News

FRIDAY, JULY 11, 5 PM TO 9 PM AT COURTHOUSE LAWN5 PM - FARMERS SAVINGS BANK & TRUST Community Picnic: Free hots dogs, chips & drinks served from the bank’s parking lot (401 B Ave)6:30 PM - KIDDIE PARADE: Let your imagination be your guide and dress up like you’re living in the 80’s! Decorate your bike, your stroller or your wagon. Kids in 5th grade and under are invited to participate and join the fun! (Line-up is at Farmers Savings Bank & Trust.

By Will SouerHello, my name is Will Souer and I am the newest Park Ranger for Benton County Conservation. I work primarily out of the river parks: Wildcat, Benton City, and Hoefle-Dulin, but you may see me at any of our properties as I work closely with our other Rangers and conservation staff to provide quality services for all Benton County residents and park users.

By: Co-Reporter, Abby McKennaOn Sunday, June 22nd at 6:00 PM, the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Chapter hosted a summer potluck in the high school commons. The event brought together FFA members and their families for an evening of food, fun, and fellowship.Each family contributed a variety of delicious dishes, creating a diverse and tasty spread that everyone could enjoy.

Iowa Supreme Court has approved $1,177,030 in grants to nonprofit programs that provide legal assistance to low-income Iowans with civil legal problems. The court awarded grants to fourteen different organizations throughout Iowa. The grants are funded by the Interest on Lawyers' Trust Account (IOLTA) program. With this year's grants, the supreme court has awarded more than $27 million in IOLTA grants since the program began on July 1, 1985.

Cornell College is proud to announce the hire of Rob Levis as the new vice president, chieffinancial officer, and treasurer.Levis comes to Cornell with nearly four decades of experience in finance, leadership, andoperations. Most recently, he has worked with AmeriCorps since 2008, leading budgeting andoperations of the program and residential campus in Vinton, Iowa.

Although Hope Rogers passed away nearly a year and a half ago in Vinton, her story continues to be told. Winning the George Mills Louise Noun Popular History Award, Michael Schreiber received a Certificate of Recognition for “The Hope Rogers Story: From Mental Illness . . . to Making a Difference,” published in The Iowa Source, in May 2024.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking informal comment on the revision of the administrative rule for threatened and endangered plant and animal species.Executive Order 10 (EO10), signed by Governor Reynolds on January 10, 2023, requires all state agencies to identify which administrative rule chapters will be retained or rescinded.

By Camryn GrubicIt shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone who knows a thing or two about conservation that Iowa’s waterways and aquatic ecosystems are under threat. Let me share with you some of the steps Benton County Conservation has been taking to secure a safer and healthier future for one of our designated hotspots, Hannen Lake Park.Hannen Lake Park was the first county conservation manmade lake in the State of Iowa, and was completed in 1958.

The city of Atkins issued the latest updates concerning road construction on in the area of US Highway 30 and 33rd and 32nd Avenues in the Off-Set Right-Turn Lane Project, as well as improvements to the Benton-Linn Road and Ellis Road.33rd Avenue at US Highway 30 -The contractor’s dirt crew started work on 7/1-Intersection will be closed beginning on Monday, 7/7 and will remain closed for 2-3 weeks-Paving crew to move in the week of 7/14- The contractor is hoping to be paving the right-turn lane the week of 7/14-Shoulder rock and traffic paint will be installed after the concrete paving has cured32nd Avenue at US Highway 30-Excavation crew to mobilize in approximately 2 weeks-The contractor will conduct work within the lane closure and the intersection remains open;-Once 33rd Ave is open to traffic.

The Vinton Public Library is a drop-off location for the HACAP food drive! Bring in your donations between now and July 12th, and we will deliver the food to a local food bank. Our drop-off box is located in our upper level next to the elevator.Drop off non-perishable foods here. Some suggestions are:Canned Fruits in juiceCanned VegetablesCann