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Darrell F. Snitker, 75, of Waukon died Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Funeral services were held Saturday, February 11 at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Burial with military honors was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.

Darrell Francis Snitker was born March 10, 1941 in Waukon, the son of Lawrence Elmer and Helen Minnie (Goeke) Snitker. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon. Darrell graduated from Waukon High School, where he was a conference champion wrestler. From 1960-64, Darrell served in the Air Force and fought in Vietnam from 1963-64.

Glenn O. Thorsen, 90, of Waterville died Monday, February 6, 2017 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Friday, February 10 at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial with military honors was at Waterville Lutheran Cemetery, Waterville.

Glenn Oliver Thorsen was born August 24, 1926 in Chicago, IL, the son of Emil M. and Agnes (Larson) Thorsen. He was baptized at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville and confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN.

Veterans Memorial Hospital nurses received a surprise visit from Loretta Schafer’s fourth grade class from St. Patrick School Wednesday, February 1. The class delivered two generous “random acts of kindness” baskets with goodies to their local nursing ‘heroes’. Pictured above is the fourth grade class with the nursing staff that were working at the hospital when the students made their surprise delivery. Submitted photo.
 

Veterans Memorial Hospital has announced it plans to transition to a new electronic medical record system the end of February. This new system will now link to all departments, encompassing all areas of the hospital, including the billing department.

With this change, patients will see a new statement following any hospital service which will be a completely different look from what they are used to receiving due to the use of a new vendor. In addition, patients’ account balances will also be handled by a new system that will be unfamiliar to current patients. For example, a patient may have a test performed in February and it will be processed through the current company, MedPay, and after March 1, self pay statements and phone calls will come from the new vendor instead.

Over 950,000 Americans die each year from cardiovascular disease. Since February is National Heart Month, Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon provides the following facts and tips on heart health:
- 250,000 people die within one hour of onset of a heart attack.
- 60-70% of those individuals are male.
- Heart disease is the number-one killer of American women and men.
- 75-80% of cardiac arrests happen in the home.
- Bystander CPR does improve the outcome once someone has arrested.
- Traditional CPR courses are not reaching those who live with high-risk populations.
- Rapid defibrillation is the most important treatment for victims.
- For every minute delay in defibrillation there is a 10% loss for chance of survival.
- In the case of heart attack, “Time is Muscle.”
- In the case of stroke, “Time is Brain Tissue.”

Sweating, nausea, dizziness and unusual fatigue may not sound like typical heart attack symptoms, but they are common for women. Pain, pressure or discomfort in the chest is not always severe or even the most prominent heart attack symptom, particularly in women. These symptoms may occur more often when women are resting or even asleep.

“That is why it’s important for women to understand their unique symptoms and work to reduce their risk of heart disease,” says Elizabeth Leschensky, family nurse practitioner at Mayo Clinic Health System Franciscan Healthcare in Waukon.

Certain factors play a bigger role in the development of heart disease in women than the traditional risks of high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity. “Women should control traditional risk factors as well as these to help prevent heart disease,” says Leschensky.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Ida Duffy by Kent and Donna Schultz, Laura Duvel, Marilyn Bulman and Wendy Bucheit.

Memorials were also received in memory of Curt “CD” Kruger by Marv and Marge Strike, Dave and Laura Martin, Randy and Karen Loeb, JoAnn Peake, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Orrin and Nan Grangaard, Ken and Jill Lampman, Mae Jean Bakke, John and Lorna Kerndt, Elsa Hager, Craig and Barb Lensing, Robert and Marilyn Bulman, Cyril and Shirley Larkin, Mary Ann Hager, Norb and Nola Palmer, Carol Krumme, Wayne and Nona Sawyer, Dan and Traci Byrnes, Dale and Ann Rademaker, Jackie Westby, Kate Wooden, Jim and Bev Larson-Needham, Lois Evans, Otto and Eleanor Thorstenson, Jim Moritz, Lesa Moose, Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, and Allan and Fern Rissman.

Koal and Ann Deering of Waukon announce the birth of their daughter, Khloe Ann Deering, born January 31, 2017 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 7 lbs. 4 ozs. and measured 21 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins siblings, Kade (6) and Kohen (3).

Grandparents are Steve and Jane Johanningmeier of Waterville and Drew and Annette Deering of Postville. Great-grandparents are Maloy Johanningmeier of Prairie du Chien, WI, Robert and Sandra Deering of Postville, and Lorraine Schultz of Postville.

The 121st annual meeting of Calhoun Coop Creamery, Lansing was held at the Vet's Club in Waukon Tuesday, January 31. A noon meal was served to all by BE Catered of Waukon.

President Dave Bahr called the meeting to order at 12:45 p.m. At the conclusion of the business meeting quality awards were handed out to the following producers:

First-place low bacteria award went to Jerry Egan of Harpers Ferry. There was a tie for second place between Nancy, Mike, Mark and Brenda Hartley of New Albin and Greg and Jenny Conway of Lansing. There were 43 other producers receiving outstanding quality awards.

First-place low somatic cell award also went to Jerry Egan of Harpers Ferry. There were 23 other producers receiving outstanding somatic cell awards with averages under 175,000 for the year.

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that first, nota bene, Donald Trump was not my first choice among Republicans for nomination. Nor second choice. Nor third choice.

However, having said that, he not only won the nomination but also the presidency.

I listen to public radio Saturday and Sunday mornings by default, because regular AM and FM stations have nothing to offer in the way of news and information at those times.

Since way back several years ago, the Wisconsin station denigrated Republicans, in part because of the Republican governor who three times defeated their efforts to oust him. The Minnesota station was not as bad.

But from Trump’s nomination through and since his election, both have been unceasing in their attacks on him. Even the so-called entertainment programming includes several jokes at his expense.

Is an executive order forthcoming taking away federal funds from an obviously biased medium?