Learn more about in-home care options for your loved ones

Given the choice, most of us want to stay in our homes. Sometimes, people need help to remain at home. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

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TESTIMONIALS

“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 B.
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“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!”

AsAn
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“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”

Jay R.
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“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!”

Olivia S.
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“Love always best care ❤️”

Breezy H.
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“Amazing business. Staff are helpful and kind.”

Margot K.
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“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.”

shell S.
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“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.”

Mandy M.
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“Love working for this company”

Christina P.
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“Love them! Staff is always super sweet and easy to work with! Highly recommend.”

Olivia L.
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“As an employee of this company I could not ask for a better team to work with. They work with schedules, are understanding caring and all around amazing people. The clients are wonderful and have nothing but good things to say. They treat you as family and care from day one!”

Cassandra O.
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“Always Best Care has provided caregivers for my mother and now my father for the last year. They always send the best people to take care of them and give me peace of mind when I have to be at work. I highly recommend them if you’re seeking care for anyone in need.”

Salle A.
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“Alway best care! They are so giving and caring to their staff and clients❤️❤️❤️”

Brianne W.
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“I've been using ABC for about 2 1/2 years and have really met some wonderful people and great caregivers. I know they all work hard and are experienced and dependable which is important to me. At times I've needed a flexible schedule and they've been able to accommodate my needs and been very friendly about it. At times I've also had to ask these caregivers to do things for me outside of their job description and they've been very accommodating. Brent is also been great to follow up with phone calls and help adjust my schedule when needed. I do recommend this company.”

Jim J.
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“The best home health company that I have ever worked for. Friendly office staff, great scheduler, and the kindest CNA’s and workers that I know.”

Jenny J.
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“I work with Always Best Care and they're always flexible with my schedule. Everyone there is very nice and understanding and I enjoy working with ABC.”

Anna S.
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“Always Best Care has been an amazing company to work for! They are flexible with my schedule being a single mom and I can tell they are always putting their clients and the individuals that they care for, the needs and their happiness above all else. I know they care for every individual that they have and they make sure their staff are the same way!”

Aubrey S.
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“Always best is such an incredible company! They are so accommodating to all of the needs of their clients and do their best to help any way that they can. They are reliable and really seem to care. I would recommend Always Best to anyone looking for these kinds of services!”

Anni H.
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“Always best care has been warm and welcoming. They start off with a really good pay start and they also give really good hours and are very flexible with my work and school schedule. They are very kind even throughout my shifts they will sometimes ask me how my shifts went and make sure I’m doing ok and even through the holidays they send me messages or cards wishing me the best of holidays and always making me feel part of their family and business. And if I have any questions or concerns they are always supportive and always there for me I definitely recommend working hear and also I love working there my clients are all very nice and if you are ever looking for help always best care is the best place to call.”

Mackenzie C.
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“I work for Always Best Care now and have for some time now. I love how much people care about their clients and how the company is always there if we need something or have questions about something. This is one of the best places I have worked in the last 6 years of being a CNA. I love that the clients are the top priority to not just me but the whole team as well.!”

Ashley O.
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“Great company”

kathy N.
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“Always Best Care are the people to go to! Julie and Henry Lee are amazing people to work with!”

Bentley S.
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“Very caring, and great to work with!”

Jeff S.
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“I have used this company for a few of my residents. They take such good care of their clients and do such a good job at taking the time with each and every one of them. They go above and beyond for their clients. I’d definitely recommend them!”

Kaylee N.
 In-Home Care Leeds, UT

How does In-home Senior Care in Leeds, UT work?

Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it's 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 ages, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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 Senior Care Leeds, UT

Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a unfamiliar assisted living community, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

Comfort
Comfort

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, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old. With the help of elderly care in Leeds, 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.

Healthy Living
Healthy Living

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.

Independence
Independence

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 an assisted living community. 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.

Cost and Convenience
Cost and Convenience

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 to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, can be 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 in Leeds, UT 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.

Empowers Seniors

Affordable Care Plans

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:

Veteran's Benefits
Veteran's Benefits

Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.

Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance

Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.

Private Insurance
Private Insurance

Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.

Life Insurance
Life Insurance

Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.


Respite Care Leeds, UT

During your Care Plan consultation with Always Best Care, your Care Coordinator will speak with you about in-home care costs and what options there may be to help meet your budget needs.

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Leeds,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.

 Caregivers Leeds, UT

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced 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:

An assessment of your senior loved one

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An in-depth discussion of the needs of your senior loved one to remain in their own home

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Reviewing a detailed Care Plan that will meet your senior loved one's needs

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

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.

Latest News in Leeds, UT

2 jailed after officers seize over 3 kilos of suspected fentanyl during I-15 traffic stop near Leeds

ST. GEORGE — Nearly half a million dollars of suspected fentanyl pills were seized during a late-night traffic stop on northbound Interstate 15 Thursday, thanks to a K-9 and an alert officer.A Washington County Sheriff’s deputy stopped a silver Jeep shortly after midnight on northbound Interstate 15 near mile marker 23, just north of the Main Street exit in Leeds, for an alleged window tint violation, according to charging documents filed with the courts.While speaking to the driver, Kyle Kenneth Smith, 31, o...

ST. GEORGE — Nearly half a million dollars of suspected fentanyl pills were seized during a late-night traffic stop on northbound Interstate 15 Thursday, thanks to a K-9 and an alert officer.

A Washington County Sheriff’s deputy stopped a silver Jeep shortly after midnight on northbound Interstate 15 near mile marker 23, just north of the Main Street exit in Leeds, for an alleged window tint violation, according to charging documents filed with the courts.

While speaking to the driver, Kyle Kenneth Smith, 31, of Indianapolis, Indiana, officers learned the vehicle was a rental and the suspect told officers he had the rental agreement saved on his cell phone.

A K-9 team was dispatched and alerted authorities to the possible presence of narcotics near the rear driver’s side quarter panel of the vehicle.

Following the animal’s alert, the driver and his front-seat passenger, Solomon Isaim Allen, 33, of Chino Hills, California, were told to exit the Jeep and both were detained while a search of the Jeep ensued.

During the search, officers noticed that the plastic molding near the rear lift gate appeared to have been “tampered with – as if it had been recently removed,” the officer noted in the report.

The entire panel fell as soon as the officer pushed a finger into the gap of the molding, which reportedly exposed six large vacuum-sealed bags containing light blue pills consistent with fentanyl and packaged in smaller vacuum-sealed bags.

Officers seized approximately 30,000 pills with a combined weight of more than 7.5 pounds.

Based on the number of suspected fentanyl pills, and the way in which they were packaged, officers believe the amount of suspected narcotics was “far beyond what a personal use amount would be” and was consistent with illegal distribution.

According to the DEA, the amount of fentanyl seized, if broken down into street-level sales, had an estimated value of more than $487,500. Moreover, the combined weight of the seizure totaled more than 3 kilograms of suspected fentanyl pills, which the DEA states is enough to kill nearly 1.8 million people.

A message on the Washington County Sherriff’s Office Facebook page stated that “Cyrus”, the K-9 that alerted officers to the scent of possible narcotics, was at it again during the traffic stop, and thanks to the animal’s efforts, the recovery of illegal narcotics “was an amazing find.”

Following the stop on I-15, officers spoke to the driver who told officers he did not use any drugs, adding he “does not even smoke weed,” the officer wrote. He then declined to answer any other questions at the scene.

The passenger, Allen, declined to answer any questions and both were arrested and transported to Purgatory Correctional Facility facing second-degree felony possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

District Judge Keith C. Barnes signed a no-bail hold for each of the suspects and both remain in custody without bail.

This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

UHP: 2 men arrested after troopers find 50 pounds of meth during I-15 traffic stop in Leeds

ST. GEORGE —Conflicting accounts and the lack of state-issued identification reportedly led to the recovery of more than 50 pounds of meth over the weekend.Shortly before 6 p.m. on Saturday, a Utah Highway Patrol trooper stopped a vehicle heading north on Interstate 15 near mile marker 23 in Leeds on a window tint violation, according to charging documents filed with the court.The trooper found two occupants in the vehicle: 37-year-old Jose Jimenez-Ortiz, of Brookfield, Illinois, and passenger, Carlos Gal...

ST. GEORGE —Conflicting accounts and the lack of state-issued identification reportedly led to the recovery of more than 50 pounds of meth over the weekend.

Shortly before 6 p.m. on Saturday, a Utah Highway Patrol trooper stopped a vehicle heading north on Interstate 15 near mile marker 23 in Leeds on a window tint violation, according to charging documents filed with the court.

The trooper found two occupants in the vehicle: 37-year-old Jose Jimenez-Ortiz, of Brookfield, Illinois, and passenger, Carlos Galvez Martinez, a Honduran national.

While speaking to the pair, the trooper reportedly observed several indicators that led him to suspect there may be “clandestine activity” taking place, such as neither being able to provide identification issued in the United States.

Authorities say suspicions were further raised when the two men gave conflicting accounts in relation to travel plans.

After obtaining verbal consent from Ortiz, who was also the registered owner of the car, troopers conducted a search of the vehicle, the report states.

Inside the trunk, troopers say they found cardboard boxes containing a number of plastic bags of a white crystal-like substance consistent with methamphetamine and packaged in a way “clearly consistent with narcotic smuggling and distribution,” the trooper wrote in the report.

According to the report, the packages had a combined weight of roughly 50 pounds. If broken down into street-level sales, the amount of suspected meth seized has a street value of as much as $1.1 million, according to a U.S. Department of Justice report.

During a search of Jimenez prior to transport, troopers reportedly recovered a small amount of suspected marijuana, and more of the substance also was recovered from inside the car.

Both men were arrested, transported to Purgatory Correctional Facility and booked into jail. They each face multiple charges, including a second-degree felony for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, along with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.

Martinez faces an additional misdemeanor for possession of a controlled substance.

The trooper also requested that the two men be held without bail, citing that both were traveling through Utah from out of state without any U.S. identification and provided little address information when prompted by officers.

The request was approved and a no-bail hold was placed on the men. And they both remain in custody at the time of this report.

This report is based on statements from court documents and law enforcement officials and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

After years of making smiles, homemade theme park at risk of closing from lack of funds

LEEDS — With a vision to bring joy to others, Ben “Coach” Lott converted his Leeds property into a homemade theme park and campground. Now, 16 years later, it’s at risk of being sold and shut down.Lott Ranch, located at 411 Buckeye Reef Road in Leeds, has zip lines, a climbing wall, a museum, a wooden castle, an archery range and treehouses. Lott, a retired man in his late 70s who lives on the property, has never asked visitors to pay an admission price for the park, and other than a few donati...

LEEDS — With a vision to bring joy to others, Ben “Coach” Lott converted his Leeds property into a homemade theme park and campground. Now, 16 years later, it’s at risk of being sold and shut down.

Lott Ranch, located at 411 Buckeye Reef Road in Leeds, has zip lines, a climbing wall, a museum, a wooden castle, an archery range and treehouses. Lott, a retired man in his late 70s who lives on the property, has never asked visitors to pay an admission price for the park, and other than a few donations left by a few visitors, nearly everything has been funded by Lott’s savings account.

“Over the years, I’ve used all my savings to put into the place,” he said. “If I keep going at the rate I’m going, I won’t be able to keep myself going for more than a couple of years from now.”

A GoFundMe campaign was started for Lott by some of his close friends in St. George to help him cover some of the expenses of running the camp. In six days, it’s raised nearly $3,000 out of a $315,000 goal.

Managing the GoFundMe campaign has since been passed on to Lott’s children, but the campaign organizers wrote on the campaign explanation about how they are “desperately trying” to help Lott out of his financial troubles, “as he would do the same, if not much more, for us.”

