News Center newsletter

Rachael Marie Gannon, originally of Coralville, and Aaron Thomas Palmer, originally of Waukon, exchanged vows in a wedding ceremony held at the Village Creek Bible Camp in rural Lansing Saturday, January 22, 2022. The 11:30 a.m. indoor ceremony was officiated by Pastor Tom Buresh with this intimate gathering having approximately 100 attendees present on a beautiful, sunny day with freshly fallen snow.

The bride is the daughter of Michael and Denise Gannon of Coralville. She is a 2008 graduate of West High School in Iowa City and a 2012 graduate of University of Northern Iowa (UNI). She is employed as the Assistant Vice President and Branch Lending Manager at FreedomBank in Decorah.

The groom is the son of Gregory and Marlene Palmer of Waukon. He is a 2005 graduate of Waukon High School and a 2009 graduate of Iowa State University (ISU). He is employed as a Territory Sales Manager at STgenetics in northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota.

Dorothy Gelo of Waukon celebrated her 100th birthday February 4. In honor of the occasion, cards and well wishes may be sent to 941 Countryside Estates SW, Waukon, IA 52172.

February is Heart Month.  Veterans Memorial Hospital continues to encourage the public to learn the American Heart Association’s “Hands Only CPR.” This simple way of performing CPR is very easy to do and effective for the victim.

According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death with nearly 400,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring annually in the United States. An average of 89% of people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest die because they don’t receive immediate CPR from someone on the scene.

The American Heart Association has found Hands Only CPR to be as effective as conventional CPR for sudden cardiac arrest at home, at work, or in the public - doubling or even tripling a victim’s chance of survival.

Since 80% of cardiac arrests happen in private or residential settings, learn these simple steps for performing Hands Only CPR to help save the life of someone you love:

Adrianna Rocksvold and Dylon Peterson of New Albin announce the birth of their son, Crue Riley Peterson, born January 28, 2022 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 7 lbs. 15 ozs. and measured 20 inches in length at the time of his birth.

Grandparents are Robin Palmer of Waukon, Tony Rocksvold of Eau Claire, WI, and Susan and Greg Wilwert of New Albin. Great-grandparents are Dee Ford of Waukon, Kert and Karen Rocksvold of Prairie du Chien, WI and Shirley Steiber of Lansing.

Over 950,000 Americans die each year from cardiovascular disease.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee County Public Health continues to offer walk-in clinics for all doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, each Friday afternoon in February from 1:30-3:45 p.m. in the ICN Conference Room located on the southeast side of the hospital.  Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be available.

Parking is available by the orange cones along the golf course for easy access to the vaccine location. Flu shots will also be available and can be safely administered at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Be sure to wear a mask and bring your insurance card and vaccination card if you are coming for your second or booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Both Hartig Drug and Nightingale Pharmacy in Waukon have vaccine available for ages 12 and older. Parental/guardian consent is required. Call ahead to schedule an appointment.

“Welcome to Medicare” is a free, two-hour seminar offered by the Veterans Memorial Hospital Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselors.  This program will be held Monday, February 21 from 5-7 p.m. in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

“Welcome to Medicare” will cover Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, the prescription drug benefit (Part D), Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare supplement insurance.

SHIIP, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program, is a service of the State of Iowa. Local SHIIP counselors Russ Hagen and Nancy Schoh are trained by the State and do not sell or promote any insurance companies, policies or agents.   Veterans Memorial Hospital is a local sponsor for SHIIP in Allamakee County.

Helping Services for Youth & Families is highlighting Teen Dating Violence Awareness during the month of February. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly a quarter of adult victims of rape, physical violence and stalking by an intimate partner first experience partner violence between the ages of 11 and 17. In addition, nearly one in 11 female high school students and approximately one in 14 male high school students report having experienced physical dating violence in the last year.

Dating violence is not only physical abuse but may also include excessive texting, checking up on, or telling a person what to wear or who to hang out with as just a few tactics abusers may use to control their partner. Abusive relationships are all about power and control, and abusive patterns can start at any age.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, February 17 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital. Masks will be required to be worn.

This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or has a friend or loved one with diabetes.  For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call  Angie Mettille, RN at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Emma Jane Schoh by Ken and Rose Beardmore, Brad and Judy Herman, Gil and Sharon Hunstad, Patricia Kammeyer, Marlys Leiran, Lesa Moose, Scott and Karen Ness, Ernie and Donnalee Osland, Carol Paus, Dave and Gail Prestemon, Ann Rademaker, Diane Rathbun, Wayne and Nona Sawyer, Ruby Schoh, Linda Siegrist and Jane Dietrich.

Memorials were also received in memory of Romandus “Sam” Gisleson by Madonna Stumme and Joan Gisleson; in memory of Jeanette McCormick by Mary Fink and John and Lorna Kerndt; and in memory of Darlene Leas by Marlys Leiran and Sandy and Dennis Deal.

Memorials and donations are appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, which is a 501C3 organization. All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Memorials and donations can be sent to 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.