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Excellence meets convenience at Ringgolod County Hosptial |
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After more than 50 years in its original building, Ringgold County Hospital proudly opened the doors to its new hospital in December 2009. Designed and built with state-of-the-art technology, the facility allows hospital staff to combine the latest in science and medicine with the art of caring. For Ringgold County area residents, the result is the power of healthcare, close to home.
People living in rural areas shouldn’t have to choose between excellence and convenience when it comes to their health. Everyone deserves access to the best care available today. And the team at Ringgold County Hospital believes that providing first-class health care contributes to a higher quality of life – for everyone in the community.
At Ringgold County Hospital, patients are treated with the same care and compassion as neighbors or as family members, because often they are. No one is a number. Each patient is an individual with a story to tell, and a life to get back to. No matter what role they play, every member of the hospital staff takes pride making their patients’ experiences as comfortable as possible.
Just about all the services found in a big-city hospital can be accessed in Ringgold County. General and orthopedic surgeons are on staff. Ear/Nose/Throat and ophthalmology surgeons visit on a regular basis. Inpatient care is provided for both acute and skilled needs. Emergency, medical imaging, rehabilitation, laboratory, pharmacy, and dialysis services are provided. Oncology, vascular, and cardiology are among the specialty clinics that make scheduled visits. In addition, the hospital is home to the Mt. Ayr Medical Clinic, which offers quality care for all ages.
The hospital was designed and built using the most current thinking on how to speed recuperation. Patient rooms are called “Wellness Rooms” because that is what happens there. They are quiet and peaceful and can accommodate family members if needed.
The rehabilitation area boasts a fully equipped gym with plenty of room for getting stronger. But it’s the warm-water therapy pool that really sets it apart. With physical therapists certified in performing aquatic therapy, they provide their patients with a progressive system for speedy recovery that most urban hospitals do not offer.
Unlike most rural hospitals, Ringgold County has a dialysis unit. Designed with patient comfort as a top priority, oversized recliners and radiant heating help make each treatment a little easier. And all the equipment needed is within easy reach of their skilled technicians.
Although it was built for today, Ringgold County Hospital was designed with tomorrow in mind. Within the hospital, each department has room to accomodate both current and future technologies. And the 22-acre campus will allow the hospital to grow when more spaces is needed.
A truly dedicated staff, state-of-the-art technologies, and a beautiful facility all work together to provide the people of southern Iowa powerful healthcare, close to home.
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Diagonal Printing Museum and Genealogy Center |
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At the south end of Broadway Street in Diagonal there is a white-sided  building filled with newspaper equipment and genealogy of early and currenty residents. This is the only printing museum in Iowa with the linotype and praper printer set in place.
In 1922 Tom Waffle pruchased the Dr. A.E. Jessup building as a permanent home for the hometown newspaper, The Diagonal Reporter. Harold Turnbull was hired as an apprentice to learn the newspaper business that same year. In 1937 Harold and his wife Mildred purchased the building. The second-story apartment was home to the Turnbulls during his tenure as publisher and owner. Fifty years later when Helen Terry of Mount Ayr became the owner, Harold wrote his last published issue (April 1972) in the Reporter:
So now we have written much and left volumes unrecorded.
For Mildren and myself, it is time to write...
 It seems fitting that the same building that once housed this business would become the town's museum. In 1983 a group of community members began the process of refurbishing the facility to house a wealth of history. Today visitors can find artifacts suited to early farming, a 1930's kitchen and laundry area, a doctor's room , and a school room. A clothing room is adorned with attire typical of an earlier time. Knowlton, now a ghost town, is featured in diorama. Because early residents of Diagonal came from Bohemia, there are many items unique to that country.
Downstairs visitors can find the genealogy library plus volumes of Bohemian books, texts written by local writers, and historically significant scrapbooks. The musuem is a great way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Other times can be arranged by contacting Arlene Sobatka at 641-734-5540.
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Bob Johnson |
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Bob Johnson has spent most of his life in small town Tingley (pop. 200), Iowa, employed by Ringgold County Secondeary road Department for the last 24 years.
