It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Historic Hotel Milford 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 Milford, UT is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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“I am a current client of this provider I have Always Best Care Serving Southern Utah”
“Absolutely the best company here in St George! The care goes above and beyond what”
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“This is a great company to work for if you’re interested in a flexible schedule.”
“Always Best Care of Southern Ut is a great company. In November I will have”
“I work for Always Best Care and it's amazing they really do care for their”
“Always Best Care has definitely been a blessing to our little familys life. As an”
“1. Stay active. Exercise may be the last thing you want to do when your”
“Always Best Care has some of the friendliest staff. They are quick to learn &”
“Always Best Care has some of the friendliest staff. They are quick to learn &”
“I can leave a long review if I wanted to . I can talk about”
“I like working for ABC because it works well with my busy nursing school schedule!”
“Love always best care ❤️”
“Amazing business. Staff are helpful and kind.”
“Always Best Care is always best!!! Highly recommended! Brent listens and hears what we need”
“They are seriously so amazing to work with and really care for their clients. I”
“Love working for this company”
“Great to work with, caring, compassionate and willing to work with different situations! They take”
“MUST READ!! This is the best company to hire for your loved ones who need ongoing caregiver and companion services. Very thoughtful and experienced caregivers and admin staff who care deeply about the details and about customer satisfaction. Brent and Lea have been incredibly supportive and flexible, and caregivers Aarylyn, Sabrina, Lydia, and Hailie have been accommodating, patient, professional and safe. They regularly take my loved one on outings in the community to help her claim her independance and have become a vital part of her healthcare and happiness. LOVE THIS PLACE!!”
“I am a caregiver with ABC, and I am so happy with the company!! They are so flexible and understanding with my schedule:) such genuine people and the clients are amazing!! They truly embody the name of the company... Not just for the clients but also for their employees???? it makes for an amazing place to work ????”
“I am a current client of this provider I have Always Best Care Serving Southern Utah for my husband. We got somebody coming in to help. The caregivers are good. They provide total a.m. care help like getting up and getting dressed. We have different ones and so they're trying to get us some steady people coming in. The scheduling is a little bit hard right now. The care has been good, though.”
“I am a current client of this provider I have Always Best Care Serving Southern Utah for my husband. We got somebody coming in to help. The caregivers are good. They provide total a.m. care help like getting up and getting dressed. We have different ones and so they're trying to get us some steady people coming in. The scheduling is a little bit hard right now. The care has been good, though.”
“Absolutely the best company here in St George! The care goes above and beyond what any family could ever ask for when handling care. They only have the best of the best caregivers that love to help! Their training and communication is top notch. Love this company! I refer all my friends and family! Couldn’t be more proud of an exceptional company!”
“i’ve been working for ABC for about 6 months now & love it! they’re super flexible & have true love & passion for helping others!”
“I've been with ABC 3 years now. They have been gracious and kind whenever I have had to change my schedule or not be able to work a shift. They make me feel like family, and they strive to help the clients feel the same. We love our clients, caregivers and staff.”
“Love working here! Brent and lea are so sweet and understanding towards everyone! They work very hard! Great pay and amazing communication!”
“This is a great company to work for if you’re interested in a flexible schedule. Management is so supportive and will do what they can to make everyday at work a good day. They communicate effectively and quickly to ensure nothing is miscommunicated or misunderstood. Working here as been so rewarding and educational.”
“Always Best Care of Southern Ut is a great company. In November I will have worked with them for three years. I am a senior myself and absolutely love working with them. They always try to make sure the client and the caregiver have a good relationship with each other. They are family owned and genuinely care about both client and employees.”
“I work for Always Best Care and it's amazing they really do care for their clients and they'll go the extra mile to meet their needs ! Not only that but they care for employees i love the flexibility they give us.”
“Always Best Care has definitely been a blessing to our little familys life. As an employer of ABC they have been amazing with flexibility in chosing my schedule so that not only am I able to work but also be home with my kids when I need to be. They are amazing and put their employees first. I love being a member of ABC team.”
