News Headlines

An arrest warrant went out on December 3, 2025 for Stacy Diveley. Diveley, formerly of Shellsburg, is currently serving time in the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville. She is now housed at the Benton County Jail and will report to court for a preliminary hearing on Thursday. In her third round of arrests, she is facing yet another six charges that include:- Accessory after the fact on July 12, 2021, Aggravated Misdemeanor- Child Endangerment, July 12, 2021, Aggravated Misdemeanor- Assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, April 8, 2021, Aggravated Misdemeanor- Accessory after the fact, November 19.

Two retired teachers from Center Point - Urbana, gave it their all while ringing the bell for the Salvation Army of Benton County. The two teachers entertained shoppers by singing carols accapella in front of Fareway!

Starting TODAY: Iowa moves from warning to enforcement - hands‑free only while driving.  Law Enforcement may now issue citations for any use of electronic devices while driving unless the device is used hands‑free. Stay safe, Iowans. Team with us to save lives.Iowa will enforce a hands-free driving law that prohibits the use of handheld electronic devices while driving.

Bell ringers from Wesley United Methodist Church in Vinton. Several area folks helped to be bell ringers throughout the season to raise money for the Red Kettle Drive as part of efforts by the Benton County Salvation Army.

A Tama County man has won a $1 million Powerball® prize on a ticket he purchased in Benton County.William Zak of Dysart won big in the drawing on Dec. 20. His ticket matched the first five numbers and was just one number away from winning that night’s $1.434 billion jackpot, missing only the Powerball. It was one of eight tickets across the country to win a $1 million prize in that night’s drawing.

On Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at 08:16 pm, the Vinton Fire Department was requested by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch to a private residence in the 1000 block of West 8th Street to a working structure fire reported to 911 by a neighbor.Vinton Fire responded to the scene with both command units (Chief Staab and Assistant Chief Wood), both city engines 719 and 711, and ladder truck 707 with a total response of 17 members with the first units arriving on scene at 08:23 pm.

I'm going to do something I haven't done in decades: I'm going to take a week off. Generally, the week between Christmas and New Year's is slow when it comes to news, however,  I will keep an eye on things. Information that needs to be shared in a timely manner, will make the trip to your inbox. Things like meeting agendas, obituaries and any significant weather updates will go out.

Veteran members of the Benton County American Legion lowered the flag at their memorial along Highway 30. The Benton County Memorial flag was lowered to half mast to honor the Iowa National Guard members killed in action in Syria, Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown. Three other service members were injured during the incident in Palmyra, Syria.

Even though it was cold and snowy, the elves in the Garrison Lions packed Sunshine Baskets and delivered them all around the community. It’s always worth the effort to see so many smiling faces when they knocked on the doors!   Each bag had a banana, orange, apple, a small loaf of homemade pumpkin bread, a bag of salted peanuts, candy, and a card from our Lions Club.

If you are out and about in the last couple of days before Christmas, don't forget to drop a donation into the red kettle at the local Fareway. Fareway staff will be ringing the bell on Wednesday, the 24th until the store closes at 5:00 p.m.If you can help the community with a donation, now is your chance! If you don't carry cash, you can donate by mail by making a check out to the Benton County Salvation Army, 1201 C Ave, Vinton, Iowa 52349.