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Kathryn Anne Hinkel, 91, died Friday, December 29, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Visitation was held Thursday, January 4 at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home, McGregor. Burial will be held at a later date.

Kathryn was born December 23, 1926 in Marquette to Sylvester and Leona Tayek. Leona passed away when Kathryn was a child and Kathryn was then raised by her Aunt Mae Connell. She received her education in Marquette, graduating from Marquette High School.

January 25, 1946, she was united in marriage with Richard Hinkel at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, McGregor. Kathryn worked as a Nurse’s Aide at the Beaumont Nursing Home in Prairie du Chien, WI. She then worked at the Marquette Café and later worked at Casey’s in Marquette.

Kathryn enjoyed bingo, playing cards, taking trips to Colorado to visit family and pulling pranks on friends. She spent her last years loved and well cared for by the nurses and staff at The Good Samaritan Center in Waukon.

Bernice Poesch, age 87, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at Arlington Place in Oelwein January 5, 2018. There will be a Celebration of Life at the St. Paul Lutheran Church, 116 East Military Road, Postville Saturday, February 24 with visitation at 11 a.m. and Memorial Service at 12 p.m.

Bernice was born February 15, 1930. She was raised in Postville, graduated from Postville High School in 1947 and taught at West Grove Country School for two years. In December 1948, Bernice married Leslie Poesch. They lived in Postville, and in 1976 remodeled and moved to the family farm house in which she was raised. Leslie passed away in 1983, and in April 1986 Bernice married Lester Friederich and lived in Luana.

Eleanor A. Thorstenson, 90, of Waukon died Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Saturday, January 6 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Pastor Bill Odermann officiating. Burial was at Old West Paint Creek Cemetery, rural Waukon.

Eleanor Althea Thorstenson was born April 20, 1927 on the rural Waukon farm of her parents, Arnold B. and Irene Althea (Engrav) Bakkum. She was baptized and confirmed at the Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church. Eleanor attended the Center Township “Bakkum” rural school through the eighth grade and graduated from Waukon High School with the Class of 1945.

March 5, 1948 she married Otto Milton Thorstenson at the Old West Paint Creek Church. Together they farmed in Paint Creek Township for many years. Eleanor was very active in the milking operation and all other aspects of the farm; she truly enjoyed the farming life.

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that you turn your head, and suddenly it’s 2018!

But I am still in 2017, and I wondered as I placed my herbed turkey breast in the oven this Christmas morning, how many turkeys were suffering the same fate in the United States at about the same time. Millions, probably.

Because for some reason, turkey seems to be required at this season of the year ... Thanksgiving through January 1.

I would never think of roasting a turkey for the Memorial Day weekend or the Labor Day holiday. Chicken? Sure. But not turkey.

During the rest of the year, my turkey eating is confined to thin slices along with ham and cheese slices rolled up in a tortilla shell. Or a frozen meal featuring a few turkey chunks so small a magnifying glass is almost needed to identify same.

I once bought a couple turkey burgers, and after tasting the first one, threw the other in the garbage can.

by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• January 15: Office closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Marketing Assistance Loans
The FSA office would like to remind producers that marketing assistance loans are available through our office. The 2017 loan rates are $1.87 for corn, and $4.99 for beans. If you do take out a marketing assistance loan with us, we will need a copy of your driver’s license, as well as your spouse’s. 

Dairy farmer and former Iowa Farm Bureau president Craig Lang announced his campaign for Iowa secretary of agriculture today, saying he is committed to bringing together Iowans to improve the state’s soil health, water quality and rural economy.

As the New Year 2018 gets underway, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has highlighted some of the top ag issues in Iowa in 2017.

“While the challenging economic conditions on the farm continued in 2017, I was extremely encouraged to continue to see farmers experimenting and investing in water quality efforts on their farm. We continue to see Iowans on the farm and in our communities taking on the challenge of improving water quality. It is encouraging to see growth by farmers in both infield practices, such as cover crops and no-till, but also edge of field practices, like wetlands and bioreactors, as we work to address this important issue,” said Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.

The flu has hit Iowa, but there is still time for immunization. Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care continues to offer flu shots every Wednesday afternoon during its regular immunization clinics. The next flu shot clinics will be held Wednesday, January 10 from 1-4 p.m. and then again Wednesday, January 17 from 1-6 p.m. and each Wednesday afternoon thereafter. The Community and Home Care Immunization Clinic is located on the upper level of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. 

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 are always offered as well.

Veterans Memorial Hospital dietitians will be offering a new eight-week weight loss class beginning in January that will teach the healthy lifestyle choices needed to lose the weight for good.  The key to permanent weight loss is to adopt new daily choices that, with consistent repetition, become habits. That is why the hospital offers the Healthy Lifestyles Weight Loss Class, which is open to anyone in the area communities of any age. The class will be offered Mondays from 5:30-6:45 p.m. starting January 15 running through March 5.

A free, introductory class will be held Monday, January 8 starting at 5:30 p.m. Anyone can hear more about the program and see if they wish to sign up for the eight-week program, beginning the following Monday.

Individuals can make a difference by making a life-saving blood donation at the next Waukon Community Blood Drive. The next blood drive will take place Thursday, January 4 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

Donating blood is safe, simple and it saves lives. Blood donors have a unique opportunity to contribute to their community by making a life-saving blood donation. Everyone who registers to donate blood goes through four simple steps during the donation process: registration, donor history and mini-physical, blood donation and snacks.

New blood donors who are not familiar with the blood donation process are encouraged to ask questions before, during and after their blood donation. Below are a few tips for ensuring a successful donation: