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 Lyman Trumbull House gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Alton, 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.
“MUST READ!! This is the best company to hire for your loved ones who need”
“I am a caregiver with ABC, and I am so happy with the company!! They”
“I am a current client of this provider I have Always Best Care Serving Southern Utah”
“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”
“i’ve been working for ABC for about 6 months now & love it! they’re super”
“I've been with ABC 3 years now. They have been gracious and kind whenever I”
“Love working here! Brent and lea are so sweet and understanding towards everyone! They work”
“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 Riverview 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 Gentelin's On Broadway or visit Upper Alton Historic District, 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 Alton, 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 Alton, 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 Alton, 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.
ST. GEORGE — If you were hoping for bluer skies and milder temperatures, it’s probably best to reel in those expectations, at least for the next couple of days.The National Weather Service out of Salt Lake City issued a winter weather advisory for the central and southern mountains and includes the cities of Cove Fort, Fish Lake, Joes Valley, Brian Head and Alton. The advisory is in effect from 5 p.m. Monday to 5 p....
ST. GEORGE — If you were hoping for bluer skies and milder temperatures, it’s probably best to reel in those expectations, at least for the next couple of days.
The National Weather Service out of Salt Lake City issued a winter weather advisory for the central and southern mountains and includes the cities of Cove Fort, Fish Lake, Joes Valley, Brian Head and Alton. The advisory is in effect from 5 p.m. Monday to 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Under this advisory, snow is expected with total snow accumulations of 6-12 inches and locally higher amounts around Brian Head.
Plan on slippery road conditions. A lull in snowfall is expected across the central mountains Tuesday afternoon, according to the weather service. And the heaviest snow is expected Wednesday morning.
Additionally, the weather service issued a wind advisory for southwest Utah in effect 11 a.m. Monday to 9 a.m. Tuesday. Included in the advisory are the cities of Delta, Little Sahara, Beaver, Cedar City and Milford.
Under this advisory, south winds of 20-30 mph with gusts up to 55 mph are expected. Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. A few power outages are possible. These winds will result in strong crosswinds along east-to-west oriented routes.
For St. George, rainy weather is expected to continue through Tuesday night, with a 70% chance of precipiation Monday night increasing to 80% on Tuesday, according to the weather service.
Further north in Cedar City, in addition to conditions outlined in the wind advisory, there is a chance of rain and snow between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday, with a 40% chance of rain continuing after 2 p.m. The chance of precipitation increases to 80% on Tuesday with a chance of snow expected Tuesday evening.
Precautionary and preparedness actions
For the most current conditions, warnings and advisories, go to the National Weather Service-Salt Lake City office website. Additional information on driving conditions can be found at the UDOT website, as well as UDOT’s Commuterlink for current road and weather conditions, or dial 511.
Download this printable PDF: Vehicle Preparation and Safety Precautions for Winter Weather. This is a project the whole family could participate in – make it a scavenger hunt with potentially lifesaving benefits.
Getting ready
When driving
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.
Other Immediate Concerns?New The most significant rises are currently forecast for the Lower Weber River at Plain City, the Little Bear at Paradise, and East Canyon Creek near Jeremy Ranch downstream to East Canyon Reservoir. See Hydrologic Outlook here [NWS Twitter]? ...
?New The most significant rises are currently forecast for the Lower Weber River at Plain City, the Little Bear at Paradise, and East Canyon Creek near Jeremy Ranch downstream to East Canyon Reservoir. See Hydrologic Outlook here [NWS Twitter]? Active Current flood risk is spring runoff, increasing streamflows, and snowmelt. Some reported flood-related landslides are being monitored.
