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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

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Home Care In Parnell, IA

Home Care Parnell, 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 Parnell Monument 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 Parnell, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

In-Home Care Parnell, IA

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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.
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“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!
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In-home Care for Michael H.
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“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.
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Senior Care for Melanie S.
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“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!
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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.
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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.
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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 Parnell, IA?

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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Senior Care Parnell, IA

Types of Elderly Care in Parnell, 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
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Respite Care Parnell, 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
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Caregivers Parnell, 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 Heard 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
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Home Care Parnell, 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 Parnell 149 or visit Garden of Remembrance, 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.

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In-Home Care Parnell, IA

Benefits of Home Care in Parnell, 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.

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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 Parnell, 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 Parnell, 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 Parnell, 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 Parnell, 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 Parnell, 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 Parnell, 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:

  • Retirement Review
  • The Foundation Village
  • LifeCare Residences
  • Metlifecare
  • St Catherines Rest Home
  • Ultimate Care Group
Home Care Parnell, 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 Parnell, 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

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

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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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 Parnell, 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.

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Elderly Care Parnell, IA

Latest News in Parnell, IA

Highway 149 issues being addressed near Williamsburg

Press CitizenWILLIAMSBURG -- A project to help extend the life of the pavement along Iowa Highway 149 between Williamsburg and Parnell didn’t quite have the response contractors and planners were expecting.The project, which involved multiple aspects to improve the road’s surface, instead caused for many motorists a noisy, bumpy ride as they traveled along the five-mile stretch of highway south of Williamsburg.That’s prompted the Iowa Department of Transportation to agree to pave the road with a...

Press Citizen

WILLIAMSBURG -- A project to help extend the life of the pavement along Iowa Highway 149 between Williamsburg and Parnell didn’t quite have the response contractors and planners were expecting.The project, which involved multiple aspects to improve the road’s surface, instead caused for many motorists a noisy, bumpy ride as they traveled along the five-mile stretch of highway south of Williamsburg.

That’s prompted the Iowa Department of Transportation to agree to pave the road with a hot-mix asphalt.

Catherine Cutler, transportation director with the DOT’s District 6 office in Cedar Rapids, said her office had received several emails from motorists complaining of the rough, coarse highway surface. Although they had no involvement with the project, the Iowa County Board of Supervisors and the engineer’s office had also fielded complaints.

In an email that was sent to those inquiring about the project, Iowa DOT director Mark Lowe explained that the project’s goal was “to address bumps at joints, some profile (the shape of the road from edge to edge) and ride quality issues, and rutting (depressions in the wheel paths) in the roadway, and again to extend the life of the pavement.”

He wrote that the project included a repair of the joints; pavement scarification, or milling of the pavement surface to remove ruts, bumps, and other irregularities; and placement of a full-width slurry, a paving treatment that includes aggregate, asphalt emulsions and other additives to create a new skid-resistant driving surface.

“This particular approach is a more cost effective pavement preservation strategy than something like an asphalt overlay, and has been successful in other areas,” Lowe stated, referring to other eastern Iowa projects including Iowa Highway 62 between Maquoketa and Bellevue in Jackson County, and U.S. Highway 67 in Scott County, between Princeton and Follets.

Lowe added that, as with all projects, this project was inspected. While this particular application the preparation completed by the contractor was coarser than elsewhere, the project was still technically within the contract specifications the contractor is required to follow.

“On the whole it met our requirements and addressed the issues it was intended to address – rutting has been reduced (which will make our snow and ice removal operations more effective), the bumps and poor ride at the joints have been fixed, and the slurry seal will extend the life of the pavement until we are able to program resurfacing or replacing the pavement,” he said.

But with the resulting pavement still being coarse, open and noisy, and concerns about safety, including vehicles being pulled, still coming in, the DOT reviewed options to address that. Such things as differences in tires and vehicle wheel bases, unevenness of the slurry seal application in some spots, and application that was not exactly parallel to the travel path down the length of the road, all may create a perception of sensation of pulling, he said.

