Homerun homecoming ... Kee softball junior first baseman Izzy Mettille gets swarmed by her teammates after hitting a solo homerun in the sixth inning of the Hawks’ 4-1 home win over Rockford in the Class 1A Regional Quarterfinals Wednesday, July 9. Mettille joined fellow junior Addison Winters in each blasting a solo homerun in the victory, and those two also joined sophomore center fielder Lilah Strong in each also both driving in a run and scoring a run for the Hawks in the win. Photo by Danielle Potter. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this webpage.
The Class 1A Regional Tournament trail both got its start and came to an end for the Kee softball team this past week, with the Hawks splitting the two regional tournament games they hosted over the latter half of last week to also have their 2025 season brought to a close. After a first-round bye for the Lady Hawks, that tournament trail got its start with a 4-1 home win over Rockford in the Class 1A Region 2 Quarterfinals Wednesday, July 9 before Kee’s summer campaign was brought to a close by a 14-3 loss at home to Riceville in the Region 2 Semifinals Saturday, July 12 in a game originally scheduled for Friday, July 11 but postponed due to stormy weather.
Flippin’ out ... Waukon baseball eighth grade shortstop Jack Papp flips a toss to sophomore second baseman Cael Schellsmidt in the Indians’ 4-0 loss at Dyersville Beckman in the Class 2A District 8 Semifinals Tuesday, July 8. Papp smacked a double for one of the four Indian hits in the ballgame and also reached base twice more on walks while recording three assists and a put-out on defense, and Schellsmidt also drew a walk while recording a team-high seven put-outs and one assist in the season-ending loss. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this webpage.
The Waukon baseball team had its 2025 season brought to a close in the early days of this past week, having to play on back-to-back nights due to the postponement of the Indians’ Class 2A District 8 first-round game from Saturday, July 5 to Monday, July 7. That postseason opener proved to be worth the wait, as the diamond Tribe came away with a 6-4 victory in that July 7 first-round match-up with Clayton Ridge/Central Elkader, earning advancement to the district semifinals played the very next night at Dyersville Beckman, who ended Waukon’s season with a 4-0 defeat.
Gettin’ down and defensive ... Waukon softball senior shortstop Mari Delaney gets down in front of a ground ball in the Indians’ 10-0 loss in the opening round of Class 3A Region 1 Tournament play at top-rated Dubuque Wahlert Thursday, July 10. Delaney recorded the force-out at third base on the play to end up with one assist and one put-out on a diving catch in the ballgame, and she also joined fellow seniors Reese McCormick and Annie Ellingson in each playing in their final games in a Waukon softball uniform. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this webpage.
As if the hills of Dubuque weren’t steep enough to climb on their own, the Waukon softball team faced another steep challenge in having to take its first step down the Class 3A Region 1 Tournament road against the top-rated Wahlert Catholic Golden Eagles in that Dubuque community Thursday, July 10. Being limited to just a single hit, the Lady Indians didn’t commit a single error or give up any free bases on walks or hit batters in the ballgame, but did surrender 14 hits of their own that included four homeruns, two triples and a double for extra bases on the way to a 10-0 Waukon mercy-rule defeat in four innings.
MyChart Trivia at the County Fair ... Visitors to the Veterans Memorial Hospital fair booth this year will be invited to play MyChart Patient Portal Trivia to learn more about all the benefits this new service has to offer and to sign up for this new portal, if they wish. Prizes will be awarded as well as other information and giveaways available. Free health testing including blood pressure checks, blood sugar/diabetes tests and hemoglobin testing will all be offered in addition to “Be the Match’ stem cell sampling for all those ages 18-40. As always, Veterans Memorial Hospital will have a medical kit available for any first aid emergencies on the Fairgrounds. The hospital booth will be located inside the Fairgrounds Pavilion building on the stage area Thursday and Friday, July 17 and 18, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, July 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Submitted photo.
Visitors to the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) fair booth this year will be invited to play MyChart Trivia to learn about the new MyChart Patient Portal offered to all hospital and clinic patients. All will be invited to sign up for this new portal if they have not already. Prizes will be awarded along with support information and other giveaways.
Also, the hospital will again be offering “Be the Match” stem cell sampling for everyone ages 18-40 at the fair. The “Be the Match” stem cell sampling is quick, easy, painless and can truly save a life. This is the same program that Robin Roberts from Good Morning America endorses following her own successful bone marrow transplant match 10 years ago. A blood stem cell donation can be a cure for blood cancer, sickle cell, and other deadly diseases. Many patients and their families are counting on drives like this to find their match. The process is simple and painless and will be available for all visitors to the fair.
by Sheryl Darling-Mooney, RN, Public Health Supervisor, Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care
One of the tasks each year parents experience is getting their children’s immunizations up to date. Common questions include: What is my child’s immunization status? Are they caught up? What do they need? What is that one for?
If you do not have a current immunization record for your child there are a few different ways you can get one. You can obtain a copy from the facility where your child received their immunizations, you can contact your local public health department, or contact your school if your child is school age.
Most states have a statewide immunization database that immunizations are entered into when they are given. Iowa has IRIS (Immunization Registry Information System) that is used by most healthcare providers, public health departments, pharmacies and schools.
In northeast Iowa we are always glad to see the coming warm months of spring and summer. Unfortunately, with that warmer weather we also see an increase in foodborne illnesses.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), foodborne illness affects 48 million Americans, causes 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths annually. Anyone, regardless of race, age, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, is at risk. Fortunately, most foodborne illnesses are self-limiting; however, they cost our nation millions in lost productivity, medical, and legal expenses.
Free sports physicals will be offered one more time, Wednesday, July 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Veterans Memorial Hospital Clinic-Waukon for all junior high and high school students who need the physical exam for participating in the 2024-2025 school sporting events.
This clinic will include all necessary documentation, including a concussion screening, for participation in all school activities. Physicals are scheduled in one-hour segments. The clinic staff will not be administering vaccines during this time. If those are needed for students, call the clinic at 563-568-5530 to schedule an appointment.
Students in area schools were emailed a Google doc (2025 Athletic Physicals) to sign up for a time slot for this free clinic. Parent emails will not work for sign-up so students will need to sign up for a time slot that works best for them or the family.
Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Daniel Schmitt by Steven and Sheryl Evanson and Ernie and Donnalee Osland, in memory of Robert and Shirley Heimer by Joel and Mary Anderson, and in memory of Bill Smith by friends and family of Bill Smith.
Memorials were also received in memory of Dr. Bill Withers by Carl and Betty Christianson, Dean “Beanzy” Schellhammer and Bill and Linda Withers.
In addition, memorials were also received in memory of Lisa Kerndt by Pat Pettingill and the Lisa Kerndt Estate.
Memorials and donations are greatly appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation. The Foundation is a 501C3 organization. All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Memorials and donations can be sent to the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA 52172.
Ken and Alice Hanson of Lansing celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this month with family. Ken Hanson and Alice Bechtel were united in marriage July 10, 1960 at the United Methodist Church in Lansing.
The couple has three children, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Veronica Santoyo of Calmar and Christopher Southerland of Waukon announce the birth of their son, Nico Esteban Santoyo, born July 5, 2025 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 8 lbs. 10 ozs. and measured 21 inches in length at the time of his birth. He joins siblings, Sophia Hernandez (5), Mateo Hernandez (3) and Joslynne Williams (5).
Amber Reyes of Cresco is a grandparent and Bonnie Stifel of Postville is a great-grandparent.
