News Center newsletter

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) was held Monday, March 16. The board approved the agenda as presented and proceeded on to the public hearing on the 2020-2021 budget.

There were no public comments on the proposed budget. EACSD Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier highlighted some of the specifics about the proposed budget. Later in the meeting the budget was unanimously approved.

The board approved the Resolution entitled “Approve Resolution Authorizing the Redemption of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, Series 2012, Dated April 1, 2012 and Levying a Tax for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 for the Redemption of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, Series 2012, Dated April 1, 2012”. In addition, the board received and filed the Fiscal Year 2019 Audit Report.

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) board members met Thursday morning, March 19 for a special session to address two issues resulting from the mandatory closing of the schools earlier in the week due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. The first item of business was to approve recommendations regarding staff pay during the forced closure.

The board members approved a resolution regarding pandemic response and emergency suspension of policy. The resolution allows for the district to continue paying hourly non-exempt employees in order to retain current employees as well as boost morale during this difficult time. The hourly non-exempt employees will be put on paid administrative leave for up to four weeks during the school closure. Should the closure last longer than four weeks, the board members will then re-evaluate the situation at that time.

The Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) began offering Grab & Go Lunch services Wednesday, March 18 due to the COVID-19 virus and will continue to offer them during the ongoing school shutdown, which is scheduled to end Monday, April 13 at this point in time. Until then, all youth age 18 and under living in the same household as an EACSD student may pick up a single sack lunch each weekday, Monday-Friday, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Meals can be picked up at Kee High School in Lansing or at New Albin Elementary School in New Albin. It does not matter which school a youth is attending, the meals can be picked up from the school that is closest to their residence. All meals will be “sacked” by meal site staff. Those picking up meals will be encouraged to use the on-site hand sanitizer before reaching for their meals and to wash their hands with soap and water before eating.

A wide array of students completed the recent Babysitting class hosted by Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.

The class, which was held Saturday, March 14,  was instructed by Corinne Cook, RN and consisted of teaching the qualities of being a good babysitter including basic child care, accident prevention and first aid. These new babysitters learned CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and the Heimlach Maneuver, to be used in the case of a choking infant or child, and also learned about fire safety.

by Jill Fleming, MS, RD/LD

March is National Nutrition Month. Yes, eating healthy is very important, but it is only part of the equation.  Healthy lifestyles include getting plenty of sleep, keeping stress low, eating healthy and exercising your body most days of the week. The cooler weather in Iowa during early spring months sometimes makes it difficult to get outside to exercise, but have you considered one of the several ways you could exercise indoors?

“Sitting is the new smoking” is a popular expression.  According to a January study in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, sedentary time is associated with a higher risk for certain diseases and mortality. If you spend the majority of your day sitting, you will want to make a point to stand up at least once per hour and maybe do a few simple exercises. In addition to decreasing your risk for disease, standing burns 30% more calories than sitting, so it may help with weight loss too.

The American Diabetes Association recognizes the fourth Tuesday in March as “Diabetes Alert Day”. The purpose of this designated day is to make the public more aware of the risk factors of developing Type 2 Diabetes.

Unfortunately, there are millions of Americans that are undiagnosed with this disease. When one has elevated blood sugars for a long duration of time, which is common in undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes, the likelihood of irreversible complications are increased.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have designed a simple diabetes risk test that can help you identify your risk of developing diabetes. View the diabetes risk test at https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/pdf/Prediabetes-Risk-Test-Final.pdf.

The next local blood drive will still he held Monday, April 6 from Noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Individuals can make a difference by making a life-saving blood donation at this next Waukon Community Blood Drive.

Donating blood is safe, simple and it saves lives.  Blood donors have a unique opportunity to contribute to their community by making a life-saving blood donation.  Everyone who registers to donate blood goes through four simple steps during the donation process: registration, donor history and mini-physical, blood donation and snacks.

New blood donors who are not familiar with the blood donation process are encouraged to ask questions before, during and after their blood donation. Below are a few tips for ensuring a successful donation:

The annual “Family Wellness Fair,” which was scheduled for May 6 at Veterans Memorial Hospital, will be canceled this year. This is due to the current COVID-19 virus situation.

Any local agencies or vendors who were planning to attend this year’s fair will be contacted again next year for the 2021 event.

For any additional information or questions, contact Erin Berns, Public Relations Director at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon at 563-568-3411.
 

by Jill Fleming, RD/LD, Dietitian, Veterans Memorial Hospital

During influenza season, and especially now with the COVID-19 virus emerging so strongly, the following steps are highly recommended by dietitian Jill Fleming of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon for staying healthy:

• Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables
• Stay hydrated with water                                                                                            
• Limit intake of sugar, sweets and soda
• Supplement with vitamin D (2,000-5,000 iu/day)
• Swab inside of nostrils with sesame seed oil (non-toasted)
• Wash hands often and keep hands away from your face.
 

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Brent Johnson by Pat and Kathy McMillan, Dave and Sandy Lyons, Craig and Barb Lensing, James Moritz, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Ardie Kuhse, Wendy Bucheit, Jim and Helen Johnson, Ann Fossum, Jerry and Linda Siegrist and Ernie and Donnalee Osland.

Memorials were also received in memory of Richard Marti by Dan and Traci Byrnes, Patsy Kerndt and Annabelle Marti, and in memory of Marion Clifford “Ole” Olson by Leslie and Donna Lauritsen.

Memorials and donations are appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation and a way to honor a friend or loved one. 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.