News

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.

Members of the Vinton Class of 1960 gathered for their 55th reunion over the past weekend. They met for dinner on Saturday at the Benton County Nature Center, then filled the home of Carolyn Hibbs, the wife of classmate Mike, to watch the Iowa Hawkeye football game.  Pictured here are: Front row, left to Right:  Lyle Scheib, Larry Williams, Jim Noeller, Wayne Hanson   2nd row:  Warren Coleman, Alice Mussman Bell, Barry Lefstad, Denny Kearns, Doug Fowler, Dave Henkel, Roger Rinderknecht  3rd Row:  Joe Wood, Jim Smock, Darwin Halstead, Major Boddicker, Ron Selken, Kenney Gregory  4th Row:  Marion Greaser, Sharon Thompson Williams, Marcia Moody Hite, Gretchen Holtz Kopecky, Ron Geiger, Larry Roster.

We have received a very generous donation from Charlotte Heaverlo of Marshalltown, Iowa. She handmade three beautiful and professional quilted items for a silent auction to further benefit the Flaughless 5K. These items will be on display at the Vinton Family Medical Clinic starting Thursday, September 24. The silent auction will begin at the Vinton Family Medical Clinic prior to race day and relocate to the round shelter at Riverside Park on the morning of the race, Saturday, October 10, 2015.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Alan Merchant is hoping to paint the town pink. He is offering painted 6' pink ribbons on your yard. If you're a survivor he'll add "survivor" on the ribbon. The paint is water based so won't become a permanent addition to your yard. Cost is $30 and all proceeds go to Benton County Survivors who have hosted the Party in Pink 5K and offer support to each other and newly diagnosed women.

A Vinton man has been charged with multiple offenses after an investigation by the Vinton Police Department into sexual abuse allegations involving two female victims that occurred between December 2014 and March 2015. One of the victims was 13 years old when the abuse began and the second victim was 15 years old when the abuse began. Kevin Joseph Wheeler, 22, of Vinton, was charged with the following: 1) two counts of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree (Class C Felony), 2) two counts of Assault With Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse (Aggravated Misdemeanor), 3) one count of Indecent Contact With a Child (Aggravated Misdemeanor), 4) one count of Lascivious Acts With a Child (Class C Felony) 5) one count of Lascivious Conduct with a Minor (Serious Misdemeanor) Wheeler is currently being held in the Benton County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

Mike Timmermans, Director of the Virginia Gay Hospital Healthcare Foundation, has been meeting with employees in each department of Virginia Gay to share information about the new clinic VGH will be constructing.  During the meetings Mike shares information about the size, location, and configuration of the clinic so employees have information to help explain the project when patients ask questions.

4-H teams from Benton, Muscatine, Scott and Washington counties will represent Iowa in upcoming national 4-H livestock and meats judging contests. The teams earned the right to represent Iowa 4-H after receiving top honors in the 2015 4-H/FFA State Livestock and Meats Judging Contests. This year saw an increase in participation for both the livestock and meats portion of the Iowa contests, held Aug.

Martha Long’s quest 40 years ago to find dozens of her mother’s first cousins – all of whom came from Germany at about the same period of the 1800s – has led to a life-long hobby of genealogy. Martha now continues that hobby in a newly-renovated room at the Horridge House in Vinton, where thousands of records are available to help area residents find out more about their family tree.

Care to share what you find most frustrating about your current telcommunications services?  You can leave a comment below or visit our page on Facebook.  iVinton is a group of concerned citizens living in Vinton and wanting better options for internet, phone, and cable TV services.  An election was held in 2005 for same proposition we’re asking you to support today.

The deadline for candidates to file for city elections has passed, and for the first time in several years, Vinton voters will have three contested elections to help determine the future of city government. Former council member Bud Maynard will challenge John Watson in the mayoral election. Former VU director Nathan Hesson will run against District 4 incumbent Chris Bendull.