Like the steady beat of a drum, shopping holidays march on in the midst of a pandemic. This weekend, in particular, a few have clashedthere are deals for Valentine's Day and Presidents' Day, plus several winter clearance discounts as the season winds down. We parsed through dozens of stores and rounded up the best Presidents' Day deals below.

Be sure to check out our many other buying guides, such as the Best Electric Toothbrushes and Best Base Layers.

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Mattress, Home, and Health Deals

Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress

This weekend is one of the best times to buy a mattress. For year-round recommendations, read our Best Mattresses and Best Robot Vacuums guides.

Outdoor Gear and Apparel Deals

Moment MTW Backpack

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The Best Presidents' Day Deals for the Home, Phones, and More - WIRED

EVANSVILLE, Ind (WEHT) An early morning electrical fire Friday has left one family temporarily displaced from their home.

Firefighters were called to a home in the 2300 block of Tennessee St. around 2:16 a.m. for a possible house fire. Crews said they saw smoke upon arrival and were able to extinguish the fire within 15 minutes.

Fire officials say the children noticed the fire first and told their parents, who unsuccessfully tried to put the fire out before leaving the house. Everyone made it outside without injury.

Fire investigators say the fire was an electrical fire that started in the attic space. The damage was contained to the attic space and ceiling of the back room and limited to wood structural components and insulation near the fire.

The American Red Cross was called to help the occupants of the home, who will be displaced until electrical service can be restored. They stayed with family overnight.

(This story was originally published on February 12, 2021)

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Family displaced after early morning electrical fire in Evansville - Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW)

Photo supplied by: Little Visuals/Pexels

As temperatures dip, its important to stay safe while keeping warm inside.

The Province has partnered with Technical Safety BC and the BC Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fundto raise awareness about preventing home fires and injuries.

The annual Burn Awareness Week campaign kicked off on February 7th, and it runs until the 13th. This years theme is Electrical Safety from Amps to Zap!.

While it says electricity is not often given a second thought, the Province is reminding you to stay cautious and aware when plugging in devices to charge, watching TV, or snuggling under a heated blanket.

Electrical burns are basically burns that result from an electrical current passing through your body and causing damage, says Campbell River firefighter,Jeremy Fyfe.

That can occur from touching live wires, from a young child putting something into a live electrical outlet, or even just from touching electrified water.

Fyfe says this can result in not only burns to the surface of your skin, but also deep tissue damage or even organ damage.

According to the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC), B.C. saw a total of 12 injuries and two deaths related to electrical fires last year.

In order to prevent electrical fires and burns, the Province urges you:

The OFC has launched new social media channels, and its teaming up with Technical Safety BC and the BC Professional Firefighters Burn Fund on a smoke-alarm giveaway via Facebook. Find more detailshere.

Link:
Burn Awareness Week: Province offers tips to avoid electrical fires - My Powell River Now

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "World - Electrical Insulating Fittings Of Plastics - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report has been designed to provide an in-depth study of the global electrical insulating fittings market. It covers the most recent data sets of quantitative medium-term perspectives, as well as developments in production, trade, consumption and prices. The report also depicts a comparative analysis of the biggest consuming countries, revealing opportunities opened for producers and exporters across the globe. The outlook outlines market projections to 2025.

Countries coverage: Worldwide - the report contains statistical data for 200 countries and includes detailed profiles of the 50 largest consuming countries (United States, China, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Brazil, Italy, Russian Federation, India, Canada, Australia, Republic of Korea, Spain, Mexico, Indonesia, Netherlands, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Sweden, Nigeria, Poland, Belgium, Argentina, Norway, Austria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Colombia, Denmark, South Africa, Malaysia, Israel, Singapore, Egypt, Philippines, Finland, Chile, Ireland, Pakistan, Greece, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Algeria, Czech Republic, Qatar, Peru, Romania, Vietnam) + the largest producing countries.

Data coverage:

The report will help you:

This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, and wholesalers, as well as for investors, consultants and advisors.

