We have been going to Yellow River State Forest for the last 27-plus years. We have seen many, many improvements over the years, especially in the last 19 years since DNR ranger Rylan Retallick has been in charge. Not only does he make sure that the campgrounds are clean and looking nice for campers, but he takes pride in keeping the park safe.
For example, a few years ago we were camping in Creekside Equestrian Campground on Memorial Day weekend when all of a sudden someone started shooting guns. We were not but 100 yards away from where the bullets were hitting. We had kids, adults, dogs and horses taking cover. Talk about scary!
VMH Family Fun Costume Run/Walk scheduled for August 21 in Waukon ... Veterans Memorial Hospital will be sponsoring their annual 5K Cardiac Classic Run/Walk Saturday, August 21, in conjunction with the Waukon Corn Days celebration. This year, the event again welcomes a shorter walking route with an optional 5K to offer distances that will please everyone of any age or ability that wishes to participate. Costumes are encouraged for both adults and youth with prizes given to the top costume in both categories. Pictured is a scene from the 2019 successful event. Submitted photo.
Veterans Memorial Hospital will be sponsoring their annual 5K Cardiac Classic Run/Walk Saturday, August 21, in conjunction with the Waukon Corn Days celebration. Again this year, the event welcomes a shorter 1.5 mile walking route with an optional 5K (3.1 mile route) to offer distances that will please everyone of any age or ability that wishes to participate. Costumes are encouraged to be worn at this event again this year, with one adult and youth wining the top costume in both categories.
The event will begin and end at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon at 8 a.m. with registration beginning at 7:15 a.m.
Auxiliary of VMH membership drive continues ... The members of the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital are actively recruiting new and returning members to join them during their annual membership drive going on now. Pictured are many members of the Auxiliary at a recent monthly meeting. The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital is devoted to providing the hospital and its patients and visitors with many services. The Auxiliary holds annual fundraisers, such as the Women’s Health Day Salad Luncheon, the Pillow-Perk, and the Masquerade sales each fall, plus their annual membership drive each summer. All the money the Auxiliary receives goes to the hospital for equipment. Enrollment forms are available at the main entrance of the hospital. Submitted photo.
The members of the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital are actively recruiting new and returning members to join them during their annual membership drive.
The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital is devoted to providing the hospital and its patients and visitors with many services. The Auxiliary also holds annual fundraisers, such as the Women’s Health Day Luncheon each fall, the Pillow-Perk in early November, the Masquerade sales and their annual membership drive each July. All the money the Auxiliary receives goes back to the hospital for equipment.
Rich family welcomes third child with water birth at VMH ... Veterans Memorial Hospital began offering water births for delivery nearly 20 years ago and the popularity continues to grow as more low-risk mothers are looking for a natural birthing option. Lane Rich of Waukon decided to try water birth for her third child and states, “It was a wonderful birth experience! My labor was so much shorter and I didn’t need any pain medications at all. The pain was more tolerable and because I was so much more relaxed, I only had to push for five minutes. I was just amazed at that!” Submitted photo.
Water birthing tub at Veterans Memorial Hospital ... Dr. Barbee of the Gundersen Clinic recently received her certification for water birth deliveries and can now perform them, as well as Dr. Schwartz of the Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic, who began the water birth program at the hospital nearly 20 years ago. Pictured with the water birthing tub is Jayne McCormick, RN, Maternity Services Supervisor, who chose to use the water birth tub herself for three of her own deliveries. Submitted photo.
Dr. Barbee of Gundersen Clinic Now Also Certified in Water Birth
Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) began offering water births for delivery nearly 20 years ago and the popularity continues to grow. More low-risk mothers are looking for a natural birthing option in a controlled environment and finding water birth a successful option.
Dr. Barbee of the Gundersen Clinic recently received her certification for water birth deliveries and can now perform them as well as Dr. Schwartz of the Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic, who began the water birth program at the hospital nearly 20 years ago.
