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Home Care In Webster, IA

Home Care Webster, 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 Drummer Boy at Shiloh Historical Marker 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 Webster, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

In-Home Care Webster, 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 Webster, 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 Webster, IA

Types of Elderly Care in Webster, 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 Webster, 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 Webster, 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 Kendall Young 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 Webster, 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 the Webster or visit Webster County 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.

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In-Home Care Webster, IA

Benefits of Home Care in Webster, 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 Webster, 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 Webster, 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 Webster, 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 Webster, 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 Webster, 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 Webster, 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:

  • Brookdale Clear Lake
  • Brighton Senior Living At Regency Village
  • Senior Link Assisted Living
  • Focused Care at Webster
  • Light Heart Memory Care - Webster
  • Angels Sent Care Home
Home Care Webster, 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 Webster, 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 Webster, 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 Webster, IA

Latest News in Webster, IA

Meet the upscale Iowa restaurant that the New York Times called 'compelling'

One restaurant in Iowa earned accolades from the New York Times on its list of 50 restaurants that excite the food editors right now nationwide....

One restaurant in Iowa earned accolades from the New York Times on its list of 50 restaurants that excite the food editors right now nationwide.

The Webster, the upscale restaurant that features seasonal American dishes and a menu from owner Sam Gelman, made the list representing Iowa.

Gelman and his wife, Riene, opened the Iowa City restaurant in 2021 in the midst of the pandemic. Sam, who grew up in Iowa City and left to train at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, remembers dining at the Pearson Drug Store that once sat in the space The Webster now occupies two blocks from Mercy Hospital. Gelman recalled eating at the drug store with his father and grandfather, an orthopedic surgeon who worked at the hospital and became the namesake for the restaurant.

Riene, the location’s general manager and co-owner, worked at Eleven Madison Park and Craft in New York City before the couple decided to open a restaurant in Iowa.

What did the New York Times say about The Webster?

“We can’t help but feel that cities and towns in the United States are better to eat in today than they have ever been,” the New York Times wrote.

While the Times does not call out any particular dishes at The Webster, writer Brett Anderson does reference Sam Gelman’s background as a “top lieutenant in the chef David Chang’s restaurant group” as a draw to the restaurant.

“With its window-lined dining room and vibrant, Asian-accented, often locally sourced dishes, the Webster treats Mr. Gelman’s hometown as an asset, and serves as a compelling enticement to visit this cosmopolitan corner of the Midwest,” Anderson wrote.

What’s on the menu at The Webster?

The Webster’s website lauds seasonal ingredients but notes that “we don't limit ourselves to the strict confines of what is found on Iowa soil.” Some items, such as a roasted trout, may remain on the menu but its vegetables change with the “bounty of the seasons.”

Gelman describes the restaurant as “a relaxed, family friendly, upscale atmosphere.”

One section of the menu includes pastas, such as a rigatoni with kale pesto and ricotta salata and a casarecce with smoked wagyu beef and summer squash. At this time of year, the grilled Wisconsin trout comes with corn, bacon and chanterelles. Other entrees include a roasted monkfish with speck and green beans, Grimm Farm chicken thigh with roasted tomato, and a Beelers pork chop with cherry and dandelion.

Desserts can change daily and recently included a lemon yuzu curd, a panna cotta, and chocolate and passionfruit tart.

Where to find The Webster

Location: 202 N. Linn St., Iowa City

Hours: Open Tuesday through Thursday from 5:30 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5:30 to 10 p.m.

Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. You can reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at [email protected].

Downtown Webster City businesses damaged in large fire

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa —Fire crews from multiple departments responded to a large fire in downtown Webster City Wednesday.The Webster City Fire Department said the fire started around 1 p.m. at a local electric company building with a second-story apartment. A cat was inside the apartment.There were no reported injuries in the fire.The fire happened right next to the Webster Theater, which has sustained water and smoke damage. According to the theater's ...

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa —

Fire crews from multiple departments responded to a large fire in downtown Webster City Wednesday.

