News Center newsletter

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, December 4, from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

The Flu and COVID vaccines continue to be offered each Wednesday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee Public Health. Flu shots are recommended for all those who have not yet received the vaccine and will be effective throughout the rest of the flu season.

According to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, flu vaccines are proven to help prevent millions of illnesses and have been shown to reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor by 40-60%. COVID-19 vaccines help protect by creating an antibody response without having to experience potentially severe illness or post-COVID conditions. Although it is still possible to get sick after being vaccinated, flu and COVID immunizations are proven to help prevent severe illness, which can be lifesaving.

Learn to financially analyze your livestock/farm operation in a different way to find more profit, eliminate money pits and lower your stress level. Sound too good to be true? Iowa State University Extension Beef specialist, Denise Schwab, would beg to differ.

“The Cattle in the Green series was developed to meet the needs of beef operations regardless of size,” Schwab said. “This program was designed to look at financial and business management from a different perspective. Most beef producers view financial records as a necessity for taxes, but Cattle in the Green uses that basic data to analyze the operation to look for and use simple management changes for better results.”

Workshops to be held in five locations across Iowa

Specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are once again teaming up with Iowa State ag and biosystems engineering specialists to bring planter equipment expertise to farms across the state Feb. 5-9.

The workshops are an opportunity for farmers, agricultural service providers, equipment and precision ag dealers, and others to gain insight into how planters function, optimize settings for individual seed, field and equipment needs, and improve understanding of planter wear and calibration.

“Planter University goes far beyond a typical planter clinic and provides attendees direct access to specialists with expertise in planter technology and settings,” said Meaghan Anderson, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “We are excited to host this workshop across the state again this February.”

A blessed, fruitful and happy Advent to everyone! Next Sunday we begin the season of Advent. The word advent comes from the Latin “Adventus” meaning “coming”. It is to be a time or season of spiritual preparation: preparing for the coming of the Messiah. Thus, we enter the weeks of advent as a time of anticipation and expectation, of hope and of joy, of light and of peace, of waiting and of promise fulfilled.

Pope John Paul II [pope from 1978-2005] said: “Advent is, so to speak, an intense training that directs us decisively toward him who already came, who will come, and who comes continuously.” Therefore, my friends and neighbors, let us prepare the way of the Lord into our hearts, our souls, and into our daily lives. The advent season invites us to discover anew God’s presence with us; we are to learn the ways to be “on the lookout” daily for the Lord.

To the Editor:

No matter our background, faith, or race most of us want the same things, to make a good living so we can provide for our families, to live in safe communities that thrive, and strong public schools where our children get a good education. Those in rural areas living on family farms want to be able to hand them down to the next generation.

We know our small businesses on Main Street create jobs in our communities. We rural Iowans know we have more in common with one another and share many of the same values than some others would like us to believe.

To the Editor:

I don’t want to get in a game of words. I don’t make up words, my words are factual and real. I’ve lived my words, as I can ask any MAGA or insurrection member of the former party of Lincoln which no longer exists to just name me one Democrat or independent leader of any party in our nation’s history - besides the 45th former President of these United States - that lost in a fair election and tried and failed to overthrow this democracy, and who is currently making up words of lies. As for Mr. Engle and is his words, he repeats the very same words that his fearless insurrection MAGA leader is campaigning on.

Again I’ll write what Grassley wrote and stated about our current president Joe Biden that he would knowingly put out false documents for all to see even when he knows that the documents were false and untrue. How honest is this guy as a member of this current party of insurrection or MAGA?

To the Editor:

Deuteronomy is a book in the Old Testament that was given to Moses shortly before he died. These were his last words of exhortation, urgently reminding and warning the children of Israel as they were about to enter the Promised Land of the Lord’s faithfulness (to His covenantal promises) and to challenge the people to remain faithful and obedient to their covenant with God.

Moses reminds God’s people that to obey God’s statutes and ways (out of love and reverential fear of Him) would bring blessing, life, health and prosperity, and that to disobey would bring the opposite - curses, death and destruction. In Deuteronomy 30:19 God expresses His desire for His people, “I have set before you life and death, blessings and cursings; therefore choose life that both you and your descendants may live.” Chapter 28 of Deuteronomy gives a detailed list of the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience.

Linda Ann Smerud, 72, died November 8, 2023 at Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare in La Crosse, WI. No services are being planned at this time.

Linda was born in La Crosse, WI to Donald and Delores Brumm May 28,1951. She grew up near Eitzen, MN and graduated from Caledonia High School in 1969. Linda then went on to get her LPN in Winona, MN.

Linda married Carver Smerud November 12, 1971. They then moved to San Diego, CA where she served as a Navy wife. Linda was a private, but caring woman who focused on her loved ones. She and her family eventually settled in New Albin, where she lived until her death.

Linda is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Carver; her daughter, Stacy (Chad) Serres; her brother, Gerald Brumm of New Albin; her aunt, Gladys Tegtmier of Caledonia, MN; her brothers-in-law and sister-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.

Karen Hermann of State Center, age 70, passed November 21, 2023 at State Center Specialty Care. Per her wishes, no formal services will be held. Memorials may be directed to cancer research and/or the Animal Rescue League.

Karen (VanHorn) Hermann was born June 15, 1953 in Waukon to parents Bill and Delores VanHorn. After graduating from Waukon High School, Karen attended college for fashion merchandising.

March 22, 1980, she married Joe Hermann. Karen and Joe went on to own the West Marshall Hardware store in State Center. For the next 19 years she worked at the Drake University Law School, where she ran the law library book store. Karen enjoyed outdoor activities such as gardening and spending time with her pets.

She is survived by her husband, Joe Hermann; her brothers, Neal (Nancy) VanHorn of Wadena and Kevin (Chris) VanHorn of Spillville; and numerous nieces and nephews.