News

Okay, I know that MOST of you are tired of hearing the mantra, "We are NOT a NEWSPAPER" and know that it means we are JUST here online.  Bear with us a minute. Over the last few months we've heard, "I wish they'd run more of your stories in the newspaper!" We still get a chuckle out of that, and think, "Ummm okay, perhaps it's time to again say something???" Now it's not YOUR fault that you associate Dean with that ancient form of news gathering called a newspaper, because granted, he's been in the news business for, yikes, almost a quarter of a century and most of those years were at a newspaper.

At this years VFW & VFW Ladies Auxiliary National Convention in July 2015 a vote was brought to the floor to change The Name of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary to Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary. It was made into a motion and passed. So now eligible men & women can  join The VFW Auxiliary (not just women)   If you know someone that is Eligible for membership in The VFW: They have received a campaign medal for overseas; have served 30 consecutive or non consecutive days in Korea or any conflicts overseas; or have received hostile fire or imminent danger pay then you are eligible to join our VFW Auxiliary.

More than 100 people, including dozens of motorcyclists and a few driving or riding in cars or pickups, gathered in front of the Ron-Da-Voo in Vinton on Saturday morning for the annual Vinton-Shellsburg United Special Olympics teams. “Thank you to everyone who came out for the benefit ride yesterday and supported our team,” says Kris Kramer, mother of athlete Zach and one of the event’s organizers.

For the 16th consecutive year, Virginia Gay Hospital and Clinics has been selected as one of the recipients of a very generation donation from the proceeds of the Murphy Memorial Golf Tournament. The Rick and Paula Murphy family and many of their friends have hosted this tournament since 2000 to raise money to help in the fight against cancer. Too many families have been impacted by cancer – some more than others – and the Murphys’ mission is to help as many families as they can until this battle is won.

Shellsburg students gathered outside for an opening day ceremony with American Legion Post 166 members, who presented the school with a brand new flag.  Veterans raised the flag, and Principal Ryan Davis led the students in the first Pledge of Allegiance of the year before students went to their classrooms for the first day of school on Monday morning.

 The place to find decorated diapers was the Decorated Diaper contest judged Friday at the 2015 Iowa State Fair. Emily Mefford of Vinton won third place in the "State Fair Theme" category with her "sky glider" entry which her daughter Loralei wore. Emily explains the inspiration behind this particular design: "It's green with #34, because that's the one her dad proposed to me on at the State Fair 7 years ago.

4-H and FFA judging teams and individuals from across the state competed in the Youth Livestock Judging competition Sunday at the 2015 Iowa State Fair. Teams from Benton County won both the Junior and Senior events; several area youth also won individual honors. Complete results below: TEAM - Junior 1) Benton 4-H (Gabe Hansen, Brock Ortner, Jacob Ludeking, Will Schmidt) 2) Bellevue Jr.

The Vinton-Shellsburg Post-Prom Committee has a unique opportunity to reach most of its fund-raising goal this fall, and hopes area residents will help. “We were given the opportunity to usher at the seven home Iowa Hawkeye football games to raise money for post prom,” says committee member Sarah Wagner. Working with Whelan Security, the group could raise as much as $9,800, if they can get 15 people to volunteer for each home game.

Men from across the state entered their prized whiskers in the Beard Growing contest held Tuesday at the 2015 Iowa State Fair. Complete results below: Longest Beard 1) Harold Stephenson, 58, Center Point 2) Dale Hornsby, 49, Des Moines 3) Josh Steinbach, 37, Des Moines Best Groomed Beard 1) Kirk Authier, 57, Vinton 2) Gary Miller, 67, Pleasantville 3) Josh Steinbach, 37, Des Moines Most Unique Beard Design 1) Parker Gibson, 33, Dallas Center 2) Don Larkin, 54, Newton 3) Frank Viola, 45, Des Moines Most Historic Nature Beard 1) Wade Troutman, 50, Bonaparte 2) Mitch Bond, 47, Sharpsburg 2) Dean R.

Virginia Gay Hospital announced today a plan to begin construction of a new clinic building at the Virginia Gay main campus in Vinton.  Construction is scheduled to begin in February of 2016 with final completion planned for September of 2017.  The new Vinton Family Medical Clinic will be a two story structure with 18,500 square feet.