Cache County? New The Bureau of Reclamation, Utah Division of Water Resources, and Cache County are actively monitoring the Hyrum Dam for potential high-flow releases in the Little Bear River that may exceed the safe channel capacity. [Bureau of Reclamation, Interagency Correspondence]? New Due to the heavy snowpack, the county has also determined that it is both necessary and appropriate to extend the seasonal restrictions on county roads to motorized vehicles. [Cache County]Morgan County? New The National Weather Service (NWS) has advised the County that East Canyon Creek will go above flood stage on Sunday and into the first part of next week. The County is preparing and monitoring. [LNO Correspondence]
Salt Lake County
? New Draper has declared a local emergency declaration due to the homes sliding. [LNO Correspondence]? New Salt Lake County (SLCo) has raised its Emergency Coordination Center level of activation to Level III. [LNOCorrespondence]? New Road closure, Little Cottonwood Canyon SR-210 from 11:00-19:00 on 4/29 for avalanche control work. [UDOT Canyon Twitter]? New A small landslide occurred on I-80 WB at the summit of Parleys Canyon. No traffic issues were reported. [UDOT Traffic]? Update SLCo Emergency Management is working with DEM, UDOT, and SLC in finding a solution to protect the water treatment plant in Big Cottonwood Canyon in preparation for potential flooding. [LNO Correspondence]? Update Residents are invited to come to the Salt Lake County Flood Control Shed to fill sandbags, either for the community to use or to take home on the whole day of April 29th at the Salt Lake County Flood Control Shed. [SLCo]
? Active Due to current hillside conditions, Ann’s Trail in Draper is closed to public use. [Draper City]Wasatch County? Update Wasatch County and Heber City are working to find a solution as they divert flood waters from North Creekto Center Street to help alleviate overwhelming storm drainage systems. The issue they have with doing this is Center Street crosses Hwy 189 and they have over 30,000 vehicles that use the highway per day and can’t shut it down for long periods of time. A meeting was held yesterday that included County, City, DEM, and the Utah National Guard to discuss solutions that may be helpful or effective for the current issue. The UTNG does have some bridging resources but doesn’t feel they would work with their current situation. The concerns are the time to get this on-site, engineering, and cost. [LNO Correspondence]
? No significant updates to report at this time.
Garfield County? Update The Sevier River is flowing out of its banks and is flooding out into the lowlands between Panguitch and Old Town hatch. This is expected to increase and is following a normal pattern for the river during runoff. At the present time, no structures or infrastructure are threatened. [LNO Correspondence]Kane County? New The emergency manager and a representative from the Dam Safety Group visited a dam above Alton to take pictures and follow up on it as an area of concern. The dam is above the McDonald Lake Dam and they will be making room in the lower dam to ensure its capacity to handle the water from the upper area. The structure has stabilized. [Utah Dam Safety Group, LNO Correspondence]
? No significant updates to report at this time.
Grand County
? New High potential of flooding at the University of Utah’s Field Station at Rio Mesa along the Dolores River. The site has many structures at risk for flooding due to spring runoff combined with big spill releases from McFee Reservoir scheduled for May 4th and is factored into the river forecast. Another release is scheduled for May 5th but has not yet been factored into the calculations. No additional requests at this time. [LNO Correspondence]
? No significant updates to report at this time.
Impact and activity information is provided by Local Emergency Management partners, the State Emergency Response Team (SERT), and private and non-profit partners through various coordinating communication channels. This is a developing situation, and information may quickly become outdated. Additional situation reports may be made as verified information becomes available.
SALT LAKE CITY — Winter storm warnings have been issued for much of Utah, with heavy snow expected in certain areas.The areas impacted are the southern Mountains, the Wasatch Mountains south of Interstate 80, the western Uinta Mountains, and Bryce Canyon Country. That includes the cities of Brian Head, Alton, Alta, Brighton, Mirror Lake Highway, Moon Lake, and Bryce Canyon City, according to the National Weather Service Salt Lake City office.The warnings signal the possibility of heavy snow in select areas....
SALT LAKE CITY — Winter storm warnings have been issued for much of Utah, with heavy snow expected in certain areas.
The areas impacted are the southern Mountains, the Wasatch Mountains south of Interstate 80, the western Uinta Mountains, and Bryce Canyon Country. That includes the cities of Brian Head, Alton, Alta, Brighton, Mirror Lake Highway, Moon Lake, and Bryce Canyon City, according to the National Weather Service Salt Lake City office.
The warnings signal the possibility of heavy snow in select areas.
According to the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City, heavy snow is expected in Utah’s southern mountains. The first winter storm warning is in place through 9 p.m. Monday and then Tuesday at 6 a.m. through 6 a.m. Thursday. For the first warning, heavy snow is expected, with accumulations up to four inches. The second warns of accumulations from 15 to 30 inches, with locally higher amounts across Brian Head and the Tushar mountains, NWS said.
“Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Strong winds could bring down tree branches,” the warning stated. Winds gusting as high as 55 mph are expected Tuesday night and Wednesday.
The National Weather Service recommends keeping an extra flashlight, food, and water inside your vehicle if you’re planning to travel, just in case of an emergency.