“We expect time and exposure to truck and snow plow traffic will mitigate the application issues, which will improve performance, but most importantly we are confident the roadway does not present a safety hazard, as we have not found any circumstances or conditions under which the pavement surface would pull a vehicle out of its lane of travel and across the centerline or off the roadway, and the surface will provide sufficient friction for vehicles in typical wet and winter conditions,” he said.

But that said, the hot-mix asphalt surface is being applied, and the surface lift -- or final surface to drive on -- should continue until completed, weather permitting, Cutler said. That might be the end of this week. Shoulder work should continue into next week.

Sunday morning snowfall totals, so far, in eastern Iowa

Snowfall totals as reported to the National Weather Service as of 9:45 a.m. on Sunday, February 17:CountyCityStateSnow AmountALLAMAKEE6 NE POSTVILLEIA3.10BENTON2 NNW MOUNT AUBURNIA3.00BENTON3 SSE ATKINSIA2.80BENTON1 ENE VINTONIA5.00BENTON2 NNW SHELLSBURG...

Snowfall totals as reported to the National Weather Service as of 9:45 a.m. on Sunday, February 17:

CountyCityStateSnow Amount
ALLAMAKEE6 NE POSTVILLEIA3.10
BENTON2 NNW MOUNT AUBURNIA3.00
BENTON3 SSE ATKINSIA2.80
BENTON1 ENE VINTONIA5.00
BENTON2 NNW SHELLSBURGIA5.00
BLACK HAWK1 NE WATERLOOIA3.00
BLACK HAWK1 WNW CEDAR FALLSIA3.00
BLACK HAWK2 SSE WATERLOOIA3.80
BLACK HAWKLA PORTE CITYIA4.50
BLACK HAWK1 NE WATERLOOIA5.20
BREMERTRIPOLIIA3.00
BUCHANANINDEPENDENCEIA4.20
BUCHANANINDEPENDENCEIA4.50
CEDARLOWDENIA3.00
CEDARDURANTIA2.00
CEDARSTANWOODIA2.50
CLAYTONGUTTENBERGIA3.00
CLAYTON1 ENE VOLGAIA3.40
CLAYTON1 SSW OSBORNEIA2.80
CLAYTONSTRAWBERRY POINTIA4.00
CLINTON2 WNW CHARLOTTEIA2.50
CRAWFORDPRAIRIE DU CHIENWI0.80
CRAWFORD1 S DE SOTOWI1.00
