News

Vinton-Shellsburg band members and chaperones have returned from Florida, where the band marched as a featured band in the Saturday "Electrical Parade" on Disney's Main Street USA. Accompanying the band in the parade was a variety of brightly-lit floats representing many of the most famous Disney characters, along with an impressive electric flag honoring America.

At the beginning of the year we all start our diets and exercise regimens to improve ourselves so we can lead healthier lives.  That should be the same for any person suffering from a neurological disorder such as Parkinsons’ Disease.  There should be New Year Resolutions established to make changes in your lifestyle to help with coping with the Disorder, finding support and proper education on advancement of exercise, medication guidance, and nutrition to help with overall health and making sure it does not offset certain medication.

Every spring runners dust off their shoes and hit the pavement.  By changing the running surface, increasing mileage, beginning a new program, or breaking in a pair of shoes many develop new aches and pains.  When we ignore these pains they often grow into injuries that limit your ability to continue working out.  This is where we come in: physical therapy can help decrease pain associated with running injuries.

On Friday, the band participated in the “You’re Instrumental Workshop,” at Disney’s Performing Arts area. In the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) endorsed workshop, the students experienced what it is like to be a professional musician. Students sight-read and prepared a polished performance of Disney musical selections in a studio recording environment.

The weather was -- for Florida -- cool and breezy at the beach, with highs in the 60's, but that didn't stop band members from checking out the ocean - for many their first time seeing the ocean. They also ate their BBQ lunch near the beach. Seeing Epcot's Illuminations laser light show was a great way to end the first official day.  On Friday, band members students participated in an animation studio session and spent the afternoon at Hollywood Studios.

ACT 1 is excited to announce audition dates for THE ODD COUPLE Female Version. Dates for auditions are March 16, 1-5, March 17, 3-6, March 18, 6-8 at the ACT 1 Centre, 905 E Avenue entrance. There are 2 male roles and 6 female roles. Unger and Madison are at it again! Florence Unger and Olive Madison, that is, in Neil Simon's hilarious contemporary comic classic: the female version of The Odd Couple.

We occasionally get calls from concerned citizens about the welfare of animals kept as pets, typically dogs. In 2012, we received a total of 7 such calls regarding dogs in Vinton. These calls typically come from neighbors or passers-by who are concerned about the welfare of dogs they see outside. They are typically concerned that it doesn't have adequate shade or shelter in the summer, that it doesn't have an adequate dog house for shelter in the winter, or that it isn't being fed or watered regularly.

  After meeting with the Benton County Supervisors on Tuesday morning, the Benton Development Group plans two more meetings to discuss the future of its funding. About 20 people attended the meeting to tell the supervisors how important the organization and its continued funding is to BentonCounty. The Supervisors reduced the funding for Benton Development Group from $47,000 this budget year, to $20,000 for the FY14 year that begins July 1.

The Vinton-Shellsburg High School Band Department will be traveling to Orlando, Florida on March 13-18. The band is tentatively scheduled to visit Cocoa Beach, Epcot Center, Disney Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. The Vinton-Shellsburg High School Band is now in Florida, where its members will participate in the “You’re Instrumental Workshop,” as well as a parade in USA Magic Kingdom.

The Shepherd's Market Fiber and Fabric Festival will bring many Iowa farmers who raise sheep, alpaca, llama, angora, goat, and other animals to Vinton on Saturday, to share with the public the unique yarns that these animals produce naturally. "The mission of the Shepherds Market Fiber & Fabric Festival is to keep the fiber & fabric arts alive and well," says Sue Hart, co-owner with husband Terry of Sunrise Suris Alpaca Ranch north of Vinton.