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Home Care In Center Point, IA

Home Care Center Point, 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 Center Point HIstorical Depot Museum 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 Center Point, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

In-Home Care Center Point, 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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“Always Best is OK but doesn’t seem to make up hours very well. When the”

Always Best is OK but doesn’t seem to make up hours very well. When the caregiver is sick, nobody comes. I would think that they need a little more back up than they have right now. They give me a schedule, and billing is paid by Medicaid.
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“I knew a lady who works for Always Best Health Care that's why I chose”

I knew a lady who works for Always Best Health Care that's why I chose it. The caregiver is very good with a very good attitude. They were able to provide the caregiver for myself immediately. She accompanies me to shopping.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best is OK but doesn’t seem to make up hours very well. When the caregiver is sick, nobody comes. I would think that they need a little more back up than they have right now. They give me a schedule, and billing is paid by Medicaid.”

DouglasJJIWF
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I knew a lady who works for Always Best Health Care that's why I chose it. The caregiver is very good with a very good attitude. They were able to provide the caregiver for myself immediately. She accompanies me to shopping.”

Carol64210350

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Center Point, 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 Center Point, IA

Types of Elderly Care in Center Point, 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 Center Point, 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 Center Point, 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 Fross 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 Center Point, 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 La Cantina Bar & Grill or visit Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 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 Center Point, IA

Benefits of Home Care in Center Point, 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 Center Point, 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 Center Point, 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 Center Point, 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 Center Point, 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 Center Point, 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 Center Point, 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:

  • Center Point Heights, A Senior Living Community
  • Emery Place
  • Stoney Point Meadows
  • The Views of Cedar Rapids
  • MeadowView Memory Care
  • Golden Age Housing
Home Care Center Point, 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 Center Point, 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 Center Point, 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 Center Point, IA

Latest News in Center Point, IA

Hot start is encouraging for young Center Point-Urbana boys’ soccer team ranked in top 10

Stormin’ Pointers improved to 6-1 with 2-1 win over Benton Community on ThursdayRyan Pleggenkuhle CENTER POINT — For a team short on seniors and low on numbers, the youthful Center Point-Urbana boys’ soccer team is “learning quickly.”Following a big, 2-1 win at home Thursday over Wamac Conference West Division foe and Class 2A No. 11-ranked Benton Community (4-3), the 10th-rated Stormin’ Pointer...

Stormin’ Pointers improved to 6-1 with 2-1 win over Benton Community on Thursday

Ryan Pleggenkuhle

CENTER POINT — For a team short on seniors and low on numbers, the youthful Center Point-Urbana boys’ soccer team is “learning quickly.”

Following a big, 2-1 win at home Thursday over Wamac Conference West Division foe and Class 2A No. 11-ranked Benton Community (4-3), the 10th-rated Stormin’ Pointers (6-1) find themselves second in the division, trailing just No. 5 Williamsburg.

“Benton was a good test for us,” CPU Coach Curtis Cassidy said. “It was a hard-fought match. Moving forward, it’s going to get even harder.”

Sophomore Jared Boesenberg was involved in both goals for CPU Thursday, assisting on the first to Bradley Jones and converting the second himself.

“It’s the defense,” Boesenberg said. “They work really hard. I appreciate them because they got us the ball a lot and we worked up field.”

CPU’s hot start is impressive, especially considering it lost several key players from a 2022 team that finished 7-8.

“We’re pretty young, but I think the thing that we’ve been doing well is we’ve been playing for each other, not just individually,” Cassidy said. “Some of our freshmen are stepping up. We’re low on numbers this year, we have 25 guys.”

What CPU might lack in depth and experience, it’s making up for in ball movement on offense and strength on defense.

Read More: Photos: CPU vs. Benton boys’ soccer

“Our passing is pretty good and has been better this year than past years,” Cassidy said. “I think our strength honestly comes from one of our leaders, Ryan (Keller), our goalie. It comes from the defensive back.”

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Through seven games, the Stormin’ Pointers have allowed just four goals.

Keller has 18 saves and an 81.8 save percentage.

“We’re young, but I think we’re learning quick and progressing fast,” Keller said. “When one guy will run through a brick wall for someone else … I mean every single guy out here will do anything for somebody else. It’s amazing.”

While the defense has been exceptional, the offense is led in scoring by a player who didn’t record a varsity goal last season — junior Gage Pierce has eight goals.

