Articles

As rising costs continue to hit Americans’ pocketbooks, let’s highlight some easy ways that can help you save on your energy bill. A good place to start is knowing what your costs are, and whether they are trending up or down. Your cost per kilowatt hour (kWh) that you see on your energy bill can change independently of the other rates. In order to figure out your cost per kilowatt hour, take the electricity charge divided by the electricity used. This can help you figure out how much each kilowatt of energy costs.

If you’ve read my editorial within the last year, it comes as no surprise that this year has been a struggle for yours truly. Whether it be personal or work related, there have been many hurdles that have been thrown my way. From trying to adapt my work schedule to accommodate now having a junior high student to dealing with constant price increases merged with a decrease in subscriptions, the road has not been smooth. I’m confident that I will adapt the scheduling piece (it might be in 2030 when the youngest graduates, but we will get there), but to be a successful small business owner, adaptation is a daily need. Knowing that I tend to add more to my plate than can be done in a given day, a friend asked me recently, “Why do you set yourself up for failure?” They weren’t being crass, but rather were pointing out the fact that it’s impossible to do all the things, be all the places and still have a healthy personal/work life balance. I say this every year, but, I truly am working on boundaries and/or limits. Spending more time at a golf course, making time for ‘me-time’ and ensuring that I don’t get the computer out while spending time with family. Setting boundaries is a necessity and I’m working on doing that as well. I know I will never cover all the things that people “expect,” but, I will always do my best to cover the communities that I love being a part of. But, I will put boundaries in place to ensure that I can get the needed pieces to fit within the daily puzzle. I know I will miss the days of running from activity to activity one day, so, here’s to taking in all the memories of having two boys at home.

A place for our readers to get to know each other!

Eureka Public Library is joining libraries all across the nation in celebrating “Library Card Sign Up Month” during September. While books are what most people traditionally think of when picturing libraries, today’s modern libraries offer so much more. Library Director Connie Mitchell noted that signing up for a free library card at Eureka Public Library means books, videos, audiobooks, magazines, newspapers and cake pans can be checked out. In addition, the public can use computers; access the Wi-Fi 24 hours a day; do printing, copying and faxing; receive digital items through Cloud Library and Hoopla; use databases through the Kansas State Library; sign up for Talking Books (a free service for persons with visual and other impairments); create something using the new Makerspace; have a test proctored; or host a gathering in the meeting room. “A library card can be one of the most valuable and useful cards you will ever carry,” Mitchell stated. To encourage persons who may not already have a library card to sign up for one, Eureka Public Library will be giving away a “Greenwood County Libraries – Discover Your Next Chapter” book bag with every new card during September and each new card holder will be entered into a drawing for a special prize. Mitchell emphasized, “The library is a tremendous community resource in terms of the services we offer and our special programming events. We hope those persons who don’t currently use the library will come in, sign up for a card, and discover how useful the library can be in their lives.”

On Wednesday, September 27, the Madison High School National Honor Society will be hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The drive will be held in the gymnasium of the school, located at 1500 Southwest Boulevard, in Madison.

Nature enthusiasts are known to say that spending time in the great outdoors has a positive effect on their mental and physical well-being. Such an outlook is more than mere speculation, as it turns out spending time in nature provides a host of health benefits that might surprise even the most devoted outdoors enthusiasts.

“Throwin’ money at the problem.” Have you heard that one? Me too. Have you heard this one, “Don’t give’em any money. That will solve the problem.” Me either. Exactly how defunding Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) was going to improve a student’s standardized test scores had me scratching my head.

Pets and even wild animals can convey sentiments in various ways. It’s human nature to want to assume that the passing glances of a puppy are looks of deep love — and they very well may be. Animals may convey various emotions through their behavior, but when it comes to being in pain, they may not show it readily. In the wild, animals hide pain as a survival instinct. Pain can give the perception that an animal is weaker and therefore an easier target for predators. Since pets can conceal pain well, pet owners should familiarize themselves with reading the subtle indicators that suggest something is amiss. PetMD, Sears Veterinary Hospital and VetsNow note the following are seven signs pets could be in pain.

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Toronto public water supply system located in Woodson County. The advisory was issued because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.