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By Jack O'ConnorIowa scored relatively well in education rankings among the states, but with declining test scores and on-time high school graduation rates decreasing, the state has fallen from its highs of previous years, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.Sixty-seven percent of Iowa fourth-graders in 2022 were not proficient in reading, which is two percentage points worse than the 2019 pre-COVID rates, according to the Kids Count report.

On a rainy Wednesday evening, following the FFA Awards night in the Grandstands, the new Benton County royalty and her court were named. Two candidates for the title of 2024 Benton County Fair Queen had submitted their names as competitors for the race, Grayce McClintock and Olivia Hanson.  Both ladies are 2024 high school graduates and are making plans to attend college in the fall.

Local competitions are happening at the Benton County Fair this week. Judging has commenced and the winners have been chosen in many of the categories. Congratulations to the individuals below! You have been chosen to represent Benton County at the 2024 Iowa State Fair for your Static project. Izzie Birker 1624 Food & Nutrition North Eden Willing Workers Izzie Birker 1625 Food & Nutrition North Eden Willing Workers Katie Birker 1639 Food & Nutrition North Eden Willing Workers June Bodeker 1229 Photography Jackson Better Farmers Makenna Burmeister 767 Sewing and Needle ArtsEmily Cue 1659 Photography Polk 101 Lila Cue 1650 Photography Polk 101 Zachary Fix 225 Woodworking North Eden Willing Workers Alan Gibney 1145 Digital Storytelling Leroy LuckiesKenzi Gibney 1131 Citizenship and Civic Engagement Leroy Luckies Jenna Grovert 491 Photography North Eden Willing Workers Jenna Grovert 495 Outdoor Adventures North Eden Willing Workers Jenna Grovert 494 Visual Arts – Original Arts North Eden Willing WorkersNora Grovert 485 Home Improvement North Eden Willing Workers Nora Grovert 480 Photography North Eden Willing WorkersNora Grovert 481 Photography North Eden Willing WorkersNora Grovert 482 Photography North Eden Willing WorkersNora Grovert 484 Sewing and Needle Arts Olivia Hanson 1103 Food & Nutrition Bruce Boosters Bruce Boosters 4-H Club 1464 Citizenship and Civic Engagement Bruce Boosters Beckett Happel 546 Visual Arts North Eden Willing Workers Kinnick Hoeck 545 Child Development Fremont Go-Getters Gavin Kelly 739 Welding Polk 101 Evan Kolek 331 Woodworking Fremont Go-Getters Haddie Kroneman 1402 Animal Science Florence Go-Getters Gina Lutgen 895 Food & Nutrition North Eden Willing Workers Gina Lutgen 897 Food & Nutrition North Eden Willing Workers Kinze Manson 1122 Thrifty Meal Challenge Polk 101 Braden Martin 502 Woodworking Florence Hawkeyes Abigail McKenna 1353 Visual Arts Jackson Better Farmers Erika McKenna 1520 Home Improvement Jackson Better Farmers Erika McKenna 1225 Food & Nutrition Jackson Better Farmers Wesley McKenna 779 Welding Jackson Better Farmers Rya Miller 1613 Visual Arts Florence Hawkeyes Madeline Olson 1220 Photography North Eden Willing Workers Grayson Rathje 128 Science,Engineering & Technology Fremont Go-Getters Mya Refstie 912 Health Leroy Luckies Mya Refstie 913 Food & Nutrition Leroy Luckies Mya Refstie 917 Home Improvement Leroy Luckies Mya Refstie 910 Self-Determined Leroy Luckies Avery Schmitz 1280 Visual Arts Polk 101 Jacob Schmitz 1284 Conservation, Environment, and Sustainability Polk 101 Joe Stien 588 Food & Nutrition – Educational Display Florence Go-Getters Eleanor Stueck 327 Woodworking Jackson Better Farmers Cade Volesky 119 Mechanics Florence Hawkeyes Amrie Wittmer 316 Photography Jackson Better FarmersCongratulated to the selected individuals one of your Static projects has been selected at a 2024 Benton County Pride Award! Please plan to attend 4-H Night at The Grandstand tonight Wednesday, June 19th at 6:00pm to be recognized.

The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas, an international educational non-profit, has awarded its prestigious Fellowship to Kelly Steffen, a social studies teacher at Vinton-Shellsburg High in Iowa. Kelly will arrive in Fort Scott on June 23rd for a week of collaboration with LMC staff and the other members of the Fellowship.

In recognition of the national holiday of Juneteenth, there will be no outgoing email on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. The holiday was established in 2021 by President Biden. To find out more about the holiday, click HERE. 

It's Fair week in Benton County! Come on out and enjoy some fun and entertainment! Below are some of the highlights of the week!Wednesday, June 19, 6:00 p.m.Come to the grandstands for 4-H night and crowing of the 2024 Benton County Fair QueenThursday, June 20, 6:30 p.m.There will be a car show at the grandstands Friday, June 21, 7:00 p.m.Come on out for a bang up time watching the Demolition Derby in the Grandstands!Saturday, June 22 7:00 p.

Legion members carried out the "Unserviceable Flag Ceremony" on Flag Day last week. The Legion has been honoring the worn flags across the nation with solemn retirement ceremonies since September of 1937. The ceremony has been an integral part of the American Legion ritual since that time. The local American Legion George G. Lucky Post 57 gathers to perform the ceremony, retiring dozens of worn flags with dignity and respect each year.

The former Urbana Police Chief was put on leave last April following a move by the Urbana City Council. The council handed over the oversight authority to the "City Administrator." The City Clerk, Jennifer Burkhart appears to have taken on the role of "Administrator" and proceeded to put Urbana's Police Chief, Josh Baker on leave, thus eliminating the Urbana Police Department.

The Vinton City Council met on Thursday evening for their first June meeting.  meetings. The meeting was called to order followed by a roll call with all members present, Ron Hessenius, Rylie Pflughaupt, Tami Stark-Mahood, Zach Parmater, Wesley Recker, Andrew Elwick and Mayor Bud Maynard. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and the meeting began.

Samantha Bevans was found guilty of First Degree murder in the death of her stepmother Jodie Bevans. Sentencing was held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, June 14. The Judge sentenced her to life in prison without a chance of parole and ordered her to pay $150,000 in restitution to the beneficiaries of Jodie Bevans.As the hearing opened, lawyers for Samantha tried to make the case for a retrial.