News

By Katie Sorrell and Alicia HerzogBenton has been funded through the program since 2020 and maintains a large urban farm-turned-community donation garden. The coordinated gleaning efforts benefit seven area food pantries with a goal of donating 15,000 pounds. Garden tours will be provided to food pantry clients.In the midst of record setting food pantry usage throughout the state, Growing Together Mini-Grants will provide fresh produce and nutrition education to pantries in 2023 through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s SNAP-Education program.

Benton Community School announced that they have appointed Dr. Bieschke as the next superintendent. In a statement, the school said, "Dr. Bieschke is the current associate superintendent and school business official in Benton CSD, where he is responsible for overall operations of business services, transportation, technology, food service, and buildings and grounds.

Jodie Bevans was a veteran who had served in the United States Air Force for more than six years. Following her military service, she became an LPN and served in the Solon Care Center, then became the Director of Nursing at Rock Ridge Care Center in Shellsburg, and later at Cottage Grove Place. Most importantly, she was a wife, mother and grandmother to 24 grandchildren.

The Vinton Area Ministerial Association, also known as VAMA,is in need of funds for its food and gasoline voucher program.The increased need has unfortunately depleted the fund VAMAuses for these vouchers. Any donations would be much appreciated. Please send to Marcia Reilly, VAMA Treasurer, at:St. Mary’s Catholic Church2200 Second AveVinton, IA

The Capitol was treated to a huge wave of blue-jacketed young people on Tuesday. The Future Farmers of America chapters from across the state visited Des Moines, and it’s fantastic to see so many bright futures in the FFA!  When I was an FFA member, most were guys and from a farm.  Now, it seems the makeup has almost flipped to the majority being female and not from a farm.

Today, Governor Reynolds and the Department of Management’s Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) announced the release of an Invitation to Qualify (ITQ) for communities in need of future broadband investment.    The ITQ process allows communities to propose areas across the state of Iowa that should be prioritized by the OCIO in the next Empower Rural Iowa broadband grant opportunity.

The 2022-2023 Voyager Dance Clinic & Spring Show Performance will be held on Saturday, February 25th, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. and  7:00 p.m.  Vinton-Shellsburg K-8th grade are welcome to attend! All participants will be separated into performance groups (K-2 nd, 3rd-5th, 6th-8th) and learn age-appropriate combinations. COST: $30.00 per child.

By Maureen HansonThe Benton County 4-H Livestock Skills Group wrapped up their 2022 competition season by representing Iowa at three national competitions.Previously in the year, the Benton County 4-H youth won the “triple crown” of 4-H livestock contests in Iowa. They earned state championships in the Livestock Skillathon, Livestock Quiz Bowl, and Livestock Judging competitions.

As per the City Council Meeting on Thursday night, the following event has been postponed. However, if you would like to participate, please feel free to sign up at the link below. ----Vinton is participating in the 2023 Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning Program. Community Visioning is a transportation enhancement planning process that serves Iowa communities under 10,000 in population.

  Gov. Reynolds has approved more than $440,000 to cover a backlog of Iowa Veterans Trust Fund (IVTF) grants that were approved by the Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs between March 3, 2021, and November 3, 2022, before the program was temporarily suspended due to insufficient funds. The funds are from the state’s allocation of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, through the American Rescue Plan Act.