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With another one of its largest teams in recent history, the Waukon boys golf program returns nearly all of its top-end players from last season for a 2019 campaign that has seen 19 young men report for early-season duty. Five of this season’s golfers will return with varsity letterwinning experience from two different grade levels, including four multi-year letterwinners.

The Indians were scheduled to get their 2019 campaign underway at home to start this week, hosting both South Winneshiek and Charles City Monday and Tuesday, April 1 and 2, respectively. The golf Tribe was further scheduled to continue its strong early dose of home course advantage, hosting MFL/MarMac and Waverly-Shell Rock in a home triangular Tuesday, April 9.

“We’re looking forward to getting some consistent weather, and looking to keep on improving each meet,” Coach Benson said as the 2019 season gets underway.

A pair of local seniors will be representing their schools one final time this season playing with their top-end peers in the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Senior All-Star Games this Saturday and Sunday, April 6-7 at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. Waukon High School senior Maddie Ahlstrom and Kee High School senior Makayla Walleser will each suit up for that All-Star series for their respective squads.

Ahlstrom is one of 10 seniors selected to play for the Class 3A White squad, a team coached by Nate Wall and Marc Renning from Carroll High School and featuring Josie Condon of Estherville Lincoln Central, a team coached by Waukon native Don Martindale this season. That White squad will take on the Class 3A Grey squad to kick off this year’s All-Star weekend at 12 noon this Saturday, April 6. The Class 3A Grey squad will include fellow Northeast Iowa Conference seniors Drew Becker of Oelwein and Maddi Moorman of New Hampton.

John Kent Smith, age 75, passed away peacefully at Northgate Care Center in Waukon Sunday, March 24, 2019. A memorial celebration of John’s life will be held in July.

John was born September 19, 1943 in rural Postville to Leonard B. and Frances C. Smith. He was a well-known trapper, loved to hunt and fish, was a part-time farmer and planted many walnut trees on the farm.

He is survived by his sisters: Irene Suckow of Kalona, Doris Potts of Cedar Rapids, Jackie Berndsen of Hot Springs, AR and Opal Goeke of Masonville; his brother, Sidney S. Smith of Seefner, FL; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Susan Smith and Evelyn Highley; and a brother, Ivan Smith.
 

David Hogendorn died peacefully Friday, March 29, 2019 at home in Solon surrounded by family. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 6 at the Newman Catholic Center, 104 East Jefferson Street in Iowa City. A visitation will be held before at noon and a lunch will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, direct memorials to the family fund or Iowa City Hospice.

Colorectal cancer can be easily detected, yet it remains the third leading cause of cancer in the United States.  According to the American Cancer Society, one in 24 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime. Unfortunately, only about one in three persons in the U.S. gets the recommended screening. If found early, treatment for colorectal cancer is possible. Because of effective screening efforts, there are now more than one million survivors of colorectal cancer in the U.S.

By Angie Mettille, RN
Diabetic Educator
Veterans Memorial Hospital

Living with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes can make you feel like you have more daily tasks than someone who does not have diabetes. Whether it’s checking your blood sugars, monitoring your carbohydrates, exercising, or taking medications and insulin injections, you probably often feel overwhelmed with your day to day routine.

It is normal to get so caught up in a daily routine that you may forget about the less frequent, but just as important, annual or bi-annual exams that can help you attain the high quality of life you are working towards daily. Dilated pupil exams, dental exams, foot exams, immunizations such as the influenza vaccine, and visits with your diabetes healthcare team are all time-worthy appointments to fit into your calendar.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will sponsor a Babysitting Seminar Saturday, April 13 from 8:30 a.m.-12 Noon. The class will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Intended participants are individuals 10 years of age and older who are responsible for their own care after school until their parents come home from work, and individuals who care for other children in or outside of their own home. Girls are not the sole babysitters in this society. Boys are also welcome and encouraged to attend.

Topics to be covered include fire and personal safety, accident prevention and emergency actions, nutritious snacks and basic care of children.

Thursday afternoon, March 28 from 2-5 p.m., anyone from the general public is welcome to stop into the main entrance of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon for information on how to decrease the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Patty Keeley, Executive Director of the Iowa SIDS Foundation, will be on site to share information on safe sleep for infants, current safe sleep recommendations and resources about the Iowa SIDS Foundation. This is an informal opportunity to ask questions about safe sleep for infants as well.

This open house is available for anyone in the community - those expecting their first child, anyone with young children, any grandparents, anyone who cares for young children or anyone who is just interested in learning the newest facts on safe sleep for infants.

For additional information, call Cheryl Livingston, Paramedic at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will begin the next Prepared Childbirth Education classes (formerly called Lamaze) Monday, April 8, and will continue for two more consecutive Monday evenings beginning at 6 p.m. in the Large Conference Room.

Preregistration is necessary, as seats are limited. Contact Machelle Bulman, RN at 563-568-3411, or register online at www.veteransmemorialhospital.com.  The hospital’s next Prepared Childbirth Education courses are scheduled for July.
 

The next Life Serve Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, April 1 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.  The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

The LifeServe Blood Center seeks donors to ensure a safe and plentiful blood supply in Iowa. Because there is no substitute for human blood, the need for donors is continuous.

How much does one blood donation help? The LifeServe Blood Center states that one blood donation can do the following:

• Cancer: up to eight platelet units per week
• Burn Victims: Up to 20 plasma units
• Automobile Accidents: Up to 50 red blood cell units.
• Premature Infants:  Up to five units
• Heart Surgery: Up to six red blood cell units plus six platelet units
• Organ Transplants: Up to 25 plasma units plus 30 platlet units plus 40 red blood cell units.