News

A Shellburg woman is being treated for injuries at U of I Hospitals in Iowa City after she was involved in  a three-vehicle accident near Cedar Rapids on Tuesday morning. Hannah Looney, 22, suffered a broken leg and other injuries; friends say that while she was seriously injured, she is expected to recover after surgery. According to the Iowa State Patrol, Looney was  heading south on Highway 151 in near Fairfax in a 2010 Chevy Equinox when a northbound 1998 Chevy Blazer driven by Terri Lynn Skalsky of Walford crossed the center line and hit Looney’s vehicle.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene of a grain bin accident in Keystone on Tuesday afternoon. The Benton County Sheriff's Office has identified the victim as Alan Keith Kimm, 56, of Keystone. The victim was vacuuming grain into a semi at a grain storage facility in Keystone approximately 2:45 p.m. today when it is believed that a wall of corn surrounding him while he vacuumed collapsed covering the victim.

Many residents reported difficulties in driving after the winter storm brought rain, sleet, slush and snow to the area Sunday night through Monday night.  Law enforcement officers, street crews and snow plow operators have been busy helping their neighbors.  This photo shows Police Chief Ted Paxton helping a motorist in Vinton.

“Play Well.” The Danish translation of that phrase is “leg godt.” The first two letters of those two Danish words have kept Vinton-Shellsburg 5th through 8th grade students busy working, learning and playing well – and together – for much of this school year. Now, those students are preparing for the State First Lego League competition, as they combine their computer skills, teamwork and their ability to build with those little plastic interlocking bricks made by the company started in 1932 in the village of Billund, Denmark.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene of a grain bin accident in Keystone on Tuesday afternoon. The Benton County Sheriff's Office has identified the victim as Alan Keith Kimm, 56, of Keystone. The victim was vacuuming grain into a semi at a grain storage facility in Keystone approximately 2:45 p.m. today when it is believed that a wall of corn surrounding him while he vacuumed collapsed covering the victim.

A course for Iowans to obtain or renew their Permit to Carry Weapons has been scheduled in the area.  The four hour course covers handgun safety, gun handling, carry options, situational awareness, interaction with law enforcement, use of force, and state and federal laws.  The course teaches students how to be safe and efficient with a firearm for personal protection.

Travel throughout the area, as well as much of Iowa, will be difficult on Monday.  The National Weather Service has issued the following alert for Benton County: Significant winter storm through Monday night. A strong storm system will track northward along the Mississippi River Valley today. Periods of sleet, freezing rain, and snow will occur across the region today, with light snow across the entire region tonight before the storm exits the area Tuesday morning.

Christmas break arrived for VS students on Wednesday afternoon, as classes dismissed until Monday, Jan. 4. Elementary students enjoyed parties, including a pajama party in several classrooms, opened gifts and enjoyed Christmas cookies and other treats and games. The VS High School tradition of a talent show continued, with several students and a couple of teachers singing a variety of songs, from the serious to the silly.

The smiles on the faces of Sherry Crawford and Linda Wood, two of the three co-directors of the Vinton Food Panty (the third is Vickie Holst), and the thumbs-up say it all. All the food surrounding them – and there’s more you can’t even see behind them – came rolling in this week, along with other generous donations, as our community as always gave and gave to help us reach those in need.

Jim Brown,  District Conservationist with the USDA-NRCS in the Vinton office, is retiring after 38 years of service.  He has spent the last 33 years in Vinton, and his passion for protecting the soil and water resources clearly show on the landscape of Benton County. Jim helped introduce and promote reduced and no-till systems through the Eastern Iowa Conservation Tillage Show.