News Center newsletter

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) administration staff is currently visiting each Allamakee County community to offer a public forum to update the communities about the hospital’s progress and offer a chance for public input.  

Last fall, residents of Allamakee County overwhelmingly voted to convert the hospital to a county facility.  As the hospital was preparing for that county-wide vote, similar public forums were held. At those meetings, it was stated the hospital would do this every year in an effort to offer personal contact with the communities and an opportunity for feedback.

Michael Coyle, VMH CEO will be leading these discussions and states, “I’m excited to be back out in the area communities of Allamakee County to talk about VMH, our current services, and new services that will help our patients and their families stay close to home for their healthcare needs.”

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Speech-Language Pathologist Steven Mazzafield offers a Stroke Support Group for individuals who have experienced a stroke, as well as caregivers and family members affected by stroke.

Monthly meetings are held the first Thursday of every month at 2 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital.  The next Stroke Support Group meeting will be held Thursday, November 2, at 2 p.m. in the Large Conference Room.

The Stroke Support Group provides opportunities to share tips, tricks, or trials among participants, offer support for caregivers, and provide an opportunity for socialization.

While strokes can happen at any age, risk of stroke is greatest as we get older with the majority of strokes occurring after the age of 70. Risk factors for stroke include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, binge drinking, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

The local Grief Support Group will be holding its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Tuesday, November 7, at 5 p.m. in the Meditation Healing Center, located just inside the main entrance of the hospital. This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss, whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief. Feel free to attend and bring a friend. This grief support usually meets the second Tuesday of each month at VMH in Waukon, except when they meet this first Tuesday of November.

You can make a difference by making a life-saving blood donation at the next Waukon Community Blood Drive. The next blood drive will take place Thursday, November 2, from Noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

The Waukon Blood drives have been very successful the last couple of years with new first-time donors each time.

Donating blood is safe, simple and it saves lives.  Blood donors have a unique opportunity to contribute to their community by making a life-saving blood donation. Everyone who registers to donate blood goes through four simple steps during the donation process:  registration, donor history and mini-physical, blood donation and snacks.

You have until December 7, 2023 to enroll in or change Medicare drug plans for 2024. Don’t wait until the last minute. Remember, if you’re on Medicare and don’t have drug coverage, or the coverage you have is not as good as Medicare’s, you will face a penalty for each month you delay enrolling.  

If you have questions about Medicare drug coverage call your local SHIIP counselor at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411. SHIIP volunteers are available to meet individually with anyone in the community who wishes to compare the Medicare Part D plans available for 2024.

Appointments are required. Call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411 to schedule your appointment. You will need to bring your Medicare card, current Part D plan card and a list of your medications from your pharmacy.  SHIIP is a free, confidential service of the State of Iowa.

Ed Stamper of Waukon will be celebrating his 80th birthday October 25. In honor of the occasion, cards, well wishes or a favorite story may be sent to 503 3rd Street SW, Waukon, IA 52172

Dennis and Judy (Schwartzhoff) Byrnes of rural Waukon will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with an open house at the home of Greg and Amy Byrnes Saturday, October 28 from 4:30-8 p.m. They were married November 9, 1963 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dorchester.

They are the parents of seven children, Jeff (Martha) Byrnes of New Albin, Wayne (Jane) Byrnes of Waukon, Karen (Darryl)  Frana of Decorah, Brad Byrnes (Vicki Bigley) of Pueblo, CO, Greg (Amy) Byrnes of Dorchester, Beth (Jason) Simpson of Cedar Falls and Matt (Michelle) Byrnes of Dorchester. They have been blessed with 21 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Cards and well wishes can also be sent to 1956 Sandpiper Road, Waukon, IA 52172.

Curtis and Joyce Anderson of Waukon are celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary. The couple married October 26, 1958 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg.

Their family includes their son, Bruce, who farms with his wife, Lynn, near Waterville, and two grandchildren including Jennie (Jared) Torkelson of North Mankato, MN and Ian (Marissa) Anderson of Waukon. A great-grandchild, Tate Anderson, was welcomed September 15 of this year.

In honor of the occasion, cards and well wishes may be sent to 614 West Street SW, Waukon, IA 52172.
 

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
November 1: Organic Certification Cost-Share and Transition/Education Certification Program
December 4: Last Day to Return COC Ballots
December 15: Crop Reporting for Fall-Seeded Small Grains
January 31: Livestock Forage Program (LFP)

Farmers.gov - Your online hub for conducting business with USDA
Farmers.gov gives you one place to do business with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), including accessing your farm records, maps, and common land units. You can create a farmers.gov account for the farmers.gov authenticated site, where you can access self-service features through a secure login.

A study of Iowa farmers’ use of 4R Plus nutrient management practices offers insights into social, economic, and ecological influences on adoption that operate at both an individual level and within a larger, county-level context.

The 4R approach to agricultural nutrient management aims to ensure use of the “right source” of nutrients at the “right rate,” the “right time” and in the “right place” for efficient use of fertilizers to avoid nutrient loss and maximize farm income. While 4R refers to in-field nutrient management practices,

“Plus” refers to in-field conservation practices, such as no-till and cover crops, and edge-of-field conservation practices, including bioreactors or saturated buffers.