News
Area soldier is stationed near former Osama bin Laden hiding place
When Iowa National Guard Sgt. Breandan Fank of rural Vinton sat at his military base Saturday night (Iowa time) speaking with his girlfriend, Kosy Brown at the Vinton-Shellsburg Prom via Skype, he was sitting just a few miles from where Osama bin Laden was known to hide.
Breandan is stationed in Gamberi, Afghanistan, which is close to the city of Jalalabad.
Prom surprise at VSHS: Skype unites senior, boyfriend serving in Afghanistan
As the rest of the Vinton-Shellsburg juniors and seniors stood in pairs or larger groups, waiting to be introduced during the Grand March, Kosy Brown stood toward the end of the line, wearing waiting her chance to stand alone on the stage of the VSHS Auditorium.
She wouldn't have a date for the Prom; her boyfriend, Breandan Fank, is serving with the Iowa National Guard in Afghanistan. V-S teacher Knudtson hired as principal at Postville
Vinton-Shellsburg High School science teacher and trap shooting coach Brendan Knudtson has been hired as the principal and activities director at Postville High School in northeast Iowa.
Knudtson announced his hiring via Twitter, where several people including Vinton-Shellsburg High School Principal Kirk Johnson, offered their congratulations via that site.
University of Iowa Community Credit Union recognized for their community support
Earlier this April, the University of Iowa Community Credit Union and staff was recognized at the 2011 Iowa Parks & Recreation Association spring conference in Davenport for their outstanding committment and dedication to enhancing the programs and events offered within the community of Vinton through the Vinton Parks & Recreation Department. Vinton search warrant leads to six-year federal sentence for Honduras man
A Honduras man who was arrested several times in Vinton and other Iowa locations, and used an alias and false identity documents to open bank accounts, was sentenced on April 28, 2011, to six years in federal prison.
Jorge Luis Galeas-Pineda, 24, from Honduras, and who resided in 2010 in Vinton, Iowa, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after pleading guilty on November 2, 2010, to knowingly possessing a counterfeit resident alien card not lawfully obtained.
Vilsack rejected Lyons' appeal for restoration of voting rights in 2003
The unusual legal case involving the voting eligibility of former Vinton-Shellsburg School Board President Pat Lyons highlights the changes in Iowa laws regarding the voting rights of convicted felons, as well as the varying laws in the other 49 United States.
When Lyons pleaded guilty in 1996 to first degree theft, he would have been eligible to vote if he had been a resident of Maine, Vermont (where some candidates have run for office while incarcerated) or Massachusetts (although Massachusetts voters changed that law in their state in 2000).
Honor Flight reunites families while thanking Veterans
When Cedar Rapids WWII veteran George Oujiri stepped off the bus at the World War II Memorial, another Oujiri was waiting to greet him with a big bear hug: Col. Temon Oujiri, an Army Review Board member who works at the Pentagon.
The two Oujiris spent most of the afternoon together, reminiscing and sharing stories. Third Grade Ag Day: Students see animals, farm machinery
The Benton County Extension Service and several others worked together to teach area third grade students about agriculture during the annual Third Grade Ag Day at the Benton County Fairgrounds on Wednesday.
Students saw cattle, pigs, horses and poultry, and learned about farm machinery and farm safety. AmeriCorps NCCC Making an Impact in Omaha
By Dana Fytelson
AmeriCorps NCCC team, Oak 4, has been working diligently with Habitat for Humanity Omaha since March 17 rebuilding homes and creating better lives for lower income families in Omaha.
The team has participated in a number of projects, including demolishing a house for renovation, installing siding and roofing to a nearly finished house, and raising walls on what will be the Hospitality House during Habitat’s Builder Blitz that takes place this coming June. AmeriCorps NCCC making a difference in Milwaukee County
By: Dave and Lacy, Cedar 3
Since their departure from Vinton, Iowa, Cedar Three has traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to participate in several environmental projects for the Milwaukee County Parks Department and Groundwork Milwaukee. During the spike, Cedar Three members have worked on a variety of different assignments that have benefited the surrounding community.