News

In a post on Tactical Creations' Facebook page, an announcement was made that read as follows:" ****STORE ANNOUNCEMENT****Starting today the store will be run and managed by Trent. We appreciate all of our customers and their support during this time."The owner of Tactical Creations, Robert "Bob" Wayne DuCharme, 59 of Vinton, has been accused of sexual abuse of children.

Virginia Gay Hospital is committed to providing our community with excellent healthcare.It is our pleasure to announce that Virginia Gay Hospital has been recognized and awarded by national healthcare research leader PRC:Five Star PRC Excellence Award – Virginia Gay Hospital Outpatient Surgery for Overall Quality of Care (scoring in the to 10% nationally)Four Star PRC Excellence Award – Virginia Gay Hospital Emergency Department for Overall Quality of Care (scoring in the top 25% nationally)Four Star PRC Excellence Award – Virginia Gay Inpatient Services for Overall Quality of Care (scoring in the top 25% nationally)This competitive national award recognizes organizations who achieve excellence throughout the year by improving patient experiences, healthcare employee engagement and/or physician alignment and engagement based on surveys of their patients.

By Robin OpsahlLegislation requiring schools to include information about vaccine exemptions in communications about immunization passed the Iowa Senate Monday.Senators sent Senate File 2196 to the House on a 31-15 vote. Sen. Jesse Green, R-Boone, said the bill is needed because of misinformation around vaccine and immunization requirements for students attending Iowa K-12 schools.

In its second attempt to pass a levy on to the Benton Community property owners, to improve the Benton Community School District, the voter decided to approve a Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL). Last year a vote to pass a $48 million dollar bond measure failed in the district.The district hoped that changing the goal of the measure would bring different results for the school district.

President Joe Biden has won the 2024 Iowa Democratic Caucuses, receiving 11,083 of 12,207 preferences received and processed through today. “Congratulations to Joe Biden, who overwhelmingly won the 2024 Iowa Democratic Presidential Caucus. Iowans recognize that President Biden has made great investments in communities across Iowa including in our childcare centers, roads and bridges, and by expanding broadband access in our most rural areas,” said IDP Chair Rita Hart.

Andrea Townsley, Principal at Tilford Elementary spoke with me concerning the amazing amount of cereal collected by the staff and students at Tilford last month. Each month the students have a goal of collecting a certain amount of "Positive Behavior" tickets. the goal for February was for the students to collect 6,000 tickets for their good behavior.

Coe College is interested in checking it out to see if the spotted salamander and central newt is there. An Indian burial mound is on the property. And it's here in Benton County. Benton County Conservation is partnering with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation to more than double the size of the Wildcat Bluff Recreation Area near Urbana. With beautiful woodland, upland, and lowland habitat, and the chance to protect even more of the Cedar River's bank, the addition allows Benton County to add unique outdoor recreation as well as increase important wildlife habitat.

Scott Hansen has worn many hats over the last 25 years. As the Coordinator of Emergency Management (EM) in Benton County, he's earned his pay when it comes to this job. As part of his intro to the local Kiwanis club, he said all of that, tagging on "retiring June 30th." He told the group that Dean Vrba will be taking over for him and he expects it to be a seamless transition.

An automobile accident on Friday afternoon at approximately 3:45 p.m. took the life of an Independence woman, Meghan Devane age 21. Devane was traveling north in her Jeep Patriot, on Highway 150, in the 5100 block near Urbana. For unknown reasons, she crossed the yellow line into the southbound lane directly in the path of Jeffrey Burrows, 50 of North Liberty.

The Vinton Lions Club congratulated the following member for their service.Congratulations to Mark Wilberg, 20 years; Bill Ortgiesen, 10 years; Ron Tippett, 20 years; Jerry Blank, 10 years and Ryan Davis, 15 years.The Vinton Lions meet every Wednesday for a noon luncheon meeting at Pizza Ranch hosting a local speaker or program. Join Us! Contact Vinton  Lions on Facebookhttps://www.