Et Cetera

  Last year we started a local bicycle group and we’ve had some good rides in and around Vinton and Benton County.  Some were training for RAGBRAI and others for triathlons and some just wanted to get out and get some exercise. If anyone is interested in joining in on the upcoming season, just email us at the address below and we’ll add you to the group emailing for any upcoming rides.

  Schools across the state are invited to participate in Prepare for the Basics. State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald is offering free pencils to schools across Iowa for use in Kindergarten Round-Up through the Prepare for the Basics program. "Our schools know inviting families to check out their school before a new school year begins will help kindergarteners prepare for their big transition," Fitzgerald said.

Benton County is continuing our promotion of conservation in the Cedar River watershed, with a series of articles written by Larry Stone focused on the Cedar River Watershed Coalition’s efforts.     ---   “The Cedar is, in my judgment, the finest stream in Iowa,” wrote pioneering ichthyologist Seth B.

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point honored 2,719 undergraduate students for attaining high grade point averages during the fall semester of the 2012-2013 academic year. Full-time undergraduates who earned grade points of 3.90 to 4.0 (4.0 equals straight A) are given the highest honors designation. High honor citations go to those with grade point averages from 3.

  Name: Rusty Graham Hometown: Monroe, NC Rusty arrived in Vinton on January 8, 2013 to begin his 11-month service as a Team Leader for NCCC’s Class 19 Oak 4. He is going to be leading a team of 10-12 members on a number of service projects throughout the North Central Region starting mid-March.                                 Rusty has four years of management training to help him this year as a Team Leader.

State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald is encouraging Iowans with young children to start thinking about saving for their children's future educational expenses. "As a way to raise awareness about the importance of saving for higher education we have teamed up with daycares across the state to get information into the hand of parents," Fitzgerald said.

  Benin Laliberte, one of the first FEMA Corps class members at the Vinton campus, is from Norway. But he is not from Norway the country, or even Norway the city southeast of Vinton in Benton County. He's from Norway, Maine.  Below is Ben's NCCC profile:  Name: Benin Laliberte  Hometown: Norway, Maine Benin is serving as a member of the NCCC FEMA Corps team Pine 1 at the Vinton Campus.

Vike of the Week Feb 8  Lauren Tandy for Vike of the week-.(Mrs. Armell)  She has been so helpful and patient teaching a fellow student sewing!   (Mrs Hamilton nominted)  On Wed., in the late afternoon my home doorbell rang.  When I answered it John Eden and Kyle Henkle announced that they had just shoveled my (long) driveway!!  I would like to nominate them for Vikes of the Week because their actions are a great example of a true characteristic of a V-S Vike – doing unsolicited acts of kindness for others!! Feb 15, 2013    Vike of the Week  Lucas Kalina ( Mr.

By: Krista Eichhorst Name: Austin Mickschl Hometown: La Crescent, Minn. Austin is serving as a member of the NCCC FEMA Corps team Pine 4 at the Vinton Campus. He chose to participate in AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA Corps because he wanted to try something different right after graduating from college and do his part to make a difference in the world.

Karleigh Miller, a member of the Central College Mock Trial Team, has qualified for the Opening Round Championships of the National Mock Trial Tournament. Miller, a senior history and political science major from Keystone, Iowa, competed Feb. 16-17 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Central team finished with a record of 6-2, defeating Grinnell College, the University of Iowa and Northwestern University (Ill.