News

United States Senator Joni Ernst visited Virginia Gay Hospital Friday to gain better understanding of challenges facing rural communities and rural hospitals. Senator Ernst was also interested in receiving an update on Virginia Gay’s effort to create a national demonstration project to integrate mental health into primary care. Mike Riege, Virginia Gay Hospital CEO, Melissa Smith, Director of the Benton County Public Health Department at Virginia Gay, and Mark Mossman, hospital board president, were in Washington D.

The Vinton Garden Club locally sponsored the 2015 Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl Poster Contest a National Garden Clubs, Inc. youth project. The club received posters from 126 children in 2015.   The first place winners locally will advance to the State level to be judged and if they win they will go on  to Regional level then National level.

 Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today encouraged students from Iowa to consider submitting artwork to be considered for inclusion in the “From the Farm to You” calendar.  The calendars are distributed by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at the Iowa State Fair and include artwork that emphasizes the connection between the production of Iowa’s farmers and the products used by people every day.

The Iowa State Patrol is investigating a multiple-fatality accident on Highway 30 involving a minivan in which 10 people were riding and three other vehicles this morning. According to the ISP, three people have been killed and several more injured.  The minivan, a 2007 Toyota Sienna, according to the ISP, was westbound on Highway 30 when the driver lost control due to ice on the road.

The Vinton City Council is facing a minor, but unique challenge: How to change the city rules so that the former Vinton Animal Shelter can become a game bird farm. During its meeting last Thursday, the council members heard from Scott Barron and Will Ketchen, who want to raised 3,000 to 5,000 pheasants and quail each year at the shelter site southeast of town.

There will be no classes today, February 3, due to the weather. Stay home and stay safe! There will now be classes on February 15 and March 29.

The Vinton-Shellsburg High School Voyagers Dance Team will perform its Spring Show this Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Vinton-Shellsburg Middle School gym. The dancers have been sharing some of their routines during halftime of VSHS basketball games. They gave the audience a sneak preview of their Storm Trooper routine last Friday.  Doors open at 6:30; the show begins at 7.

Hillary Clinton and Ted Cruz were the winners among Benton County caucus participants on Monday evening.  The Democrats awarded Clinton 56 percent of their county delegates, while Bernie Sanders has 44 percent of them. The Republicans count the winners of their caucus by votes, not delegates. The final tally among Benton Co. Republicans was:  Cruz: 36% with 596 votes Trump: 25% with 410 votes Rubio: 15% with 246 votes Carson: 10% with 171 votes Paul: 4% with 72 votes Fiorina: 2% with 35 votes Kasich: 2% with 27 votes Christie: 1% with 23 votes Bush: 1% with 11 votes Santorum: 1% with 9 votes Gilmore: 0% with 0 votes 1600 total County Results for Democrats See statewide and county-by-county results below: Democrats Republicans   See some photos of the caucuses in Vinton HERE.

Olivia Spencer of Vinton and Owen Krug of Atkins were introduced to the Central Lutheran School student body as Heart Heroes as the school began its month-long Jump Rope for Heart campaign. Both Olivia and Owen were born with heart defects and have already had heart surgery and face an uncertain future regarding their hearts as they grow. Olivia’s mom, Kendra, and Owen’s mom, Rhonda, each shared some of Olivia’s and Owen’s history of hospitalization and open heart surgeries.

We would like to announce the four dates for our 2016 flight season. They are as follows:   EIHF FLIGHT # 23 Monday, 18 April 2016 Departs from Eastern Iowa Airport - 6:30 AM Returns to Eastern Iowa Airport - Approx 10:15 PM *   EIHF FLIGHT #24 Wednesday, 18 May 2016 Departs from Eastern Iowa Airport - 6:30 AM Returns to Eastern Iowa Airport - Approx 10:15 PM *   EIHF FLIGHT #25 Tuesday, 20 September, 2016 Departs from Eastern Iowa Airport - 6:30 AM Returns to Eastern Iowa Airport - Approx 10:15 PM *   EIHF FLIGHT #26 Tuesday, 18 October, 2016 Departs from Eastern Iowa Airport - 7:00 AM Returns to Eastern Iowa Airport - Approx 10:15 PM *   * Scheduled return times are barring any delays (weather or otherwise).