Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Each spring, usually around the end of April and well into May, shad move to the shallows to spawn and the first couple of daylight often produces line stretching action on every game fish species in the lake. Catfish, white bass, hybrids and stripers and largemouth bass move into the shallows to feed on the easy pickings.

A fishing trip this past week with Cedar Creek Lake guide Jason Barber proved this statement to be spot on. The trick is getting on the water at first light, throwing the cast net a couple times somewhere near the shoreline in shallow water to catch shad for bait and then heading, post haste to a windblown shoreline. On last weeks outing, my buddy Jeff Rice and I met Barber and his son Jacob at Sandy Shores Marina at daybreak. The father and son team caught bait with a couple tosses of the cast net and we were off to fish along a rock bulkhead.

Many years ago, I was visiting with my longtime friend, the legendary Bill Dance. I remember commenting to Bill that the wave action had pushed shad up close to the shore, which was the reason for the great bass fishing.

Bills reply made a lot of sense to me. Luke, dont you think these shad can swim where they wish to, even against the current? Its not the wave action that causes them to be up shallow during early morning. Its the zooplankton on the submerged vegetation that the shad are feeding upon that causes them to go shallow at night in the warmer water and remain there the first couple hours of daylight during their spawn.

Id been aware of the excellent shallow water fishing because of the heavy presence of shad for years but until my friend explained the cause to me, I never fully understood the why of their presence each spring.

As Barber eased the throttle back on his boat an easy cast from the rock retaining wall, Jacob dropped the anchor and the boat came about on a taunt anchor rope. We soon had threadfin shad rigged on small, stout hooks with just enough weight to make casting easy.

We have been hammering blue and channel catfish here and big schools of white bass are moving in to feed. We should have no problem getting you guys the makings of a humongous fish fry. says Barber.

We didnt have long to wait for the action to begin. The wake from our boat had no more than dissipated on the waters surface when the blue catfish began hitting our baits. I was connecting with about half the bites, the eater blues, weighing between 2 and 4 pounds were on a very aggressive bite and hitting the baits hard. If we werent ready to set the hook quickly, the fish had the bait and was gone. We all settled down to the current pattern and kept tension on our lines. In a matter of minutes, we had boated ten or twelve fish and then a school of white bass moved in. Their bite was more tentative than that of the catfish, often pecking the bait once and then picking it up in a serious attempt to eat. The trick was to stay attuned to our baits via a taunt line and when we actually felt the weight of the fish, rear back and set the hook. I began cranking the reel handle slowly which caused the shad to move along bottom. With this method, even the slightest bite is detected and the tension on the line often creates an instant hook set.

Out catch was truly a smorgasbord. We even caught several good eating freshwater drum. When Barber asked if we wished to keep and eat them, he gave an understanding nod when I replied that we did. Smaller drum are excellent eating. Barber, who I have fished with for years, and I have a running joke about keeping those slimy trash fish. Drum arent listed as a game fish but they are very hard fighters and tasty when fried crispy in hot cooking oil.

Barbers plan was to fish the leeward side of a submerged point for hybrid stripers after the first couple hours of shallow water action. The wind was a bit too strong for the open water fishing so, with a cooler full of catfish and white bass, we headed to the sheltered side of a point and switched from shad to lead slabs. Im sure more white bass are caught with slabs than any other bait, especially in Texas. The trick here was to make long casts and retrieve by hopping the baits along bottom. We spent thirty minutes or so slabbing for the plentiful and aggressive white bass and then headed back to the fish cleaning station at Sandy Shores.

We Texans are bless with many lakes such as Cedar Creek that provide excellent fishing for several species. We left the lake with several gallons of tasty fillets and that contented feeling one gets from spending time in the outdoors with great friends, good medicine for these trying times we are all experiencing right now.

Contact Luke via his website http://www.catfishradio.org. Guide Jason Barber at http://www.kingscreekadventures.com or call 903-603-2047

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Outdoors: Fishing the spawn, shad spawn, that is - Athens Daily Review

"For him to go above and beyond to focus it down on one kid, it's special. That's a special teacher," said Tatum Hunter, mom of 6th grade student Cade Hunter.

