News

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.

Three Benton County grillers won honors at the Farm Bureau Cookout at the Iowa State Fair on Tuesday. Six Benton County grillers were among 53 contestants competing at the 52nd Annual Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest on a rainy Tuesday morning, August 18 at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. Jeff Whitson of Mount Auburn won 1st place in the Poultry division with his Whitson’s Wings recipe; Dawn Richards of Vinton won 2nd Place in the Beef division with her Flat Iron Steak; and Michelle Bruce also of Vinton won 2nd Place in the Turkey category with her Asian Turkey Burgers.

Rain or Shine, scores of cyclists and others are preparing to ride their bikes, cars and trucks to raise money for the VSU Special Olympians this Saturday.  Registration begins at the Ron-Da-Voo in Vinton at 10 a.m.; riders will leave by 11.  Ride Information: ALL VEHICLES WELCOME! Rain or Shine we will still have this ride! Cost $15 person or $25 couple Saturday August 22nd, 2015 Registration 10:00am - 11:00am Ron Da Voo Lounge & Deli - Vinton *All Veh's out at 11:00am *Back to American Legion in Vinton @ 6:00pm 140 mile route RonDaVoo - Vinton  Big Rs - Elberon Kats- Blairstown Wild Hogs- Walford Coops- Shellsburg Ozone- Urbana Phat Alberts- Brandon Mickeys- Vinton (Note: the Mickey's stop does not appear on the event map, but riders will stop there before continuing to the final stop).

A new program is being launched in Benton County that allows residents and law enforcement to partner together in protecting our communities.  Through the combined efforts of the Benton County Above The Influence Coalition and Benton County Sheriff’s Department, this new program called Text 2 Protect has officially been launched and is ready for use.

The V-S 2016 Post Prom Committee  will be offering student and teacher computer shells and flash drives today Tuesday 3-7 PM and Wednesday 1:30-6 PM.   There is also an amazing sign-up opportunity available for Iowa Hawkeye fans to attend home games AND help the V-S Post Prom!