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Taking care of your Loved One Is What We Do BEST!

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

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Home Care In Bixby, NC

Home Care Bixby, NC

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 Bixby Historical Museum gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Bixby, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Bixby, NC

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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TESTIMONIALS

“Such a wonderful place to work! Caregivers that genuinely care with office support that go above and beyond for staff/clients. Highly recommend for employment and senior in-home care support.”

Kelly P.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I bn with this company for Abt a year and I love working for them . They work with you,they care about ur personal life/ problems, really good at matching you with good clients..”

Ffbjj B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I cannot say enough good things about this company and the caregivers they provided after my mom's recent accident and stay in a rehab facility. The staff were constantly in communication with us keeping us abreast of any little or big updates. Their attitudes were always helpful and they seemed to genuinely care. The caregivers they sent to sit with and take care of mom were EXCELLENT. I'm not sure how many different caregivers she had over the few weeks of her stay but there wasn't a single one that wasn't kind and extremely helpful. It took a tremendous load off of everyone in our family knowing that she was being well cared for when we couldn't be there. Thank you to Brandi, Joanne, Gina, and anyone I'm missing for everything you all did for us from the beginning of the process all the way to my mom's release today. Hopefully, we won't need your services again, but if we do, I know who I will be calling!”

Beth G.
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TESTIMONIALS

“This company is TOP-NOTCH! Incredibly helpful and super friendly. If you’re looking for a part-time in caregiving, this is it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

MJ F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Sandy is very knowledgeable of assisted living options in the Winston Salem area. She helped with a family member’s search with care and consideration. We highly recommend.”

Meredith K.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I highly recommend Sandy Bowen with Always Best Care. I called her with a very tight timeframe to find a suitable memory care facility for my family member. She asked a lot of questions about my loved one to try and get to know her as much as possible. She worked very fast and lined up several appointments for us to tour places within a matter of days. She explained the process to me every step of the way and made sure we stayed on track. She attended the appointments with me and asked questions that I would never think to ask. I can’t thank her enough.”

Ginger M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“The staff and caretakers are wonderful. Would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs at home care for themselves or loved ones”

Michael B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“These folks are so helpful! They care about their clients and it shows in the service! I highly recommend ????”

Mary E.
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TESTIMONIALS

“The staff and caretakers are wonderful. Would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs at home care for themselves or loved ones”

Phillip B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“During an unexpected hospital stay, Joanne provided much needed assistance. She provided excellent care and supportive advocacy. It made dealing with the discomfort more bearable and gave me a safeguard to decipher the complicated choices to resolve health issues. I highly recommend this service.”

Barry C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“If you are looking for attentive, quality home care look no further than Joanne and her team. A passion for excellence is driven for from this team. Family oriented and willing to work with all families.”

Laura M.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Bixby, NC?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care Bixby, NC

Types of Elderly Care in Bixby, NC

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Bixby, NC
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Bixby, NC
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Lake Bixhoma Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Bixby, NC
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local The Lazy Fisherman or visit Washington Irving Memorial Park and Arboretum, 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.

 In-Home Care Bixby, NC

Benefits of Home Care in Bixby, NC

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

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

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

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

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Bixby, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care Bixby, NC

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your NC's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care Bixby, NC

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 Bixby, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.


Respite Care Bixby, NC

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Bixby, NC

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:

  • Sand Plum Assisted Living
  • Covenant Living of Bixby
  • Bixby Senior Citizens
  • Paddington Place Cottages
Home Care Bixby, NC

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care Bixby, NC

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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

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

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Bixby, NC 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.

 Elderly Care Bixby, NC

Latest News in Bixby, NC

Work starts on Bixby EMS station

By Mike BarnhardtEnterprise RecordCounty commissioner Mark Jones knows.Response time in a medical emergency is important.“This group of unbelievable men and women have saved my life, and I will be forever thankful,” he said, while looking at members of the Davie EMS staff on hand for the groundbreaking of the county’s newest EMS station last week.“Response time means something,” Jones said. “This is ...

By Mike Barnhardt

Enterprise Record

County commissioner Mark Jones knows.

Response time in a medical emergency is important.

“This group of unbelievable men and women have saved my life, and I will be forever thankful,” he said, while looking at members of the Davie EMS staff on hand for the groundbreaking of the county’s newest EMS station last week.

