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Margaret Lorraine Cummings Kolsrud, 89, of Waukon died Monday, November 13, 2017 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Saturday, November 18 at East Paint Creek Synod Lutheran Church, with Rev. Ronald Pederson officiating. Burial was at East Paint Creek Synod Cemetery, both in rural Waterville.

Margaret Lorraine Knudtson Cummings Kolsrud was born July 23, 1928 in rural Waterville, the daughter of Herbert Carl and Luella Selma Mildred (Schmieden) Knudtson. She was baptized and confirmed at East Paint Creek Synod Lutheran Church, where she remained a lifelong member, and she graduated from Waterville High School.

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that the University of Iowa football team wore vastly different uniforms for the game against highly ranked Ohio State, and the Iowa team looked like an entirely different team than the one we had watched earlier in the year.

The science fiction like black uniforms may not have been the reason for the different play of the team, but just to be safe, I think they should wear them again for their last home game against Purdue. They can’t do so against teams on away fields.

It couldn’t hurt to bring them out again. The lopsided victory over Ohio State made the team bowl eligible, but another win or two in the three remaining games would mean a better bowl and possibly more income for the athletic department.

More about that later.

Can a change of uniform have a difference?

I think there is something mental to be noted.

I have worn a number of different military uniforms.

To the Editor:

I met Jeannie Hegeman when I was a young campaign staffer wandering the roads of Waukon. Far from my home in southern California, I was assigned to work in Allamakee County for then-Senator Barack Obama’s underdog campaign in the Iowa Caucus.

With Hillary Clinton expected to dominate the upcoming election, my boss said we had no chance of winning Allamakee and that I should focus instead on simply holding the line. Our campaign diverted many of its valuable resources to other counties where our prospects were stronger. As a result, I spent much of my time commuting alone from our nearest office in Clayton County, spending long hours driving and calling voters from the car.

To the Editor:

Allamakee Scholarship Fund, Inc., one of the first nonprofit organizations to establish an endowment within the Allamakee County Community Foundation, received its first endowment gift of $3,300 in 2008.

Since then, donors have helped grow the fund to promote area education. The nonprofit receives an annual payout of five percent of the average fund balance to help sustain its important mission. These annual payouts will continue and be a source of support it can rely on forever.

Allamakee Scholarship Fund, Inc. is not alone. In Allamakee County, dedicated forward-focused board members have established permanent funds which preserve area history, education and health. This year, these funds paid out more than $17,000 to provide long-term support for local organizations.

To the Editor:

Our home is under yet another major environmental threat. A huge cattle feedlot operation is being enlarged just east of Monona adjacent to U.S. Highway 18.

This factory farm will be constructed on 48 acres, will house 10,000 head of cattle at one time - 20,000 per year, will house a lagoon of 39 million gallons of manure, will have two 620-foot deep wells pumping 22 million gallons of water out of our precious aquifer, annually.

This massive feedlot will be built in the watershed of our beautiful cold water trout stream of Bloody Run. The air pollution could be unfathomable. From the history of these size manure lagoons, it’s not if it will spill, but when it will spill. There are many sinkholes in this watershed, which are direct conduits to our aquifer.

Waltz Energy Limited Liability Company of West Des Moines is a big ag-industry corporate player who has our politicians and government bureaucrats in their back pocket.

To the Editor:

I am concerned about Representative Rod Blum and the Republican/Trump tax plan. Rep. Blum supports the tax plan, stating it will “lower taxes for hardworking American families.” Whom is he talking about?

While the tax plan claims to benefit the middle class, the truth is it will provide massive cuts to wealthy individuals and corporations. The top 20% of the U.S. taxpayers will receive 86% of all tax cuts.

How many in Allamakee County are earning more than $149,400 in 2017? In addition, 12.5% of Iowans will get a tax increase.

And what about “everyman” Rod Blum? He is one of the 50 wealthiest congressmen, worth 15.4 million. He will benefit the most!

Sincerely,
Ann Hart
Waukon
 

To the Editor:

Tuesday, November 7 we had our elections. The Democrats won the governorship of New Jersey and Virginia. I will predict that at the end of their four-year term both states will be a mess, like all the states that have Democrats as governors. Crime will go up and they will plunge into big debt.

Now that being said, the Republican party is in deep doodoo - and until they drain the swamps completely, why would you ever support the National Republican party?

Trump is the best thing that happened to the USA in years - if he was to run today for the presidency, he would win by an even bigger margin. The abuse that he is taking from the fake media is terrible. He needs our prayers and support now.

The Surgery Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) has seen some changes over the last few months. Long-time orthopedic provider Dr. Val Lyons is currently on medical leave from Veterans Memorial Hospital, with his return anticipated sometime in January. Dr. Lyons has arranged for coverage during his absence, so orthopedic services continue to be available at VMH provided by Dr. Lee Merritt and Dr. Thomas Distefano.

Winneshiek Medical Center and the Decorah Mayo surgeons have decided they will no longer have a presence at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Gundersen surgeons, who have served VMH since 1992, continue their strong support covering both scheduled procedures and emergency cases.

By Teresa Myers RN/CDE
Veterans Memorial Hospital

Diabetes mellitus affects over 24 million individuals in the United States alone. Diabetes is considered the leading cause of heart disease, kidney failure, lower limb amputations and blindness among adults with diabetes. Persons with diabetes must learn to manage their diabetes, which includes dietary and food restrictions, physical activity goals, monitoring blood sugar levels with finger sticks and medication management (for some this may include injections of medicines) to lower their blood sugar levels. Living with this structured lifestyle on a day-to-day basis can be very stressful for the person with diabetes.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care is still offering flu shots every Wednesday afternoon during its regular immunization clinics. The next flu shot clinics will be held Wednesday, November 15 from 1-6 p.m. and again Wednesday, November 22 from 1-4 p.m. The Community and Home Care Immunization Clinic is located on the upper level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.  

Immunization clinics are held from 1-6 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays of the month, and from 1-4 p.m. all other Wednesdays. Flu vaccine, pneumonia vaccine, and a combination of flu and pneumonia vaccine will all be available. Tetanus shots will be offered as well.

Medicare does cover the costs of a flu shot. Billing for Medicare will be completed by the Community and Home Care staff, but participants will need to bring their physician’s name and their Medicare number with them. Pneumonia and Tdap shots are also available.