News

FACES of Benton County: Marilyn Katcher

By:  Ruby Bodeker, 1/8/20 Meet Marilyn Katcher, a Vinton resident who spends a good portion of her days volunteering throughout the community. Marilyn is the ninth nomination to the Family Nurturing Council’s Faces of Benton County campaign. Marilyn was nominated by Barb Rego, director of Wesley United Methodist Church Food Pantry.

DNR investigating hunting incident involving man shot in the leg

On January 11, 2020, at approximately 12:21 pm, a man was shot in the leg while pursuing a coyote across a field near Keystone, Iowa.Brian McManemy, 41, of Blairstown, was a passenger in a pickup truck while coyote hunting when one of the firearms in the vehicle discharged and struck him in the left leg. He was transported to a Cedar Rapids hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Holiday Lights Punch Card Winners

Congrats to Dandeena Schadle, our week 4 winner in the holiday lights punch card promo! Dandeena won Vinton Value Dollars! Drum roll please..... CONGRATULATIONS Melinda Schoettmer for winning the grand prize in our Holiday Lights promotion over the holidays! Melinda's name was drawn from over 1,880 completed cards. She won Vinton Value Dollars are various other goodies and gift certificates.

McVay No. 2 for Meth Distribution in Vinton from 2016-17 taken off the street

Being Number 2 in Meth distribution is not something to be proud of. Local officers believed that David Joe McVay, 41 held that distinction. Producing meth that was 95% percent pure, he sold the meth to a confidential informant on four separate occasions in 2017. He was also known to produce the drug. Sentenced to 83 months, (almost 7 years) McVay will spend time in federal prison.

Vinton Shellsburg to dismissed two hours early today (January 10)

Vinton Shellsburg Community Schools will dismiss early today due to the weather. There will be a two hour early dismissal and there will not be any evening activities.

Vinton Shellsburg and other area school cooks train in cooking plant based foods

"Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District is kicking off 2020 with a resolution to to continue to explore how we offer more choices and options for our students in the food service program," said Katherine Stuelke. The culinary team which provides food for the school district learned how to prepare a variety of delicious, plant-based foods which included breakfast sushi, sweet sloppy joes with lentils and chocolate chip cookie dough hummus and various other foods.

Name of Wendling Quarry Accident victim released

On 01-08-2020, at about 1:17 PM, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an accident at Wendling Quarry, located outside of Garrison IA.  The report was that an employee was trapped in a rock bin. 30-yr old Michael Lee Griffith from Vinton Iowa, was found deceased from his injuries at the scene.   Responding to the accident were the Garrison Fire and First Responders, Vinton Fire Dept, North Benton Ambulance, Lifeguard, Benton County Medical Examiner and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.

Shellsburg Elementary School Bridge Project

The Shellsburg Area Community Group (SACG) is wrapping up a project at the Shellsburg school. Ryan Davis, principal, supported the group’s application for a grant to replace the bridge leading to the restored prairie behind the school. Shellsburg elementary students use the prairie six to ten times a year for educational and recreational activities and the previous bridge crossing a waterway was deteriorating, high maintenance and sometimes unsafe.

Grimm Construction kicks off building at Anderson Creek Estates

Jeremy Grimm of Grimm Construction secures a rafter on the first home in Anderson Creek Estates Anderson Creek Estates, located south of the high school, is humming with activity.A locally owned construction business was the first to break ground and begin building in the new addition. Grimm Construction has been in business for the past 9+ years,  owned by Jeremy and Emily Grimm. The couple started with a house they remodeled and then flipped.

Lights and Roping hung for Christmas

Kate Timmerman, Emma Arnold, Brynn Staab work together to hang up roping at the Lutheran Home November 16th, 2019Maren Redlinger Co-Reporter 2019-20 Lights and Roping were held on November 16th, 2019 at 9:00 am. The Vinton Shellsburg FFA Chapter and the Vinton Shellsburg NHS Chapter along with many adult volunteers were responsible for putting up holiday lights and roping for businesses around Vinton. The volunteers and members met at the Courthouse in Vinton at 9:00 am.