Business

  Evening Meals -Serving Time: 5:30-6:30 pm   Tuesday, March 1st Chili or Vegetable Beef Soup, Cornbread, Coleslaw, Peaches, Cookie and Milk. Cook’s Choice. Activity: Pinochle/5 Crown/Spades @ 6:00 pm   Tuesday, March 15th Meat Loaf, Mashed Potatoes/Gravy, Peas, Pears, Bread Pudding w/Raisins, WW Bread, Margarine and Milk.

  4th STREET DINER NEWS 4th Street Diner HACAP North Benton Center 202 East Fourth St Vinton, IA 52349 319-472-4761 Serving Buffet from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM, Monday through Friday. A choice of salads is available on the buffet. Everyone is WELCOME! Suggested contribution for individuals 60 years old or older, and their spouse (regardless of age) is $2.

  Farm Bureau Financial Services Agent Randy Stein CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, has recently won the 2010 National Sales Achievement Award through the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. Stein met the qualifications to achieve this industry award and attended an Eastern Iowa awards ceremony in January. To qualify for the National Sales Achievement Award, applicants must have sold a required number of eligible paid policies in the year prior to the award.

  Much of Iowa experienced blizzard conditions in January.  Some producers are finding snow blown in on top of stored grain in on farm bins.  If this snow is not dealt with, it will melt and could cause grain spoilage later this spring.  This week should provide a good opportunity to get rid of this snow or moisture left behind by the melting snow.

              All commercial pesticide applicators must take exams in order to become initially certified and some choose to become re-certified by exam rather than by attending continuing instructional courses.  With the increased interest in fungicide applications on corn and soybeans, many commercial applicators are considering adding agricultural diseases (category 1C) to their certification.

     EMC Insurance Companies has announced its 2011 "Leading Partners" and has distinguished Three Rivers Insurance of Vinton, Iowa is one of the highest-performing EMC agencies in the country, placing them in the top 15 percent  of all EMC agencies nationally.        This annual award is based on key indicators including retention, profitability and growth, which are reviewed over a three-year period.

  January 21, 2011   East-Central Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative Contact:  Frank Weber, member Service Director Direct phone:  319-443-3565   Contractor conference to promote energy-efficiency   East-Central Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative (ECI REC) will join other Iowa Touchstone Energy Cooperatives to sponsor the annual “Momentum Is Building” conference February 10-11, 2011, at the Sheraton West Des Moines hotel.

    More workers could be eligible for a special tax credit this year and not know it. As a result, they may overlook claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, which can put anywhere from $2 to more than $5,600 into their pockets. People move into and out of EITC eligibility based on changes in their earnings, their parental status or their marital status according to Phyllis Zalenski, Family Resource Management Program Specialist, Iowa State University Extension.

  Unpredictable weather patterns, volatile markets and rising inputs costs will certainly challenge producers in 2011.  Iowa State University Extension in cooperation with program sponsors are offering the 2011 Ag Market Outlook Seminars.  The seminars are scheduled for Wednesday, March 9.   Elwynn Taylor, ISU Climatologist; will discuss the 2010 weather patterns and what may lie ahead in 2011.

  Vinton Unlimited had the privilege of welcoming the following businesses as new members in 2010: 5th Street Koffee Haus- 102 E 5th Street – Offering fresh brewed coffee, cappuccino, lattes, and many other items to get your day started off right.  They also serve a lunch menu with various sandwiches and soups.  Whole Earth Enterprises, LLC- 3097 62nd Street, Shellsburg - A natural health clinic that offers massage therapy, Reiki treatments and training, Reflexology, consultations and; River Rock Massage - a web-based business supplying stone massage information and equipment to therapists Format L.