News

     On Wednesday, June 22, from noon to 1, the Betterton Family Chiropractic will hold a ground breaking ceremony at what will become their new location at 1307 W. 13th St. (Behind the First Christian Church and across from Theisen's). They invite you to celebrate with them and enjoy some refreshments while you are there.      The new facility will provide them with the much needed space to serve clients better and to continue to expand their offerings.

     Vinton-Shellsburg Assistant Principal Ryan Davis told the school board Monday night about a high school student who took the ITED (Iowa Test of Educational Development) earlier this year. That student, said Davis, took two of the three tests with his class, but missed the third, and had to make it up on his own. On the two tests that student took with his class, he scored above the 60-percentile level.

    AmeriCorps NCCC member Katy Manchester has been away from Vinton with her Cedar 4 team, working on a variety of projects.     While she is away, she is also looking for a demolition derby car and/or rollover car for the Demolition Derby July 16th      "I would need it to be put together for me since I won't be back in Iowa until July 10," she said.

      The second Dog-A-Fair sponsored by Virginia Gay Hospital will take place at the Benton County Fairgrounds next Saturday, June 18.      Admission is free for both people and dogs;  garage sale will raise funds for a canopy for the Friends of the Shelter to use for outdoor events.       "This is pretty exciting," said Regina Malaska, of the VGH Imaging Services Department.

     A recent grant from the Benton County Community Foundation to the Garrison Park Renovation Project increase the total amount raised for a new playground in Garrison $12,301.      Mandy Fisher, one of the leaders of the Garrison Park Fund Committee, says the group was formed when a few concerned citizens decided to take on the project of raising funds & volunteering for the renovation of the city park.

       The discussion among the Vinton-Shellsburg School Board this summer will focus on two words: "Resource utilization."      The board will be discussing the use of the Vinton-Shellsburg school building, and evaluating a variety of issues, including the busing of fifth grade students to Shellsburg.

     When the Iowa boys high school soccer season begins next spring, Vinton-Shellsburg will join the more than 160 other Iowa high schools in fielding a team for boys.     After a brief discussion the Vinton-Shellsburg School Board voted unanimously to approve a soccer program, beginning with the 2011-12 school year.

  We are now well over a week into the Party In The Park 20th Anniversary Medallion Hunt. We've had a number of people who have been tenaciously hunting down the treasure but those few individuals who were successful in uncovering the medallions 6 through 10 are as follows:   Medallion 6: Kaylee Roster discovered the medallion by in a flower pot underneath the VPRD sign   Medallion 7: Phil Schaefer discovered the medallion by the helicopter landing pad at Virginia Gay Hospital   Medallion 8: Alecia Engledow discovered the medallion by the IMCA sign   Medallion 9: Krisite Davis discovered the medallion at the train depot by the train caboose   Medallion 10: Maria Davis discovered the medallion at underneath the Ervin Motors sign There are 10 more medallions to be found before Party In The Park so stay tuned for clues on the location of each day's medallion! To view the clues.

     Two years and 364 days after the heroic effort to save the Benton County Law Enforcement Center from flooding failed, the same people who watched the Flood of 2008 consume the old LEC gathered at the spot to celebrate the completion of the new one. A ribbon cutting took place at the end of a short ceremony Saturday morning, followed by a few hours of self-guided tours.

        The third anniversary of the flood that destroyed the old LEC and dozens of homes along the Cedar River in Vinton marks the opening of the new Benton County Law Enforcement Center and will feature mostly local leaders.      The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. this Saturday, June 11. Speakers will include Benton County Supervisor Ron Buch, Vinton Mayor John Watson, Sheriff Randy Forsyth and EMA Board Member Steve Meyer.