News Center newsletter

by Joshua Sharpe

The Lansing City Council met in regular session Monday, December 1 with Mayor Mike Verdon and all council members present. The council addressed a full agenda focused on utility finances, infrastructure close-outs, bond documentation, and liability housekeeping related to the transition of City Hall into the former Lansing Middle School building at 696 Main Street, a change that was planned to be completed Friday, December 5.

The number of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) in this area has dwindled over the years as licensed EMTs have retired.   Allamakee and northern Clayton Counties are fortunate to have many emergency response services, but nearly all of them are in need of more EMTs on their service to share the call time ensuring local emergency services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) will be offering a face-to-face EMT Class in Waukon beginning in January. This class is not offered locally each year, so the fact it will be held in Waukon is a convenience for those wishing to take the course with little travel time. This 138-hour course will conclude in May. Registration for this class must be completed soon.

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation has committed to a donation of $50,000 to the renovation for the new medical clinic in Postville. This donation brings the total raised to date to just over $140,000, moving the project closer to its $200,000 goal. Donations are being accepted and construction is expected to begin as soon as the fundraising goal is reached. Pictured above are many of the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation board members including, from left to right, Kim Sylvester, Chris Engstrom-Fosaaen, Kris Cote’, Sue Blagsvedt, Craig Lensing, Sue Kratz, Vicki Bloxham, Patty Goltz, Judy Herman, Rose Beardmore and Barb Shull. Recent fundraisers sponsored by the Foundation will fund this donation to the new Postville Clinic. The new clinic will have an additional three exam rooms for a total of five, plus a new procedure room and lab area.

The number of providers now serving the Postville Medical Clinic, following the retirement of Dr. Thomas McMullan, has grown with offering a greater variety of choices and availability for patients. 

Hannah (Gesing) Kelly, Nurse Practitioner, recently was added to the providers serving the Postville Clinic. She joins Nurse Practitioners Alex Berns, Minji Ranson, and Katy Maker, who is also a nurse midwife, in serving the growing number of patients utilizing this Clinic. 

National Handwashing Month is observed in December. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends washing hands to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. The recommendations for effective handwashing and use of hand sanitizer were developed based on data from a number of studies.

The flu vaccine is plentiful, widely available, and is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older. Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Community and Home Care-Allamakee Public Health offers flu shots every Wednesday afternoon. Appointments can be made by calling them at 563-568-5660. The Community and Home Care Immunization Clinic is now located at 12 East Main Street in downtown Waukon.  

As people gather together for holiday meals and parties, they’re more likely to spread illness around. Receiving the flu vaccine will help everyone stay healthy to enjoy all the festivities. This is especially important during family gatherings that infants, those with chronic diseases, or elderly individuals might attend. 

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Jean Hagen by Ron and Nancy Adam, Chuck and Maxine Bloxham, Cheryl Bollman, Allen and Ella Mae Goeke, Gil and Sharon Hunstad, Helen Johnson, James and Jane Johnson, Lyle and Cindy Leikvold, Marlys Leiran, Dave and Laurie Martin, Janet May, Diane Nolting, Linda Nolting, JoAnn Peake, Pat Pettingill, Ann Rademaker, Danny and Sue Schlitter, Linda Siegrist, Lynn and Dean Sorenson, Bud and Marge Strike, Thursday Club, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Frank and Jean Ann Weymiller and Bonnie and Bruce Williams.

The Waukon boys wrestling team got its 2025-2026 campaign off to a promising start, utilizing its full line-up to sweep three teams at a home quadrangular before coming up one place shy of a tournament win as well. The Indians dominated a home quadrangular event Tuesday, December 2 with wins of 78-3 over Tripoli, 78-6 over MFL/MarMac and 71-11 over Postville, before wrestling their way to second place in the 15-team Chris Davis Invitational hosted by Wapsie Valley High School Saturday, December 6, having three wrestlers bring home runner-up finishes from the tournament.

The Waukon boys basketball team got its 2025-2026 season off to an undefeated start against one foe each that is familiar and - like the Indians - new to the Upper Iowa Conference (UIC). The bucket Tribe got its winter campaign off to a thrilling start with a 54-53 triumph at MFL/MarMac Tuesday, December 2 before the Indians more easily handled fellow former Northeast Iowa Conference opponent New Hampton at home, playing to a 79-47 victory Friday, December 5.

The Indians were next scheduled to play at Crestwood Tuesday, December 9 and then host North Fayette Valley Friday, December 12. The final week before the holiday break will see the bucket Tribe host Clayton Ridge Tuesday, December 16, host Decorah Thursday, December 18 and then play at West Central Friday, December 19.

The Waukon girls basketball team split its pair of contests this past week, both of them being played within the Upper Iowa Conference (UIC) and ending up with nearly identical point totals, just not necessarily both in the Lady Indians’ favor. The bucket Tribe began its week of competition suffering a 50-33 loss at MFL/MarMac Tuesday, December 2 but bounced back convincingly by handling New Hampton at home by a 53-33 final result to currently hold a 3-2 overall record in this early season, including a mark of 2-1 in UIC play.

The Waukon girls were next scheduled to play at Crestwood Tuesday, December 9 and host North Fayette Valley Friday, December 12. A Tuesday, December 16 home game vs. Clayton Ridge will be followed by back-to-back nights of competition prior to the holiday break, including a Thursday, December 18 home contest against Decorah followed by a Friday, December 19 road  battle at West Central.