Thursday night at the City Council meeting, something quietly special happened. The council voted to name Scott Wirth as Vinton’s new Parks and Recreation Director.

The first day of school is always filled with a unique mix of excitement, jitters, and new beginnings, and Monday was no exception for Benton County students.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird congratulated Officer Augustus Joyce on his graduation from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (“ILEA†) in a ceremony held at Valley Church in West Des Moines on Friday.

“The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round.” As students head back to classrooms across Iowa next week, this song will be on the tip of our tongues.

 The Brush & Compost Yard hours will be strictly followed. Please plan accordingly.August, September, October & NovemberMonday-Friday from 11:00am — 7:00pmSaturday from 10:00am — 7:00pmSunday from 1:00pm — 5:00pm Do NOT dump brush, grass clippings or other yard waste in the ditch if the gate is closed.

The Benton County Fairgrounds roared to life one last time for Boomtown as it held its final show in 2025, capping off years of explosive tradition with an unforgettable night of fireworks, fun, and community spirit.

 Scammers often target older Iowans, exploiting their kindness and good will. These schemes can take many forms, such as a scammer posing as a family member in urgent need of help or falsely claiming the older Iowan is involved in a crime and needs to pay to avoid arrest or jail.

To address Iowa’s ongoing teacher shortage, the state is investing an additional $3.4 million into a growing apprenticeship program aimed at building the next generation of educators.

By: Co-Reporter, Abby McKennaThe Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Chapter had an outstanding showing at the 2025 Iowa State Fair, with members competing in a wide variety of events and earning recognition for their hard work.

A Waterloo man who smuggled fentanyl into the United States and distributed it in the Waterloo area was sentenced today to 37 years in federal prison.  Javoni Marcelius Butler, also known as “G Man,” age 44, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 20, 2024 jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, one count of international money laundering, and one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.