News

It was an exciting day today at both Tilford and Shellsburg, as students came to school to experience “A Day at Preschool.” Students who will be 4 by Sept. 15th this year were invited to explore what a day at Tiny Vike’s Preschool looks like. Students had the opportunity to become familiar with the building, meet the preschool staff, and meet new friends.

Late last fall, during a quiet afternoon, a professional video production team, actors and volunteers from Virginia Gay Hospital and Clinics took over a room to film a Christmas TV commercial. “For the past two years we’ve worked with MVP Video Production, a local video production company, to film television commercials for Virginia Gay,” said Kim Frank, Director of Human Resources and Marketing.

A local police officer continues to draw positive attention nationally for himself, his department, and the city of Vinton.Vinton Police Department Lieutenant Eric Dickinson was honored on March 25th as the 2014 Trainer of the Year at the annual conference of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) in Lombard, IL.

Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) is proud to recognize Vinton Railroad Depot, as the most recent addition to the Heritage Area. Ranging from dairy farms and museums to vineyards and tractor assembly plants, there are now 113 Partner Sites formally designated with preserving and sharing their own unique part of America’s agricultural story in this 37-county region of Northeast Iowa.

Now in its 101st year, Bethlehem Lutheran Church is continuing to present monthly gifts for $101 dollars to deserving community organizations. On March 30, 2014, our congregation was much honored to present the third monthly gift to the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight organization. Sadly, there are fewer and fewer of our World War II and Korean veterans alive today and few have had the opportunity to see the World War II and Korean War Memorials.

Vinton Shellsburg United Special Olympics is raffling off the Harley Davidson that you see in this picture as a fundraiser for our local Special Olympics team. Tickets are $20 each or 6 tickets for $100. The drawing will be held at the end of our Benefit Ride on Saturday, August 16th at 8pm at the American Legion Hall in Vinton, Iowa. The winner will have the option of taking the bike, or a cash option.

It took me a long time to write this article, mostly because I didn’t know what to say. Every member of the Garrison Library Board has a unique talent. Words have always been “my thing.” So when the Garrison Library Board sat around in stunned silence on the evening of March 17, I knew that I would be writing yet another article to drum up support for the Restore Garrison’s Library Project.

District Convention On March 15, 2014 the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Chapter went to the North Fayette High School for District Convention. The chapter had 18 members attend Districts and participate in a variety of Career Development Events. Listed below are the events and results of the day. Creed Speaking--Drew Wiley--Gold Advance to State Chapter Program--Karley Kenney, Hannah Seitz, and Emily Cashman--Silver Experience the Action--Emily Reisch, Sydney Walker, Katie Isbell, Emily Howe, and Grace Milroy--Silver Ag Issues--Jessica Alderson, Amanda Burkey, Olivia Walker, and Jacob Patrilla--Bronze Farm Business Management--Kyle Henkle, Riley Ries, John Eden, and Dillon Brummer--5th Place Team Greenhand Quiz--Ben Eden--11th Place Treasurer's Book--Riley Ries--Gold Secretary's Book--Karley Kenney--Silver Reporters Scrapbook--Emily Cashman--Gold District Officer Candidate--Riley Ries Overall the chapter had a very good day at Districts.

The members of the Vinton Fire Department, along with their wives and children, helped prepare, cook and serve all-you-can-eat fried Alaskan pollock and French fries during Friday's fish fry.  The aerial ladder truck was on display outside; inside a drawing of the new fire truck currently being built in Floriday attracted the attention of guests as they filed through the kitchen.

Boy Scout Troop 47 thanked the Vinton Lions Club for their sponsorship, by presenting a copy of their Charter to Club President Alan Woodhouse at the Lions March 26 meeting. The Lions have sponsored the local Scout troop continuously for 81 years.  From Left, Jay Lash, Troop 47 Committee Chair; 2013 Eagle Scouts Andrew Sampson and Matthew Lash; and President Woodhouse, who earned the rank of  Eagle Scout in the same troop in the 1960s.