News
AmeriCorps NCCC team deployed to North Carolina
AmeriCorps members serving at the North Central campus in Vinton, Iowa have been pulled to assist with shelter operations, mobile feeding, warehouse support, and damage assessment in North Carolina. They will be arriving in Charlotte on Saturday, October 5 and checking in at the American Red Cross office to receive their assignments before heading to Asheville. Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Digs Up a Win at District Soils Judging!!
By: Co-Reporter, Izzie Birker On Wednesday, September 25th, the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA chapter, along with many other chapters in the Northeast District, participated in the District Soil Judging Contest at Hawkeye Community College. The Vinton-Shellsburg FFA chapter brought four teams to the event including members Andrew Pingenot, Will McKenna, Megan Schlitter, Izzie Birker, Ben Buhr, Cooper McClintock, Austin Noe, Kirsten Pettit, Brihanna Dulin, Raine Wheeler, Kassidi Brunssen, Cole Birker, Jameson Demuth, and Steven Rogers. Nesbitt honored as 2024 Iowa School Mental Health Hero
Natalie Nesbitt, has been a school counselor for 13 years in the Benton Community School District. She counsels both middle and high school aged children in the district. Currently, Nesbitt cares for around 750 students. With a passion for well-being, she has led efforts in the Benton Community School District to improve access and reduce stigmas around mental health. Free tuition at Cornell for students who qualify for Iowa Tuition Grant
Cornell College is proud to announce Tuition Zero, an initiative that creates tuition-free opportunities for Iowa students by building off the state’s need-based grant program–The Iowa Tuition Grant (ITG). The ITG is typically awarded to Iowans enrolled at one of the state’s private colleges or universities and who have a household income of less than $100,000.
Speed Cameras nearly eliminated across the state, but four remain in C.R.
With the passage of House File 2681 Iowa law changes the use of traffic cameras. The Iowa Department of Transportation ruled Monday that permission for hundreds of traffic cameras across the state has been rejected.Iowa's DOT issued their ruling on 348 camera permit requests from 28 Iowa municipalities. Iowa law will now require cities to request permits to justify automated traffic enforcement cameras.
PROCLAMATION OPEN BURNING PROHIBITED ON OCTOBER 3, 2024
PROCLAMATION
OPEN BURNING PROHIBITED
ON OCTOBER 3, 2024THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL RECEIVED A REQUEST
PURSUANT TO IOWA CODE 100.40(1) (1995) FROM DEAN VRBA, REPRESENTING EACH FIRE
DEPARTMENT HAVING ALL OR PART OF THEIR FIRE DISTRICT WITHIN BENTON COUNTY, THAT
THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL PROHIBIT OPEN BURNING IN BENTON COUNTY. UPON INVESTIGATION
THE FIRE MARSHAL FINDS THAT CONDITIONS IN BENTON COUNTY ARE SUCH THAT OPEN
BURNING CONSTITUTES A DANGER TO LIFE OR PROPERTY.
Become a Soil Conservation Commissioner
If you are qualified to vote in a general election and reside in Benton County, you are eligible to be a candidate for election to the board of the Benton Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). Commissioners may come from all walks of life. All you need is an interest in protecting our natural resources.Benton SWCD has three terms ending in December 2024, and by the August deadline, only one candidate submitted nomination petitions to be placed on the November 5 general election ballot.
Promoting Farm Safety: A Successful Ag Safety Day
By: Co-Reporter, Izzie BirkerOn Saturday, September 21st, the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA, Benton Community FFA, and CPU FFA chapters joined forces at the Benton County Fairgrounds for Ag Safety Day! Local children learned critical safety skills for navigating farm life, including fire safety, water safety, and emergency response. Participants engaged in hands-on sessions covering topics like using fire extinguishers, understanding flotation devices, skid loader and semi safety, bike safety, and first aid basics with local EMTs. October Veteran of the Month for Boyer Post 166
The Ray and Virginia Boyer Post 166 of Shellburg is proud to announce Dan Harris as its veteran of the month for October 2024. Dan was born in 1943 in the Chicago area. After graduating from Chicago Vocational High School in 1960 Dan joined the U.S. Navy and served as a Damage Controlman aboard the USS Randolph CVS 15 and the USS Constellation CVA 64. Residents paint Back Alley Mural in downtown Vinton
On the evening of Saturday, September 28, a group of local residents came together for a creative community event, painting a mural on the wall of City Hall in the alleyway. The event kicked off at 4:00 p.m. with volunteers of all ages picking up brushes and getting to work, transforming the alley into a vibrant public art space.Supplies were provided for everyone to participate in the mural’s creation, and alongside the main artwork, a special "Under the Sea" children’s mural was painted by the younger artists in attendance.