News Center newsletter

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that I was one of those students who really enjoyed diagramming sentences and showing off my skill at the blackboard. Remember blackboards?

But it has been 70 years or so since I really knew the terminology, so a couple years ago, when one of the booksellers whose catalogs I get offered a book on diagramming, I ordered it. I was informed it was not available and was out of print. I wondered at the time if that was because it is not being taught anymore, or maybe the rules have changed.

Radio and television almost have me convinced that the language skills I learned no longer apply.

The day of that shooting at the baseball practice, one network ran a crawl on screen that read “capitol police were on sight” when it happened. I kept waiting for someone to correct that to “on site” but it never happened. Doesn’t anybody at the network read those things? Or don’t they know any better.

The 24th annual Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation Golf Tournament was held Monday, June 19 at the Waukon Golf and Country Club. Twenty-nine teams of three participated in this tournament. Each team enjoyed 18 holes of golf plus lunch and dinner prepared by Rich Schulte, Marge and Bud Strike, and the Foundation Directors.

The Foundation gives credit for the success of this tournament to the many local businesses that provide great prizes so everyone participating wins. Plus, many businesses serving this area contribute as hole sponsors to the tournament making it an enjoyable, community-wide event.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, July 6 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church located in south Waukon. Blood drives are held once a month in Waukon, to allow for more donors to give. The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood products.

Blood centers across the United States see a decrease in blood donations during the busy summer months. During the summer, people become more active, have busier schedules, spend more time outdoors and take vacations. While donations decline, hospitals see an increase in the need for blood. More driving can mean more automobile accidents. A person who has suffered severe injuries from an automobile accident can need up to 50 units of blood.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will begin the next Prepared Childbirth Education classes (formerly called Lamaze) Monday, July 10, and will continue those classes for two more consecutive Monday evenings, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Large Conference Room.
The Prepared Childbirth Education classes at Veterans Memorial Hospital are offered in three sessions that allow the expectant parents to choose which topics they wish to learn more on. They may choose to attend one, two or all three sessions. Session 1 covers labor, delivery and the postpartum period following delivery; Session 2 includes relaxation, breathing and pain management; and Session 3 covers infant care. Tours of the OB Department are available with each session as well.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be offering a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for health care providers (those working in health related fields such as physicians, nurses, EMTs, etc.) Monday, July 10, beginning at 5:30 p.m. This “Health Care Professional” CPR class will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of the hospital.

The cost of the class, for certification or recertification, is the same and all registrants should bring along their own pocket mask. The card received with the course does certify attendants in CPR for two years.

Pre-registration plus a minimum of three participants is required. For more information and to register for the “Health Care Provider” CPR Course, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Calvin Shindoll by Al and Jeanne Stein, Tom and Karen Regan, Dale and Virginia Kurth, Leotia Flage, Patsy Kerndt, Mary Fink, Mary Ann Hager, Dr. Bill and Libby Withers, Nona Hansmeier, Rick and Cathy Larson, Connie Hansmeier, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Charlotte Reeder, Jim and Eli Klenske, and Brad and Erin Berns.

Memorials were also received in memory of Fred Miller by Dianne Rissman, Marcella Selberg, Larry and Jane Lamborn, Larry and Nancy Straate, Gayle Larkin, and Dan and Traci Byrnes.
Memorials and donations are greatly appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation.  The Foundation is a 501C3 organization.  All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible.  Memorials and donations can be sent to 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.

Jennifer Renee Becker and Austin James Signor, both of Chicago, IL, were united in marriage April 7, 2017 at the Barceló Maya Resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico surrounded by 70 of their closest family and friends. Making the trip to Mexico was Austin’s grandfather, Jerry McGinnis, who officiated the wedding, and his grandmother, Mercedes Signor.

The bride is the daughter of Cullen and Denise Becker of Lansing. She is the granddaughter of the late Robert and Mary Peters and the late Joe and Kathleen Becker, all of Lansing.

The groom is the son of Trish Signor of Clive and Tom and Vicki Signor of Norwalk. He is the grandson of Jerry McGinnis of Shenandoah and the late Sharon McGinnis, and Mercedes Signor of Mason City and the late Don Signor.

Steve and Rita (Walleser) Thom are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. The couple exchanged vows June 27, 1992 at the Salem Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, WI.

Friends and family are invited to join them July 1 for a celebration hosted by the couple’s neices and nephews at their home at 3575 County Road 5, Eitzen, MN 55931, three miles outside of New Albin. The celebration begins at 1 p.m., with food from 2-8 p.m.

After 31 years with Quad Graphics in Pewaukee, WI, Steve, originally of Milwaukee, WI, retired to focus on farming and building the couple’s new home. Rita, originally of Lansing, formerly worked for Bruening Rock Products in Decorah and is currently employed by Kwik Star in Lansing and City Meats in New Albin.
 

Jim and Ila (Kubitz) Hammell of Caledonia, MN celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with their family. They were married June 18, 1957 at St. Joseph’s Church in New Albin.

The couple has been blessed with two sons, Kevin (Angie) of Rochester, MN and Steven of La Crescent, MN. They also have two granddaughters, Abbey and Anna.
 

Tom and Joyce Huinker of Fort Atkinson will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary July 1. Tom Huinker and Joyce Becker were married July 1, 1967 at St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church in Ossian. The couple has two children, Tracy (Kirk) Nosbisch and Kyle (Karen) Huinker, and they have seven grandchildren.

They celebrated with family earlier. In honor of the occasion, cards and well-wishes may be sent to 1117 227th Avenue, Ft. Atkinson, IA 52144.