This reminder brought to you by the Vinton Police Department. "Seat belt laws and enhanced enforcement increase seat belt use, thereby reducing crash-related injuries.

Experience and Qualifications · 28/29 years of Law Enforcement Experience — Albion, Eldora, Vinton · 17 years as a Chief of Police · 23 years of Volunteer Fire Fighter - combined · Fiscally responsible with tax dollars · Benton County Resident since 2014 · Husband and Father of 6 children — Wife BeAnn, Mitchell 28, Stephen 25, Nicolas 21, Haedon 11, Korban 10, Lyndon 6Priorities and Goals · Enhance community engagement in rural Benton Countyo Assign a deputy to our townships, get to know their trustees and clerks.

By: Co-Reporter, Izzie Birker  The annual Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Banquet took place on Saturday, May 4th at the Vinton-Shellsburg High School. Before the meal, President Andrew Pingenot welcomed all of the guests and thanked them all for their support.

Flight to include 88 veterans On Tuesday, May 28, the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight will launch Flight #51. Since the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight began operations in 2009, 50 flights have transported 4,506 veterans, along with their guardians to Washington, DC.

"The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) is partnering with law enforcement across Iowa to support the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Click It, Don’t Risk It high-visibility enforcement effort.

Last week a jury was seated in the Samantha Bevans First Degree Murder trial for the murder of her stepmother, Jodie Bevans. Following a week of testimony from family members all speaking to the kindness of Jodie in extending a second chance opportunity to Samantha, moving her back home in hopes of changing her life and making it better, the family also had to testify to the terrible mistake that was.

The U.S. Department of Transportation says, "One of the safest choices drivers and passengers can make is to buckle up. Many Americans understand the lifesaving value of the seat belt — the national use rate was at 91.

On Friday, the jury heard the closing arguments for both the State and the defense. Presenting the remarks were Assistant Iowa Attorney General’s office and the defense Fir Samantha Bevans.

In conjunction with Hospital week, Virginia Gay Hospital recently held its Employee Awards Banquet to honor staff members for their years of dedicated service.