FORT WORTH, Texas As we begin Teacher Appreciation Week, there is plenty of appreciation in Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD for a 6th grade math teacher. Because in the middle of the COVID-19 crisis, with schools closed and students limited to on-line distance learning, he sometimes makes house calls.

River Trails Elementary, like schools everywhere, is a pretty quiet and lonely place right now. And for students like Cade Hunter, a 6th grader with high-functioning autism, learning at home can be a pretty lonely process too. And one day last week, his online session with his favorite match teacher "Mr. B" was not going well.

"We've circled back around to geometry," Christopher Butts, AKA "Mr. B" said of the course work they are re-visiting after sessions in geometry and algebra ended right before the school closed at the beginning of the coronavirus crisis nation-wide.

And for Cade the word problems were causing a lot of problems.

"Well the first issue was on my end," said Mr. B. "I kept having problems with technology."

So with neither their online meeting nor the concepts properly connecting, Mr. B decided to cut to the chase.

"Eventually I said I'll just come over there."

Cade's mom took a single picture of the driveway class. Mr. B was seated on a front yard retaining wall with a white board perched on top of a plastic egg crate for a desk. Cade sat in the driveway in an outdoor chair with a TV tray to hold his class notes. Properly socially distanced, Mr. B stayed 45 minutes until Cade understood it all again.

"When I got here and we were able to talk face to face, you could tell this is really what he needs more than anything," Mr. B said.

"It's dedication. It is dedication," Cade's mom Tatum Hunter said.

Which is what she wrote on her Facebook page, praising the teacher. "If that's not dedication," she wrote, "I'm not sure what is."

"For him to go above and beyond to focus it down on one kids, it's special. That's a special teacher," she told WFAA. "I mean, he's an amazing teacher."

Last year Mr. B was the Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD teacher of the year. Now we know why.

"I'm just doing what I think probably most of the teachers that I work with would do, really," he said. "There's a lot of good teachers right now doing a lot of good things, and I wish they could all be recognized. "

Cade's dad, by the way, works in health care. That's why there's a sign for those heroes in their front yard that says "thank you health care workers." And in Mr. B, they say they have another hero too.

"They have great teachers at my school," Cade said.

Great teachers doing great things wherever that school, or that classroom, might happen to be.

More on WFAA:

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Driveway math: teacher goes the extra mile for socially distanced geometry lesson - WFAA.com

THUMBS UP to Dr. Tammy Donahue for being awarded the West Virginia Council of Teachers of English by the groups executive committee. The honor is given to outstanding classroom teachers who make a positive impact on students and in their school communities. Dr. Donahue is a third grade teacher at Maxwell Hill Elementary in Beckley. She has 23 years experience in the classroom and has also served as assistant principal and principal. She is a graduate of University of Virginia, Virginia Tech University, and Marshall University. Dr. Donahue demonstrates commitment to collaboration, research and the emotional and intellectual growth of students. Donahue says a teachers goal and purpose should be to inspire our students to forever seek new knowledge and understanding that will enable them to make good decisions to positively impact humankind.

THUMBS UPtothe West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg for continuing its months-long refurbishing of the front lawn area. City officials are also doing their part to spruce up adjacent Lee Street with a repaving project. City council approved a $20,544 bid by Greenbrier Excavating to repave the street. WVSOM undertook demolition of the crumbling retaining wall along Lee Street and added a sidewalk. The school has placed three flagpoles on the front lawn, and the cracked pillars on each side of the stairway have been replaced. Decorative stone is being added to the front of the retaining wall adjacent to the pillars. WVSOM is also installing an electric sign near the Silo Lane entrance to the campus and adding two groups of parking spaces.

