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.
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 Terrace Hill Historic Site in Des Moines, IA 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 Des Moines, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 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.
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“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.”
“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!”
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.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
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.
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.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home 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:
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:
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 Good Park in Des Moines, IA with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
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 Flemings Prime Steakhouse Wine Bar or visit Witmer House, 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.
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:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
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.
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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.
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 Des Moines, 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.
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:
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 Des Moines, 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.
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.
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:
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:
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.
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
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
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 Des Moines, 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.
A rainy Week 8 wrapped up late Friday night. Here's what happened across central Iowa.Iowa high school football: Week 8 final scoresAnkeny 34, West Des Moines Valley 26Johnston 38, Southeast Polk 37 (OT)Norwalk 20, Urbandale 13Dowling Catholic 27, Ankeny Centennial 10Waukee 31, Waukee Northwest 28Nevada 21, Des Moines Christian 14Des Moines Lincoln 43, Des Moines East 36Audubon 80, Exira-EHK 16Ballard 30, Bondurant-Farrar 14Bishop Garrigan 56, West Bend-Mallard 0...
A rainy Week 8 wrapped up late Friday night. Here's what happened across central Iowa.
Ankeny 34, West Des Moines Valley 26
Johnston 38, Southeast Polk 37 (OT)
Norwalk 20, Urbandale 13
Dowling Catholic 27, Ankeny Centennial 10
Waukee 31, Waukee Northwest 28
Nevada 21, Des Moines Christian 14
Des Moines Lincoln 43, Des Moines East 36
Audubon 80, Exira-EHK 16
Ballard 30, Bondurant-Farrar 14
Bishop Garrigan 56, West Bend-Mallard 0
Williamsburg 48, Knoxville 15
Waterloo West 45, Marshalltown 13
Marion 21, Oskaloosa 13
North Polk 38, Carlisle 36
Newton 35, Grinnell 7
West Marshall 44, West Central Valley 7
Martensdale St. Marys 44, Nodaway Valley 14
Coon Rapids-Bayard 60, Glidden-Ralston 18
ADM 31, Lewis Central 28
Winterset 41, Saydel 14
Fort Dodge 9, Le Mars 3
Interstate 35 20, Ogden 19
Clarinda 47, Woodward-Granger 0
Durant 27, EBF 24
Gilbert 55, Des Moines North 6
South Central Calhoun 26, Pocahontas 15
East Marshall 48, North Cedar 0
West Hancock 38, Belmond-Klemme 24
South Hardin 35, Central Springs 6
Seymour 37, Murray 36
Atlantic 35, Harlan 30
South Tama 52, Davis County 21
BGM 40, North Mahaska 0
Madrid 59, Colfax-Mingo 0
Lenox 55, Mormon Trail 0
AHSTW 6, Central Decatur 0
Newman Catholic 48, AGWSR 14
Grundy Center 49, Eagle Grove 0
St. Edmond 24, Kingsley-Pierson 20
English Valleys 80, Meskwaki 20
West Fork 55, Lake Mills 12
Riceville 62, Newell-Fonda 39
Colo-NESCO 44, GMG 6
Webster City 35, Algona 21
ACGC 55, Riverside 22
Clarksville 50, Collins-Maxwell 47
Bedford 73, Lamoni 0
Mount Ayr 43, Southwest Valley 0
Manson-NW Webster 41, South Hamilton 12
Carroll 63, Perry 7
Creston 42, Greene County 35
Lynnville-Sully 20, Earlham 14
Kuemper Catholic 35, Okoboji 0
Grand View Christian 12, Chariton 7
Montezuma 63, Baxter 28
Ar-We-Va 66, CAM 6
Pleasantville 56, Panorama 7
BCLUW 48, Postville 0
Roland-Story 62, Oelwein 6
Wayne 40, Southeast Warren 22
Pella Christian 50, Albia 8
Van Meter 49, Clarke 7
A week after dropping 86 points — 46 in the first quarter alone — Audubon has 60 at halftime against Exira-EHK.
