It's that time of the year. The lights are pulled from the attic, the Christmas tree is up and the sibling rivalry kicks off. Well, not for everyone, but in Vinton it is! In a Facebook post, Kord Sellers poked at his brother Dakoda in a bit of Christmas fun.

Thank you to all those who are ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. You are doing a great job!It's just fun to look at pictures. We can't get pictures of everyone ringing, but here are a few.

Doug shopped locally in Vinton and won $50 in Vinton Value Dollars! Every week between now and Christmas, Vinton Unlimited will be drawing a winner in their Holiday Lights Punch Card Buy Local shopping incentive.

Each year the Vinton Lions Club teams up with the Vinton/Shellsburg Booster Club to provide concession food at the VSHS varsity football games. All proceeds from the Vinton Lions Club concession trailer at the games go directly to the Booster Club.

Four 4-H members from Benton County recently represented Iowa on November 14 the National 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl competition, placing third in the nation.

Kirkwood’s Workplace Learning Connection (WLC) presenter, Laura Miner, the Work-Based Learning Coordinator, spoke to the area Lions Club about WLC’s mission, purpose and impact in our region.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars members Dale Henry and Jerry Huffman presented Grace Q Stephenson (Senior at Vinton-Shellsburg High School) with a Certificate for her Voice of Democracy essay and a monetary award.

Greg and Jenn Svoboda made special arrangements for Santa to stop and visit on Friday and Saturday evenings, December 8th and 9th and also the following weekend, on December 15th and 16th.

Honoring and remembering those who have had a significant impact on our lives as part of a gift to our community has been a lasting tradition. Your donations to the Tree of Lights campaign, no matter the size, come together to make a world of difference for so many.

Virginia Gay Hospital Home Health Agency is pleased to host the annual “Angel Tree” for their clients.  We were overwhelmed by the outpouring of giving by members of our community last year and we are excited to help our clients have another joyful, meaningful Christmas again this year!  Many of our clients, who all live in Benton County are low income, lack the support of close family/friends, and have unfulfilled needs.