News

     Postponed by weather to January, the Vinton Shellsburg Middle School Holiday Concert filled the Tilford Auditorium Tuesday evening.     Relatives and friends filled the auditorium's seats and crowded in the doorways to watch the annual performance by the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade choir members. Several students also played instruments during the show.

  December began with some celebrations, but also concerns about the future of the V-S Tiny Vikes Preschool.     The Vinton-Shellsburg Marching Band began its winter holiday concert by discussing its plans for another holiday: The members will again travel to Washington, D.C., to play in the July 4 parade there in 2011.

A medium size stray dog was found in Benton Co. north of Vinton/south of Brandon. She has a collar with tags from an Ottumwa, IA vet but the owner's contact information is a dead end. If you know her, please call the Vinton/Benton Co. Animal Shelter (319) 472-4623 or emaildfriendsoftheshelter@yahoo.com ASAP. Thank you!

  The Friends of the Shelter, Inc board, staff, and volunteers thank the community for their outpouring of donations this holiday season and all year long. With your help and encouragement we have made great strides in the care of the animals at the shelter.   We are proud of the work that has been done to find good homes for the adoptable, rescues for many, and compassion for those that were not eligible for either.

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       Benton County Sheriff Randall Forsyth reports that deputies answered 262 calls for service and investigated 13 accidents. Deputies attempted to serve 178 civil papers and issued 22 traffic citations and 52 traffic warnings.      There were 28 arrests/juvenile referrals with 33 charges being filed in December 2010.

      The January 2011 newsletter of the Vinton-Shellsburg School District lists several positions the district is trying to fill.      Those positions include: Shellsburg Media Associate (part-time) Substitute teachers (must have valid teaching or substitute license) Substitute bus drivers (must have correct licensure; the district will work with applicants to get that done) Substitute custodians (some night or weekend work required) Substitute food service Substitute paraprofessionals Substitute secretarial      f you are interested in learning more about these positions, contact Karrie Bartling at 319-436-4728 at the school administration office.

       The Vinton-Shellsburg Middle School Vocal Holiday Concert has been rescheduled for tonight, Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the Tilford Elementary Auditorium.              All of the middle school choirs will perform.  Students from the middle school and high school will help accompany the choirs along with community pianists, Nancy Jorgensen and April Ahrenholz.

   The election of 2010 kept many busy the first week of November. Nearly 2,200 county voters cast their ballots in early or absentee ballots. That number is a new record for a non-presidential election.    Election results: In the only contested local race, Jason Sanders defeated Ed Sass to retain his seat on the Board of Supervisors.

       While one retirement party took place upstairs, another one took place on the main floor of the Benton County Courthouse on Thursday, Dec. 30. County employees bid farewell and good luck to three long-time employees.      Roger Witt, a courthouse maintenance employee, and two Secondary Roads Department employees –office manager Elaine Bolton and road crew member Dennis Thompson – officially ended their employment with the county at the end of 2010.