Raegan Junge visits her new friend, Lorelei, a Marshalltown child who suffers from sensory disorders. Raegan’s visit helped calm the girl after the tornado disrupted her family’s life and give her something to be happy about, says her mom.

A year ago, on their anniversary, Heidi and Lance Lillibridge went for a motorcycle ride, and came back realizing that life was about to change. Something was wrong; when it was time to make turns on the two-wheeler, Heidi realized her body was leaning a second or so after Lance’s.

Two familiar Vinton icons, the Benton County Courthouse bell tower, and the lights of downtown Vinton, now adorn the Kiwanis Park water tower. The project continues, as painters from the Georgia company continue working on the tower.

In addition to participating in football camps that start on Monday, the members of the Vinton-Shellsburg football program will be selling Viking Gold Cards this week.

A total of 65 Iowans have been reported missing in the month of July, a startling, troubling statistic that has law enforcement officers, parents and those whose job it is to help children safe pondering the reasons for the increase, and how to stop it.

The Vinton Parks & Recreation Department is pleased to announce that a brand spankin’ new playground for Riverside Park has been funded and ordered… now all we have to do to make this playground a reality is to build it! Bringing neighbors and friends together to share in this Community Build Event can create positive individual experiences and a great sense of pride knowing you helped construct a new playspace for Vinton’s youth.

On Saturday, the Benton County Fairgrounds was the site for the Progressive Ag Safety Day. The group started with various events at 9:00 a.m. and concluded with lunch around noon.

“Last year the first Woosley Tours arrived in Vinton for a noon time meal event and it was, indeed, very successful. So much so, that they are returning on September 27, for a second dining/meeting/entertainment experience” said Frank Kruse, Event Coordinator Lavanda Woosley operates a touring company out of Cedar Rapids and says of her business, “I schedule trips when I want to go, where I want to go and then see who wants to come along!” She chose to tour Vinton’s historic Rock Island Depot complete with tour guide Reverend Phil , Vinton’s noted railroad historian and scholar.

  Noah Hedinger, a German exchange student, was one of the leaders of the 2018 VS soccer team, and is one of three siblings from Germany who has spent a year in Vinton.

The woman who helps find homes for exchange students in eastern Iowa says the PAX organization is seeking families in the Vinton-Shellsburg, Benton Community or Center Point-Urbana areas for two girls.