The Webster City Fire Department said the fire started around 1 p.m. at a local electric company building with a second-story apartment. A cat was inside the apartment.

There were no reported injuries in the fire.

The fire happened right next to the Webster Theater, which has sustained water and smoke damage. According to the theater's Facebook page, they will be closed until further notice.

Jeff Pingel helped reopen the theater in 2014 after it was closed the year before. He said he was on the verge of tears when he saw the fire. He went inside the theater once the smoke had cleared and he said the damage is bad.

"We've got extensive smoke damage, obviously," Pingel said. "And then we have six inches of water in the basement and probably some water damage along the east wall."

Watch: KCCI's Marcus McIntosh interviews Jeff Pingel inside Webster Theater

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He said the devastating fire comes at the most important time of the year for the theater's revenue. But he's confident people will rally together once again.

"I'm pretty confident Webster City is going to stay with me, and we'll be back up again as soon as possible," Pingel said.

KCCI's Ophelie Jacobson was at the scene, where residents said they were devastated by the fire in their downtown area, especially as it happened ahead of the city's Christmas celebration scheduled for this Saturday.

The fire department is investigating what started the fire.

Gary and Wendy Myers sent photos of crews at the scene with KCCI.

Gary and Wendy Myers

Gary and Wendy Myers

Matt Hanson also shared a photo from outside the theater.

Matt Hanson

Chris Scott shared photos from the back of the building.

Chris Scott

You can donate to the Webster Theater by clicking here.

New York Times names The Webster in Iowa City on top restaurant list

Owners, Sam and Riene Gelman, are humbled to know that all the hard work has been worthwhile. Sydney Becker, News ReporterThe ...

Owners, Sam and Riene Gelman, are humbled to know that all the hard work has been worthwhile.

Sydney Becker, News Reporter

The New York Times released its 2023 Restaurant List, and The Webster, located at 202 N. Linn St., was the only establishment in the state of Iowa to make the list.

The list is composed of 50 restaurants nationwide that are exciting its food editors.

Owners Sam and Riene Gelman opened the restaurant in 2021. Sam Gelman reminisced about his childhood, having enjoyed meals at the Pearson’s Drug Store, which once stood where Webster is now located.

Growing up, his father and grandfather worked nearby, prompting them to enjoy meals together at the lunch counter in the back of the drug store.

“I remember coming to get a lot of milkshakes and egg salad sandwiches as a kid growing up,” Sam Gelman said.

He left Iowa City to study at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, where his success in the restaurant industry started. After graduating, Sam Gelman continued improving his craft, working with distinguished chefs such as Ken Oringer and David Chang.

After spending time in different restaurants across the country, as well as Canada, the Gelman’s decided to move back to Sam’s hometown to open the business.

“I grew up here, so I have a lot of ties to the community and family here,” Sam Gelman said. “I always kind of wanted to come back to Iowa City to open a restaurant, so it happened.”

The menu

The upscale restaurant boasts a seasonal menu with fresh, high-quality ingredients, sourced locally when possible.

Sam Gelman said a changing menu is natural for him and the way he cooks, emphasizing the quality of the food is most important, even if that means starting prep work at 9 a.m. for a 5:30 p.m. opening.

“It’s a lot of work to produce food like this,” he said. “We don’t buy things that are ready-made. It’s not just coming off of a truck and getting heated up. Everything is produced here with love and care and respect for the product that we get.”

Riene Gelman said guests have seemingly enjoyed the changing menu, with regulars that have been dining with them since opening.

“I think people have really enjoyed seeing things return seasonally,” she said. “Right now, we have a squash soup that people started asking about late August, [early] September. So they can have it again and take full advantage of it while they can and then move on to the next one.”

New York Times recognition

“Despite upheavals in recent years, this is an expansive moment for independent restaurants,” the New York Times wrote. “We can’t help but feel that cities and towns in the United States are better to eat in today than they have ever been. It wasn’t easy to narrow it down, but here are the 50 restaurants that excite us most right now.”

NYT writer Brett Anderson mentioned Sam Gelman’s history as a “top lieutenant in the chef David Chang’s restaurant group,” as an ode to The Webster’s food and dining experience.

“With its window-lined dining room and vibrant, Asian-accented, often locally sourced dishes, the Webster treats Mr. Gelman’s hometown as an asset, and serves a compelling enticement to visit this cosmopolitan corner of the Midwest,” Anderson wrote.

Sam Gelman said he is thankful and humbled to be honored on the list.

“We have never set out to win awards or to be recognized by things like that,” he said. “But it’s great when it does happen, helps to make all the hard work and the blood, sweat, and tears worthwhile.”

The excitement has been clear through regular customers and Iowa City as a whole, according to Riene Gelman.

“I think everyone around the city is really excited about it too,” she said. “I’ve talked to everybody who comes in and they’re all very excited for us. It’s kind of neat.”

The independent, student-run newsroom at the DI covers the University of Iowa and local community to keep you informed. Your support helps provide the necessary resources and training to continue our mission.

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Webster City's Jaxon Cherry, despite a stellar football career, might be Iowa's best kept secret

Nothing about Webster City senior Jaxon Cherry’s career has been subtle.Since getting some playing time on varsity as a freshman, Cherry has accumulated 3,455 rushing yards and 60 rushing touchdowns on offense. He's racked up 135 tackles, 10.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss on the other side of the ball.In his junior season, he led all of Class 4A in all-purpose yards (2,162 yards), rushing yards (1,804), rushing touchdowns (31) and was 21st in 4A with 61 tackles.We haven’t even touched on the...

Nothing about Webster City senior Jaxon Cherry’s career has been subtle.

Since getting some playing time on varsity as a freshman, Cherry has accumulated 3,455 rushing yards and 60 rushing touchdowns on offense. He's racked up 135 tackles, 10.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss on the other side of the ball.

In his junior season, he led all of Class 4A in all-purpose yards (2,162 yards), rushing yards (1,804), rushing touchdowns (31) and was 21st in 4A with 61 tackles.

We haven’t even touched on the early parts of his senior season or his wrestling and track career yet.

More:Here are 10 Iowa high school football games to watch and our predictions for Week 3

Despite that, Cherry carries himself quietly, in person and on social media. In an interview with The Des Moines Register, he credited his team's improvement as a reason he’s seen his production increase this season, going from 8.7 yards per carry to 10.7. You’ll see the occasional social media post about a recruiting visit he’s heading to or an offer he has received. However, you’ll see just as many posts and retweets about his teammates’ success.

“He's very humble, he's very introverted and he doesn't promote himself,” said Webster City head coach Bob Howard. “Whether or not that fits in the 21st century, I don't know, because he has character and leadership. Everything is a plus with Jaxon.”

“He is the outstanding athlete”

In two games this season, Cherry is already up to 587 yards on the ground, eight touchdowns and is the team leader in tackles, sacks and tackles for loss. It’s very much a repeat of his success in 2022, where he led his team the same way.

Cherry’s career outside of football has been quite good as well. In addition to finishing in fifth place at the state wrestling meet in the 220-pound weight class at the 2A level, he holds the school’s discus record and was the anchor of the school’s best 4x100 relay time.

More:The Des Moines Register's top 10 Iowa high school football running backs in 2023

Despite having success in every sport he’s tried, his heart remains tied to football. After his high school career comes to an end, he's solely focusing his recruiting search on the gridiron. Many coaches like their kids to specialize in a sport, but Howard views Cherry’s diverse interests as a major asset in his ability to handle adversity. Cherry also sees both track and wrestling as great conditioning opportunities, but particularly wrestling as a great teacher for his football career.

“Wrestling actually really helps for defense I feel like,” Cherry said. “Makes me a better tackler and keeps me in shape all year 'round.”

