News
Fair Queen to be crowned July 24; past Queens, Princesses to return
Four candidates for Benton County Fair Queen will soon meet with judges to discuss their role in the community, 4-H and/or FFA.
2013 Queen Willow Huber will crown the 2014 Queen and Princess on Thursday, July 24, during the traditional ceremony in the grandstands.
The four candidates will be going through the judging process on Sunday, July 20. Benton County escapes tornado damage
Despite another round of thunderstorms and tornado warnings in Benton County, there was no reported damage from the Sunday night storm that damaged other part of Iowa before passing over the area.
"Nothing was reported," said Benton County Emergency Management Director Scott Hansen. "We had all fire department spotters out for the tornado warning. Vinton veteran Hilner finally receives WWII discharge
Vinton World War 2 veteran Clarence Hilner waited 70 years to receive his official US Military discharge and DD214.
Clarence was too young to join the regular military when the war began, so at age 16 he joined the Merchant Marines and was sent to the South Pacific to deliver much needed supplies to US Troops.
Clarence wanted to do his part in the war effort and can recall how scared he was during some of his trips overseas. VS teacher Steffen to participate in 9/11 seminar in NYC
Vinton-Shellsburg High School teacher Kelly Steffen is on her way to New York City to spend the week with 24 other teachers from around the country discussing the specifics of the Sept 11 attacks. She wants to send her thanks to the Gilder Lehrman organization for providing this amazing opportunity!
See more about the program HERE.
22-year-old dies in accident southeast of Vinton, Saturday
The Benton County Sheriff's Office is investigating a fatal accident that took place 61st St. Lane (County Home Road) southeast of Vinton early this morning.
One person was reportedly killed in the one vehicle crash near the intersection of 27th Avenue and 61st St. Lane. Authorities say the vehicle was heading west on the blacktop when it left the roadway, entered the south ditch, then went up the embankment then over 27th Avenue, rolled over, and came to rest in the ditch on the west side of 27th. Cedar River reaches 17 feet; flood subsiding now
The Cedar River crested overnight at just over 17 feet and began falling, according to the latest report from the National Weather Service river page.
Many low-lying areas near the river are still under water. The flood meant there was enough water in Hinkle Creek for at least one fisherman to try his angling. Cory Kite said he has been to the location now known as Hinkle Creek Prarie and Arboretum before during high water, where he spent a little time Thursday afternoon. Storms cause wind and water damage throughout county
While Vinton residents were apparently spared any major damage in this afternoon's storms, other areas of Benton County were not so fortunate.
Houses in the area of Taylor Avenue and Meadow View Drive on the west edge of Urbana -- where several homes had sustained damage during the wind storm of July 11, 2011 -- were damaged again by what residents described as a tornado on Monday afternoon. Party-in-Pink 5K Review & Plans for 2015
The 2014 Party-in-Pink 5K Walk/Run is now in the record books! With more than 550 registered walkers/runners, nearly 50 volunteers, and a soggy start to the race the Benton County Breast Cancer Survivors Group (in cooperation with Virginia Gay Hospital Healthcare Foundation) is pleased to announce a $10,000 gift has been given to the Gifts of Hope program at Virginia Gay Hospital. Success of Arts in the Park continues to inspire local artists
The success of the first-ever Arts in the Park event has inspired local artists to keep displaying their work.
While some of the participants were long-time artists who are used to displaying their work publicly, many were first-timers who were apprehensive about the idea of having strangers view their work.
But the comments that those artists received during the June 21 event has inspired them to keep creating and keep showing the world what they are doing. Heavy rains mean river to rise again; 'minor' flooding expected
A week after the Cedar River crested in Vinton at 17.81 feet, heavy rains throughout central Iowa have caused the National Weather Service to predict another round of minor flooding for those living near the river.
Citing a "rapid rise" in the river level, the NWS issued a flood warning for this week. According to the NWS measuring system, the river level had gone down to nearly 12 feet, but rose about two feet over the weekend after the heavy rains on Saturday and Sunday in the areas north of Vinton.