“1. Stay active. Exercise may be the last thing you want to do when your arthritis hurts, but many studies show that physical activity is one of the best ways to improve your quality of life. 2. Eat a balanced diet. Studies show that a variety of nutrients may help ease arthritis symptoms. 3. Lose weight. Being overweight puts undue strain on weight-bearing joints such as your knees, spine, hips, ankles, and feet. 5. Use hot or cold packs. By increasing blood flow, hot compresses can ease pain and stiffness. 6. Keep pain under control. Over-the-counter medications can help ease arthritis pain. 7. Talk to your doctor about supplements and complementary medicine. Many supplements have been tested for the treatment of arthritis. 8. Try splints, braces, and other aids. Devices that support painful joints, such as splints, braces, and canes can help ease your discomfort and prevent injury. 9. Seek support. Living with arthritis isn’t easy. Finding other people that you can talk to and share ideas with can help. Check out arthritis support groups online or in your area. 10. Stay positive. Your mental outlook can have a big impact on how you feel, and how well you function. #SelfCare #Osteoarthritis #Arthritis #Disability #GoodHealth #PainRelief #SeniorCommunity #Caregiver #Caregiving #WECANHELP #OlderAdult #SeniorCare #SeniorLiving #SeniorServices #SeniorHousing #AlwaysBestCare #Exercise #SelfManaging #Tips”
“Always Best Care has some of the friendliest staff. They are quick to learn & eager to assist. Great schedulers who are on top of managing the schedules & keeping their employees accountable. I sure appreciate all the help they give!”
“Always Best Care has some of the friendliest staff. They are quick to learn & eager to assist. Great schedulers who are on top of managing the schedules & keeping their employees accountable. I sure appreciate all the help they give!”
“I can leave a long review if I wanted to . I can talk about always best cares credentials and talk about mine. But What’s the point of leaving a review if it sounds like everybody else’s. The bottom line is , that they are great at their jobs from the bottom to the top. They have a process and people in place . They keep accountability and are communicative . Ive represented many companies in the past and still do till this day contract with only the best.. If you feel you want to hear more about this company on a deeper level just lmk. Happy Healthy Safe”
“I like working for ABC because it works well with my busy nursing school schedule! I also like how I get to work on my own, but there are options to work with other CNAs for the care of some of the clients. It’s the best of both worlds! I’ve been with Always best care since 2021 and have thoroughly enjoyed working with the clients I work with!”
“Love always best care ❤️”
“Amazing business. Staff are helpful and kind.”
“Always Best Care is always best!!! Highly recommended! Brent listens and hears what we need for my 94 year old mom and matches caregivers accordingly. Sometimes, the schedule changes and he works to fill the needs immediately and always with a great attitude! The caregivers are compassionate. Again, I highly recommend Always Best Care.”
“They are seriously so amazing to work with and really care for their clients. I came to them with some pretty difficult challenges that I was not sure we could work with but they were able to make it happen and truly did more than I thought was even possible. I highly recommend them.”
“Love working for this company”
“Great to work with, caring, compassionate and willing to work with different situations! They take time to understand needs to accommodate the best way to help! They are trustworthy, dependable and a business you can count on!!????”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Eisenhower Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Brody's Taco or visit Milford Monument, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Milford, UT, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Milford, UT understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Milford, UT 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.
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Football fans know they have a pig farmer at quarterback and they’re proud of it. That farmer is Bryson Barnes.They also know their pig farmer is from a tiny town in Utah called Milford.But, on College GameDay ahead of Utah’s matchup against Oregon, Barnes shared his journey from the perspective of a story he wrote in elementary school.You can check out the segment here....
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Football fans know they have a pig farmer at quarterback and they’re proud of it. That farmer is Bryson Barnes.
They also know their pig farmer is from a tiny town in Utah called Milford.
But, on College GameDay ahead of Utah’s matchup against Oregon, Barnes shared his journey from the perspective of a story he wrote in elementary school.
You can check out the segment here.
Barnes has been the backup for starting Utah quarterback Cam Rising the past three seasons and while he hasn’t played a ton- he has sparked a lot of curiosity in the college football world with one of those unique, feel-good stories fans love to read about.
The college football world first became aware of Barnes during Utah’s first Rose Bowl appearance in 2022 after Rising suffered a concussion against Ohio State.
The game was already entertainment gold to that point with both sides in a shoot-out after the Utes had jumped to a sizable lead early in the contest. Barnes’ entrance into the game pushed it a notch further.