“Response time means something,” Jones said. “This is where the rubber meets the road.”

The new station is being built in the Bixby community, at Cornatzer and Howardtown roads. The EMS units now stationed at the Advance Fire Department will be moved there when the building is completed.

“This has been a long time coming,” said Joseph Ashburn, Davie EMS director. “It will help us provide quicker coverage for Advance, Cornatzer and Fork. We will be able to reach our citizens in a more timely manner.”

Ashburn, who was named to the job in November, said he hopes to continue the EMS excellence in Davie County set by his predecessors, who laid the foundation. Two of them – Dwayne Smith and Johnny Frye – were on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony last week.

“If it weren’t for these guys, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” Ashburn said. “I want to continue that legacy.”

The new station is being built with the EMT in mind, and EMTs were consulted in the design, Ashburn said. “This is their home every fourth day,” he said. “They eat here, sleep here, study here.”

County Manager Brian Barnett said he remembers sitting at his desk in Greenville, NC, prior to taking the job here, reading about Davie EMS.

“What a difference a year makes,” Barnett said. “We’ve come a long way in a year. My No. 1 priority is patient care – that we give top-notch care.”

Davie EMS has stations on Dr. Slate Drive in Mocksville (headquarters), on Farmington Road near NC 801, and on US 601 South near Greasy Corner. Barnett said the search is on for land for Station 5, which is likely to be in the western part of Davie County.

County commissioner Brent Shoaf said he has witnessed Davie EMS work for his family; and said it is much better than a private system, which he witnessed in another state. “This is important. We want you to be successful,” he said to the EMTs.

Commissioner Benita Finney agreed.

“Thanks for enduring temporary homes, and hope you will have a stable home now,” she said. “And I hope we start listening to your voices and give you what you need.”

“We’re thankful for the lives that will be saved by this place,” said Chris Cantrell, Hope Baptist Tabernacle pastor who said a prayer for the facility.

Youth sports bring big bucks to Upstate

The youth sports tournament season has begun in the Upstate, attracting teams every weekend of the summer and delivering a total economic impact that measures in the millions.A youth baseball tournament, the Black Bear Classic, is under way now at 17 sites across five Upstate counties and has drawn 150 teams from all over the Southeast. An estimated 7,000 people, athletes and their supporters, are staying in area hotels and eating at restaurants.Brett Bixby of Charlotte, N.C., is in Greenville for the weekend, st...

The youth sports tournament season has begun in the Upstate, attracting teams every weekend of the summer and delivering a total economic impact that measures in the millions.

A youth baseball tournament, the Black Bear Classic, is under way now at 17 sites across five Upstate counties and has drawn 150 teams from all over the Southeast. An estimated 7,000 people, athletes and their supporters, are staying in area hotels and eating at restaurants.

Brett Bixby of Charlotte, N.C., is in Greenville for the weekend, staying at the Clarion off Haywood Road. He has two sons playing in the Black Bear Classic and will spend hundreds of dollars on food and accommodations before the tournament finishes Sunday. He said he likes Greenville, a city he had never visited, and compared it to a "mini-Charlotte" with all the cranes downtown.

"It's a lot," Bixby said of the commitment to be here, both in terms of time and money. "It's tough when you have both parents working, and you both want to be there. We're paying for a hotel room, gas, food."

Greenville County Sports Tourism Manager Jeff Poole estimated that the Black Bear Classic alone will have an economic impact of around $2.8 million on the region. Economic impact includes direct spending on lodging, transportation, entertainment, food and shopping. It also includes indirect spending as hotel and restaurant managers boost staff to accommodate the larger crowds.

Meanwhile, Greenville County coffers have gotten a roughly $138,000 boost in terms of taxes and fees associated with the tournament. This includes a $3,750 usage fee charged to promoter Prospect Sports to use county fields at Conestee and Northwest parks.

In Easley, Sports Tourism Director Scott Price said municipal park facilities typically charge low usage fees because the real goal is to bring in big tournaments for that broader economic impact. His department is hosting Big Bear Classic games at Alice Field and the J.B. Owens Sports Complex.

"We have people from all over the country who would never visit Easley otherwise," said Price.

