Riley Ries said his eighth and ninth grade history teachers – Alex Vasquez and Kelly Steffen – have had such a great impact on him that already as a high school sophomore he knows that he wants to become a history teacher.

The Ternus family of rural Vinton has made and donagted a quilt with a pink theme to help the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikettes raise money to fight breast cancer.

  What's not to love about the great Iowa State Fair? From funnel cakes, ferris wheels, food on a stick and free entertainment, to premier livestock events, expansive art exhibits and the country's largest state fair food department, the Iowa State Fair has something for everyone.

The Vinton-Shellsburg Middle School 7th grade girls Lego League team, The Pink Chicks, received the Core Values award for teamwork at the district event in December and received an invitation to the state competition in Ames.

  Emergency Responders and Public Officials are encouraged to attend educational event Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL), an Alliant Energy company, is participating in the Iowa Pipeline Association’s 2013 Pipeline Awareness and Education training offered at locations throughout the state.

  Atkins, IA  Cody Ayers, Criminal Justice;  Sydney Wallenfelsz, Management;  Blairstown, IA  Wendi Birch, Hum Res Mgmt;  Adrienne Elliff, Music;  Luzerne, IA  Sara Miller, Business;  Newhall, IA  Brittany Shepherd, Accounting;  Norway, IA  Connie Havran, Nursing;  Shellsburg, IA  Brittany Robertson, Psychology;  Urbana, IA  Travis Lohrer, Mgmt Info Systems;  Crystal McGuire, Accounting;  Nevin Snyder, English;  Lisa Wita, Business;  Vinton, IA  Sue Erickson, Nursing AP;  Brady Gerber, Biology;  Jessica Hoff, Nursing;  Elle Osborn, Psychology;  Walford, IA  Kristin Lee, Nursing AP;  The above were all named to Mount Mercy University Dean's List for fall 2012  Students with a semester grade point average of 3.

  Kelly Robertson, Master of Arts of Atkins graduated with a Master of Arts degree; Cody Robertson, of Shellsburg, graduated with a Bachelor of Business Admininistration;  Nevin Snyder, of Urbana, graduated with a Magna Cum Laude, Bachelor of Arts;  Sue Erickson, of Vinton, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mount Mercy University in December 2012.

The Cooling Dancers have been performing for VS fans at half-time of sophomore basketball games. The girls performed another routine on Friday.

The Iowa Football Coaches Association recently released their academic all state teams.   Union Community's Brian Dunkelberger and Trev Hadachek both were honored at the Union basketball game last night.

The Celebration Park Project received another fantastic donation of $5,000 for the new community park.  Pictured here are Jon Clingman, Celebration Park Fundraising committee member and donors Kathy & Mark Mossman.