News

Due to weather-related postponements of high school conference activities, the 6-12 Band Extravaganza and Middle School Art Show has been postponed to Wednesday, May 15.  The MS Art Show will be held in the MS Student Center starting at 5:00.  The Band Extravaganza will begin at 7:00 in the MS gym. 

  Two days before this Saturday’s “Pray PHor a Cure” fund-raising event that has already grown much larger than she ever dreamed, Pulmonary Hypertension patient Trudy Seidel of Vinton took a few moments from her busy week of arranging items for the auction and garage sale to share more of her story with Vinton Today. She also shared some thoughts about how her rare disease and the past few months in the spotlight have changed her life.

Vike of the Week April 19th, 2013: Melvin Hurst nominated Derrick Trachta, Cody Adams, and Kain Cortez for helping carry tables and chairs to stage for setting up for NWEA testing. 4-26-13 Vike of the Week (Mrs. Flemming)- While I was at State FFA Convention, Alissa Latteyer and Andrea Evans cleaned the greenhouse (which was really bad) to prepare for a garden group tour the day after I returned.

Benton County third-grade students took turns visiting the Benton County Fairgrounds, where the Benton County Extension, with help from the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA and several volunteers,  helped educate the students about farm life.  The students had a chance to pet goats, calves and chickens. They also heard presentations about tractors and tractor safety, grain planting, the products made from hogs and how farmers get milk from a dairy cow.

“We are only children once; and after those few years are gone, there is no second chance to make amends. In this respect, the consequences of unequal education have a terrible finality.” Jonathon Kozol (1991) WHEREAS, today's educators mold our future citizens through their guidance and education, and WHEREAS, today's educators encounter students of widely differing backgrounds and abilities, and WHEREAS, our society expects public education to provide quality education services to all children, no matter what their backgrounds or abilities, and WHEREAS, our country's future depends, in large measure, upon the education our youth receive today, and WHEREAS, educators spend countless hours outside their classrooms preparing lessons, evaluating progress, counseling and coaching students and performing community service, and WHEREAS, our community recognizes that its educators are providing quality educational services to our children, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT the Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District Board of Directors does hereby proclaim the week of May 6-10, 2013 as.

The Vinton-ShellsburgCommunitySchool Districtis joining with other communities throughout Iowathis spring to honor its elected school board members during Iowa School Board Recognition Month during May. This year’s theme —“Building Brighter Futures”—recognizes that Iowa’s volunteer school board members are providing leadership, through responsibilities ranging from strong financial stewardship to ensuring high-quality curriculum, to make sure all students are prepared for a “brighter future” when they graduate.

Just the sound of the beeper to remind you to take a few minutes and send in a donation toward Vinton Today's annual expenses and needed upkeep. Vinton Today has already begun to add features to the site, made some needed changes and are looking forward to the future. Many of you have sent in a donation and I know there are many more to whom it has simply slipped their mind.

Camping Report: On Friday April 26th, 2013: Wildcat Bluff Park, Hoefle Dulin Park, and Hannen Lake Park are open for camping and have dry roads. Our park staff are still reporting some wet roads, but it is a windy weekend.  So we have decided that starting the First of May all (including: Rodgers Park, Benton City Park, & Minne Estema Park) campgrounds for Benton County Conservation will be open for business.

Vinton Unlimited is hosting its first Wine Walk and we'd love to have you join us for the fun on May 18th from 4:00pm - 8:00pm! This will be a great experience and opportunity to see and sample the many wines available right here in Vinton at Vinton Unlimited businesses! You can find more information and register for the event by visiting www.

  Imagine a place powered by garbage, that makes fuel for your car from the things you throw away in your kitchen – and even from the nasty things in your baby’s diaper. That’s the world that Craig Stuart-Paul imagines – and it’s the world he has been trying to bring Benton County into for the past three years.