How was your summer weather?

Been a rough week, no rain to speak of, just hotter than all getout and lots of wind, but we made it so far….
How about you?

We have had so far approx. 75 straight days of over 100 degree weather since June 1, 2011. Approximately 30 days of over 105 degrees. I know that the southwest region is used to these type of temperatures but Texas only has this during August.

Needless to say, it has been a very long, hot summer. For all other parts of the country that has had rain, please remember that sound as we here have not heard it in a while. The weathermen are predicting that the rain is coming, possibly this weekend. Oh yeah, a possible cold front to move through here on Monday.

Whether we like it or not, there is a climate change going on. Look at hurricane Irene. She was huge over water until she hit land and started to down size but there was damage along the east coast and is still being felt in the northeast.

As we move on into the fall season, we will most likely experience a warm winter. I could be wrong but with all of the indicators of this summer, who knows.

Weather … as the green future unfolds.

The Government handed out some big bucks this week. How does 338 million in grants sound? Well, this is in an effort to get the development of geothermal energy on a fast track.

Some of the companies that got the grants were:

Ormat Technologies
AltaRock Energy
City government of Raleigh, NC
County government of Hattiesburg, MS

Companies that are putting the grants into their projects ranging from putting geothermal heat pump into a waste water processing center to putting heat pumps in to keep prisoners comfortable. (more…)

Rain-battered residents in northeastern Australia were on alert Wednesday for snakes in their bathrooms and crocodiles in the road following repeated storms that have sent local wildlife in search of dry land or a safe haven.

After weeks of storms that have submerged parts of Queensland, the area was battered again Sunday when a tropical storm landed. More rain is forecast this week, including a possible cyclone.

The Queensland Environmental Protection Agency has warned residents to watch out for wildlife on roads and in their yards.

What a nightmare for those of us who do not have any fond feelings for snakes and/or crocodiles. (more…)

Here is the article on how monstrous the Greensburg tornado really was.

Greensburg study finds that storm contained 22 tornadoes

By STAN FINGER
The Wichita Eagle

The first in-depth study of the Greensburg, Kan., tornado has uncovered new
details about one of the strongest and most dramatic tornado outbreaks ever
recorded.

“There are a lot of things in that storm that made me go, ‘Wow,’” said Les Lemon,
a co-author of the study and research associate meteorologist with the Cooperative
Institute in Mesoscale Meteorological Studies at the University of Oklahoma. (more…)

This weekend may be the last to get ready for winter.  So what do you do?

If you live in the north, your fuel bill ran approx. $977 last year and this
next year, it will go up to approx. $1182.  A huge jump at a rate of 20%.

So what can you do to reduce this?

You can change out the filter in the furnace. Rule of thumb is to change it
out every 3 months.  If you have a contract for your furnace, call and make an (more…)

Back on the Map!

Ron Shank and Levi Garrett described how scared they were with the weather
that had the tornado whistle blowing.  Everyone hit the bunkers and waited
for the storm to pass.  Ron’s GM Dealership had some hail damage. The new
church suffered some water damage.

City Council meet to get BNIM’s Master plan approved and the presentation is made.
Council approves the plan with a 5-0 vote. (more…)

May 2008

The new city council is meeting for the first time.  Mayor Dixson asked Steve
Hewitt to give the administration update.  Steve lets the council know that
the business incubator is fully funded.  Kim Alderfer, Recovery Coordinator,
and Steve visit the business incubator site only to find that 3 days of rain
has slowed all activity.

Tyler Schmidt is running for student body president.  Shane Engelken is also
running for student body president.  They put their flyers together, hung
them in the most unique areas and are getting their speeches ready. (more…)