Santa Arrives at the Vinton Skate Center to hear the Christmas Wish Lists

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
December 13, 2025 11:46 am

Breakfast with Santa was enjoyed by several area children this year. From teeny tiny babies to the children old enough to roll their eyes at mom and say, "Really?" Of course, there were several children enchanted by the bearded fellow, and some brought Santa a picture that they had colored for him.

7th Annual Deck the House Contest runs through this Weekend

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
December 11, 2025 12:34 pm

Vinton Parks & Recreation Department will be conducting their Deck The House contest through Sunday evening. Take the kids on a tour of the entries and see which ones you think should be the winners! The 7th Annual "Deck the House" contest includes houses within the Vinton City limits.

Santa Assists with the Salvation Army

SALVATION ARMY OF BENTON COUNTY
December 11, 2025 12:17 pm

Santa stopped by on Tuesday to ring the bell at Fareway. He's a great supporter of the Salvation Army's effort to raise money during the Christmas season! He greeted shoppers, young and old with his jolly ho, ho, ho!On Wednesday, the Sheriff's Department took a turn ringing the bell and greeting shoppers as well.

VS FFA Chapter Recognized in the top 1.5% of the nation's 9,407 chapters

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
December 10, 2025 4:25 pm

Vinton-Shellsburg's FFA group has been very active in the community and in their organization. Representatives of the group spoke to the Vinton Kiwanis Club at their noon meeting in November.

Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Hosts Annual Pork BBQ and Degree Ceremony

FFA
December 9, 2025 5:12 pm

By: Co-Reporter, Abby McKenna  On Wednesday, November 13th, the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Chapter held its annual Pork BBQ and Degree Ceremony in the Vinton-Shellsburg High School Auditorium.

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.