CRAWFORDGAYS MILLSWI0.80
CRAWFORD3 SSE STEUBENWI1.20
CRAWFORDPRAIRIE DU CHIENWI1.70
CRAWFORD5 NW EASTMANWI2.50
DELAWAREEARLVILLEIA4.00
DUBUQUE2 ESE EDMOREIA2.00
DUBUQUEDUBUQUE REGIONAL ARPTIA3.30
DUBUQUE1 NW CENTER GROVEIA3.50
FAYETTE1 SSW WEST UNIONIA2.50
FAYETTE1 NW FAYETTEIA2.50
FAYETTEOELWEINIA3.30
FLOYDCHARLES CITYIA1.50
FLOYDCHARLES CITYIA2.50
FLOYDCHARLES CITYIA3.50
FRANKLINHAMPTONIA3.10
GRANT1 W PLATTEVILLEWI3.00
GRANTCUBA CITYWI2.00
HENRY1 S SALEMIA0.50
HENRY1 SW NEW LONDONIA0.80
HENRYMOUNT PLEASANTIA1.00
HENRY1 ESE NEW LONDONIA1.30
HOWARD2 NE CRESCOIA2.70
IOWAPARNELLIA4.50
IOWAAMANAIA4.00
IOWANORTH ENGLISHIA4.30
JACKSON2 W MAQUOKETAIA2.00
JEFFERSON1 SW PERLEEIA1.50
JEFFERSON1 NNE FAIRFIELDIA1.50
JEFFERSON2 ESE FAIRFIELDIA1.50
JO DAVIESS5 S RICEIL2.00
JO DAVIESS2 NW ELIZABETHIL1.30
JO DAVIESSGALENAIL1.00
JO DAVIESS2 SE GALENA TERRITORYIL1.40
JOHNSON2 NNW WILLIAMSTOWNIA2.00
JOHNSONSOLONIA3.00
JOHNSONNORTH LIBERTYIA3.30
JOHNSON2 E OAKDALEIA3.60
JOHNSONUNIVERSITY HEIGHTSIA3.70
JOHNSON1 S IOWA CITYIA3.00
JOHNSONLONE TREEIA2.00
JONES1 W ANAMOSAIA3.50
LINNHIAWATHAIA3.20
LINN3 NNE CEDAR RAPIDSIA2.80
LINN2 SSW HIAWATHAIA3.30
LINN2 NNW MARIONIA3.00
LINNMARIONIA3.30
LINNCENTRAL CITYIA4.50
LINN2 W CEDAR RAPIDSIA3.40
LINN1 NNW CENTER POINTIA4.30
LINN2 W MARIONIA3.60
LINN1 SW HIAWATHAIA4.00
LOUISACOLUMBUS JUNCTIONIA1.50
MARSHALL2 NNW MARSHALLTOWNIA6.00
MARSHALLSTATE CENTERIA8.30
MUSCATINE4 NNE MUSCATINEIA1.80
POWESHIEK1 W MONTEZUMAIA4.00
POWESHIEKGRINNELLIA4.00
SCOTT2 SSE DAVENPORTIA1.20
SCOTTDAVENPORT AIRPORTIA1.40
SCOTT1 ENE RIVERDALEIA1.20
SCOTT1 SE DAVENPORTIA1.50
SCOTT2 NW DAVENPORTIA1.80
SCOTT2 N CREDIT ISLANDIA2.00
SCOTT1 W BETTENDORFIA2.00
TAMA3 N TOLEDOIA4.00
TAMA1 SW TRAERIA5.00
WAPELLO4 NE BLAKESBURGIA2.60
WASHINGTON1 W WASHINGTON AIRPORTIA2.00
WINNESHIEK5 ESE DECORAHIA2.00
WINNESHIEK8 ENE DECORAHIA2.10