In this report, you can find information that helps you to make informed decisions on the following issues:

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A Quick Overview Of Market Performance

2.1 Key Findings

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3.1 Market Size

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5. Most Promising Supplying Countries

Choosing The Best Countries To Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

5.1 Top Countries To Source Your Product

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6. Most Promising Overseas Markets

Choosing The Best Countries To Boost Your Exports

6.1 Top Overseas Markets For Exporting Your Product

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6.3 Unsaturated Markets

6.4 Top Importing Markets

6.5 Most Profitable Markets

7. Global Production

The Latest Trends And Insights Into The Industry

7.1 Production Volume And Value

7.2 Production By Country

8. Global Imports

The Largest Importers On The Market And How They Succeed

8.1 Imports From 2007-2017

8.2 Imports By Country

8.3 Import Prices By Country

9. Global Exports

The Largest Exporters On The Market And How They Succeed

9.1 Exports From 2007-2017

9.2 Exports By Country

9.3 Export Prices By Country

10. Profiles Of Major Producers

The Largest Producers On The Market And Their Profiles

11. Country Profiles

The Largest Markets And Their Profiles

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qtcr78

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Outlook on the Plastic Electrical Insulating Fittings Global Market to 2025 - Increase Profit Margins - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Business Wire

The formerly-known Department of Electrical Engineering (ELE) will now be recognized as the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), the University announced in a recent press release.

Explaining the transition, the department wrote in the announcement that the renaming better captures the departments range of strengths and impacts. It then went on to say that computing has always been an integral component of the ELE department and that the change was only natural.

"The discipline of electrical engineering is exceptionally broad and has always been the nexus of innovation in new generations of computer and information technologies, added Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science Andrea Goldsmith in the announcement.

The decision received approval from all voting members and was viewed favorably by faculty and administrative staff throughout the department.

Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Niraj Jha expressed his agreement with the renaming, highlighting how it aligns with the variety of courses and research within the department.

Including both Electrical and Computer in the title better reflects what our department does, he wrote in an email to The Daily Princetonian. Various activities in the Computer Engineering part of the department include courses and research on Computer Architecture, Circuits, Security, Machine Learning Accelerators, Formal Verification, THz Electronics, Smart Healthcare, Power Electronics, etc.

The announcement shared a similar sentiment as it mentions the various research projects currently undertaken by professors in the department, which includes communication networks as well as computing platforms and applications.

While the ECE department is pleased with how the renaming will impact faculty, the announcement also expressed excitement for the opportunities it will offer students within the department.

In the announcement, ECE Department Chair Sharad Malik said the renaming will expand opportunities for our students entering the workforce and makes a statement to our external partners about Princetons strengths in transformative technological innovation.

Darren Chiu 23, who declared ELE as his concentration last spring, is satisfied with the renaming of the department and how it now more accurately reflects his coursework.

To Chiu, the departments renaming did not come as a surprise as he reflected on his realization of the major role computing played in the department.

I also thought that it was a mind blowing experience seeing ideas from ELE 206 [Contemporary Logic Design] make their way into and support certain concepts in COS 217 [Introduction to Programming Systems], he said. The change also aligns more with what I have always been interested in, being that combination of programming and hardware.

According to Jha, the department also hopes to attract more prospective concentrators with its newfound emphasis on computing, which may entice students who did not previously consider entering the department.

The name change makes it possible to more easily convey information on this range of Computer Engineering activities to those not that familiar with the department, Jha wrote to the Prince.

ECE Undergraduate Program Coordinator Jean Bausmith echoed Jhas statement in an email to the Prince.

I personally am very happy with the change to the new name, she wrote. I look forward to meeting the first-years at our spring open house who might be interested in exploring what ECE has to offer.

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ELE department renamed as Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering - The Daily Princetonian

The report includes CAGR, Heart Electrical Conduction Monitoring market share, revenue, gross margin, value, volume, and other key market figures that give an accurate picture of the growth of the market. This report includes an assessment of various drivers, government policies, technological innovations, upcoming technologies, opportunities, market risks, restraints, market barriers, challenges, trends, competitive landscape, and segments which gives an exact picture of the growth of the global market.

The business intelligence report on Heart Electrical Conduction Monitoring market renders a holistic analysis of the top growth drivers, opportunities, limitations, and restraints which will define the industry dynamics in the ensuing years. Moreover, the research report classifies this business sphere into several segments and analytically examines them to unveil the major revenue prospects.

As per seasoned research analysts, Heart Electrical Conduction Monitoring market is predicted to amass significant returns, registering a CAGR of XX% during the forecast period 20XX to 20XX.

Request Sample Copy of this Report @ https://www.business-newsupdate.com/request-sample/23148

Speaking of the latest developments, the sudden emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic has brutally affected almost all sectors of the global economy. Businesses across the globe are experiencing a plethora of challenges including shifts in supply & demand chain, rapid revenue decline, and lack of resources. With the aid of our thorough investigation of this changing landscape, investors and other industry partakers can gain valuable insights for formulating robust business plans that ensure an upward growth trajectory in the coming years.

