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Home Care In Wellsburg, IA

Home Care Wellsburg, 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 Chris Neessen House 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 Wellsburg, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Wellsburg, 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.

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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 Wellsburg, 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.

 Senior Care Wellsburg, IA

Types of Elderly Care in Wellsburg, 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

Respite Care Wellsburg, 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
 Caregivers Wellsburg, 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 17th Street 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
Home Care Wellsburg, 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 Station Grille or visit Wellsburg Historical Foundation Museum, 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.

 In-Home Care Wellsburg, IA

Benefits of Home Care in Wellsburg, 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 Wellsburg, 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 Wellsburg, 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 Wellsburg, 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 Wellsburg, 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 Wellsburg, 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 Wellsburg, 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:

  • Wellsburg Healthcare Center
  • Brightwood Center
Home Care Wellsburg, 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 Wellsburg, 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 Wellsburg, 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.

 Elderly Care Wellsburg, IA

Latest News in Wellsburg, IA

Wellsburg residents seek answers to water problems

WELLSBURG — Several residents came to the city’s water-sewer board meeting Wednesday with complaints about their water and were asked to help local officials in soliciting funds for improvements.Resident Chrissy Kaylor said her water has ranged from runny brown to milky white in appearance, sometimes smelling like bleach and sometimes like sewage.She said others have voiced similar complaints but couldn’t make it to the meeting because it started at 5 p.m.“We want to know what you’re plannin...

WELLSBURG — Several residents came to the city’s water-sewer board meeting Wednesday with complaints about their water and were asked to help local officials in soliciting funds for improvements.

Resident Chrissy Kaylor said her water has ranged from runny brown to milky white in appearance, sometimes smelling like bleach and sometimes like sewage.

She said others have voiced similar complaints but couldn’t make it to the meeting because it started at 5 p.m.

“We want to know what you’re planning to do to fix the problem,” said Kaylor.

She said she and others have endured city streets being torn up and water service being disrupted as crews worked to replace water lines.

Kaylor said she and other residents also have paid higher water rates in recent years “but we’ve not gotten a better product.”

City Manager Steve Maguschak said replacement of water lines along Main, Charles and Commerce streets from Second to 12th streets is just the first of many steps needed to improve the city’s water treatment system.

He said discolored water often is the result of a buildup of material in the lines and while flushing them is one answer, it won’t remedy the deposits found in the city’s ductile iron pipe.

Such lines have a life expectancy of no more than 80 years, and much of the city’s are 100 years old, he said.

Prior to the meeting, Maguschak said a line replaced at 27th Street was so old, crews found remnants of trolley track near it.

He said the intention is to replace all of the old lines, but the cost for that has been estimated at $26 million.

Maguschak said at a meeting with federal and state representatives arranged by Brooke County Commissioner A.J. Thomas, he and other city officials were told that level of funding isn’t available but the city could pursue up to $9 million for smaller projects.

The city manager said he’s proposed lobbying for money to replace water line along Charles Street from 12th to 30th streets, which is considered to be in the worst condition, followed by other areas of the city.

Maguschak noted a top priority for the city is raising well heads leading to four wells, 75 feet underground, that supply the city with water.

He said the well heads sit below the floodplain and would be inundated if the city were flooded again.

Maguschak said residents may find an odor of chlorine after service has been disrupted by a line break and the production of treated water has resumed because the chemical hasn’t fully dissipated in the lines.

He and Rick Stewart, the city’s water superintendent, said water can appear white because there was air in the lines but it should clear up in a short amount of time.

Mayor Dan Dudley said residents may ask for city crews to test their water.

Maguschak noted water is routinely tested after a line has been repaired.

He acknowledged water discoloration also occurred after a local industry tested a malfunctioning sprinkler system without notifying the city.

Maguschak and 3rd Ward Councilman Randy Fletcher, who chairs the water-sewer board, said the state fire marshal’s office has assisted the business in setting up a new system and a new ordinance establishes that an entity may be fined $500 for failing to notify the city of such a situation.

Kaylor also asked if there have been issues with the city’s newer radio-read water meters, adding a resident recently received a $4,000 bill.

Maguschak said there was an incident in which the system by which the readings are transmitted to the city had to be reset, but city crews can get an accurate reading from the meters themselves.

He cautioned that a higher than normal bill can indicate there’s a leak in the line to the customer’s home, as he found at his own home.

