News

VSHS Band finishes seventh at Five Seasons Invitational

    The Vinton-Shellsburg Marching Band spent last Saturday the same way it plans to spend next Saturday. Get on the bus early. Drive to Cedar Rapids. Line up in the tunnel at Kingston Stadium. Perform the 2011 show, based on music from "Gladiator."       The band and director Karl Smith traveled to Kingston on Oct.

Juniors win parade float contest, Powder Puff game

Apple stacking was one of the 'Minute to Win It' events at the Thursday pep rally.      The Class of 2013 won the first annual parade float competition during Homecoming week for VSHS last week. In this contest, each class designs a float -- and keeps its entry hidden -- until just before the parade, when the judges evaluate them.      The first trophy went to the juniors. The Class of 2013 also defeated the seniors in the Powder Puff game.

Help set a healthy world record for Iowa; join walking effort Friday

     Residents of the Vinton area will join with thousands of other Iowans in a one-kilometer "Start Somewhere" Walk at 12 noon on Friday, October 7. Local walkers will begin walking at 12 Noon and will choose a route that will allow them to walk for 12 minutes and finish at the Benton County Courthouse.

Record setters, basketball greats among new VS Hall of Fame honorees

Bill Zenk, Class of 2000, with his wife, Melissa.      The 2011 Viking/Vikette Hall of Fame Inductees were introduced to the crowd during halftime of the Vikings Homecoming football game Friday night.      The honorees include the following individuals and teams. The infomation below was read to the audience that evening:   1937 440 RELAY TEAM      In 1937 the 440-Yard Relay Team of Melbert Bieber, Hoyt Carrier, Eugene Crisman and Millard Jones were coached by Fred Cameron.

Homecoming 2011 celebration lasted all week

Homecoming Queen Kelly Wagner      While the football team had the attention on Friday, the annual Homecoming week took place all week, and featured a variety of activities for high school students. Younger VS students participated as well. The Middle School Band performed for the crowd and played the National Anthem before the game began.       Here are a few more photos.

Tree stump becomes memorial of faith at First Christian Church

The storm made this tree at First Christian Church a stump; Brian Parr made it a symbol of faith.      Like most of its Vinton neighbors, the First Christian Church property sustained noticeable damage during the July 11 storm. Virtually all of its trees were damaged or destroyed, and many shingles blew off the roof (although no water seeped into the building).       The tree between the church and 13th Street had been reduced to a large stump.

KT's Kloset and More to close Oct. 15

     In an email to Vinton Today and others, KT's Kloset owners Kathy Hulse and Tim Westemeier announced that the clothing store will close Oct. 15. A 50 percent off sale begins Oct. 10.       The owners thanked their customers for their support. The business sells used clothing, along with a few new items, and other miscellaneous used items; it is located across the street from the Vinton Palace on West Fourth Street.

Homecoming Spirit fills VSHS as game approaches

Cheyenne Barnes joins the VSHS Band in playing the school fight song.      Vinton-Shellsburg High School students cheered, stomped and clapped together at a short pep rally at the end of school day Friday. The winners of the daily dress-up contests received their prizes, then led the student body in another cheer.       Captains Nolan Edwards and Gunner Tranel and Homecoming Queen Kelly Wagner served as the judges of the Viking Power yelling contest, tossing t-shirts to the areas of the crowd that were loudest.

Residents continue seeing more effects of July storm

Branches like this, which fell during this week's winds are a continuing effect of the July storm.       It was more windy than usual in the Vinton area the past few days, and with the wind came what tree experts have been warning Vinton residents about: More storm-damaged limbs.         "Much of what we’re seeing come down in the strong winds that our area experienced in the last couple of days are limbs and branches that were broken off during the wind storm on July 11, and were hung up or caught in the tree," said Mark Pingenot, a rural Vinton resident and field manager for Trees Forever.

Education for Childcare providers

  Iowa State University Extension is sponsoring Planning Your Financial Future for Childcare Providers. According to the instructor, Phyllis Zalenski, Family Finance Specialist, with Iowa State University Extension, “Planning for your financial future is an important part of success in reaching your financial goals as a childcare provider.