News Center newsletter

Northeast Iowa Community College Business and Community Solutions will be offering an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course in Waukon beginning January 8, 2024.  This 138-hour course, which will conclude in May, will be an in-person class held right here locally in Waukon, which is a huge advantage to students attending. Registration for the class must be completed prior to the orientation night January 8.

The EMT class prepares the students to provide pre-hospital assessment and care for patients of all ages with a variety of medical conditions and traumatic injuries. Areas of study include an introduction to emergency medical services systems, roles and responsibilities of EMTs, anatomy and physiology, medical emergencies, trauma, special considerations for working in the pre-hospital setting, and providing patient transportation.

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.

Lois Fossum of Waterville will be celebrating her 80th birthday October 14. In honor of the occasion, cards and well wishes may be sent to 1528 Elon Drive, Waterville, IA 52170.

As fall harvest starts across Iowa, the risk of wildfires in crop fields increases.  Recent rains across Iowa provided some relief from the ongoing drought, but crop fields are still dry, cured and could spark wildfires. This has been an extended drought year, particularly in northeast and southeast Iowa.

Sorghum is a productive and versatile annual crop used worldwide for livestock feed. Until now, the plant, which originated in the tropics, has done best in warmer regions with longer growing seasons than the Upper Midwest.

A new USDA-supported project will test and release several new sorghum cultivars that promise high-yielding, nutritious forage for beef and dairy cattle operations in the north-central states.  The project will be led by Maria Salas-Fernandez, associate professor of agronomy at Iowa State University, who directs the northernmost public sorghum breeding program in the United States.

To the Editor:

Iowans are compassionate people and care about one another. We believe no Iowan should go hungry, especially our children. Sadly, child poverty has more than doubled in the last two years and 122,000 children in Iowa are hungry.

One cause contributing to an increase in child poverty is a refusal by MAGA Republicans, including Representative Ashley Hinson, to extend the Expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC). The Expanded CTC, passed by the Democrats and signed into law by President Biden as part of the American Rescue Plan, put money into the pockets of hard-working families each month to pay for food and necessities.  Because of the Expanded Child Tax Credit, child poverty was cut in half.

Now MAGA extremists in Congress are poised to shut down the government.  Food assistance for 58,126 Iowa women, children, and infants who rely on the special nutritional program WIC (Women Infants and Children)  will be one of the first cuts.

Barton Keith Bulman, five days shy of being 93 years old, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus, his beloved Lord and Savior, during the early morning hours of Thursday, September 14, 2023 at Gundersen Hospital, with family by his side.

Saturday, October 14, there will be a time to remember Barton, his love for Jesus, his family and others - and to honor his Savior.  A time of visitation will be from 10-10:50 a.m., with a service at 11 a.m., followed by lunch and a time of sharing memories of Bart. It will be held at the Calvary Evangelical Free Church, which is located just west of Spring Grove, MN. A private burial with the family was held Friday, September 15 at the Trinity Cemetery near Spring Grove, MN.

Barton was born September 19, 1930 to Clarence and Mary (Spiegler) Bulman. When young and into his early teen years, he was raised on a farm just south of Eitzen, MN, where he learned the value of hard work.

Vivian R. Kipp, 96, of Waukon passed away into the arms of her Heavenly Father Thursday, September 28, 2023, at her home in Waukon, with her family by her side. Funeral mass will be held Wednesday, October 4 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon.

Friends may greet the family from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, October 3 at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon where there will be a 3:30 p.m. scripture service and a 6:30 p.m. Rosary. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Patrick Catholic School and Church.

Clarence “Bud” Riha, 74, of Harpers Ferry died Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI. Memorial services will be held Wednesday, October 4 at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Protivin with Fr. Nick Radloff and Deacon Jim Zajicek officiating. Burial will be at Bohemian National Cemetery, rural Protivin. Friends may greet the family from 9 a.m. until time of services at the church Wednesday. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Clarence “Bud” Stanley Riha was born November 2, 1948 in Decorah, the son of Clarence Sr. and Verena (Schneberger) Riha. He graduated from Rudolphinum High School in Protivin in 1967. After high school, he moved to Cedar Rapids to live with his sister, Betty. Bud worked odd jobs until he landed his forever job at Western Electric in Cedar Rapids, where he worked until he retired.

Joseph “Joey” Patrick Rathbun, 30, of Monona passed away Saturday, September 23, 2023. A Celebration of Life was held Friday, September 29 at the Waukon Banquet Center in Waukon. Memorials may be given in Joey’s honor to his family.

Joseph was born March 4, 1993, the son of Matthew and Christine (Jones) Rathbun. He graduated from Waukon High School in 2011.

October 20, 2018, Joey was united in marriage to Katie Rogers. To this union a beautiful daughter was born, Raegan. Joey was employed as a Welder at Gencor Industries, Inc. in Marquette. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, kayaking, and riding and repairing all his “toys”.

Joey was very talented in his art of wood working, drawing and carving. He could be found spending time in “Joey’s Exotic Garden” or making funny videos that he would share on social media. He looked forward every morning to stopping at the Casey’s General Store for his morning fix.