QUOTE
DEEP FREEZE
By Laurie Wink, The News-Dispatch
Today will be another cold one
David Walters has been with the Michigan City Refuse Department since 1970, and in that time, he said Monday, the department has never missed a scheduled trash pick-up rounds because of cold temperatures.
The department kept its streak alive Monday even though temperatures hovered around zero. All trash on Monday's routes was picked up early said Walters, the department's assistant superintendent, because crews worked through lunch to beat the cold.
“They ride on the back between stops, but we keep them in the cab (of the truck) as much as possible to keep them warm,” he said.
Arctic air moving into the area caused temperatures to plummet below zero Monday, with wind chill readings between 25 and 30 degrees below zero. Valparaiso reported minus 10 degrees and South Bend tied its record low of minus 8 degrees early Monday, according to the National Weather Service forecaster John Taylor.
The lighthouse weather station in Michigan City registered minus 1 degree at 9 a.m. Monday. Frigid conditions at or below zero and wind chill temperatures down of minus 20 are expected today, when a fast-moving Alberta Clipper could bring more snow into Northwest Indiana, Taylor said.
LaPorte County roads were snow-covered and icy Monday because salt deposited by road crews during bitter cold doesn't work as quickly as it does in warmer temperatures, said Joshua Bingham of LaPorte District of the Indiana Department of Transportation.
In Michigan City, street department director Jack Kahn said plow drivers were using a mixture of salt and beet juice on the roads to help break up the ice. This is the third season the mixture has been used Kahn said, adding that it saves the department money because less of it needs to be used.
Michigan City Water Department Superintendent Randy Russell said frigid temperatures broke at least three water mains over the weekend, but left customers with relatively little interruption in water service. Mains broke Friday night on Thurman Avenue, Saturday near Madison and Poplar streets, and Monday near Hoyt and Buffalo streets.
“We've had a few. 'Tis the season,” Russell said. “It usually takes six hours to fix, but we never usually stop the water until the very end, and we don't stop it fully so we don't have to have a boil order.
“The time depends on the site. They always seem to break under the road so there's digging involved.”
Finding warm shelter in such frigid winter weather becomes a matter of survival for humans and animals. In Michigan City, warming centers are available in City Hall and the Senior Center between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. As darkness adds an extra nip to the night air, those without a warm place to stay can turn to the city's church community for some relief.
The Rev. Nancy Kahaian, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, 121 W. 9th Street, said her church hosts the men's overnight shelter on Monday nights and were expecting to fill to the 30-person capacity.
“We've been opening early because it's so cold,” she said.
First Presbyterian offers dinner, a place to sleep and a warm breakfast to 30 shelter occupants once a week. Other churches and The Salvation Army do the same during the rest of the week.
“This is a huge undertaking for everyone involved,” Kahaian said. “It really is a labor of love, but an intensive labor of love.”
The men's shelter operates daily from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. from mid-October to mid-April. The number of men served has increased every year, and so has the number of working poor who come to the church office for help with utility bills, Kahaian said.
First Presbyterian and other local churches operate a rotating soup kitchen every day from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Mondays and Thursdays, First United Methodist Church at 7th and Pine takes its turn, feeding a total of 100 people according to volunteer Becky Gulstrom. Besides a hot meal, visitors can help themselves to donated socks, hats, gloves and other winter wear said Gulstrom, who has volunteered at the soup kitchen for five years.
As for pets, they need special care during these cold days as well. Alijah Hunter of Michigan City animal control said his department has received a few complaints about dog houses that were too small for the animal or did not have straw bedding. He said any time a pet is put outside, even to relieve itself, there must be housing available. And the shelter needs to have bedding that will not absorb moisture and freeze.
“If properly housed, cold weather won't bother them,” Hunter said.
Hunter also advised pet owners who keep their animals outside to make sure feeding and watering dishes are not metal so tongues don't freeze to them. He also advised homeowners to use pet friendly salt on walkways because regular salt can irritate the pads on pets' feet and lead to infection. One other winter-time precaution for pet owners is to be careful when using antifreeze and to clean up any spills and keep supplies out of the reach of animals, who are attracted to the sweet taste of the lethal substance.
Representatives of the Michigan City Mayor's Office asks residents to call them at 873-1400 with any problems related to heat or other winter weather concerns so they can help direct people to the proper place to get assistance.