Greenville County's Poole said his office runs a robust marketing effort to recruit tournaments to the area. His staff chases leads, attends youth sports trade shows, bids on some tournaments and maintains a page dedicated to tournaments on its website, https://greenvillerec.com, among other things.

His department currently has 100 events on their calendar using county facilities built or renovated in the past 10 years.

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The Team Greenville swim team also is hosting a meet — the Splash and Dash — this weekend at Greenville County's Aquatic Complex. Poole said this event expects to attract 400 swimmers competing over three days. That event's economic impact: $300,000. A lacrosse tournament, dubbed the South Carolina Shootout, took place June 3 and 4 at the county's MESA Soccer Complex brought in 99 teams and had an economic impact of $1.7 million.

A 2-percent hospitality tax raised about $40 million for work on all these facilities under the county's 2007 "TRAC" plan.

"These tournaments are the fruits of that construction phase," Poole said.

Easley's Price said the J.B. Owens complex has tournaments scheduled for every weekend this summer, including the first Senior League World Series to be held at the facility. The week-long series July 29 to Aug. 5, which targets boys ages 13 to 16, has served to replace the Big League World Series, which had targeted older kids but was disbanded last year. Easley will get national exposure with the Senior League tournament: ESPN will be televising it.

"It should be in line with what we have seen in the past — $700,000 in economic impact," Price said.

For their part, families coming to the tournaments said the expenditures in terms of travel, equipment and team fees — some running into the thousands — are worth it so long as their children's hearts are still in it.

Eric Hudson Sr., whose son Eric Jr. also plays on the Next Level team, said baseball is the most expensive sport, with every player needing bats, cleats, gloves and clean uniforms for every game. He said he looks for deals on equipment from Play It Again stores.

"I've spent $250 on wood bats!" he said. Eric Jr. dug into his equipment bag, smiled and held up his black Mizuno Bamboo Elite.

Next Level Baseball kids practice three times a week and travel to tournaments almost every weekend from June to August. When they are on the road, families socialize and eat meals together. The kids, who attend schools all over Charlotte, had to try out to get on the team; they were all smiles on Thursday standing next to their dads.

"Most of these (tournaments) are our vacation," said baseball dad Andre Grier of Charlotte, N.C. His son, Next Level infielder Christian, nodded his agreement. "They've got a lot more skate rinks here," he said.

Economic impact aside, the real business of the tournament is college recruiting. Florida-based Prospect Select Baseball organized the tournament and is hosting 10 youth travel-team tournaments across the country between June and September. Of the 17 sites where the Bear Claw Classic tournament games are taking place, nine are at colleges and universities, including Clemson, Anderson University, Southern Wesleyan, Wofford College, Presbyterian and Furman University.

"That's where (the players) get the most exposure," Bixby said. "Once spring ball is over, this is when the colleges can send their guys out to look at players."

Scouts were on site Thursday at Conestee Park with radar guns measuring pitch speeds. Bixby's oldest son, Michael, is 6 feet 4 inches tall; he pitches but also plays outfield and the occasional infield position. Kids like Michael, who are big and still growing have what scouts call "projectability," Bixby said.

"You've got 70 to 100 scouts looking at players on 150 teams," he said. "That's more than 1,500 players and about 600 games. The numbers are pretty staggering."

Eckerstrom shines in Portland Thorns 1-0 upset of North Carolina Courage

Britt Eckerstrom saw plenty of minutes last year for the Portland Thorns. Entering the NWSL Challenge Cup, many NWSL fans thought she would be the starter for Portland, with Adrianna Franch out. However, Bella Bixby surprised everyone, taking the starting reins during the group stage.Eckerstrom waited for her chance, and she got it during the Challenge Cup quarterfinals. An injury to Bixby put Ecker...

Britt Eckerstrom saw plenty of minutes last year for the Portland Thorns. Entering the NWSL Challenge Cup, many NWSL fans thought she would be the starter for Portland, with Adrianna Franch out. However, Bella Bixby surprised everyone, taking the starting reins during the group stage.

Eckerstrom waited for her chance, and she got it during the Challenge Cup quarterfinals. An injury to Bixby put Eckerstrom under center, in between the sticks. She made a stunning eight saves, denying the North Carolina Courage’s dominant attack to give Portland a 1-0 victory, majorly upsetting the Courage.

