News

State Farm donates to Garrison Fire Department

Garrison Fire Department receives $10,000 from State Farm Insurance to help restore EMS building.  Fundraising to replace firefighting gear and equipment lost to the July 11th storm, got a boost Sunday when State Farm presented the Garrison Fire Department with a $10,000 check.   State Farm Agent John Leonard of Vinton, Iowa, presented the grant to the Garrison firefighters during the Fire Department’s community pancake breakfast Sunday morning.

VS 2008 graduate Timmermans among Wartburg Homecoming Queen candidates

Emily Timmermans, right, is part of the 2011 Wartburg Homecoming Court.      Emily Timmermans, a 2008 Vinton-Shellsburg graduate, has been named one of the 2011 Homecoming Queen candidates at Wartburg College.       Timmermans, the daughter of Mike and Eileen Timmermans, plays basketball for the Knights.      Mike said the coronation of the Queen will take place Thursday, Oct.

VSHS Marching Band receives Division I rating at state‏

Claire Andreesen plays a sax solo at the State event.        Congratulations to the Vinton-Shellsburg Marching Band students and parents.  The band received their 6th straight Marching Band Division I rating at State Marching Band on Saturday.  They earned a total evaluation score of 84.7, which is the second highest point total at state marching band festival in school history.

VS student Beth Sauer enters Miss Teen Iowa contest

Beth Sauer will enter the Miss Teen Iowa contest this weekend.      Vinton-Shellsburg student Beth Sauer, the daughter of Pete and Michele Sauer, will spend next weekend in Newton, competing in the Miss Teen Iowa Pageant.        At school, Beth has been involved with basketball, softball, track, dance team, cheer-leading, youth group and choir. She also works part-time at Betterton Family Chiropractic.

Vinton Police Department Log for September 2011

Click to View

Q & U married at Tilford Elementary

Dancing Principal: Mr. Murray joins the Q and U wedding celebration.      The students of Mrs. Mathis and Mrs. Barron participated in the wedding of Q and U Friday morning. An official ceremony, followed by cake and traditional wedding reception dances, took place in the two classrooms.       Aspen Ahrenholz wore the bridal gown, representing Q. Steven Wicktendahl was the groom, and carried the letter U.

Storm recovery: Maple trees planted at courthouse

Children watch as the large machine lowers a maple tree into its new place near the courthouse.      The participants in the community walk enjoyed an unscheduled sight at noon on Friday. One of the four sugar maple trees that county officials chose to plant to replace trees destroyed by the July 11 storm was place in front of the courthouse at the same time nearly 100 people arrived there after finishing the "Start Somewhere" walk.

Nearly 100 people join Start Somewhere Walk in Vinton

Scores of Vinton residents walked at noon on Friday as part of a statewide effort.      More than 80 adults, along with several children and even a couple of dogs, walked a kilometer or more as part of Friday's "Start Somewhere" Walk. Participants chose their own starting places and routes, and ended up at the courthouse for a group photo as well as water and juice donated by Fareway.       Vinton Unlimited Director Nathan Hesson organized the Vinton event.

Vinton FD now has new tool to help with grain bin rescues

Jason Laton (in the Res-Q-Tube) and other Vinton firefighers pose with Okee Walker of CR Conveying.      The harvest season is a good time to remind agriculture workers of the dangers of working in grain bins, and becoming trapped in thousands of bushels of corn. It's also a time for fire departments to be called to such accidents; at least two happened in Iowa in September.      Thanks to a donation by the C.

Pursuing Victory: VSHS students attend session on school leadership

These VSHS students will lead the 'Pursuing Victory' leadership effort at their school.      Six high school students from Vinton-Shellsburg high school attended the Pursuing Victory With Honor conference in Ames, Ia on Oct 4.  The students listened to speakers and Iowa State coaches and players on the importance of topics such as leadership, discipline, decision making, and good character.        The students then developed an action plan that they are going to bring back to the high school.