“Any time you have a question, call here and we’ll send a guy up,” Maguschak said while adding city crews often are busy and may not respond immediately.

Fletcher said customers seeking information about their accounts should ask for the water department’s secretary.

The department can be reached at City Hall at (304) 737-2104.

It also was noted that an automated call system is used to alert customers of disruptions in service, but they must ask to be included.

City officials thanked residents attending the meeting for their civil discourse during the meeting, saying discussion of the topic on social media often has become heated.

Maguschak said an effort will be made to better inform the public about the city’s situation.

And Dudley asked their help in lobbying state and federal officials for funding for future water projects.

“I still feel there’s a few strings they could pull,” he said.

Maguschak introduced Ben Erste, community planning specialist for the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission, who has aided the city in pursuing state and federal funds.

Erste said state and federal agencies consider the median household income for the communities that will be served by a project and their present water or sewer rates.

Wellsburg Council and the water-sewer board agreed to raise the base water rate from $6.20 per 1,000 gallons to $6.94 per 1,000 gallons in 2020 and to $8.68 per 1,000 gallons starting this month.

Resident Kathy Hess said the increases are a burden to many residents.

“There are a lot of Wellsburg residents who are older and can’t afford it,” she said.

The water-sewer board normally meets at 5 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month.

Residents were advised if they can’t make the meetings, they may bring questions to council, which meets at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month, or to the city manager personally.

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Grundy County petting zoo receives USDA warning for allegedly violating Animal Welfare Act

GRUNDY COUNTY, Iowa —A Grundy County petting zoo received a warning for sanitation and not separating animals, resulting in three warnings from USDA for violating the Animal Welfare Act.The USDA issued the warnings to Rodney Stahl of Barn Stahl Petting Zoo on May 18, the alleged violations took place in March.On March 16, records show a USDA inspector found two enclosures that were not cleaned often enough. In one area that housed a water buffalo and a Brahman Steer were "heavily soiled on all...

GRUNDY COUNTY, Iowa —

A Grundy County petting zoo received a warning for sanitation and not separating animals, resulting in three warnings from USDA for violating the Animal Welfare Act.

The USDA issued the warnings to Rodney Stahl of Barn Stahl Petting Zoo on May 18, the alleged violations took place in March.

On March 16, records show a USDA inspector found two enclosures that were not cleaned often enough. In one area that housed a water buffalo and a Brahman Steer were "heavily soiled on all four legs, abdomen and have clumps of mud and fecal material on their legs and tails." Another pen, records show, had roughly two weeks' worth of fecal material surrounding food and water. That pen housed four zebus.

"The facility must remove excreta from primary enclosures as often as necessary to prevent contamination of the animals contained therein and to minimize disease hazards and to reduce odors," USDA Animal Care Inspector Paige Johnson wrote in her inspection report.

Two weeks later, on March 30, USDA inspectors returned for another inspection. That inspection report shows the pen housing zebu was not properly cleaned.

"There are several inches of wet fecal material and straw bedding covering the back of the enclosure. The front half was a thin wet layer of excreta and bedding. These animals have no dry clean space in their primary enclosure. One female mini zebu has a layer of excreta covered her front legs from the hoof to her knees," the report states.

On that same inspection, a cow and a camel were in an enclosure together, records show.

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"The camel was chewing at the right side of the cow which caused an open sore and irritation to the cow," the report says. "During inspection, the camel went to nip at the cow's side."

USDA issued three "official warnings" but did not fine the petting zoo's owner.

"Since violations of the regulations can have serious and costly impacts that are detrimental to the public interest, APHIS is providing you with an Official Warning for the alleged violation(s) described above," the warning states.

Barn Stahl's website shows the petting zoo is closed for the season and will reopen in September. A phone call to the farm was not returned.

Ice Storm Causes Northeastern Iowa School Delays (Feb. 23, 2023)

We will continue to keep you updated as more schools begin to announce their plan for this winter weather system. Download our app for the most up to the minute weather coverage.The ice storm that has been moving through much of the Midwest has not been too forgiving.Dangerous road conditions caused by the winter weather have made it difficult for many to travel.Reports from our Firs...

We will continue to keep you updated as more schools begin to announce their plan for this winter weather system. Download our app for the most up to the minute weather coverage.

The ice storm that has been moving through much of the Midwest has not been too forgiving.

