Each October we celebrate National Cooperative Month. All co-ops are governed by a set of seven principles. Discover what they are below.

By Emily Schilling James Dean truly was the man, the myth and the legend. The Fairmount, Indiana, native may have lived fast and died young, but even after his death on Sept. 30, 1955, his iconic presence endures. I’ve been intrigued by Dean since my freshman year of college. I fell under his charismatic spell… Continue reading.

By Richard G. Biever Collin Kreiner was just 6 months old when doctors told his parents he had cerebral palsy. The condition affected the right side of his brain and left him with a partial paralysis. The diagnosis came after his parents had noticed Collin was not using his left hand. He kept it clenched… Continue reading.

An old biplane is parked on a basketball court in a relief sculpture representing Henry County (pictured on right). It’s part of the permanent 92 county artworks built into the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis.  The basketball court for Henry County might be obvious: the New Castle High School gymnasium is among the largest high… Continue reading.

Riding on the bus to and from school each day can get awfully old and BOOOORING after just a couple of weeks. And when people get bored, they like to entertain themselves and others. Sometimes people do silly things and get carried away and forget about safety. But the school bus is no place to… Continue reading.

If “back to school” means your children will be walking without you or coming home to an empty house for a few hours in the afternoons, remind them that electricity can be dangerous. Here are six lessons that can save a child’s life: Assume all utility lines are energized and can injure or kill someone… Continue reading.

Every year, some 5,000 people are scalded by hot tap water. Most of these accidents involve the elderly and children under the age of five. Just two seconds of exposure to water that’s heated to 150 F will cause a third-degree burn — the most serious type — in most adults. If water is heated… Continue reading.

Follow these tips if you’re painting indoors: A well-ventilated house makes for a healthier home under any circumstances. But it becomes even more important when you’re tackling an interior painting project.  To avoid health problems when you’re painting the inside of your home: Schedule painting for dry periods in the fall or spring when it’s… Continue reading.

Pressure washers are handy tools. They can clean up almost anything and make a house or deck look brand new. And electrically powered ones are among the only tools that mix water and electricity during use — an otherwise deadly combination.  Pressure washers can be safe to use if you read the manual carefully —… Continue reading.

Late summer and early fall often bring tornadoes and floods to our part of the country. It’s important to take precautions with your home’s electrical system. Debris from storms can easily ignite if they come into contact with downed power lines, especially when electrical wires are severed. Also, standing water and even appliances can become… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling Does your everyday life get in the way of your “best life?” I know I’m usually taking care of multiple demands, deadlines, appointments, and other responsibilities — you know, that day-to-day stuff — and not focusing on what’s really important. So, to help me realign my priorities, I’ve come up with a… Continue reading.

The hottest days of summer remind us that poor energy habits can make our house uncomfortable. It’s never too late to make a few changes around the house to help keep things cool. A bonus: You could lower your energy bill during air-conditioner season. Check for loose or leaky windowpanes. And notice if your home… Continue reading.