Enjoying the snow on a little sledding hill

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
December 9, 2025 3:53 pm

The parking lot at Harvest 365 Church looked like a giant had scooped out a bite of the earth and left a perfect little mountain behind. The guy responsible for plowing the parking lot pushed the snow into one almost-mountain-sized pile in one corner, and turned it into the best sledding hill anyone under five-feet-tall had ever seen.

Light Freezing Rain Tonight Then Turning Windy - Tie down the Christmas Displays

BENTON COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
December 9, 2025 11:18 am

Winter Weather Advisory in effect for Freezing Rain.Key Messages ●A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for parts of eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois from 6 PM today until Midnight Wednesday ●Light freezing rain is possible this evening along and north of a line from Cedar Rapids to Maquoketa to Mt Carroll IL.

Cancellations for Tuesday, December 9 through Wednesday December 10

VINTON TODAY
December 9, 2025 9:48 am

Please check this post for updates throughout the next 24 hours.Benton County RepublicansDue to the weather advisory beginning at 6 p.m. tonight for possible ice, we have made the decision to cancel this month's Benton County Republicans meeting.

Angel Tree to be in contact with recipients next week

BENTON COUNTY ANGEL TREE
December 8, 2025 11:40 pm

The  Benton County Angel Tree Program is busy helping the elves at the North Pole. Beginning on the 15th, the program will begin making calls to parents to let parents and guardians know the day and times for them to pick up gifts for their children.

Communities receive $980,000 from Alliant Energy and Alliant Energy Foundation

ALLIANT ENERGY
December 8, 2025 11:02 pm

Friends of the Urbana Public Library received a $1,000 grant for the Gears of Learning program to focus on Workforce Readiness as part of grants awarded to 159 organizations across Iowa and Wisconsin In its third and last Community Grant cycle of the year, Alliant Energy and the Alliant Energy Foundation awarded over $980,000 to various causes and nonprofits across Iowa and Wisconsin.

H2 Pizza hosts event to Support Local Veterans

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
December 8, 2025 11:46 am

As part of Veterans Day, three area businesses honored our local heroes and raised funds for the George G. Luckey American Legion Post 57!  H2 Pizza offered a 10% discount to veterans as a way of thanking them for their service, but they didn't stop there!   They also donated 50% of the proceeds from the night to the Legion from the products sold that night.

Safety first, during the gun deer seasons

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
December 8, 2025 11:45 am

For an expected 100,000-plus deer hunters, the long wait is almost over, Iowa’s gun deer seasons are right around the corner.But before heading to the timber, it’s important that hunters go through their gear, sight in their gun and take time to review their hunting safety plan, said Craig Cutts, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Bureau.

You can now take the "Deck the House" Tour in Vinton!

VINTON PARKS & RECREATION
December 7, 2025 10:03 pm

Looking for something to do this weekend?! Take a tour of the homes participating in this year's Deck the House Holiday Lights Competition! Area homes have decorated for the Christmas season and have signed up to compete for the honor of being the most decked out house in town.

County Engineer Parizek shares update on Secondary Roads

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
December 7, 2025 9:29 pm

The Benton County Engineer spoke to the area Kiwanis group about the happenings at the county level in the Secondary Roads Department. Beginning in 1989, Myron Parizek is coming up on his 37th year with the department.

Shellsburg Bridge Decorated for Christmas

SHELLSBURG AREA COMMUNITY GROUP (SACG)
December 7, 2025 9:19 pm

The Shellsburg Area Community Group has been decorating the City Park gazebo and pavilion for many years. This year they are providing a new addition with lighted figures on the pedestrian bridge, accompanied by synchronized music!  The investment in the lighted display was done to bring enjoyment to Shellsburg residents and visitors and to support the downtown businesses.