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Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has proclaimed Saturday December 13, 2014 as Mt Auburn Wreaths Across America Day. Wreaths Across America is a national program with a goal that every Veteran in the United States will have a wreath placed on their grave during the Christmas season. Placement of the wreaths will occur at the Mt.Auburn Cemetery at 11:00am on December 13 and is open to the public, regardless of the weather.

Leslie Eichelberger of Muscatine won first place in the Ladies' Husband Calling contest judged Friday at the 2014 Iowa State Fair. Second place was awarded to Bonnie Swalwell Eilert of Newton, and third place went to Rose Beauregard of Center Point. Complete results below: 1) Leslie Eichelberger, Muscatine 2) Bonnie Swalwell Eilert, Newton 3) Rose Beauregard, Center Point 4) Lori Frank, Sterling, Va.

Dairy farms from across the state competed in the Herdsmanship competition at the 2014 Iowa State Fair. Schulte Brothers of Watkins won first place in the contest. Complete results below: 1) Schulte Brothers, Watkins 2) Ja_Glo Jerseys, Central City 3) Hilltop Acres, Calmar 4) LeeAnn's Swiss, DeWitt 5) Reuter Dairy, Peosta 6) ReganCrest, Waukon 7) Lyon's Hosteins, Castallia 8) Clover Hill Farms, Tipton 9) Z-Breeze Holsteins, Luana 10) Steinridge Jerseys, Lawler "Nothing Compares" to the Iowa State Fair.

Municipal consultant Patrick Callahan helped the Vinton City Council replace the city manager; he now will work with City Manager Chris Ward, Mayor John Watson, and the city council on seeking a new chief of police. The council approved hiring Callahan during its meeting on Thursday. Mayor Watson also expressed his desire to appoint a citizens' committee to help city officials screen the candidates and offer its input.

The Doggie Dip on Sunday brought the 2014 Vinton Municipal Swimming Pool season to an end. Several dog owners brought their pets for a swim before the pool closed for the season.  

The best minute so far in the history of Vinton-area fireworks took place Friday, in Mason City. Scott Anderson of rural Brandon received the Grand Master trophy, honoring him as the best individual fireworks maker among all of those who entered the Pyrotechnics Guild International competition last week. While Scott’s friends, neighbors and colleagues from the Iowa Pyrotechnic Association (IPA) were still applauding, they heard the announcer declare that the IPA had won the Team Trophy for the first time in several years.

The Vinton City Council dealt with a unique "quagmire," as Mayor John Watson called it during Thursdays meeting: The quagmire: With two of its six members no longer in office, and one of the four remaining members absent, there was not a sufficient number of council members present to vote on any thing, including the appointment of people to fill the vacancies.

The Cummings family of Benton County came home with three honors from the 51st Annual Farm Bureau Cook-Out Contest, and Dawn Richards of Vinton earned a First Place trophy for her beef entry.  Phil Cummings, Center Point, won 1st Place in the Lamb Category at the Iowa State Fair for Iowa Farm Bureau’s 51st Annual Cookout Contest with his Mediterranean Lamb Pops recipe.

There's a philosophy shared among those who love the world of pyrotechnics: Anything that is part of life is better if you add fireworks to it. A 1990s Mercury Grand Marquis? Naturally! Birthday cake? Of course! Video games? Indeed! Favorite songs? Always! A pinata? Si, Senor! These items were just a few of the things that members of the Iowa Pyrotechnic Association, along with other fireworks enthusiasts from a variety of other state clubs and associations, used this week in Mason City during the annual Pyrotechnics Guild International Convention, which returns to the North Iowa Event Center about every five years.

Top dairy farms competed for honors in the Brown Swiss Dairy Cattle show judged Friday at the 2014 Iowa State Fair. Lee-Ann's Swiss of DeWitt showed the Grand Champion Female and Honorable Mention Female. Type-Wise of Boyceville, Wis., received the Reserve Grand Champion Female banner. Additional results below (name, hometown and animal identification): Spring Heifer Calf – March 1 to May 31, 2014 1) Breezy Ridge Dairy, Epworth, Breezy Ridge Bailey, 3/16/2014, 68161360 2) Edgebrook Jerseys, Montour, Edgebrook Tanbark Illusion, 3/7/2014, 840003124819627 3) Lee-Ann's Swiss, DeWitt, Lee-Ann's Brooking Sequel ET, 3/1/2014, 681611233 4) Hilltop Acres Farm, Calmar, Hill Top Acres DRM Starburst, 3/10/2014, 68158974 5) Irish Hill Swiss, DeWitt, Siegerts Durham Molly, 3/15/2014, 000000068159063 6) Irish Hill Swiss, DeWitt, Siegert's Jake Mika, 3/25/2014, 000000068159065 7) Goodman Dairy Farm, Rose Hill, Goodman Dally O Bo, 5/18/2014, 68161411 8) DeVore Dairy, Wilton, DeVores Titus Pharoh, 4/21/2014, 68160248 Winter Heifer Calf – Dec.