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Click here to watch the Shellsburg Library Summer Reading Program Wrap-Up musical.  Many thanks to Teresa Drtina for leading the Summer Reading Program and all the volunteers who gave their time to make this year's summer reading program such a success. Also, many thanks to the Shellsburg Legion and Shellsburg Lions and many others who supported this program for the kids in the community.

The final weekly winner for Vinton Unlimited’s You Light Up My July summer punch card incentive is Logan Wilson!  Logan won $50 in Vinton Value Dollars!  Congratulations Logan! Thank you to everyone who shopped locally and kept our community strong! Keep watching for the announcement of the winner of the Grand Prize!  Participating businesses include: Arnold Motor Supply, Cameron’s Clothing, Clipper Corner, Dollar Fresh, Echo Vision-US Cellular, Ervin Motor Company, Flowers by Nature’s Corner, Henkle Creek Mercantile, Koop’s Sales & Service, Kromminga Motors, LaGrange Pharmacy, McDowell’s Building Materials, Michael & Dowd Furniture & Appliance, New Beginning Salon, The Niche, Opal & Hazel’s Wood Fired Pizza, Theisen's, 3D Kitchens, Tootsies Ice Cream & More, Viking Plaza, & Viking Sewing Center.

Photo: Grant recipients gathered for the Benton County Community Foundation’s 2022 grant awards celebration on July 26 at the Van Horne Community Building where $134,426 in grant funding was awarded to 22 projects of organizations serving Benton County.The Benton County Community Foundation (BCCF) held its 2022 grant awards celebration at the Van Horne Community Building on July 26, announcing the distribution of $134,426 to 22 projects of organizations serving Benton County through its 2022 grant cycle.

I had a visit with Sheriff Tippett concerning Pit Bulls, Ordinances, and other chit-chat around dogs. Both of us grew up with parents that gave a dog a "one strike and your out" chance meaning, "one bite and you are out of here!" However, local ordinances allow dogs to bite a human TWICE in one calendar year before the owner has to get rid of the animal.

"Yellow corn, big green leaves, it's sweet corn time in the city..." okay, so it's a little corny if you sing it along to the tune of "Silver Bells..."The Happel family in Vinton brought their corn to Tactical Creations to sell this week. It can also be found at Fareway and Dollar Fresh. Pictured in the red is Beckett, in front of the sign in their sweet corn costumes are twins Dax and Finn.

Following a chat with Sheriff Ron Tippett, he verified that the residents of Keystone did NOT receive a WRITTEN warning about the removal of the "pit bull" dogs. However, residents said that a deputy did approach at least two residents giving them a verbal warning that if the dogs were not removed within 10 days they would be served with a search warrant and the dogs would be removed for them.

The Benton County CISM Team was officially formed in 2020 and became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2021. The mission of the Benton County CISM Team is to provide Benton County first responders with unparalleled support through displaying respect, integrity, and passion as Crisis Interventionists. First responders all over the world endure critical incidents (something that overwhelms one’s normal coping mechanisms) every day.

Update 7/28/22According to the Sheriff's Office, there was never a written warning given to the Keystone residents. The residents agree that they were given verbal warnings.Vinton Today has asked to view the footage of the visit by the department to the Keystone residents concerning the dogs. ---Families in Keystone were contacted last Friday by the Benton County Deputy Sheriff's Office on behalf of the City of Keystone concerning the "Dangerous Animal" ordinance in Keystone.

This week’s winner of the You Light Up My July summer punch card incentive is George Kristjanson. George won $50 in Vinton Value Dollars that he can use while he shops in Vinton.  The punch card incentive will continue until the end of July, so there’s still time to get your cards punched.  Plus, this Saturday, July 30th, is a DOUBLE punch day!  On that day, every $10 you spend at a participating business, you’ll receive TWO punches.

Congresswoman Ashley Hinson made stops in downtown Vinton on Monday morning. Accompanied by Melody Snow of Vinton Unlimited and Vinton's Mayor Bud Maynard, she visited area businesses in downtown Vinton. Stopping first at LaGrange Pharmacy, the Congresswoman visited with owner Dan LaGrange. The two talked about pharmaceuticals and suggestions or ways that services to residents could be improved.