abc-logo
Taking care of your Loved One Is What We Do BEST!

It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always

phone-number877-292-2126 lm-right-arrow

Please submit form to schedule a

Personal Care Consultation

Local Magic Personal Care Consultation

Please submit this form below and we will chat shortly!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
SUBMIT REQUEST

Home Care In Blairstown, IA

Home Care Blairstown, IA

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Blairstown Historic Preservation Committee gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Blairstown, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

In-Home Care Blairstown, IA

care-serviceHome Care Services

location Service Areas

Read More
Elderly Care Blairstown, IA Request More Information vector

The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

Hear from Our Clients
Elderly Care for James T.
551
Google

“Always best care provided excellent caregivers to us. I am really happy with the care”

Always best care provided excellent caregivers to us. I am really happy with the care and support they provided to my father. Highly recommended to all!
Read full testimonial
Hear from Our Clients
In-home Care for Michael H.
551
Google

“On behalf of my family, I would like to thank Always Best care for all”

On behalf of my family, I would like to thank Always Best care for all the support your caregivers have provided to my mother. She was very pleased with the care she received. I confidently recommend Always Best Care to all.
Read full testimonial
Hear from Our Clients
Senior Care for Melanie S.
551
Google

“Always Best Care in Cedar Valley IA realy helps me a lot. They have Reliable”

Always Best Care in Cedar Valley IA realy helps me a lot. They have Reliable Caregivers who helped me to take care of my loved one for several years. They are highly trained and managed well the daily routines and activities like bathing and dressing. Caregivers of always best care is dependable and passionate to their work. I am satisfied and so glad that I chose their service. Highly recommend whoever needs their caregiving service!
Read full testimonial
×
TESTIMONIALS

“Always best care provided excellent caregivers to us. I am really happy with the care and support they provided to my father. Highly recommended to all!”

James T.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“On behalf of my family, I would like to thank Always Best care for all the support your caregivers have provided to my mother. She was very pleased with the care she received. I confidently recommend Always Best Care to all.”

Michael H.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care in Cedar Valley IA realy helps me a lot. They have Reliable Caregivers who helped me to take care of my loved one for several years. They are highly trained and managed well the daily routines and activities like bathing and dressing. Caregivers of always best care is dependable and passionate to their work. I am satisfied and so glad that I chose their service. Highly recommend whoever needs their caregiving service!”

Melanie S.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Blairstown, IA?

lm-check

Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

lm-check

When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

lm-check

The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

lm-check

At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

Request More Information
Senior Care Blairstown, IA

Types of Elderly Care in Blairstown, IA

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming
Request More Information
Respite Care Blairstown, IA
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
Request More Information
Caregivers Blairstown, IA
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Footbridge Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Request More Information
Home Care Blairstown, IA
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Gourmet Gallery or visit Ramsaysburg Historic Homestead, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

Request More Information
In-Home Care Blairstown, IA

Benefits of Home Care in Blairstown, IA

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

Request More Information vector

Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Blairstown, IA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Elderly Care Blairstown, IA

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your IA's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
Senior Care Blairstown, IA

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Blairstown, IA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.

Respite Care Blairstown, IA

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
Caregivers Blairstown, IA

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Forest Manor Health Care Center
  • Spring Village At Pocono - Personal Care & Memory Care
  • Clover Rest Home
  • Colonial Manor At Panther Valley
  • Riverwalk Village at The House of The Good Shepherd
  • The Chelsea at Brookfield
Home Care Blairstown, IA

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

In-Home Care Blairstown, IA

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

lm-right-arrow
01

A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

lm-right-arrow
02

Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

lm-right-arrow
03

Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Blairstown, IA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

Request More Information vector
Elderly Care Blairstown, IA

Latest News in Blairstown, IA

Blairstown waterball tournament

Jamie Claeys of Victor Fire Department holds the hose up while competing against his son Trent Claeys (not pictured) of the Newhall Fire Department during the annual waterball tournament at Blairstown Fire Department in Blairstown, Iowa on Sunday, September 4, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette) ...