Most teams reel when their leader goes down the way that Rising did, but the Utes under Barnes were undeterred and wasted zero time putting the Buckeyes on notice.
Unfortunately for Barnes and the Utes there was too much time left on the clock and tOSU was able to kick a game-winning field goal to win the game, 48-45, but it didn’t change the fact a legend was born.
Part of what has peaked college football fans’ curiosity about Barnes is the fact he hails from a very small town in Utah called Milford.
Located in the south-west corner of Utah in Beaver County, Milford boasts a population of 1,431 according to the 2020 census. It also mainly boasts farmland which brings us to our next point.
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Constructed by Viziv Technologies, the tower appeared in 2018 and has become as much a part of the landscape as the cornfieldsAbout 50 miles south of downtown Dallas on Interstate 35—when the strip malls of the metroplex give way to cornfields—a strange tower stands sentry over an empty field. Texas travelers familiar with the sight of water towers peppering stretches of highway will have trouble placing this structure: It looks more War of the Worlds than Friday Night Lights.A rectangular piece of...
Constructed by Viziv Technologies, the tower appeared in 2018 and has become as much a part of the landscape as the cornfields
About 50 miles south of downtown Dallas on Interstate 35—when the strip malls of the metroplex give way to cornfields—a strange tower stands sentry over an empty field. Texas travelers familiar with the sight of water towers peppering stretches of highway will have trouble placing this structure: It looks more War of the Worlds than Friday Night Lights.
A rectangular piece of concrete forms the base of the tower, which holds a skinny pillar of metal topped with a silvery disc, the exact shape of the UFO that descends to drop E.T. off in a forest. Far from otherworldly, this tower, perched just outside of the tiny town of Milford, hearkens back to the Wardenclyffe Tower built in the early 20th century.
Erected in 1901-05 by inventor and futurist Nikola Tesla, Wardenclyffe Tower graced the shores of Long Island, New York. Tesla held high hopes for his invention; he intended for it to transmit energy and correspondence from the United States across the ocean to Europe. He wanted it to serve as a rival to the radio-based telegraph system. Sadly, Tesla’s grand plans never came to pass. The project’s primary funder, John Pierpont Morgan, lost interest—or faith—in the tower, and Tesla never found another believer to invest. Wardenclyffe Tower stood abandoned for more than a decade until it was sold for scrap in 1917.
Milford’s tower shares a similar trajectory. In 2018, Waco-based Viziv Industries tried to harness a phenomenon called Zenneck surface wave to transmit electromagnetic waves through the air. The idea was that this new technology would provide safe, efficient, and inexpensive electrical power without the need for the electric grid. A 2019 Channel 25 KXXV News report viewable on YouTube provides a frankly adorable news clip asking the locals what they think of the new tower looming in their community’s backyard. A woman standing with her daughter asks, “We did think, are we going to be glowing people?” Another local muses about its appearance: “We were thinking we’re going to walk around with tin foil on our head.” A Viziv representative assures the news anchor that tin foil hats were unnecessary, and that the tower is simply a new scientific innovation. But did it work, I wondered, and so began a completely unsuccessful round of phone calls.
A little internet sleuthing informed me that Viziv Technologies filed for bankruptcy in 2021. No luck there. I tried Milford’s City Hall, where a kind woman assured me that she didn’t know much about the tower, other than this was an “Ellis County deal,” not a Milford one. (Milford is in Ellis County, the county seat of which is Waxahachie.) I left a message for the Ellis County communications representative, who didn’t return my call. An article about a partnership with Baylor University spurred a call to Waco that proved equally futile. Perhaps this was something that required an in-person visit.
It’s a testament to the boredom of my octogenarian father that he jumped at the chance to accompany me on the drive to Milford during Dallas’ rush hour on a Monday afternoon in August. He’s a former pharmaceutical executive with a doctorate in analytical chemistry and, for a brief time in the late 1960s, was a high school physics teacher. I figured he could enlighten me on the theory of how, and if, the Milford-Viziv tower might work. We headed south, air conditioning blasting against the triple-digit heat outside. The fields along the highway looked like they’d been air-fried, brown and crisp, but we kept our eyes toward the horizon as we discussed politics and family lore and his time at The University of Texas at Austin.
