September 2013

Wed
11
Sep

Marjorie Phillips to be grand marshal

 

CUTLINE: Majorie Phillips will be the grand marshall for the Wadena Day parade, which is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15

 

 

 

Marjorie Phillips to be grand marshal

 

Brian Smith
Contributing Writer

 

Marjorie Phillips has been chosen to be the grand marshal for this year’s Wadena Day parade, which will be held on Sunday, Sept. 15, in Wadena. The parade is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., with a roast beef dinner to be held by the Wadena-Illyria Betterment Committee from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Legion Hall.

Wed
11
Sep

Fayette mayor will not seek re-election

 

Fayette mayor will not seek re-election

 

Janell Bradley
Contributing Writer

 

Fayette Mayor Bill Dohrmann announced Tuesday, Sept. 3, that he will not seek re-election.

After having served first as a city councilman, and then as mayor for 22 years, Dohrmann told the council at its meeting Tuesday, that he intends to retire at the end of his current term.

The mayor's seat and all five council positions will be on the November ballot.

"For Fayette to be a successful community on all fronts the city needs citizens to continue to step forward with time as well as volunteering to be in leadership roles," Dohrmann stated. "I encourage each of you to again run for the City Council." 

He added, "My thanks to you, Christie, and former councilmembers and to our City employees. It has been a pleasure to serve Fayette as mayor." 

Wed
11
Sep

City to offer Main Street property for $1

 

CUTLINE: The Fayette City Council will take bids of at least $1 in its intent to sell this building at 215 South Main, part of the downtown business district. Stipulations include that the new owners must make a minimum of $20,000 in improvements to the facade and interior, keeping with the downtown's recent facade improvements. The building had most recently been a dwelling but had previously been the Sugar Bowl restaurant. (Janell Bradley photo)

 
 
 
 
 
 

City to offer Main Street property for $1

 

Janell Bradley
Contributing Writer

 

 

Property purchased earlier by the City of Fayette will now be offered to the public at a minimum cost of $1.

Wed
11
Sep

SW board presented with goals

 

CUTLINE: Allan Schmitt (seated) was honored for his 14 years of service to the South Winn school board at its Tuesday, Sept. 3, meeting. After serving as president for many years, Schmitt has decided not to seek re-election. Other current members of the board include (standing, l-r) Bob Busch, Arnie Kriender, Wendy Mihm-Herold, and Don Schroeder. (submitted photo) 

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

SW board presented with goals

 

Becky Walz
News Editor

bwalz@fayettepublishing.com

 

Wed
11
Sep

Monroe cherishes each day battling breast cancer

CUTLINE: As a mother of two, Amy Monroe (center), is grateful for the love and support of family and friends. She is pictured with her 11-year-old son, Parker, and 14-year-old daughter, Makinzie. Last year, at the age of 36, Monroe was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer, underwent chemotherapy, radiation, and a modified radical mastectomy; the cancer has since returned. A benefit is set for Sunday, Sept. 15, at First United Methodist Church in Decorah to help the family pay for medical expenses. (submitted photo) 

 
 
Benefit Sept. 15 for Monroe and family

Monroe cherishes each day battling breast cancer

 

Becky Walz
News Editor

bwalz@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

“I hope everyone lives each day to the fullest and cherishes everyone that has walked into their lives,” said Amy Monroe, LBSW (Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker), quietly after sharing her story of how breast cancer has affected her young life and those of her two children, Makinzie and Parker. 

Although Amy has admittedly undergone many changes in her life in the past year, there is none more significant than the battle with Stage IV breast cancer she continues to fight. 

Raised on a farm in rural Castalia, working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) for many years and raising two kids, Amy Monroe recognized that she had an ailing back, but she didn’t realize just how bad it was until 2012.

That was when the first blow came.

The 1994 South Winn graduate finally gave in and made an appointment in January 2012 to see a doctor and found she had not one, but two herniated disks.

Upon entering the exam room Monroe had the preconceived notion that her back was just sore and that she would be able to get steroid injections, but she walked out with back surgery scheduled.

“I remember the surgeon walking in while on the phone and saying he couldn’t do it that day or that week, but maybe the next,” recalled the mother of two. “I ended up having surgery the next week.”

The same-day surgery didn’t keep Amy off her feet for long, and she returned to her job at Lutheran Services of Iowa and raising 14-year-old Makinzie and 11-year-old Parker.

Following her back surgery, Amy began to experience a tenderness and inflammation of her left breast.

“I had a feeling that I knew what it was. But I didn’t tell my parents (Jerry and Pat Monroe) about my suspicions,” said Amy as she sat in her parents’ living room.

