News Center newsletter

Waukon High School 2023 graduate Carter Schellsmidt recently committed to furthering his collegiate baseball career by signing a letter of agreement with Valparaiso University located in Valparaiso, IN. The Crusader baseball program competes in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is also a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.

A five-year varsity mainstay during his high school baseball career for the Indians, Schellsmidt etched his name among the best players in the history of the program. During his senior season at the catcher position, Schellsmidt set a new single-season record for runners thrown out caught stealing with 21 such denials that also led all Class 2A catchers and ranked second among all high school catchers in the state of Iowa during that 2023 season.

For the third year, Bandmates, Brothers and Friends (BBF) will reunite in Waukon for another night of outstanding musical entertainment to benefit the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation. The event will again be held Friday evening of Mother’s Day Weekend, May 9, from 6-11 p.m. at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. This year, they welcome the regionally known JayR Brink Band to close out the musical line-up that night.

This year will mark the 47th year since many of BBF’s original band members had first played in a band together. These musicians come from four past area bands including Rising Sun, Horizon, Jackson Junction and Deep River. Many of the returning musicians are from Waukon including brothers Bill Withers, Jim Withers and John Withers, along with Gary Hesla, Bob Bechtel, Dave Dougherty, Brad Prestemon, Todd Pickett and Joel Anderson.  They will be joined by Keel Clemmens and Jamey Lideen, longtime band members over the decades.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Speech - Language Pathologist Steven Mazzafield offers a Stroke Support Group for individuals who have experienced a stroke, as well as caregivers and family members affected by stroke.

Monthly meetings are held the first Thursday of every month at 2 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital. The next Stroke Support Group meeting will be held Thursday, March 6, at 2 p.m.

The Stroke Support Group provides 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 people 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.

The local Grief Support Group will be holding its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon Tuesday, March 11, at 4 p.m. in the Meditation Healing Center, located just inside the main entrance of the hospital. This informal meeting is open to anyone 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 group meets the second Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.
 

by Brandy Strub, Registered Dietitian, Veterans Memorial Hospital

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, March 20, 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.

This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or has a friend or loved one with diabetes.  For more information about the Diabetes Support Group, call Angie Mettille, RN, Certified Diabetes Educator at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Gary Schulte by Bernard and Eileen Berns, Bill and Ellie Collins, Larry and Bonnie Kipper and Richard and Sue Schulte; in memory of Roger Stock by Ron and Nancy Adam, Ken and Rose Beardmore, Mary Ann Hager and Larry Snitker; and in memory of Francis Stortz by Mary Fink and an anonymous donor.

Memorials were also received in memory of  Bernice Thies by Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Sigurd and Barb Ness, Dave and Gail Prestemon and Diane Regan; in memory of Dale Tieskoetter by James Morritz and Barbara Tieskoetter; in memory of Mike Tierney by Tom Tierney; in memory of Otto and Eleanor Thorstenson by Sandy and Dennis Deal; in memory of Joe and Alberta Troendle by Jerry and Marilyn Troendle; in memory of Tom and Tony Urell by Kate Urell; and in memory of Thomas “Tommy” Thomson by Steve and Chris Weymiller and Marilyn Clark.

Why Lent?

We are just about to begin the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which lasts for 40 days (not counting Sundays). It seems like every year I hear comments from different people who don’t like Lent, such as, “It just makes me feel sad” or “It’s hard to hear so much about the suffering and death of Jesus,” and “Why can’t we focus on more pleasant things?” Today, I want to address some of these concerns and explain why Lent, though a somber and penitential a season, is truly a great comfort for every Christian.

Lent is a somber season. Ash Wednesday reminds us that God created man from dust and one day to dust we shall return. It reminds that we are not invincible. We will not live forever. “The wages of sin is death.” Death is proof of our sin. It makes it clear that we need a Savior.

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

Water Quality
by Eric Novey, NRCS
In a recent article by Brian Dougherty, Understanding Ag consultant, titled “Busting myths on the road to water quality” he discussed the significance of nitrogen source and how plants obtain nutrients in healthy soil. He notes that ammonium and nitrate are both inorganic forms of nitrogen, with nitrate being the most likely to leach because of its negative charge and higher water solubility.

Melvin “Mel” K. Breeser, 82, of La Crescent, MN, formerly of New Albin, went to Heaven in Jesus’ arms February 22, 2025, after his courageous battle with cancer. He passed in the warmth of his home with his loving daughters by his side.

An intimate gathering of family will be held at Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church in rural New Albin. Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Caledonia Chapel, is in charge of arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be offered to Mel’s family at www.FredricksonFuneralHomes.com.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce; daughters, Dawn and Lisa (Todd); and son, Jamie; six grandsons, Eric (Peyton), Drew, Blake (Kate), Austin (Raynee), Cody and Wyatt; five great-grandchildren, Elijah, Berkeley, Oliver, Addy and Blair. Mel is also survived by his brother, Randy (Diane); his sister, Lila (Larry); and his sister-in-law, Luise.