This week in Iowa, the blizzard of 2009

Where’s the snow? I’m sure many of you are asking that question, but on this date in 2009 you knew exactly where the snow was. All you had to do was look out your window.Let’s step back a few days. On December 8, 2009 a very potent storm began to move in, which dropped moderate to heavy snow across much of Iowa. The heaviest snow fell from the southwest part of the state, through Des Moines, into the northeast corner of the state. Statewide, the average snowfall was 10.2 inches. This average made for the largest sing...

Where’s the snow? I’m sure many of you are asking that question, but on this date in 2009 you knew exactly where the snow was. All you had to do was look out your window.

Let’s step back a few days. On December 8, 2009 a very potent storm began to move in, which dropped moderate to heavy snow across much of Iowa. The heaviest snow fell from the southwest part of the state, through Des Moines, into the northeast corner of the state. Statewide, the average snowfall was 10.2 inches. This average made for the largest single storm total for Iowa since January 2-4, 1971.

Here in eastern Iowa, Waterloo received 14.6 inches, making it the second largest storm since snow records began in 1895.

Snowfall totals are listed below:

Area Snowfall Amounts – National Weather Service

INCHES | LOCATION | ST COUNTY

15.3 BRIGHTON, IA WASHINGTON

15.0 3 NW MT VERNON, IA LINN

13.5 E SOLON, IA JOHNSON

13.3 VINTON, IA BENTON

13.0 3 N STOCKTON, IL JO DAVIESS

13.0 4 WSW STANLEY, IA BUCHANAN

12.5 S MOUNT AUBURN, IA BENTON

12.5 SSE ATKIN, IA BENTON

12.5 1 SSW BELLE PLAINE, IA BENTON

12.5 W ELIZABETH, IL JO DAVIESS

12.0 2 NW MARION, IA LINN

12.0 VICTOR , IA IOWA

11.9 DAVENPORT MUN. AIRPORT, IA SCOTT

11.6 1 NW CEDAR RAPIDS, IA LINN

11.5 WNW PARNELL, IA IOWA

11.0 CASCADE, IA DUBUQUE

10.8 5 NW CEDAR RAPIDS, IA LINN

10.5 LOWDEN, IA CEDAR

10.5 DUBUQUE AIRPORT, IA DUBUQUE

10.0 3 W SUNBURY, IA CEDAR

9.0 ANAMOSA , IA JONES

9.0 5 NNW LANARK , IL CARROLL

9.0 4 E WHAT CHEER, IA KEOKUK

8.5 CEDAR RAPIDS, IA LINN

7.0 2 E BECKWITH, IA JEFFERSON

13.0 4 SE LANSING, IA ALLAMAKEE

12.8 8 S WATERVILLE, IA ALLAMAKEE

12.5 6 ESE WAUKON, IA ALLAMAKEE

10.7 DORCHESTER, IA ALLAMAKEE

13.0 1 S NEW HAMPTON, IA CHICKASAW

12.0 N WASHINGTON, IA CHICKASAW

7.7 IONIA, IA CHICKASAW

6.0 NASHUA, IA CHICKASAW

14.5 STRAWBERRY POINT, IA CLAYTON

13.5 MILLVILLE, IA CLAYTON

13.0 1 S MONONA, IA CLAYTON

11.5 EDGEWOOD, IA CLAYTON

11.0 1 NE VOLGA, IA CLAYTON

10.0 4 W MCGREGOR, IA CLAYTON

10.0 6 SW ELKADER, IA CLAYTON

14.0 OELWEIN, IA FAYETTE

11.9 FAYETTE, IA FAYETTE

10.5 WAUCOMA, IA FAYETTE

10.5 WADENA, IA FAYETTE

10.0 HAWKEYE, IA FAYETTE

6.5 CHARELS CITY, IA FLOYD

13.4 CALMAR, IA WINNESHIEK

13.0 8 ENE DECORAH, IA WINNESHIEK

9.0 OSSIAN, IA WINNESHIEK

By morning on December 9, quite a bit of snow had already fallen and continued to fall, but now the wind picked up speed. Strong northwest winds developed across Iowa as the low pressure system continued to strengthen. Peak wind speeds reached close to 60 mph, causing blizzard conditions.

Now, with a snow pack and strong northwest winds, temperatures plummeted down below zero. Wind chills were reported as low as -31 degrees in Mason City the morning of December 10. Highs that same day were recorded at 12 degrees in Iowa City, with lows down to -4. Cedar Rapids reported 9 degrees as a high and -6 degrees for the low. Dubuque recorded 6 degrees for the high and -6 degrees for the low. Waterloo reported 9 degrees as a high and -7 degrees for their low.

Few races contested in Iowa County election

MARENGO — Just over 12% of registered voters in Iowa County went to the polls Tuesday to elect city and school officials.The 1,505 voters (out of 12,393 registered) also decided several ballot measures that would allow increased tax levies and bonding for school construction projects.Jillissa Chvala and Ellen O’Rourke were the two top vote-getters for at-large Iowa Valley School Board seats. Chvala received 200 votes; Ellen O’Rourke, 149; and Benjamin Wagner, 145.Williamsburg mayor, Adam Grier, ran unco...

MARENGO — Just over 12% of registered voters in Iowa County went to the polls Tuesday to elect city and school officials.

The 1,505 voters (out of 12,393 registered) also decided several ballot measures that would allow increased tax levies and bonding for school construction projects.

Jillissa Chvala and Ellen O’Rourke were the two top vote-getters for at-large Iowa Valley School Board seats. Chvala received 200 votes; Ellen O’Rourke, 149; and Benjamin Wagner, 145.

Williamsburg mayor, Adam Grier, ran uncontested and received 118 votes. Only three candidates — Dale Walter, Anne Zalenski and Tyler Marshall — ran for the three city council seats, and only two candidates sought two seats on the school board, Mark Armstrong and Quinn Wolfe.