THUMBS UPtothe Wyoming County Veterans Memorial now being handicap-accessible. Additionally, construction on two new eight-foot panels in the commemorative wall has been completed and the granite, for the bottom of the new panels, has been installed. The memorial bricks include the veterans name, rank, military branch, and years of service.

THUMBS UPtoBeckley Area Foundation for giving a $1,600 grant to support its Food for Angels program. The award comes from the COVID19 Emergency Response Funding at the Community Foundation. Debra Davis, executive director of One Voice Inc., said the funds would be used to continue to serve snack bags to high-risk school-age students during the health crisis. The Food for Angels program addresses the problem of food insecurities in the home. This program currently serves 360 students in Raleigh County each month with a weekly distribution of snack bags in order to bridge the food insufficiency gap.

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THUMBS UP to excellence in English education and a teacher who delivers it - Beckley Register-Herald

In a report to city council's finance committee, it's finally been revealed just how much the City of Calgary is spending to stabilize a slope in the southeast communities of Douglasdale and McKenzie Lake.

"The value of the work that has been done to date is $21.6 million and the estimated cost at completion is $28 million," states the report.

Work has been ongoing for the past few years. The goal is to stabilize the slope which was gradually slumping into the Bow River valley below it.

Several sections of a city pathway were damaged and that had some residents of the area keeping a watchful eye out their back windows, just metres from the edge of the slope.

The city had contractors place hundreds of concrete piles some as deep as 30 metres to shore up the hillside and build a 300 metre long retaining wall.

The cost of the repairs was known internally last year but city officials refused to release it publicly.

This information is only reaching the public domain now because Coun. Peter Demong called last November for a report to council on the expenditure.

If he hadn't, the figure might have remained confidential for years to come under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act.

Demong tells CBC News he's glad the figure is finally public information.

"Am I happy about it? No. Do I realize that some things are going to cost money? Yeah," said the long-time council member who represents the area.

"I'm always stunned at how much stuff costs. Having said that, we are talking about stabilizing an entire section of a neighbourhood."

The problems with the slope were detected back in 2005.

Following heavy rains in 2016, the problem had gotten worse and sections of a city pathway collapsed.

The portion of the pathway on the edge of the slope north of 130th Avenue remains closed to pedestrians and cyclists.

Construction continues at the site and the work is expected to be completed this summer.

Demong said he hopes that the city's planning department will take into account the possibility of similar situations elsewhere and will prevent anything from being built too close to the edges of slopes.

"I know of several that could come along those lines. We're talking Cranston. There's Legacy. There's a whole lot of little areas all through the city that could become potential issues," said Demong.

The report notes that a monitoring program is in place to guard against any more problems on the slope and that future work may be required if the slumping continues.

Originally posted here:
City reveals $28M price tag to shore up slumping southeast slope - CBC.ca

The Sandy Springs Police Department has arrested two suspects trying to elude officers in a stolen car during an incident that looked like it came straight out of an action movie or Dukes of Hazard script.

According to a news release, April 30 just after 4 p.m., officers were in the area of Dunwoody Place and Northridge Road when they say a white 2008 Range Rover that had been stolen earlier in Douglas County.

As they tried to stop it, the Range Rover fled, hitting two police vehicles. It then drove west on Northridge Road, crossing over Roswell Road and entering a shopping center located at 8290 Roswell Road.

The vehicle, in an attempt to elude officers, drove to the rear of the shopping center at a high rate of speed, going through a fence and driving off of an 18-foot-high retaining wall, travelling approximately 65 feet before landing in a wooded area in between the shopping center and the Veridian at Sandy Springs Apartments (1800 Windridge Drive), the release stated. The driver and passenger of the Range Rover were taken into custody and were transported to a local hospital to receive medical treatment for their non-life-threatening injuries sustained during the incident. No officers or pedestrians were injured during this incident.

The driver was identified as Dylan Crutchfield, 18, of LaFayette, and the passenger was identified as Janard Kirksey, 36, of Sandy Springs. Both suspects had outstanding warrants from other jurisdictions, including an aggravated assault warrant for Kirksey.

