News

Shawna Kurth, Family Ministry Director at Blessed Hope Commnuty Church in Vinton and also a part-time worker for Youth For Christ, gave a presentation to the Vinton Kiwanis Club on Tuesday about her work. Shawna, her husband Tim and children live in Vinton where Shawna works with middle school and high school-aged children. She spends many hours at The Well and and working with children at her church Blessed Hope Community Church.

Rita Moore was excited to present one of her latest quilts to a Veteran familiar not only to her but to former students in Vinton. You might have had George Cummins asa Vocational Ag Teacher or as an FFA advisor in the Vinton School District during the 1970-73 school years.Prior to teaching, Cummins served in the Army from 1967-70 as an Engineer OCS in South Korea and then as a Batallion Adjutant for nine months.

Adam Hildebrandt, 40, a former Center Point-Urbana Middle School teacher pled guilty on Friday to sending inappropriate, sexual messages to a 13-year-old female student. He pled guilty to attempting to entice a minor under the age of 16, which is an aggravated misdemeanor. He could receive up to one year in county jail, no more than two years in prison and a maximum fine of $8,540.

After closing arguments at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Friday, the jury reached a vedict by 1:30 p.m. In the murder trial of Tacoa Talley concerning the death of Jodie Bevans, the jury found Talley guilty of first degree murder. Sentencing will be held on June 2nd at 1:30 p.m.The state began by presenting its closing arguments recapping the details of the case.

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 to all of you who support Vinton Today as we finish up celebrating this 13th Year.