News
Cyclist injured; another driver arrested on several charges
A 20-year-old Garrison man was injured on Saturday when he lost control of his motorcycle four miles north of Vinton.
Dustin Lee Sondag was eastbound on 55th Avenue attempting to negotiate a curve on 24th Avenue Drive at around 5:15 p.m., when he lost control of his 2011 Kawasaki EX250 motorcycle in the curve, dumping the motorcycle. Boomtown: Bigger and louder than ever show ends with 'TNT'
The wind was blowing from the south east on Saturday evening, causing the glowing embers of the annual Boomtown to literally drift straight above the audience gathered in and around the grandstand.
As IPA members had advertised, the event was bigger than ever. In addition to the large finale, which included several popular songs set to fireworks, the IPA recreated its fireworks version of the historic "Train Wreck" that was popular at the Iowa State Fair nearly a century ago. Project Joseph: Faith-based group seeks to help with emergency preparation
Project Joseph is a newly formed faith-based committee of like-minded people dedicated to raising awareness of the need for households to be more prepared in advance of possible disasters.
Project Joseph is a member of the Benton County Disaster Recovery Coalition, 501(c)3, and receives oversight from the Coalition.
Eastern Iowahas seen its share of local disasters in the last few years.
Boomfest: Great weather, crowd and vendors
The 4th Annual Boom-Fest Arts & Crafts Show was a success once again in 2013! We had over 60 vendors join us in downtown Vinton for a day full of family-friendly activities and great deals! Thanks to everyone who chose to come out and join in the fun. Vinton once again put our best foot forward and showed all of our guests a great time and welcomed them with open arms. Mary Ingalls Society marks first year; Vinton group plans meeting Aug. 29
The Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School Mary Ingalls Society began in September 2012. It is approaching its first anniversary, and a very busy year it has been. The Society was initially a subcommittee of the newly formed group, Destination Vinton, whose purpose was to focus on attracting tourists to our fair city. One noted tourist attraction was the Braille School.
City hires interim coordinator; consultant to find replacement for Lent
The Vinton City Council agreed to hire an interim city coordinator for $1,200 per week, beginning today, and to spend $12,000 on a consulting firm to help hire a new coordinator.
Mayor John Watson thanked Andy Lent for his service to Vinton for the past several years. Lent is leaving Vinton to take a similar position in the city of Carlisle, south of Des Moines.
Heat Advisory & Health
The National Weather Service office out of the Quad Cities has issued a Heat Advisory. Please take a few moments to reacquaint yourself with heat related illness that could impact your family and loved ones.
A large area of hot and humid air building over the plains will overspread eastern Iowa, northeast Missouri and western Illinois this week. Youngsters win 'Bring the Noise' 5K race
Vinton-Shellsburg John Frazier received some good news regarding the future of the VS girls' cross country team as young V-S runner Grace Horst was the top female in the annual "Bring the Noise" 5K organized by the Vinton Kiwanis Club. Jordan Yessak, a freshman who runs for the Dunkerton cross country team, was the fastest among men runners. Boomtown! Fireworks display draws praise; IPA members recognized
Facebook pages are filling up with photos, videos and comments in praise of the fireworks display that ended the 2013 Boomtown event.
IPA members ended the show by repeating the "TNT" display that won the "Battle of the Bands" event at the 2012 Pyrotechnics Guild International Convention. And IPA member Scott Anderson of rural Brandon was honored for his seven trophies from the 2013 PGI convention for the fireworks he made. New sights, sounds and tastes at Boomtown this year
Every year, the members of the Iowa Pyrotechnic Association find more ways to entertain themselves and others with fireworks.
This year, one of the new attractions at Boomtown is the Pyro Safari, an arcade game in which the contestants fire Roman candles from handmade guns at targets. If the fire from the Roman candles makes contact with the right part of the target, it ignites a larger firework display.