News

After a brief discussion Thursday, the Vinton City Council voted unanimously on the long-debated issue of golf carts, agreeing to a new policy that allows licensed drivers age 16 and above to drive golf carts on most city streets. Golf cart owners will have to pay a one-time $5 registration fee at City Hall after the ordinance goes into effect.

One woman was taken by helicopter to University of Iowa Hospitals after two accidents on I-380 near Urbana on Wednesday evening. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a previous roll-over accident with no serious injuries reported caused traffic to slow on the northbound lane. Near the 39 mile marker, a GMC van driven by Michael Baggee, 18, of Independence, rear-ended a 2014 Kia SUV driven by Ashley Even, 30, of Gilbertville, forcing it into the rear of a 2014 International semi driven by Rick Willits of Moline, Ill.

As crews were demolishing the old John's Qwik Stop convenience store building, employees were busy stocking shelves and other construction crews were continuing to work on the new building. The store is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until the construction project is complete. The canopy and old fuel tanks are scheduled for removal next week.

Winners of Tuesday's Benton County's contested primary elections include Supervisor District 3 Democrat Joan Flecksing, Supervisor District 3 Republican Gary Bierschenk, Supervisor District 2 Republican Richard Primmer and Sheriff (Republican) Ron Tippett.  Results of the contested races are as follows. Results remain unofficial until canvassed by the Benton County Supervisors.

Organizers of the 2nd Annual Country Fest were hoping for a repeat of last year, when good weather allowed nearly 1,000 people to gather in the grandstand or dance on the dirt while the Bellamy Brothers sang. This year, Mother Nature had other plans. The 40 percent chance of rain that the weather experts had predicted the night before turned into a 100 percent chance of a locally isolated thunderstorm that drenched the stage and turned the track into a thick mud.

In the 14 months since losing her three children in the Urbana 5 accident, Tia Tuttle has heard many comments from people whose lives were touched by her family, and people who have been helped because of her decision to let her children be organ and tissue donors. This Sunday, the Urbana 5 – Zoey and Hunter Tuttle and their brother Triston James-Ray Randall, their cousin, Quentin Ary, and their friend Nicole Renee Jacobson – will be honored at the Benton County Speedway for the 2nd Annual Iowa Donor Network/Urbana 5 event.

Vinton-Shellsburg graduate Nikki Hotz is preparing for deployment to Kuwait and Iraq with the U.S. Army Reserve 960th Quartermaster Company. A 2008 graduate and State Track qualifier in the 100M hurdles, Hotz is currently training for her first overseas deployment, at Fort Hood in Texas. “I knew it was a possibility when I enlisted that I could potentially be deployed at some point in my military career,” says Hotz.

The Vinton-Shellsburg High School Honor Roll students for the 3rd Trimerster have been listed. Click HERE to see the honorees.

Once the construction company blocked-off a portion of the Vinton Family Medical Clinic parking, patients began asking what was going on. We thought “everyone” knew, but apparently not. To recap, a new clinic was deemed necessary to replace the current clinic, constructed in the ‘70’s. The new building will cost approximately $5.

The Benton County Relay For Life of Benton County will be Friday, June 10, at the Benton Community School Track, west entrance, Van Horne. The goal this year is $35,000. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend this fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Parking will be available south of the track, weather permitting. There will be seating in the bleachers or bring a lawn chair.