We have all been served by Ben’s kindness, charity, unconditional love for everyone, selflessness and generosity, among many other honorable attributes. He has served and given generously to everyone he knows without expectation of return or even thanks.

Building Lott Ranch

Before he retired, Lott said he worked an average of 96 hours a week as a swimming pool contractor. He was also athletic; Lott said he coached track at Pine View High School for over 20 years, and his daughter, Tiffany Lott-Hogan, competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics as a heptathlete.

Lott was injured in a T-bone car crash in 1989 and has suffered from chronic fatigue and other health issues throughout his life, he said. Despite his health, he wanted to turn his property in Leeds into a place that would bring smiles to his family and others who came to visit.

“I just wanted to do something that would bring joy to someone else, either to see or to do things with.”

The project started in 2002 with just a large sandbox before it exploded into the always-expanding homemade park that it is today. Platforms were nailed into the trees to serve as treehouses, and several buildings were erected on the property, including a museum full of historical items he found on the property, a convenience store to sell snacks and a climbing wall attached to a ropes course.

Lott also got creative when he built sit-in zip line rides and used an old diving board to build a slide. During the first few years, Lott Ranch mostly served as a place for local Boy Scout troops, but it has since grown into a place for families and all children.

“It’s been extremely rewarding because of the friends that I’ve met – to see the joy in their countenance as they come and watch the parents try to get their kids to leave after spending hours here.”

Since 2013, there have been 27 different Eagle Scout projects from local Boy Scouts to help restore attractions at the camp or build something new. Lott Ranch has served as a venue for scout camps, parties, weddings and family reunions. He said it takes several thousand dollars to maintain the property each month and there are two full-time employees who work there.

During a busy week in the summer, there are about 200-400 people who visit the camp each week. There have been visitors from all over the U.S. and even all over the world, Lott said. He keeps a flag for each of the 25 countries represented by visitors to Lott Ranch in the last several years.

Nearly every review online raves about his kindness and the camp’s charm, with one social media user calling Lott Ranch “such a delightful place for families (that) stems from Ben Lott’s generous and playful spirit.”

“I’ve kept a quite a bit of the ‘thank you’ notes visitors have left me or tacked on my door,” he said. “They all talk about coming here for the serenity, the love, the peace and the support that they feel here.”

Always serving others

Lott Ranch has served as a springboard for Lott to help community members in need. Although Lott couldn’t think of any examples of people taking advantage of his kindness, he did say it could have happened, but he hasn’t dwelt on any particular instance “even for a second on what other people have done after I’ve helped them.”

“He’s one of the nicest, most generous men I’ve ever met,” said Trisha Houser, one of the organizers of the GoFundMe campaign.

Throughout the years, Lott said he has hired workers out of Switchpoint Community Resource Center, a shelter for homeless people in St. George. Because the workers at Switchpoint didn’t have cars, Lott would make the nearly 30-minute drive each way to give them transportation to and from work. He said he hired people from Switchpoint because “those were the people that needed it most.”

Lott has allowed people to live on his property “for days or for a lot of days” when they didn’t have another place to live. There was one time Lott even gave a car to a family whose father was unemployed.

“That was a blessing for them because he was able to drive to find a job and get back to work,” Lott said.

Being an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and constantly being on the lookout for opportunities to help others are some of the reasons that drive Lott to serve others, he said.

“Always looking for ways to serve others is what the good Lord intended for us.”

Questions for the future

As Lott’s savings account has been drained from years of operating Lott Ranch and helping others without expecting to be repaid, the future of Lott Ranch is uncertain. Lott said his children, who mostly live in northern Utah now, are encouraging him to sell the property and enjoy the rest of his retirement.

“They are concerned about my health and me being alone, so they all want me to come up and stay with them.”

Lott is also concerned for his health, he said, because of how tired he has been during the last summer. However, he still wants to keep the camp going as long as he can. If he were to sell the property, Lott said he hopes whoever buys it will continue the legacy of the camp and maintain the park, but that isn’t a deal-breaker at this point.

