News
Boomtown 2011 to come a month early; event set for August 26-27
Did you like Boomtown so much last September that you did not want to wait a whole year to see the gigantic fireworks display again?
If so, you don’t have to.
This year, the annual Boomtown event – the joint effort of the Iowa Pyrotechnic Association and Vinton Unlimited – will take place in August.
'Nothing but Pink' as Vikettes honor area breast cancer survivors, raise funds
For the Vinton-Shellsburg girls basketball team, Friday was a wonderful, emotional night.
Oh, and they won the game too.
The Vikettes easily defeated Clear Creek-Amana, 52-27. Coach Deb Hanneman was very happy with the team play, and particularly with the passing game of her senior centers, Allison Emrich and Makenzie Westendorf. VSHS speech students competed at State Large Group Contest
Alex Springer was Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Kelsey Mahood and Rylie Pflughaupt teamed up again for a mime act.
Several other VHS students worked hard for months to prepare their acts for the contest in Cedar Rapids tomorrow.
VSHS speech teachers Eric Upmeyer and Le Cox have spent the past several weeks, coaching the students, preparing them for the judges. Where are they now: Brad Seely (born in Vinton, Sept. 6, 1956) hired by 49ers
Football fans in California have been hearing the words "Vinton, Iowa" for the past week, as the San Francisco 49ers football announced that it has hired a man born in Vinton to be its special teams coach.
(For football novices, special teams include those players who play when the team kicks off or returns a kick-off, or when a team punts, or returns a punt, as well as field goal attempts. First Maple unit celebrates accomplishments at graduation
Their names are the same as they were May 5. Their uniforms, too – although the boots are worn and covered with paint and other reminders of the hard work their wearers have done in several states for the past 10 months.
But the Maple Unit members of AmeriCorps NCCC Class 16A who graduated from the program Thursday night are leaving as different people. Cheerleading coach Fitzpatrick, others to leave district at end of school year
Several Vinton-Shellsburg teachers and support staff members have submitted their resignations, effective at the end of this school year.
Those leaving the district at the end of the 2010-2011 year include:
Larry Gardemann, Middle School and High School English teacher;
Beth Owens, High School math teacher;
Krystal Fitzpatrick, head cheerleading coach;
Patricia Cayton, middle school cook;
Tamara Barnes, high school lunch clerk.
School policy on concealed weapons explained at board meeting
The Vinton-Shellsburg School Board took no action on the gun-carrying issue that has kept many of Iowa's city and count government bodies occupied early in 2011.
However, Superintendent Mary Jo Hainstock presented the board a reminder of the school policy, which is based on a state law that makes it a felony to have a weapon on school property.
Dollars for Scholars report: $7,500 raised this year
2010 was a very successful year for the Vinton Area Dollars for Scholars. Approximately $7,500 was raised for scholarships that will be awarded to Vinton/Shellsburg high school students. The majority of the money raised came from the sale of refillable mugs for John’s Qwik Stop, 50/50 drawings at the Benton County Speedway, Todd Frank Guitar Jam concessions, Alco Cute Baby contest, and the Holiday Roping project.
Packers fans prepare prank for Steeler fan for Super Bowl
Area Green Bay Packers fans are looking forward to Sunday, when their team and quarterback Aaron Rodgers take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
During the Good and Welfare section of the City Council meeting, City Attorney Robert Fischer mentioned the Super Bowl and the Packers.
And before the big snowstorm, Vinton firefighter Dennis Bramow went outside to find that someone had painted this Green Bay tribute on the snow in his yard. Non-growing pains: V-S School Board discusses declining enrollment
Enrollment this year is down again at Vinton-Shellsburg. There are 66 fewer students enrolled this year than last year.
That is a trend for the district – a trend that is expected to continue to affect the school budget for years to come.
“Our enrollment was 1798.