Jamie Claeys of Victor Fire Department holds the hose up while competing against his son Trent Claeys (not pictured) of the Newhall Fire Department during the annual waterball tournament at Blairstown Fire Department in Blairstown, Iowa on Sunday, September 4, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Jocelyn Nimmo of Blairstown Fire Department reacts as Hunter Hardersen, 11, and Blakely Hardersen, 6, break water balloons on her after the annual waterball tournament at Blairstown Fire Department in Blairstown, Iowa on Sunday, September 4, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Nevaeh Norton, 14, of Monticello smiles as she pushes the water further towards her opponents while children play in the spray of the hose during the annual waterball tournament at Blairstown Fire Department in Blairstown, Iowa on Sunday, September 4, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Tisha Fontinel of Blairstown reacts as Hunter Hardersen, 11, of Blairstown breaks a water balloon open on her after the annual waterball tournament at Blairstown Fire Department in Blairstown, Iowa on Sunday, September 4, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Alisha Norton of Monticello and her husband firefighter Tommy Norton of Monticello Fire Department compete during the annual waterball tournament at Blairstown Fire Department in Blairstown, Iowa on Sunday, September 4, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Newhall Fire Chief Trent Claeys watches people compete during the annual waterball tournament at Blairstown Fire Department in Blairstown, Iowa on Sunday, September 4, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Firefighters walk back after competing in a round during the annual waterball tournament at Blairstown Fire Department in Blairstown, Iowa on Sunday, September 4, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Different fire departments compete against each other during the annual waterball tournament at Blairstown Fire Department in Blairstown, Iowa on Sunday, September 4, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

A group of children gather around a trash can full of water balloons and splash each other after the annual waterball tournament at Blairstown Fire Department in Blairstown, Iowa on Sunday, September 4, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Jamison Claeys, 1, of Newhall smiles as he plays around in a puddle created by the water from the annual waterball tournament at Blairstown Fire Department in Blairstown, Iowa on Sunday, September 4, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Lillian McLaren, 10, of Blairstown smiles as she watches firefighters compete during the annual waterball tournament at Blairstown Fire Department in Blairstown, Iowa on Sunday, September 4, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Chris Rhinehart of Blairstown Fire Department smiles as he hugs Tim Haerther of Newhall Fire Department after Rhinehart and his team lost to Newhall during the annual waterball tournament at Blairstown Fire Department in Blairstown, Iowa on Sunday, September 4, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Tisha Fontinel of Blairstown reacts as Hunter Hardersen, 11, of Blairstown breaks a water balloon open on her after the annual waterball tournament at Blairstown Fire Department in Blairstown, Iowa on Sunday, September 4, 2022. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Newsletter Signup

Delivered to your inbox monthly

Wake up and smell the ethanol, Iowa

The proposed carbon-capture pipelines may finally have awakened the state to the straw-house industry that is ethanol.Rep. Ashley Hinson had to field questions during a February town hall from farmers about the pending pipelines. Constituents pointed to dangerous carbon pipeline leaks as a risk they don’t want to accept. Rep. Hinson appropriately pointed out that a carbon-capture pipeline is a result of our ethanol dependence and “like it or not (Iowans are) heavily reliant” on ethanol production. A carbon capture pi...

The proposed carbon-capture pipelines may finally have awakened the state to the straw-house industry that is ethanol.

Rep. Ashley Hinson had to field questions during a February town hall from farmers about the pending pipelines. Constituents pointed to dangerous carbon pipeline leaks as a risk they don’t want to accept. Rep. Hinson appropriately pointed out that a carbon-capture pipeline is a result of our ethanol dependence and “like it or not (Iowans are) heavily reliant” on ethanol production. A carbon capture pipeline is just the price we have to pay for mass farming ethanol corn.

The planned Summit pipeline will run across the state, capturing carbon from ethanol plants and industrial animal farms. The carbon will then be deposited deep in the ground at a site in North Dakota. Unlike the Dakota Access Pipeline, which would have produced energy for millions, genuinely improving the lives of people, this pipeline will not have any proactive energy payoff. It will simply be reducing the emissions from industrial facilities, many of which would not have been built if not for the market demand created by the federal government. Demand which will only decrease as we make the eventual transition to electric vehicles and reduce gasoline consumption.

Farmers have been manipulated for decades by government subsidies for ethanol corn. This is not their fault. A farm is a business, it only makes sense that they grow the highest value crop in response to market prices. After all, the government wouldn’t ask them to do something that would harm our country in the long run, right? Wrong. Since the Renewable Fuel Standard took effect corn grown for fuel use increased by 4.1 billion bushels between 2004 and 2016. One researcher points out that, “In 2007, townships comprising 10 million of Iowa’s thirty-six million acres eroded faster than the government-defined sustainable rate, and 6 million acres eroded at double that rate. Despite having some of the most productive cropland in the country, Iowa has lost half of its topsoil over the last 150 years.” Although research on long term topsoil erosion still is developing, any increase in fertilizers is undoubtedly an added cost to farmers and to the environment.

Ethanol is a good and useful product. It bolsters fuel octane and has genuinely improved car emissions. Without government incentives, there would still be a need for ethanol corn. But, ethanol sales would drop significantly, solving many of the issues associated with current production levels.

Farmers are not interested in mistreating their land, often land that has been in their family for several generations. But, they still have to make choices that make economic sense and balance short term vs. long term payoffs. The high payoffs from above market price ethanol corn have disrupted the natural order of the market, and our land is suffering.

Gov. Kim Reynolds has made tough decisions during the COVID pandemic to go against the advice and pressure of the Biden Administration and keep our state open and economy running. She also has joined five states in a lawsuit challenging Biden’s authority to cancel student loan debt. The next federal dragon she should face down is federal manipulation of our agricultural market.

Climbing out of the cash-lined grave we are digging will be difficult and require courage and leadership. So far, no one has had the gumption to correct the situation. We need hope and courage for our farmers so that our future farm production-potential remains abundant.

Patricia Patnode is a Waterloo native, Loras College graduate and can be found on Twitter at @IdealPatricia

Newsletter Signup

Delivered to your inbox daily

Opinion content represents the viewpoint of the author or The Gazette editorial board. You can join the conversation by submitting a letter to the editor or guest column or by suggesting a topic for an editorial to [email protected]

EXCLUSIVE: Stolen and abused cat back in owner's hands

BLAIRSTOWN, Iowa (cbs2/fox28) — Spencer Kimm's cat Gladys back in his arms. The Blairstown man’s beloved cat, who had been stolen from him Friday, is now home safe."The second I saw her, I was like a kid in a candy shop," Kimm said Wednesday.As CBS2/FOX28 news first reported Tuesday, Benton County Sheriff's Office believes Chad Toney, 30, had sen...

BLAIRSTOWN, Iowa (cbs2/fox28) — Spencer Kimm's cat Gladys back in his arms. The Blairstown man’s beloved cat, who had been stolen from him Friday, is now home safe.

"The second I saw her, I was like a kid in a candy shop," Kimm said Wednesday.

As CBS2/FOX28 news first reported Tuesday, Benton County Sheriff's Office believes Chad Toney, 30, had sent graphic, disturbing photo and video messages to Kimm's sister, showing the animal being shoved in the snow, and being handled roughly.

Kimm says he believes the man responsible is Toney, who he believes was using the cat as a way to get with Kimm's sister to talk to him. Kimm asked him to give the cat back, but after he refused, he said he'd post about it on social media.

"I even sent it to him first," said Kimm. "And he's like, do it. See what happens."

Kimm's friend, Dillon Franzenburg, was helping try to locate the cat.

"We gave him a choice: give us the cat, or go viral. And he said go viral," said Franzenburg.

The post did go viral, being shared more than 3,000 times before Kimm took it down, after multiple threats to Toney and his family. Kimm says Toney's family was cooperative in helping him retrieve the cat, and around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, Kimm went to Toney's parents' home and got Gladys.

"She was really dirty," said Kimm. "We gave her a bath right away."

"Doing that to animals is not right," said Franzenburg. "It should be way more than a misdemeanor like it is in Iowa."

Chief Deputy John Lindaman with the Benton County Sheriff's office, says at this time, they don't believe Toney is a danger to the public.

"I believe there have been incidents of him accused of assault in the past, but those seem to be more of a domestic nature," said Lindaman.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is still currently looking for Toney. If you have any information, call 319-472-2337.

