Community News

by Brianne Eilers

The month of March ended with a financial loss of $41,638 for Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon, with a decrease in acute patient days and a decrease in surgeries both playing a large factor in the loss. Looking at year-to-date statistics, VMH is at a $64,105 loss.

“We had a very strong outpatient month,” VMH administrator Mike Myers noted, indicating that outpatient revenue came in about $300,000 over budget for March. Myers also noted that for the month of April, the hospital has been “extremely busy” with deliveries the past couple of weeks and he anticipated that statistics will show the hospital “slightly ahead” of its deliveries last year at this time.

The number of days in accounts receivable for the hospital is at 78.9, an improvement over this time last year when that figure was at 86.6. Currently, VMH has $2,158,000 in cash reserves.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday evening, May 2 at City Hall to discuss a variety of issues, among them street and sewer improvements, property variances and a proposed City Manager/Administrator position. There were no comments from the public in attendance and the Council moved right into the Departmental Reports.

Waukon Boy Scout Troop 64 will be hosting a Flag Retirement Ceremony Saturday, May 21 near the campground in the Waukon City Park. The ceremony will start at 9 a.m. and is open to the public. This ceremony is held annually by the troop in order to properly retire aging American Flags.

Flags in need of retirement can be dropped off in the drop boxes located at the entrance to the City Park and on the main floor of the Allamakee County Courthouse. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be rescheduled for June 18. The public is invited to join Troop 64 in honoring the American Flag at the May 21 retirement ceremony.
 

Originally started several years ago by owners Brad and Becky Decker of Waukon, BD Productions has recently moved to its new location within the town of Waukon. The event rental, design and decorating business is now located at 612 Rossville Road, Suite 2, adjacent to the Waukon Banquet Center in southwest Waukon.

"I have always had an entrepreneur spirit," Becky Decker said when asked what inspired her to open her own business. "Both of our parents owned their own businesses.  I have two existing businesses that I run currently, BD Productions and Decker Consulting. I have always been creative and Brad has always been crafty with wood. BD Productions allows us to utilize both of our strengths."

The University of Missouri Press has just published Keith Mason’s World War II memoir: My War In Italy: On the Ground and in Flight with the 15th Air Force. In 2009, Mason had self-published a limited number of copies which were originally titled Nothing to Fear: Recollections of a World War II Bomber Pilot. The book can be ordered online through various booksellers and can also be obtained through the University of Missouri Press.

Six weeks before Pearl Harbor, Waukon native Keith Mason received a $150 uniform allowance, a pair of silver wings, and his first assignment as a flight instructor: Randolph Field, Teas. Two years later, he was Squadron Officer in the 460th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force in Spinazzola, Italy - flying the harrowing combat missions he dreamed of as a boy.

The City of Waukon Water Department will begin its annual fire hydrant/water main flushing program the week of May 2. Residents are advised that the flushing activity causes decreases in water pressure and may cause short-term discoloration in water, which may affect laundry and drinking water. Residents are advised to let their water run for a couple minutes following the flushing activity to make sure any discoloration has been eliminated.

Those with further questions about the flushing program are asked to contact the City of Waukon Water Department at 563-568-2683.
 

Several entities serving the Waukon area and Allamakee County overall received grant funding from the Allamakee County Community Foundation (ACCF) at the Tuesday, April 20 ACCF awards presentation. The Waukon Lions Club and Waukon Park, Recreation and Wellness Department received $20,000 for a Waukon City Park concession stand, restrooms, skate warming and storage building; Waukon Works received $1,021 for the Iowa State University Extension Communities to Community (C2C) program - Waukon Community Design; Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission received $1,000 for bike safety programs in Allamakee County; and the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Foundation received $1,200 for the Allamakee County summer STEM camp.

Several entities in the Harpers Ferry area received grant funding from the Allamakee County Community Foundation (ACCF) at the Tuesday, April 20 ACCF awards presentation. Harpers Ferry Boosters, Inc. received $20,000 for the Harpers Ferry Family Splash Zone; the City of Harpers Ferry Volunteer Fire Department received $10,000 for updating personal firefighter protection equipment; and the American Legion Post 722 received $6,500 for a new Bingo machine. Pictured above, left to right, are Theresa Gallagher of Harpers Ferry Boosters, Inc.; Steve Cunningham and Sam Fox of American Legion Post 722; Harpers Ferry Boosters, Inc. representatives Susi Nehls, Betty Steege, Karen Soper, Ron Steege, Lindsey and Kaylin Deason, and Paul and Mitch Deason; Erik Nykkanen of American Legion Post 722; Harpers Ferry Boosters, Inc.

Several entities serving the Lansing and New Albin areas received grant funding from the Allamakee County Community Foundation (ACCF) at the Tuesday, April 20 ACCF awards presentation. The Lansing Fire Department received $10,000 for new firefighter turnout gear; Main Street Lansing received $3,250 for Educational Signage in Lansing's Historic District; the City of Lansing/New Albin Police Department received $5,500 for new equipment; and the City of New Albin Fire Department received $3,965 for Safety, Security and Communication upgrades. Pictured above, left to right, are Jon Johnson of the New Albin Fire Department; ACCF Board member Kathy Renk; Lansing City Clerk Katie Becker accepting for the Lansing/New Albin Police Department; Bruce Palmborg of Main Street Lansing; Tony Becker of the Lansing Fire Department; Craig White of Main Street Lansing; and ACCF Board member Barb Winters-Kelly.
 

Helping Services for Northeast Iowa, along with Iowa Department of Public Health AmeriCorps, will be hosting a Drug Trends Training event Tuesday, April 26 from 6:30-8 p.m. at Robey Memorial Library, located at 401 First Avenue NW in Waukon. The event is open to anyone wanting to learn more about the drug trends of today, along with discussion regarding prevention and recovery.

Presenting at the program will be Coline McCann, Iowa Department of Public Health AmeriCorps member, and Jen Kimber, Community Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP to McCann at cmccann@helpingservices.org or at 563-387-1720, ext. 120 or to Kathy Schwartzhoff, Mentoring Coordinator at Helping Services for Northeast Iowa, at kathys@helpingservices.org or at 563-387-1720, ext. 108.