News

Edee Vogt, Lisa Heller, and Tiffany Auen are the recipients of the first annual Lily Vogt-Bearbower CNA Scholarship. Thanks to a generous donation in memory of Lily Vogt-Bearbower, her family is honoring her long-time service as a CNA (certified nursing assistant) at Virginia Gay Hospital by providing a scholarship in her name for two or three students each year who are starting their career in the healthcare field.

At the annual International Llama Registry’s Show Division (ILR-SD) Gathering of Friends & Champions Llama Show held in Des Moines, over Father’s Day weekend, Aulds’ Lluminous Llamas (www.llamasrus.com) and Aspen Rayne Ranch (www.aspenrayneranch.com) each took home national recognition. Aspen Auld, a Benton Community High School senior, 2013 Iowa Llama Association Queen and owner of Aspen Rayne Ranch, won National Reserve Grand Champion in Senior Youth Performance, which comprises three different obstacle courses and a showmanship class.

As weather allows, work on Celebration Park continues. Crews from Stein Construction placed the roof on the bandshell on Tuesday.  Rains and flooding have delayed the project, which will include trails and other features. See more information HERE.

With significant rainfall recently and more expected, Alliant Energy urges customers to be safe around their electric and gas service if flooding occurs in their homes or businesses.   “Flash flooding can be especially damaging, because people aren’t expecting it,” said Mark Hawley, safety director. “We want customers to be both prepared and safe regarding their utility service if water does find its way into homes and businesses.

 Ten year old Chloe is missing in rural Benton Co.  south of Vinton. She is a  Blue Heeler mix who is med/large, black with white mixed around her muzzle and throughout her coat.  She may or may not be wearing a pink collar.   If you have any information about Chloe please call animal control 472-2337, the animal shelter and leave a message 472-4623 or email vintonshelter@yahoo.

The use of song lyrics continues with Clue No. 6 in the Party in the Park Medallion Hunt. Ain’t caught a rabbit & you ain’t no friend of mine. See the Medallion page on the VPRD web site HERE for more information! Update: Medallion Update! Congratulations to Stephen Schmidt who just turned in the #6 medallion! Goo

Recent VSHS graduate Megan Ternus has been selected as the 2013 Party in the Park Junior Grand Marshal. She will begin the weekend’s festivities by leading the Kid’s Parade through downtown Vinton on Thursday evening at 6:30. “Megan has been great role model for the younger kids,” VPRD Director Duane Randall said. “She has been a very active volunteer, and it’s our way to recognize her awesome service.

The Party in the Park Committee has picked their Grand Marshals for this year’s festival and they didn’t have to go too far to reach them. The committee has selected Chuck & Marilyn Yedlik for their support not only to the festival but for their ongoing promotion of our community. Chuck’s family moved here in 1961 and Marilyn has been a Vinton resident her whole life.

ATTENTION VINTON-SHELLSBURG GRADUATING CLASS OF 2008– Your school cumulative folder is available for you to pick up at the Central Office located at 1502 C Ave., Vinton, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30p.m. Mon.-Fri.  Folders will be available until July 31, 2013, at which time they will be disposed of.  Folders will be released to the student only, unless a signed release is presented at time of pick-up.

The East Central Iowa REC had seven substations affected by the Friday morning thunderstorm, causing many rural residents (among them Vinton Today Editors Dean and Valerie) to be without power for a short while. Power was restored in most areas by 11 a.m.  Some streets in Vinton were temporarily flooded as a heavy rain fell between 9 and 10 a.