This is a developing story. Stay with CBS2/FOX28 for any updates.

Fiberight still working at MSW plant in Iowa

Despite delays, Fiberight’s plans to produce cellulosic ethanol from municipal solid waste (MSW) in Iowa are moving forward. In fact, an equity drive happening now is attracting quite a few interested people and money is starting to come in. “I’m highly encouraged,” Craig Stuart-Paul, chief executive of Fiberight told Ethanol Producer Magazine Oct. 22. “It is very tricky to get these financed and built. … You’ve got to everything buttoned up tight before you get the funding and that’s...

Despite delays, Fiberight’s plans to produce cellulosic ethanol from municipal solid waste (MSW) in Iowa are moving forward. In fact, an equity drive happening now is attracting quite a few interested people and money is starting to come in. “I’m highly encouraged,” Craig Stuart-Paul, chief executive of Fiberight told Ethanol Producer Magazine Oct. 22. “It is very tricky to get these financed and built. … You’ve got to everything buttoned up tight before you get the funding and that’s the point we are now.”

The company’s plans to build a MSW sorting facility in Marion, Iowa, and retrofit an ethanol plant in Blairstown, Iowa, haven’t moved forward as quickly as first hoped. However, now with major permitting completed, the company has been able to start the process to finance the project, which it hopes to have wrapped up by the end of November, he said.

The goal is to start construction at the sorting facility in October or November, with the goal of getting concrete in the ground before winter. At the ethanol plant, which is expected to have an initial capacity of 3.5 MMgy and will eventually be ramped up to 6 MMgy, work has been slow but ongoing. All major permits are in place and steel has been delivered to the site. In addition, a crew of four has been employed all year and once the company has completed recently required modifications to its $25 million USDA loan and moves from the conditional to loan guarantee phase, outside contractors will be brought in. “We can’t really go too crazy on construction until we get all of that buttoned up,” he said. “What we have done is a lot of work inside the plant. So if you went inside you wouldn’t recognize it anymore.”

In July, the U.S. EPA ruled that compressed and liquefied natural gas (CNG) produced from biogas now qualifies as an advanced biofuel and, therefore, is assigned a D3 renewable identification number (RIN).

Advertisement

Advertisement

“That had a massive positive impact to us,” he said, adding that it was the catalyst in Fiberight’s decision to move the planned digester from the Marion MSW sorting facility to the ethanol plant in Blairstown. That decision triggered the modification to USDA loan paperwork.

The company now plans to digest C5 sugars in its anaerobic digester, to produce CNG, rather than covert them to ethanol. Digesting the C5 sugars means the company can take in more waste, meaning ethanol production levels may remain about the same. “What it definitely means is we are producing more digester gas,” he said, adding that a 900,000 gallon 30 million Btu per hour vessel has been purchased and is on the way. “We now know from our Virginia plant that food waste gives us very, very high digester gas, and the quality is such that you can get very efficient CNG fuel,” he said.

Biogas produced on site will be used to make CNG, some of which will be used to fuel the trucks that transport MSW for sorting and ethanol production, and power the ethanol plant. Used alongside biomass residuals produced during the process, the facility has the ability to be 100 percent self-sustaining, Stuart-Paul said. The company is also conducting stack emissions testing on the high-lignin content material, which is leftover at the end of the process, and has value as a clean burning energy pellet.

Advertisement

Advertisement

In the meantime, the company has been focusing a lot of its attention on its demonstration facility in Lawrenceburg, Virginia. Fibertight is expanding the facility, which isn’t currently producing ethanol. Although he can’t name names, Stuart-Paul reveals that the company has an offtake agreement with an industrial company that is buying 100 percent of the sugars produced there.

The facility has now been in operation for a total of 5,000 hours. Some of the lessons learned at that facility have resulted in design changes at the Iowa facilities. “As you have seen from some of the commercialization attempts from some of the other plants in this space, plants were built and they’ve taken a long time to get running, because they’ve run into problems,” he said, adding that the company wants to learn as much as it can at the demo plant, to refine the process before full-scale startup.