Dangerous road conditions caused by the winter weather have made it difficult for many to travel.

Reports from our First Alert Weather Partners at KCRG showed signs of a very rough commute for many parts of our listenership yesterday and into today. Now, this latest system will be continuing to move east.

This brings with it some strong wind gusts. Iowans are no strangers to wind, but the icy roads along with the gusts of up to 30 MPH will make travel dicey.

With the ice from yesterdays storm, some roads will be difficult to navigate. Slick conditions are expected especially when the temperatures drop this evening. Our weather partner believes the low will be anywhere between 0-10 degrees.

Overall, not a great day for travel.

Here are the school closings and delays for Northeastern Iowa. If there is a school that we missed, please make sure to shoot us a message on the station app. We will quickly make that edit.

2 hour delay

90 min delay

Closed

Closed

Will open at 10am

Closed

Closed & All Activities Are Canceled

Closed

Closed

Closed

2 hour delay

This story was last updated at 6:58 AM on Wednesday, February 22nd.

Stay up to date with all of the school delays and closings by downloading the free station app. Get up to the minute coverage on the weather by following the station across all social media platforms.

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Facility Feature Snittjer Grain Co. a second elevator

Family-owned grain business in Iowa since the early 1960s, adds a second location as its bushel volumes soarSnittjer Grain Co. had been a single-location grain handler in Wellsburg, IA since the family-owned business was founded in the early 1960s. In recent years, however, the need for a second grain elevator became apparent.“In the last 10 years, our grain volume has doubled,” says J.R. Kennedy, general manager and CEO who has been with the company his entire 10-year career since graduation from Iowa State Unive...

Family-owned grain business in Iowa since the early 1960s, adds a second location as its bushel volumes soar

Snittjer Grain Co. had been a single-location grain handler in Wellsburg, IA since the family-owned business was founded in the early 1960s. In recent years, however, the need for a second grain elevator became apparent.

“In the last 10 years, our grain volume has doubled,” says J.R. Kennedy, general manager and CEO who has been with the company his entire 10-year career since graduation from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural studies.

Kennedy succeeded his father, Patrick Kennedy, who ran the business for 30 years. The company was founded by Sherwood Snittjer.

The company decided on a site for the new “Wolf Creek” elevator about 10 miles southwest of Grundy Center, IA (641-869-3755). The 10-acre plot near Wolf Creek along State Highway 14 had been purchased from a local farmer who had operated an on-farm grain storage site there, but that had been destroyed in an August 2020 derecho that had cut a swath of destruction across Iowa.

The site still remains attractive to farmers in the area. One constructed a single-story building housing farm equipment and a workshop immediately next to Snittjer’s new elevator. Another built a small on-farm grain storage site right across the highway at roughly the same time.

Snittjer Grain selected Buresh Building Systems, Inc., Hampton, IA (641-456-5242) to build the $12 million project after reviewing the contractor’s proposed plan including a 1.5-million-bushel all-steel elevator. Buresh also is adding a 1.6-million-bushel used temporary storage pile in 2022. Construction on the new elevator began at the end of 2020, and it was operational shortly after harvest in 2021.

The facility Buresh built consists of three Sukup Mfg. Co. corrugated steel tanks, with room to build a fourth as needed. One, intended for dry corn, stands 105 feet in diameter, 91 feet tall at the eave, and 120 feet tall at the peak holding 737,000 bushels. Two smaller tanks, intended for soybeans or wet corn, stand 90 feet in diameter, 91 feet tall at the eaves, 119 feet tall at the peaks, and can hold 550,000 bushels each..

All three tanks have flat concrete floors, outside stiffeners, sidedraw spouts, Sukup paddle sweeps and BinMaster non-contact radar-type level indicators.

The big tank is outfitted with a 24-cable AGI CMC grain temperature monitoring system. A set of six 60-hp Sukup centrifugal fans provide 1/7 cfm per bushel of aeration through in-floor ducting.

The two smaller tanks have 16-cable temperature monitoring systems and six 60-hp centrifugal fans providing 1/5 cfm per bushel of aeration.

Incoming grain trucks are funneled into two lanes, each equipped with Probe-A-Load truck probes. Samples are sent to a PerkinElmer moisture meter for grading.

Trucks continue to a pair of 80-foot-long Rice Lake dump-through scales in a Sukup office and receiving building. Grain drops through the scales into 1,300-bushel receiving pits. A set of three Sukup 8,000-bushel surge tanks on the roof of the receiving building allow trucks to be loaded on the scales, as well.

