By: Rebecca Bigler Name: Erica Ratner Hometown: Beachwood, OH Erica arrived in Vinton on January 8, 2013 to begin her 11-month service as the Maple 7 Team Leader for NCCC’s Class 19.

  Upper Iowa University has released the winners of the Presidential and Trustee Scholarships for 2012-13. Receiving these prestigious scholarships are: Nikki Lown of Belle Plaine, IA receiving a Presidential Scholarship in the amount of $14,000; Mitchell Moser of Atkins, IA receiving a Presidential Scholarship in the amount of $14,000; About Upper Iowa University Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to some 6,200 students-nationally and internationally-at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide.

  By: Krista Eichhorst Name: Carolina Giraldo Hometown: Chicago, Ill. Carolina is serving as a member of the NCCC FEMA Corps team Hickory 5 at the Vinton Campus.

  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.

  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.

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 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.

  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.

State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald is encouraging Iowans with young children to start thinking about saving for their children's future educational expenses.

  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.