Crutchfield was charged with reckless driving, red light violation, failure to maintain his lane, theft by receiving stolen auto, theft by receiving stolen firearm, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, fleeing to elude and hit and run.

Kirksey was charged with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and two counts of theft by receiving stolen property.

Police said more charges are possible for both suspects both regarding the Sandy Springs incident and the alleged theft of the Range Rover in Douglas County, where authorities are working with the Douglas Sheriffs Office on that part of the investigation.

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Sandy Springs Police have arrested two suspects in a wild hit-and-run case - MDJOnline.com

Just one month after getting married, Heather and Jim had sold their separate homes and moved into their new Edwardian property. With four grown-up children to host on weekend visits, the couple set about creating the perfect entertaining space , and achieving the indoor-outdoor link we all covet.

Lifestyle benefits aside, Heather and Jim were eager to inject interest into their spacious kitchen-diner, like the architectural oak beams that highlight the sloping extension roof. They reveal the steps they took to achieve their dream kitchen

If you're planning your own extension, we have masses of ideas and helpful advice on what to do and where to start in our feature on extending a house. For more real home transformations, head to our hub page.

French doors with glass panels maximise the light in the living area and give easy access to the side garden. French doors, Windowplus. Sofa, Sofa.com. Footstool, John Lewis & Partners. Cushions, Ikea. Pendant light, Wayfair. For a similar dining table, try Barker & Stonehouse. Pendant lights, Next

(Image credit: Katie Lee)

The ownersHeather Stewart, a blood transfusion practitioner,and her husband, Jim, who runs a sales agency businessThe propertyA three-bedroom semi-detached Edwardian house in Giffnock, GlasgowProject cost136,250

We loved this house in the first 20 seconds we viewed it, Heather says, but we didnt appreciate how poor the light was in the kitchen until we moved in. At first, we were going to make do with the original layout as there was a big, serviceable dining room and separate kitchen, but having a utility room, toilet and outhouse between the kitchen and garden meant there was no connection to the outside space. We wanted to upsize as we needed space to seat ourselves, our kids and their partners when they visit. It was time to try modern, open-plan living.

With 23 steps to the top, splitting the garden into three tiers that follow the sun has made it much more usable particularly now its linked to the kitchen-diner with sliding doors. Anthracite Grey composite decking, UPM ProFi Deck. Glass balustrading, CTM Fabrications. Sliding doors, Windowplus

(Image credit: Katie Lee)

Id worked with the architects twice before, so I knew theyd make a great team, Jim says. We knocked through the warren of rear rooms and extended one metre beyond the footprint. It required extensive groundworks to remove 200 tonnes of earth from the sloping rear garden and build a new retaining wall using bricks from the internal dividing walls wed knocked down. Luckily, there was a single-track road at the top of the garden for access, but the job required underpinning and specialist house insurance to cover us during the build.

Wood beams made on site support the new kitchen extension and frame a bespoke extractor made by Kelvent. Planar units and Maxtop worktops, Magnet. Bar stools, Atlantic Shopping. Flooring, Karndean. Appliances, AEG

(Image credit: Katie Lee)

Jim project managed the build, but I took control of the kitchen design, reveals Heather. I wanted a clean-lined look, so I picked high-gloss units teamed with Maxtop Quartz work surfaces to reflect the light. Its all drawers because I dont like cupboards and there isnt much wall space.'

The kitchen has a view of the raised garden. The green blind echoes the vibrant colours of the plants outside. Schock sink, Magnet

(Image credit: Katie Lee)

The project overran by a few weeks because materials were delayed, but we have nothing but praise for the builders, Heather says. I can enjoy my terraced garden now, and Im embracing open-plan living.'

(Image credit: Katie Lee)

The space has three distinct parts that follow the sun, which we call lower, middle and upper earth!' reveals Heather. 'Its taken a while to get used to cooking in an open space you have to be relaxed about mess but its great for parties and family gatherings. The only downside is that our beautiful front room gets neglected the last time we used it was on Christmas Day.