After trucks leave the receiving shed, they drive by a Kahler ticket printer to receiving their scale tickets.

These feed a pair of Sukup 20,000-bph receiving legs equipped with Maxi-Lift 20x8 Tiger-Tuff buckets mounted on a 22-inch belt. The legs are enclosed by a Sukup 20-foot-x-20-foot-x-170-foot support tower.

The legs deposit grain into a Schlagel six-duct, swing-type double distributor. From there, grain destined to go directly for storage travels out via an AGI Hi Roller 40,000-bph enclosed belt conveyor to the wet/soybean tanks or via a Sukup 20,000-bph drag conveyor to the large tank.

Tanks empty onto Sukup 10,000-bph drag conveyors in below-ground tunnels running back to the receiving leg boot pits.

The distributor also can send grain via gravity spout to a Sukup 4,700-bph tower dryer fired by propane. Kennedy says the original plan was to run a natural gas line out to the dryer, but that proved too expensive. The dryer empties into one of the boot pits.

When Grain Journal visited the Wolf Creek site in April 2022, a crew from Buresh was starting to assemble a used 1.5-million-bushel temporary storage pile for use in the 2022 harvest.

The round center-fill pile will be 310 feet in diameter, with four-foot perforated steel sidewalls and lime floor. A set of 10-hp AGI Airlanco axial fans will hold the tarp in place. Grain will be carried out to the pile via an overhead AGI Hi Roller 40,000-bph belt conveyor.

Ed Zdrojewski, editor

From May/June 2022 Grain Journal Issue

Wellsburg, IA • 641-869-3755

Founded: Early 1960s

Storage capacity: 6 million bushels at two locations

Annual volume: 4-5 million bushels, 8-9 million anticipated

Annual revenues: $25 million

Number of employees: 10

Crops handled: Corn, soybeans

Services: Grain handling and merchandising, trucking

Pat Kennedy, owner

J.R. Kennedy, general manager/CEO

Elyse Moody, grain accounting

Meghan Koch, scale operator

Austin Sawyer, operations

Aeration fans • Sukup Mfg. Co.

Bin sweeps • Sukup Mfg. Co.

Bucket elevator • Sukup Mfg. Co.

Catwalk • Sukup Mfg. Co.

Contractor • Buresh Building Systems

Control system • Iowa Central Electric

Conveyors (belt) • AGI Hi Roller

Conveyors (drag) • Sukup Mfg. Co.

Distributor • Schlagel Inc.

Electrical contractor • Iowa Central Electric

Elevator buckets • Maxi-Lift Inc.

Engineering • VAA, LLC

Grain dryer • Sukup Mfg. Co.

Grain temperature system • AGI CMC

Level indicators • BinMaster

Millwright • Buresh Building Systems

Moisture meter • PerkinElmer

Motors • Toshiba International

Office and receiving building • Sukup Mfg. Co.

Roof system • Sukup Mfg. Co.

Speed reducers • Dodge Industrial, Inc.

Steel storage • Sukup Mfg. Co.

Steel tank erection • Buresh Building Systems

Surge bins • Sukup Mfg. Co.

Ticket printer • Kahler Automation

Tower support systems • Sukup Mfg. Co.

Truck probe • Probe-A-Load, Inc.

Truck scales • Rice Lake Weighing Systems

See photos, video from Monday's storms across Iowa

Iowans across the state experienced a wave of strong thunderstorms Monday night that knocked out electricity and damaged buildings, and tornadoes were reported in six counties.Trained weather spotters, law enforcement and journalists among others shared their findings on social media late Monday and early Tuesday:Straight-line-wind dam...

Iowans across the state experienced a wave of strong thunderstorms Monday night that knocked out electricity and damaged buildings, and tornadoes were reported in six counties.

Trained weather spotters, law enforcement and journalists among others shared their findings on social media late Monday and early Tuesday:

Straight-line-wind damage from thunderstorms was reported in numerous locations in Iowa.

The school was reportedly damaged, along with other buildings in town.

Some larger than others.

The National Weather Service is planning to survey the storm damage Tuesday morning, and there have been no reports of injuries associated with the storms as of Tuesday morning, according to NWS.

See more social media posts about Monday's storms and Tuesday's followup here.

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