The company is grateful to the city of Marion, which not only offered tax incentives and help in procuring land for the sorting facility, but was the first to stand up and sign a waste supply agreement. The city is working toward zero-waste and wants to recycle as much of its garbage as possible, he said, while in other areas of Iowa the landfill operators want to keep handling garbage in the same, traditional way. Once the process is working well for Marion, Fiberight hopes to bring other area cities on board with MSW supply agreements.

Related Stories

China’s biobased diesel exports surge in 2023

6 hours ago

China’s biomass-based diesel imports are expected to increase 40 percent this year. The country’s exports of biomass-based diesel fuels are also surging, according to a report filed with the USDA FAS’s Global Agricultural Information Network.

Read More

Aemetis Biogas receives $53 million from sale of IRA investment tax credits

By Aemetis Inc.

6 hours ago

Biogas

Aemetis Inc. on Oct. 9 announced the receipt of $53 million of cash, after transaction costs and buyer discount, from the sale of $63 million of Inflation Reduction Act investment tax credits generated by its subsidiary, Aemetis Biogas LLC.

Read More

Greenlane Renewables announces $35.3 million system supply contract in Brazil

By Greenlane Renewables Inc.

October 06, 2023

Biogas

Greenlane Renewables Inc. has been awarded a contract valued at $35.3 million (US$26.2 million) by a leading environmental services company in Brazil that is investing in a portfolio of landfill assets across the country to produce biomethane.

Read More

DOE awards $16.7M to advance production of affordable biofuels, biochemicals

By U.S. Department of Energy

October 06, 2023

Advanced BiofuelsChemicals

The U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office has announced $16.7 million in funding for five projects to advance the production of affordable biofuels and biochemicals that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Read More

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains now fueled with renewable diesel

By Amtrak Pacific Surfliner

October 04, 2023

The Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, which manages the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service, is proud to announce that the passenger rail fleet is now powered by renewable diesel.

Sleeping boy and his heifer draw much Internet love

Des Moines RegisterDES MOINES. IA - A 15-year-old boy and his heifer have spent nearly every day together for the last two months. They've developed an unspoken connection during that short period of time.So when a photo of the pair nestled close to each other sound asleep at the Iowa State Fair made its way to social media, it was evident to witness their special bond."She likes to lay down quite a bit," said Mitchell Miner on Monday. "I don't really understand the bond with my animal eithe...

Des Moines Register

DES MOINES. IA - A 15-year-old boy and his heifer have spent nearly every day together for the last two months. They've developed an unspoken connection during that short period of time.

So when a photo of the pair nestled close to each other sound asleep at the Iowa State Fair made its way to social media, it was evident to witness their special bond.

"She likes to lay down quite a bit," said Mitchell Miner on Monday. "I don't really understand the bond with my animal either. She just enjoys my company."

Mitchell, of Williamsburg, IA, and his heifer, Audri, have been preparing for the Iowa State Fair's youth dairy cattle show. He has led her, clipped her, walked her and bathed her nonstop up to last Saturday.

On show day, Mitchell and Audri woke up at 3 a.m. — his third straight early-morning rise — putting the final touches on Audri.

She ended up placing fifth out of the seven contestants, Mitchell said. But needless to say, the two were exhausted. So they took a nap after their showing together.

Mitchell's father, Jeremy, saw his son and Audri. He snapped a few photos and posted one on Facebook the next day.

"I was asleep. I think she was, too," Mitchell said.

Many of the responses have been from others sharing similar memories, as well as the typical and deserving "adorable" and "precious" comments.

Mitchell's mother, Laura, said people enjoy seeing that type of relationship with a kid and their animal.

"I think it's just when you spend that much time with them, they get really comfortable with you," she said.

Laura Miner added that the family borrows these animals for the summer. Audri will head back to a dairy farm in Blairstown, IA, later this fall — after the family's final showing in September.

Jeremy Miner said both he and his wife grew up on farms but are the first generation to be removed from living on one today.

"We learned a lot from the farm," he said. "We have those values instilled in us and we are trying to do what we can to preserve that."

Disclaimer:

This website publishes news articles that contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The non-commercial use of these news articles for the purposes of local news reporting constitutes "Fair Use" of the copyrighted materials as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law.