News

Vinton Shellsburg Jazz Band Attends NEIBA Jazz Festival

Vinton Shellsburg's Jazz band performed at the NEIBA Jazz Festival If you're a music lover, you would not have been disappointed if you attended the NEIBA Jazz Festival. The Vinton-Shellsburg Jazz band performed today at the Independence High School along with many o...

Venega and Assem arrest following Stolen Vehicle recovered

On 3-1-19, at about 4:45 PM, Benton County Deputies made a felony car stop on Pearl St in Shellsburg IA with a reported stolen vehicle.A silver 2005 Chevrolet Impala, reported stolen in Cedar Rapids ...

Plans for Hannen Lake Park

 By Collin Strickland, Park RangerThroughout my first full year as Park Ranger at Hannen, I have put a lot of thought into planning future projects for the park. Some projects are ones that can g...

Community Asked to be Part of Annual Graduation Celebrations

Plans are underway for the annual initiative to recognize area students who have beaten the odds to succeed by graduating from high school while living in foster care, living on their own, who are ho...

Benton County Conservation seeks volunteers and donations

Interested in volunteering or sponsoring? Volunteer opportunities include gardening, trail work, special events, helping with environmental education programming, staffing the nature cent...

A Special Thanks to Campground Hosts

By Scott Bahmann, Rodgers Park Ranger As a park ranger in a county park, besides law enforcement, I am held accountable for many things during the camping season. This includes mowing, weed trimm...

Kris Howes-Vonstein named 2019 Iowa Teacher of the Year Runner Up

See Story for cutline On Tuesday, February 26, 2019 VSCSD Superintendent Mary Jo Hainstock, Middle School Principal Shelly Peterson and seventh-grade science teacher, Kris Howes-Vonstein, traveled to Des Moines for the an...

Update on the River Parks

By Jon Geiger, Park Ranger We are excited to announce that Hoefle-Dulin County Park has received a new playground. Many years ago this park had a swing set and a slide that had become worn out an...

Don’t Make Them, Take Them

Berry-stained hands are evidence of a hearty crop, and the beginning of a delicious dessert By Zach Parmater, Conservation Tech Everyone is always talking about the amount of time kids spend on electronics this day and age. Just take the devices away and shoo your children outside. Te...

Well, I Guess It’s Your Money....

“Hey boss, someone smashed the gate at Minne Estema.” How’s that for a Monday morning greeting at the office? The River Parks Ranger, Jon Geiger, was waiting for me when I a...