Touchdown Norsemen! Cody Long hits a 54 yard run for the score. Faber PAT is good. 21-0 RS with 3:42 left in the first quarter. #iahsfb pic.twitter.com/ut6yT3x8Rn
— Roland Story Sports Scores (@RSNorseScores) October 18, 2025
Here's what else you need to know.
Our game of the week is another Top 10 matchup in Class 5A, with No. 3 West Des Moines Valley at No. 5 Ankeny.
The Tigers are 6-1 this season, with their only loss coming in Week 2 at No. 1-ranked Waukee Northwest, which is the only unbeaten team left in 5A. The Hawks are 4-2, with losses in Week 1 to Waukee Northwest and Week 6 at No. 7 Johnston.
If Ankeny can force a key turnover tonight against Valley, you might see this belt make an appearance. @SEhrhardtKCCI #iahsfb pic.twitter.com/cgQxr62Nah
— KCCI News (@KCCINews) October 17, 2025
We'll have a crew in Ankeny, where kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Northview Middle School in Ankeny.
More than 1,500 people voted in this week's Wild Card contest on our Facebook page, with Earlham at Lynnville-Sully getting the most support.
We'll have a crew in Sully for the game between the 4-3 Cardinals and the 6-1 Hawks. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Indianola 38, Sioux City North 0
Ottumwa 20, Des Moines Roosevelt 18
We'll see a high of 80 degrees in Des Moines Friday, with temps dipping to around 70 by the time high school football games kick off at 7 p.m. Grab a rain jacket, because there's a chance for showers most of the evening.
KCCI's latest weather forecast.
Can't get out to the stadium Friday night? Check here to see if we have a livestream for your game.
Below is a list of the top-ranked teams in all seven classes. Click here for full rankings.
A reminder: Class 5A, 4A and 3A all use RPI ratings based on the team's record, their opponents' combined record, and their opponents' opponents' record. The rest of the classes are determined by a rankings committee.
Here's a look at statistical leaders by class after Week 7 of the season.
Check out this list of Iowa high school football teams that have unblemished records after Week 7.
The busiest weeks for homecoming games are behind us, but there are still a few on the statewide schedule Friday, including:
KCCI will carry CBS' Big Ten game every Saturday through November, plus the Iowa game at Nebraska on Friday, Nov. 28. See the games you can watch on KCCI this season.
You can watch KCCI's college football show, "Big College Kickoff," live on at 10:30 a.m. every Saturday through Nov. 29.
Very Local is a streaming channel that offers 24/7 access to KCCI news, weather, original series and more. Download the Very Local App for free on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV, or smartphone.
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Week 8 of the Iowa high school football season is in the books.The Register had reporters and photographers scattered at stadiums across Iowa to bring fans the stories and photos from the games.Check out all that coverage and be sure to scroll below to see our full highlights and recap of the night.Iowa high school football scores, updates from Week 8 of the IHSAA seasonJohnston hangs on for a 2OT win over Southeast Polk.Rams went for two and the win after scoring a TD in the second overtime, but the pa...
Week 8 of the Iowa high school football season is in the books.
The Register had reporters and photographers scattered at stadiums across Iowa to bring fans the stories and photos from the games.
Check out all that coverage and be sure to scroll below to see our full highlights and recap of the night.
Rams went for two and the win after scoring a TD in the second overtime, but the pass fell incomplete to give Johnston the 38-37 victory on the road.
A 44-31 win over Iowa City West a few weeks ago, now a dominant night vs. the Little Hawks.
Hawks with a 34-19 lead late in the fourth quarter.
Check out the final scores here.
Our Joe Randleman has more on the Norsemen's incredible season.
Linn-Mar halts Cedar Falls' six-game winning streak with a 21-13 win. Tigers came in ranked 8th and hadn't loss since Week 1 vs. Iowa City Liberty.
Warriors block a field goal in the final seconds to complete the upset. Our Alyssa Hertel will have plenty more coverage from this thriller.
Maroons with a 17-3 late in the third quarter.
Fort Dodge does as the Dodgers move to 7-1.