In one of the few contested mayoral races in Iowa County, Mattew Stoner received 25 votes to become Parnell’s mayor. Larry Schropp received 21 votes.

In Victor, Eric Refer defeated Donald Craig for the mayoral seat, 119-89.

Results are unofficial until votes are canvassed by county supervisors.

Ladora mayor: Kevin R. York, 21 votes; write-in, 10.

Ladora council at large (vote for 3): Brian Ward, 21; Craig York, 20; Annette Ehrenberger, 16; write-in, 11.

Marengo mayor: Adam Rabe, 201; write-in, 25.

Marengo council at large (vote for 2): Karen Wayson-Kisling, 185; write-in, 73.

Millersburg mayor: Richard Fry, 20; write-in, 16.

Millersburg council at large (vote for 3): Travis Gensley, 32; Michael Gorsch, 31; Jeffrey Clark, 22; write-in, 20.

North English mayor: Daniel J. Strohman, 118; write-in, 4.

North English council at large (vote for 3): Kathy O’Rourke, 119; Louis Garringer, 116; Gerald Allen Haugland, 100; write-in, 5.

North English council at large to fill a vacancy: Andrew Custer, 119; write-in, 2.

Parnell mayor: Mattew Stoner, 25; Larry Schropp, 21.

Parnell city council at large (vote for 5): Jared Dhondt, 32; Brad Strasser, 28; Jamie Abernathy, 28; Rick Rodgers, 25; write-in, 73.

Victor mayor: Eric Refer, 119; Donald Craig, 89; write-in, 5.

Victor city council at large (vote for 5): Shawn Sternhagen, 165; Cindy Trout Smith, 159; Marla Faga, 154; Josh Scholtus, 132; Joan Robinson, 103; Jim Rajtora, 91; Tyler Kasper, 81; James Thompson, 37; write-in, 14.

Williamsburg mayor: Adam Grier, 118; write-in, 8.

Williamsburg council at large (vote for 3): Dale Walter, 131; Anne Zalenski, 120; Tyler Marshall, 111; write-in, 9.

In Iowa County, Benjamin Reineke received 3 votes each and Tylar Gallagher, 2, for Belle Plaine School Director at-large. The votes are added to the totals cast in Benton County, giving the at-large seats to Gallagher, with a total of 480 votes; Jacobi, with a total of 471; and Reineke, with 414. Shirley Coles received 164 votes.

Three votes were cast in Iowa County in favor of the Belle Plaine School public measure to adopt a revenue purpose statement for Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund. In Benton County, 467 voted in favor of the measure, and 121 against.

Clear Creek Amana School Director at-large (vote for 2): Gabe Schaapveld, 182; Abdouramane Bila, 171; Joe Burns, 68; Sarah Rivera, 50; write-in, 2.

In Johnson County, Bila received 126 votes; Schaapveld, 99; Burns, 74; and Rivera, 51.

Clear Creek Amana School Director District 1 (vote for 1): Allison Momany, 274; April Schmitz, 37; write-in, 2. In Johnson County, Momany received 129 votes and Schmitz, 55.

Clear Creek Amana School Director District 2 (vote for 1): Patricia Higby, 154; Jennifer Downes, 117; write-in, 2. In Johnson County, Higby received 99 votes and Downes, 90.

Clear Creek Amana School Director District 3 (vote for 1): Jennifer Bollers, 234; write-in, 7. Bollers received 162 votes from Johnson County voters.

Clear Creek Amana School public measure to levy for 10 years a physical plant and equipment tax not exceeding $0.67 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.: Yes, 198; No, 83. Johnson County voters approved the measure 146-46.

English Valleys School Director at-large (vote for 3): Susan Schaefer, 205; Katie Taukei, 124; Ashley Dickey, 108; Thomas O. Voss, 92; Steven Banes, 85; Whit Faas, 66; Fred Huebner, 62; write-in, 2.

