News : Remembering August and September, 2010: Progress and tragedy

'13' cast members gather around Steve Arnold after their final dress rehearsal in August.

The cast of '13' held some rehearsals in the home of Director Steve Arnold in Vinton.

Remembering 2010: The 1960 football team met again on a footbal field 50 years later.

Boomtown fireworks filled the sky, despite a very rainy weekend.

Homecoming Royalty VSHS Queen Codi Snider and King Alex McGee

Apple Daze returned to Youngville Cafe in September.

Work began on the Farmers Bank addition.

The supervisors took the first of their tours of the LEC.

The Grovert Twins won an award at the State Fair.

Vinton leaders celebrated the city's nomination for 'Great Places.'

Karla Isbell sketches the face of Tee Ana Schulmeister during first Boomfest in September.

The rigging for the digital screen was installed at the Palace.

Rajj James and his autographed guitar appeared at Todd Frank's annual jam.

Review '10: Students returned to school, where teachers, books and this playground were waiting.

Karlene Langham gives a tour of sleep study area during VGH open house after renovation.

August and September saw a variety of annual events, some more celebrations of progress, and one step toward another ambitious goal in Vinton. There were also some tragic deaths on county highways.

The River Rats again spent a Saturday cleaning the Cedar River, from the Mt. Auburn boat dock to Vinton.

The second group of AmeriCorps Oak and Cedar members graduated in August, officially completing their service.

One of the AmeriCorps projects of the summer of 2010 was providing the labor to build the Bennett Fischer Pavilion in a building that had been a garage before the flood of 2008. Fischer’s family used his memorial fund to pay for the building, and the AmeriCorps members spent a few weeks building it. The Fischer family joined the VPRD and city leaders and AmeriCorps members in dedicating the Fischer Pavilion as well as the Community Garden. See the Bennett Fischer Pavilion story here: http://www.vintoniowa.org/articles/News/article101295.html

‘13’

For many people in ACT 1, the summer of 2010 was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Steve Arnold directed the Iowa debut of the musical “13,” which included 13 area teenagers. The group spent hundreds of hours rehearsing the musical about a Jewish boy in a new school who invites his classmates to his Bar Mitzvah. The lead actor, Bentlee Bierschenk, turned 13 on Labor Day. Most of the cast of “13” attended his Bar Mitzvah.

See one of the '13' stories here: http://www.vintoniowa.org/articles/News/article101345.html

LEC tour

Jerry Petermeier led the Benton County Supervisors on their first tour of the new LEC building in August.

Grovert Twins win at State Fair

Eight month old twins, Jenna and Nora Grovert, the daughters of Paul and Janet Grovert of Shellsburg, won first place in the "Twins, Triplets and More" competition on opening day of the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 12. The girls brought home blue ribbons in the Most Look Alike under the age of one category.

Two helicopters

Virginia Gay Hospital marked a unique, unplanned milestone: For the firs t time, two medical helicopters arrived at the Hospital at the same time to transport patients to other medical centers.

Fatal accidents

There were two fatal traffic accidents within a week in August, in Benton County.

According to the Benton County Sheriff’s Department, Patrick “Pat” DeBrower, 27, was heading north on Highway 150 ina 1991 Chevy S-10 pickup. A northbound semi (tractor and trailer) had slowed to turn right onto Hutton Avenue. Debower’s truck rear-ended the semi at around 1:40 a.m.Saturday, Aug. 21. DeBrower was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the semi, Charles Baker, 43, of Gadsen, Ala, was not injured.

Then on Aug. 25, A two-vehicle crash on Highway 30, approximately 1 milewest of Highway 218 corner, resulted in the deaths of two drivers. The victims were Jacquelin Lee T. Daggy, 51, of rural Belle Plaine; and Scott Alan Swallom, 42, Vinton of Vinton.

Two renovations

Farmers Savings Bank & Trust-Vinton began its expansion in September.

At the same time, Virginia Gay Hospital was celebrating the completion of its expansion, with open houses and dedication ceremonies.

Class of 1960

The Vinton Class of 1960 held its 50th reunion at the home of Mike and Caroline Hibbs. The football team, which shared the WaMaC title, met at the football field on Sept. 10, to watch the 2010 Vikings, and to share their memories. See that story here: http://www.vintoniowa.org/articles/News/article101591.html

'Great Places'

Vinton leaders celebrated the city’s nomination as one of the finalists for the “Great Places” award and funding programs. Although Vinton was not chosen this year, leaders continue to work with Great Places representatives, hoping to earn that designation next year. Many residents filled the Palace for the Vinton presentation in September.

Homecoming

Vinton-Shellsburg celebrated Homecoming. The 2010 Queen was Codi Snider; Alex McGee was elected King.

Another fatality

Another tragic accident occurred Sept. 28; Scott Kirk, 50, of Vinton died when his car entered a ditch and hit some trees on Highway 150 north of Vinton.

Funeral Burglary

A particularly cruel crime was reported late in September. During the funeral of Barb Becker Guillory, someone burglarized the Guillory home. Benton County authorities continue to investigate this crime.

Apple Daze

Classic cars again filled the lawn of the Youngville Café as many gathered for the annual Apple Daze event.

Palace progress

The Vinton Palace saw a few more changes in September, as the rigging for the digital screen was put in place. While the theater was closed for this project, workers renovated the box office while volunteers painted the walls.