News

On Wednesday-February 13, fifth grade students at Shellsburg Elementary took part in a Flag program by the Vinton VFW Post 8884 and VFW Ladies Auxiliary 8884. The Post showed  the 125 students how and why a flag is folded when we lose a Veteran. The students had many good questions for our VFW Post 8884. The VFW Ladies Auxiliary told about the history of our US American Flag: who made the 1st one, meaning of the colors of the flag, when to salute the  flag, displaying the flag, burning of the flag (only by organizations the correct way), The meaning  of each star & stripe, what the flag means to all our Veterans and our Country.

State Representative Dawn Pettengill and Senator Tim Kapucian announce the second event details for the 2013 Legislative Session legislative coffees.  This is an opportunity for constituents to get to know their state lawmakers, learn about what is happening at the State Capitol, ask questions, and express your concerns.  “Our goal is to be as open and accessible as possible for the people in House District 75.

   All commercial pesticide applicators must take exams in order to become initially certified and some choose to become re-certified by exam rather than by attending continuing instructional courses.  A training session designed to help prepare individuals for the commercial pesticide applicator examinations will be offered in Washington on Monday, March 11 in the Washington County Extension Office on the fairgrounds at 2223 250th St.

The Vinton Garden Club member of National Garden clubs, Inc., District II, and Central Region met January 30, 2013 at the home of Joyce Bratten. The guest speaker was Jeff Schadle, Conservation Lead Person for Vinton Ia. He gave a very interesting program on all the new trees planted and will be planted in the future after the big storm of 2011, and the different varieties.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Bureau of Immunization will require tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine for students enrolling in seventh grade beginning with the 2013-2014 school year.  The new requirement became effective January 16, 2013. The change will require a one-time booster dose of Tdap vaccine for students enrolling in grades seven and up, if born on or after September 15, 2000.

The Vinton Unlimited Board of Directors held its second meeting of 2013 on Tueday, Feb. 12. The members discussed future projects, annual events and efforts to bring new businesses and industries to Vinton.  The Vinton Unlimited Board of Directors consists of members of the community who are dedicated to creating an environment for the Vinton Community, where existing business can thrive and new business can find the support they need to succeed.

Thursday night, the Vinton City Council held its last budget workshop to put the finishing touches on the city’s annual budget for the city’s fiscal year that begins July 1, 2013 and ends June 30, 2014. There are two major changes that will affect city property owners. First, we currently receive very low interest rates for general obligations bonds, which is money borrowed by the city for certain projects.

Thanks to many donations from area groups and individuals, Virginia Gay Hospital is creating a new Gifts of Hope program to provide mammographies to women who cannot afford the breast cancer detection procedure. Donations from the Breast Cancer Survivors of Benton County, the Vinton-Shellsburg High School basketball teams, the Murphy Memorial Golf Tournament and many others, funding has made this program possible.

The Shellsburg visioning committee will have its first meeting on Saturday February 16th, 9:00 am, at Wildcat Golf Course. Shellsburg has been selected to participate in the 2013 Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning Program. Community Visioning is a transportation enhancement planning program that serves Iowa communities under 10,000 in population.

Phillip Moffit, Sam Martin, Nate Wiebold  ( Mr. Kingsbury) for helping Natalie Ketchen load up canned boxes for the pantry during their lunch.   Anthony Dickerson (Ms. Jackson) for returning Sawyer Diggman's iPod after he had dropped it on the floor and walked away.