News

Emma WileyMy name is Emma Jo Wiley. I am the daughter of Todd and Denise Wiley and sister to Drew, Isaac, and Josh Wiley. We live on a family farm in northeast Benton County. I will be graduating from Vinton Shellsburg High School in May and plan to attend DMACC in Ankeny this fall, pursuing an AAS degree in Business. My community involvement includes being a member of the Harrison Willing Workers 4-H club for 9 years, as well as being an active member of the Wesley United Methodist Church in Vinton where I have been involved in youth group, Sunday morning services, and Wednesday night meals.

Emma ArnoldMy name is Emma Arnold, daughter of David Arnold and Sara Yedlik. I live on an acreage apart of my family’s farm outside of Vinton. I am a Senior at the Vinton-Shellsburg High School and I will be graduating at the end of May. My plans after high school is to attend Hawkeye community college majoring in Agriculture Business Management. I plan to transfer to Iowa State to major in Agriculture Education.

Julia SchultisMy name is Julia Shutlis. I am the daughter of Robert and Kristine Shultis of Shellsburg. I have an older sister who attends Iowa State in Ames. I attend Vinton-Shellsburg High School and will graduate in May.Participating in a wide variety of activities and learning new things has been especially important to me. I have been involved in band for 6 years, Benton County Youth Council for 2 years, and choir for 1 year.

Rylee SashRylee Sash is the daughter of Kevin and MaryJo Sash and has two older sisters, Payton and Olivia Sash. She lives on a small farm outside of LaPorte City and currently attends Union High School. After high school, she plans on going to Iowa State to double major in Event Management and Hospitality Management.In school, she is involved in the fall play, spring musical, dance team, group speech, individual speech, Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP), band, choir, color guard, FFA, National Honors Society, and the volunteer program.

Annabelle NewtonMy name is Annabelle Newton, and I am the daughter of Chad and Kim Newton, and have one sister Sophia (12). I am a sophomore at the Vinton-Shellsburg High School where I am involved in Track, Cross Country, Student Senate, and FFA. I have served the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Chapter as Co-Reporter and will be serving it as President this upcoming school year.

Emily IngallsEmily Ingalls is the daughter of Loren and Patricia Ingalls. She has two older brothers, Aaron and Tristan and her older sister Machaela. She lives outside of Van Horne and attends Benton Community. Emily is 17 and will be a Senior in the Fall.Emily is actively involved in 4-H and FFA. In FFA she has participated in several CareerDevelopment Events with her favorite being Conduct of Meetings where she received Gold at SubDistricts and Districts and received Silver at state.

Harlyn HeitshusenMy name is Harlyn Heithusen. Daughter of Willis and Cindy Heitshuen. I live outside of Urbana, Iowa, on a horse and cattle ranch with my parents and my two siblings, Hadley and Kendall. I attend Center Point-Urbana Highschool. Once I graduate I plan to attend Iowa State University, to study Biomedical Engineering, with a minor in Criminal Justice and coach a volleyball team.

Kailey BahmannHey Benton County, my name is Kailey Bahmann. My parents are Scott and Amy Bahmann along with my younger brother Alex Bahmann. I currently live in Vinton and just currently graduated from Vinton-Shellsburg High School. I will be attending Iowa State University in the fall of 2021 and will be going after my animal science degree. Throughout high school though, I was active in the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA chapter, the VS Red Cedar Shooters, the National Honor Society, and much more! I have been a part of 4H for 9 years now and was [sel]ed to be on the 4H youth council which I have been on for 3 years.

On Saturday, the North Eden Willing Worker performed a community service project as part of their service. The group cleared weeds and brush at the skate center cleaning the miniature golf course area in preparation for another miniature golf season.Pictured are: left to right Ava Schirm, Ben Ollinger, Will Kreutner, McKenna Ritscher, Wyatt Shaver, Anna Becker, Leif Allen, Jakob Becker, Samantha Walton, Aleric Webber, Olive Allen, Nora and Jenna Grovert.

Adam Rodenberg ,  Watershed Project Coordinator, presented progress with the Iowa Watershed Approach a Federal Flood Mitigation program and Flood Resiliency project. The pilot project started in 2010, working with local communities and landowners researching, educating and modeling watershed projects. Numerous projects providing success in building ponds, wetlands and preventing erosion.