News Center newsletter

The Waukon Park and Recreation Department held its first annual Christmas Coloring Contest through the Waukon Wellness Center, beginning December 1 with entries due by December 16. Open to youth in third grade and under from throughout the local area, the contest ended up with 145 total entries in its first year, with two winners being selected in each of three age categories for the contest: Pre-Kindergarten and Under, Kindergarten and First Grade, and Second and Third Grade. The selected winning entries from each age group are pictured and identified in the surrounding photos, with each winner getting to select from prize choices of a punch card to attend the Waukon Wellness Center or a punch card to attend the Waukon Family Aquatic Center. Submitted photo.
 

The Lansing FFA Chapter at Kee High School partnered with Carquest/Lansing Auto Parts and owner Dave Moritz to win the first-ever Adopt-a-Pot holiday competition in Lansing. The Adopt-a-Pot program, sponsored by Main Street Lansing, involved local businesses partnering with community organizations to decorate a total of 18 flower pots along Main Street with holiday decorations. Main Street Lansing provided each participant a four-foot pine tree and solar-powered holiday lights, and each group let their imaginations design the rest of the tree’s decorated theme.

The New Albin City Council met in a special session Monday, December 29 to discuss a change in the office of Mayor of New Albin. Current mayor Josh Dreps has recently moved outside of the city limits of the City of New Albin, and therefore can no longer serve as Mayor of New Albin.

Dreps submitted his resignation to the New Albin City Council at that Monday evening meeting, effective immediately. The council unanimously accepted the resignation, and following that acceptance, Mayor-Pro Tem George Blair assumed leadership of the meeting.

Lansing’s VFW Auxiliary #5981 is continuing to seek entries for its scholarship contest for local art students in ninth through 12th grades. Patriotic students in ninth through 12th grades with a passion for art are encouraged to enter the 2020-2021 VFW Auxiliary Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest.

Students will compete with other student artists from across the nation for a chance to win one of 10 national scholarships. The first-place winner receives a $15,000 scholarship.

To request entry forms or for additional information about the contest email vfwauxiliarylansing@gmail.com. Entries must then be submitted to vfwauxiliarylansing@gmail.com no later than midnight March 31, 2021.
 

COVID-19 vaccine has been received by Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care Allamakee Public Health, which has since been busy vaccinating the Tier 1A group of health care workers who have been approved to receive this first round of vaccine. Veterans Memorial Hospital staff has responded well this last week in getting the vaccine. Pictured above is Sheryl Darling-Mooney, RN, Public Health Supervisor of Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care receiving her vaccine, being administered by Summer Garin, RN. The Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care Public Health office will keep the public informed as changes are made in the tier groups and they can expand those who qualify to receive the vaccine.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, January 7 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held every month in Waukon. The LifeServe Blood Center of Iowa supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with blood and blood products. Many Iowans are encouraged to make donating blood on a regular basis their New Year’s resolution this year.

The need for blood has not stopped during COVID-19 and is in even higher demand, so the local blood drives continue to be held. LifeServe team members only report to work if they are healthy, and only healthy donors are eligible to give blood. Blood drives are essential medical services and not considered mass gatherings. The number of donors is limited to ensure donor separation, and staff has strict cleaning and disinfection schedules. Other measures are also in place to ensure the safety of the blood supply so these lifesaving donations can continue during COVID-19.

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.

by Amy Robinson, PT
Director, Veterans Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation

In order to avoid hurting the back when shoveling snow from the sidewalk or driveway, be sure to warm up your muscles before you begin. Walk a few minutes or march in place. Stretch the muscles in the arms and legs, because warm muscles will work more efficiently and be less likely to be injured.

It is also important to pick the appropriate shovel for yourself. A smaller blade will require you to lift less snow, putting less strain on your body. Be sure to lift with your legs and not your back. Bend your knees and keep your back as straight as possible so that the lifting comes from your leg muscles and keeps the strain off of your back.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Julie Christianson by Trent and Lori Jacobs, Dave and Laurie Martin, Lorraine Drew, Mary Ann Hager, Marilyn Bulman, Richard and Susan Schulte, James and Jill Kiesau and Dennis and Sandy Deal.

Memorials were also received in memory of Maury Gallagher by Dave and Laurie Martin, Pat Pettingill, Dr. David and Susan Hahn, Mary Ann Hager, Lorraine Gallagher and family and friends of Maury Gallagher.

Memorials were received in memory of Rita Kregel by Mary Ann Hager and in memory of Robert “Bob” Malli by Gwen Brainard.

In addition, a general donation was received by Lawrence and  Marsha Benda as well as a donation for both breast cancer detection and diabetes education from Mary Ann Baker.

The holiday break came to an early end for both the Waukon and Kee girls basketball teams, as the two intra-county opponents took to the court together in Lansing Saturday, January 2 to begin the 2021 portions of their schedules. The larger school Indians used their team depth and aggressive nature to build double-digit leads in each of the game’s two halves, but also had to hold off some late Hawk charges in each of those halves before coming away with the 55-42 Waukon victory.