Dear Santa Claus
Letters sent to Santa via Ms....
Read MoreAuthor: Valerie Close
Benton County Board of Supervisors Minutes 12/5/17
December 12, 2017 The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with Supervisors Wiley, Primmer and Bierschenk present. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. Unless otherwise noted, all actions were approved unanimously. Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: Approve the minutes from Tuesday, December 5, 2017. Motion carried. While going through the claims, it was questioned why an invoice is dated March of 2016 and was just now being submitted for payment for service done on the courthouse clock. This will be pulled from the list at this time and discussed further and submitted in the next scheduled claim list. Bierschenk moved/Primmer seconded: Approve payment of checks numbered 225531, 225538 through 225709, payroll checks numbered 139825 through 139840, 139841 through 139857, and ACH deposits numbered 32765 through 32895, 32896 through 33027 vendor checks numbered 225532 through 225537 and 225710 through 225717. Motion carried. Discussion was had to clarify appointed Benton County Facility Security Committee members and/or designees. Primmer brought up the concern about those attending the meetings who aren’t appointed to the committee, or weren’t designated as alternate. The Board agreed to leave as is, if they weren’t appointed as designee from the beginning then the appointed committee member should be the only one in attendance. If they are absent, they will receive the minutes. Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #17-79, Variance to Sub-Division. Motion carried....
Read MoreThe ultimate gift
By Tressa Walton Every year there is the ONE gift that everyone needs to receive – this year it’s the gift of keeping your family together. We raise our families, protect our families and try to keep our families safe from harm. There is one unexpected serious event in life that has the potential of causing serious, if not irreversible consequences to a family and that’s the need for long term care over an extended period. While we all think it won’t happen to us, statistics might tell a different story. We’ve provided and protected our family for all our lives and we think if something happens to us, our spouse will take care of us but what happens when they can’t. There is no choice but to involve a child. Let’s face the facts, if you have four children, each one of them is not going to take on their share of 25% of the workload caring for you when you can’t take care of yourself. There’s probably one child who is the closest that is going to have to take on the burden of assisting and they are going to resent their siblings for not helping more. There’s going to be the kids who are too busy to help or too far away and the child who gets dumped on with everything. Providing care doesn’t bring siblings...
Read MoreLiving Life Blind
Tonight, well, this morning since I couldn’t sleep, I thought I might as well get out of bed for the second time and write a column about what I’m thinking about. I started thinking about my dad. I remember the first time I really felt like I had disappointed him. It was when I was restricted to my glasses when driving. Crazy huh. I mean it’s not like I could help it, I was born that way for Pete’s sake. But he, well, he was never restricted to his glasses and could read just fine without them. Some of my memories are of him looking over the top of them to read or do some intricate work. I learned a lot from him. He definitely could see real clearly. That triggered me to think of a lot of other people in my world. One very dear person is Yolanda. I was going to say her son Pierre, but well, then I thought about the rest of the family. There’s Doreen, Dominique, Betty and Phillippe and then there’s Pascale and her hubby Alcinto who fixed our computer long distance before, well way back in the last century, and he was halfway across the country, then there is their daughter Melissa and her twins. Anyway, Yolanda, I swear I could have adopted that lady for a mom, I loved that lady....
Read MoreVinton Police Department Log for Week of December 11 – December 17, 2017
Vinton Police Department Log for Week of December 11 – December 17, 2017 All Charges are subject to review by The Benton County Attorney’s Office. An arrest or criminal charge is merely an accusation and the Defendant is presumed innocent, unless proven guilty. Intrastate Warrants are issued by Law Enforcement Agencies for crimes happening in their jurisdictions. Adult Arrests None Juvenile Referrals None No Citations were issued for the Week of December 11 – December 17, 2017. Seven written warnings for offenses were issued the Week of December 11 – December 17, 2017 and they were for Operating a Non-Registered Vehicle, Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability and Speed. No reported Motor Vehicle Accidents for the Week of December 11 – December 17, 2017. For the Week of Week of December 11 – December 17, 2017– 68 complaints/calls for service were handled by the Vinton Police...