Bob has had several hobbies like hunting-fishing-horses-cattle and now DOGS. His hobbies seem to turn into a sideline business. Bob's hunting hobbies took him to Colorado School of Trades in gunsmith. His horse and cattle hobbies got him into a registered angus cow herd and a trailer sales business. The latest hobbies are training and trialing working border collies.
His dogs are earning recognition across the United States. Wins in 2010 were, three Grand Champion State Fair wins. High point dog in the state of Iowa and Futrity champion and the biggest one yet a National Championship win in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Bob organized the Great Western Bank Sheepdog Trials in Tingley which brought 140 dogs from 15 states to compete.
Looking for a bigger challenge he is hosting the 2011 National Cattledog Finals in Redding,Iowa (May 26-29). This is the best of cattledog from all over the United States and Canada. RFD TV is a major sponsor and plans are being made to get this event on TV.
Ringgold County has given Bob and his wife Jenifer a great place to raise their kids, Brad and Jana.
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Jim Werner |
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Stewardship describes the management system used at Werner Family Angus, owned by Jim Werner, a lifelong resident of Ringgold County, Iowa, and his wife Ann. The Werners raise registered Angus cattle and are well known for the seedstock they produce. The herd, established more than 80 years ago by Ann's father, draws many people to the farm. In 2010, they ranked second in the state for the number of cattle registered with the American Angus Association.
 The Werners incorporated a variety of conservation practices on their pastures to preserve and enhance the productivity and fertility of the land. "God has given us a rich and bountiful country. It is our job as stewards to nurture and care for the land so that it can be improved for future generations," Jim states.
Jim and Ann have four grown children, who along with their families, are an intergral part of the business. They have welcomed visitors and tour groups of all levels to the farm, including local, state, national and international.
Jim and Ann were named Iowa Seedstock Producer of the Year in 2001. Jim has been active in the Ringgold County Cattlemen's Association since it started in 1972. He has held offices at the lcoal and state level, always supporting the cattle industry that he loves.
Jim's world consists of his faith, family, and farm. His considerate ways and ability to care for the land and all it produces allows him to have a successful way of life as well as remain true to his beliefs and values.
Jim's responsibilities at the 2011 Cattle Dog Finals in Ringgold County, Iowa, are many. In particular, he is known as "Leader of the Set Out Crew."
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Local Racer wins track championship |
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Pat Shiflett has lived in rural Ringgold County his whole life. He graduated from Diagonal High School in 2000. In 2006 a friend was getting out of racing and talked Pat into buying his car, trailer, and accessories. Pat started racing at Adams County Speedway in Corning on Saturday nights during his summers.
Pat has enjoyed racing and meeting a lot of new friends in the process. He's had a couple seasons finishing in the top 15 in points, but the 2010 season was the best by far. Pat started out the season pretty good, but had no idea how it would end up. He found himself finishing 2nd place in several races, earning him the nickname "two by four" at Adams County Speedway, after four weeks of second place finishes. Then finally on July 31, 2010, he won his first feature race. Only two weeks later he won another feature. He had 10 top ten finishes and 13 top 5 finishes in the season.
Needless to say this earned him a track championship at Adams County Speedway with 514 points. Pat had several fans from around Ringgold County that came to watch him on Saturday nights in Corning. He really enjoyed getting to talk with fans after the races.
Pat has had a lot of fun over the past four years racing and meeting so many people. He had a great 2010 season and now has a big trophy to remember it by. He's very thankful to all his friends and family who have helped him work on racecars, cheer him on in the stands, or help out in the pits!
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Famous Astronaut Peggy Whitson is from Ringgold County |
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 Peggy Whitson grew up in Beaconsfield and gradated from Mt. Ayr Community High School. She has been on two space missions and has spent more time in space than any other woman astronaut, and has been the only female commander of the space shuttle.
Whitson currently serves as chief of the Astronaut Corps, responsible for the mission preparation activities of all space Shuttle and International Space Station crews and their support personnel. Whitson has performed a total of six career spacewalks, adding up to 39 hours, 46 minutes, more than any other woman. |
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