Both should still be tough outs in the playoffs.
Hawks still have their 20-19 lead as both teams do nothing on their opening drives of the second half. Defense will likely be the key in who emerges victorious.
Warrors have a 28-21 lead with nine minutes to go in the third.
Saints have rolled to a 20-0 halftime advantage over Decorah in what is a high-end Class 4A showdown. Xavier drilled a 39-yard field goal on the final play of the half.
Another significant 5A battle as Ankeny Centennial travels to Dowling Catholic. Jaguars have the early lead on a 34-yard field goal.
And we're right back where we started with things knotted 21-21 at the break. Crazy ending to the half as it looked like Waukee Northwest scored a TD off a fake field goal, but the Wolves were hit with an illegal formation to negate the play. Unsportsmanlike on the Waukee Northwest coach backed the Wolves up so much that a punt was needed.
A 60-20 win over WACO keeps the Tigers unbeaten heading into the postseason.
A 70-yard TD reception that clanked off a Cedar Rapids Prairie defender's hands before Manson grabbed it. Trojans have a 21-14 advantage as halftime approaches.
Tigers still ahead early.
Zeus trophy on the line in North Liberty as the Lightning look to continue ascending near the top of Class 5A. Reece Rettig's 26-yard TD run has Liberty up 17-7 over City High early in the second quarter. Follow our Marc Ray for updates all throughout that one.
Certainly not the most conventional way to grab a 7-0 lad, but the Tigers will take it on the road.
Game of the night in Class 5A. Follow our Eli McKown for updates all throughout that one.
Back and forth these neighborly rivals go. After Ben Case Haub put Waukee up early, Mack Heitland answers for the Wolves. It’s a 7-7 deadlock midway through the first quarter. Follow our Alyssa Hertel for updates the rest of the way.
It's 7 p.m., which means Week 8 of Iowa high school football is underway.
Let's have some fun.
Imagine we’ll have a few delays with rain all over the Des Moines area.
Week 8 of the 2025 Iowa high school football season is here, and some of the state's best matchups are in central Iowa.
If you can't make it out to a stadium this week, there are ways to watch and listen to many of central Iowa's top games. Here's a rundown of several viewing and listening options for Week 8 in central Iowa.
Who doesn't love predictions? The Register's lead high school sports writer, Alyssa Hertel, takes it upon herself to pick the winners from 10 of the most interesting games in the state each week. So far this season, she's gone 48-22 in her selections.
Click here to check out all 10 of her predictions for Week 8.
Each Monday, we release a top-10 for all eight classes. Before the action gets rolling tonight, click here to see who makes our list in every class, from 5A to 8-player in Week 8.
These stories are part of a series on the Des Moines Register’s top 10 Iowa high school football seniors. Each week until the end of the season, we will feature a different senior, showing readers a side of them that goes beyond the Friday night lights.
There's a whole lot of action across the state tonight. Click here to check out the full statewide Week 6 schedule.
Drive across the top of the levee; come back along the levee’s “toe” slope; pause when a flood wall or obstruction crosses the levee; move to the next section.This has been the methodology for the Iowa Geological Survey team members the past several fall seasons as they survey the geological integrity of Iowa’s 900 miles of levees.The crew is on year three of a five-year, legislatively directed initiative to assess levees across the state to help the state Office of Levee Safety to prioritize funding for...
Drive across the top of the levee; come back along the levee’s “toe” slope; pause when a flood wall or obstruction crosses the levee; move to the next section.
This has been the methodology for the Iowa Geological Survey team members the past several fall seasons as they survey the geological integrity of Iowa’s 900 miles of levees.
The crew is on year three of a five-year, legislatively directed initiative to assess levees across the state to help the state Office of Levee Safety to prioritize funding for repairs on the structures that help prevent flood damage.
Jason Vogelgesang, a geophysicist with Iowa Geological Survey, said the data collected with the survey helps to point out specific areas of a levee in need of repair, which can help to lower the cost to fix a levee.