Gundersen’s Waukon Clinic will offer free blood pressure checks at Fareway Grocery in Waukon from 10 a.m. to noon August 30.
Patients and non-patients will receive immediate results. Gundersen nurses will recommend a visit to a doctor if results show elevated levels.
“Checking your blood pressure can prevent heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease, which will improve your quality of life and increase your life span,” said Raquel Ristau, PA-C, who sees patients in Waukon and Lansing.
The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, August 19 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital in Waukon. Masks will be required to be worn.
This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or has a friend or loved one with diabetes. For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call Angie Mettille, RN at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
The Pfizer COVID vaccine will be offered Wednesday, August 18, from 9-11:30 a.m. in the Waukon High School gymnasium. The Pfizer vaccine is approved for all ages 12 and over. Parental/guardian consent is required for all those under 18 taking the immunization.
COVID-19 can have serious, life threatening complications and there is no way to know how it will affect anyone. Getting COVID-19 may offer some protection, known as natural immunity, but the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 far outweighs any benefits of natural immunity. The COVID-19 vaccine, which is readily available locally, creates an antibody (immune system) response without having to experience sickness.
Walk-ins are welcome at this COVID-19 vaccine clinic August 18. For more information, call Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care Allamakee Public Health at 563-568-5660.
The 62nd Bulman reunion met July 21, 2021 after a year’s sabbatical. Pastor Paul Burgess from Mt. Hope Church started the festivities with a meal time prayer at the Eitzen Community Center. Among the fifty people in attendance were the organizers, Grace Bulman and Deb Harguth. Freewill donations were taken to fund the event.
Winners of the car show were Jerry and Machelle Bulman with their beautiful 1969 Mustang, second place was Scott Bulman with a First Generation Falcon, and third place was LeeAnne Bulman with a 1964 Valiant Signet 200. The following door prizes were given: Most Effort to Attend, Jim Bulman, Waukon; Largest Family in Attendance, Matt Bulman, Minnesota Lake; Oldest, Elaine Meyer; Northwood; Youngest, Sarah Bulman, Minnesota Lake.
The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus entertained large crowds in Waukon Thursday and Friday, August 12-13. Sponsored by Waukon Park & Recreation, the circus put on a pair of evening shows each day. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
Hollywood meets Main Street in Waukon, delivering a sobering message ... Veteran actor, director and producer Daniel Baldwin, one of the famous Baldwin brothers of movie and television fame, is pictured above (far right) at the S&D Cafe in Waukon with two of his daughters, Finley and Avis (left to right in photo center), along with Waukon resident and actress, producer, director and singer Katie O’Regan (far left), creator of the Spring Grove-Caledonia Film Festival and founder of Sacred Noise Society, Inc. Visiting the Midwest as the special guest of the second annual Spring Grove-Caledonia Film Festival held July 23-25 in the Spring Grove and Caledonia, MN area, Baldwin also spoke at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon Sunday, July 25 following the 10 a.m. Mass, speaking on the impact of the opioid crisis and other drug addiction, sharing his own experience with rehabilitation and talking about the documentary film he created based on that experience and that of a family friend whose battle with addiction proved fatal. The documentary, “My Promise to P.J.”, won the award for Best Documentary at the film festival. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
by Julie Berg-Raymond
Daniel Baldwin has a mission - and it’s one that speaks directly to an issue of immense concern in the rural Midwest, and the country-at-large. Opioid addiction is a crisis that, according to “The Opioid Crisis in Rural and Small Town America,” by Shannon M. Monnat and Khary K. Rigg, has in recent years seen the most dramatic increase in opioid deaths in the rural Midwest.
The long-time actor, director and producer - one of the four “Baldwin brothers,” along with Stephen, William and Alec, all actors – spoke after the 10 a.m. Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon Sunday, July 25, while in the area as a special guest of the Spring Grove-Caledonia Film Festival. Baldwin’s multiple award-winning documentary, “My Promise to P.J.,” one of the festival’s featured films, won its award for “Best Documentary.”
