association.

The 2023 City/School Election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Polling places will be open on Election Day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Information about voter registration is at the bottom of this column)The following candidates are included on the November ballot for the districts listed in Benton County.Hawkeye Community College DirectorDistrict 3Louis BeckKirkwood Community College DirectorDistrict 5Alan JensenPre-Registration deadline for voter registration closes at 5:00pm Monday, October 23.

The 2023 City/School Election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Polling places will be open on Election Day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Information about voter registration is at the bottom of this column)The following candidates and public measures are included on the November ballot for areas of Benton County that are covered by these districts.

The 2023 City/School Election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Polling places will be open on Election Day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Information about voter registration is at the bottom of this column)The candidates listed below will be on the ballot for the following cities in Benton County. Any public measures are also included.AtkinsCity Council CandidatesVote for no more than twoMike PalumboTrevor Dursky David Fisher Jeffrey Semelroth Jeremy Chihak Jade NuttBelle PlaineMayorVote for no more than oneLyle Morrow David FishCity Council - At LargeVote for no more than oneMary T.

Vinton Unlimited and the Palace Theatre recognize Greg and Patricia Wardenburg, Ryan Tresnak, Greg Walston, the Old School Produce Partners Board, and their volunteers as “Good Neighbors”.Vinton Unlimited and the Palace Theatre established the Vinton Good Neighbor Award in an effort to recognize those whose good deeds may go unnoticed, to encourage people to look for the positive things in our community, and hopefully, prompt fellow Vintonians to participate and become “Good Neighbors” themselves.

Over 20 members of the Kiwanis Club of Vinton participated in High Five Friday at Tilford Elementary today welcoming students and staff to school.

Drought and heat had an impact on the 2023 Iowa apple cropAs the days shorten and the chill of autumn enters the air, many look to local apple orchards for a classic crisp and sweet Iowa treat. Suzanne Slack, assistant professor and extension fruit crop specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, discusses the Iowa apple harvest, highlights unique cultivars to try and provides recommendations for storing apples and supporting local farmers.

The Belle Plaine Project Group of Benton County Volunteer Center in collaboration with Connie’s Quilters of Brandon finished 67 lap quilts. The quilts will be distributed by Virginia Gay Hospital Home Health to clients for the holidays. Afghans were donated by those that do not quilt. The Benton County Volunteer Center of United Way of East Central Iowa (UWECI) is new by name but not by their history of work.

By: Co-Reporter, Juliana LuisOn Tuesday, September 5th, the V-S FFA had their annual Local Greenhand Fire-Up. With anticipation for extending the scope of the chapter, FFA Officers and advisors prepared for the first-ever Local Greenhand Fire-Up with the addition of the middle school students. They planned activities for the Greenhands such as ice breakers, food quality, official dress relays, communication games, FFA trivia, and many more.