“What we’re trying to do out here is find anomalous areas, or different areas, in the levees that could be a potential area of weakness,” Vogelgesang said.
He said this way, rather than tearing out an entire levee, a levee system can instead focus repairs to the areas that, based on geological data, could be more susceptible to failure in a flood event.
Vogelgesang and his colleague Thomas Doyle, also with the Iowa Geological Survey based at the University of Iowa, head out a couple of times a week during the fall, when the levees are usually mowed and accessible, to drive along the systems.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers defines a levee as “an earthen embankment, floodwall, or structure along a water course whose purpose is flood risk reduction or water conveyance.”
To start the surveying day, the crew rig up a set of PVC pipes on a side-by-side utility vehicle. A ground conductivity meter is then strapped to the PVC, which keeps the vehicle a safe distance from the meter and prevents it from interfering with the meter’s metal readings.
Vogelgesang said the meter is actually meant to be strapped over a shoulder and carried, but the Iowa Geological Survey team created the rig on the vehicle to more efficiently survey the hundreds of miles of levee systems across the state.
“It’s kind of an innovative method of collecting these data,” Vogelgesang said.
As he drives along the top of the levee, the meter sends an electrical current that penetrates the subsurface before it comes back up to the meter’s receiver. The current changes as it pass through the ground, which is how the geological team is able to determine the makeup of the subsurface.
The meter sends five readings per second, which are automatically collected via Bluetooth on a tablet inside the side-by-side.
The current travels 20 feet down, which Vogelgesang said shows his team “pretty much the whole swath of the levee.”
After driving along the top of the levee, the crew turns around and drives back along the levee’s “toe slope” or base of the embankment in the floodplain.
Vogelgesang said driving along the toe slope collects data on the geology below the levee, which can reveal things like a deposit of coarse sand, or a forgotten metal culvert, both of which could allow water to flow through if there were enough hydrological pressure.
When it comes to levee structures, and geological features below the levee, compact materials like clay are more secure. Sand- and gravel-based levees — which Vogelgesang said he has come across while doing the survey project — could be more likely to fail in the event of a flood.
Vogelgesang’s and Doyle’s Friday trip to Des Moines was the second time they had surveyed levees in the capital city. While they spent their day surveying about 10 miles of levees along the Raccoon River, Vogelgesang said two years ago, they surveyed levees along the eastern side of the Des Moines river.
Each year, the team aims to survey about 200 miles of levees. Vogelgesang said it takes a significant amount of legwork, before he shows up on site with the side-by-side to map the levees, figure out where obstructions could be and get permission from the cities and levee districts.
After the levees have been driven, Vogelgesang and his team spend the winter and spring processing and analyzing the thousands of generated data points. Each levee system, which encompasses the levees in the a given region or city, will receive a report from the geological survey about their levees.
Vogelgesang said these reports are also due to the Iowa Office of Levee Safety.
The office uses the geological findings to rate the levees on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 meaning the levee has a “critical need for repair” and 1 meaning the levee is “optimal,” according to the office.
The geological survey of the levees, the Office of Levee Safety and a Levee Improvement Fund, which has an annual appropriation of $5 million from 2024 through 2028, were created in 2023 with the enactment of House File 711.
These programs comprise the Iowa Levee Improvement Program, which according to the 2024 Iowa Levee Safety report, has a goal of reducing and managing the risks associated with “a hazardous event caused by inadequate levee design, structural performance, or operational control.”
Under the program, levee districts can apply for cost-share funding to improve their levee systems. The levee ratings, issued by the Office of Levee Safety and informed by Vogelgesang’s surveys, are considered when the Iowa Flood Mitigation Board issues the funds.
Levee improvement program was established after a 2022 study found that “the current approach of managing and financing levee districts within the state of Iowa is unsustainable.”
The Iowa Levee Improvement Program is a step toward improving the state of Iowa’s levee structures, which help to control flooding events.
So far, the Iowa Geological Survey has driven and collected data on more than 300 miles of Iowa levees and will be over halfway done surveying at the end of the season.