Since first experiencing the symptoms, Amy found that many of the books she gravitated toward reading on her Kindle always involved characters with breast cancer, with a message about dealing with or helping family members deal with the disease.

It was June 2012 and nearly six months before she was back in the doctor’s office for an appointment that would change her life forever.

In early June, Dr. Janet Ryan had the same suspicions as Amy and scheduled a mammogram for her in LaCrosse days later.

“The test showed a mass consistent with cancer, but the doctors were thorough and ran many other tests, including a PET, an ultrasound, and eventually a biopsy,” explained Amy of the diagnosis process. “I think the books I read had an impact on me and I was already at peace with it.”

Within days, the young mother would began meeting with an oncology team about the plan of attack on the breast cancer the Gundersen Lutheran doctors classified as Stage III.

The first of eight cycles of chemotherapy began July 3, 2012, as Amy continued to work three jobs and raise her children on her own in Decorah.

“I was grateful that my doctor was able to work with Winneshiek Medical Center for those 16 weeks of chemo treatments, so I didn’t have to drive to LaCrosse every day,” Amy said with gratitude.

Once the series of treatments concluded, the team of doctors suggested — and Amy agreed — to undergo a modified radical mastectomy of the left breast in October.

She was amazed to learn that just as with her back surgery, the mastectomy was considered a same day procedure and she was discharged home to recuperate with her family.

During the 4-hour surgery, doctors removed 14 lymph nodes in and around her left breast, seven of which were confirmed to be malignant.

“They first took the lymph nodes involving the breast and they kept moving outwards and removed additional lymph nodes until the biopsies as free of cancer cells,” related Monroe.

As soon as Amy had regained her strength, the doctors began to vigorously attack any remaining cancer cells with radiation. It involved daily trips to LaCrosse with weekends off; rides were coordinated with her family, church family, and friends. 

“I was sort of tattooed at the spot the (radiation) beam would concentrate on, but because of the location being so close to my heart, I had to concentrate on my breathing as the beam hit its mark,” Amy recalled.

During the 25-minute daily sessions, she would have to remain as still as possible while lying on a customized cocoon-like board, as technicians sent the radiation beam into her body at the exact moment her heart was furthest from the light.

Throughout many of the team meetings and treatments, Amy continued to be strong for her children and allowed them to attend many treatments with her and ask questions.

“I never hid it from them, and they felt comfortable watching me take my radiation treatments as I needed. It helped them understand what I was going through,” noted the mother of two.

But once again, the 37-year-old had that nagging suspicion that more was to come.

Following the mastectomy and as she continued the radiation treatments, Amy noticed what she considered a fluid sac under her left arm and figured it was nothing more than exactly that.

Waiting to see if the fluid eventually went away, Amy did not return to see her doctors until May 2013, when she was informed that the fluid could not be drained and it was of a suspicious nature.

A biopsy of the fluid and a PET scan later, Amy learned that not only had the breast cancer returned, but had spread and was now identified as Stage IV.

Doctors immediately put together a plan of action, and Amy once again began chemo treatments. However, with a body that has endured so much trauma in the past year, Amy has been unable to continue taking treatments.

“They were making me too sick, and I was ending up in the hospital every other week with dehydration,” admitted the breast cancer patient.

The young mother has turned her attention to regaining her strength and has moved into her parents’ home near Castalia to recuperate.

She has been forced to give up her job and Makinzie and Parker are now staying with their aunt and uncle, Matt and Julie Mettille.  They have guardianship so the children can remain in the Decorah School District.

“We still talk every night about how the day has gone. I get to see the kids every couple of days, and they understand that this is time for me to heal so we can return to our home,” Amy said of the family’s living situation.

 

 

A benefit to help the Monroe family with Amy’s medical related expenses is planned from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, at First United Methodist Church in Decorah. It will include the raffle of a queen-size quilt featuring local points of interest, a silent auction, and a free will donation lunch will be provided by B.E. Caterering of Waukon..

Cash donations are also being accepted at Viking State Bank and may be sent to Viking State Bank, 321 W. Water Street, Decorah, IA 52101 marked “Amy Monroe Cancer Benefit Fund.”

 
Tue
10
Sep

Gage - Drilling ...engaged...

 

 

 

 

Gage - Drilling

...engaged...

Samantha M. Drilling and Morgan R. Gage are please to announce their engagement and future marriage.

Samantha is the daughter of Brian and Kelli Drilling of St. Lucas. Morgan is the son of Butch Gage of West Union and Lyndee Gage of Hawkeye.

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