News Center newsletter

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• September 1 - December 15: 2018 Margin Protection Program Sign-Up
• September 4: Office closed in recognition of Labor Day

Maintaining Good Credit History
FSA Farm Loan programs require that applicants have a satisfactory credit history. A credit report is requested for all FSA direct farm loan applicants. These reports are reviewed to verify outstanding debts, if bills are paid timely and to determine the impact on cash flow.

Information found on a customer’s credit report is strictly confidential and is used only as an aid in conducting FSA business.

State, federal and extension experts are encouraging Iowa farmers to stay vigilant in their efforts to control Palmer amaranth. Iowa lawmakers added this fast-growing weed to Iowa’s noxious weed list in July as a response to a significant increase in the presence of Palmer across Iowa in 2016.

“Now is time for farmers to get out and scout fields for Palmer amaranth, especially if they know it is in their area or have land that was planted with a native seed mix in recent years. Palmer grows very quickly and produces a tremendous amount of seed, so our best chance to control this weed is to catch it and destroy it before it goes to seed,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.

Mark your calendars for noon webinars September 19 and 26. Join the ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Team as Dr. Larry Tranel, ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Specialist hosts “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”.  These webinars will include how to analyze a dairy for profits and the profitability of various dairy systems to focus on conventional, hybrid grazing dairy systems September 19 and the organic and organic “grass-fed” dairy systems September 26.  

These webinars are sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and North Central Risk Management Education Center. To join the webinar, log onto https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/isuedairy, or for more information contact Larry Tranel attranel@iastate.edu, 563-583-6496 or Jenn Bentley at jbentley@iastate.edu, 563-382-2949.

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that I delayed writing this today until the partial eclipse had happened. Should not have bothered. I realize we were in the 85% or so area, but it seemed a bust, after weeks of hype. Cloud cover didn’t help.

I suffer from that disease quite common to older people, called retention deficit disorder, but I think the one in 1979 was more impressive here. I remember a couple of the young photographers at the newspaper set up on the roof to photograph it, after making elaborate plans.

And I remember when my Navy-trained “artful dodger” photographer, unhappy with an eclipse photo, used a flashlight and two round discs, one white and one black, and made a beautiful representation in his darkroom. Drew raves after publication, and we never told!

You younger folks will get another chance to see a partial here, in April of 2024.

To the Editor:

It is our town’s icon, Lansing, Iowa;
Since 1931, our link to Wisconsin;
Economically, half of our business livelihood;
Our “brand” stands proud over The Mighty Miss.

We have been told she is like an erector set,
Just replace parts as needed;
Inspections and repairs are necessary forever.
What 86 year old does not need a check-up occasionally?

The IDOT had an infomercial concerning her replacement
In Lansing this week, giving us three replacement alternatives to choose from;
Not a word about keeping her around for another 50 years;
They already have her in a grave.

Soundings were done on the piers that support her,
Proving them sound and secure.
She is strong, no limits have been placed on loading her.
She is narrow, not conforming to current standards.

To the Editor:

In response to the Letter to the Editor of August 2, 2017 by Jacob Galema of Lansing, it is difficult to know where to start because his letter is almost completely based on emotional suppositions with no facts. I will respond with a few facts.

Jacob obviously dislikes Capitalism and does not acknowledge that it is through Capitalism that the United States became the great nation that it is; not through Socialism, Communism or a Progressive movement.

I suggest that Jacob spend a little time reading the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. The latter guarantees us Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, which sets us apart from any other nation on earth. It is the backbone of American Freedom.

Over 110 people participated in the “Get Your Walk On In Waukon” annual family fun walk and 5K Saturday, August 19, in conjunction with the Waukon Corn Days celebration. The event was sponsored in part by the Healthiest State Initiative who strongly encourages everyone to walk at least 30 minutes per day. That is the reason the hospital offered a 1.5 mile walk and the optional 5K this year as well.  Many participants took advantage of both of the routes.

Jeremy Peake of Waukon was the first to cross the finish line. Trisha Wilkins of Waukon was the first female to cross the finish line. All those participating in Saturday’s event received complimentary hospital tote bags and screen cleaners as well as information on the Walk NE IA area program and community walking routes.  Free diabetes/blood sugar tests, hemoglobin tests and massages were also offered to all participants.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon purchased the former dental clinic building in Monona last spring. Now, the new Veterans Memorial Hospital Monona Clinic is set to open the middle of September.

“We have been overwhelmed by the friendly welcome we have received from the entire Monona area since we announced our plans to open a medical clinic in town,” states Mike Myers, Veterans Memorial Hospital administrator. “Everyone who has assisted in the remodeling of the facility has bent over backwards to work us into their busy schedules, to be sure everything was done in time for our September opening and we are so grateful.”

The Monona Clinic will host four full exam rooms, allowing each provider to room patients in two rooms each. Dr. Andrea Venteicher, formerly of the Waukon Gundersen Clinic, will be the lead physician in this new Monona Clinic. One nurse practitioner will also be employed full-time at the clinic as well.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, September 7 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 and 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.

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Wednesday, September 13 at 2 p.m.

This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss, whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief.

Feel free to attend and bring a friend. This grief support group meets the second Wednesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.