The Office of Levee Safety has held several town halls, established the levee rating system and generated partnerships across levee districts to develop a “unified approach to flood risk management” according to the annual report.
“We are committed to continuous improvement, leveraging data-driven insights to enhance our initiatives and reinforce our response to flood events,” the annual report read.
Des Moines, Iowa (AP) — The former superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district has been indicted by a federal grand jury after authorities said he falsely claimed to be a US citizen who was eligible to work.A two-count indictment returned Thursday evening by a federal grand jury in Des Moines charges Ian Roberts with one count of making a false statement for employment and one count of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.Roberts, who is originally from Guyana and worked for two de...
Des Moines, Iowa (AP) — The former superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district has been indicted by a federal grand jury after authorities said he falsely claimed to be a US citizen who was eligible to work.
A two-count indictment returned Thursday evening by a federal grand jury in Des Moines charges Ian Roberts with one count of making a false statement for employment and one count of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.
Roberts, who is originally from Guyana and worked for two decades in school districts across the country, was detained September 26 by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in a targeted operation.
Authorities said Roberts fled from agents in his district-issued Jeep Cherokee before being found in a wooded area. Roberts had a handgun wrapped in a towel inside the car, investigators said.
Des Moines Public Schools hired Roberts in 2023 to lead its district of about 30,000 students.
The indictment alleges that he made a “false attestation” on a US Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Eligibility Verification form, known as an I-9, claiming he was a US citizen when he knew he was not.
Roberts’ attorney, Alfredo Parrish, didn’t immediately return a phone message.
Federal authorities said an immigration judge issued a final removal order last year, and an appeal to reopen immigration proceedings was rejected earlier this year.
After his detention by ICE, Roberts was transferred to federal custody October 2 on an arrest warrant and charged with unlawfully possessing firearms while being in the US illegally. In addition to the one in his vehicle when he was arrested, three other weapons were found during a search of Roberts’ home, authorities said. The indictment mentions all four weapons, including two pistols, a rifle and a shotgun.
The district continues to face the fallout, filing a lawsuit against the consulting firm it used to facilitate the superintendent search in 2023.
After an AP investigation identified a history of Roberts’ school districts hiring a firm that marketed him as a consultant, Jackie Norris, school board chair, proposed a review of his expenditures in Des Moines. Norris also ended her campaign for US Senate on Thursday.
DES MOINES, Iowa —Hours before Paul McCartney's Des Moines stop in his Got Back Tour, the Beatles legend made one fan's birthday wish come true.Doors for the show opened at 6:30 p.m., but fans had already begun lining up outside the loading deck by 3 p.m. They ranged from younger fans to seasoned supporters."I woke up at 3 a.m. yesterday, traveled all day, and here I am now," said Megan Gray, who traveled from Utah for the show."He's the top of my Mount Rushmore," Jeremy ...
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Hours before Paul McCartney's Des Moines stop in his Got Back Tour, the Beatles legend made one fan's birthday wish come true.
Doors for the show opened at 6:30 p.m., but fans had already begun lining up outside the loading deck by 3 p.m. They ranged from younger fans to seasoned supporters.
"I woke up at 3 a.m. yesterday, traveled all day, and here I am now," said Megan Gray, who traveled from Utah for the show.
"He's the top of my Mount Rushmore," Jeremy Potirala of Beach Park, Illinois, said. "The music means a lot."
All of the roughly 40 fans gathered with the hope of catching a glimpse of the music legend as he arrived at the venue.
But no one wanted it more than Dan Myers, a lifelong fan from Sioux City who happened to be celebrating his 65th birthday.
"Every song has a personal meaning for me and every song is different," he said. "I sing along like I did 40 years ago to all these songs."
Tuesday's show marks the third time Myers has seen him in Des Moines — and the 19th time total.
He waited almost three hours in the cold and rain for a chance to see McCartney, and by some stroke of luck, he got his birthday wish:
Paul McCartney wished him a happy birthday as he rolled into the venue — and it might have been one of the best birthday gifts he could have asked for.
"It's just really cool to be that close to a living legend," Myers said.
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