Milford feels small even to this small-town girl. According to the town’s website, settlers started coming in the 1850s. Men from Cherokee County purchased land from Arvin Wright “at 50 cents an acre,” moving their families to the area just south of Mill Creek. The website’s account of history is scant but evocative. For example, Milford housed a community hall/ schoolhouse/church that burned down during the Civil War. It once boasted a gristmill and even a Presbyterian college before the Great Depression led to a population decline. In more recent news, a Chevron gas station explosion caused the residents to evacuate town in 2013. Driving down Main Street, I’m reminded a bit of my hometown of Mansfield, which used to be tiny and is now a bustling suburb. Here, however, the downtown buildings are beautiful, but mostly empty. There’s a general store offering cold Topo Chico and packed snacks, a seemingly one-room post office, and a few stunning Victorian homes I was desperate to peek inside.
I tried to get someone from Milford to talk to me about the tower. I asked the friendly woman at the general store who looked at me baffled by what I was describing. The next town over, the sweet, middle-aged clerk at the register also apologized for not knowing what I was referring to. Dad and I were disappointed we couldn’t get a local’s take. I was hoping for some great story about teenagers spray painting its concrete base with “Go Milford Bulldogs,” but alas, we heard nothing of the sort. We wanted one last look, so I pulled to the side of I-35 to snap a pic on my phone. “What do you think it looks like?” I asked my dad.
“Maybe a jellyfish on a water tower. It kind of resembles a toilet plunger.”
“I don’t think it looks like a toilet plunger at all,” I replied. My dad shrugged. I asked him if he thought it would work, hypothetically. He said, “It would work if the receiving grid was close enough probably. You could say that would test the performance of inverse square laws. The power of the energy they send out on that thing is reduced by one over the square of the distance away.” An English major, I’m suddenly reminded of why I never asked my dad for help with my math or science homework; his answers went right over my head.
I started the car to head back, then pulled over at a gas station after he insisted I fill up my already half-full tank.
“Look!” my dad elbowed me as we pulled away. A row of Tesla charging stations lined the parking lot. “Tesla both in front and behind us!” And like Nikola Tesla’s dream of airborne electricity, the Milford tower shrank in my rearview mirror.
By Steve Handy | For The Salt Lake Tribune| Updated: Oct. 9, 2023, 7:05 a.m.The energy technologies of the future are closer than you think, because in some cases, they are closely connected to the energy technologies of today.Hydrogen fuels and advanced nuclear reactors are good examples. But arguably the best example is geothermal energy, which involves the very same drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies that fueled a massive boom in U.S. oil and natural gas production.Utah is about to play a major lead...
By Steve Handy | For The Salt Lake Tribune
| Updated: Oct. 9, 2023, 7:05 a.m.
The energy technologies of the future are closer than you think, because in some cases, they are closely connected to the energy technologies of today.
Hydrogen fuels and advanced nuclear reactors are good examples. But arguably the best example is geothermal energy, which involves the very same drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies that fueled a massive boom in U.S. oil and natural gas production.
Utah is about to play a major leadership role in the next phase of geothermal energy production, following the announcement of a large new project in Beaver County.
Northeast of Milford, startup company Fervo Energy has received federal permits to drill 29 geothermal wells that will use heat from deep geological formations to generate electricity. Together, the wells are expected to have a generating capacity of 90 megawatts or more.
Fervo Energy has already secured buyers for the electricity and the geothermal facility is expected to enter commercial operation in 2026. By 2028, the project is expected to grow to 400 megawatts.
The Beaver County project will apply technology that was proven on a pilot scale in northern Nevada. There, Fervo Energy drilled vertically to a depth of around 7,700 feet and then horizontally for 3,250 feet, where underground temperatures exceeded 370 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cold water was pumped down the well and circulated back to the surface hundreds of degrees hotter, where it will be used to drive a turbine that generates electricity without any carbon emissions. Not only that, electricity production from geothermal does not depend on weather conditions like other renewables like wind and solar, which makes it more reliable for utility companies and their customers.
