The Vinton-Shellsburg Middle School 7th grade girls Lego League team, The Pink Chicks, received the Core Values award for teamwork at the district event in December and received an invitation to the state competition in Ames.

  Emergency Responders and Public Officials are encouraged to attend educational event Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL), an Alliant Energy company, is participating in the Iowa Pipeline Association’s 2013 Pipeline Awareness and Education training offered at locations throughout the state.

  Atkins, IA  Cody Ayers, Criminal Justice;  Sydney Wallenfelsz, Management;  Blairstown, IA  Wendi Birch, Hum Res Mgmt;  Adrienne Elliff, Music;  Luzerne, IA  Sara Miller, Business;  Newhall, IA  Brittany Shepherd, Accounting;  Norway, IA  Connie Havran, Nursing;  Shellsburg, IA  Brittany Robertson, Psychology;  Urbana, IA  Travis Lohrer, Mgmt Info Systems;  Crystal McGuire, Accounting;  Nevin Snyder, English;  Lisa Wita, Business;  Vinton, IA  Sue Erickson, Nursing AP;  Brady Gerber, Biology;  Jessica Hoff, Nursing;  Elle Osborn, Psychology;  Walford, IA  Kristin Lee, Nursing AP;  The above were all named to Mount Mercy University Dean's List for fall 2012  Students with a semester grade point average of 3.

  Kelly Robertson, Master of Arts of Atkins graduated with a Master of Arts degree; Cody Robertson, of Shellsburg, graduated with a Bachelor of Business Admininistration;  Nevin Snyder, of Urbana, graduated with a Magna Cum Laude, Bachelor of Arts;  Sue Erickson, of Vinton, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mount Mercy University in December 2012.

The Cooling Dancers have been performing for VS fans at half-time of sophomore basketball games. The girls performed another routine on Friday.

The Iowa Football Coaches Association recently released their academic all state teams.   Union Community's Brian Dunkelberger and Trev Hadachek both were honored at the Union basketball game last night.

The Celebration Park Project received another fantastic donation of $5,000 for the new community park.  Pictured here are Jon Clingman, Celebration Park Fundraising committee member and donors Kathy & Mark Mossman.

Our Veterans are special people in our communities and our country. Sixty-years ago our Korean Veterans went to war with not much recognition. Last year there was a parade in Des Moines to honor our Korean War Veterans.

State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald reminds Iowa students that the application for the 2013 Robert D. Blue Scholarship is available online at www.rdblue.

Name: Jen Schollin Hometown: Southington, Conn. Jen is serving as a member of the NCCC FEMA Corps team Pine 4 at the Vinton Campus. She chose to participate in AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA Corps because she wanted to reconnect with her country again after spending a year studying abroad in Paris.