Standing at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds and benching 370 pounds while running a 4.45 40-yard dash, according to Howard, he currently has only one Division I offer, Marshall. As a kid with as much success as Cherry has had combined with the athletic ability and character Howard speaks to, the coach is baffled at the lack of recruitment for his running back and linebacker.

He knows one way or another, it’ll end up taking care of itself.

More:Friday's Week 3 schedule of Iowa high school football games, kickoff times

“I thought it (success on the field) was enough, but apparently not,” Howard said. “It's one that'll take care of itself. I think what people don't see is how humble he is and how team-first he is. He could carry the ball 40 times or he could carry the ball four times, whatever it takes for us to try to win.”

Cherry has said much of the recruiting process can be confusing as coaches begin to talk to him and then fall off the map. Currently, he does not have a timeline for making a decision for himself and hasn’t narrowed his choices. Right now, it’s all about this football season and making the playoffs before he can really begin to make that decision.

Wherever he does go, he wants a place that will help him succeed the most after football.

His offer from the Thundering Herd came when he was preparing for a track meet this spring. His phone rang and Marshall defensive coordinator Jason Semore was on the other end with an offer. That clearly motivated Cherry because right after he helped break Webster City's school 4x100 relay record with a 43.09 time.

“I was pretty energetic,” Cherry said.

Cherry, somehow, might just be the state’s best-kept secret despite going on nearly three years of sustained success at the varsity level in several sports.

More:Coaches Confidential: Iowa high school football coaches reveal who is the toughest to gameplan for

Howard knows the Lynx’s success rides on the back of Cherry staying healthy. Even though Howard’s got one of the lengthier track records in the state, he to this day hasn’t seen someone like him.

“To be honest, in 47 years and three state championships at Sigourney-Keota and all the kids we had there, kids that have played at Iowa and UNI, he is the outstanding athlete,” Howard said.

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at[email protected]. Follow him on X at @EMcKown23.

Webster County aims to improve safety and security with proposed new jail

WEBSTER COUNTY, Iowa —Officials in Webster County say they need a bigger jail that's more efficient to house a growing number of inmates. They want voters to understand the extent of the current problem before they vote in November on whether to build a new jail and sheriff's office.At Tuesday’s meeting in Gowrie, the county explained that the design of the current Webster County jail is inefficient, unsafe and too small to meet the county's needs.One thousand people are still waiting to serv...

WEBSTER COUNTY, Iowa —

Officials in Webster County say they need a bigger jail that's more efficient to house a growing number of inmates. They want voters to understand the extent of the current problem before they vote in November on whether to build a new jail and sheriff's office.

At Tuesday’s meeting in Gowrie, the county explained that the design of the current Webster County jail is inefficient, unsafe and too small to meet the county's needs.

One thousand people are still waiting to serve their sentence in Webster County because the jail is at capacity. The lack of space has also forced the county to transport and house inmates at other county jails.

Over the past five years, that outsourcing has cost the county roughly $1.4 million, according to Webster County Sheriff Luke Fleener.

"Paying other counties to [house] inmates, that's not sustainable through the county budget that we continue to spend that amount of money," Fleener said.

Since August, two Webster County inmates who were transported to Humboldt County Jail escaped. One escaped while in transport. Less than two weeks later, another inmate escaped from the jail. Both were found and brought back into custody.

Man back in custody after allegedly assaulting jailer, escaping Iowa jail

Building a new jail and sheriff’s office would cost roughly $45.5 million.

"This is a hard time to ask people for money, but I'd be doing a disservice if I didn't bring this to the citizens of Webster County," Fleener said. "This will serve our needs for the next 30, 40, 50 years, hopefully."

Sheri Crampton attended Tuesday's meeting in Gowrie. She said it was beneficial to fully understand why the county needs a new jail and how the project will impact taxpayers.

"It's more information, so we have a good idea of what they're planning," Crampton said. "They just don't have the adequate space to do all the things they need to do."

Webster County residents can find more information about the current jail, plans for a new facility, impact on taxes and future community meetings here.

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