VS FFA member Wes Haefner, center, was among several students to speak at a recent World Food Prize event. Last Monday, the sixth annual World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute brought together 299 students from 131 high schools, including Vinton-Shellsburg, at Iowa State University to explore critical issues related to global food security and discover academic and career paths in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

Vinton-Shellsburg seniors and juniors named Cassie Kenney Queen and Drew Wiley King of their Prom on Saturday. With the theme, "The Great Gatsby," the students took turns standing before their friends and family during the annual Grand March before proceeding to the Skate Center for Prom and then to the VSHS gym for the Post-Prom events.

Matthew Gerhold of Atkins, Iowa and the University A Cappella Choir from Concordia University, Nebraska, will travel to South Africa for its international tour May 7-27, 2017.

By Tamara Stark, Boomtown Committee It seems that after our recent good news announcement regarding the "˜open shoot' portion of our Boomtown celebration, sponsored by Veridian Credit Union, there are some questions and concerns regarding the closing of the road.

Rachel Danielle Gordon of Shellsburg was among more than 1,900 University of Nebraska-Lincoln students honored during individual college celebrations and the All-University Honors Convocation April 23 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts.

Minnesota State University, Mankato will award 2,334 degrees at the end of the spring 2017 semester, with approximately 1,500 students participating in three graduation ceremonies on Saturday, May 6 in Taylor Center's Bresnan Arena.

Dr. (Rev) Lyle and Marilyn Dake of Lawrenceville IL will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on April 25th. Lyle and Marilyn were married in theLittle Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa.

By Rosa Boisen Annually, our club plants a tree in our community. This year, we chose to help the Benton County Fairgrounds replace a few trees that the July 2016 tornado destroyed.

Grantham University is proud to announce its March local graduates of the university's online degree and certificate programs. "We are so proud to congratulate these graduates on trusting our team with their dreams.

Morgan Eggert of Atkins, Iowa and the Male Chorus and Women's Chorale from Concordia University, Nebraska, performed in a joint concert at 4 p.m. April 23, 2017 at St.