News

Thursday's testimony began with the state's expert witness to explain the use of cellphone data in placing Tacoa Talley and Samantha Bevans' locations during the days prior to and the day of Jodie Bevans' murder. Data collected by the witness verified testimony given by the witnesses on Wednesday placing both Talley and Bevans together in Cedar Rapids, Shellburg and at the campground where the Bevans family had gone for a camping trip the day before the murder.

The Benton County Community Foundation’s 2022 annual report is now available on the Community Foundation’s website at www.bentonccf.org. The report highlights key impacts made and lists funds held with the Community Foundation along with grant-funded projects. In 2022, a total of $137,420 in grants from all charitable giving funds of the Foundation were awarded to organizations benefiting Benton County residents and communities.

 On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight will launch Flight #46. The mission of this non-profit organization is to provide veterans with a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to visit monuments and memorials built in honor of their service and sacrifice. Since the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight began operations in 2009, 45 flights have transported 4,058 veterans, along with their guardians to Washington, DC.

The second day in the murder trial of Tacoa Talley, opened with yet another witness on the stand. On the day before the murder, Samantha Bevans met a man, Jayson Wells who had been living out of his car. She convinced the man to give her a ride the following day where the two picked up Tacoa Talley. She then convinced the man to give her a ride to the Linn County Courthouse where she had to be.

Get ready for some outdoor family fun at Memorial Park this summer. SACG (Shellsburg Area Community Group) will be installing a six hole, family-friendly disc golf course in Memorial Park, along with the completion of the Memorial Trail loop and a 10-car parking area near the entrance. SACG has been working toward this for several years. The City asked SACG to take on comprehensive park planning, so SACG set up a Parks Planning Committee, which consists of Jim Hidinger (chair), Kelsey Fish, Tricia Sheldon, Deb Oldakowski, Nancy Thorkildson and Jill Hidinger.

This week will be a little different for news coverage due to the trial. Because I plan to be there most of the day, every day, I'll be working during breaks and at night, so I expect the outbound email might be a little light this week while I concentrate on that. So ya'll behave out there!I will put one more request out to all of you to support Vinton Today as we finish up celebrating this 13th Year.

The first day of the Tacoa Talley trial began on Tuesday, April 11, 2022. Talley has been accused of murder in the death of Jodie Bevans of Palo. On Monday, 105 potential jurors arrived at the Benton County Courthouse. Lawyers settled on just 14 Benton County residents to serve on the jury. Arguments began on Tuesday. Jurors heard about a camping trip that was cut short upon the discovery that Jodie did not arrive at work on the Friday of her murder.

Benton County Farm Bureau will be holding a Matching Donation Drive to help raise funds for the Benton County Fairgrounds! These funds will be used to upgrade the beef arena, including new steel to replace damaged trusses, LED lights, and a new sign. All donations will be matched by Benton County Farm Bureau- up to $3,500!*Make checks payable to Benton County Farm Bureau with “Fair Donation” in the memo line.

Cyberattack Occurred On Contractor’s Computer System; Iowa Medicaid System Was Not BreachedThe Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces today that some Medicaid members’ personal information was compromised in a national data breach affecting a contractor’s computer system last year. The Iowa Medicaid system was not breached.

The Benevolent and Protective Grand Lodge Order of Elks Cedar Rapids, Elk’s Lodge 251, presented the Elks Distinguished Citizenship Award to Officer Tyler Brandt, of the Benton County Sheriff's Department. They recognized him for his "outstanding and meritorious service to humanity."Brandt is the School Resource Officer in the Benton Community School District.