News : Remembering 2012: March and April

Celebrating 100 years: Girl Scouts Erin Wessling Barnett, Maggie Karr Mangold and Carrie Frede.

Head Start students examine the chain saw carving at the Vinton library in April.

March

2012 was the 75th anniversary of the East Central Iowa REC. Throughout the year, Vinton Today published stories of people who remembered the changes that the REC brought to their lives. In March, we spoke to Lula Perkov, who shared her story about life before and after electricity.

Vinton area Girl Scouts also celebrated a national milestone -- the 100th year of the Girl Scouts of America.

Another celebration of women's history took place in March, when the "Her Own Story" video presentation took place. This event included videotaped interviews with a variety of area women who shared stories of life in Benton County in the 20th Century.

Lt. Col. Dan Beatty, the son of Garth and Pat Beatty of rural Vinton and a 1986 WHS alum, returned from Afghanistan after earning the Bronze Star.

Also in March, area residents learned about the story of Chauncy Leverich, a Vinton native credited with founding the city of Austin, Minnesota.

The AmeriCorps NCCC campus and New Century Farm Service each celebrated plans for expansion.

April

Keith Elwick received the Silos and Smokestacks Hero in Agriculture Award, honoring him for his inventions and his role in the Hawk Bilt Company.

Vinton-Shellsburg band member Nick Gardner was the first from the school to be invited to the All-State Jazz Band.

Two Young Artists from the Simon Estes Foundation visited Vinton-Shellsburg High School to share their love of opera and singing.

Continuing a trend that began in earnest after the July 2011 wind storm damaged countless trees, the Vinton Library became the latest spot in town to see Brian Parr turn a damaged tree into a chain saw sculpture.