News

While other stories might say something cold and clinical like, "A local landmark was torn down today. The building had fallen into disrepair over the years and required extensive repair. The site will now be home to a new Dollar General building," I won't be reporting it like that.I might start a bit more gently and say, Monday was the beginning of another week and the end of an era.

For those in Vinton, and those formerly from Vinton who keep an eye on the Cedar River, you will notice that things are going to be changing rapidly for us over the next 48 hours. The Cedar River has been pretty low for quite a while here in Vinton. According to the National Weather Service, Vinton's water level will be changing from under 3 feet, where it has been for several weeks, to just about flood stage at 14.

Congratulations to Justin Bartz, Christina Harrelson, Stevi Salzmann and Kylee Schwan, 2021 Virginia Gay Hospital Jeanette Miller Employee Scholarship recipients. The Jeanette M. Miller Scholarship supports education in a nursing career. In 2014, Jeanette M. Miller made a significant impact by donating funds from her estate to support nursing scholarships for graduating high school students in our community and continuing education of the nursing staff of VGH.

Bring the Noise 5K is an annual event that is one of several events put together by the Vinton Kiwanis Club. Each year the event raises money to support the Vinton-Shellsburg Community School Backpack Program which assists area families throughout the school year.Bringing more than 40 runners to the east side of the courthouse, the race took off at 9:00 a.

Speaking to the Vinton Kiwanis Club this week, Blake Hansen shared first a bit about himself. He is not a stranger to Vinton. Growing up here the son of Jeff and Jennifer, and grandson of Gilbert and Rose, and Roger and Dorothy Albert, his family line goes deep into Vinton. Hansen moved back 3 years ago and looks forward to raising his family here.A man who wears three hats for his job, Hansen is Vinton's first full-time Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer/Floodplain Manager.

Boomtown Schedule Around townFriday, August 27, 2021Get the weekent started at the Benton County FairgroundsFriday night free parking and admission6 pm beer tent, food vendors, music by Mike HepkerA night to socialize with friends and familyThere will be no scheduled fireworks display on Friday.Saturday, August 28, 20219am - Kiwanis 'Bring the Noise' 5k Run10am - Boom-fest in downtown Vinton           - Vinton Depot Civil War Re-Enactors            Drill and Musket Demonstration/Kid Drill10:30 am Cannon Demo11:30 am Interaction Downtown at Boomfest1:30 pm Skirmish2:00 pm Medical Demo3:00 pm Mortar Demo or Cannon Demo4:00 pm Moonlight tour of camp            - Gates open at the Benton County FairgroundsBeer tent, grandstands, food vendorsParking is $10 per vehicleGrandstand seating is $10 per personLawn seating is free bring blankets and chairs6-8 pm - Live Entertainment Slap 'n' Tickle takes stage at the beer tentDusk - Pyrotechnic Demonstrations             Opening Ceremonies            Hand Built Samples by members of the IPA           Junior Pyro show9:15 pm (Approx.

The Benton County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, is sharing tips for how individuals can maximize their charitable giving tax advantages for 2021 before year end. The CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act) was enacted in 2020 to allow taxpayers who do not itemize their taxes to receive a tax benefit for charitable giving up to a certain threshold.

It used to be when I was younger that I tensed up whenever I saw a group of bikers roll up wherever I was. Then I met a few bikers and realized that the noise of the bikes only indicates that regular people just like noisy bikes. This Saturday as I watched the bikers get ready to ride out to raise some cash for our Special Olympics team that I felt my heart get a little bigger as the roar of the machines were preparing to take off.

On Wednesday, August 18, 2021 Kyle Robert Mall, age 38, of Belle Plaine, Iowa was found guilty of two Counts of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree, two counts of Lascivious Acts with a Child, and two counts of Assault With Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse (See Attached Order filed August 18, 2021). Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree is a Class B felony that carries a 25 year prison sentence that requires the Defendant to serve 70% of the sentence before he is eligible for parole (which is 17.

The Virginia Gay Hospital Foundation is seeking health and safety-related businesses and organizations to share their expertise on healthy lifestyle topics with our community. The Seventh Annual Benton County Community Health and Wellness Fair will be held from 8 am to Noon on Saturday, October 9 at the Vinton-Shellsburg High School. This event focuses on empowering our community to be advocates of their health and well-being.