The living area is a cosy space where Heather and Jim can spend time curled up in front of a roaring fire. Stove, HWAM. Chair, Sofa.com

(Image credit: Katie Lee)

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This extension creates the perfect indoor outdoor space - Real Homes

Ongoing construction on the Merritt Parkway near the Saugatuck River Bridge and the Clinton Ave. overpass Friday, February 28, 2020, in Westport, Conn. The end of the road is in sight for a three-year construction project on the Merritt Parkway. Work on a 5-mile stretch of the Merritt between Fairfield and Westport is 75 percent finished. The $57 million project has a contractually agreed end date of Aug. 8, and engineers said last week that the contractor, Manafort Brothers, is close to finishing on time.

Ongoing construction on the Merritt Parkway near the Saugatuck River Bridge and the Clinton Ave. overpass Friday, February 28, 2020, in Westport, Conn. The end of the road is in sight for a three-year

Photo: Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media

Ongoing construction on the Merritt Parkway near the Saugatuck River Bridge and the Clinton Ave. overpass Friday, February 28, 2020, in Westport, Conn. The end of the road is in sight for a three-year construction project on the Merritt Parkway. Work on a 5-mile stretch of the Merritt between Fairfield and Westport is 75 percent finished. The $57 million project has a contractually agreed end date of Aug. 8, and engineers said last week that the contractor, Manafort Brothers, is close to finishing on time.

Ongoing construction on the Merritt Parkway near the Saugatuck River Bridge and the Clinton Ave. overpass Friday, February 28, 2020, in Westport, Conn. The end of the road is in sight for a three-year

DOT: 3-year Merritt Parkway project coming to an end

After three years of work, the state Department of Transportation has announced the final stage of construction for the ongoing Merritt Parkway improvement project in Fairfield and Westport

During this stage, northbound and southbound traffic lanes will be placed into final alignment in preparation for paving.

The five-mile stretch of the Merritt Parkway included in the $56.7 million project will transition to full final alignment progressing east to west (Fairfield to Westport) as median reconstruction work is completed and temporary barriers are removed.

The first 1 1/4 mile section of parkway to be placed into final alignment will include the southbound and northbound roadway from the Congress Street overpass to where the parkway crosses over Cross Highway in Fairfield.

Check out the projects traffic cams here.

Construction activities will also include raising drainage basin tops to match final pavement, final paving over the entire width of the reconstructed roadway, installing final pavement markings (12-foot travel lanes), installation of median plantings, and establishment of the grass shoulder.

Stretching almost five miles from the Newtown Turnpike Bridge in Westport to just past the Congress Street Bridge in Fairfield, the project the seventh in a series of eight covering all 37.5 miles of the Merritt is creating 4-foot reinforced grass shoulders on both sides of the parkway, replacing existing guiderail with steel-backed timber railing, and installing a slip-lined concrete curb and gutter system along the median for improved drainage.

The project also includes work on 11 bridges uniquely designed for the Merritt in the 1930s by architect George L. Dunkelberger. While most of the bridges required minor cosmetic enhancements such as parapet work, graffiti removal, surface and crack repairs, and fencing others, like the Saugatuck River Bridge needed more work.

During the final stage, motorists can expect lane closures in the right and left lanes in both directions as construction continues.

Lane closures will typically occur during the evening and nighttime hours from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. northbound and southbound.

Due to a reduction in traffic volume on the Parkway daytime lane closures from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.can also be expected.

All motorists traveling on the Merritt Parkway are required to obey posted vehicle restrictions and are reminded that no vehicles over 8 feet tall are allowed on the Parkway.

The existing vertical clearance under the Newtown Turnpike Bridge is lower than the existing bridge height during construction.

The project consists of the rehabilitation of 5 miles (each direction) of Route 15 and 11 structures (over and underpasses) in the towns of Fairfield and Westport. Upgrades to pavement, guiderail, drainage and historic concrete are included.

