Be Weather Aware Sunday Night into Monday

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
January 18, 2026 6:50 pm

Stay safe tonight and into tomorrow!Key Messages ●Cold Weather Advisory area-wide tonight through Monday morning ●Falling temperatures tonight will combine with gusty northwest winds of 30-40 mph, with a few higher gusts, yielding dangerous wind chills as low as -15 ° to -20 ° south to -25 ° to -30 ° north.

Benton County Community Foundation to Award Over $150,000 in Grants

BENTON COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
January 17, 2026 2:10 pm

 What: The Benton County Community Foundation is holding their 2025 grant awards celebration.  Why: The Benton County Community Foundation will be awarding over $150,000 in grants to nonprofits and government entities in the areas of arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health and human service.

Oopsie Daisy

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
January 17, 2026 2:08 pm

Friday, around noon, on the list of things to do, was to stop in at the bank. A customer pulled into the parking space of Farmers Savings Bank & Trust before accidentally creating a new drive up window situation on the west side of the building.

Former Vinton Resident will be 110 Years young on January 26

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
January 16, 2026 11:00 am

On January 26, 2026, Alice Hootman, formerly of Vinton, will celebrate her 110th birthday!Alice was a former employee at the County Home and the Iowa Braille & Sight Saving School,  until moving to Webster, IA in 1986 with her husband, Art.

VPRD Community Recreation Facility Survey

VINTON PARKS & RECREATION
January 15, 2026 4:14 pm

Vinton Parks & Recreation is gathering community feedback to help guide future   planning for recreation facilities, including a potential new public pool or community recreation center.

Steffen Named as a Teaching America250 Award Recipient

VINTON TODAY
January 15, 2026 3:38 pm

Nationwide teaching program awards 51 teachers with $5,000 each in celebration of the Semiquincentennial anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of IndependenceThe Jack Miller Center (JMC), an educational non-profit committed to civic education,  today announced the winners of the Teaching America250 Awards thanks to the generous support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Permanent Conservation Easement Protects 50 Acres of Wildlife Habitat

BENTON COUNTY CONSERVATION
January 15, 2026 3:11 pm

Benton County Conservation is pleased to announce the completion of a conservation easement that will permanently protect approximately 50 acres of high-quality wildlife habitat in Benton County.

Murray puts in retirement request at Humbolt School District

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
January 15, 2026 2:57 pm

The former principal at Tilford Elementary moved on to be the superintendent at the Humbolt Community School District. However, the Humbolt Independent reported, "The Humboldt Community School District Board of Directors officially approved the retirement request of long-time Superintendent Jim Murray at their meeting on Dec.

Shellsburg Public Library receives Artwork

SHELLSBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY
January 14, 2026 6:23 pm

Shellsburg Public Library recently received a beautiful Diamond Dots artwork created by Gerry Ries of Vinton, formerly of the Shellsburg area.Diamond Dots art is created by placing tiny, faceted resin “diamonds” onto a pre-printed, adhesive canvas, forming a shimmering mosaic image.

Benton County Settles Lawsuit for $125,000 with former Deputy

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
January 13, 2026 6:16 pm

Following the 2024 election, Benton County selected a new Benton County Sheriff, David Upah. As is customary, the new Sheriff also selects his own First Deputy.