News

If you have to go outside, chances are your first reaction is to think that it's foggy. And then you smell the smoke from the Canadian wildfires which has reached Iowa.  The smoke was seen in New York over the last few weeks and has slowly made its way to the Midwest. It doesn't appear that the fires are close to being put out.So far, more than 19.

A former member of 4H, Erma Neve, of Vinton, had never entered a sewing project into the Benton County Fair. Ever. At a mere 91 years old, and with the encouragement of her daughter Peggy Cronk, she entered her "Days of the Week" towel set. One of the judges commented, "Wow!! Outstanding, no extra threads, super job!"  Erma won a Blue Ribbon as well as the Reserve Best of Show for sewing.

In a bit of a mixup last week, J&R Sanitation had to remove the carts that they were collecting from a city lot that S&J Sanitation had reserved for the new carts. In a statement J&R Sanitation said, "Vinton residents we are still way behind from the breakdown on Tuesday and trying to pull carts. Cart removal was going well till the city administrator called and said the city was kicking us off the city lot where they pile snow ….

Every seat was taken for a fun trip through Iowa railroad history conducted by Phil Borleske at the Center Point Historical Society Depot Museum in Center Point, Sunday, June 25.Rev. Borleske, Vinton, is on the Benton County Historical Society Board (specializing in the depot) and is a member of the Benton County Historical Preservation Commission.He showed a glorious glut of slides of Iowa trains, past and present, and said that railroads were so important in the state in the 19th century that often if a town wasn’t on a railroad, they either moved it TO the railroad or the town died.

Virginia Gay Hospital Clinics will be closed for a few hours on Tuesday, June 27th for educational training sessions.  The hours are listed below. Urbana:  9:30-11Atkins:  12-1:30Van Horne:  2:30-4

Noah Lindauer, a filmographer, returned to his hometown to use his talents for its benefit. Working with area residents, he used his artistic abilities to create a short promotional one-minute video showcasing the support Vinton shows for its local businesses. The video will be entered into a contest to help Vinton win a free mural for the community as part of the Iowans Unite Community Video Contest.

It's time to think about keeping children healthy while school is out. Vinton-Shellsburg CSD provides FREE meals to children during the summer.Meals will be provided, on a first-come, first-serve basis, at the sites and times as follows:Attention V-S Middle or High School Students!Are you a V-S Middle or High School Student and would like to be a part of providing this service, to obtain your Black and Gold/1:1 hours? Please contact karen.

The Vinton Veteran’s Memorial Airport was abuzz with activity Thursday morning. About a dozen Aerial Applicators, commonly called “Crop Dusters” from across the Midwest arrived in Vinton for a voluntary certification process hosted by Noe Aviation.The airplanes filled the sky as they descended to the same altitude commonly used when spraying – usually from twelve to fourteen feet above crop canopy.

By: Co-Reporter, Izzie Birker The Hairball concert took place in downtown Vinton on Saturday, June 10th.Vinton-Shellsburg FFA was again invited to come out after the concert to recycle the cans that are left in the streets and trash cans as a fundraiser. This great opportunity for the chapter brings in money to put toward chapter activities for all members.

Three young ladies submitted applications to become the next Benton County Fair Queen. Izzie Birker, Harlyn Heishusen and Kait Ballard. As a representative for the Benton County Fair, the queen will assist with various contests and activities during the county fair this week as well as helping with other promotional activities.Following the crowning the new Benton County Fair Queen will compete at Des Moines at the Iowa State Fair Queen contest during the Iowa State Fair.