News

       Two years and a day after federal law enforcement officers showed up in Vinton and left with more than $750,000 and some of her prized family heirlooms, Phung Ca “Polly” Long quietly pleaded guilty on Friday, Nov. 19, to conspiring with her husband to harbor illegal aliens. She also pleaded guilty to making false statements to the Iowa Medicaid Program.

     Today is the last day to bid on the Christmas trees for the Holiday Tree Walk at Virginia Gay Hospital. It's also the last day of bidding for the wreaths on display in the lower level hallway leading to the Rehab Services (Physical Therapy) area. Department members have made a variety of wreaths. While most are for the Christmas holiday, there is one wreath with an autumn harvest theme and another with a "Twilight" theme that even includes a DVD of the popular vampire movie series.

     While Christmas is a time when many people donate food or toiletry items to the Food Pantry in Vinton, the Vinton Masons wanted to remind residents that the pantry also needs monetary donations to buy meat and dairy products. To that end, the Masons donated $100 in cash to the pantry. Mason Tom Boeckmann presented the check to Sherry Crawford Sunday afternoon.

     While CPR is a proven life-saver after a cardiac event, the difficulty that a rescuer faces when trying to maintain a constant pressure and rhythm to a heart attack victim often makes CPR less helpful.      To improve the odds of saving heart attack victims, the North Benton Ambulance Service has obtained one LUCAS CPR device, and is raising funds to purchase another.

       The holiday season is upon us and it always a great time to see family and friends. Take the time to sit back relax and enjoy everything and everybody in your life during the holidays. Here at the Vinton Parks & Recreation department we are very thankful for all of the support that we receive all year, especially from Jeff, Sandy, Stu, Ed, Brenda, Ted & Craig & all of our understanding families.

     The Palace lobby was filled with children and parents, eager to see holiday favorite "Home Alone" on the big screen -- for free, thanks to Virginia Gay Hospital. As they waited in line for the popcorn (also free) they had a chance to sign up for an XBox 360 Kinect system (also courtesy of VGH).      Many downtown shops were as crowded at times as the Palace during the Christmas Open House event.

  The Vinton Parks & Recreation Dept held their annual Turkey Coloring Contest for 3rd grade and under. We would like to thank everyone who participated & the judges for their tough job that they had. Pictured above are: (Left to right) Kindergarten & 1st Grade Division-1st – Brant Ortner, 2nd – Kinzley Kurth, 3rd – Isabel Mullinex Preschool & Under Division- 1st – Alex Bahmann, 2nd – Elyssa Carter, 3rd – Tess Erickson 2nd & 3rd Grade Division- 2nd – Kailey Bahmann, 2nd – 1st – Dalaney Chandler (Back Row) Santa Claus          Missing - 3rd – Gabe Schmidt   The winners were rewarded with prizes, their picture laminated and a fire truck ride with Santa.

  Vinton Lions hosted just under 200 diners in conjunction with Thursday night’s holiday parade in Vinton, raising $2,300 to help send area veterans to Washington D.C on Eastern Iowa Honor Flights in 2011. The chili supper at the Vinton fire station was organized quickly, according to club President Julie Zimmer, with just two weeks lead time.

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