Batteries provide a portable, and usually safe, source of electricity. From batteries in our cell phones to industrial-sized backups, we rely on them every day. With Christmas just around the corner, parents will be stocking up on batteries for all the new toys their children will be unwrapping on Dec. 25. Although batteries seem harmless,… Continue reading.

Make safety a part of your holiday with these tips. Tackle one a day and    you’re well on your way to  a safe New Year! Day 1: Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Make sure everyone knows what to do if they start beeping. Day 2: Inspect all electrical items, decorations, and extension cords for… Continue reading.

Before unpacking your holiday lights and seasonal items, take a moment to read these eight safety tips to ensure that your Christmas is merry … not scary. Inspect your seasonal items Many of us have treasured holiday mementos that we bring out of storage and proudly display each year. The holidays are also a time… Continue reading.

“I appreciate you.” Three words. Three impactful words. We need to use them more.  And mean them when we do. As we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first Thanksgiving that was shared by Plymouth colonists and Native Americans this month, why not verbally honor the people around us who may not realize they’re making… Continue reading.

Danielle Sommerman’s valedictory submission for the Indiana Electric Cooperative student art contest was a tour de force. Her senior work from the contest not only won her grade division — which was her seventh first place award — but also earned her a Best of Show for the second time. The mixed media illustration of… Continue reading.

Bob Ross was a man who could move mountains at a whim. He could conjure clouds from a pale sky and raise lofty pines with waves of his hand. And he inspired and convinced many others they could do the same. The soft-spoken artist with the bushy hair became a Public TV icon in the… Continue reading.

If Christmas to you is all about celebrating faith and savoring experiences with family and friends, then let the festivities begin with the centerpiece of most holiday gatherings: the Christmas tree … the lordly evergreen … the old “O Tannenbaum” … the Noble Fir, the Scotch pine, the spruce and the cedar. Whether your family… Continue reading.

“Tippecanoe” is easily the most poetic and fun-to-say county in the state. But its meaning has nothing to do with capsizing a boat. Tippecanoe is the anglicized word for a Miami Indian term meaning “place of the succor fish people” — because succor (also known as buffalo fish) were abundant in the waters in the… Continue reading.

Part of the excitement of the holidays is getting together with family and friends around a dinner table laden with a traditional holiday feast. Unfortunately, ill prepared foods can ruin more than holiday spirit — they can cause serious illness and even death. Here are some tips from the Center for Science in the Public… Continue reading.

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) statistics indicate that 30% of all home fires and 38% of home fire deaths occur during the months of December, January, and February. These winter fires result from a variety of sources. The United States Fire Administration reports fires caused by cooking, heating and open flame all increase during the… Continue reading.

Heading “over the river and through the woods” this holiday season to visit Grandma and other relatives? It’s always a good idea when traveling in winter to “winterize” your car for unexpected problems. Make sure you have: A properly inflated spare tire, lug wrench and jack. A flat tire at any time and place is… Continue reading.

As your family puts up a tree or hangs the stockings this holiday season, start a new tradition. Put safety at the top of your list. Too often, the twinkling lights people see are on the top of a fire truck or ambulance — the result of holiday accidents that could have been prevented. According… Continue reading.