If Lott Ranch were to close down and be sold, Houser said the community would miss it.

“He’s like a grandpa for my kids, so we always go out and visit, but I know a lot of people love it there. It’d be a big loss to the community and the state to have it shut down.”

The outpouring of support from members in the community who’ve donated to the GoFundMe campaign has surprised Lott, he said. All of the love and generosity from people to help him out has brought him to tears.

Lott has 21 real grandchildren, but he said he has about 5,000 adopted grandchildren who call him “grandpa Ben Lott” when they’ve visited Lott Ranch.

“I’m grateful for everyone that comes to enlighten my life through their smiles, their waves, their hugs and being adopted into their families,” he said. “It’s unreal, the love I’ve felt.”

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Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews | @SpencerRicks

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2018, all rights reserved.

Hiking Southern Utah: White Reef/Leeds Reef Loop Trail in Red Cliffs Desert Reserve

Hiking Southern Utah: White Reef/Leeds Reef Loop Trail in Red Cliffs Desert ReserveTrail: White Reef/Leeds Reef Loop Trail Location: Red Cliffs Desert Reserve near Harrisburg, about 10 miles northeast of St. George on Interstate 15 Difficulty: Easy on a well-marked trail with some up-and-down sections Average hiking time: About two hours Elevation: The trailhead is approximately 3,000 feet elevation with a 275 feet elevation gain from the trailhead ...

Hiking Southern Utah: White Reef/Leeds Reef Loop Trail in Red Cliffs Desert Reserve

Trail: White Reef/Leeds Reef Loop Trail Location: Red Cliffs Desert Reserve near Harrisburg, about 10 miles northeast of St. George on Interstate 15 Difficulty: Easy on a well-marked trail with some up-and-down sections Average hiking time: About two hours Elevation: The trailhead is approximately 3,000 feet elevation with a 275 feet elevation gain from the trailhead to the highest point of the hike Family friendly: Yes, it is an easy hike

Getting there: The trailhead is about 10 miles from St. George. Driving north on Interstate 15, take Exit 16 onto State Route 9 toward Hurricane. At the first traffic light, turn left (north) and proceed northeast on Old Highway 91 for four miles. Around four miles, you’ll see a brown sign on the right reading Red Cliffs National Conservation Area/Red Cliffs Recreation Area and arrows pointing to the left. Within a hundred yards or so, take a left turn (northwest) through two narrow freeway tunnels under Interstate 15. Once through the tunnels, turn right at the “T” intersection and park in the large White Reef trailhead parking area delineated by a pole fence about 50 yards from the intersection.

Or, going north on Interstate 15, take Exit 22 to the town of Leeds. At the end of the off ramp, make a sharp right (south) on Old Highway 91. Travel approximately two miles and turn right (northwest) just past the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area/Red Cliffs Recreation Area sign and proceed through a narrow tunnel under Interstate 15. Then follow the directions above.

In the Harrisburg/Leeds area are at least five lengthy ridges called reefs: Red Reef, White Reef, Silver Reef, Buckeye Reef, and Leeds Reef. Oddly enough, White Reef likely got its name from the white sandstone sitting atop most of the ridge.

Most people think of reefs as bars of rock, sand, coral, or similar material lying beneath or just above the surface of a body of water. When geological formations were being named in southwest Utah, someone went wild applying the moniker “reef” to every ridge they saw. Reefs not near water are simply ridges resulting from tectonic (faults and earthquakes) and volcanic uplift and erosion. They may be colorful depending upon the composition of original sediments that were deposited and subsequently uplifted.

The Red Cliffs Desert Reserve was established in 1996 to protect a large and diverse habitat capable of sustaining wildlife populations threatened by development and habitat loss. It comprises 62,000 acres and has more than 130 miles of shared use trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Three ecosystems — the Mojave Desert, the Great Basin Desert, and the Colorado Plateau —merge in southwestern Utah, and the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve reflects the biological diversity of this unique region.

