By: Naval Service Training Command Public Affairs Atkins, Iowa native and Iowa State University Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) Midshipman McKinley Spalding is participating in annual training this summer.

The Vinton Garden Club member of National Garden Clubs, Inc., District II and Central Region met 12:30pm, Aprl 27 at Vinton Public Library with Bristol Gibson as hostess.

The following individuals graduated from the Iowa School Business Management Academy at Iowa State University in Ames on April 29, 2016:  John Berg - Mason City Community Schools Tim Blum - Council Bluffs Community Schools Mary Bogaard - Pella Community School District Crystal Coder - Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District       Tina Cooper - Allamakee Community School District Jennifer Dunn - Riceville Comm School Joel Etienne - Des Moines Public Schools Clint Farlinger - Howard-Winneshiek CSD Heng Fongkhamdeng - Heartland AEA 11 Cynthia Gingerich - Williamsburg Community School District            Kelli Gray - Woodbine Community Schools Kirsten Heard - Fremont-Mills Community Schools Lori Hoven - Boyden-Hull CSD Angie Klinkkammer - West Branch Community Schools Dale Kreher - Lewis Central Public School Robyn Lane - Howard-Winneshiek CSD Nick Lenhardt - Des Moines Public Schools Robin Leonard - Cardinal CSD Megan Liebe - North Linn CSD Song Luong - Des Moines Public School Laura Marshall - Greene County CSD Rhonda Oliphant - Missouri Valley Comm.

We would like to announce that Eastern Iowa Honor Flight #24 will depart Wednesday, May 18th, 2016 from Cedar Rapids to Washington, DC, with another group of Iowa Veterans.

2016 Vinton-Shellsburg High School senior Emily Howes-Vonstein is one of the students whom Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has honored for academic achievement.

Valedictorians or top graduating seniors were once again honored by KWWL Television and the University of Northern Iowa on Saturday, April 30. Olivia Ketchen daughter of John Ketchen and Sue Travis, was among the honoreesat this year's event.

Jamie Rich, a Buena Vista University (BVU) senior psychology major from Belle Plaine, was selected to present research at the annual Midwestern Psychological Association conference in Chicago.

This year, the Benton Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioners are very happy to announce that they have selected two recipients for their Annual Scholarship.

Concordia University, Nebraska held its 109th commencement on Saturday, May 7, 2016. The university awarded undergraduate or graduate degrees to 353 graduates in May 2016.

Buena Vista University's (BVU) twelfth annual Scholars Day was held Friday, April 22. The event provided students from all disciplines an opportunity to present their best presentations, original research, academic posters, artistic creations and performances to their peers, professors and the public.