News Center newsletter

After a brave and long fight against cancer, Thomas L. Boots, 54, of Harpers Ferry passed away peacefully at 7 a.m. Sunday, January 3, 2021 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Graveside services will be held Wednesday, January 6 at 11 a.m. at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Dubuque.

A celebration of life will then be held from 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, January 6 at the Portside Bar and Supper Club in Harpers Ferry. In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated for the American Legion Post #722, 118 North Fourth Street, Harpers Ferry, IA 52146. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family.

Thomas Lee Boots was born February 9, 1966 to Kenneth and Carmelita (Cahill) Boots. Though Tom did live in La Crosse, WI for a short period of his life, and was born in Dubuque, he was a lifelong resident of Harpers Ferry and loved the “Mississippi River Rat” life.

Ness Pumping and Porta Potty Rentals, along with Monroe Auction Service, hosted its fourth annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk Saturday, October 24 in the Waukon City Park to raise funds for breast cancer awareness and detection. Breast Cancer survivors were asked to sign a pink porta potty sporting the breast cancer ribbon, t-shirts were distributed and refreshments served.

The two families awarded the proceeds raised from that walk to Veterans Memoria Hospital to be used towards the 3D mammography machine at the hospital.  The $3,200 donation helps Veterans Memorial Hospital finance this 3D mammography machine, which is clinically proven to significantly increase the detection of breast cancers, while simultaneously decreasing the number of women asked to return for additional testing.

The statistical benefits of digital 3D mammography include the following:

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, January 7, from 12-5 p.m., at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held every month in Waukon. The LifeServe Blood Center of Iowa supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with blood and blood products. Many Iowans are encouraged to make donating blood on a regular basis their New Year’s resolution this year.

The need for blood does has not stopped during COVID-19 and is in even higher demand, so the local blood drives continue to be held. Life Serve team members only report to work if they are healthy and only healthy donors are eligible to give blood. Blood drives are essential medical services and not considered mass gatherings. The number of donors is limited to ensure donor separation, and staff has strict cleaning and disinfection schedules. Other measures are also in place to ensure the safety of the blood supply so these lifesaving donations can continue during COVID-19.

Veterans Memorial Hospital physicians and staff will be awaiting the arrival of the first baby born at the hospital in the New Year 2021. This fortunate child and his or her family will receive a large number of beautiful gifts compliments of area merchants.

The first baby of the year will receive the following:

Allamakee County Public Health would like to acknowledge that there is a lot of information and uncertainty regarding COVID-19 vaccine availability. We have received numerous phone calls with questions concerning who is eligible to receive this vaccination and when.

Our office is preparing to receive and administer the vaccine, but we are asking for the public’s patience throughout this process. We are aware that the demand significantly outweighs the supply we will initially be provided with. We are required to follow a vaccine prioritization schedule set by the CDC and IDPH that currently includes frontline healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities.

Note there are no waiting lists available to get on at our facility or other medical clinics in our area. When it is time for others in the community to be vaccinated, we will notify the public. Continue to monitor our website, social media pages, local radio and newspaper for updates.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Jim Klocke by Merlyn and Alyce Klocke, Ruth Ann Teff, Joan and Romandus Gisleson, Cyril and Shirley Larkin, Joan Bieber, Ronald and Nancy Adam, Curtis and Betty Gilbertson, George and Lorna Miller and Jan Ellingson.

Memorials were also given in memory of Doris E. Saboe by Jane Dietrich, Beverly Krambeer, Delora and Monte Dundee; in memory of Barb Leppert by Patsy Kerndt; and in memory of Delores Paus by Dave and Laurie Martin, Fred and Geralyn Smith and Dorothy Sandry.
In addition, memorials were received in memory of Bernard Welsh by Dave and Laurie Martin, Mary Ann Hager, Mary Schulte, Arlen and Karlene Wonderlich, Diane Regan and Patsy Kerndt.

Elsa Hager of Waukon will be celebrating her 90th birthday December 30.

In honor of the occasion, cards and well wishes may be sent to Good Samaritan Society, 25 First Street SE, Waukon, IA 52172.

Ted and Kori Troendle of Postville announce the birth of their daughter, Ava Sue Troendle, born December 16, 2020 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 7 lbs. 11 ozs. and measured 20-1/2 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins a sister, Tierney (2).

Grandparents are Doug and Teresa Berg of Postville and Ron and Susan Troendle of Waukon. Great-grandparents are Sharon Decker and Betty Troendle, both of Waukon.

Do you know the song “This Is the Day the Lord Has Made”? Some of you know and some may not.  Every day is not the same and the plans God is making for us each day are not the same also. This is the new year God is providing to us again.

As we are approaching the end of 2020, I come to thank God for all the good things and the plans he had for us. Some people will say the year 2020 wasn’t good for us because we lost beloved ones and there were many bad things that happened during the year, especially COVID-19, of course, and you are right. Was God not in control when all the bad and difficult things were happening to us? Has God forgotten his people who were bought with an imperishable price (Blood)? I Peter 1:18-19. I say no! God can’t forget his people and he is with us any time.

To the Editor:

Sometimes one might read something ridiculous which results in humor; however, humor is quickly replaced by indignation as one realizes it was not written in jest or satire. This is my reaction to a letter entitled “Suggesting everyone do their research regarding COVID-19 vaccine” written in the 12/23/2020 edition of this newspaper.

To quote the writer of that letter, “I am not a doctor or an expert on medical things.” Perhaps this is where she should have ended the letter before submitting it.

I similarly am not a medical expert, and instead will listen to the recommendations of scientists and medical professionals. I long for the day in which Americans will once again place value in education and intelligence rather than to scoff at it.