River Valley

by Brianne Grimstad

The new year will be bringing in a few changes to Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon. As of January 1, 2024, VMH is utilizing a hospital-based medicine program in its care of patients. The hospital-based providers will work closely with the patient’s primary care provider (PCP) to make sure that patients receive appropriate care and have the best hospital experience possible.

“For example, for a Gundersen patient who normally sees a Gundersen provider, if you are admitted to Veterans Memorial Hospital, our VMH provider will communicate routinely with your PCP to make sure you are getting the best care possible,” VMH Administrator Michael Coyle explained.

He further noted that VMH will continue to offer patient-centered care to all of its patients. Raquel Ristau, PA-C and Chelsey Sherburne, NP will be hospital-based medicine providers, along with Dr. Tom McMullan and Dr. Dave Schwartz.

Keep Iowa Beautiful and Diamond Vogel have announced the 2024 Paint Iowa Beautiful program is now accepting applications. The program provides free paint for a wide variety of community projects throughout Iowa. Diamond Vogel provides the paint, and Keep Iowa Beautiful administers the grants.

“The partnership with Keep Iowa Beautiful allows Diamond Vogel to assist and work with many local volunteers and organizations that help strengthen communities, making Iowa one of the best states in the nation to live,” said Doug Vogel, Vice President of Marketing for the Iowa-based company.

“These projects definitely improve the beauty of Iowa and our communities.”

Join the Allamakee County Conservation Board for a Full Moon Snowshoe Hike Friday, January 26, 2024 at 6 p.m. The hike will take place in the Fish Farm Mounds State Preserve and will be approximately 3 miles. Participants should meet at the at the Fish Farm Mounds parking area approximately 3 miles south of New Albin on the Great River Road.

The Full Moon Snowshoe will be a guided trail hike taking place after dark to enable the participants to see the stars and full moon like they have never seen before. The event requires preregistration for those wishing to use snowshoes provided by the ACCB and is open to all ages. However, anyone under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. In the case of inclement weather or poor snow conditions the Full Moon Snowshoe may be postponed or canceled and will be announced via the ACCB’s Facebook page.

Instead of New Year’s resolutions, why not assign yourself a few tasks to keep allergy and asthma symptoms under control in 2024?

“The best way to tackle health challenges is in small bits, and that goes for allergy and asthma control,” says Gundersen Health System allergist Dr. Samantha Knox. “The last few years have been hard on everyone, but you still want to figure out ways to improve your health routine. Making small, manageable adjustments is a great start to getting on a healthier path toward improvements in controlling allergy and asthma.”

by Julie Berg-Raymond

About 20 people attended the regular meeting of the Lansing City Council Monday, December 18, to participate in a public comment session prior to the first public hearing on the designation of the Lansing Urban Revitalization Area and the Proposed Plan for the Lansing Revitalization Area.

Following the public comment session, the city council voted unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 999, tentatively approving the Lansing Urban Revitalization Area and the Proposed Plan. As stated in the Resolution, “it is the intention of the City Council to finally adopt a resolution approving the Proposed Plan for the Lansing Urban Revitalization Area and an ordinance designating the Lansing Urban Revitalization Area on January 15, 2024.”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, urges extreme caution while recreating near lakes and rivers this winter season.

Current ice conditions are poor at best with minimal ice on most lakes and rivers in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota. Continued fluctuations of temperatures above and below freezing are not helpful in making good, clear ice.

Some things to keep in mind on the ice:
• Never go out on an ice cover alone, and never go out on the ice if there is any question of its safety.
• Avoid ice near open water.
• Talk to someone familiar with the lake being visited about ice conditions.
• Take a set of ice picks or nails to help get back on the ice in the event of falling in.
• Let someone know where destination location and anticipated time of return.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, McGregor District of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) is seeking to complete construction of a multipurpose building, maintenance shop, cold storage building, and maintenance yard located near Harpers Ferry in Allamakee County. The requirement is being procured in accordance with FAR Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation. This will be a Firm Fixed Priced Contract and award will be based on best value.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District has released its 2023 navigation season statistics regarding the Upper Mississippi River.

The 2023 navigation season unofficially ended November 23, after the Motor Vessel W. Red Harris departed St. Paul, MN. The 2023 navigation season started March 12 when the Motor Vessel Philip M. Pfeffer broke its way through the ice of Lake Pepin to travel to St. Paul, MN.

Navigation statistics fluctuate from year to year, depending on the weather, river flows and the length of the navigation season. The St. Paul District maintains a nine-foot navigation channel from Minneapolis, MN to Guttenberg. Keeping this system open is vital to the nation’s economy.

Statistics for the 2023 for the most local lock and dam facilities include the following:

One of the best parts of the holiday season is adding colorful seasonal plants to the home. That includes the poinsettia. However, poinsettias do require special care to reach their full potential. Horticulture specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offer tips and tricks to keeping poinsettias healthy and beautiful through the new year.

What should I look for when buying a poinsettia?
Poinsettias are available in a wide range of colors. Red is the most popular color, though poinsettias are also available in burgundy, pink, salmon, white, cream and gold. There are also bicolored, marbled and speckled poinsettias. The colorful part of the poinsettia, commonly referred to as the plant’s flowers, are actually modified leaves or bracts. The true flowers are yellow to green, button-like growths located in the center of the bracts.

It’s hard to have a happy holiday when you’re arrested for drunk driving. Keep the season merry and bright by following the law and refusing to drink and drive.

During this busy winter holiday season, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Region 7, is partnering with the State Highway Safety Offices in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska and local law enforcement to urge drivers to think twice before drinking and driving. The goal is for all drivers to remember this lifesaving message: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Drivers will see officers working on a special high-visibility enforcement campaign to spread the message about the dangers of drunk driving from December 15 through January 1, 2024.