Et Cetera

Legion seeks help to ID graves of veterans

For Memorial Day the American Legion places flags on the graves of our Veterans, unfortunately we miss many because we are unaware the grave is that of a Veteran. In an effort to correct this the Vinton American Legion is working with the Benton County VA Director, Toni Parzek, to get grave markers for those Veterans whose head stone does not reference their service in our armed forces but first we need to get an idea of how many we will need.

Did you know this about the American Legion: Operation Comfort Warriors

Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW) is an American Legion program that provides comfort items to those recovering in military hospitals and transition units throughout the U.S. and overseas. Items like television sets, stereos, long distance calling cards, pool tables, sporting equipment and other items  You can get additional information here: http://www.

AmeriCorps NCCC Class 20 Corps Member Spotlight: Daina Stradley

Daina Stradley, from Miles City, Montana is serving on team Maple 8 in AmeriCorps NCCC Class 20. She arrived in Vinton on February 11 to start her 10-month service term. Maple 8 is made up of seven people from across the country who will serve together around the Midwest. Daina says “I wanted to provide services for others in need.” Before Daina joined the NCCC program she was in the Anaconda Job Corps program.

Mary Ingalls signs now proclaim her history at IBSSS

Scott Wood places the second Mary Ingalls sign on the IBSSS campus. Scott Wood, owner/operator of All American Handyman in Vinton, finished installing the second Mary Ingalls School Site sign at the IBSSS  Sunday, August 3. The sign can be seen off Highway 218. The first sign was installed by the main entrance to the school.

VS FFA members teach about farm life at Benton County Fair

Thanks to VS FFA members and others, children had hands-on experience with livestock at the Fair.                 On the 23rd of July, members all around the county where bringing in their animals and projects for the Benton County Fair, that is hosted at the Vinton fairgrounds each year. This year, like the year before, the FFA members used an available barn as a makeshift FFA barn. In the FFA barn, community and FFA members brought animals, and displays where set up for the community to learn about FFA and to have more fun while visiting the fair.

NCCC Team Helps Girl Scout Camps Renovate and Modernize

Rachel Canning gets hands on training w/ chainsaws by Mahlon Sibert, Cedar 1 sponsor By: Ryan Cuttler Cedar 1 started out their journey with the Girl Scout Camps of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois (GSEIWI) around 8 a.m. ready to work on the tasks that lay before them. “This project is an amazing experience,” said Cedar 1 member Belle Kiley of Exeter, NH. “Assisting them with these projects will create a better, safer learning environment for Girls Scouts of all ages.

VFW Auxiliary announces Fair quilt winner, plans Jr. Auxiliary group

Smith-Geater VFW Ladies Auxiliary 8884 of Vinton would like to thank everyone that stopped by our booth. The winner of the Quilt was Kim Draker of Shellsburg. We will keep helping our VETERANS in our Community. We will live by our motto:  "Honor The Dead by Helping The Living" We have many young Girls that stopped by our booth.

Area students graduate from U of I

Approximately 5,000 students received degrees from the University of Iowa at the close of the 2014 spring semester. Area students receiving degrees include: Luke Franzenburg from Atkins (MBA-MBA Executive Program) Mallory Brandt from Luzerne (BBA-Economics; Business Analytics and Information Systems) Deborah Bierschenk from Newh

Fourth Street Diner News: July review and August menu

The 4th Street Diner meal on Sunday, August 3rd, will be Baked Chicken, Mashed Potatoes/Gravy, Corn, Mandarin Oranges, Cake, WW Bread, and Milk. On Monday, May 5th, games of Pepper Cards were played. Hazel Eastwood took 1st place with 273 points. Bill Milne took 2nd place with 256 points. Leroy Wiese won 3rd place with 244 points.

100 +1: Bethlehem donates to Below 100 Initiative

George Bauer, President of the Congregation, presents Lt. Eric Dickinson of the Vinton PD a check. On Sunday, July 27th, Bethlehem Lutheran Church presented the seventh gift of $101 to the Below 100 initiative. Below 100 was conceived to attempt to reduce law enforcement deaths. The line of duty deaths has not been below 100 since 1944. This program is not about statistics, but are seminars held around the United States that challenge police officers to take individual and collective responsibility for the decisions and actions that contribute to their personal safety.