Cool Event at VU After Hours Event

The picture that is attached to this blog entry is a laser metal cutting demonstration taking place at Ideal Industries in Vinton. Ideal Industries does many different metal fabrications using a press, roller, plasma cutter and laser cutter. It was a great demonstration of a unique business in Vinton. The demonstration took place during a heavily attended After Hours event co-hosted by the city’s chamber of commerce, Vinton Unlimited, and Ideal Industries. The After Hours events take place at a different Vinton business each month. Usually, they are only open to members of Vinton Unlimited. As shown by the laser demonstration, you usually get more than your member dues worth at these events. So, we encourage you to seriously consider becoming a member. Call 319-472-3955 for more details!

Dollar General Ribbon Cutting

This morning, we did the ribbon cutting at the new Dollar General store. Several people were there to start shopping. This is a great new venture for the whole community. Come and check it out!

The picture shows Vinton Mayor John Watson and Vinton Dollar General Store Manager Sue Lockridge cutting the ribbon as Vinton Unlimited President Dan Engledow watches.

New Dollar General

Several months ago, we were disappointed that Roy’s Grocery Store closed on K Avenue (Highway 218). While we were mourning this loss, the Dollar General people saw this loss as an opportunity. The Dollar General store in Vinton operated out of a small building that once housed the former True Value hardware store. The parking was atrocious and cramped as was the limited space inside the store for customers and items for sale. Now, with a quick remodeling, the former Roy’s is now the new Dollar General. Even though the remodeling only took a few months, the picture below shows the exterior looks great. Even better, the interior is bright and inviting. The old days of not finding a parking space and squeezing by other customers are gone!

Vinton Veterans Memorial Airport

The picture with this entry shows the entrance sign and a few buildings of the Vinton Veterans Memorial Airport. The airport serves six businesses that are based out of the airport as well as the community as a whole. The airport will become quite busy in a about a month as crop dusting season starts. Every weekend, when there is good weather, the Paradise Skydiving company takes customers into the sky to participate in skydiving. To find more information on what is happening at the airport, visit their website at: http://www.flyVTI.com/

A New Beginning

Once again, Vinton is beginning again following last year's windstorm. On Saturday, May 19th, several community members came together to plant tree at the Vinton Public Library and a couple of the city parks. We hope that this will inspire all residents with a renewed interest in planting more trees to replace those we lost last year. The picture shows Mark Pingenot from Trees Forever and City of Vinton Parks employee Brian Elwick demonstrating the proper method of planting a tree.

New Restaurant in Vinton

We have a new Mexican restaurant in Vinton called La Reyna. I have been told that this is translated to "the queen" in English. This restaurant has been open for a couple of weeks after some high anticipation from Vinton residents. The restaurant had to learn how to cope with the overwhelming crowds when it first opened, but now appears to be doing quite well. The restaurant moved here from Iowa City after the owners had started a salsa business in Columbus Junction. This picture shows Carlos Legaspi. He and his wife, Carmen, are co-owners of the restaurant.

Continuing Cleanup

The City of Vinton is continuing with the cleanup following the devastating windstorm of July 11, 2011. The picture shows logs that have been cut by a logging company employed by the city parks and recreation department to clear an area near the sledding hill. The department is not paying for the work, rather the logging company pays for the logs taken from city property. This money will be used to remove trees that the logger can't get to and to replace trees lost in the windstorm.