Read MoreFree Christmas Dinner at Presbyterian Church of Vinton
A Free Christmas Dinner will be held at the Presbyterian Church of Vinton on Monday, December 25th – Christmas Day – from Noon to 2 p.m. It began four years ago as members of the church board, the session, looked at ways the church could reach out into the community. “We knew there were a lot of people spending Christmas alone, whose families lived far away or who were widowed,” said Rev. Jessica Crane Munoz. “Our desire was to give those people a place to go. Additionally, we knew there were families in the community who couldn’t afford a nice Christmas dinner.” And so the Free Christmas Dinner was born. The dinner, which is served for two hours, has included people from all walks of life and from all types of life circumstances over the past few years. It is a blending of folks who come together to spend the Christmas holiday with others. “We hope that this program will reach two primary groups, those who are alone and those who are without, during Christmas,” said Crane Munoz. “It is an amazing thing to be a part of, whether you are coming for a meal, volunteering, or taking part in some other way.” Meals are also delivered to home-bound people in the community who call in advance for a delivery. Delivery requests can be made through the Presbyterian Church office...
Read MoreBenton Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioners to meet Jan. 2
The next regular meeting of the Benton Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioners will be held on Tuesday January 2, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. at the District Office, 1705 West D Street in Vinton. Agenda items include: Election and appointment of officers, approval of minutes from previous meetings, public participation, approval of treasurer’s report and bills, approval of conservation plans, watershed reports, state cost-share programs, an update on NRCS activities, a review of the correspondence file, any other commissioner input or other business, and scheduling of the next meeting. The public is welcome to attend. Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to attend or participate in this event should contact the Benton SWCD by calling 319-472-2161, extension 3 or contact the TDD# or Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339. Please make contact at least 24 hours prior to the...
Read MoreSarah Vandewalle participated in Iowa State University’s Science with Practice program.
Sarah Vandewalle (Brandon), majoring in animal science at Iowa State University, was a participant in Science with Practice this fall. Science with Practice is a learning and work experience program in research and related laboratories for undergraduate students. Students work closely with faculty and graduate students to gain experience in their field of study. Students are able to conduct research and form mentoring relationships with faculty while earning money and academic credit. The program allows students to develop an understanding of the links between research and practical real-world situations and problems. Vandewalle was advised by Dr. Albert Jergens, professor of veterinary clinical sciences, on a project titled “Correlating Helicobacter spp. Density with Inflammation in the Canine Stomach.” This project used samples obtained from four different stomach regions of 7 canine patients exhibiting chronic vomiting. Sarah helped to determine the density of Helicobacter spp. bacteria using molecular techniques (FISH-Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization). These densities were then compared with an inflammation score to determine if there is a statistical correlation. In total, nearly 20 undergraduate students and mentors participated in the program during fall 2017. As part of the program, students establish individualized learning agreements with faculty mentors, create a final portfolio and complete biweekly journals of their semester progress. The semester concludes with a public poster presentation where students share their projects and experiences. The Science with Practice program, administered through the Department...
Read MoreArnold Motor toy drive helps many
The Arnold Motor Supply Toy Drive was another success this year, as many customers brought in items to place under the tree at the auto parts store. Staff members recently donated all of the toys to the local Angel Tree...
Read MoreVinton Presbyterian Church to hold Christmas, New Year’s Eve Services
The Vinton Presbyterian Church will hold the following services. Christmas Eve Services at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. 10:30 a.m. service includes youth bell choir 7:00 p.m. service includes adult choir, hand bell choir, communion, and candle lighting Christmas Day Free Dinner 12-2 p.m. Open to the public December 31 Service at 10:30 a.m. includes a special 12 Days of Christmas...
Read MoreLocal Author, Lisa Lutz to hold book signing, Saturday 12/16/17 at LaGrange Pharmacy
Local author, Lisa Lutz, will be at LaGrange Pharmacy tomorrow from 9-11 a.m. to hold a book signing. “Adventures on the Farm: Little White Chicky”: a heartwarming tale of a lost chicken that must locate home. “Adventures on the Farm: Little White Chicky” is a true story by published author, Lisa J Lutz, who has worked as a teacher of the blind and visually impaired for twenty-five years in Eastern Iowa, and lives on the farm where the author grew up. “Meanwhile, at home, Little White Chicky’s family became worried about her. They hadn’t seen her in several days. They loved Little White Chicky and prayed that God would help her be okay.” – Lisa Lutz Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Lisa Lutz’s new book is a tender tale of a lost chicken that must find its way home. A favorite animal of the farm family, the little chicken’s absence is immediately noticed. Lost in the dark night of the countryside the little chicken needs to evade hostile animals. Through the kindness of others and the will of God the chicken manages to reach safety, but will it find its way home? View a synopsis of “Adventures on the Farm: Little White Chicky” on YouTube....
Read MoreMarzen Food drive continues through December
Licensed Massage Therapist Stacie Marzen is continuing the food drive at her office located at 215 N K Ave. until the end of this month. “The turn out has been great,” says Marzen. Clients get $10 off a 1-hour massage for bringing in a donation. Donations will go to the local food pantry; Marzen will accept donations through...
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