News

    Boomtown begins tomorrow night with TGIF (Thank God It's Fireworks) at the Benton County Fairgrounds. The Vendors and beer tent open at 6 p.m. The Boogie Woogies perform at 8 p.m., followed by a preview of the Saturday fireworks.       See the Boomtown Facebook page HERE.     Click HERE for photos from last year's Boomtown.

     Surrounded by the displays of history in one of Vinton's most historical locations, the teachers of today and tomorrow gathered at the Ray House to be welcomed by the Vinton Women's Club and many local citizens.     For years, the Club has been welcoming new and returning teachers with its reception at the Ray House, where Garden Club and Historical Society members work year-round to keep the house looking great.

     The Vinton-Shellsburg 4th, 5th, and 6th grade Metro League football teams hosted their annual Viking Youth Football fundraiser on Saturday, August 20 at Fareway Stores.  Dozens of players and parents showed up and helped serve up some yummy hot dogs by master griller, Jim Merchant.  A free will donation was taken up for help in purchasing equipment, gear and other essentials.

  VFW sale in  Farmers Savings Bank Parking Lot: Saturday only 8am-3pm Fishing tackle, clothes, glassware, tools, rods, reels, misc   128 Scenic Drive Fri and Sat 9-5 Household items, tools, garden equipment, sinker molds, fishing equipment, reels, poles, some toys and the kitchen sink   206 Country Club Dr Fri 8-4, Sat 8-noon Christmas items, kitchen items, misc and more   1403 Circle Ave Sat only 7:30-10:30 Clothing all sizes, toys, boys bicycle, tricycle, books, movies, crafts, scrapbooking, twin mattress, air hockey table, misc items   1510 Washington Drive Thurs 5-7, Fri 5-7, Sat 8-2 Kid’s clothes, toys, hardware, electronics, everything must go!!!   1003 2nd Ave Saturday only  6am-11am Clothes, household items, snow blower , toys   1013 2nd Ave Sat only 8-2?? A little of everything: various household items, books, pictures, clothes, men and women’s XL sizes, chairs, lamps, misc   912 5th Ave Fri 4-7, Sat 7-11 Men’s garage sale!!! Enco Mill, Delta Metal Lathe, 1997 Ford F150 4X$, Enclosed trailer, snowmobiles   602 N 9th Ave Saturday only 7-noon Children’s toys, Adult men and women, teen girls, teen boys, house wares, smoker grill, dance shoes, clothes, twin and full bed comforters, misc   1201 10th Ave Fri 7-4, Sat 7-noon Entertainment center, gun cabinet, Bicycles, and many misc   503 E 2nd St Fri 4-7, Sat 8-1 Lots of girls clothes 0-6x, kids toys, women’s clothing, and misc   505 E 2nd St Fri 4-7, Saturday 8-1 DVD Stand, girl clothes size newborn—18 mth, household items, and much much more   711 E 3rd St Saturday only 7-noon Lots of boys clothes, mostly 2T-4T, women’s plus tops, baker’s rack, glass top console table, entertainment center, toys, household items, and more   910 E 4th St Fri 8-5, Sat 8-noon Boys clothes 6 mth– 8 (lots of 3T and 4T), coats, boots, shoes, toys and household items   904 W 4th St Fri and Sat 8-6 Storage barrels, burn barrels, water barrels, pickup storage box, gift baskets, tools   909 E 5th St Saturday 9-1 Elliptical, household goods, kids clothing, kids toys   915 E 5th St Saturday 8-5 Full Household, furniture, antiques, appliances, sporting goods, odds and ends   1010 E 5th St Fri 8-3, Sat 8-1 Dirt Bike, Halloween décor, Christmas décor, household items, toys, wood working tools, wood planer, table saw, bench top sand blaster, miter saw, tools, bird houses, and barn board creations      1508 E 5th St Fri 7:30-3, Sat 7:30-1 Neptune natural gas dryer, white kitchen aid stand mixer, desk, books (children's, educational, adults, cookbooks), toys, men’s women’s, girl’s and boy’s clothes, household items, and misc   1006 W 8th St Watch for signs for times Multi family sale Kids clothes 24 mth-6X, toys, household items, many misc items   114 W 11th St Sat 8-4 Bunk beds, toddler beds, household items, tools   Corner of 11th and 12th Fri and Sat 8-4 Knick knacks and misc   114 W 13th St Sat only 10-2 Miscellaneous items   507 W 13th St Fri 8:30-5, Sat 8-1 Kitchen accessories, weight lifting machine, sandbox, football and baseball cards, kids bikes, twin mattress, men’s clothes M-3XL, misses girls 6-10, lots of misc items    509 W 14th St Sat only 8:30-1:30 Air compressor, 125000 BTU kerosene heater, boys bike, Large men’s clothing, Women, size 12 girls and teenage boys clothes, bean bag chair, pony throw rug, toys, books, cooler, misc chevy truck parts, electric heater, misc household items, and 2 small tv’s   503 W 17th St Sat 8-1 Multi Family garage sale: lots of kids clothes, boys and girls sizes Toddler to 10/12.

    Be sure to bring your children to Farmers Market tonight from 5-7 pm! Kids Night with games and tractor rides for your kids to enjoy!     The Vinton Parks and Rec Department sponsors the Farmers Market every Thursday evening at the Depot. 

  The Benton County Sheriff’s Office participated in the Eastern H.E.A.T. Saturation Patrol project. This project is part of a grant from the Governors Traffic Safety Bureau. Sheriff Randy Forsyth received a 2010-2011 grant that provides $3,900.00 for radars and Alco-Sensors; $500.00 for training and educational materials; and $12,900.

     The old cliche says that a "train wreck" is something that goes very poorly. But in the world of fireworks, a train wreck is something that inspires the audience to cheer loudly.       Vinton Today Editor Dean Close was in Mason City with several Vinton area members of the Iowa Pyrotechnic Association in the summer of 2009, when they attended that years Pyrotechnic Guild International annual Convention.

     The members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry who meet every Tuesday at the Vinton Library have made a variety of items to help a variety of people. (See an earlier story HERE)       Along with the prayer shawls, they make toys, hats mittens and other items.      Now, some of them have been using the camouflage colors related to the U.

       The July 11 storm that damaged most houses in Vinton and wreaked havoc with the city’s electrical infrastructure was the worst that Rich Ohrt has seen in his 35 years of working with local utilities.      Ohrt, the general manager of the Vinton Municipal Electric Utility (VMEU) said on Tuesday morning that while every house that is in condition to receive electricity had power restored within days after the storm, there is much more work to be done to restore the city’s power grid to its pre-storm status.

    Emily Meyer (19) from Garrison, showed the Reserve Champion Miniature Hereford Senior Heifer at the Iowa State Fair on Friday, August 19 during the fair's 4th annual Miniature Hereford Show.   The heifer, MF Cher, was born March 29, 2010 at Meyer Farms near Garrison.  MF Cher was also ranked in the top 5 of all heifers in the show.