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Pictured: The retiring Officers with the newly elected officersThe 2021-2022 Officer Team takes their first group picture together after the FFA Banquet. (left to right): Paul Herger, Grace Schminke, Isabell Mullinex, Annabelle Newton, Josh Wiley, Bailey Weeks, Clayton McKenna, and Rachel Rollinger.Members playing basketball at the President's ReceptionBy Grace Schminke, Co-ReporterThe Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Chapter held their annual end of the year banquet on Saturday May 15th, 2021.

The Vinton Community Foundation is announcing the distribution of $29,273.00 in grants to the following organizations serving the City of Vinton.Local Option Sales Tax Fund & Vinton Community Foundation - $23,773.00Act I of Benton County, Palace TheatreLittle Vikes Drama CampHappy Time Child Development CenterMobile Magnetic Wall – STEM tool to be utilized at TilfordOld School Produce PartnersRepair high tunnel (sheltered growing structure)North Benton Ambulance EMSPurchase Laerdal Cricoid stick simulator trainerVinton Presbyterian ChurchSenior Grocery ProgramVinton Shellsburg Community School DistrictOperation BackpackVinton Shellsburg Community School DistrictSundown Mountain Ski Resort day for 5th gradersVFW POST 8884Purchase new building equipmentGeorge G Luckey Post 57Flag Essay Contest, Scholarships & improve lightingVinton Shellsburg Post PromEntertainment for Post PromCity of Vinton – Parks and Recreation DepartmentSwimming pool passesSt Mary’s Catholic ChurchAssist registered youth to attend National CatholicYouth ConferenceTLC PreschoolPurchase and install an AED in the schoolVinton Guild of Fine ArtsAlley Art Project – create interactive murals in alleys ofdowntown VintonNorth Benton AmbulancePurchase Laerdal airway management trainerJunior Achievement of Eastern IowaProgram suppliesL.

Oliviah Doty, a fifth-grader attending Shellsburg Elementary School in Shellsburg, IA has won 1st Place in Community Bankers of Iowa’s (CBI) Money Smart Week Poster Contest. As the Grand Prize winner, Oliviah will receive a $600 Certificate of Deposit. Oliviah’s poster was submitted for judging by Farmers Savings Bank & Trust.CBI has been hosting the Money Smart Week Poster Contest since 1999, as part of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Money Smart Week events (held this year April 10-17).

Quilts of Valor has one mission, "to cover Service Members and Veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor." The organization is responsible for presenting 271,408 quilts to service members who have been touched by war. Founder, Catherine Roberts, was a Blue Star Mother and created a means to honor as well as comfort those who have been in harm's way.

Commander Dale Henry of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. Smith-Geater Post 8884 and Auxiliary, announced the kick-off of the VFW’s annual Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award launched in 1999 to recognize classroom teachers for promoting citizenship education. VFW annually recognizes the nation’s top classroom, one (1) in each category, K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 teachers who teach citizenship education topics regularly and promote America’s history and traditions effectively.

Vinton-Shellsburg Seniors received over $132,000 in scholarship awards at the Vinton-Shellsburg High School Senior Awards Night. The following Scholarships were presented to the High School Senior Class Members.Local ScholarshipsBenton County Cattlemen's Scholarship presented by Drew Fish to: Emma WileyCarson Wealth/Farmers Savings Bank & Trust Scholarship presented by Tom Lindauer to: Emma WileyMike Betterton Memorial Soccer/Wrestling Scholarship presented by Matt Kingsbury to: David Lapan-Islas, Caleb Rickels, Elias Colsch, Ethan Rollinger, Jesse Pladsen, Noah Lindauer, Madison Atkinson, Josephine Sagan, Chloe Tharp, Jaden Voshell, Mycala VanderHeiden, Marjorie Davis, Maren Redlinger, Bryce RadekeScott Hill "Go Hard or Go Home" Memorial Scholarship presented by Sandy Hamilton to: Brooks EricksonShellsburg Area Community Group presented by Ed Schaeffer to: Madison Atkinson, Julia ShultisUS Bank Scholarship presented by Cindy Stier to: Lydia RadekeKeystone Communications presented by Scott Tandy to: Elijah KalousJeanette M.

The VFW Auxiliary organization began back in 1914, uniting Americans with the desire to improve the lives of veterans, service members and their families and communities. Membership in the organization, include some requirements for membership. The Benton County Smith-Geater VFW Post #8884 was established in 1947. Both men and women are part of the Auxilary.

St. Mark Lutheran Church in Garrison held the Rite of Confirmation this past Sunday, May 16th.  The church welcomed three new confirmands, Alana Fleming, Benjamin Buhr, and Lucas Birker.  A reception to honor these young adults was held immediately following in the fellowship area.St. Mark Lutheran Church is located at 101 N. Walnut Ave. in Garrison with worship at 8:30 a.

In response to last Summer’s derecho, the Vinton Lions Club is partnering with Trees Forever and Frazier Nursery to support the replacement of trees in the Vinton-Shellsburg School District area. The Vinton Lions Club, with support of a $5000 grant from Trees Forever, will provide (at no cost to the public) 48 well-established trees (approximately 10 ft.

EMS Week, which is May 16-22 and is the perfect time to thank paramedics, EMTs and the entire EMS workforce for their service and sacrifices. Just in time for EMS Week, the North Benton Ambulance Service is welcoming a new director. Anna Demuth a mom of five and wife to Adam, is also a Critical Care Paramedic, Horse show mom, her family helps with her brothers' appaloosa show horses, and the children also show horses.