News Center newsletter

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
April 29: Deadline to sign up for Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC)
May 14: Deadline to complete CRP Management Activities
May 15 - August 1: CRP Primary Nesting Season
May 31: Deadline to apply for a Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) for 2023 crops

Meet Our New Hires!
Hello, my name is Becky Winkie and I just transferred to the Allamakee County FSA in February 2024 from the Houston County, MN FSA Office. I have been working for the Farm Service Agency since February 2016. I grew up on a small beef and grain farm in north central Iowa near Sheffield (Franklin County).

Winner Receives New John Deere 5M Utility Tractor for One Year
 
Nominations are now open for the 2024 Iowa Conservation Farmer of the Year.  Now in its 73rd year, this prestigious honor has been awarded to celebrate conservation progress among select Iowa farmers who are committed to exceptional environmental stewardship and conservation efforts.

The statewide and regional awards, co-sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), honor Iowa farmers who have distinguished track records of commitment to soil conservation and water quality improvement efforts.

The grand prize winner will receive the use of a new John Deere 5M utility tractor for one year courtesy of longtime award supporters, Van Wall Equipment of Perry and John Deere.  

The complex role of the Health Information Management Department is one completed efficiently and effectively behind the scenes of every healthcare organization.

At Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH), there are five certified professionals who each handle a large piece of the health record.  Some of these pieces include obtaining pre-authorization from insurance companies prior to a procedure, credentialing each and every medical provider, transcribing provider notes and very specifically coding each and every care given and supply used for each patient in each department of the hospital and clinics.

The Health Information Management Department maintains medical records for each patient and coordinates the release of information. They follow strict patient confidentiality guidelines for proper release.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital’s “Family Wellness Fair” will be held Wednesday, May 8, from 3:30-6 p.m. Free health testing, exhibits and interactive activities will all be providing a complete evening of entertainment and education for families of all ages.

New this year, all those attending are welcome to enter the fair through either the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Medical Clinic or the Gundersen Medical Clinic, or the main entrance to the hospital. Parking will be readily available at any of those entrances allowing for greater accessibility to the fair this year.

The route will again proceed through the various booths and displays throughout the hospital, the VMH Clinic and the Gundersen Clinic, then exiting through the same exit as they entered where door prizes will be available. Everyone in the area communities is welcome to attend this free event.

April is Foot Health Month. The feet are a part of the body that is often ignored, but are truly one of the most important parts, supporting the rest of the body in most every move it makes. Podiatrists are medical professionals who specialize in foot and ankle care.  A podiatrist diagnoses and treats health issues concerning not only the feet, but the ankle as well.

Podiatrist Dr. Kristina Thompson of Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) is available every Monday and Wednesday in Waukon consulting and treating patients, and even providing minor surgical procedures.

by Angie Mettille RN, Certified Diabetes Educator

April is Defeat Diabetes Month. Diabetes is a disease full of challenges. Every day presents decisions that need to be made and sometimes problems that need to be solved. What should I eat for breakfast? How many carbohydrates are in that bowl of soup? How will that banana affect my blood sugar? Did I take my insulin this morning?  My blood sugar is higher than normal, what do I do? I’m worried about my risk of heart disease and stroke because my A1c has been higher than my doctor likes, how can I decrease my chance of complications? How am I going to pay for my insulin this month?

A diabetes educator can help you defeat diabetes by developing a plan to stay healthy and give you the tools you need to navigate the various curveballs that diabetes can throw at you.

Members of the Waukon Senior High Class of 1970 will celebrate their 54th reunion Saturday, September 28 of this year at the Empty Nest Winery, located at 1352 Apple Road in rural Waukon. A 5:30 p.m. social hour will be followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and then a short program.

Those in the Waukon High School Class of 1970, as well as faculty and staff from that era, are invited to attend. For additional information or to register for the reunion, consult the Waukon Class of 1970 Facebook page or contact reunion committee chair Mary (Groff) Eikenberry by email at Waukon1970Reunion@gmail.com.
 

To the Editor:

I wanted to make sure the residents in your area are aware, that this very minute, members of our state senate are trying to sneak in a new tax on forest lands. This bill has already passed the House. Very few people even know this is happening.

Currently, forest land is not taxed, as a way to encourage landowners to keep trees and not turn that land into crop land. The program has been in place since 1906, and has helped saved countless acres of woodlands.

I do not want to make myself the bad guy here, but facts need to be exposed here. If forest lands are going to be taxed, I will have no choice but to begin harvesting and logging trees on my land. This means cutting down 100-year-old oak trees just to raise money so I am able to pay this tax.

To the Editor:

The Iowa Environmental Council has submitted a Safe Drinking Water Act petition to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A cry for help for well owners in NE Iowa drinking unsafe water.

In 1988 the Driftless counties in NE Iowa were just beginning to feel the effects of industrialized agriculture’s voracious appetite to feed emerging ethanol and CAFO industries. Corn-bean and continuous-corn cropping practices exploded.  But in 1988 Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and other Iowa scientists were not yet muzzled. That’s when the study “Ground-Water Contamination and Land Management in the Karst Area of Northeastern Iowa” was published. The first paragraph of the abstract states:

“A statistical analysis of existing northeast Iowa water-quality data showed that systematic nonpoint contamination of ground-water quality was occurring in regional carbonate aquifers… Agricultural practices were judged to be the source of the contaminants.”

Captain Walter Allen Verdon, Ph.D., age 85, passed away peacefully Wednesday morning, February 21, 2024, at Hospice of Dayton, Inc. in Dayton, OH. A memorial service to celebrate Walter’s life will be held at Lansing United Methodist Church, 490 Center Street, Lansing May 11, 2024. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. CT. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the veterans’ charity of your choice.

Walter was born Saturday, May 14, 1938, to Harold Edward and Grace Estell (née Larson) Verdon in Stevens Point, WI. He lived a life characterized by dedication, intellect, and service. He will be remembered for his distinguished career as a Professor of Economics and his service as an officer in the United States Navy and United States Navy Reserves. Walter’s courage and commitment were exemplified during his service aboard the U.S.S. Nobel during the Cuban Missile Crisis.