News
Anderson is Grand Master again; IPA members win many honors at PGI convention
For the second year in a row, Scott Anderson of Brandon earned the Grand Master honor at the Pyrotechnics Guild International competion.
He won last year's event in Mason City. This year, he earned the top honor from the international fireworks organization after winning or placing well in several categories with his homemade displays.
VS board honors Rickels, Hazen; welcomes Hicok, Schminke
Megan Rickels went home from her last meeting as a member of the Vinton-Shellsburg School board, where her husband and sons had made her favorite meal.
It was one of several expressions of thanks that Rickels and fellow board member Angela Hazen received as they left the board after serving two terms. Each chose not to seek re-election. Vinton residents to vote on telecom utility
When Vinton residents cast ballots for the November city elections, they will also have an opportunity to create a new telecommunications utility for the city; one that could offer telephone, internet, and cable TV as the communities of Independence and Cedar Falls have done.
Kurt Karr, a member of the iVinton Committee, explained to council members what a yes vote would and would not do. Maidrites & Music benefits Garrison library
Maidrites & Music, the concert featuring musicians from several states who play with Vinton resident Todd Frank almost every September, raised money for the Garrison Library building project on Saturday night.
More than 60 people filled the Farmers Mercantile Hall, the building that for decades housed the Mercantile general store, Volunteers wearing red "Garrison Rockets" t-shirts served the meal before the performers took turns playing guitars, violins and other instruments and singing.
Historic railroad maintenance cars bring enthusiasts to Vinton
An important, but often-overlooked part of railroad life and railroad history came to life for a few hours in Vinton on Saturday, when nearly 50 railroad enthusiasts brought their track maintenance vehicles to the Vinton depot before taking a tour along the tracks between Cedar Rapids and Waterloo.
The maintenance cars are about the size of golf carts, and are powered by 1- or 2-cylinder gasoline engines and equipped with train-style metal wheels. Vinton Feeds the World: Volunteers package 36,000 meals
For the second straight year, nearly 300 volunteers representing several churches and other organizations and families, have gathered at the Vinton Skate Center to help feed the hungry, locally and around the globe.
Vinton Feeds the World organizer Marta Bauer, a member of Bethelehem Lutheran Church, said that a total of 278 volunteers helped package 36,072 meals. VS Fine Arts Century Club plans annual meeting tonight
The board of the Vinton-Shellsburg Fine Arts Century Club would like to extend an invitation to current members of the Vinton-Shellsburg Fine Arts Century Club and to prospective members of Vinton and surrounding communities to attend the annual meeting of the Vinton-Shellsburg Fine Arts Century Club on Monday, September 14. The meeting will take place in the Media Center at the Vinton-Shellsburg High School at 7:00 P.
'Perfect team:' Inge and German bus driver reunite with local tourists
Because of a beloved local tour guide, those who love European music have played a piano in a historic castle and a pipe organ in a European cathedral. Area residents walked where their Old World ancestors lived, and return with suitcases full of souvenirs, cameras full of unique photos and a lifetime of memories.
Nearly 100 groups of 30 to 48 people have gathered at the home of Oliver and Inge Schminke to discuss their upcoming journey. VS Post-Prom committee seeks more volunteer ushers for Hawkeye games
Post Prom is still in need of the following volunteers, age 16+, to usher for the Iowa Hawkeye Football games:
October 10-Needs 2 (11 am kickoff) Illinois
October 31-Needs 6 (TBA) Maryland
November 14-Needs 2 (7 pm kickoff) Minnesota
November 21-Needs 2 (TBA) Purdue
Background checks must be turned in 2 weeks before the game.
Vinton Lions host scrap metal fundraiser Saturday, September 26th
Got scrap metal? Want to avoid landfill fees? Area residents are invited to clean up, recycle and contribute to community projects by donating such trash to the Vinton Lions scrap metal fundraiser Saturday September 26, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Ideal Industries, 1705 E Street West (Vinton’s Industrial Park). Elderly and handicapped donors who have no way to transport their scrap can call fundraising chair Rick Ohrt at 472-4813 or email vintonlionsclub@gmail.