June 25, 2007
Extension Demo Gardens at the AG School
Posted by Ron Wolford at 2:35 AM | Permalink |
June 24, 2007
Attend a County Fair
When I was growing up in Peoria, Illinois, one of the highlights of my summer was going to the Heart of Illinois Fair. I especially liked seeing all the cows, chickens, pigs, horses and other animals on display. During the summer many counties in the Illinois will hold county fairs.
One of my favorite county fairs is the Lake County, Indiana fair just over the border in Crown Point, Indiana. The fair is held on acreage with large beautiful, old oak trees. 4-H is still a big deal in Lake County with many kids exhibiting their animal projects.
Comments: Email Ron Wolford
Posted by Ron Wolford at 12:51 AM | Permalink |
June 11, 2007
Lightning Kills
With hot summer temperatures comes the increased risk of thunderstorms. Lightning reportedly kills an average of 67 people each year in the United States.
Duane Friend, University of Illinois Extension natural resources educator, offers these tips to protect yourself and your family from a lightning strike.
- When you see lightning, count the time until you hear thunder. If that time is 30 seconds or less, the thunderstorm is within 6 miles and is dangerous. Seek shelter immediately.
- Do not stand under or next to a tree. If you cannot get to an indoor location, crouch in the open, keeping twice as far from a tree as it is tall.
- If you are with a group of people outdoors, keep several yards distance from each other. Unless well grounded, open pavilions or other small shelters will not provide adequate protection.
- Lightning can enter a building through a direct strike, through wires or pipes that extend outside the structure, or through electrical, phone, plumbing and radio/television antennas. If you are indoors, avoid contact with corded phones and electrical equipment. Also avoid contact with plumbing, and do not lie or lean on concrete floors and walls. Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.
- Typical surge protectors will not protect equipment from a lightning strike. During a storm, appliances and electronic equipment, including antenna connections, should be unplugged to the extent possible.
If someone is struck by lightning, call 911 or other emergency services. Check the victim's breathing and pulse, and begin CPR if necessary and if you are trained to do so. The victim may have burns where lightning entered and left the body, broken bones, loss of hearing or eyesight, and other nervous system damage.
For more information on lightning safety, visit www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/overview.htm
Photo Credit: NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)
Source: Duane Friend, University of Illinois Extension Natural Resources Educator
Posted by Ron Wolford at 3:47 AM | Permalink |
June 3, 2007
Ant Road Repairs
I saw an interesting article on the BBC web site about army ants who used thier own bodies to plug holes in their trails. The ants alo figured out which ant was the best fit to plug the hole.Posted by Ron Wolford at 4:33 PM | Permalink |
