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Wed
22
Mar

Word for Word 3/22/23

Rev. Grant VanderVelden
Rev. Grant VanderVelden

“Naomi returned together with Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, who came back with her from the country of Moab. They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.” (Ruth 1:22)

What a pathetic pair of sad-sacks they were that day – Ruth and Naomi – as they shuffle into Bethlehem looking like 40 miles of bad road.

People feel sorry for them, but Naomi wants nothing of their pity. What she really wants is for the gawkers to get as angry with God as she is. And so she tears into Almighty God with the fury of a woman scorned:

“Time was when my name meant ‘Pleasant,’ and I used to be a pretty pleasant person, too,” Naomi laments. “But that was before God messed with my life. Now just call me ‘Bitter,’ because that’s what I am, and it’s all God’s fault!  God is to blame for moving me from Pleasant to Bitter. So come on, folks: Let’s shake an angry fist at Almighty God!”

Wed
22
Mar

Letter to the Editor: Losing local control

To the Editor:

The local option sales tax was approved by Allamakee County voters in 2008 and added 1% to the state sales tax of 6%, for a 7% sales tax rate. The 1% local option sales tax is distributed by the county where it is collected.

In the unincorporated areas of Allamakee County, the voters again approved the measure in 2014. Ballot language stipulated how the funds would be used. It is scheduled to be on the ballot again in 2024. This makes sense - collecting local money and distributing it locally where it is needed.
Senate Study Bill 1125, however, would eliminate the local option sales tax, and increase the state sales tax to 7%. Then the State would determine how to use the extra 1% sales tax.

In Allamakee County, the 1% sales tax receipts are almost $1 million and are distributed as follows: 40% to townships for services that include fire and ambulance, 30% for rural services including law enforcement, and 30% for secondary roads.

Wed
22
Mar

Letter to the Editor: The moral of the story

To the Editor:

A society in which its citizens are unable to agree on what constitutes the truth will find it difficult to reach agreement on pressing issues. That is why the recent revelations documenting the intentional spreading of false information by one of the most popular news sources for many Americans is so troubling. Fox News is watched by 1.6 million people each night and led millions of Americans to believe that Joe Biden had stolen the 2020 election.

One of the major claims pushed at Fox was that the Dominion voting machines had been programmed to switch votes cast for Trump to Biden. Leading Fox commentators including Bret Baier, Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Maria Bartiromo and Lou Dodds continued after the election to repeat the Big Lie and to give airtime to election conspirators Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani.

Wed
22
Mar

Letter to the Editor: March is National Social Work Month

To the Editor:

March is National Social Work Month and offers us a chance to recognize not only the effort, compassion and dedication of those who choose the profession, but also the importance of the work itself.

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers and Iowa Citizen Foster Care Board (FCRB) volunteers closely collaborate with social workers to ensure the children and youth in the child welfare system are safe and receive the care and services they need to thrive.

Social workers are on the front lines of complex life, family and societal issues. They help break down barriers that prevent people from living more full and purposeful lives. They do this on the individual level, helping people with crises like food insecurity, lack of affordable housing, or limited access to good health care, and they do it on a systems level to ensure everyone can access needed services.

Wed
22
Mar

Letter to the Editor: A recipe for disaster

To the Editor:

Based on a true story, unfortunately…

It was a relaxing Saturday morning, until we opened the mail. I opened a letter from Allamakee County, started reading it and asked, “Honey, what’s a large-scale borrow pit?”

“Why?” she shot back at me, sensing the concern in my voice.

I said, “There’s going to be one in Allamakee County.”

Anna grabbed her phone and searched for ‘borrow pit.’ Her face went pale as she handed her phone to me.

That began a slew of phone calls and late-night searches for information that took us down one rabbit hole after another. And I’m sorry to say, we found a lot more than cute little bunnies. Our concern has kept us up until 1 a.m. each night, researching details and calling everyone we can, to find out more about what is happening to Allamakee County.

Sat
18
Mar

Geneva Rice

Geneva M. Rice, 101, of Waukon died Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Tuesday, April 4 at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may greet the family from 10 a.m. until the time of services April 4 at the church. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Geneva May Wilke was born May 17, 1921 in Postville, the daughter of Wilbert and Anna (Miller) Wilke. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville. Genny grew up on her parents’ farm north of Postville and attended Woodland Country School. In December of 1935, they moved into Postville and she graduated from Postville High School in 1938. While living in Postville, Genny worked at Rima Café, The Palm Coffee Shop and Bus Station, and Douglass Pharmacy.

Sat
18
Mar

Sherri Lewey

Sherri Lewey, age 70, of Waukon passed away Thursday, February 16, 2023 at Mayo Clinic Health System - Franciscan Healthcare in La Crosse, WI, with her family and her lifelong best friend, Penny Herman, by her side. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, May 6 at 1 p.m. at Green Valley Getaway, Waukon.

Sherri was born in Waukon November 26, 1952 to Darlene Westerholm (Grandma Betty). She was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon

Although she never learned to swim, she lived by the river and loved to collect artifacts, like fossils, agates and arrowheads. She was an awesome artist and loved to work with clay and feathers. She had a passion for nature and loved animals, especially her dogs, Eddie and Mitzi.

Wed
15
Mar

March is Athletic Training Month; Three trainers at VMH


Athletic trainers at Veterans Memorial Hospital ... March is National Athletic Training Month. Pictured above are the three athletic trainers at Veterans Memorial Hospital including, from left to right, Shelly Valley, who is also a Physical Therapy Assistant; Brad Krambeer, ATC, LAT; and Austin Troendle, who is also a Doctor of Physical Therapy. If a student has an injury that needs to be assessed, the student should contact their coach or school office for an assessment with these professionals at either the school or hospital. Submitted photo.

March is National Athletic Training Month.  Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) has three athletic trainers on staff including Brad Krambeer, ATC, LAT; Austin Troendle, D-PT, ATC, who is also a physical therapist; and Shelly Valley, PT-A, ATC, who is also a physical therapy assistant. These trainers use their variety of skills to rehabilitate athletes, often communicating with physicians to help coordinate the best recovery.

Athletic trainers help treat and prevent injuries for people of all ages from athletes to laborers.  They specialize in the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of physical injuries to the muscle, ligament and bone, as well as rehabilitation following surgery. Athletic trainers are also key in teaching injury prevention by explaining flexibility exercises, proper use of equipment and applying prevention devices such as tape, bandages and braces.

Wed
15
Mar

Veterans Memorial Hospital announces new monthly Stroke Support Group

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon, in conjunction with Steven Mazzafield, Speech-Language Pathologist, is pleased to offer a Stroke Support Group for individuals who have experienced a stroke, as well as caregivers and family members affected by stroke. The stroke support group will be held downstairs in the ICN conference room at Veterans Memorial Hospital the first Thursday of each month at 2 p.m., beginning April 6.

The purpose of the stroke support group is to provide 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.

Wed
15
Mar

Diabetes Support Group Meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, March 16 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital.

First aid and handling emergent situations will be the discussion at this meeting. Topics to be covered include symptoms of heart attack/stroke, choking, CPR and falls. Cheryl Livingston, VMH Paramedic, will present to the group to help everyone feel more comfortable handling these situations which may occur unexpectedly at home or in the public.

Diabetes Educator Angie Mettille, RN, will also discuss hypoglycemia, as this is a common medical emergency that may be encountered. The quicker the action, the better the outcome. Anyone can save a life, and it doesn’t need to be someone with a medical background.

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