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Thank you to everyone who supported Vinton’s Big Read Community Art Contest! We appreciate the artists, Vinton Public Library staff, VGFA Big Read committee members, and voters for making this event possible. There were 41 submissions, and nealy 150 individuals voted for their favorite piece. The winners were announced today at the library. 1st Place: “Interstellar Flight” by Michael Hook2nd Place: “Robin's Ten Foot Drawing” by Dave Hobbs3rd Place: “Hands” by Angie WittmerPopular Vote: “Art for the Endangered” by Amanda Stewart The winners’ art will be displayed downtown at Pourville Art Studio and Gallery until January 30th! NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

Due to predicted frigid temperatures, S&J Sanitation curbside trash & recycling pickup scheduled for Friday, January 23 will be MOVED to Thursday, January 22. 

David Zollo has long been producing some of the finest roots music to come out of the state of Iowa. Brian Cooper will be joining him on drums for this show. This description of his newest release, “For Hire,” says it all:“The long-awaited new release from Iowa City singer/songwriter/bandleader, features 9 new tracks that use gospel, soul, blues and rock and roll to explore how his personal demons took the artist to the edge, and how he fought his way back.

Tree of Lights Purchases: 2025We are overwhelmed by the generosity and support shown by our community for the 2025 Tree of Lights Campaign. The 2025 Tree of Lights contributions provided VGH Hospital and Clinics healthcare professionals with technology and equipment designed to improve patient recovery, lessen hospital stays, and increase overall staff efficiency.

Stay safe tonight and into tomorrow!Key Messages ●Cold Weather Advisory area-wide tonight through Monday morning ●Falling temperatures tonight will combine with gusty northwest winds of 30-40 mph, with a few higher gusts, yielding dangerous wind chills as low as -15° to -20° south to -25° to -30° north. ●With the winds and fluffy nature of snow on the ground in northern locations, shallow blowing and drifting snow is probable.

Friday, around noon, on the list of things to do, was to stop in at the bank. A customer pulled into the parking space of Farmers Savings Bank & Trust before accidentally creating a new drive up window situation on the west side of the building.It appears that the driver accidentally hit the gas rather than the brake while preparing to park. The vehicle took out one of the light poles on its way to the building, jumped a curb and and the retaining wall, before striking the building and taking out the window.

On January 26, 2026, Alice Hootman, formerly of Vinton, will celebrate her 110th birthday!Alice was a former employee at the County Home and the Iowa Braille & Sight Saving School,  until moving to Webster, IA in 1986 with her husband, Art. If you would like to send her a birthday card, please send it to her at: Alice Hootman505 Main St.

Vinton Parks & Recreation is gathering community feedback to help guide future  planning for recreation facilities, including a potential new public pool or community recreation center.This short survey is voluntary and will be used for planning and feasibility purposes only. It does not represent a final proposal or funding decision. Take the survey here:https://blocksurvey.

Nationwide teaching program awards 51 teachers with $5,000 each in celebration of the Semiquincentennial anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of IndependenceThe Jack Miller Center (JMC), an educational non-profit committed to civic education, today announced the winners of the Teaching America250 Awards thanks to the generous support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

The former principal at Tilford Elementary moved on to be the superintendent at the Humbolt Community School District. However, the Humbolt Independent reported, "The Humboldt Community School District Board of Directors officially approved the retirement request of long-time Superintendent Jim Murray at their meeting on Dec. 15.He said, “I’m looking forward to it.