For more information on road conditions, click here.
The first warning is in place through 3 a.m. Tuesday, while the second covers 3 p.m. Tuesday through 6 a.m. Thursday.
This warning includes the cities of Alta and Brighton, the Mirror Lake Highway and Moon Lake. The first storm could bring one to four inches, while the second, accumulations of 12 to 24 inches, with even higher amounts possible in the upper Cottonwood Canyons.
“Travel could be very difficult to impossible,” NWS said. “Patching blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.”
From 6 a.m. Tuesday through 6 p.m. Thursday, a winter storm warning is over the Bryce Canyon area, including Bryce Canyon City. Snow accumulations of eight to 16 inches are expected, with winds gusting to as high as 50 mph.
“Travel could be very difficult to impossible,” NWS said. “Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.”
For winter road conditions from the Utah Department of Transportation, click here.
"There's nothing more rewarding than the reaction you get from handing a toy to a destitute child," Alton Thacker tells PEOPLESanta has wheels. Thousands of them, cranked out by hand from throw-away wood scraps, then painted and polished to bring smiles to the faces of kids around the world who may never have owned a toy of any kind, let alone a speedy roadster from T...
"There's nothing more rewarding than the reaction you get from handing a toy to a destitute child," Alton Thacker tells PEOPLE
Santa has wheels. Thousands of them, cranked out by hand from throw-away wood scraps, then painted and polished to bring smiles to the faces of kids around the world who may never have owned a toy of any kind, let alone a speedy roadster from Tiny Tim’s Toy Factory in West Jordan, Utah.
“It’s a year-round Santa operation of the merriest kind,” says Alton Thacker, 82, who started his toy workshop and foundation in 2002 and now gives away more than 85,000 cars a year to children from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe in addition to needy kids at children’s hospitals and homeless shelters in his own community.
“Basically, we’ll give cars to anyone who wants them, especially if they’re going on an overseas trip and have room to tuck a few into their suitcases,” Thacker, a retired barber, tells PEOPLE. “There’s nothing more rewarding than the reaction you get from handing a toy to a destitute child. It’s addicting.”
Indeed, those who volunteer at Tiny Tim’s factory (named after an impoverished, disabled boy encountered by Thacker during a trip to Mexico in the late 1990s), feel the same way.
“I can’t thank Alton enough for giving me the opportunity,” Jim Turnbull, 71, of West Valley City, Utah, tells PEOPLE. One of 25 regular volunteers (another 300 show up on a sporadic basis), working eight hours a day, three days a week, “It’s an honor to be a Santa’s elf,” he says. “I took a bunch of cars to China once and handed them out everywhere I went. Seeing those smiles is the best part of any vacation.”
Thacker also gets a lot of help from his wife, Cheryl, 82, who pitches in to run the band saw and put wheels on cars before they’re sent to the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison, where inmates paint about 3,000 toys a month in bright shades of purple, red, pink, yellow and blue.
“I can pretty much run any of the equipment as Mrs. Claus,” she says, “but the best part is sharing a little bit of Christmas spirit, year-round. Kids enjoy getting our cars in July just as much as they do in December. We’ve sent more than 60,000 of them to Zimbabwe through a group called Eyes for Zimbabwe to bring some joy to the lives of kids who have nothing.”
Former high school classmates who met while growing up in Duchesne, Utah, in 1953, the Thackers developed a love for charity work 32 years ago, when they made their first trip to Mexico with one of Alton’s longtime barbershop customers to hand out donated eyeglasses.
“Every day, somebody would stand up and shout, ‘I can see!'” recalls Alton. “We knew that we had to keep going back.”
Their annual expeditions soon morphed into Santa excursions, with the Thackers filling a trailer 10 times a year with toys, clothing, school desks, wheelchairs and medical supplies and delivering them to the impoverished town of Casas Grandes. Then when drug cartels made the trips too dangerous, Alton came up with the idea for Tiny Tim’s Toy Factory.
“For too many kids, one of our little wooden cars is the only toy they’ll ever get,” Alton tells PEOPLE, “and that’s what keeps me going. I’m told that the need for toys around the world is more than 500 million. Can you imagine that? Five hundred million! So it looks like we’ve got a little work to do at Tiny Tim’s to keep up.”