“I have to credit my teammates,” Pierce said. “Most of my goals are coming from assists. I don’t think I could do it without them helping out. And the defense getting the ball to midfield. Just everybody contributing.”

“I would say Gage is one of them as far as biggest surprises go,” Cassidy said. “He put in a lot of work this offseason, and it shows on the field that he put that extra time in to get better.”

The Stormin’ Pointers will need Pierce to keep scoring and Keller to continue preventing opponents from scoring through an upcoming schedule “gauntlet.”

Two of CPU’s next four games will be against ranked 3A opponents — No. 15 Clear Creek Amana on April 28 and No. 5 Marion on May 4.

“I think the better the competition, the better it makes you,” Cassidy said. “We don’t know what’s going to happen here come these later games, but whatever happens we’re going to come out stronger the next day than where we started.

“The leadership on this team is outstanding. I think that’s what going to help us through that gauntlet (of opponents).”

Keller agrees.

“We’ve got a tough schedule coming up,” Keller said. “We’ve just got to keep playing our game and come to practice every day with the mentality of we’ve got to get better. And then when we come into games we’ve got to show up and play our game.”

Working Iowa: Donutland looks to add to team carrying on decades of tradition

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - “33 years now at this Donutland,” said Bob Cross of Cedar Rapids. That’s how long he’s been visiting the Donutland on Center Point Road daily.”I usually get the cream filled Long John or the cinnamon roll, or the double chocolate or the cherry,” Cross says they’re all good.He’s not the only customer making a stop at the northeast side Donutland a part of his daily routine.“Oh at least 30, 35 years,” said Dennis Harris. He visits the l...

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - “33 years now at this Donutland,” said Bob Cross of Cedar Rapids. That’s how long he’s been visiting the Donutland on Center Point Road daily.

”I usually get the cream filled Long John or the cinnamon roll, or the double chocolate or the cherry,” Cross says they’re all good.

He’s not the only customer making a stop at the northeast side Donutland a part of his daily routine.

“Oh at least 30, 35 years,” said Dennis Harris. He visits the location daily too.

“We have a group in here and they’re friendly and we get together. There’s usually three or four tables and we just visit and have a good time,” Harris explained.

They come for their favorite donuts and enjoy good company. It’s customers like Cross and Harris that have helped this Donutland location stand the test of time.

”We bought the last remaining Donutland September of 2018,” said Jeff Collins, Owner of Donutland.

Originating in Illinois he says there were once 63 Donutlands, since buying the last remaining store in Cedar Rapids they’ve expanded back up to four locations.

”It’s not just the donut and the coffee. It’s the community gathering here at a small little building and we’re growing as a company but still staying small and local,” Ceria Thomas said, Manager at Donutland.

They’re looking to add to their team. The company says they offer flexible schedules with both part and full time positions in customer service and the kitchen.

“We’re working in a donut shop. We want people to come in and smile on their face and leave with a smile on their face. So it’s a really simple equation,” said Collins.

A simple equation to becoming a Cedar Rapids tradition.

“It’s a good staff and they’re good friendly people and and you we love the donuts. So that’s why,” said Harris.

You can apply to Donutland here.

Copyright 2023 KCRG. All rights reserved.

Volunteers needed for veteran flagpole installations

CENTER POINT, Iowa (KCRG) - An organization that donates flagpoles to Iowa veterans is asking for more volunteers to help reach a special goal.The Veteran Flagpole Initiative of the Patriotic Gentlemen of Iowa has a goal of putting a flagpole in the yard of every veteran in the state. This Veteran’s Day they have a goal of installing eight more, but they’re looking for more volunteers to get it done.”Every morning I get up, eat my breakfast at the window, look out and see the flag,” said Paul Schantz, Ce...

CENTER POINT, Iowa (KCRG) - An organization that donates flagpoles to Iowa veterans is asking for more volunteers to help reach a special goal.

The Veteran Flagpole Initiative of the Patriotic Gentlemen of Iowa has a goal of putting a flagpole in the yard of every veteran in the state. This Veteran’s Day they have a goal of installing eight more, but they’re looking for more volunteers to get it done.

”Every morning I get up, eat my breakfast at the window, look out and see the flag,” said Paul Schantz, Center Point resident. Paul Schantz was in the army in the late ‘60s, and early ‘70s, serving in Vietnam for one year. He had always wanted an American Flag flying in his front year.

