News Center newsletter

by Katy Maker, Nurse Midwife and Nurse Practitioner, Veterans Memorial Hospital and Clinics

Gynecologic cancers include cervical cancer, endometrial, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, and vulvar cancers. Of these cancers only cervical cancer is preventable in 90-percent of cases. Screening for gynecologic cancers is important despite feelings of embarrassment.  With an awareness of how personal these exams are, I would strongly recommend establishing care with a healthcare provider that you feel comfortable with, who is respectful, and understands trauma-informed care and that you are sure will answer your questions and respect your concerns.

The local Grief Support Group will again be holding their monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon Thursday, September 3, from 5-6 p.m. in the Meditation Healing Center, located just inside the main entrance of the hospital. Nancy Haberichter will be facilitating the meeting.

This informal meeting is open to anyone who may be 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 will continue meeting the first Thursday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory Floyd Ingles by Kay Carter, Patsy Kerndt, Carol Sivesind and Chuck and Lois Vostmier; in memory of Merrill Jacobs by Wendy Bucheit, Jerry and Carla Schnuelle and Beth and Bill Shafer; in memory of Gary Joahnningmeier by Eunice Kolsrud, Beth and Bill Shafer and Linda Siegrist; in memory of Roger Kruger by Joan Bieber, Patsy Kerndt and Ernie and Donnalee Osland; and in memory of Margaret Krambeer by Mary Fink, Larry and Mary Jo Moore, Rob and Virginia Moore as well as an anonymous donor.

Memorials were also received in memory of Gayle Larkin by Joan Bieber and Chuck and Lois Votsmier and in memory of Jean Mathis by Marilyn Clark, Jane Dietrich, Brad and Erin Berns, Don and DiAnne Haler, James and Jill Kiesau, Dave and Sandy Lyons, Diane Regan, Linda Siegrist, Margo Sweeney and Chuck and Lois Votsmier.

Deadlines/Dates
September 15: Deadline to Update Payment Eligibility for Entities 
September 30: Deadline to Complete Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Mid-Contract Management on the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP); Deadline to remove livestock from Non-Emergency Grazing of Conservation Reserve Program; Deadline to apply for the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP)  Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 1 Quality Loss; Office Fiscal Year Rollover
October 1: Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Mid-Contract Management on Conservation Reserve Program
December 31: Deadline to Apply for Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP)

Thomas and Diana (Zezulka) Deeney of Waukon are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. The couple married September 3, 1966 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Rev. Msgr. Joseph J. Slepicka performing the wedding ceremony in addition to the renewal of their vows on their 40th wedding anniversary.

Their family includes children Leah (Chad) Angel of Waverly, Lana (Dustan) Snitker of Waukon, Charles (Andrea) Deeney of New Albin, James (Kelly) Deeney of Waukon, Joseph (Emily) Deeney of Solon, John (Sarah) Deeney of Omaha, NE and Matthew (Val) Deeney of Decorah. Grandchildren include Rhini, Cede, Trey (Sam), Cali, Kaedan, Meridian, Kyrie, Jared, Megan (Dakota), Macy (Cody), Gracie, Reid, Ava, Mya, Dottie, Birdy, Ollie, Jackie, Georgie, Simon, Owen, and great-grandchildren Braven and Kali.

by Jennifer Bissell

The Waterville Rural Fire Department recently acquired a new piece of equipment that can help the department volunteers do their job more efficiently and potentially save lives.
The roughly 25-member department purchased a drone this past spring, using money raised from its two annual fundraisers. The new drone has already been utilized by the department itself and to assist other entities, including during the Agri Star Meat and Poultry fire in Postville July 28.

by Joshua Sharpe

Construction of Alliant Energy’s battery energy storage system at the site of the former Lansing Generating Station south of the little river town is progressing beyond the initial earthwork phase that has been so prominent for most of this year, moving into a stage where the physical components of the facility will increasingly become more visible to residents.

In a recent project update, Alliant Energy Project Manager Keri Sweeting shared that crews have commenced the installation of conduit to help facilitate energy transmission and are preparing the concrete foundations required to support the battery units. “At Lansing, we have initiated the installation of conduit and will soon begin pouring concrete to support the batteries,” Sweeting stated.

by Joe Moses

Current State of Iowa Auditor and gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand held a Town Hall style meeting Tuesday, August 25 at Robey Memorial Library’s lower-level Community Room in Waukon. The Town Hall was open to the public and credentialed members of the press with all attendees required to RSVP prior to the event.

Approximately 70 individuals were present for the Allamakee County Town Hall included in Sand’s 100 Town Hall Tour taking place in each of Iowa’s 99 counties with two Town Hall meetings taking place in Lee County in the southeast corner of the state which has two county seats, Fort Madison and Keokuk, something that is unique to that county in comparison to the rest of the state.

by Brianne Grimstad

The month of July was a busy month for Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon, which was also reflected in the financial statistics for the month, according to numbers shared at the August meeting of the VMH Board of Trustees. The hospital ended the month with a Net Operating Income of $83,197.

After adding in non-operating revenue and tax appropriations, the hospital ended the month with a Net Income of $207,228. “This shows that if we get people in the door, we can make good things happen financially,” Interim VMH Administrator Garith Steiner noted.

Steiner further explained that for the month of July, comparing the actual Net Income compared to the budgeted Net Income, there is a difference of a little over $249,000, and the hospital had expected to lose some money during the month. The total operating margin had been budgeted at 1.4%, and in actuality it came in at 3.4%.

AWANA stands for “Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed” of the Gospel of Christ, derived from 1 Timothy 2:15 in the Bible. First Baptist Church of Waukon, 614 Rossville Rd., offers this youth program to children of all ages and religious backgrounds to learn Bible verses and to enjoy game-time and council time. AWANA reaches 11 million kids in 140 countries. The first night of AWANA at First Baptist Church is Wednesday, September 9 from 6:15 p.m. - 8 p.m. under the direction of Co-Commanders, Mike and Diane Roth. Feel free to call the church office at 563-568-2225 with any questions or to enroll your child in this program. AWANA meets weekly each Wednesday in accordance with the school calendar year.