Over the last few years, Wi-Fi-enabled thermostats have become a popular upgrade for people updating equipment in their homes. Thermostats such as the Nest and Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostats (among others) connect to a home’s wireless Internet network and can be programmed remotely from a wireless device, such as a smart phone or tablet. You may… Continue reading.
Twice every year, Jared Murphy climbs into a helicopter to patrol miles and miles of transmission rights-of-way that crisscross southern Indiana and southeastern Illinois. As vegetation management coordinator, Murphy is looking for dead trees, overgrown brush or any other vegetation growth threatening to interfere with power lines along Hoosier Energy’s nearly 1,700-mile transmission network. … Continue reading.
Leona Wright doesn’t remember the exact day electricity came to her family’s White County farm, but she remembers the results: “It sure was nice to get away from the coal oil lamps to do my homework.” Now 95, Wright was just a teenager when her local REMC turned the lights on in the waning days… Continue reading.
Most office environments are considered low-risk in terms of electrical hazards. But that doesn’t mean you should take safety for granted. Just because you’re not working on a factory floor with high-voltage equipment or are operating large machinery outdoors near power lines, don’t assume electrical hazards can’t be present. “Just as at home, you need… Continue reading.
By Jack Spaulding When traveling through Shelby County recently, I came across two large birds dining on roadkill just off of a county road. At first, I thought they were common turkey buzzards. But as I got closer, I realized they weren’t and quickly identified them. They were black and appeared to have less of… Continue reading.
Flummoxed by white oak slime Q: About 18 months ago, my 30-year-old oak tree started weeping a liquid about 15 feet up on one side. A couple of branches way above it appeared to die off. The rest of the tree seemed OK. Later the backside seemed to crack in several places and a liquid… Continue reading.
As a service to our readers and to promote electrical safety, here is a recent recall notice provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Visit www.cpsc.gov/en/recalls for full details of this recall and for notices of many more. LG Energy Solution Michigan has recalled its RESU 10H (Type-R) Lithium-Ion Residential Energy Storage System. The… Continue reading.
By Richard G. Biever “What’s the difference between wonder and wander?” pondered Phil Anderson rhetorically. It begins with a subtle — yet internally rapturous — “oooh” and “aaah.” “It’s just a letter,” he said. “Wonder and wander go hand-in-hand. Why do you wander? It’s because you wonder. Curiosity … wonder: It’s what makes you get… Continue reading.
Speedway, Indiana, may most famously be known as the home of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But race fans shouldn’t overlook the town’s six-block long downtown area just walking distance from the south end of the track for a taste of small-town charm and a comparatively large selection of podium-caliber restaurants to satisfy a variety of… Continue reading.
Noble County is situated in northeastern Indiana’s “lake country.” And two lakes — or rather, a series of nine connecting lakes and one other — are especially significant in the county’s culture and its attractions. The Chain O’Lakes State Park, in south central Noble County, is a series of serene kettle lakes — created by… Continue reading.
By Zach Motsinger Those dusty black boxes stuffed behind entertainment centers that connect all of our devices can be misleading. While some of these devices are surge protectors, others are simply power strips. While one can help protect your equipment during a surge in energy the other is just a convenient way to plug in… Continue reading.
Electricity is safe when it’s used correctly. We should treat electricity with respect inside our homes as well as in our yards. Keep the following electricity rules in mind so you can stay safe: Never climb on or play near anything that says “High Voltage.” Never go near a fallen power line or near someone… Continue reading.
