Truesdell Judge: "His Unfathomable acts have caused immeasurable pain and loss"

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
February 27, 2026 5:47 pm

RecapLuke Truesdell was the man charged with the beating deaths of  Romondus "Ro" Cooper, Amanda Parker, Keonna Ryan and Brent Brown in Hiawatha on June 5, 2024.

Rippel Advocates for County Priorities in Washington D.C.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES
February 27, 2026 10:19 am

National Association of Counties Legislative Conference draws nearly 2,000 county leaders along with cabinet-level speakers, members of CongressBenton County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections, Hayley Rippel joined nearly 2,000 county leaders from across the country for the National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference February 21-24.

Palace Theatre Celebrates 25 Years

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
February 26, 2026 10:46 am

Abby Cronk spoke with the local Vinton Kiwanis Club on Tuesday. She shared that she's been with the Vinton Palace Theatre for 20 years and told of her experiences during her time there.

V-S FFA at Sub-District Contest

FFA
February 24, 2026 3:08 pm

By: Co-Reporter, Bri DulinOn Wednesday, February 18th, Vinton-Shellsburg FFA members traveled to Hawkeye Community College to compete in the Sub-District FFA Contest, earning impressive results.

Van Horne Woman arrested in Iowa City

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
February 23, 2026 1:45 pm

The Iowa City Police Department was dispatched to the Highlander Hotel on Highlander Place in Iowa City, just after 11:45 p.m. on Saturday, February 21.

Daddy Daughter Dance Creates Beautiful Memories

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
February 22, 2026 3:48 pm

If you were anywhere near the Skate Center on Saturday night, you didn’t need a calendar to tell you something special was happening. The parking lot was jam-packed, the street lined with cars and pickup trucks, and inside the building, something even more beautiful was unfolding.

Applications for Century and Heritage Farms as Part of America250 Celebration

IOWA SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
February 19, 2026 8:23 pm

Applications for recognition at 2026 Iowa State Fair will be accepted through June 1As Iowa celebrates the country’s 250th birthday, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is inviting eligible Iowa farm owners to apply for Century or Heritage Farm recognition as part of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s (IDALS) Century and Heritage Farm Program.

AG Bird Releases Top 10 Reported Scams and Complaints of 2025

IOWA ATTORNEY GENERAL
February 19, 2026 7:02 pm

Attorney General Brenna Bird has announced the top ten reported consumer complaints and scams affecting Iowans in 2025. Last year, the Attorney General’s Office Consumer Protection Division handled over 4,000 complaints marking the second consecutive year of rising scams and complaints.

Incoming weather Thursday night and into Friday

BENTON COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
February 19, 2026 6:25 pm

A few strong to severe thunderstorms remain possible this evening into early tonight along and south of I-80 with the main threats being hail and gusty winds.

Ash Wednesday marked with...Fire

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
February 18, 2026 6:18 pm

Corrected - When I got a call about a fire east of town, I noted that it was, after all, Ash Wednesday...A call went out around 3:00 p.m. about a fire with the wind blowing at more than 25 miles per hour.