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Wed
05
Jul

Veterans Memorial Hospital ranked #1 in the nation in cleanliness through national survey


Ranked #1 in the nation through HCHAPS survey ... Veterans Memorial Hospital’s Housekeeping Department, most all staff members of which are pictured above, has earned the hospital the #1 ranking out of 3,267 hospitals in the United States for cleanliness, as announced by the Iowa Hospital Association through the collection of the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCHAPS) survey results taken from the patient’s Press Ganey surveys. The hospital also ranked very high in nursing communication, physician communication, communication about medications, as well as overall quality of care. Submitted photo.

Veterans Memorial Hospital’s Housekeeping Department has earned the hospital the #1 ranking in the country for cleanliness, according to the Iowa Hospital Association.

The Association’s Quality Program Measure Trends Analysis is designed to provide hospitals with a comparative review of the quality data collected over time by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).  This data is collected from hospitals across the United States through the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCHAPS) survey. This is the national standard instrument and data collection method for measuring patient’s perceptions of their hospital experience.

Wed
05
Jul

Senator Grassley hosts small crowd for Q&A session during Waukon visit


Senator Grassley visits Waukon ... U.S. Senator Charles Grassley made Waukon one of his Q&A (Question and Answer) stops last week while touring throughout the state of Iowa. Grassley addressed a small crowd of individuals in a Thursday afternoon, June 29 stop at Lid’s Bar & Grill in Waukon, with that crowd including Allamakee County Board of Supervisors members Dennis Keatley and Dan Byrnes (at far right), along with Waukon area banking staff, members of the Little Switzerland FFA Chapter from Waukon High School and other members of the public. Standard photo by Joe Moses.

Members of Little Switzerland FFA Chapter attend Senator Grassley Q&A session ... Several members of the Little Switzerland FFA Chapter at Waukon High School were in attendance at the Thursday, June 29 Q&A (Question and Answer) session U.S. Senator Charles Grassley held at Lid’s Bar & Grill in Waukon. Pictured in the photo at right, left to right, are Little Switzerland FFA members Alyssa Connelly and Natalie Byrnes, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley and Little Switzerland FFA members Ethan Gibbs and Caleb Helgerson. Standard photo by Joe Moses.

by Joe Moses

U.S. Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa made a stop in Waukon Thursday, June 29, holding a Q&A (Question and Answer) session at Lid’s Bar & Grill with local elected officials, the media and members of the public as part of his 43rd annual 99-County Tour.

Wed
05
Jul

Switchback duo shares northeast Iowa’s impact on their musical career


Coming home ... Switchback’s Marty McCormack of Chicago, IL (left) and Brian FitzGerald of Lansing (right). The duo is bringing its blend of “Celtic Roots, Americana Soul” to northeast Iowa July 21 at TJ Hunters in Lansing for its first local show since 2019. Submitted photo.

The early years ... Brian FitzGerald (left) and Marty McCormack (right) of Switchback playing in Chicago, IL early in their careers. The band credits FitzGerald’s move to Lansing in the mid-1990s as being instrumental to their careers as musicians. Submitted photo.

Advance tickets for first local show since 2019, scheduled for July 21, available now

by Tanya O’Connor

Switchback’s Brian FitzGerald of Lansing says that the music he and Marty McCormack have spent 30 years creating wouldn’t be what it is today without the people of Allamakee County. So when the duo calls northeast Iowa “magical,” they’re not talking about pixies or fairy dust. They’re talking about you.

t’s the people of this “hard-working, no-nonsense, lack of pretension or ego” place, notes FitzGerald, that the band loves, and that has defined the winding (often gravel) road of their musical careers. Switchback is paying homage to its northeast Iowa home Friday, July 21 at T.J. Hunters in Lansing. This will be the band’s first local show since 2019. It’s called the “Switchback Family Reunion,” because, as they say, “our fans are family.”

Wed
05
Jul

Lansing receives Iowa Great Place designation

Word was received this past Friday, June 30 that Lansing was one of three communities to receive designation as an Iowa Great Place during a recent Iowa Great Places Citizen Advisory Board meeting. Lansing joined Grimes and Polk City as new designees this year.

Through these designations, the State of Iowa recognizes communities dedicated to improving quality of life and quality of place. The selected communities have demonstrated their commitment to stakeholder engagement and long-term planning while cultivating and lifting up authentic assets in their communities.

The designation further facilitates development for arts and culture, recreation and amenities in Lansing’s future. The City will also be able to utilize its standing as a Great Place to receive further funding for projects. Additional details about the designation and its benefits will be published in a future edition of The Standard.
 

Wed
28
Jun

Inaugural PTSD Awareness Walk for Allamakee County offers resource and growth opportunities ...

A first-ever PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) Awareness Walk was held in Waukon Saturday, June 24, as nearly three dozen individuals made the trek from an initial gathering location of the Allamakee County Freedom Rock in Waukon City Park (top photo) down through Waukon via Rossville Road (lower two photos) to the lawn of the Allamakee County Courthouse (pictured in second photo from top) and the Allamakee County Veterans Museum, where information and resources were available for individuals, or their family and friends, whose lives have been impacted by PTSD. The event was part of the Veterans Administration’s National Center for PTSD program observing June as PTSD Awareness Month, with June 27 being designated as National PTSD Awareness Day.

Wed
28
Jun

June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Month: Denise Becker recognizes PTSD in her military son, instrumental in finding help, raising awareness and funding for him, other veterans

by Dwight Jones

June is PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) Awareness Month. PTSD is a mental health condition that develops in some people who have experienced shocking, scary or dangerous events at some point in their lives. PTSD can originate from any form of trauma, be it assault, rape, abuse, personal experience and countless other life events. It is normal for all individuals to be alarmed or scared when these events occur, but those feelings normally diminish quickly in most individuals.

