Sports

  Grant Sagan led the Vikings with 19 points as Vinton-Shellsburg defeated Union, 69-46. Max Kearns added 16 and Kelyn Rickels, 13 as the Vikings improved their record to 8-1. Tonight, they host Independence. Kearns also led the team with nine rebounds. The Vikings are in first place in the Wamac West. They defeated second-place Williamsburg Tuesday.

  The Vikings returned to action Tuesday night showing significant improvement.  Facing familiar foes Waterloo East and Decorah, the Vikes split a pair of dual meets.  Decorah beat the Vinton-Shellsburg 140-67 while the Vikings handled the Trojans 111-66.  The 45 point margin of victory more than doubled the spread versus East from the meet on December 17th.

     The Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings returned to the basketball court on Tuesday, for the first of three home games to begin the first week of 2012.       The Vikings led most of the way, but had to rely on free throws and a last second block of a Raider pass to preserve the victory. They defeated Williamsburg 53-51.

The New Year is upon is and the Vinton Parks & Recreation Department is proud to continue offering a slate of programs and events to keep you and your family busy during these chilly months! VPRD's annual Winter Swim begins this Sunday and is an opportunity for people of all ages to enjoy two hours of open swim time at the Braille School indoor pool in Vinton.

The Union school district, got new weight room equipment on Wednesday, December 28th.   The new weight room is 4000 square feet compared to the old room size of 1200.  The equipment is being funded 100% by private donations. There were 25 volunteers that included students, alumni, coaches, administrators, fathers and grandparents.   The total project took approximately 2.

The Vinton Parks & Recreation Department hosted its annual Youth Winter Break Dodgeball Tournament this morning (Wednesday, December 28th) at the Vinton Recreation Center.  3rd & 4th Grade:  (l-r)   Hayley Hissong, Valerie Cox, Bryce Kaplan   5th & 6th Grade:  (l-r)  Blake Bohnsack,

      One of the state's leading rusher's and one of its leading tacklers -- both from area high school football teams -- have been invited to play in the 2012 Iowa Shrine Bowl.       Vinton-Shellsburg's Gunner Tranel, the leading tackler in Class 3A, as well as one of the leading VS rushers, has been invited to play in the game, which takes place July 21, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.

This Week's Results Coed Division Sunday, December 18th   Fareway / Tharp Design 25--2 PHHF 18--9 Ron-Da-Voo 18--9 Dominant Dingoes 15--12 Diggers 14--13 Hummel's / Iron Shed 13--8 Team Truax 11--13 Coots Materials 3--24 Meet The Robinsons 0--27   PHHF 24--19--26 vs Ron-Da-Voo 26--25--24 Meet The Robinsons 19--13--13 vs Diggers 25--25--25 Dominant Dingoes 25--25--25 vs Coots Materials 10--14--18 Team Truax 19--14--21 vs Fareway / Tharp Design 25--25--25   Bye Week: Hummel's / Iron Shed   Men's Division Monday, December 19th   Ron-Da-Voo 20--4 Neve's PFC 13--11 Blockheads 10--14 Terry's Gutter Service 5--19   Ron-Da-Voo 23--25--25 vs Terry's Gutter Service 25--14--10 Neve's P.

The six captains of the 2011 Union Knights 3A championship football team were honored today at the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors meeting in Waterloo, IA.   From left to right:  Dylan McLaughlin, Trev Hadachek, Wes Burnside, Shay Fehl, Cole Hinders, and Josh Clark.   The captains received a plaque form the board which will be displayed at Union High School.

       Yesterday, I went to my closet and did something I have been doing quite regularly for the past 10 years, and plan to do again in the future: I put on my St. Louis Cardinals shirt with the number 5 on the back. Albert Pujols' number.      While many St. Louis Cardinals fans have been hysterical since Albert agreed to play for the LA Angels next year, I can understand why Albert would leave his only "home" team.