Et Cetera

Andrea Evans arrived at Tilford Elementary on Friday to pick up her son, Kail.  "Sit down," said her son's teacher. Andrea did. Her son then stood next to her, a paper in hand. He read it to her. It was a description of how much he appreciates his mom. Evan was one of the winners of the the Vinton Parks and Recreation's Mother's Day Essay contest.

  State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald is excited to announce Iowa schools and students had excellent participation in a new financial literacy program. The National Financial Capability Challenge, which ran from March 12 to April 13, was designed to help students increase their financial knowledge in areas like earning, spending, saving, borrowing and risk protection.

Rose Huber of Vinton is currently in Romania, where she is continuing her World Race mission trip, visiting one country each month this year.  Fundraising Rummage Sale for Rose Huber''s mission trip began today. There is a large variety of unique items. The sale takes place. Thursday 5/10 and Friday 5/11, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday 5/12, 8 to noon.

  Jamie Schoch, originally from Missouri, moved to Iowa to attend Kirkwood Community College where she received her Associates in Landscape Management. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Mount Mercy University.   Jamie currently resides in rural Vinton with her husband and two children. She is actively involved in many community organizations including the Shellsburg Parent Teacher Organization, Shellsburg Cub Scouts, Shellsburg Girl Scouts, Center Point United Methodist Church as well as singing in a Praise Band.

  NCCC’s Cedar 4 Prepares for the Summer By Jerome Frey   AmeriCorps NCCC Team Cedar 4 completed their tornado relief project in Henryville, Indiana. After meeting many incredible people, both volunteers and survivors, the team was sad to go. Still, they were excited and ready to move on to their next project.   Cedar 4 is now stationed in Loretto, Minnesota working for the YMCA of Metro Minneapolis.

  A Place to Call Home   By Rebecca Bigler, Oak 7   When Oak 7, a National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) team, came to Columbus, Ohio seven weeks ago to assist Habitat for Humanity of Greater Columbus, they received a shock driving to their housing for the first time. On nearly every street were boarded up houses, vacant from what looked like a few weeks to a few years.

  Ceremonies held at Prairie High School   Kirkwood Community College will soon honor more than 2,750 students taking positive steps for their futures. The college will hold commencement ceremonies for its college credit and GED/adult high school programs this week. Both ceremonies will be held at Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids.

  The Sartori Memorial Hospital Auxiliary is pleased to announce the recipients of their 2012-13 scholarship program.  Recognition was given at the Auxiliary’s 73rd Annual May Breakfast on May 8, 2012, and the $1750 scholarships will be paid directly to the institution where the students will be enrolled full-time this fall.    Tess Noeller of Vinton has been awarded the Sartori Auxiliary Scholarship for the 2012-2013 academic year.

  Alicia Rieck, a native of Blairstown and student at Central College, was accepted to Central College Abroad's study abroad program in London, England, for the fall 2012 semester. Central College Abroad is a university-based study abroad provider for undergraduate students from colleges and universities throughout the United States.

"She was smiling the whole time! She wouldn't stop saying, 'This is awesome!'" That is how one area Girl Scout described another Girl Scout's reaction on Saturday, when Scouts from the area gathered at the Vinton Airport for a Fly Iowa and Young Eagles event. After a weather delay, the girls flew with members of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) in a variety of planes, including the Long-EZ.