You toil all spring to make sure your garden and landscaping are beautiful. But come summer, enjoying your handiwork is reserved to glimpses on bright weekend days because work and other commitments keep you away from home during most daylight hours.  The solution? Plant a few lights among your bushes and plants. Outdoor lighting looks… Continue reading.

Sixty years ago, author John Steinbeck wrote a semi-nonfictional travelogue called “Travels with Charley” about a road trip around America. Charley was his standard poodle. A decade later, singer Lobo had a soft rock hit that detailed road trips with “Me and You and a Dog Named Boo.” While we may not be writing a… Continue reading.

Just as you try to keep yourself cool on sunny summer days, you should make sure your pets are comfortable, too. Many of the same summer rules for humans apply to our furry friends as well: Don’t exercise when it’s too hot outside, drink plenty of water, avoid overexposure to the sun, and find a… Continue reading.

The onset of summer comes with lots of fun outdoor activities — whether you’re lying by the pool or playing on a baseball field. Keep heat stress at bay, no matter your sun-soaked activity of choice, by knowing how to prevent heat-related illnesses and how to recognize the symptoms in yourself and others. The most… Continue reading.

By Richard G. Biever Laura Burton was never the kind of little girl who dreamed of having that big, fancy, “Barbie-style” ballroom wedding. “I was more of a tomboy,” she said. But on Sunday drives with her parents, she did like to daydream while gazing out the back windows at the passing farmland and countryside…. Continue reading.

Benton County’s two most prominent claims to fame both pertain to the “harness” — as in harness racing and harnessing the wind. At the turn of the 20th century, harness racing was one of the most popular sports in the nation. And into the limelight paced Dan Patch, a dark bay Standardbred stallion who went… Continue reading.

Coffee has never been my beverage of choice. Although I’ve always adored how it smells, its characteristic bitterness assaults my taste buds.   But since I’ve recently discovered caramel frappes — which I’ve decided are my personal “gateway” into the wonderful world of coffee — I’m starting to understand the appeal of an occasional cup… 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.

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.

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.

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.

While electrical safety is something we need to think about every day, and we can do much to ensure it, sometimes we have to call in an expert to deal with electrical problems in our home. Problems may be expensive to fix but none is as costly as an electrical fire that damages your home,… Continue reading.