English Valleys School public measure to levy for six years an additional $0.67 per $1,000 assessed valuation: Yes, 180; No, 86.

HLV School Director at-large (vote for 3): Blake Kuesel, 204; David Doran, 198; Maria Hawkins, 139; Laurel Hollopeter, 113; Michael Kolesar, 109; Sharon Kriegel, 93; Michael Gilboa, 10; write-in, 1.

Iowa Valley School Director at-large (vote for 2): Jillissa Chvala, 200; Ellen O’Rourke, 149; Benjamin Wagner, 145; write-in, 6.

Mid-Prairie School Director at-large (vote for 4): Mary Allred, 20; Denise J. Chittick, 20; Randy Billups, 18; Jim Miller, 15; Ryan Schlabaugh, 10. (Iowa County votes only)

Mid-Prairie School public measure to issue up to $8.7 million in General Obligation Bons for a wrestling/activity center at the high school and other improvements: Yes, 11; No, 18. (Iowa County votes only.)

Tri-County School Director at-large (Iowa County votes only): Heather Schmidt, 0; Chad McKain, 0.

Williamsburg School Director at-large (vote for 2): Mark Armstrong, 220; Quinn Wolfe, 190.

Kirkwood Community College Director District 4 (Iowa County results only): Lorraine Williams, 15.

Kirkwood Community College Director District 5 (Iowa County results only): Alan Jensen, 888; write-in, 12.

How teachers and students feel about A.I.

You’re reading the On Tech: A.I. newsletter, for Times subscribers only. Stay ahead of the curve on artificial intelligence, how it works, and how you can use it.I sat in on a ChatGPT workshop this month for teachers at Walla Walla High School, about 270 miles southeast of Seattle. As a reporter who covers education technology, I have closely followed how generative artificial intelligence has upended e...

You’re reading the On Tech: A.I. newsletter, for Times subscribers only. Stay ahead of the curve on artificial intelligence, how it works, and how you can use it.

I sat in on a ChatGPT workshop this month for teachers at Walla Walla High School, about 270 miles southeast of Seattle. As a reporter who covers education technology, I have closely followed how generative artificial intelligence has upended education.

Now that the first full school year of the A.I. chatbot era is beginning, I wanted to ask administrators and educators how their thinking had evolved since last spring. Walla Walla, a district that serves some 5,500 students, seemed like a timely location to begin the conversation. After blocking student access to ChatGPT in February, Walla Walla administrators told me they unblocked it last month and are now embracing A.I. tools.

So I jumped at the chance to learn more about how teachers there are planning to use chatbots with their students this academic year. You can read more in my story today about how school districts across the country are repealing their ChatGPT bans.

My colleague Kevin Roose has some great suggestions in his column today on how schools can survive, “and maybe even thrive,” with A.I. tools this fall. Step one, Kevin says: “Assume all students are going to use the technology.”

We recently asked educators, professors, and high school and college students to tell us about their experiences using A.I. chatbots for teaching and learning. We got a massive response — more than 350 submissions. Here are some highlights:

Teaching with A.I.

I love A.I. chatbots! I use them to make variations on quiz questions. I have them check my instructions for clarity. I have them brainstorm activity and assignment ideas. I’ve tried using them to evaluate student essays, but it isn’t great at that.

— Katy Pearce, associate professor, University of Washington

Before they even use ChatGPT, I help students discern what is worth knowing, figuring out how to look it up, and what information or research is worth “outsourcing” to A.I. I also teach students how to think critically about the data collected from the chatbot — what might be missing, what can be improved and how they can expand the “conversation” to get richer feedback.

— Nicole Haddad, Southern Methodist University

Studying with A.I. tools

I used ChatGPT and a math plug-in to help prepare me in geometry for next year. That was very helpful for me because you can ask it a million questions and it never gets tired. It was like my personalized tutor in math.

— Amedeo Bettauer, age 13, rising ninth grader, Brookline High School

More on U.S. Schools

A.I. chatbots are making it a lot easier for students to understand difficult concepts in a simple way. The tailored responses one can obtain through specific prompts are incredible. It can provide students with endless examples of how to outline essays, business plans and emails. It’s a real time saver.