By Laurie Wink, The News-Dispatch
Today will be another cold one
David Walters has been with the Michigan City Refuse Department since 1970, and in that time, he said Monday, the department has never missed a scheduled trash pick-up rounds because of cold temperatures.
The department kept its streak alive Monday even though temperatures hovered around zero. All trash on Monday's routes was picked up early said Walters, the department's assistant superintendent, because crews worked through lunch to beat the cold.
“They ride on the back between stops, but we keep them in the cab (of the truck) as much as possible to keep them warm,” he said.
Arctic air moving into the area caused temperatures to plummet below zero Monday, with wind chill readings between 25 and 30 degrees below zero. Valparaiso reported minus 10 degrees and South Bend tied its record low of minus 8 degrees early Monday, according to the National Weather Service forecaster John Taylor.
The lighthouse weather station in Michigan City registered minus 1 degree at 9 a.m. Monday. Frigid conditions at or below zero and wind chill temperatures down of minus 20 are expected today, when a fast-moving Alberta Clipper could bring more snow into Northwest Indiana, Taylor said.
LaPorte County roads were snow-covered and icy Monday because salt deposited by road crews during bitter cold doesn't work as quickly as it does in warmer temperatures, said Joshua Bingham of LaPorte District of the Indiana Department of Transportation.
In Michigan City, street department director Jack Kahn said plow drivers were using a mixture of salt and beet juice on the roads to help break up the ice. This is the third season the mixture has been used Kahn said, adding that it saves the department money because less of it needs to be used.
Michigan City Water Department Superintendent Randy Russell said frigid temperatures broke at least three water mains over the weekend, but left customers with relatively little interruption in water service. Mains broke Friday night on Thurman Avenue, Saturday near Madison and Poplar streets, and Monday near Hoyt and Buffalo streets.
“We've had a few. 'Tis the season,” Russell said. “It usually takes six hours to fix, but we never usually stop the water until the very end, and we don't stop it fully so we don't have to have a boil order.
“The time depends on the site. They always seem to break under the road so there's digging involved.”
Finding warm shelter in such frigid winter weather becomes a matter of survival for humans and animals. In Michigan City, warming centers are available in City Hall and the Senior Center between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. As darkness adds an extra nip to the night air, those without a warm place to stay can turn to the city's church community for some relief.
The Rev. Nancy Kahaian, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, 121 W. 9th Street, said her church hosts the men's overnight shelter on Monday nights and were expecting to fill to the 30-person capacity.
“We've been opening early because it's so cold,” she said.
First Presbyterian offers dinner, a place to sleep and a warm breakfast to 30 shelter occupants once a week. Other churches and The Salvation Army do the same during the rest of the week.
“This is a huge undertaking for everyone involved,” Kahaian said. “It really is a labor of love, but an intensive labor of love.”
The men's shelter operates daily from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. from mid-October to mid-April. The number of men served has increased every year, and so has the number of working poor who come to the church office for help with utility bills, Kahaian said.
First Presbyterian and other local churches operate a rotating soup kitchen every day from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Mondays and Thursdays, First United Methodist Church at 7th and Pine takes its turn, feeding a total of 100 people according to volunteer Becky Gulstrom. Besides a hot meal, visitors can help themselves to donated socks, hats, gloves and other winter wear said Gulstrom, who has volunteered at the soup kitchen for five years.
As for pets, they need special care during these cold days as well. Alijah Hunter of Michigan City animal control said his department has received a few complaints about dog houses that were too small for the animal or did not have straw bedding. He said any time a pet is put outside, even to relieve itself, there must be housing available. And the shelter needs to have bedding that will not absorb moisture and freeze.
“If properly housed, cold weather won't bother them,” Hunter said.
Hunter also advised pet owners who keep their animals outside to make sure feeding and watering dishes are not metal so tongues don't freeze to them. He also advised homeowners to use pet friendly salt on walkways because regular salt can irritate the pads on pets' feet and lead to infection. One other winter-time precaution for pet owners is to be careful when using antifreeze and to clean up any spills and keep supplies out of the reach of animals, who are attracted to the sweet taste of the lethal substance.
Representatives of the Michigan City Mayor's Office asks residents to call them at 873-1400 with any problems related to heat or other winter weather concerns so they can help direct people to the proper place to get assistance.