By Elaine Rassel
Well, the time has come for me to return to normal life! I have been out of commission since May 28! I want to thank my secretary, Bethany for all the work she did and any others that helped during this time. Your work was appreciated!
After leaving Floyd Valley, I went to Marcus Heartland Care Center to recuperate. I can sure see why Heartland Care Center was named as such. Their employees Care from their Hearts all the residents at their Center.
I was in the last room (309) of the nine rooms they recently built on. These rooms are beautiful. Hopefully some of the first rooms can be the start of a remodeling, also.
I do want to thank those that work at the Center for the care they gave me. There are many things I cannot eat and it seemed I was always asking the kitchen to substitute something. The Physical Therapy that comes there are a great group, even though most of their patients don’t care to have them_however, their assistance in getting a patient better is needed. I would say, “If someone else would like to take my spot with you, they may do so!” And, the answer would always be, “No way!”
They were concerned about me having 16 steps to get to my bedroom. Well, I did it and in no time at all! Even coming down was no problem! The most ironic thing that happened to me was the previous Friday to when I went home the next Friday. That morning I had an 8 a.m. physical therapy call. The rest of the day was the worst day I had had in all the time I was laid up. I didn’t go out for lunch or supper. It seemed I was asking for pain pills all the time. Then it happened_after midnight going into Saturday morning, suddenly the pain disappeared. There was no pain on Sunday, either. Monday morning, Therapist Jerry came and I began the long walk to the Therapy room with no cane or walker! So for the rest of the week, I was getting ready to go home. I still cannot understand why the pain just suddenly disappeared.
I was tired of looking at the St. Louis Cardinals’ playing field. One of the last games, the Royals really had a bad streak of not winning. Their last game was won by the Red Sox who had 15 and the Royals finished with a homer to make it 1 to 15!
The two at home have been cooking! She asked how to make meat squares (meat loaf in a 9 x 9 pan). Then how hot an oven and for how long. She goes by the oven clock and doesn’t check until it goes off! They were going to have baked beans so I told her they better be in first. There wouldn’t be room in the oven for Betty Crocker’s potatoes, so they would have to have instant potatoes. I wish I had been a mouse in the corner when this meal was being put together! At least she tried.
When I arrived home on Friday, July 2, I went right upstairs. The television was on. She had left it on because she was used to having in on all night when I was home. As I walked by it, it suddenly went off! Then she said it was probably my new hip that the television wasn’t going to accept. “You know, like when you go through Walmart’s and the buzzer goes off!” I got out of bed and walked in front of it again. Still no television reception. Finally she messed around with it and it came back on. I still don’t know what caused it to go off in the first place.
When we went through Marcus, I saw that the former Casey’s was stripped of their logo. Downtown, Knudson’s building had gotten upstairs windows. I have pictures if there is room for them. One of the pictures is of when there was some structural problem and the upstairs had to come down. It really looks nice now.
Nine new Iowa laws went into effect on Thursday, July 1, 2021. Thanks to the passage of House File 766, third-party vendors can deliver alcohol to Iowans in their homes. House File 756, Iowans no longer need to acquire a permit to carry a firearm. Senate file 546, learning drivers are no longer required to receive in-person instruction from a licensed instructor. Iowa parents can be their teenagers’ driver’s ed teachers.
Senate File 342 included some provisions designed to crack down on protesters: individuals cannot obstruct a public roadway, anyone present during a riot_as defied by state law_is guilty of a felony, and the penalties for riot crimes are increased from misdemeanors to felonies.
House File 81 allows for the creation of new taxpayer-funded schools without consent of the local school board. House File 802 states Iowa’s public K-12 schools and universities no longer can train staff or teach students using what the legislation calls “divisive topics,” including that an individual by virtue of his or her race or sex is inherently racist, that Iowa or the United States is fundamentally or systematically racist or sexist, and others, thanks to House File 802.
House File 302 allows low-income Iowans in the upper threshold for child care assistance to no longer have to worry about losing all that assistance once they start making a little more money.
Houses File 534 states if a driver involved in a crash in which another motorist is injured leaves the scene, the fleeing driver can be charged with a felony; instead of a misdemeanor.
Senate File 243 was spurred by the death of Noah Herring, a 15-year-old Tiffin boy who drowned in Coralville Lake. Three teens and an adult were present when Herring drowned, but no one called 911 or disclosed information about the incident for four days. Now, a new crime was created for any individual who fails to disclose the location of a corpse.
Marcus has been busy getting ready for their big celebration that will be included in the Marcus Fair. I went back in my files and found that in 1915, Marcus was also planning an August celebration. What they didn’t do to get ready for this! They made sure properties got cleaned up. They were counting on people for miles away to show up. I don’t know if the picture of the automobiles lined up by Knudson’s corner can be put in the paper, but will try. There was also another picture of a float in the Blue book.
Ila O’Brien arrived in Marcus from Tennessee for the rest of the summer. She didn’t come back in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Barb Moats and family had a private burial for her sister, on Friday. She passed away in Arizona. May they be comforted by her memories.
Remember in your prayers and thoughts those that have lost loved ones to death, are struggling with health or financial problems, and are still distanced from family or friends. Consider making amends before it is to late. I see where Princes William and Harry did get together to unveil a statue of them as youngsters and their mother, Princess Diana who would have been celebrating her 60th birthday. It’s too bad that Harry cannot see the handwriting on the wall that his wife is doing.