News
Community members continue to support Benton County Conservation!
In the ongoing efforts to raise money to acquire the Wildcat Bluff Addition, Benton County
Conservation Foundation has received an additional donation that will be doubled by the Meyers’ Family
Conservation Fund challenge.
Gwen and Don Eells of Vinton, Iowa have donated $10,000 to the Wildcat Bluff Addition. Gwen stated
they are “excited to support a project that stays right here in Benton County. Beware of Fraud Attempts
In a post, the Benton County Sheriff's Office put out a warning to area residents. "We continue to receive reports of Fraud by various methods of scammers. Unfortunately, we are often faced with the same outcome, unrecoverable losses. Please take the time to educate yourself and family members about the warning signs of a scam. We have received reports of scams involving large monetary prizes, brand-new vehicles, grandchild incarceration, technical support, and so many more.
CBI’S POSTER CONTEST IS BACK, MINUS THE MONEY SMART WEEK CONNECTION
Farmers Savings Bank & Trust, in conjunction with Community Bankers of Iowa (CBI) is sponsoring the 2024 CBI Poster Contest to motivate elementary school students to learn about personal finances. Since 1999, Community Bankers of Iowa has sponsored the Money Smart Week Poster Contest as part of Community Banking Month festivities and the Money Smart Week awareness campaign hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to increase financial literacy among children. V-S holds the top number of essays submitted in Statewide VFW Contest
Each year, the local VFW Auxiliary Post 8884 enters essays written by area elementary students into a contest sponsored by the VFW organization. The state is divided into a total of 10 VFW districts across the state. Vinton-Shellsburg School District entered more essays than any other school district. Students squashed the competition with a whopping 295 entries! Jeanette Henry of the VFW Auxiliary said that the 3rd-5th Grade teachers are the ones that make this such a huge success for the local VFW. Missing Person
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is attempting to locate 18-year-old ZANDER
MCCLINTOK.
• last seen on March 31st, 2024.
• 5’9” 140 lbs, brown hair, blue eyes
• last seen near the Cedar Rapids/Marion area.
• drives a Black 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier (2 door) with Iowa license plate MAL704.
If seen please contact local authorities or the Benton County Sheriff’s Department at 319-472-
2337 Option 1. Benton Development Group Quarterly Update
The Benton Development Group’s quarterly meeting was held recently in Van Horne with a representative from the board of supervisors and the communities of Atkins, Blairstown, Garrison, Shellsburg, and Urbana. In the Director’s Report, Kate Robertson shared information about several grant applications BDG is currently assisting with to improve housing and address damage caused by natural disasters. Bill on emotional support animal housing accommodations heads to governor
BY: ROBIN OPSAHLThe Senate sent legislation to the governor that would require additional documentation and certain restrictions for emotional support animals in Iowa rental properties.While some lawmakers had objections to earlier versions of Senate File 2268, the bill was amended by the House and passed the Senate unanimously in its amended form Monday.
Ash borer found in all Iowa counties but one
By Jared StrongEmmet County in far northern Iowa is the lone remaining county in the state with no confirmed presence of a beetle that kills ash trees, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.On Monday, the department said the emerald ash borer was discovered in Palo Alto County for the first time, in a tree in a public area near Emmetsburg. State Auditor Rob Sand Releases a Report on the City of Atkins
Auditor of State Rob Sand today released a report on the City of Atkins for the year ended June 30, 2022. The City’s receipts and disbursements for the year ended June 30, 2022 totaled $4,127,331 and
$4,171,701, respectively. Sand reported sixteen findings related to the receipt and disbursement of taxpayer funds. They are
found on pages 42 through 51 of the report below.
HACAP serves Benton County
In 2023, HACAP servied 1,763 people in 912 Benton County household between October 2022 and September of 2023. Low income households received $874,790 in direct assistance and an estimated market value of $540,000 in food assistance. This is equal to a market value of $1.4 million or an average of $1,650 per household. The top needs for the low-income in 2023 were housing-related issues like repairs, rent or mortgage and utilities as well as food assistance.