DREAMWEAVER! #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/hIspsFMFNo

— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) July 17, 2020

Scoring her first professional goal was Morgan Weaver, the rookie out of Washington State University. However, all eyes were on Costa Rican midfielder Raquel “Rocky” Rodriguez, who sneaked a stellar assist through the Courage defense.

North Carolina tried for an opportunity to score, to potentially send the game to penalty kicks. In the knockout rounds, if the score is tied at the end of the match, then there’s no extra time. The match would go straight into penalty kicks.

However, North Carolina couldn’t muster up a strong enough attack to pass Eckerstrom.

BRITT ECKERSTROM, WE ARE NOT WORTHY!!#NCvPOR | 0-1 | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/sQjQruRi7h

— The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) July 17, 2020

Eckerstrom finished the match with eight saves, denying the likes of Lynn Williams, Debinha and Kristen Hamilton. In fact, Eckerstrom denied Debinha a total of five times throughout the match.

Now, the Thorns will take on the winner of the Houston Dash vs. Utah Royals FC match in the semifinals on Wednesday. The semifinals will be held at Rio Tinto Stadium, home of the Royals.

A comfortable transition: Furniture store passes to next generation

TULSA – One of Tulsa’s landmark furniture families has officially passed into its third and fourth generations with the $1.6 million sale of North Carolina Furniture Mart to Kristi and Christopher Johnson.Tulsa County Courthouse records indicate that C2K LLC of Bixby, led by the Johnsons, bought the 26,000-square-foot store at 12109 S. Memorial Dr. in Bixby from N.C.F.M. LLC, managed by Jeri L. Bomer.That marks the last surviving store in a chain that once operated across three states. But the Johnsons see a great d...

TULSA – One of Tulsa’s landmark furniture families has officially passed into its third and fourth generations with the $1.6 million sale of North Carolina Furniture Mart to Kristi and Christopher Johnson.

Tulsa County Courthouse records indicate that C2K LLC of Bixby, led by the Johnsons, bought the 26,000-square-foot store at 12109 S. Memorial Dr. in Bixby from N.C.F.M. LLC, managed by Jeri L. Bomer.

That marks the last surviving store in a chain that once operated across three states. But the Johnsons see a great deal of opportunity for their 12-employee shop, which sits on 2.5 acres along one of south Tulsa’s busiest retail corridors.

“The economy was bad for a while,” said Christopher Johnson. “People were hanging on to their money. But we have seen a turn to the way up, so we’re excited about it. The future’s looking very promising for us.”

Furniture marks one of the curious retail sectors where small shops actually thrive in the shadow of Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and Mathis Brothers. James Russell, chairman of the Oral Roberts University Undergraduate College of Business, said that could signal a different level of customer satisfaction and service. University of Oklahoma retail economist James Kenderdine also noted potential advantages in convenience and no-pressure sales.

But this family store has a history of taking on the big boys. The origin of North Carolina Furniture Mart dates back to the Horn Brothers Furniture store, a pioneering Tulsa television icon of the 1960s. M. Arthur Eichhorn, who went by “Ike Horn,” pitched furniture from his 129th Street and Admiral store through the Horn Brothers Show, a country-and-western television show he hosted featuring local and traveling talent.

Such half-hour, locally produced shows proved much more common in the early age of TV, and often at the direction of furniture sellers. The Bob Mills and the Jude and Jody furniture stores produced similar programs in Oklahoma City at that time, mimicking national variety shows that often drew strong audiences.

These shows faded into folklore at the end of the decade as CBS led the so-called big three networks into more urban programming.

“They wanted to get away from the feeling of projecting that we were cowboy or rural hicks,” said Kenderdine, professor emeritus of marketing and supply chain management at OU’s Price College of Business. “I think it had to do with being as sophisticated as the coasts.”

In the early 1990s, Horn Brothers transformed into the North Carolina Furniture Mart, which would grow to five locations in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri. The company also passed to Arthur’s son and daughter, Bomer and Bob Eichhorn, along with granddaughter Kristi Johnson and her two cousins, Jesse and Luke Bomer.

“We’ve just slowly but surely brought them down to this one store,” said Christopher Johnson.

