News Center newsletter

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be offering the next recertification course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for health care providers (those working in health related fields such as physicians, nurses, EMS, etc.) Wednesday, November 18, beginning at 5 p.m.    This “Health Care Professional” CPR class will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of the hospital.

There is a small fee to participate in this class and all registrants should bring along their own pocket mask, if they have one. Upon successful completion of the class, the participant will receive an electronic card certifying them as a BLS Healthcare Provider for a two-year period.

Pre-registration plus a minimum of three participants is required for the class to be held. All participants will be required to physically distance during the class and wear a mask. They will also be screened at the hospital main entrance when they enter the building.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care is now offering flu shots on an appointment-only basis.  Appointments can be made by calling 563-568-5660. When the appointment is made, instructions are given for the private location the immunizations will be administered.

Those with an appointment to receive their flu shot should remain in their vehicle until the nurse comes to get them and should bring along their insurance or Medicare card.

For more information or to make an appointment for a private flu shot, call Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care at 563-568-3411.
 

The need for blood has not stopped during COVID-19 and is always in even higher demand over the summer months, so the local blood drives continue to be held. Life Serve 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 next blood drive will be held Thursday, November 5 from Noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.   

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Edna Wyninger by Frank and Patty Goltz, Scott and Jill Manning, Ardie Kuhse, Steve and Maureen Thode, Cindy Barness, Penny Wheeler, Fred and Geralyn Smith, Tom and Karen Regan, Stephanie and Eric Palmer, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Dennis and Sandy Deal, Steve and Sheryl Evanson and Patricia Wellendorf.

Memorials were also given in memory of Don Schwartzhoff by Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Mary Ann Hager, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Leslie and Joann Winters, Mary Fink, James and Jill Kiesau, Pat and Debbie McGeough, Ryan and Kari Smith, John Kerndt, Russ and Mary Jo Meyer and the Veterans Memorial Hospital Housekeeping Department.

In addition, memorials were received in memory of Rose Marie Winters by Les and Ada Marie Kerndt, Dave and Laurie Martin, Dave and Sandy Lyons, and Gary and Jean Gilbertson.

Robert and Kathryn Van Brocklin of Lansing are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. The couple married November 11, 1960 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing.

They have seven children, 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. A celebration is being planned for a later date.

Cards and well wishes may be sent to 2610 State Highway 26, Lansing, IA 52151.
 

Since this is my first article in the Waukon Standard in almost 30 years, I thought it would be a good idea if I took a few lines and introduced myself. I arrived to serve the parishioners in Waukon, Hanover and Dorchester on July 13 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This is my eighth assignment in 34 years since my ordination to the priesthood.

I was born in Guttenberg, the youngest of five children. My family moved to a farm near Elkader when I was two years old. I attended St. Joseph Catholic School until it was closed - 1st thru 4th grade; I am a graduate of Central Community High School (Elkader) in 1977, Iowa State University in 1981, and the St. Paul Seminary (Twin Cities) in 1986. My hobbies include the following: bicycling, fishing, flowers, and motorcycling.

On May 24, 1986 I was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

To the Editor:

Hello and good health to everyone. Iowans are respected around the U.S.A. for being kind and courteous.

During this nationwide and worldwide pandemic, let’s keep it going by wearing a face mask and using hand sanitizer.

I don’t know (does anybody?) if that hinders the spread of coronavirus but I have not heard from anybody that it causes it. Let’s be nice to each other.

Len Smorstad
Waukon

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
Dec. 11: CFAP 2 Signup; Dairy Margin Coverage Signup
March 15: 2021 ARCPLC Signup

Fall Tillage
by LuAnn Rolling, NRCS District Conservationist
We ended up with an earlier than usual fall harvest, this is a good thing. Using this window to till the soil is not a good thing.

Tillage degrades soil structure, causes erosion and compaction, kills earthworms and destroys the soil ecosystem. Tilling the soil is the equivalent of an earthquake, hurricane, tornado, and forest fire occurring simultaneously to the world of soil organisms. Simply stated, tillage is bad for the soil.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is encouraging Iowa farmers to “keep the stubble” on their harvested crop fields and improve soil health during No-Till November.

First launched in 2017, the NRCS project is mirrored after the national cancer awareness No Shave November campaign that encourages people not to shave during the entire month. The NRCS campaign encourages farmers to keep tillage equipment in their machine sheds this fall and keep the crop stubble on their fields. The campaign has reached more than 1.5 million people through Twitter and local media since 2017.

“No-till farming is a cornerstone soil health conservation practice which also promotes water quality while saving farmers time and money,” says Iowa NRCS State Conservationist Jon Hubbert. “One of the first soil health principles is ‘do not disturb’. This campaign is a fun way to remind farmers about the important relationship between tillage and soil health.”

Thursday morning, October 29, Alliant Energy released its Clean Energy Blueprint for Iowa, a path for accelerating the company’s transition to cleaner energy for customers. As part of that plan, it was also announced that Alliant’s Generating Station in Lansing will be retired from operation by the end of the year 2022 as part of changes to two of Alliant’s current coal-burning facilities, among other changes throughout the company.