News Center newsletter

Anyone interested in being appointed to the current At-Large vacancy on the Waukon City Council created by the recent passing of council member Kevin Johnson will need to complete an Expression of Interest Letter available through the Waukon City Hall or on the City of Waukon website at https://www.cityofwaukon.com/. This completed form should then be returned to the Waukon City Clerk’s office either by emailing cityclerk@cityofwaukon.com or dropping it off at City Hall.

The National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) has awarded full 10-year reaccreditation to Northeast Iowa Community College’s (NICC) Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing programs - the only community college Nursing programs in Iowa that are accredited. The programs previously earned six-year accreditation from NLN CNEA.

“We are incredibly proud of our nursing staff and faculty, whose dedication and expertise make our program one of the very best in the state of Iowa. Our students consistently demonstrate excellence and this continued accreditation is a testament to their hard work and the outstanding education they receive at Northeast Iowa Community College. This achievement reaffirms our commitment to preparing highly skilled, compassionate nurses who will make a meaningful impact in healthcare,” said NICC Dean of Nursing Sarah Carlson.

The Kee High School spring production “Larceny and Old Lace,” by Van Vandagriff through Pioneer Drama Service, is a comedy with a casino theme, so why not have a casino-themed dinner before the show? The production is scheduled for the first weekend in April.

Dinner theater-only tickets are now available for purchase online (digitally) from March 12-21 for the dinner and show performance scheduled for Saturday, April 5. There is limited seating, and the software program Ludus is being used for the ticket purchases at the following online site: keedrama.ludus.com. That site will allow interested individuals to select their seat(s) (tables/seats are set up in the Kee High School gym) and purchase an online ticket. This is the only way to purchase a dinner theater ticket.

Those who are having trouble purchasing the online ticket should stop by the Kee High School office for assistance. Bingo, the meal, and the show all take place in the gym.

by Connor Meyer
Respiratory Therapist
Veterans Memorial Hospital

Anyone who struggles to get a good night’s sleep, may have an underlying reason.  Common causes include stress, irregular sleep schedule, anxiety and depression, physical ailments, neurological problems, and sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that is caused by brief, repeated episodes of interrupted or shallow breathing during sleep. These episodes can last from a few seconds to several minutes.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea include snoring (most common), headaches, daytime sleepiness, frequent wake-ups at night, night sweats, waking up out of breath, and restlessness.

March is National Nutrition Month and March 12 is National Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day. A registered dietitian nutritionist is a food and nutrition expert who can translate the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living. Registered dietitian nutritionists have a degree in either nutrition, dietetics, public health or a related field from well-respected, accredited colleges or universities. They have completed an internship, passed examinations, and use their nutrition expertise daily to help individuals make unique, positive lifestyle changes.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists work throughout the community in hospitals, such as Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH), in schools, public health clinics, nursing homes, fitness centers, food management positions, food industry, universities, in research or in private practice.

Measles cases are on the rise and are highly contagious. Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it is so contagious that if one person has it, nine out of 10 people of all ages around him or her will also become infected if they are not protected.

The best way to prevent measles is to get the measles - mumps - rubella shot (called MMR). The MMR vaccine is very safe and effective. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) was recently made aware that a few people in the community have received a phone call, asking for their personal health insurance information.

Veterans Memorial Hospital warns everyone to never give their health insurance information out over the phone. Medicare will never call a patient to update or get insurance information, so never give that information out over the phone. Even if the caller knows the right name and address, it does not mean it is a credible call, they may have just gotten that information out of a phone book.

Be careful with all callers. Always contact Veterans Memorial Hospital with questions at 563-568-3411.

Pat Hansmeier of Waukon will be celebrating her 80th birthday March 22. In honor of this milestone birthday, cards and well wishes may be sent to her at 17 2nd St. NW #102, Waukon, IA 52172.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Sarah Welsh by Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Don and Cathy Baxter, Brad and Erin Berns, Mary Ann Burke, Randy Burke, Dan and Traci Byrnes, Carl and Betty Christianson, Don and DiAnne Haler, Clint and Dacia Johnson, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Fred and Lisa Mathews, Robert and Jeanine Mathis, Pat Pettingill, Dave and Gail Prestemon, Diane Regan, Meg Schaller, Dean Schellhammer, Linda Siegrist, Matthew and Ciara Snitker, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Terry and Laurie Welch, Frank and Jean Ann Weymiller and Kevin and Teri Welsh.

Memorials were also received in memory of Erma Williams by Gary Williams, in memory of Wesley and Evelyn Winters by Raymond Winters, in memory of the Wood Family by Rod and Sandy Ronan, and in memory of Lora Zieman by James Zieman.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
March 31: Deadline to request Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL) for prior year harvested wheat, barley, canola, crambe, flaxseed, honey, oats, rapeseed, and sesame.
March 31: 2025 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC)  Program Sign-up deadline
April 15: 2025 Agriculture Risk Coverage & Price Loss Coverage Program (ARC/PLC) Signup deadline
May 31: Deadline to request a Marketing Assistance Loan (MALs) for 2024 farm stored or warehouse stored grain