According to the National Mental Health Institute, “Symptoms of PTSD usually begin within three months of the traumatic event, but they sometimes emerge later. To meet the criteria for PTSD, a person must have symptoms for longer than one month, and the symptoms must be severe enough to interfere with aspects of daily life, such as relationships or work. The symptoms also must be unrelated to medication, substance use, or other illness.

Wed
21
Jun

June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Month: Area Vietnam Veteran shares his experience with PTSD

by Dwight Jones

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary or dangerous event at some point in their lives. After the event, up to and including years or decades later, an individual dealing with PTSD can experience panic when reminded of the trauma, or become easily upset or angry, experience poor sleep, struggle with concentration, etc. from the underlying PTSD.

June is PTSD Awareness Month. Each year on June 27, National PTSD Awareness Day recognizes the effects post-traumatic stress has on the lives of those impacted by it. Locally, a PTSD awareness walk is scheduled for this Saturday, June 24 in Waukon. Look for details on the walk within a separate article adjacent to this one on this same page.

Wed
21
Jun

Local veterans organizations hosting PTSD Awareness Walk this Saturday in Waukon

The Allamakee County Veterans Affairs Office and the Allamakee County Veterans Museum are sponsoring a PTSD Awareness Walk Saturday, June 24, beginning at 9 a.m. The Walk will take place from the Freedom Rock in the Waukon City Park to the Allamakee County Courthouse front lawn.

Following the walk, programs, speakers and video presentations will be provided by Veterans Administration PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) Specialists at the Allamakee Veterans Museum at 105 Allamakee Street, across from the Courthouse.

This event is part of the Veterans Administration’s National Center for PTSD program celebrating June as PTSD Awareness Month. Designated PTSD Awareness Day is June 27. Participants are encouraged to engage in 27 minutes of exercise.

Wed
21
Jun

NE Iowa native Donald Hanson takes part in Honor Flight, happens to reunite with pair of former classmates from WHS Class of 1964


Classmates reunite on Honor Flight ... A trio of classmates from the Waukon High School Class of 1964 happened to be on the same Eastern Iowa Honor Flight out of Cedar Rapids May 24 of this year, noticing one another on the plane and during one of the tour stops in Washington, DC. Pictured above, left to right, in front of the Amphitheater of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are Donald Hanson of the rural Postville area, Merle Headington of Decorah, and Michael David (more commonly known as David) Johnson of Cedar Rapids. Submitted photo.

Father and son at Lincoln Memorial ... Donald Hanson (left) of the rural Postville area and his son, Joel (right), of Cedar Rapids take a photo with the Lincoln Memorial in the background during a May 24 Eastern Iowa Honor Flight to Washington, DC. While participating in the Honor Flight events, Donald Hanson happened upon two of his former classmates from Waukon High School’s Class of 1964 who were also participating in that same Honor Flight. Submitted photo.

Their days of serving their country ... The trio of classmates from the Waukon High School Class of 1964 who unknowingly ended up on the same Eastern Iowa Honor Flight out of Cedar Rapids May 24 but reunited during the event are pictured here from their days serving in the U.S. military. In the photo above is Merle Headington of Decorah, in the photo at center Michael David (more commonly known as David) Johnson of Cedar Rapids, and in the photo below is Donald Hanson of the rural Postville area. Submitted photos.

by David M. Johnson

The Honor Flights to Washington DC, for individuals who have a military service background, have become a staple the past few years for those veterans.  The events have become an avenue for veterans to be honored for past service and a way for those with military service to enjoy some recognition for their sacrifice as they take in the monuments and events dedicated to the service they gave to their country as a member of the U.S. military.

From World War II through the Persian Gulf/Afghanistan conflict, all individuals who served during this time and were members of any of the military service branches are eligible to take part in the flights. Whether one may have experienced combat or not, the flights are open to all those who are eligible, with veterans who are experiencing health issues getting first priority on the flights.

Wed
14
Jun

Initial year of D.A.R.E. program in the Eastern Allamakee Community School District sets the foundation for community support system


D.A.R.E. to wear ... Lansing/New Albin Police Chief Conrad Rosendahl displays one of the t-shirts that were given to fifth and sixth grade students in the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) who participated in the inaugural year of the local Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program this past school year. Pictured in the photo background is EACSD fifth grade teacher Lisa Welsh, who was instrumental in facilitating the program for her students. Submitted photo.

Learning more than just resisting drugs ... Lansing Police Chief Conrad Rosendahl stands near the video screen during one of his D.A.R.E. program presentations that he used with Eastern Allamakee Community School District fifth and sixth grade students this past school year. Initially started as a program designed specifically for drug abuse resistance, the D.A.R.E. program has been revamped in the past decade to also include such matters as bullying and healthy lifestyle choices, along with coping and communication skills, risk assessment and other mental and emotional topics. Submitted photo.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

Eastern Allamakee Community School District fifth and sixth grade students worked with Lansing Police Chief Conrad Rosendahl this past school year to complete training in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program.  The goal of the D.A.R.E. program is to teach students how to resist peer pressure and make healthy life choices. They will continue with the program as they progress from the initial year of its training this past school year on through to seventh grade.

Chief Rosendahl, a law enforcement officer with 16 years of experience in the Lansing/New Albin area, understands the importance of investing in the future of those communities. Recognizing that education is key, Chief Rosendahl believes that by educating children at an early age about the risks and consequences of substance abuse, the community can reduce the prevalence of drug-related issues in the future.

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