By Richard Biever The lovely lady from Lafayette brought Lavonne McCarty an old doll with sunken eyes and cracked facial features and limbs. The doll had belonged to and was loved on by her mother-in-law as a little girl. Her mother-in-law had just been moved into a nursing home. The doll came with a dress,… Continue reading.

By Natalie Derrickson When the weather turns cold, one need only visit the Fort Wayne History Center’s Festival of Gingerbread to be enveloped in the warmth of the season and the tantalizing aroma of gingerbread.  During the festival’s run from Nov. 24 through Dec. 17, visitors can expect to see professional-level gingerbread creations, including depictions… Continue reading.

A serve-yourself baked potato bar is easy to assemble, affordable — and a spud-tacular way to host friends and family. When you’re shopping for potatoes, look for those that are firm and without wrinkles, cracks or green spots. Follow the no-fail recipe on the opposite page to bake your taters. After they have finished cooking… Continue reading.

Whether you’re illuminating a single bush or your entire roof, here are some tips for safely hanging lights outdoors this season. MAKE A PLAN Map out where each strand of lights and every outdoor decoration will go before you get to work — you’ll save time and you’ll stay safer. DETERMINE WHAT YOU’LL NEED Before… Continue reading.

Dress up your space in a flash with these simple yet creative holiday decorating ideas. SET THE SCENE A few inviting touches will add instant warmth to any room, such as the scent of a cinnamon or spruce candle, the cozy texture of a knit throw or the cheeriness of a colorful, decorative wall hanging…. Continue reading.

Before you deck your halls and welcome overnight guests, peruse these pointers: 1. INSPECT YOUR ITEMS Carefully inspect all of your holiday decorations, electrical items and extension cords to ensure that everything is in safe, working order. A few things to look out for include: 2. READ THE FINE PRINT Take a few minutes to… Continue reading.

According to the Indiana War Memorials Foundation, no other city in the United States maintains as much acreage dedicated to honoring veterans as Indianapolis. Featuring a variety of museums, parks, memorials and monuments, downtown Indy provides several opportunities to pay tribute to the state’s rich military history and the men and women who have served…. Continue reading.

Lisa Wilson describes the Chandelier Barn Market as a fairytale event. “Have you ever had a dream in your head that you can see but are not sure what it would look like put together in real life?” said Wilson, who owns Chandelier Barn Market, LLC, with her husband, Dennis, who has worked at Daviess-Martin… Continue reading.

In Indiana, there are over a half million small businesses, says the U.S. Small Business Administration, co-sponsor of the day. That’s over 99% of the state’s total number of businesses. In addition, Indiana’s small businesses employ 1.2 million people, about 44% of Indiana’s employees. “When you buy from a small business …,” said the handwritten… Continue reading.

Home to one of Indiana’s largest natural lakes, Starke County is named after John Stark, a general in the Revolutionary War. An “e” was added to the county’s name after its founding. Historians believe this was because a scribe — or Stark himself in his signature — wrote the word “Stark” with a flourish at… Continue reading.

During Kendall Hankins’ initial job interview with Southeastern Indiana REMC, the general manager asked him one question that caught his attention. Beyond his qualifications for the job, the GM wanted to know what Hankins did for his community. He was glad the GM asked. Not only did Hankins have impressive community experiences to share, but… Continue reading.

The power lines weren’t energized, but the competition and a 115-degree heat index made for hot times at the second annual Indiana Electric Cooperative Lineman Rodeo, Aug. 24–25. From 24 of the state’s co-ops, 102 linemen and 28 teams tested their safety, skills and knowledge in events simulating real-life work situations. Each event required lineworkers… Continue reading.