News

The Benton County Attorney‘s office has added a couple of new faces to its staff this last year. One of those is Assistant County Attorney Derek Marsh. Fresh out of law school he has joined Benton County Attorney Ray Lough as part of the legal team representing Benton County.The journey to Iowa is one that was a bit unexpected for the attorney. Originally from Montana, Marsh and his wife Brooke were looking for something rural, but close to an airport for trips home.

Alice Hootman, formerly of Vinton and now a resident of Manor House in Sigourney, Iowa will be celebrating her 109th birthday on January 26, 2025. Alice was an employee at the County Home and later at the Iowa Braille & Sight Saving School. She would love to hear from anyone from her former home. If you would like to send her a card, please mail it in care of her daughter Nancy Kerr at 16333 Highway 149, Webster IA 52355.

At Thursday's council meeting it was mentioned that there is one remaining position available on the Board of Adjustments & Appeals. It is a 5 year term.Below is a chart of the current boards and who is serving now. If you or someone you know would like to apply to fill the seat, you can fill out an application and return it to City Hall. Here's a link: Boards-and-Commissions-Fillable.

We are excited to introduce the following exceptional healthcare professionals who have joined us to serve the Vinton Family Medical Clinic and Virginia Gay Hospital.---Emily Flexsenhar, ARNPFamily Nurse Practitioner – Vinton Family Medical ClinicEducation:· Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner – Clarkson College, Omaha, NE· Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Mount Mercy University, Cedar Rapids, IA· Certified Nursing Assistant – Scott Community College, Bettendorf, IA· Master of Science, Agricultural Safety and Health – University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA· Bachelor of Arts in Biology – Augustana College, Rock Island, ILCertifications:· Registered Nurse – Iowa Board of Nursing· BLS (Basic Life Support) – American Heart Association---Molly Norman, PA-CER HospitalistEducation:· Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies – University of Dubuque, Dubuque, IA· Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology & Health – Iowa State University, Ames, IACertifications:· Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C) – State of Iowa· First Aid/CPR/AED/BLS· ACLS/PALS· Mandatory Reporter Certification---Courtney McIntire, DNPBehavioral Health Specialist – Vinton Family Medical ClinicEducation:· Doctor of Nursing Practice, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse – University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA· Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Psychology Minor – Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN· CNA Course and PSEO Classes – Marshalltown Community College, Marshalltown, IACertifications:· PMHNP-BC· RN· Basic Life Support/CPR· Mental Health First AidVolunteer Experience:· Safe Families for Children (IA)· National Alliance on Mental Illness (MN)· International: Second Chance Haiti, Royal Servants in Sierra Leone---We are thrilled to welcome Emily, Molly, and Courtney to our community.

In a news release from the Benton County Sheriff's Department, there was a report of a residential fire at 103 Main St. East in Urbana. "On January 8th, 2025, at approximately 10:44 PM, the Benton County Sheriff's Office, Urbana Fire Department, and North Benton Ambulance responded to a residential fire at 103 Main Street East in Urbana, Iowa.

The Mid-Iowa Youth Beef Team completed a successful year of advocating and educating themselves and others about the beef industry and beef production. Team members participated in Cattlemen at the Capitol, took field trips, made multiple appearances on radio, made presentations to consumers, and volunteered at the Iowa State Fair. The team also enjoyed trainings at their monthly meetings on the “Cowboy Code” from Helena employee Scott Fischer; a recap from Delaney Nichols on her internships with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association; trained on beef genetics by Iowa State University Drs.

Virginia Gay Hospital (VGH) has been nationally recognized for its outstanding quality of care by Becker’s Hospital Review, a leading publication in the healthcare industry. This distinction is based on publicly reported measures from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).CMS evaluates hospitals across the country using a 1-5 STAR rating system, offering consumers a straightforward way to assess healthcare facilities based on various quality metrics.

The Iowa State Patrol has released details about a fatal accident that occurred on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at approximately 5:35 p.m. The crash took place on Highway 21, south of 170th Street.Jason David Williams, 19, of Dysart, was driving southbound in a 2011 Volkswagen GTI when his vehicle was involved in a collision with a northbound 2018 Ford F-150 that was towing a trailer.

We are overwhelmed by the generosity and support shown by our community for the 2024 Tree of Lights Campaign. Your contributions have made it possible for Virginia Gay Hospital and Clinics to acquire essential technology and equipment that significantly enhance patient care, recovery, and overall staff efficiency.Thanks to your generosity, we were able to fund:Respiratory Therapy:Sentec Digital Monitoring SystemNonin PalmSat – Handheld OximeterGlide Scope GO2 MonitorVG Nursing & Rehab:Bariatric BedsBroda ChairsChair Scale/Bariatric Weight ScaleOutpatient & Physical Therapy:Therapy iPadsImaging:Ultrasound BedOutpatient Clinics:EKG CartHospital Acute Care:TV ReplacementStryker Cub CribHospital Administration:Video Conference SystemYour contributions empower our healthcare professionals to provide exceptional care, ensuring that recovery is quicker, stays are shorter, and operations run more efficiently.