News Center newsletter

February is Heart Month.  Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) continues to encourage the public to learn the American Heart Association’s “Hands Only CPR.”  This simple way of performing CPR is very easy to do and effective for the victim.

According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death with nearly 400,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring annually in the United States. An average of 89% of people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest die because they don’t receive immediate CPR from someone on the scene.  

The American Heart Association has found Hands Only CPR to be as effective as conventional CPR for sudden cardiac arrest at home, at work, or in the public - doubling or even tripling a victim’s chance of survival.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, February 6 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Jim McCormick by Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Dan and Traci Byrnes, Frank and Patty Goltz, Mary Ann Hager, Gary and Marlene Houg, Maury Mooney, Diane Regan, Richard and Sue Schulte, Chuck and Lois Votsmier and Brad and Erin Berns.

Memorials were also received in memory of Cathy Wagner by Lansing Emergency Medical Services, Dave and Sandy Lyons, Maury Mooney, Russ and Mary Jo Meyer, and Brad and Erin Berns.

Memorials remembering the life of Mary Clauson  Regan were donated by Larry and Nancy Straate, Diane Regan, and Chuck and Lois Votsmier.

Additional donations were also made to the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation by Ken and Jill Lampman, Duane and Marian Meier, Ruth Boden, Allene Gillespie, LaVonne Lodor, Stan and Mary Straate, Mary Miller and Carol Moe.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
March 15: ARCPLC Signup

Farm Loan Presence in Allamakee County
The USDA/FSA Farm Loan team will have a Loan Officer in our office every Tuesday during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).  If you would like to visit with the loan officer, feel free to call or stop in.

Applying for Farm Storage Facility Loans
The Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program provides low-interest financing to help you build or upgrade storage facilities and to purchase portable (new or used) structures, equipment and storage and handling trucks.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has announced the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is accepting applications for the 2023 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program through March 10. The program, which is designed to support projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops grown in Iowa by increasing demand, yields or awareness, is administered by the Department with funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS).

“The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program helps to build and showcase the diversity of agriculture within our state and drives the creation of new markets, products and small businesses in Iowa,” said Secretary Naig. “Consumers have demonstrated that they want the option to more readily buy Iowa grown products and this program plays a key role in expanding availability to meet that growing demand.”

To the Editor:

The Iowa legislature passed the Senate File 94 that will provide $7600 per year as an “educational savings account” (ESA) for students attending private elementary or secondary schools. This bill did not have to pass the House Education Committee, go through the Appropriations Committee, nor were any amendments allowed, thus restricting debate over budgets and additions.

To the Editor:

I am writing to express appreciation to Allamakee County​​​-area residents for sharing the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season. Generosity throughout contributed to a successful shoebox gift collection season at drop-off locations for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child.

Across the U.S., the project collected over 9.3 million shoebox gifts in 2022. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2022, the ministry is now sending nearly 10.6 million shoebox gifts to children worldwide.

Through shoeboxes - packed with fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items - Allamakee County​​-area volunteers brought joy to children in need around the world. Each gift-filled shoebox is a tangible expression of God’s love, and it is often the first gift these children have ever received.

Kloe Hemmersbach, Mia Kurth and Faith Cooper to compete this week at historic season grand finale

The Waukon girls wrestling team had the 2022-2023 season brought to a close for all but three of its wrestlers this past week, as three young ladies battled their way to advancement to this year’s first-ever State Wrestling Tournament sanctioned by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU). Prior to the extension of this season for that trio, the Indian mat ladies wrestled in one final dual competition at the MFL/MarMac Scramble in Monona Tuesday, January 24. They then competed in the first-ever IGHSAU Region 8 Tournament Thursday, January 27 at Luther College in Decorah for the right to advance to this year’s season grand finale, with three of eight competing Indians finishing within the required top four in their respective weight classes to earn State Tournament qualification.

Senior Jakob Regan wins second consecutive NEIC crown, ties school record for career wins

The Waukon boys wrestling team wrapped up its regular season this past week with some final dual and tournament action in preparation for its upcoming postseason tournament journey. The mat Tribe first won three of four duals at the MFL/MarMac Scramble Tuesday, January 24, falling to Class 1A top-five rated Nashua-Plainfield, 57-20, before sweeping its remaining three opponents by final results of 70-9 over Clayton Ridge, 57-18 over Postville and 42-39 in comeback fashion over the host MFL/MarMac squad.

The Kee girls basketball team recorded a split of its two games played this past week, both of those taking place in Upper Iowa Conference (UIC) play against teams sharing the latter half of the UIC standings with the Hawks. The Lady Hawks first fell at South Winneshiek Tuesday, January 24 by a 37-25 result before completing their regular season sweep of Postville by pulling out a 52-47 win at home Friday, January 27.