News

By Jared StrongA mixed-species backyard flock of 86 birds in Benton County was recently infected by a highly transmissible avian flu, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.It is the 14th detection of the virus in Iowa this fall. The infections have led to the culling of about 1.4 million birds to prevent the virus’ spread.

Legion members and Scouts honored worn flags with a solemn retirement ceremony on Saturday morning.Since 1937, the American Legion has helped honor worn American flags with a solemn disposal-by-burning ceremony. Members of the Vinton American Legion, retired dozens of worn flags by burning them, after reciting the ceremony approved by the Legion 82 years ago.

This Sunday there will be events happening in downtown Vinton for the annual Christmas open houses held by area businesses. From 12-4:00 p.m. the stores will be open offering some holiday cheer.LaGrange Pharmacy LaGrange Pharmacy will be offering 25% off of one item in store. Prescriptions and gift cards are exempt. There will be many gifts available to kick off the Christmas season! Enjoy refreshments and sign up for door prizes while you shop!Better Together Stop at Better Together and pet some of the adorable kittens who live there! The organization will be holding a bake sale to support their ongoing efforts to save the felines in town.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach met at the Benton County Access Center in Vinton and hosted President of Iowa State University, Wendy Wintersteen and Vice President of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Jason Henderson.  came to learn about the various opportunities available in Benton County.Greg Walston, the Benton County Director welcomed all of the participants and made introductions.

Vinton Police Department Log for Week of November 6-12, 2023All Charges are subject to review by the Benton County Attorney’s Office. An arrest or criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the Defendant is presumed innocent, unless proven guilty. Intrastate Warrants are issued by Law Enforcement Agencies for crimes happening in their jurisdictions.

We are so very saddened to hear about the unexpected passing of one of our dear volunteers, Tom Gallagher. Tom delivered meals for the 4th Street Senior Dining Center in Vinton on Wednesdays and Sundays along with wherever was needed. Our thoughts are with Tom’s friends and family during this difficult time.This loss has now left us a bit of a hole in our fleet of delivery driving volunteers.

The Iowa Public Information Board was contacted by this editor along with six other residents concerning actions taken by the Benton County Board of Supervisors. Generally, I let the public do the official complaining and I just write about it. However, in the instance that I submitted a complaint about, I felt that the issue was egregious enough to file my own complaint.

It all started last year after seeing a post by Wesley United Methodist on Facebook. The church was in need of certain items for the food bank. Waylon Struve a 5 year old, well, he's almost 6 he would say, decided that he wanted to use his birthday money to buy food to donate to the food bank. Waylon asked his family to bring canned goods to his party and he also used any birthday money he received to go shopping for groceries.

This Thanksgiving, the Vinton Police Department is partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to urge all individuals, both drivers and passengers, to prioritize seat belt safety throughout the holiday weekend. Buckling your seat belt is more than a suggestion — it’s the law. Help us spread the message: Click It or Ticket.

There are so many things about America that are wonderful but oftentimes we can find ourselves losing sight of these reasons in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It is important to recognize the opportunities we have, the traditions that shape our families, the people we interact with and exposure to places around the country. Cub Scout Pack 47 would like our community to join together in remembering the freedoms we have as Americans and how this came to be.