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Early heatwave is a reminder to think about employee needs

The late-spring heatwave that blanketed Iowa and much of the Midwest is a reminder for farm employers and employees to focus on human resources.

Melissa O’ Rourke, Farm Management Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, said people are the most valuable asset in a farm or rural business.

“In any business, including farming, the most important resource is the people,” O’Rourke said. “We need to do whatever we can to preserve and protect what I think of as a priceless resource - our people.”

In the June edition of Ag Decision Maker, O’Rourke outlines some basic ways that farm employers can protect workers from heat stress and illness. She also provides an updated checklist that covers all the major aspects of farm worker hiring and employment.

To the Editor:
Once, Iowa’s education ranked best in the nation. How times have changed. In a recent report evaluating K-12 civics and U.S. history standards from the non-partisan Fordham Institute, Iowa ranked in the bottom third of states, with a D grade for civics and an F for U.S. history. Iowa’s U.S. History standards, it seems, are “almost completely devoid of historical content.”

Given this, you’d be forgiven for thinking the governor and legislature might take steps to improve education for Iowa’s students. Republicans did pass and sign numerous bills affecting education, but none fix the problem. They allocated historically low funding for public schools and universities and eliminated diversity programs used by some schools to serve their students.

The Waukon baseball team played to an even split of four games this past week, book-ending a home doubleheader sweep of Oelwein with single losses to the Northeast Iowa Conference’s (NEIC) two front-running teams. The baseball Tribe first fell at home to Waverly-Shell Rock, 12-7, Monday, June 21 before sweeping Oelwein at home by scores of 7-5 and 7-4 Wednesday, June 23. The Indians then came within a play or two of handing NEIC-undefeated Decorah its first league loss of this year, falling by just a 5-4 road result Friday, June 25.

Mother Nature made this past week’s already busy schedule a little less busy for the Waukon softball team, as the Lady Indians had their Decorah Tournament scheduled for Saturday, June 26 rained out. Already playing a schedule of six games in five nights that included a pair of home doubleheaders, all of those six games being in Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) play, the softball Tribe was able to put just one of those in the win column.

After playing through back-to-back undefeated weeks of competition to piece together a 14-game winning streak, the Kee baseball team ended up being tripped up in three of its five games played this past week, not only snapping that win streak but also having its undefeated Upper Iowa Conference (UIC) season come to an end as well. In suffering their first losses in more than two weeks, the Hawks were also dealing with the loss of junior catcher Buddy Hill to injury, with a timetable for his return not being known for sure at this point.

Irene L. Tweito, 90, of Waukon died Monday, June 28, 2021 at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines after being hospitalized at Iowa Methodist/Unity Point Medical Center, also in Des Moines. Funeral services were held Saturday, July 3 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial was at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Spring Grove, MN.

The service was live streamed and can still be viewed on Martin-Grau Funeral Home’s Facebook page. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon assisted the family with arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to St. John’s Lutheran Church, VMH Foundation or Allamakee Scholarship Fund, all in Waukon, or IPTV to support Lawrence Welk broadcasts, ABLE in Caledonia, MN, or other non-profits which you may care to support.

Kenneth D. Lough, 73, of Waukon died Saturday, June 26, 2021 at Crossing Rivers Health in Prairie du Chien, WI. Funeral services were held Saturday, July 3 at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Burial with military honors was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.

Kenneth Dean Lough was born March 27, 1948 in Estherville, the son of William Lyle and Leona (Klug) Lough; Kenny was so excited to join the world, he couldn’t wait until his mom got to the hospital and was born in the back of a taxi on the way there. He was baptized and confirmed at Estherville Lutheran Church and in 1968, graduated from Estherville High School.

Jane Schoh, 88, of Waukon, formerly of Dorchester, died Thursday, June 24, 2021 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Memorial services were held Monday, June 28 at Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church in rural New Albin with Pastor Paul Burgess officiating. Burial was at the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Veterans Memorial Hospital Health Care Foundation or to Mt. Hope Cemetery. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon assisted with arrangements.

Emma Jane Schoh was born January 13, 1933 at Hall’s Maternity Hospital in Waukon, the daughter of Earl and Myrtle (Sadler) Beardmore. She was baptized October 22, 1933 by Pastor H. J. Noeding at Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church in rural New Albin and confirmed on Confirmation Sunday, April 14, 1946 by Pastor Calvin Willemssen at Mt. Hope. Jane attended English Bench grade school in rural Dorchester and graduated as salutatorian of her class from Waukon High School in 1951.

Richard Allen Hanson, 71, of Lansing lost his battle with cancer June 17, 2021. He passed away peacefully at home. A Celebration of Life was held Thursday, June 24 at the United Methodist Church, Lansing with Military Rites at the church. Rev. Sedar Shako and Deacon Roger Lunsmann were the Officiants. In lieu of flowers, make donations to St. Jude’s children’s hospital in Rich’s name.

Rich was born to Melvin and Sylvia (Sandry) Hanson December 5, 1949 in Waukon. He spent his youth as the youngest of five children and attended Lansing school systems. In high school he began working at the Lansing fish market where he was mentored by Harold Verdon.

Rich was drafted into the Army in 1970 and sent to Vietnam, where he earned two bronze stars, multiple overseas ribbons and a combat infantry badge. He returned home and met his loving wife, Mary Troendle, and they were united in marriage June 30, 1972 at Wexford Catholic Church.