He attributed this sale to the retirement of his wife’s father and aunt.

The Johnsons plan no changes to the business, which sells everything from futons to credenzas. They also foresee no improvements to the property, which Tulsa County assessor records said was built in 1994. Johnson said the building was last renovated in about 2005.

Courthouse records indicate that the new owners took a pair of mortgages from Regent Bank with this sale, a $640,000 note due this September, and a $810,616 mortgage due June 24, 2023.

Under their guidance the business has advanced to its fourth generation.

“My wife has worked here since she was 19,” said Christopher Johnson. “She’s currently 36. And my daughter Kylee, she’s 13, and she’s already working here, answering the phones, doing drops and helping customers.”

Football Player Says Teammates Sexually Assaulted Him at School Official’s Home

The superintendent of a school district in Oklahoma resigned Tuesday amid allegations that a 16-year-old football player was sexually assaulted with a pool stick by his teammates during an event at the superintendent’s home, officials said.The teenager was attending a team function in Bixby, Oklahoma, in September at the home of Robert Kyle Wood, the superintendent of Bixby Public Schools, when three teammates held the student down and a fourth teammate used a pool stick to sexually assault him, which caused “significant p...

The superintendent of a school district in Oklahoma resigned Tuesday amid allegations that a 16-year-old football player was sexually assaulted with a pool stick by his teammates during an event at the superintendent’s home, officials said.

The teenager was attending a team function in Bixby, Oklahoma, in September at the home of Robert Kyle Wood, the superintendent of Bixby Public Schools, when three teammates held the student down and a fourth teammate used a pool stick to sexually assault him, which caused “significant pain” and bleeding, according to an affidavit prepared by an investigator with the local district attorney’s office. A fifth teammate recorded video of the attack on his cellphone while other teammates watched and laughed, the affidavit said.

Investigators said it was unclear when the school system learned about the episode or when it was reported to authorities, “but it was certainly delayed for days,” according to the affidavit. It states that in October, the teenager confided in the athletic director, Jay Bittle, who had been tipped off by another student that a hazing incident had taken place.

Bittle did not immediately respond to an email request for comment Wednesday.

The teenager also said that a similar episode happened at the superintendent’s home during the 2016 football season, according to the affidavit. It did not elaborate on that instance.

The Bixby school board has been conducting its own investigation of the matter. In a statement this week, it expressed “profound disappointment” in the affidavit filed by the district attorney’s office, saying it “contains multiple false and untrue assertions,” including when school officials reported the alleged episode to law enforcement officials and when the parents of the teenager were notified of the details of the alleged assault.

Matt Ballard, the district attorney of Rogers, Mayes and Craig counties, said in a statement Wednesday that he had “full confidence” in the investigators. Ballard was assigned the case after the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office recused itself.

“From the very beginning of the case, it has been frustratingly difficult to get pertinent information from the school district,” Ballard said in a statement. “As soon as the attorney general assigned my office to pursue the case, I released a public statement urging anyone with relevant information to reach out to investigators. That obviously included members of the Bixby School Board and I will welcome their call.”

A spokesperson for Wood, the superintendent, said on Tuesday in a statement provided to News on 6, a television station in Tulsa, that Wood was resigning and retiring.

“In light of recent events, Dr. Wood decided it was in the best interests of the Bixby School District, the Bixby community, and his family to step away at this time,'’ the statement said. “Although this has been a challenging time for Dr. Wood and the Bixby School District, recent events cannot erase Dr. Wood’s many accomplishments as a life-long Oklahoma educator, including his successful 11-year tenure as Bixby’s Superintendent.”

The statement also said: “Dr. Wood did not violate any law regarding reporting of child abuse; nor has he violated any District rule or policy. Because of the pending investigation, Dr. Wood will not litigate this case in the press.”

Efforts to reach Wood by phone and email Wednesday were unsuccessful.

Several Bixby High School football players were benched or kicked off the team for the remainder of the season, according to Tulsa World. No charges have been filed.

In his statement, Ballard, the district attorney, said, “This is a complex investigation and I am committed to uncovering all relevant facts and only at the conclusion of a thorough investigation will I be able to make charging decisions regarding any potential crimes as I deem appropriate and in the best interest of justice.”

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