This past week, Governor Kim Reynolds signed the following bills into law:  HF 601: A bill for an act relating to rate increase notice requirements for public utilities.

Closing the council meeting on Thursday evening, Mayor Bud Maynard put a request out to all Vinton residents. In this year so far, he said that legal fees racked up by the city have reached around $30,000.

In the alley next to the Vinton Palace Theatre, Cobb Alley's long-awaited mural of its namesake Aubrey "Cobb" Smock arrived on Friday afternoon.  The Palace Theatre has been working to make what was a drab alleyway into an eye-pleasing area, and wow what a change! In addition to the mural, the Palace has also added a walk-up window, picnic tables a bike rack and lighting to the alley.

The $7 million emergency communications project is moving along nicely in Benton County. Radios have been delivered, and the towers are up around the county to improve communications between all of the county emergency departments.

 Until further notice, the brush and compost yard will be available the following hours: Monday-Friday from 4:00pm - 7:00pmSaturday from 10:00am - 7:00pmSunday from 1:00pm - 5:00pm **Brush, grass clippings, branches and other yard waste ONLY.

The Benton County American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary met on Tuesday evening at the Newhall American Legion. The two organizations met together.

    Today, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) granted her request to provide assistance in the form of low-interest disaster loans for eight counties impacted by the March 31, 2023, severe weather event.

Presidential candidate for 2024 Perry Johnson made a stop in Vinton on Friday. A group of Benton County Republicans welcomed him at the Vinton Family Restaurant on Friday afternoon.

The Benton County Conservation Board (BCCB) is excited to announce an opportunity to expand one of its existing properties. Our park, Wildcat Bluff Recreation Area (Wildcat Bluff), two miles south of Urbana, Iowa is home to: The East Unit Shop, 24 campsites, a boat ramp, miles of hiking trails, Iowa’s best disc golf course (ranked top 10 in the nation and top 20 in the world), great timber and wildlife habitat, and Cedar River fishing access.

If you were fortunate enough to be driving outside the city limits on Sunday night, you had an opportunity to see the northern lights. Sometimes, you just have to stop and take a picture.