News

    A bar owner who admitted to filing false tax returns pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.           Bradley Tischer, age 51, from Atkins, IA, was convicted of one Count of Tax Evasion.           At the plea hearing, Tischer admitted in a plea agreement that he evaded taxes from 2009-2013, knowing the returns were false as to his reportable income.

A bar owner who admitted to filing false tax returns pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Bradley Tischer, age 51, from Atkins, IA, was convicted of one Count of Tax Evasion. At the plea hearing, Tischer admitted in a plea agreement that he evaded taxes from 2009-2013, knowing the returns were false as to his reportable income. Tischer owned and operated three bars and grills known as Brogan's, Miguel's and Bobby T's.

Kelsey Fish, Kindergarten Teacher at Shellsburg Elementary School, has received a Lucile Cornetet Individual Professional Development Award from The Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Foundation. This award will enable Kelsey to attend the I Teach K, National Kindergarten Conference in Las Vegas, July 18-22. Lynna Gene Cook, Educational Foundation Board of Trustees Chair, stated that The Foundation awards approximately $60,000 annually to outstanding educators to enable them to attend professional activities in their respective fields.

During Tuesday’s supervisors meeting, Don Frese and Terry Hertle discussed their plans.  Frese said he plans to retire at the end of this term. He has represented District 3, which includes the southern tier of townships, as well as the southwest area of Benton County. Hertle, who represents District 2, the north and northwestern areas of Benton County, including Vinton, said he plans to seek one more term.

During Friday's Cabaret concert at Vinton-Shellsburg High School, the audience learned that fund-raising for new choir robes has reached nearly $12,000, or 2/3 of the $18,000 goal. This is the first time the district has purchased new robes for 30 years or more. Many of the current robes were graduation gowns that families donated after using -- gowns designed to be disposable.

In early February, the V/S Fine Arts Century Club spearheaded a fund drive for new choir robes at the high school.  The choir has been performing for many years while weaing graduation gowns instead of choir robes.   The Fine Arts Century Club hopes to raise $18,000 by March 15th, so that the robes would be ready for the choir's large group concert in May.

A few weeks after a troubling phone call informed her that her daughter, Olivia Spencer, was turning blue at school, Olivia’s mom, Kendra, said Vinton’s most famous young heart patient is now thriving. Born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Olivia has lived all of her six years with basically half of a heart. She has already survived a stroke and several surgeries, and faces the prospect of more procedures as she and her heart continue to grow and as doctors look for new ways to manage the rare condition.

A former Vinton resident has been arrested for stabbing his mother and step-father, resulting in the step-father’s death, in Tempe, Ariz., on Friday evening. The Tempe Police Department has released the following information: On Friday, March 4, 2016, at approximately 6:30 PM, Tempe Police Officers responded to a 911 call at 900 W Grove Parkway.

The St. Mary's Vinton Council 3893 of Knights of Columbus gave checks to two very deserving organizations recently.  The money came as a result of the KC's annual Persons With Intellectual Disabilities Drive (formerly known as the Tootsie Roll Drive).  Event chair Brian Larkin presents a check to Jody Bridgewater of the Arc of East Central Iowa and to Tammy Zimmerman and the Vinton Shellsburg United Special Olympics team.

The March Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award winner is the Todd and Denise Wiley family from Walker, Iowa. The Coalition commends the Wiley family of Benton County for their outstanding efforts as a neighbors and community leaders. Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will present the award to the family on Friday, March 25 at their farm located at 5067 29th Avenue, Walker.