Emma Bange of Norway Elementary received the Conservation Districts of Iowa (CDI) Region 7 Conservation Poster Contest Award in the Division 3, Grades 4-6 category.

The VS/Union girls swimming team and new coach Ashley Hesson will be among the Blowout participants tonight. The VS VIkette cross country team. The 2017Fall Sports Blowout will be held onThursday, August 17,at the High School Gym and the Karr Athletic Complex.

Kristen Heaverlo, left, and Meg Turnis, will be teaching special ed at Shellsburg this school year. New VSMS teachers: Sarah Bumann, 8th grade math; Logan Walston, 6th grade science and Chad Anderson, Industrial Tech.

Conservation Director Karen Phelps discusses the Old Creamery Nature Trailhead with county supervisors. The Benton County Supervisors spent all afternoon on Tuesday, touring 10 of the county's parks with Conservation Director Karen Phelps and many of her department's staff members.

Many area children learned about how to call a duck and other birds, had a close-up look at the pelts of many kinds of animals native to the Cedar River area, and received training in the basics of rifle and shotgun safety and archery during JAKES Day event on Saturday.

"Remembering the Fifties and Sixties," will take place Aug. 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Center Point Depot Museum. Included: All Iowa Mustang Club cars, "Elvis," root beer floats and conversation about back in the day.

Caitlyn Martin: VS graduate begins her freshman year at U of I as an official student blogger. The University of Iowa Admissions Office chooses a handful of students each year to represent the college and its students through a student blog program.

Kindness Rocks: Renee Gram, left and Caroline Erickson have been painting inspirational messages to share with all of Garrison. A sample of some of the inspirational messages that Garrison residents will soon receive.

Newt and Sid Boyles and Nora and Jenna Grovert represented Benton County in the 2017 State Fair Twins, Triplets and More Contest on Aug. 10 Newt, left, and Sid Boyles won 2nd Place in the Most Alike (age 12-17) category in the State Fair Twins, Triplets and More contest on Aug.

The Vinton City Council has received the official Iowa Braille School Task Force recommendation for the future of the campus. Nearly a year after the city received the startling offer from the Iowa Board of Regents to assume the entire campus for $1, Vinton Unlimited Director Melissa Schwanvisited Thursday's council meeting to present and discuss the recommendation the committee has been working on for several months.