Nurses: Heart of Health Care
Four months ago, when nominations started coming in for the Tribune Person of the Year, there was strong support for nurses — all of them — serving our community during the pandemic
In fact, health care workers overall came in second to the eventual Person of the Year Jennifer Rombalski, the La Crosse County Health Department director who is moving to a key position in the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
As one Person of the Year nominator wrote: “Never have we seen such a strain on our excellent facilities, and yet day after day, our friends, neighbors and family members who work at Gundersen ... and Mayo are literally putting their lives in danger as they battle COVID-19 on the front lines. They show courage, grace and compassion, despite exhaustion, fear and uncertainty. I can think of no one who deserves this honor more.”
Today, the River Valley Media Group begins our annual “Nurses: The Heart of Health Care” program. Here’s your chance to nominate nurses who are serving our community so steadily.
“Nursing is a demanding profession with more challenges faced in 2020 than ever before due to COVID-19,” the program states. “Nursing professionals do far more than most people imagine — and their impact is enormous.”
Anyone can nominate a nurse who has made a difference in their life of the life of a loved one during 2020. Nominations are open now until March 17 at go.lacrossetribune.com/nurses
After collecting nominations, an independent panel of judges will choose nine extraordinary nursing professionals, and one Nurse of the Year will be chosen in late March.
The honored nurses will be recognized in a River Valley Media Group special section in our papers on Sunday, May 9; there also will be a video presentation online highlighting each professional’s story.
Holmen, Wis.
Three besties caring for each other by wearing masks
Jim Falls, Wis.
My granddaughter Johana and I - Getting through COVID-19 pandemic - "We can do it!"
La Crescent, MInn.
This is my 3 year old son Julian. I like to get my kids their favorite color and/or character to make it a little more fun to wear.
Working at the Tomah VA serving our Veterans during this pandemic!
In My Family We all Wear Our Masks Cindy And Baby V
mask made by fellow West Salem High School chemistry teacher
La Crosse punk
"My band had some masks printed to add to our merchandise line-up! Zammek - La Crosse Punk"
Lace for a lady
Caring for the community
A retired state social worker and her daughter who is a public school teacher say, “wearing masks when out and about is a simple and loving thing to do for your community.”
A mask with bling
Fancy that - a mask with bling!
Dinner guests
Having dinner guests together at home. Left to right, Don Smith, Mary Rohrer, and Nancy Korn Smith. We asked our readers to show off their masks for all to see. Use a form at https://go.lacrossetribune.com/Photos and send photos our way. We’ll put them in galleries that we will share on social media, and we’ll publish some of them in our papers.
A Friendly smile
"I intended this to my likeness and a friendly everyday mask. I was disappointed when i received it. Frankly, it's ridiculous...so I'll give readers a good laugh."
October 6: GIrls WIAA Division 2 sectional golf
Aquinas’ Alexis Smith hits an approach shot at the WIAA Division 2 girls golf sectional at Drugan’s Castle Mound in Holmen.
October 2: Edgar vs Onalaska
The Onalaska dance team performs at halftime.
October 2: Edgar vs Onalaska
Masked spectators watch the game.
September 22: Aquinas vs Onalaska
JB Weiser makes a save for Aquinas.
September 17: Westby vs Aquinas
Aquinas’ Lauren Kelsey, left, and Victoria Nolte attempt a block on Westby’s Macy Stellner.
September 17: Westby vs Aquinas
Aquinas’ Victoria Nolte serves.
September 17: Westby vs Aquinas
The Westby tem celebrates a point won.
Holmen school lunches
Heather Mathwig, right, and Analise Smith with the Holmen School District Nutrition Department bag individual pizzas at Holmen Middle School.
Noodles & Company
Menche Evans cooks in the kitchen at the new Noodles & Company in Onalaska.
September 10: Dover-Eyota vs. La Crescent-Hokah
La Crescent-Hokah girls soccer head coach Jake Smith talks with player Olivia Meyer.
Onalaska Football
Onalaska head coach Tom Yashinsky runs football practice.
College during COVID
Western Technical College student Emery Thompson has his temperature taken by human resources department employee Jackie Kettner before entering the bookstore.
College during COVID
Face mask wearing students walk to and from classes on the first day of the fall semester on the UW-La Crosse campus.
Vice President Pence at Dairyland
Attendees give applause during the "A Stronger America Workforce" event at Dairyland Power Cooperative.
Vice President Pence at Dairyland
A woman in attendance for the "A Stronger America Workforce" event at Dairyland Power Cooperative with Vice President Mike Pence wears a patriotic facemask.
Scooping up smiles
Marty Diersen with the Sweet Shop hands a cone to Joy Benson, a member of Logan High School’s class of 1969, dressed as the children’s book character Raggedy Ann.
