News

A year and a half after being fired as Benton County Conservation Director, William Heber has pleaded guilty to second degree theft and felonious misconduct in office. In August of 2012, State Auditor of Iowa David Vaudt released a special report concerning allegations that Heber improperly charged nearly $2,800 of fuel purchases for his private vehicle to Benton County Conservation accounts.

There will be a special event to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Association during the races at the Benton County Speedway on Sunday, May 19. The main promotion is the raffle of the Alzheimer's Association quilt, which includes 14,000 squares. Each of the three-quarter-inch squares represents one caregiver for Alzheimer’s patients in the state of Iowa.

On Friday, May 3, the Vinton-Shellsburg High School Band and Choral programs participated in the annual IHSMA State Large Group Festival at West Delaware High School. The VSHS Concert Choir received a Division I rating for the first time since 2001 and for the 3rd time in school history. The VSHS Concert Band received a Division I rating for the 4th straight year.

Monkeytown wants to thank its first local donors for our Diaper Drive; Barb and Roger Beau of rural Vinton.   "Even though I would have had the best of intentions I wouldn't have gotten around to donating two packages of diapers. The Monkeytown website made it so simple. A couple of clicks, a credit card, and I know our donation is on its way", said Barb.

  Vinton Wine Walk   Vinton Unlimited is hosting its first Wine Walk and we'd love to have you join us for the fun!   This will be a great experience and opportunity to see and sample the many wines available right here in Vinton at your local Vinton Unlimited businesses!  You can register for the event by clicking the Vinton Unlimited logo above or by visiting this LINK for more information.

The Pray PHor a cure organizers are still counting the final tally, but they all agree that the event that PH (pulmonary hypertension) patient Trudy Seidel and her family organized this past weekend was a huge success. "I am still in shock and overwhelmed with the amount of people who came," said Trudy on Monday. "It couldn't have been more perfect -- even a little snow the day before didn't stop the crowds.

The Vinton-Shellsburg FFA members did on Saturday what they have done at annual banquets for decades: They celebrated the successes of the 2012-13 school year, honored those who worked for that success, thanked the community and introduced the officers who will lead them next year. Now in its 83rd year, the FFA chapter and advisor Louise Fleming welcomed 150 guests for the annual event.

  The Benton county conservation foundation would like to thank Coots Materials Handling for their generous donation to the development of the Benton County Nature Center Foundation of 50 loads of rock equaling over $500 of product in 2012. This rock is being used for building interpretive trails around the nature center and making a base for the parking areas.

Honor Flight: The Movie, is coming to the Vinton Palace Theater, at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 18.  This movie was premiered in Milwaukee, WI on December 7, 2012. It features 4 veterans from Wisconsin who went on the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight out of Wisconsin. Although these veterans are from Wisconsin, it is a very good view of what an Honor Flight is.

  This summer, you might find yourself being asked, “What do a train wreck and a battle of the bands have in common?” “What do they have to do with Vinton, IA?” The answer: Ground shaking, jaw dropping fun at what is now, what we claim to be, the BEST pyrotechnic show west of the Atlantic and east of the Pacific! Vinton’s very own 7th Annual Boomtown Vinton, presented by Veridian Credit Union, will once again have the type of unique and “intense” pyrotechnics that have become known for putting this event and Vinton, on the map! The 2013 show on Saturday, August 24th will start with what has become a favorite tradition, the BOOM CLOCK at 12:00 noon – a subtle reminder that the I.