News Center newsletter

Blessings to you all from Pastor James “Buck” Buckhahn, Lansing United Methodist Church. We are in the midst of two March Madness events; one being the NCAA Basketball March Madness and the other being Lent and Holy Week.

One has a bouncing ball and two hoops, while the other has a cross and a lost world.  One has five players against five players with a bench full of replacements… played on an orderly court, with lines and circles and timers, and referees that keep order. The other is played with two people, Satan and Jesus. One being the creator of the world and the other playing the role. Satan actually doesn’t play directly, he has lost battles with Jesus already. So, he plays more of a bait and switch game.

To the Editor:

Spring is here, farmers are getting ready for the planting season, and prices on fertilizer and fuel are skyrocketing due to the Iran War and the closing of the Strait of Hormuz. They are already under stress from seed and chemical costs rising every year, and now this.

How much more can the American farmer take from this administration? Tariffs causing loss of trading partners and sales of grains, support for other countries by buying their beef to compete with American ranchers, allowing mergers among big ag companies, further decreasing competition, and now this war.

Sure, price of fuels may come down in the future, but that doesn’t help for right now, when farmers need to buy fuel and fertilizer. They may only be 1% of the population, but they feed all the rest of us, and we will lose more of them to bankruptcy and despair.

Mildred Aileen (Powell) Myhre, long-time resident of Spring Grove, MN, was the first-born child of Ethel (Enyart) and Louis Powell.  She entered this world on the blustery day of March 25, 1929, and departed on the blustery day of March 16, 2026.

Funeral and burial services were at Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church March 21. Memorials can be directed to the Waterloo Ridge Church Cemetery Perpetual Fund or to the family c/o Laurie Knoke; 2 Cari Court, DeKalb, IL 60115.

Mildred graduated as the valedictorian of Waukon High School in 1947. She taught at a country school where her younger brothers Roger and Lyle were among her students. Her brother Robert was not of school age yet.

Stanley W. Straate, 76, of Waukon passed away peacefully Sunday, March 29, 2026, at Good Samaritan Society in Waukon, after a courageous fight with cancer. Memorial services will be held Wednesday, April 1 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Philip Agyei officiating. Burial will be held later at Ebenezer Cemetery, rural Waukon, with close family.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 31 from 4-7 p.m. at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon, with a 3:30 p.m. scripture service. Memorials may be directed to Veterans Memorial Hospital, 40 1st Street SE, Waukon, IA 52172 or www.veteransmemorialhospital.com/about/foundation/.

National Doctor’s Day is celebrated March 30 each year to honor the contributions of physicians across the US. The date commemorates its first recognition March 30, 1933, and date of the first use of general anesthesia in surgery by Dr. Crawford W. Long in 1842. It became an officially recognized day of appreciation when President George H.W. Bush signed it into law in 1990. National Doctor’s Day serves as a tribute to these professionals and the commitment they demonstrate, often under extraordinary circumstances. This National Doctors Day, March 30, Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) and Clinics proudly celebrates the dedication and resilience of America’s physicians. Laura Baxter, Chief Clinical Officer states, “We are truly blessed here at VMH to have such a compassionate and dedicated team of providers caring for our community.” Celebrate our local providers and all their contributions to making this a healthy community by showing great appreciation for the vital work they do.

March is National Athletic Training Month. Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) has three athletic trainers on staff including Brad Krambeer, ATC, LAT; Austin Troendle, DPT, ATC, who is a Doctor of Physical Therapy; and Shelly Valley, PTA, ATC, who is also a physical therapist assistant. These trainers use their variety of skills to rehabilitate athletes, often communicating with the physicians to help coordinate the best recovery.

Athletic trainers help treat and prevent injuries for people of all ages from athletes to laborers. They specialize in the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of physical injuries to the muscle, ligament and bone, as well as rehabilitation following surgery. Athletic trainers are also key in teaching injury prevention by explaining flexibility exercises, proper use of equipment and applying prevention devices such as tape, bandages and braces.

Colon cancer can be easily prevented, yet it remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Colon cancer screening tests identify suspicious or pre-cancerous polyps, which can be removed before they develop into a serious health problem.

Margie Sommers, formerly of Wadena and now of Mesa, Arizona, agrees having colonoscopies is a great choice in preventing colon cancer. She still returns to Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) to have her colonoscopy and states, “A Colonoscopy is the one test you can easily do to find the polyps, remove them and prevent cancer, so we just need to do it! I know some people that have not had it done or waited too long. It’s just such a great thing to do to be able to prevent cancer.”

Both men and women are at risk for colon cancer.  Personal risk varies, so your local medical practitioner can help you make informed decisions about when to begin testing and the most appropriate testing method for you.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) will sponsor the next Babysitting Seminar Friday, April 3, from 9 a.m. to Noon. Corinne Cook, RN, will be leading this class which will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.   

Intended participants are individuals 10 years of age and older who are responsible for their own care after school until their parents come home from work, and individuals who care for other children in or outside of their own home. Girls and boys are both welcome and encouraged to attend the seminar.

Topics to be covered include fire and personal safety, accident prevention and emergency actions, nutritious snacks and basic care of children.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) will be offering Grandparenting classes again this spring. Corinne Cook, RN, Babysitting Class instructor, will teach the next Grandparenting Class Saturday, April 11 from 9:30 a.m. until Noon. The class will be held in the hospital’s Large Conference Room.

In these classes, new or soon-to-be grandparents will learn all the new protocols to use when caring for their new grandchild. Some topics covered will include basic baby care, car seat safety, Tylenol/Ibuprofen dosing charts, home safety, poison control information, infant/child CPR, choking and other emergency medical information as well as tips to support parents such as handling the baby blues and postpartum depression. Free will donations will be accepted to cover the costs of the class.

March is National Nutrition Month®. Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Community and Home Care - Allamakee Public Health and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) are working together to share that making nutritional food choices extends the health of Iowa families along with their ability to thrive.

It is important to continue to provide education around healthy food and eating practices about the importance of nutritional eating. Consuming foods from all food groups daily keeps families fueled for activities throughout the day.

It’s also important to drink water to maintain hydration.