Veterans Memorial Hospital and Allamakee County Public Health would 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 it is due; do not sign up online for that second shot.
For those 65 years of age and older who want to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, Veterans Memorial Hospital encourages use of the 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.
Note that Veterans Memorial Hospital’s and Allamakee County Public Health’s phone numbers come up as “Unknown” on a Caller-ID system. We are asking those who are waiting to be contacted regarding their COVID-19 vaccination to answer their phones if they receive an “Unknown” telephone call.
by Jill Fleming, MS, RD/LD, Veterans Memorial Hospital
You may have heard about Green Smoothies, but have you ever tasted one? If not, you may want to reconsider. Here is a short list of why you will gladly add a Green Smoothie to your daily diet. We have provided two recipes for you to try. Feel free to substitute any of your favorite fruits or vegetables.
To Lose Weight: When I work with weight loss patients, one of the easiest ways for them to start losing weight is to add more fruit, vegetables and water to their daily diets. My most successful weight loss clients are now eating a total of eight to 10 servings of fruit or vegetables daily. To easily reach this goal; eat more vegetable-based soups, make omelets loaded with vegetables and drink green smoothies often.
Veterans Memorial Hospital was made aware last week of an email scam involving the hospital name. The email subject line states, “Your credit card has expired” and has the name, Veterans Memorial Hospital, at the top of the email. Veterans Memorial Hospital does not have any association with this email and wishes to warn anyone who receives it to delete it immediately. In fact, spam emails such as this should never be opened or forwarded to anyone. They should just be deleted.
For any questions on any emails or phone calls you may have suspiciously received from the hospital, please feel free to call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411 for more information.
The Caregiver Support Group meetings that were held monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital, continue to be held through conference calls during COVID-19. Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) is offering weekly Caregiver Support Group conference calls every Monday from 10-11 a.m.
To join a call, just dial 1-800-264-8432. Then enter the participant code 961847# to be connected to the support group conference call, joining other caregivers.
Jessica and Paul Wagner of Waukon announce the birth of their daughter, Vienna Kate Wagner, born February 23, 2021 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 7 lbs. 7 ozs. and measured 19 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins siblings, Kylie (13), Zachary (10) and Brias (1).
Grandparents are Bonnie and Ray Wagner of Lansing and Paula and Greg Schwartzhoff of Dorchester. Great-grandparents are Bruce and Sharon Bion of Onalaska, WI.
Eric and Lane Rich of Waukon announce the birth of their daughter, Catherine Anne Rich, born February 25, 2021 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz. and measured 19-1/2 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins sisters, Knightley (8) and Natalie (6).
Grandparents are Mark and Deb Palmer of Waukon and David and Vicky Rich of Algona. Great-grandparents are Wayne and Sandra Fish of Waukon.
Trump’s dangerous big lie - that the 2020 election was rigged, stolen and fraught with voter fraud - had deadly consequences. For weeks before and after the election, Trump repeated the big lie. Trump supporters were enraged and followed Trump’s directives to march to the U.S. Capitol January 6. Their intentions were to break into the Capitol to stop the certification of Joe Biden as president, and threats were made to harm Vice President Mike Pence, Democratic leaders and anyone who stood in their way.
With our own eyes, we saw the rioters beat Capitol Police officers. We saw the noose this mob erected. We heard them shout, “Hang Mike Pence!” With horror, we saw the mob break into the Capitol and the Trump flags hanging from the balcony. Rioters wore Trump hats and Trump t-shirts, and waved Trump flags.
The Dream (and yearning of the soul) is for Freedom. True Freedom is aligned with God. God was the originator of the American dream, as exemplified in the heart and soul of the 1620 Pilgrims who founded this country for the express purpose to have freedom to worship God.
Strong foundations are essential.
1) Our Declaration of Independence states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Its author, Thomas Jefferson (our third President) also stated, “God who gave us life gave us liberty.” And “If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed.”
This year, the Chinese New Year started February 12, two days before Valentine’s Day. Both events share in common the intentional connections among people and families, and the reaffirmation of love, unity, gratitude and caring.
After almost a year of COVID-19, these holidays are even more meaningful to me when I reflect on how my Northeast Iowa Community College family has served many in a fluid, uncertain and challenging environment. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. admonished, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” Allow me to share a few examples.
Many NICC colleagues and students in our health care programs are frontline essential workers. They care for those who are afflicted by the virus, those living in long-term-care facilities and those who require other health-related services. Some took on extra shifts at work when there was a shortage of staff and/or an increase in COVID-19 cases.
Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
March 15: 2021 ARCPLC Signup
May 15 – August 1: Primary Nesting Season
July 15: Crop Certification
Better Soil Health Means Less Fertilizer by LuAnn Rolling, Allamakee County District Conservationist
One-third of the fertilizer applied to grow corn in the U.S. each year simply compensates for the ongoing loss of soil fertility, leading to more than a half-billion dollars in extra costs to U.S. farmers every year, according to new research from CU Boulder published in Earth’s Future.
Using fertilizer doesn’t just cost farmers money. It also comes at an environmental cost. A large portion of the global greenhouse gas emissions caused by agriculture - 24% of global emissions in 2010 and 10% of U.S. emissions in 2018 - comes from fertilizer production. This means that steps taken to reduce fertilizer use also helps address rising greenhouse gases.
