News Center newsletter

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.

Blood donations are needed everywhere, even right here in Iowa. The following are interesting facts relating to blood from LifeServe Blood Center who supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with their blood products:

• Every three seconds someone needs blood.
• Blood makes up about eight-percent of a person’s body weight.
• Blood is needed every minute of every day; summer, winter, spring and fall.
• Scheduled surgeries are often canceled around the country due to a lack of blood.
• Donating blood includes a health check for the donor (checking blood pressure, pulse, temperature and hemoglobin) prior to donating.
• There is absolutely no way you can contract any disease from giving blood.
• Blood can be split into different components (red cells, platelets, plasma, and cryoprecipitate) and used to help different types of patients.

Allamakee County Public Health shares the following Poison Prevention Tips compliments of the Iowa Poison Control Center, in observance of National Poison Prevention Week.

If you think someone has been poisoned, call 1-800-222-1222 right away.  Serious poisonings don’t always have early signs. Save the number of your poison control center in your cell phone contacts.  Text the word POISON to 797979 to download the business card for poison control to a mobile phone.

Keep medicines and household products in their original containers in a different place than food. Always read the product labels and follow any directions.

Keep household products and medicines locked up.  Put them up high and out of sight and reach of young children.

Buy products with child-resistant packaging, but remember, nothing is child-proof.

Never call medicine “candy.”  Poisons may look like food or drink. Teach children to ask an adult before tasting anything.

Each March, the Academy’s National Nutrition Month® (NNM®) campaign brings people together to celebrate how informed food choices and healthy habits can fuel better living. The 2026 theme, “Discover the Power of Nutrition,” highlights the everyday impact nutrition has on helping individuals and communities thrive.

Week 3 Focus: Stay Nourished on Any Budget
Eating well doesn’t have to be expensive. With the right skills and resources, you can build healthy meals that fit your budget and lifestyle.
• Learn simple cooking and meal-prep skills that make the most of what you have
• Plan meals and shop smart to reduce food waste and save money
• Explore community supports like SNAP, WIC, and local food banks
• Advocate for nutrition programs that help your family and community thrive

Healthy eating is possible at every budget - and small steps can make a big difference.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, March 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.

Speakers presenting to the groups this month will include Melanie Bauch, Director of the Northeast Iowa Wellness and Recreation Center in Postville. She will be sharing information about a falls prevention program starting soon in her facility. Falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related death among adults age 65 and older in Iowa, so this program is very worthwhile in keeping this population in the local area independent and healthy.

The second speaker will be Amanda Pettit, RN and friends of Senior Life Solutions (SLS). This is a new program located right within VMH that promotes mental health and offers counseling for those in need. It is another program designed for those over 65.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory Mike Foley by Frank and Jean Weymiller; in memory of Julie Halverson by the family of Julie Halverson; in memory of Toni Kolsrud by Gary Kolsrud; in memory of Judy Lonning by Chuck and Lois Votsmier; in memory of Dan Mathis by Rita Mathis, Arlen and Karlene Wonderlich, and Brian and Denise Wullner; and in memory of William “Bill” Moody by Chuck and Lois Votsmier.

Memorials were also received in memory of Walter Kurth, Jr. by Ron and Nancy Adam, Anonymous, Tom and Joan Fritz, Steve and Judy Kurth, Larry and Sharon Snitker, and Chuck and Lois Vostmier.

A donation to the Foundation was also given in honor of Hannah Kelly, NP, by John and Sheryl Prestemon.  

Robert “Bob” Schulze was born March 30, 1946 to Marvin and Helen (Steiber) Schulze of Lansing. Bob graduated from Lansing Kee High School in 1964. After graduating from UW-Platteville, he taught high school math before teaching carpentry at Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC). For over 30 years Bob enjoyed teaching students home-building and general carpentry skills, while constructing homes for many families.

Bob married Shirley Bloxham June 6, 1970 and they have three children: Krista (Brian) McKee, Denise (Brent) Beyer and Jim (Robin Palmer) Schulze, all of Waukon; and two grandchildren: Claire and Brady Beyer and several grand-dogs. Bob has one sister, Janet (Larry) Jarchow, of Flagstaff, AZ.

A casual celebration is planned with family and friends Saturday, March 21 from 2-4 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Waukon. In honor of the occasion, cards and well wishes may be sent to 1643 Oak Lane, Waukon, IA 52172.

Joey and Darby McCauley of Lansing announce the birth of their daughter, Molly Anne McCauley, born March 3, 2026 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 8 lbs. 15 ozs. and measured 21 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins siblings, James (4) and Charlie (2).

Grandparents are Jeff and Jodi McCauley of Pinellas Park, FL and Frank and Jackie Switzer of Phoenix, AZ. Great-grandparents are Hank and Becky Jungling of Aplington and Maxine McCauley of the Villages, FL. 

Corey and Karlie Goldstine of Waukon announce the birth of their son, Jonah Lee Goldstine, born March 8, 2026 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 7 lbs. 5 ozs. and measured 19 inches in length at the time of his birth.

Grandparents are Brandon and Katie Fahey of Waukon and Shari Goldstine of Eldora. Great-grandparents are Jim and Cheryl Fahey of Decorah and Don and Ann Hein of Waterloo.

Duel and Taylor Stock of Waukon announce the birth of their son, Auben Dean Stock, born March 10, 2026 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 7 lbs. 13 ozs. and measured 21 inches in length at the time of his birth.

Grandparents are Rob and Nita Graangard of Waterville and Mark and Stacy Stock of Waukon. Great-grandparents are Dale and Karen Green of Castalia.