Estimated read time: 5-6 minutesThis archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.WEST JORDAN — Alton Thacker remembers a little girl in Mexico whose eyes lit up when she played with a wooden toy car for the first time, giggling as she rolled the car across her stomach and marveling at the light reflecting off ...
Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WEST JORDAN — Alton Thacker remembers a little girl in Mexico whose eyes lit up when she played with a wooden toy car for the first time, giggling as she rolled the car across her stomach and marveling at the light reflecting off the car.
"When a little person gets a toy, it starts their mind," Thacker said Saturday.
Thacker felt pure joy during this experience and for 26 years he and his family have been making wooden toy cars for children around the world. Thacker and his wife Cheryl founded Tiny Tim's Foundation for Kids in 1996 with a mission of providing toys for those in need. Through purely volunteer work, their foundation has made and given toys to over a million children across the globe.
"I had no idea what we were getting ourselves into, when I saw that little girl with that car. And I saw how much joy it brought to her," Cheryl Thacker said. "We had no idea what we were going to grow to be. We just saw a need for little kids to have toys."
Cheryl Thacker said Tiny Tim's has been an eye opener and brought so much joy to her and her husband.
But now at age 87, Thacker and his wife are retiring and passing on the company to their daughter Ashley Krause and granddaughter Emilee Johnson.
"Ashley and Emilee are just, they're going to take it beyond what we ever dreamed," Cheryl Thacker said.
A retirement party was held for the Thackers Saturday, where food was served and a silent auction gave attendees the opportunity to bid on handmade crafts, wooden toys, quilts and gift baskets.
Thacker said he has known his last day was coming as he announced it a month ago, but he didn't get teary eyed until this morning when he came into the toy factory.
"My heart is up here in my throat. So I am not going to say any more, other than thank you, thank you for making this possible," Thacker said during a speech at the party.
Johnson has been involved with the toy factory since she was in high school, and helping with it over the last 26 years has made the foundation near and dear to her heart. As executive director of Tiny Tim's, she and Krause are going to keep the company going to help more children feel the joy of a toy.
If you really want to be happy, you do something for somebody else.
"The hardest part is knowing some day, they won't also be here. But it's an amazing legacy," Johnson said about her grandparents with tears in her eyes.
Johnson talked about how Tiny Tim's wasn't made to bring the toymakers any glory, but to provide a place for people to serve and to give toys to kids who have never had a toy before or are in need of help.
Krause said most people who visit Tiny Tim's are blown away by what it accomplishes. "People walk into this factory and the smell of wood and the feeling hits them and they are just in awe," Krause said.
She calls Tiny Tim's a "feel good mafia" because of how much good it creates. Krause said she isn't sure who gets more out of the service: those who receive the cars or those who build the cars for others.
The items sold in the silent auction were made by woodworkers from Tiny Tim's or they were donated by local businesses. All money made from the auction was donated straight to the foundation to keep its efforts going.
More than 100 people showed up to congratulate the Thackers, thank them for their service and reminisce on the positive impact the organization has made so far.
Bradley Larsen, Krause's daughter and the Thacker's granddaughter, said her first memory of Tiny Tim's was when she was 8 years old. Her family decided to forego their Christmas that year so they could travel to Mexico and give Christmas to people there.
The real fulfillment you'll find in life is doing things for other people and I think that's what Tiny Tim's is all about.
"It was by far one of the most amazing experiences I had ever had," Larsen said.
Because of the examples of her grandparents and family, she decided to give her coat to another little girl she met.
"I felt so good. That was something my grandfather had always said that I never understood, is how doing something for somebody else really improves your life," she said.
Larsen is grateful she gets to be part of a legacy of service and love that her grandparents started.
"The real fulfillment you'll find in life is doing things for other people and I think that's what Tiny Tim's is all about," Larsen said.
Tiny Tim's volunteer Randy Taylor helped Tiny Tim's get signed up for JustServe to increase the number of volunteers making cars.
Taylor has been volunteering at the toy factory now for two years building cars, and said it's hard to imagine how much impact Tiny Tim's has had on kids around the world.
As someone who is retired, Taylor finds that volunteering at Tiny Tim's is a good use of his time and he feels a lot of gratification doing service there. "I just love the place," he said.
Thacker plans to still come and work at the factory, as retirement for him just means he can come to work when he wants and not come in when he doesn't.
"It has been a fun ride," Thacker said. "If you really want to be happy, you do something for somebody else."
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