— Sam Avery, recent graduate, University of Iowa

A.I. chatbots can give students an out. You don’t have to think about a text deeply or write about a connection that you had to find, you can simply just ask a robot to analyze a quote and it will do it in a matter of seconds. I don’t know the effects that A.I. will have on students in the long run but I just don’t want it to make students lazy, as the joy of learning is that “AHA!” moment that comes from figuring something out yourself.

— Emma Nazario, first-year student, Wheaton College

Drawbacks

They have industrialized and automated plagiarism.

— Travis Huckell, associate professor, MacEwan University

I think that the very best students will be fine. At less resourced universities than my own, I foresee an ever yawning gap between the privileged and everyone else, between those who know how to use A.I. as a tool and those who don’t know that there is anything to know.

— Ricardo Galliano Court, assistant dean for academic integrity and undergraduate research, Northwestern University

More voices, better journalism. The article you are reading is in part the result of The Times inviting readers to share their experiences. With questionnaires, we get a wide range of views that often lead to a more deeply reported article. This helps us ensure that our journalism reflects the world we cover.

Here’s more on how it works and why it’s good for us and you.

A lesson plan for the A.I. era

Some readers told us they would love to see the federal government develop strict rules for the educational uses of A.I. to protect student privacy and intellectual property. And they urged their universities and districts to provide more guidelines and recommendations for innovative uses of A.I. tools.

For educators looking for inspiration, Ethan Mollick, an associate professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania who thinks a lot about generative A.I. in the classroom, has some great suggestions. (He also has a newsletter about A.I., and it’s covered how to make ChatGPT an expert tutor.)

On Kevin’s “Hard Fork” podcast, Ethan talked about how teachers and students might use the tools in the coming school year. Here are a few snippets of the conversation, condensed and edited.

Can schools stop students from cheating with A.I. chatbots?

“The short answer is no. The long answer is A.I. use is undetectable. You can’t ask A.I. to detect A.I. It’s just going to lie to you. Every instinct we have about how to stop plagiarism doesn’t work.

You can change how you teach. You could have people do oral exams. But the old homework assignment is basically cracked by A.I.”

How can teachers adapt?

“You may have to hold people accountable with in-class exams, with having the Wi-Fi turned off, your Chromebook in demo mode. There are ways of solving this problem in the short term.

I think the bigger, longer-term problem is what does this all mean? What does this change about education?"

How should students approach generative A.I.?

“I would demand clarity. Does this mean that I’m allowed to use A.I. to generate ideas? Could A.I. come with an outline that I work on? Can I ask for feedback from A.I. in my work? Am I allowed to use A.I. as a teammate? Can I ask the A.I. advice for something? Can I ask to explain why I got a question right or wrong?

I think you are allowed as a student to ask for what does this mean, while being patient with your teachers that they haven’t figured it out either. Nobody knows the answer.”

One educator’s view

Jennifer Parnell, a history teacher at the Lawrenceville School, an independent school in Lawrenceville, N.J., was an early classroom adopter of ChatGPT. She began trying out A.I. chatbots in December and immediately incorporated the tools into her honors U.S. history and environmental science courses.

“I’m fascinated by the potential of this technology, albeit a little bit terrified,” she wrote in response to our reader callout.

I called her on Wednesday to learn more about the ways she’s been using the A.I. tools with her high school students.

For a final exam in U.S. history, for instance, she used ChatGPT to manufacture an essay and then asked her students to analyze the A.I.-generated text for errors and rewrite it. Students also fed their own essays into the A.I. tool and asked it for feedback on the quality of their sources.

Parnell said she still has concerns about the use of A.I. tools in schools, including issues of bias, privacy and academic honesty. But she believed the potential benefits outweighed the downsides.

“A.I. has pushed teachers to think more intentionally about the purpose of education and specifically assessment,” she said. “As a teacher, if I’m asking questions that are easily answered by A.I., am I asking the best questions?”

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