News

       VS has achieved sufficient AYP on its AMO to lose its DINA and SINA designations, according to the ITBS and the ITED, as stipulated by NCLB.      In other words, the Vinton-Shellsburg School District has helped its students make Adequate Yearly Progress on the Annual Measurable Objectives. That has resulted in the United States Department of Education removing the district from its list of "Districts in Need of Assistance.

  JUST A COMMON SOLDIER (A Soldier Died Today) by A. Lawrence Vaincourt   He was getting  old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast, And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past. Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done, In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.

Vinton resident and Kirkwood employee Kasey Tumilty to lead Benton County Center   Kirkwood Community College named its new director of the Benton County Center in Vinton. Kasey Tumilty, a Kirkwood Benton County alum and former employee started as the county director on September 1. Originally from Shellsburg, Kasey first joined Kirkwood as a student in 2002, taking classes at the Benton County Center and the main campus in Cedar Rapids.

  Vinton Area Dollars for Scholars will be selling raffle tickets for a chance to win seats in the press box at the Vinton-Shellsburg homecoming football game. This Friday, Sept 16th you can purchase raffle tickets for $1.00 each.  The winner receives seating for 4 in the press box, appetizers, main course and dessert.  All proceeds from this fundraiser will go toward local scholarships.

      Vinton Mayor John Watson signed a proclamation on Monday declaring that the week of Sept. 18-24 is Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Week in Vinton.      The proclamation reminds employers of the importance of allowing their employees freedom to serve in the National Guard or military Reserve units, and allowing them to return to jobs after serving their country.

      While most Iowans were glued to the TV on Saturday, cheering on the Cyclones or Hawkeyes as they tried to move a football, hundreds of others were gathered in Vinton, getting ready for another contest which also involves the ability to move a ball.      But the balls involved in this contest are not footballs, but bowling balls and racquetballs.

Area Cheerleaders took the opportunity to make children happy, while raising money to help fight Autism at the Benton County Speedway on August 21st. The girls were able to raise $75 toward the effort. ----- Thanks Randi!  

    A couple hundred people gathered outside the Benton County Courthouse Sunday evening to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.      Another 75 people met at Spencer Grove Church in rural Walker to honor the heroes and victims of 9/11 during an afternoon ceremony.      Legion Commander Craig Streeter, a retired fireman, told the crowd in Vinton that he was on duty at a Cedar Rapids fire station the morning of Sept.

    Vinton college football fans showed up at the Palace on Saturday, wearing their favorite colors as they watched the Iowa-Iowa State football game on the biggest screen in town.      Hawkeye fans celebrated early, but the outnumbered Cyclone fans left happy after Iowa State won in triple overtime.     Nearly 100 people attended the game, including many children who showed their support for their favorite team.

     For Saturday's guitar jam fund-raiser for the V-S Dollars for Scholars program, the singers and musicians chose some of their favorite songs to share their feelings about places and people that impacted them.     For Todd Frank, that meant pioneer cemeteries.     Frank sang a song he wrote after visiting some of the oldest cemeteries in Benton County:      "The first names aren't familiar, but the last names are the same       As the people that I know now, work work these lands today"     Frank was one of many to play in the jam which featured musicians from throughout Iowa as well as neighboring states.