The project awarded to Manafort Brothers, Inc. is scheduled to be completed Aug. 8.

More here:
DOT: 3-year Merritt Parkway project coming to an end - CTPost

Shopping for a new roof is a rare experience for most of us, since roofs tend to last for 15 years or longer. And they're not something that is usually advertised in our local home center's weekly flyer.

So the first thing we're likely to ask when faced with the need for roof replacement is, "What's the cost of a new roof, anyway?"

In this spirit of inquiry, here are seven frequently asked questions about new roof costs, together with the answers you need.

1. How do I estimate the cost of a new roof?

The national average cost for a new roof is approximately $7,800 when you hire a reputable professional roofing contractor.

Roof replacement costs will vary according to the square footage of your roof, the material you choose (for instance, standard asphalt shingles are cheaper than architectural shingles), roof style and even the region where you live.

As well, you might have to budget for the cost of a permit - generally $250-$500, although not all locales require permits if you're reroofing - and for additional repairs (water damage remediation in your attic, say).

2. Is it better to repair or replace a roof?

Consider these factors when deciding on roof repair vs. replacement:

The age of your roof. A roof that is approaching the end of its expected service life is not a good bet for extensive - and expensive - repair. You'll be better off investing your money in a new roof.

The type and amount of damage. A small leak is usually a simple and affordable fix, but damage that encompasses the whole roof (such as sagging or granule loss from asphalt shingles) may not be worth the cost to repair.

Any plans to sell your home. When you put your house on the market, a "new roof" has much more buyer appeal than a "recently repaired roof." And the roofing will be an important item on a home inspection checklist.

3. What is included in roof replacement?

When you're comparing roof replacement estimates, it's essential to know exactly what you should be looking for. Roof replacement normally includes some of all of these services:

- Tear-off of existing shingles (unless new shingles will be laid over the old ones).

- Repair or replacement of roof decking

- New underlayment

- Flashing replacement

- Installation of new roofing material

- New drip edging

- Gutter and downspout replacement

- Ice dam protection

- Haulage of old roofing material

- Site cleanup

Be careful to sign a contract with your roofer, specifying all the components of your roof replacement and their price.

4. Does a roofer need a license

Yes, a roofer needs a license in most parts of the US, on the state or municipal level. Usually licensing involves training or on-the-job experience (often followed by an exam), as well as proof of insurance. Don't risk working with unlicensed roofers; consequences may include a fine, voiding of your roofing materials warranty and a major financial headache for you, the homeowner, if anyone is injured on the job.

5. Can I replace my roof myself?

Theoretically, you might want to try and save some money by replacing your roof yourself. The average cost of DIY roof replacement is approximately $4,000, or about half the average cost of $8,000 for professional roofers. However, roofing is a huge project with enormous potential to go dangerously wrong.

6. Will my homeowners insurance pay for a new roof?

Your homeowners insurance policy may pay for repair or replacement when your roof is damaged by an accident or a natural event, such as a hurricane or fire. It typically does not cover damage due to normal wear and tear or outright neglect, though. Read your policy carefully to find out the deductible and any exclusions, and contact your insurance provider ASAP.

7. Does a new roof lower insurance premiums?

Usually it will - the reason being that a new roof tends to reduce the risk of damage to your home. But don't take anything for granted. Be sure to speak with your local insurance agent before your roof replacement to discuss how it will affect your premiums.

Laura Firszt writes for networx.com.

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How much will you have to pay for that new roof? - Ag Journal

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities is presenting their fifth "Tip of the Week," an ongoing series for the public since they are unable to perform their normal community outreach services. All tips are ways people can prepare for wildfire while staying at home.

This Week's Tip: Create a Home Hardening Project Plan

Now that the snow has melted, it's time to start planning and implementing projects that harden your home from embers to increase the chance of it surviving a wildfire.

"Home hardening" is the process of preparing your home for wildfire embers by addressing its most vulnerable components and retrofitting them with fire-resistant building materials.

If you haven't already, check out last week's article and learn how to identify where your home is most vulnerable to an ember attack.

