Opinion

One of my favorite tra­ditions since childhood is waking up on the morning of the 4th of July. There is a summertime energy that emerges when you finally hit this all-Amer­ican holiday. It’s the day for popsicles, cookouts, festivals, and usually, a lot of summer heat! Ever since I can remember, my family would awake after enjoying an alarm-clock-ban deemed […]

Summers here in north­ern Indiana are not for the faint of heart. The com­bination of high tempera­tures and heavy humidity makes it a tough season not just for us, but for the animals we care for. Most folks are surprised to learn that cattle can be­gin to feel the effects of heat stress when tempera­tures reach just 70 degrees Fahrenheit. […]

June marks a season of transitions: the end of the school year, the start of summer programs, and new possibilities for learn­ing, work, and indepen­dence. For many of our individuals and families, this time is filled with both excitement and uncertain­ty. That’s why we walk beside them, clearing the way, offering support, and celebrating every step for­ward. We know that […]

In my 20’s it occurred to me that I loved rivers. I realized that every time I drove over one on a bridge, I endangered myself by rubbernecking to get a better look at the water. I guess we can’t help but be curious or enthralled when we pass over a waterway like the Ohio River down in Louisville or […]

I will always remember the moment when she came into the call center. It was spring 2020, and I was one of the few left standing after major lay-offs sent workers home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The VP of Operations walked in solemnly, closed the door behind her, and sat down. (And if you know her, you know this isn’t […]

There’s a little insect feeding on many trees in the county and most people are not seeing it, yet. Bagworms are a serious insect pest of many ornamental shrubs and trees in the eastern half of the United States. Conifers, especially arborvitae, cedar, juniper and pine, are the most frequently damaged host plants, but I’ve seen them on deciduous trees […]

Are you a believer in the statement around here that goes, “Knee high by the Fourth of July”? Ever since I was a kid, I found this statement to be a rigged lie. I mean, really, the truth is that either our knee-height-standard is much taller than my own kneecaps, or our LaGrange County crops are over-achievers. Our local corn […]

Many people are talking about how slow things were growing during our cooler than normal spring. Gardeners told me their tomatoes were just sitting there. Farmers were concerned that their corn and beans were not making any progress. It felt like the warm season crops were just eeking along, staying short, yellow and seemingly stunted. When the first 80-degree temps […]

Men’s mental health is an often overlooked and under-discussed issue, yet it is of critical importance. Societal expectations and cultural norms have historically placed a significant burden on men to appear strong and stoic, discouraging the expression of emotions and seeking help for mental health issues. This cultural stigma can lead to severe consequences, including higher rates of untreated mental […]

Have you ever found yourself complaining about roads? Did I catch your atten­tion? I find it a bit comical how much people have to say about the condition of roads. Even more so, it is funny to hear people compare roads from state to state. “Well, these may be bad, but have you ever been to [insert state here]? Their […]