“By applying drilling technology from the oil and gas industry, we have proven that we can produce 24/7 carbon-free energy resources in new geographies across the world,” said Tim Latimer, Fervo Energy’s CEO and co-founder, who was an oil and gas drilling engineer before going to work in geothermal.
Even before Fervo Energy’s Beaver County project, Utah was one of the nation’s pioneering geothermal states.
A major geothermal field laboratory, known as the Utah FORGE, is also located outside of Milford and it operates with the support of the U.S. Department of Energy and the University of Utah’s Energy and Geoscience Institute. And there are currently three operating geothermal power plants in our state, with a combined generating capacity of just over 70 megawatts, according to the Utah Geological Survey.
But the completion of Fervo Energy’s new Utah project would more than double the state’s geothermal generating capacity, and state officials say that could just be the beginning. The state has “enormous geothermal energy potential,” according to the Utah Office of Energy Development.
State officials have projected more than 2,000 megawatts of additional geothermal electricity capacity could be developed in Utah. For scale, that’s the equivalent of two large scale nuclear power plants.
Nationwide, U.S. officials project that geothermal electric capacity could grow by 60,000 megawatts over the next three decades. That’s the equivalent of 60 large scale nuclear plants being built at a pace of more than two per year.
No doubt, a range of different geothermal technologies will be deployed. But if most of them utilize drilling and fracking like Fervo Energy, imagine how this provides additional career prospects for oil and gas workers, who know more about drilling and fracking than anyone else.
This is what most political actors in the energy space — on the left and on the right — get wrong about the so-called energy transition. As we add new sources of energy to the nation’s supply, new energy jobs will come with them, and the people best suited for those jobs are working in the energy sector already.
At the end of the day, the energy business is about building things, whether it’s a geothermal well, a wind farm, a natural gas turbine, or a solar array. The mix of technologies will change over time, as it always has, but the need for people who can build things will not.
The energy business has never been a zero-sum game and in my view it never will be. The geothermal breakthroughs we are seeing in Utah, based on oil and gas sector technologies, shows this to be true.
Steve Handy
Steve Handy is a former state legislator and the Utah director for The Western Way, an organization focused on market-competitive solutions to environmental and conservation challenges.
BEAVER COUNTY — The Utah Inland Port Authority Board of Directors recently approved the Mineral Mountains Project Area resolution for Beaver County, creating Utah’s sixth inland port.The unanimous decision was made during a Utah Inland Port Authority board meeting Oct. 4 in Milford.Known for its rich history in rail, mining and agriculture, Beaver County is uniquely positioned to harness the potential of the Mineral Mountains Project Area, leveraging its rugged geography and diverse natural resource...
BEAVER COUNTY — The Utah Inland Port Authority Board of Directors recently approved the Mineral Mountains Project Area resolution for Beaver County, creating Utah’s sixth inland port.
The unanimous decision was made during a Utah Inland Port Authority board meeting Oct. 4 in Milford.
Known for its rich history in rail, mining and agriculture, Beaver County is uniquely positioned to harness the potential of the Mineral Mountains Project Area, leveraging its rugged geography and diverse natural resources.
The port authority has been instrumental in facilitating appropriate development within its jurisdictional land and other project areas throughout Utah. As part of this endeavor, Beaver County is set to create a project area that will consist of four distinct zones, each designed to cater to various industries and contribute to the overall economic prosperity of the region.
“Establishing the Mineral Mountains Project Area is a significant milestone in Beaver County’s economic development journey,” said Ben Hart, executive director for the Utah Inland Port Authority. “This project is a testament to our commitment to sustainable growth and harnessing the potential of regional natural resources.”
The four zones within the Mineral Mountains Project Area are as follows:
“These zones possess a unique blend of historical expertise and natural resources that position Beaver County for success in emerging and diverse industries,” said Wade Hollingshead, chairman of the Beaver County Commission. “The collaboration between Beaver County and the Utah Inland Port Authority is a powerful partnership that will fuel generational economic growth through targeted investments and logistics development.”
Fellow Beaver County Commissioner Tammy Pearson added:
“The Inland Port is a project we have had our eye on since its beginning. We understand the wealth and distribution of economic benefit that this project area in Beaver County will create. It will be a significant step forward for Utah’s inland port system as well and will provide businesses with the infrastructure and resources they need to succeed in the local and global marketplace creating job opportunities and generating revenue for the state.”
