News Center newsletter

Two forms of at-home COVID testing kits are now available locally. The Test Iowa self-administered kits, which take the place of the Test-Iowa drive up testing sites, are available for pick-up at Veterans Memorial Hospital in home or may be sent home at no cost.

Each test kit includes step-by-step instructions including how to activate the test kit, collect the test sample, return the sample the State Hygienic Lab and when to expect the results.  Kits are available at the main entrance of the hospital, from the receptionist desk, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekends and holidays.

Another option of at-home testing kits are available for purchase from local pharmacies. These kits are purchased at the store and taken home and give immediate results, which is beneficial for those wanting to know if they are safe to attend public and family events.

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.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Dorothy Stika by Beth Baxter, Alan and Ruth Hageman, Dave and Karen Mathis, Rita Newton, Lynn O’Hara, Randy and Pam Smith, Theresa Smith, Nick and Deb Zuercher, Steve and Becky Welper, Lori Bresnahan, Brad and Erin Berns, and Fred and Geralyn Smith.

Memorials were also received in memory of Dale Stika by Alan and Ruth Hageman, Dave and Karen Mathis, Rita Newton, Theresa Smith, Nick and Deb Zuercher, Lori Bresnahan, Brad and Erin Berns, and Fred and Geralyn Smith.

In addition, memorials were received in memory of Norma Bloxham by JoAnn Peake, Wayne and Nona Sawyer, Meg Schaller, Betty White, Diane Regan, Patsy Kerndt and Cheryl Bollman.

The family of Harold and Connie (Roling) Pronga of Waukon is celebrating the couple’s golden wedding anniversary August 14. The couple was united in marriage August 14, 1971 at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen.

The couple has three sons, Derek (Stacy) of Rochester, MN, Nicholas (Emily) of Chanhassen, MN and Justin (Jennifer) of Eagle, CO. Their grandchildren include Jacob, Braden, Kaden, Kaleb, Ashlyn, Corah and Adelyne.

In celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary, the couple will be traveling to Mackinac Island and celebrating with their family.

In honor of the occasion, cards and well wishes may be sent to 431 Fourth Street NE, Waukon, IA 52172.

Chase Pladsen and Makenzie Olson of Waterville announce the birth of their son, Walter Chase Pladsen, born July 12, 2021 at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah. He weighed 7 lbs. and measured 19 inches in length at the time of his birth.

Tyler and Ashley Manning of Lansing announce the birth of their son, Colton James Manning, born August 2, 2021 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 6 lbs. 7 ozs. and measured 20-1/4 inches in length at the time of his birth. He joins siblings, Madison (10) and Liam (2).

Grandparents are Sue Guyer of Waukon, Jeff Brink and Bobbie Young of Waukon, and Tim and Laurie Manning of Lansing. Great-grandparents are Arnold and Deb Guyer of Clermont, Kathy and George Brainard of Waukon, and Harold and Linda Everson of De Soto, WI.
 

To the Editor:

The shocking extreme weather of late comes as no surprise to scientists who warned for decades that we are heading toward climate catastrophe.

“These extremes are something we knew were coming,” Christian conservative and climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe recently told the Washington Post. “The suffering that is here and now is because we have not heeded the warnings sufficiently.”

Those warnings go back to 1988 when Iowa native and then-NASA scientist Dr. James Hansen testified before Congress that “we can ascribe with a high degree of confidence a cause and effect relationship between the greenhouse effect and observed warming.’’

To the Editor:

I would like to express my sincere concern about the decision to reduce the amount of time the park ranger spends at Yellow River State Forest. As a local resident and someone who not only currently frequents the park, but also grew up going to the park, this is very concerning to me for a number of reasons.

I am worried about things getting out of control and people not treating Yellow River with respect if there is not a ranger around. My husband and I have recently returned from a trip around the U.S. spent staying at National Forest and BLM land in our camper. I saw this time and time again: When there was no ranger present, we would arrive at campsites that had trash everywhere, bullet holes on the signs, and people target shooting in places they are not supposed to.

To the Editor:

During a TV interview, U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson gave herself an A for her job performance as Iowa’s First District Representative. Hinson claimed she was working hard to support infrastructure. This claim would be admirable if it were true, but it is not.

Hinson has been a vocal opponent of the infrastructure bill “Invest in America Act.” In fact,  Hinson voted against the “Invest in America Act” which recently passed the U.S. House.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
September 17: Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP)

Natural Nitrogen for Crop Production
by LuAnn Rolling, District Conservationist

Dr. Christine Jones, one of the world’s preeminent microbiologists from Australia, wrote an article titled Nitrogen: the double-edged sword, in which she says that nitrogen is a component of protein and DNA and as such, is essential to all living things. She states that prior to the Industrial Revolution, around 97% of the nitrogen supporting life on earth was fixed biologically. Over the last century, intensification of farming, coupled with a lack of understanding of soil microbial communities, has resulted in reduced biological activity and an increased application of industrially produced forms of nitrogen to agricultural land.