How you prioritize home hardening projects may depend on your time and personal budget. Even if you can't do everything, anything you do to harden your home can increase its odds of surviving a wildfire.

Annual Maintenance

Routine maintenance to remove combustible materials is a good place to start.

- Remove combustible items such as firewood from underneath, on, or next to your deck.- Remove debris (pine needles, leaves or twigs) from your 5 foot non-combustible zone.- Remove debris (pine needles, leaves or twigs) from your roof, gutters, chimneys, and skylights.- Move combustible items (newspapers, photos, cardboard boxes) away from vents in attics and crawl spaces.

DIY Projects

- Replace 1/4-inch mesh screening with 1/8-inch noncombustible metal mesh screening on all vents.

- Replace combustible landscaping such as manzanita or wood/rubber mulches with fire-resistant landscaping such as herbaceous plants or rocks/gravel.

- Install a noncombustible gutter guard to reduce accumulated debris.Retrofits

If you have the time and budget, consider planning more involved projects that prepare your home's exterior for wildfire. Keep in mind some of these projects may require the help of a professional contractor.

Roof Covering

If you have a wood shake or shingle roof, replace it with a Class A roof covering.

Eaves

- Fill gaps in open eave areas with durable caulk, and enclose eave areas to create soffited-eaves.

Exterior Siding

- Replace wood shake or shingle siding with noncombustible siding such as stucco, steel or fiber cement.

Windows and Skylights

- Install or upgrade windows and skylights to multi-pane tempered glass.

Previous Tips

#1 - Create a Go-Bag#2 - Make a Family Evacuation Plan#3 - Talking to kids about wildfire#4 - Make a home inventory list#5 - Identify your home's ember vulnerabilitiesLearn more about preparing for wildfire - https://www.tahoelivingwithfire.com/.

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Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities weekly tip: #6: Create a home hardening plan - South Tahoe Now

By ALLEN LAMANalaman@dcherald.comJASPER While parts of the world sit still, work on and around Jasper streets will soon ramp up.

Chad Hurm, the citys engineer, detailed two projects that are slated to kickoff in the near future. In addition to them, the Indiana Department of Transportations resurfacing of U.S. 231 through the city is still on pace to wrap up in early August, and a long list of miscellaneous road repairs will soon be made across the city.

U.S. 231 in JasperPavement rehabilitation and resurfacing work taking place on U.S. 231 in Jasper is still on schedule. Weather permitting, it will be finalized by the beginning of August.

As far as that project goes, were very fortunate, said Jason Tiller, a district communications director at INDOT. COVID-19 has not really presented us [with] a ton of challenges as far as contract work goes. Our message from the commissioner of INDOT has been that we will continue to deliver our projects in the same manner as if we were not under a stay-at-home order.

He said that the organizations employees and contractors are essential, adding that roadwork is something that we have to do regardless. Tiller detailed how crews undertaking the pavement rehabilitation project in Jasper are currently fixing areas where the pavement has weakened or deteriorated.

Once those have all been repaired, a new driving surface will be laid on the 2.8 miles between Bartley Street and 37th Street. Upgrades for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, including the installation of curb ramps, are also part of the project.

Total, the work is estimated to cost $3,071,656.

Those wanting to see the most up-to-date information about the work can do so by browsing the interactive project map at NextLevelRoads.com.

The highway is set to be resurfaced in Huntingburg from 19th Avenue to Sunset Drive beginning in the spring of 2021.

Jasper street projectsA widening project that will also bring other enhancements to Portersville Road on the citys north side is slated to begin in the coming weeks and wrap up before classes begin at the new Jasper Elementary School on Aug. 12.

Funded partially by a Community Crossings matching grant valued at $264,162.50, the endeavor will address the stretch of pavement Between Ackerman Road and 47th Street. Hurm said the opening of the new school kind of pushed up the timetable on it, incentivizing the project, which has been on the citys radar for years.