Jen Wakeland, Beaver County’s strategic development director, told Cedar City News that the partnership makes sense.
“Rural Utah has long been a place of limited growth and development,” she said. “Beaver County, however, has a wide variety of existing infrastructure that when paired with a Port Authority Project Area can change the growth and development for the better.”
Wakeland said pairing with the Inland Port will allow Beaver County to guide growth in sustainable ways that diversify the economic portfolio.
“It will help us keep the heritage and culture we love intact while providing high-quality jobs for residents and future generations to come,” she said.
And while creating employment opportunities, the inland port also will provide economic balance.
“Our county has been resilient through decades of boom-and-bust economics,” Wakeland said. “Bringing in an Inland Port Project Area will allow us to utilize the tools necessary to level out the highs and lows by attracting industry that matches with our culture, our current economic portfolio, and helps us provide infrastructure necessary to support existing industry along with the new growth.”
According to the news release, the expansion of the Mineral Mountains Project Area aligns seamlessly with broader regional growth projections. Beaver County’s population is anticipated to grow and the county’s economy is poised to diversify, with a strong focus on renewable energy resources and enhanced transportation accessibility.
Rail has played a vital role in Beaver County’s history and will continue to do so, with the Union Pacific Railroad’s presence dating back to 1880. Today, Milford serves as an important node in the Union Pacific system, facilitating essential rail traffic between the California Coast and the Intermountain West.
Written by KAITLIN FELSTED, UIPA’s marketing communications director, with additional reporting by Cedar City News reporter JEFF RICHARDS.
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.
Estimated read time: 2-3 minutesMILFORD, Beaver County — National food company Smithfield Foods announced Tuesday it is ending contracts with 26 hog farms in Utah and laying off up to 70 workers in the state.A statement from Smithfield Foods said it's ending the 26 contracts in Utah to "optimize its supply chain for more efficient operations in the face of an industry oversupply of pork, weaker consumer demand and high feed prices."The contract terminations will also result in the elimination of Smithfiel...
Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
MILFORD, Beaver County — National food company Smithfield Foods announced Tuesday it is ending contracts with 26 hog farms in Utah and laying off up to 70 workers in the state.
A statement from Smithfield Foods said it's ending the 26 contracts in Utah to "optimize its supply chain for more efficient operations in the face of an industry oversupply of pork, weaker consumer demand and high feed prices."
The contract terminations will also result in the elimination of Smithfield Foods positions that support contract farm relationships, the company said. Smithfield Foods said it is offering relocation opportunities for affected employees and will provide transition assistance.
The number of jobs being eliminated may be up to one-third of the 210 people currently employed in Utah hog production operations, the company said.
"Our industry and company are experiencing historically challenging hog production market conditions," said Smithfield Foods CEO Shane Smith. "Smithfield continues to take steps to improve operational efficiency and optimize our hog supply chain. These actions have included rebalancing production with East Coast harvest capacity, reducing our sow herd in Missouri and closing finishing operations in Utah."
"These are difficult decisions, but they are necessary to help our company remain competitive in this operating environment," Smith added.
The company's website says it has 75 company-owned farms, 28 contract farms and a feed mill in Utah.
Utah Farm Bureau Federation CEO Spencer Gibbons said he is disappointed farm families had their contracts canceled and that local Smithfield employees are out of work.
"This decision will have a negative impact on the families and communities in rural Utah that have relied on this business model for decades," he said. "While we understand there are many economic forces at play for Smithfield, it is unfortunate that so many will bear the brunt of these business decisions."
Gibbons said the Utah Farm Bureau will work with other agricultural leaders in the state to see how they can help the families impacted.
In June 2022, Smithfield Foods announced it would close down a majority of its operations in Beaver County. As the largest employer in the county, Smithfield's decision prompted outcry from the community.
The Beaver County Commission declared a state of economic emergency after the announcement last June.
"It impacts a lot of family, friends and all," County Commissioner Mark Whitney told KSL.com last year. "We can truly feel in our hearts and souls how many people this can devastate."
The Smithfield, Virginia-based company employs around 60,000 people across seven countries and partners with thousands of farms across America.
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