News

The Capitol was treated to a huge wave of blue-jacketed young people on Tuesday. The Future Farmers of America chapters from across the state visited Des Moines, and it’s fantastic to see so many bright futures in the FFA!  When I was an FFA member, most were guys and from a farm.  Now, it seems the makeup has almost flipped to the majority being female and not from a farm.

Today, Governor Reynolds and the Department of Management’s Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) announced the release of an Invitation to Qualify (ITQ) for communities in need of future broadband investment.    The ITQ process allows communities to propose areas across the state of Iowa that should be prioritized by the OCIO in the next Empower Rural Iowa broadband grant opportunity.

The 2022-2023 Voyager Dance Clinic & Spring Show Performance will be held on Saturday, February 25th, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. and  7:00 p.m.  Vinton-Shellsburg K-8th grade are welcome to attend! All participants will be separated into performance groups (K-2 nd, 3rd-5th, 6th-8th) and learn age-appropriate combinations. COST: $30.00 per child.

By Maureen HansonThe Benton County 4-H Livestock Skills Group wrapped up their 2022 competition season by representing Iowa at three national competitions.Previously in the year, the Benton County 4-H youth won the “triple crown” of 4-H livestock contests in Iowa. They earned state championships in the Livestock Skillathon, Livestock Quiz Bowl, and Livestock Judging competitions.

As per the City Council Meeting on Thursday night, the following event has been postponed. However, if you would like to participate, please feel free to sign up at the link below. ----Vinton is participating in the 2023 Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning Program. Community Visioning is a transportation enhancement planning process that serves Iowa communities under 10,000 in population.

  Gov. Reynolds has approved more than $440,000 to cover a backlog of Iowa Veterans Trust Fund (IVTF) grants that were approved by the Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs between March 3, 2021, and November 3, 2022, before the program was temporarily suspended due to insufficient funds. The funds are from the state’s allocation of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, through the American Rescue Plan Act.

At Thursday night's City Council meeting, Matt Boggess was on hand to accept a plaque in recognition of the Nathan's Miles glow-in-the-dark trail project's unique design.  The trail won "Project of the Year Award in Transportation in the $500,000 to $1 Million" category for both Vinton and Baker Enterprises for their construction of the trail.

The Benton County Supervisors met in another special session to approve a new hire for the Benton County Attorney's Office in the collections department. The meeting opened with an attempt to go into a closed session, by Supervisor Rick Primmer citing Iowa Code 21.5 i.  "To evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual's reputation and that individual requests a closed session.

The Iowa Department of Corrections will occasionally send out notices of escapees, deaths, or other bits of news to area news media. If it is a notice concerning anyone within a few miles of Vinton, the information will be published. WATERLOO – Alexander Joseph Carman, convicted of Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon and other charges in Dubuque County, failed to report to the Waterloo Residential Correctional Facility as required Friday.

Dear Mayor, Vinton City Council, & residents of Vinton,I have served on the council for just over one year now, & have decided it is time for me to step down. I cannot, & will not agree to decisions that are leading our citizens down the path to total government control. .You may not believe that the decisions you are making are taking us down that road, but that's exactly what is happening.