”I knew that I couldn’t do it by myself. But then here come these guys on a Saturday morning and it was just great... in two hours they were done,” Schantz said.

Schantz was one of the first recipients of a lighted flagpole installed by the Veteran Flag Initiative of the Patriotic Gentlemen of Iowa.

”We put our first one in the ground in 2021 and it’s kind of snowballed since then,” said Will Hanchett, the chief of operations for the Veteran Flag Initiative. ”Officially as of today, we’ve put 28 flagpoles in the ground. We have 8 more this Veteran’s Day this week.”

Funding for the flagpoles comes from membership dues, donations, and sponsorships and each veteran receives a 20-foot telescopic flagpole, a US Flag, an Iowa Flag, and a solar-powered light.

They have all the supplies needed they’re just missing one thing.

“We’ve come to the point now in the organization where we don’t have enough members for as many flagpoles as we could put in if we could put flagpoles in like every day of the week almost. So we need help,” Hanchett said.

The group is asking for non-member volunteers across the state to continue toward their goal of getting every veteran a free flagpole.

”I think I always felt what can I do to help to honor our veterans and what can I do. I think a lot of people ask that same question, how can they help, and this has been apparent that to veterans that flag means a lot to them as it should,” said Jesse Caston, a member of the Veteran Flag Initiative and Patriotic Gentlemen of Iowa.

More information on how to volunteer for flagpole installation can be found on the Veteran Flag Initiative’s website https://www.veteranflagpoles.org/ or by sending a message to the Veteran Flagpole Initiative Facebook page.

Copyright 2023 KCRG. All rights reserved.

Center Point-Urbana seizes the moment against Mid-Prairie, returns to state volleyball for first time since 2015

CENTER POINT — The message was simple.“Let’s take advantage.”Center Point-Urbana, led by dynamic junior duo Logan Keller and Sydney Maue, did just that.The Class 3A seventh-rated Stormin’ Pointer volleyball team is state tournament bound for the first time since 2015 after defeating No. 12 Mid-Prairie (32-13) in four sets (25-23, 17-25, 25-17, 25-21) Tuesday night in Center Point.“The biggest thing I reminded that girls yesterday and today is that we get this opportunity,”...

CENTER POINT — The message was simple.

“Let’s take advantage.”

Center Point-Urbana, led by dynamic junior duo Logan Keller and Sydney Maue, did just that.

The Class 3A seventh-rated Stormin’ Pointer volleyball team is state tournament bound for the first time since 2015 after defeating No. 12 Mid-Prairie (32-13) in four sets (25-23, 17-25, 25-17, 25-21) Tuesday night in Center Point.

“The biggest thing I reminded that girls yesterday and today is that we get this opportunity,” CPU Coach Michelle Halac said. “It’s that idea of ‘We get to.’ Let’s just go take advantage. We know what we can do. Remember that we get this opportunity and others don’t, so seize that moment.”

Maue led the way for the Stormin’ Pointers slamming down 18 kills, most of which were assisted by Keller.

Keller had 28 assists.

“We’ve worked a lot together this season,” Keller said. “We always know what we’re running and she’s always there. She’s always ready for whatever set I put up for her.”

Maue had four kills early as CPU took the first set, 25-23.

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The key play in set one was an agile assist from Jayce Grannan to Maya Burkhart who found an opening in Mid-Prairie’s defense. A perfectly-placed tip landed gently on the Golden Hawks’ side of the court, tying the set at 23 apiece. It was the spark the Stormin’ Pointers needed.

“Jayce Grennan is always giving me really good balls, Gracie Hoskins, too,” Keller said. “It’s really good to have other people who can get assists.”

The second set belonged to the Golden Hawks.

Mid-Prairie took an early 4-3 lead it never relinquished, taking it 25-17.

CPU rebounded in the third as Keller and Maue found their rhythm.

Maue has seven third-set kills, all of which came from Keller assists as the Stormin’ Pointers took it 25-17.

“We started this game a little rough, but every single time we turn it around when it really matters,” Maue said. “I think we did a really good job of getting the ball to the setter when we needed it. We kept our sets in-system. Our hitters could take good swings and make good shots.”

CPU held a narrow advantage for the majority of the fourth set, but the Golden Hawks, led by do-it-all sophomore Jovi Evans, made it interesting.

The match-deciding set featured three ties, the last one coming at 17-all before CPU went on a run to claim it 25-21.