As part of the work, storm sewer improvements and replacements will also be made, and a 6-foot-wide asphalt walking path will be constructed along the east side of the widened road.

Just from a public safety standpoint, the roads narrow there, Hurm said. A lot of people walking up and down it, so theres been a lot of concern about that.

34th Street will experience improvements through a different project. Just off of Leslie Drive, a roughly 400-foot stretch of the road will be widened. In the future, it will connect to the Autumn Creek III subdivision currently being built by Kerstiens Homes.

Theres a section of roadway in there that, years ago, was never widened, Hurm explained. No curb and gutter. So, we are going to widen that section of that road, put in storm sewers, put in curb and gutter, and then match into the cul-de-sac that is being built for Autumn Creek.

Total, that work will cost $144,485. The 34th Street enhancements will be done in conjunction with the cul-de-sac construction, and Hurm estimated they will begin in mid- to late May.

Storm sewer projects will also start on Newton Street, between Eighth Street and Ninth Street, as well as at the intersection of Sixth Street and Newton Street, in the not-too-distant future. The goal is for both of those to be completed by early- to mid-June.

Sidewalk rehabilitation and additionsSidewalks are already being addressed in certain areas of the city. Hurm explained that crews will concentrate on improving the concrete paths along both sides of Newton Street, between 10th Street and 15th Street, through the early summer.

Some areas were going to keep, others were going to tear out and replace, he said.

In addition to that stretch, survey and design work is currently taking place along another stretch of Newton from Schuetter Road to Northwood Avenue. That area currently has no sidewalk, but city officials want to change that.

While the side of the road it will run on has not been determined, Hurm spoke of how the new path would further increase connectivity in the city.

That was a project that the mayor wanted to move to the forefront, he explained. So, were going to do that this summer. We have a lot of people walking up and down the highway there with no sidewalk.

Additional workThis summer, stretches of city streets will undergo various pavement preservation projects. They are detailed below.

According to Street Commissioner Jeff Theising, liquid road projects replenish binder that is lost through oxidation and weathering while providing a slip-resistant, durable surface treatment. The material has a black color that gives old, oxidized pavement a like-new surface.

Liquid Road Eisenhower Avenue from Brames Road to Justin Street

Schroeder Avenue from Brames Road to Justin Street

Giesler Road from Church Avenue to its dead end

Kaywood Lane from Second Street to its south end

Cambridge Court, both north and south of Second Street

Gatsby Court, both north and south of Second Street

Shelyn Drive from Kluemper Road to Sunshine Drive

Keystone Court from 15th Street to Valley View Drive

Brownstone Court cul-de-sac north of 20th Street

Theising wrote in an email that rejuvenating projects can delay the road aging process and reverse any premature aging that is caused by environmental damage from the suns UV rays and water intrusion. They can add between five and seven years to a roadways service life. This treatments agent is usually applied in the first couple of years of a new pavements lifetime.

Rejuvenating Meridian Road from Hemlock Drive to State Road 164

Hemlock Drive from Meridian Road to Maplecrest Boulevard

Holy Family Drive from Third Avenue to Holy Family Catholic Church

Main Street from Seventh Street to Ninth Street

Franklin Street from 13th Street to 14th Street

East 13th Street from Newton Street to Jackson Street

Emily Street from Sixth Street to 13th Street

West 10th Street from Dorbett Street to Carroll Street

Crestwood Drive from Gun Club Road to its dead end

University Drive from Gun Club Road to Grandview Drive

Dogwood Drive from 31st Street to Foxridge Drive

Foxridge Drive from 31st Street to Grassland Hills Road

Terry Lane from 25th Street to Cathy Lane

25th Street from Cathy Lane to Mill Street

The west section of 100 South

Portersville Road from 47th Street to the north city limit

West 13th Street from Newton Street to Bartley Street

Rees Street from 14th Street to 15th Street

West 14th Street from Brescher Street to Rees Street

Brescher Street

Willow Lane

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Crews move forward with Jasper roadwork - The Herald