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The Kids Krusaders of the First Christian Church in Vinton is made up of youth grades 1-6. The kids meet every Wednesday after school from 3:30-5:00 p.m. where they make crafts, have a Bible story time, snacks provided by the church members, music, games and a prayer time. Each month, the group has a special theme. This month, the theme was "giving.

The following arrest as well as a little of the story shared by a local mother is a reminder to parents and their children that the internet is not a safe place.Roshaun Demetrius Collins, 21, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin was arrested on February 15, 2023, in Milwaukee after abducting a 13-year-old girl from Benton County. According to the mother, neighbors witnessed the child entering a silver or gray SUV early on Monday morning, February 13.

Reflecting on the last 13 years of Vinton Today always leaves me amazed. Every time. The idea was to have a central location where anyone so inclined to write, organizations wanting to share, and any bit of news could find its way to anyone anywhere. And it could happen from Vinton. For three months before launch, I spent a lot of time contacting organizations, sending out the email address, asking for information, meeting notices, etc.

By Clark KauffmanAn Iowa emergency medical technician who drove ambulances, fired for a history of drunken driving arrests, is not entitled to unemployment benefits, a state fact-finder has ruled.Despite two drunken-driving convictions and one recent drunken driving arrest, Derek Ealy’s state license as an emergency medical services provider remains in good standing with no history of any public disciplinary action, according to the Iowa Bureau of Emergency and Trauma Services.

Farmers Savings Bank & Trust, in conjunction with Community Bankers of Iowa (CBI) is sponsoring the 2023 CBI Money Smart Week Poster Contest to motivate elementary school students to learn about personal finances. Money Smart Week was designed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago as part of a financial literacy public awareness campaign.To enter the Poster Contest, elementary students in 2nd through 6th grades can submit poster designs to Farmers Savings Bank & Trust, with imagery answering the question: “Why is it important to know about money?”.

Three area farmers, Lance Lillibridge, Lori Lang, and Brian Carlson were in Orlando, Florida, attending the Commodities Classic as part of their farming businesses. The Commodities Classis is an annual convention and trade show that brings together farmers, agricultural industry representatives, and policymakers from across the United States to discuss issues related to American agriculture and the commodity crops it produces.

Vinton is participating in the 2023 Iowa's Living Roadways Community Visioning Program. Community Visioning is a transportation enhancement planning process that serves Iowa communities under 10,000 in population. The program helps community volunteers envision aesthetic and ecological improvements along roadsides and related landscapes by blending environmental stewardship with community improvement projects.

Joseph Steepleton, one of 11 children born to his parents Mahlon & Frances right here in Vinton, has been busy over the last almost decade writing and publishing his books. He said that he is "donating to the place where the seed of my love was planted," the Vinton Public Library. Steepleton, along with his daughter Amanda stopped in at the library last Friday to drop off the books and to share stories of the time he spent here.

Chilangos Mexican Restaurant is now open at the former Pizza Hut location in Vinton! Owner Michael Gonzalez is no stranger to hard work and to managing businesses. With several businesses that he's opened and operated in Cedar Rapids, he has stepped in to get a new business up and running here in Vinton. For the foodies, he is also looking at the possibility of starting another restaurant in downtown Vinton at a later date.

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