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Harper Pacha had crucial back-to-back aces late in the set to put the Stormin’ Pointers over the top.

Serving consistency was a crucial component in the win, as CPU went 90 of 92 (.978).

“We tell the girls, ‘Getting that serve over is an opportunity for that point,’” Halac said. “You don’t get it over, you lose that opportunity. They’ve done a great job all season focusing in on one serve at a time.”

CPU will face No. 3 Western Christian (29-13) in a state tournament quarterfinal Tuesday at 12:25 p.m. at Xtream Arena in Coralville.

“Very exciting,” Halac said. “I’m just so proud of these girls, all the work they put in and the accomplishment that they made tonight.”

“This has always been a dream of mine, ever since middle school,” Maue said. “Getting to be on that state court is just a dream come true.”

“We knew we could do it as a team,” Keller said. “It feels good to just play well today and get the win.

“I’m just really excited to get to go as a team and do it all together.”

Center Point-Urbana 3, Mid-Prairie 1

(25-23, 17-25, 25-17, 25-21)

CLASS 3A REGION 6 FINAL, AT CENTER POINT-URBANA

Serving: Mid-Prairie 85-87 (.977), Center Point-Urbana 90-92 (.978)

Aces: Mid-Prairie 9, Center Point-Urbana 6

Kills: Mid-Prairie 39 (Jovi Evans 17, Harper Pacha 7, Callie Huber 9, Paige Safely 7, Katelyn Harland 1). Center Point-Urbana 53 (Sydney Maue 18, Addy Tupa 6, Logan Keller 9, Maya Burkhart 8, Paige Foltz 8, Allee Schantz 3).

Center Point-Urbana parents submit petition to reinstate primary school principal

URBANA, Iowa (KWWL) - More than 150 parents and community members attended a special meeting of the Center Point-Urbana school board Tuesday, to show their support for a principal who recently announced her resignation.Ann Wooldridge, who has been the principal at CPU Primary School for 11 years, submitted a resignation to the school district in mid-April. In a monthly newsletter sent to families Friday, Wooldridge said she disagreed with the district's decision to shrink the number of classes for incoming second graders."...

URBANA, Iowa (KWWL) - More than 150 parents and community members attended a special meeting of the Center Point-Urbana school board Tuesday, to show their support for a principal who recently announced her resignation.

Ann Wooldridge, who has been the principal at CPU Primary School for 11 years, submitted a resignation to the school district in mid-April. In a monthly newsletter sent to families Friday, Wooldridge said she disagreed with the district's decision to shrink the number of classes for incoming second graders.

"The reasons for my resignation are rooted in a mismatch of student learning needs and necessary teaching resources," Wooldridge said in that newsletter.

The district is planning to go from five second grade sections to four in the fall. Superintendent Matt Berninghaus said the reason is that enrollment has slightly declined, and going to four sections will satisfy a district policy that calls for 20 students per section in grades K-2.

Wooldridge also said in the letter that next year's second graders have been severely impacted by COVID, and staying with 16 students per class instead of 20 is the right move to maintain student engagement.

"As a parent and a community member, our kids are more than a number. I know they (the district) have to look at the numbers and what's going on, but Ann Wooldridge is an amazing educator, she's a wonderful principal...her resigning instead of retiring one year from now is a powerful statement about issues she sees that could harm kids in the long run," Mandy Skinner said, a parent of three kids in the district, including a kindergartener.

The group formally submitted a petition with over 550 signatures Tuesday night, asking the board to deny Wooldridge's resignation, and allow her to come back in the fall of 2022 "under her conditions."

Wooldridge declined to do a formal interview with KWWL, but she did say she wanted to come back if her conditions were met. When asked what conditions those were, she said, "That there is transparency about what's going on."

About 50 of the parents stayed deep into the night, through two closed sessions that did not relate to Wooldridge's resignation.

At the conclusion of the meeting, board member Kristeen Opfer addressed the group.

"We want you to know that we appreciate each and every one of you being here tonight. We do hear your voices, we do value your input. We have received your petition and we will follow up in the very near future," Opfer said.

"I think this will help center the conversation in the community about what's really good for kids, and I think that's a win-win proposition," Dick Whitehead said, who is the official spokesperson for the group.

Whitehead served as Center Point-Urbana Superintendent from roughly 1983 - 2004. He is the person who brought Center Point and Urbana together into one district.

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