News Center newsletter

Again this week, Allamakee County Public Health received 300 doses of COVID-19 vaccine from the State of Iowa that was administered to those in Tier 1B within one week.  These doses continue to be divided between the collaborating vaccine partners including Hartig Drug,

The Prescription Shoppe, Gundersen Clinic and Veterans Memorial Hospital Clinic who all administer them to individuals age 65 and older.

Allamakee County Public Health department continues to focus on vaccinating the additional tier groups in Phase 1B (such as teachers, school staff, fire departments, social workers, day care providers, etc.)

Veterans Memorial Hospital’s online sign up option for those wishing to get on a waiting list for the vaccine has been working well. When vaccine is available, those on the list will be called to schedule an appointment for the vaccine. Specific directions will be given as to the location of the vaccination clinic as well as appointment time.

LifeServe Blood Center hosts a blood drive in Waukon monthly. Each blood donation they collect is now routinely checked for antibodies to COVID-19, which shows if the donor actually had the COVID-19 virus.  Many donors are finding they do have antibodies to COVID-19 which could make them eligible for donating convalescent plasma.

Convalescent plasma (CCP) is the liquid portion of the blood that is rich in antibodies that are used to treat or prevent serious infection.  Anyone that was confirmed to have COVID-19 may be producing these specific COVID-19 antibodies.   Convalescent plasma is greatly needed to be administered to those suffering from serious COVID-19 complications.

by Jill Fleming, MS, RD/LD

With people eating on the run and not planning ahead, eating has become a mindless act.  Distractions have shifted our attention away from the actual act of eating towards televisions, computers and smart-phones.  This can be problematic, since it takes your brain up to 20 minutes to realize you’re full.

When we are dividing our attention, we usually eat faster and often overeat.  If you eat too fast, the fullness signal may not arrive until you have already eaten too much.  This is one of the contributing factors to our obesity crisis today.

Mindful eating is a technique that helps you gain control over your environment and eating habits.  Mindful eating is about using mindfulness to reach a state of full attention to your experiences, cravings, and physical cues while eating.  Using mindful eating has been shows to promote weight loss, reduce binge eating and help you feel healthier.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Julie Christensen by Jim ad Karen McCormick, in memory of David Shindoll by Jan Ellingson, in memory of Louis Kemp by Tom and Judy Kemp, in memory of William “Bill” Ferring by Francis and Muggs Berns, in memory of Delores Schellhammer by Ardie Kuhse, in memory of Dorothy McCormick by Norb and Nola Palmer, in memory of Robert J. Anderson by Dennis and Emmarene Smock and Carol Krumme, and in memory of Tom Collins by Jeff Moe and Dennis and Carn Murphy.

Additional memorials were also given in memory of Jack Marsden by Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Jeff Moe, Karen Durnan, Shirley Rose and David Marsden.

Memorials were also received in memory of Bob Oden by Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Carol Krumme, Dave and Laurie Martin and Pat Pettingill.

In addition, general donations were received by Roger and Jeanette Ruegnitz, Judy Lonning and Mark Lovelace of A&J Petersburg Agency.

To the Editor:

I want to express an appreciation of our largest community influencers. I have been working in the agriculture industry my entire life. I have always respected farmers, especially their workmanship and community support.

Allamakee County is home to 997 farms that contribute to our local economy and support jobs. Farmers in our area are adaptable and willing to learn, they are mindful of their influences.

Farmers have perseverance and strong faith in the future and their ability to enhance their practices. Driving through our county it is noticeable to see the increase of no-till and cover crops.

It is an extraordinary sight when they take the next step to help out the community or neighbors. Farmers care for their animals like they do their family. They want to leave things a little better than when they found them given the chance.

To the Editor:

The election is over and I cannot express my sad feelings for our country. We will see much higher gas prices, higher electric bills, more criminals and gangsters crossing our borders. Law and order will be absent and not respected, and the military will suffer.

Public schools will produce poor citizens, Planned Parenthood will take the lives of millions of babies and you, the taxpayer, will give them 500 million dollars, that is half a billion. We won’t get term limits or a balanced budget, Christianity will be despised, our flag and famous statues will not be respected, we will not get English only in our schools. This list could go on and on.

This is a sad story, and scary, but there will be another election and there are 75,000,000 people ready to work and vote Trump. Amen.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
March 5: WHIP Quality Loss Adjustment
March 15: 2021 ARCPLC Signup
May 15 – August 1: Primary Nesting Season
July 15: Crop Certification

Enrollment Deadline Nears for Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs for 2021
Agricultural producers can now make elections and enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2021 crop year. The signup period opened Tuesday, Oct. 13.  These key U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) safety-net programs help producers weather fluctuations in either revenue or price for certain crops, and more than $5 billion in payments are in the process of going out to producers who signed up for the 2019 crop year. Enrollment for the 2021 crop year closes March 15, 2021.

Annual event is being held by virtual webinar this year

Industry professionals and beef producers who are finishing and marketing dairy beef are invited to virtually attend the I-29 Dairy Beef Short Course. The webinar, offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, is set for March 23.

It features a morning session from 10 a.m. to noon and an afternoon session from 1-3 p.m. Participants may choose to attend one or both sessions.

The morning session focuses on factors affecting dairy beef performance. Tara Felix, extension beef specialist at Pennsylvania State University, will present information on the role of nutrition and implants in dairy beef health and animal performance. Following her is Phil Durst, field-based educator with Michigan State University with over 30 years of experience working with farmers. He will share how dairy beef employees influence animal health and performance.

Waukon High School 2003 graduate Andrea (Blocker) Scheving promoted to Chief Master Sergeant

by David M. Johnson

Women of today continue to smash glass ceilings, whether in business and industry, sports, politics, science, the military, and many other realms. Some of these accomplishments are monumental, like being awarded a Nobel Prize in Science or most recently, being elected as Vice President of the United States. Others may not ever make the nightly news, but are still well beyond worthy of all the honor and recognition their achievements may provide.

For those 65 years of age and older who want to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, Veterans Memorial Hospital has an online sign-up option to join a waiting list. When vaccine is available, those on the list will be called to schedule an appointment.  Specific directions will be given as to the location of the vaccination clinic, as well as an appointment time.

FOR SECOND DOSES
Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) and Allamakee County Public Health (ACPH) would also like to alert the public that they will receive a phone call to schedule an appointment for their second dose approximately two to seven days before they are due to have that second inoculation. Those awaiting their second dose are reminded that they do not have to sign-up online, which is different than what they may have done for their first dose.