News
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. Benton County SART launches Poster Contest
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the Sexual Assault Respons Team (SART) is holding a poster contest.The theme for this year is, "Standing up For Friends, Consent, Healthy Relationships, Boundaries." Posters can be created on any size of paper and designed by all ages! The deadline to submit a poster is May 1st. Simply bring your poster to the Sheriff's Office. IDOT Program helps to install Speed Feedback signs around town
It's probably been a couple of weeks ago that an eagle eyed reader spotted the new poles going up around town. Now you can see the new signs that have been installed along Highway 218 and Highway 150 as you enter Vinton. The Iowa Department of Transportation uses these speed feedback signs to remind drivers to slow down when entering town. These signs will not be issuing tickets but serve as a reminder to slow down and simply be aware that you might be traveling faster than you think. Easter Services and Activities in Vinton
Vinton Area Ministerial Association Holy Week Services will be as follows:The public is invited to brief Holy Week 7:00 a.m. worship services Monday through Thursday, and at 12:00 noon on Good Friday. These services are sponsored by five Vinton Area Ministerial Association churches. A freewill offering at each service replenishes the Ministerial Association’s emergency aid fund.
NO ONE IS A GOOD DISTRACTED DRIVER
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. April 1-8, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) is partnering with law enforcement across Iowa to curb the alarming and unsafe trend of distracted driving. To deter multitasking while driving, GTSB is launching a new campaign targeting overconfident drivers and reminding everyone: No One is a Good DISTRACTED Driver.
Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Members Bring in the Old and New Tractors!
By: Co-Reporter, Izzie Birker On Tuesday, March 19th members of the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Chapter brought in some of their old and new tractors for the annual Drive Your Tractor to School Day. They rallied a grand total of 13 tractors for the event. After school all of the members who drove a tractor gathered together for a group picture at the end of the parking lot. Paint Iowa Beautiful awards American Legion George G Luckey Post 57
Diamond Vogel and Keep Iowa Beautiful have announced the 2024 grant recipients for the Paint Iowa Beautiful program. The longstanding partnership provides free paint to a wide variety of public service and community betterment projects throughout Iowa.“Diamond Vogel is thrilled to work with many local volunteers that help build communities and enhance their communities’ economic vitality,” said Doug Vogel, Vice-President of Marketing for the Iowa-based company. Final slate of Primary Candidates for Benton County June Primary
The final paperwork has been submitted for the open Benton County offices in 2024. The deadline to file was 5:00 p.m on Friday, March 22, 2024.If you are a registered Democrat or Independent but would like to vote for one of these candidates in the primary, you will need to change parties to Republican in order to vote. After the primary, you can change back.