By Richard G. Biever As president of her graduating class, Abby Bannon was expected to deliver the traditional speech welcoming classmates, family, faculty and friends to the 2020 Crawfordsville High School commencement in May. Instead, in a year that’s been anything but traditional, the talented singing/songwriting senior penned an ode for her classmates filled with… Continue reading.

Tucked along the state’s southern contours amid the rolling hills of the Hoosier National Forest and the Ohio River, Perry County is one of Indiana’s best kept secrets. Almost three quarters of the county is within the southernmost boundaries of the National Forest which offers Perry County residents and visitors a variety of outdoor activities… Continue reading.

When you plug a lamp or an appliance into a socket, you expect to be able to turn it on. Sometimes, though, you’ll find that the outlet is “dead.” Before you call an electrician, check a few things out: Plug something different into the same outlet. It could be that the problem is with the… Continue reading.

You might plant shrubs and bushes to make your yard look nicer. They might also lower your energy bill.  Careful landscape planning can help protect a house from summer’s hot sun and winter’s cold winds.  Here’s a quick guide to saving energy through smart planting: Determine the climate in your community and even in your… Continue reading.

If just the thought of easing up on the air conditioning in the middle of a summer heat wave makes you sweat, consider this trick to save electricity: Go outside. Spend weekend days outdoors. Before you leave the house for the day, turn the a/c up a few degrees. No need to keep your house… Continue reading.

If it’s too hot to fire up the grill this July 4, then it’s too warm indoors to heat up the oven. The solution: Host an energy-free potluck for the holiday and ask each guest to bring a cold dish that does not require any cooking before the party or heating during the event. Some… Continue reading.

If the fireworks show is in your yard this July 4, steer clear of power lines. Most people celebrate by watching a local, professional show — supervised by firefighters. But if you’re starting the performance early with consumer fireworks, here are some tips:  Your fireworks might be legal, but that doesn’t mean they are safe…. Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling Self-isolation and quarantining — which are now part of everyone’s lexicon — have changed our habits, our lives, our physical health and our mental health. Here are some of my random thoughts about staying put at home after a long career of “going to work.” Not having to set the alarm clock… Continue reading.

The sweetest thing about Halloween may not be the preponderance of candy, but the inspired décor and “couture” associated with the holiday. Our October cover story will focus on what readers like you do to make your Halloween spook-tacular. What are some of your favorite DIY costumes and how did you make them? How do… Continue reading.

Top 3 responsibilities in a day: Update geographic information system (GIS) maps based on work and service orders and reports by field teams.  Dispatch outages. Help create GIS maps, both static and online, for internal and external use. What kind of education do you have?  I have a master’s degree in GIS and also attend specialized… Continue reading.

If you’ve found added comfort in the company of furry family members while sheltering in place, maybe you’re considering adding another set of paws upon your floor. Perhaps you’ve heard of a pet orphaned by COVID-19; or you think your pets would welcome the added company after life returns to normal and they are once… Continue reading.

By Richard G. Biever Marcy Dodson was working at home — alone — as most everyone has the past couple of months. She was putting together the first installment of a new virtual feature for the Indiana State Museum designed to keep patrons engaged remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic closure. The topic was a goosebumper… Continue reading.