Park at the trailhead and pay the $5 entrance fee. The parking area is large and has a pit toilet. This loop trail, and several other trails in the area, serves hikers, equestrians, and bikers. The trailhead elevation is approximately 3,000 feet with about a 275-foot elevation change from trailhead to highest point.

A stepover at the southwest corner of the parking area provides access to several trails. The beginning section of the loop hike, White Reef Trail, first tracks north and soon turns right and proceeds northeast.

It is easy going as the trail is mostly a two-track dirt road winding through a draw between the two reefs. Although close to Interstate 15, White Reef Trail is quiet since it’s in a low area. Soon, you’ll come across an old rock wall running across the draw — evidence that this area was once utilized by pioneers.

The first section of White Reef Trail features good views to the northwest of White Reef in the foreground, red cliffs behind White Reef, and the Pine Valley Mountains in the background.

About 1.7 miles in, you’ll come to the end of White Reef Trail. To continue the loop, proceed to the right (south) along the quarter-mile Adit Trail that connects to Leeds Reef Trail — the return path.

Leeds Reef Trail runs along the top of the reef/ridge for about a mile. Since we were atop the ridge, traffic noise from Interstate 15 is slightly noticeable. Because the trails parallel each other and Leeds Reef is higher elevation than White Reef Trail, you’ll be afforded the same views, only a bit more panoramic.

After approximately one mile on Leeds Reef, the trail drops into a draw as it approaches the White Reef Trail junction. At 1.4 miles on Leeds Reef Trail, you’ll reach the intersection with White Reef Trail, turn left (south), and return to the trailhead.

I recommend this adventure — a natural setting with fantastic views about 10 miles from St. George.

Hiking Southern Utah: Third Ravine

The Third Ravine is an under-appreciated gem. Located on the plateau bordering western St. George, the trail is a wonderful example of the diverse terrain of Washington County.

Leeds: 3 resignations in a week; mayor plus 2 from planning commission

LEEDS – The Leeds mayor presented a letter of resignation to the Town of Leeds during a town hall meeting Wednesday night.A town official confirmed Town of Leeds Mayor Alan Roberts read a letter of resignation during a public town hall meeting and that it will go into effect by mid-February.Official documentation including Roberts’ letter of resignation may be made available to the public early next week.Roberts’ resignation follows the Jan. 2 resignation of commissioners Jared Westhoff...

LEEDS – The Leeds mayor presented a letter of resignation to the Town of Leeds during a town hall meeting Wednesday night.

A town official confirmed Town of Leeds Mayor Alan Roberts read a letter of resignation during a public town hall meeting and that it will go into effect by mid-February.

Official documentation including Roberts’ letter of resignation may be made available to the public early next week.

Roberts’ resignation follows the Jan. 2 resignation of commissioners Jared Westhoff and Ray Beal from the Town of Leeds Planning Commission.

Over the last year some Leeds residents have been critical of Roberts and other town officials due to perceived conflicts of interest involving the controversial Grapevine Wash development.

According to the Get Involved Leeds website, calls for Westhoff’s resignation started in May 2012 after questioning the validity of a report presented by anti-Grapevine Wash advocate Karla Stirling.

Roberts was unavailable for comment as this report is published.

Editor’s Note: Roberts replied to St. George News by email on Jan. 11 with clarification and objection to this report. His response is addressed by St. George News on Jan. 12: Leeds mayor clarifies reasons for resignation.

Related posts

Leeds meeting considers highway interchange and town growth, April 19, 2012

Battle of public opinion continues over development near Leeds, June 5, 2012

Leeds town council temporarily tables controversial development, October 26, 2012

Leeds town council votes down Grapevine Wash development, November 15, 2012

Final vote on Leeds Grapevine Wash development stalled as public calls for review, December 13, 2012

Attorney: Grapevine Wash Developer will sue Leeds for relief, December 19, 2012

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