Key highlights of the Heart Electrical Conduction Monitoring market report:

Heart Electrical Conduction Monitoring market segments covered in the report:

Regional segmentation: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East & Africa.

Product gamut: Stationary Type and Portable Type

Application spectrum: Hospitals, Clinics and Other

Competitive dashboard: GE Healthcare, Mindray Medical, Suzuken, Philips, NIHON KOHDEN, BioTelemetry, Schiller AG, Hill-Rom, Fukuda Denshi, Spacelabs Healthcare, Innomed, EDAN and Novosense

Request Customization on This Report @ https://www.business-newsupdate.com/request-for-customization/23148

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Heart Electrical Conduction Monitoring Market Technology, New Innovations, Fore - Business-newsupdate.com

Global Electrical discharge machining (EDM) Market 2020 by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2025 available at MarketQuest.biz is a compilation of market broken down entirely based on types, application, trends and opportunities, mergers and acquisitions, drivers and restraints, and global outreach. The report offers a rundown of the global Electrical discharge machining (EDM) market which makes up for the product scope, market revenue, opportunities, growth rate, sales volumes, and figures. The two major factors examined in this report include market revenue and market size. The report comprehensively analyzes market size (revenue), market share, major market segments, and geographic regions, as well as leading market players and their SWOT analysis, and premium industry trends.

Market Rundown:

The report aims to define, segment, and project the market on the basis of product type, application, and region. With this report, the readers will understand important trends, drivers, limitations, risks, and challenges in the global Electrical discharge machining (EDM) market. The key research findings included in this report are accepted by the companys skilled analysts and experts, providing rich in-depth information to associated partners, appraisers as well as captains of the industry. The market is divided into an analytical space where the forecast is predicted through primary and secondary research methodologies.

DOWNLOAD FREE SAMPLE REPORT: https://www.marketquest.biz/sample-request/13079

NOTE: Our report highlights the major issues and hazards that companies might come across due to the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19.

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The key manufacturers are profiled where product pictures, their specifications, overall revenue, market share, size, and contact details of these key players are offered in this global Electrical discharge machining (EDM) market. The study includes strategic developments, latest product launches, regional growth markers, and mergers & acquisitions, revenue, cost price, capacity & utilization, import/export rates, and market share, forecast predictions for 2020 to 2025 forecast time-period are generated further.

Prominent players in the industry covered in the report: Mitsubishi Electric, Seoul Precision Machine, Makino, Sodick, Methods Machine Tools, GF Machining Solutions Management, Shanghai Esuntek Machinery, ONA Electroerosion, CHMER EDM, Exeron, Knuth Machine Tools, Excetek Technology, Beaumont Machine, AA EDM, MC Machinery Systems

On the basis of product, this report displays: Sinker EDM, Wire EDM, Fast Hole Drilling EDM

On the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on: Aerospace, Production Machinery, Die and Mold, Others

The following regions are covered: North America (United States, Canada and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia), South America (Brazil, Argentina, etc.), Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)

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Moreover, the scope of the report has a wide spectrum extending from global Electrical discharge machining (EDM) market scenarios to comparative pricing between major players, cost, and profit of the specified market regions. The statistics are portrayed in a graphical format for a clear picture of facts and figures. Components such as market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities are also explained further in the report.

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Continued here:
Global Electrical discharge machining (EDM) Market 2020 with (COVID-19) Impact Analysis, Product Type, Application, Key Manufacturers, Regions and...

By Clint C. Thomas, Esq.

Photography by Zoe Thomas

Electrical work, like everything else in life, can run the gamut from very basic to extremely complex. It is helpful for every DIY-minded homeowner to have at least a basic understanding of electrical work. This article will attempt to reveal some of the mystery surrounding the maze of wiring that runs throughout your home and that makes everything in it work with the flick of a switch.

Electricity enters every home by running through a power meter supplied by the local utility company, then, in most cases, through a master 200-amp circuit breaker, and then to the homes breaker box, often still referred to as a fuse box .From the breaker box, this flow of electricity is spread over numerous circuits to different parts of the home by first passing through individual circuit breakers which serve as a safety mechanism to keep the system from being overloaded. A homes electrical system is designed to work off 120 volts with the exception of certain major appliances, such as an electric clothes dryer, which runs off 240 volts.

Electrical wiring comes in different gauges, or sizes. The heavier the gauge, i.e., the thicker the copper wire, the more electrical current it can carry without overheating. Electrical wire and circuit breakers are designed to work in tandem with one another, and each must be of a proper corresponding size. For example, 14/2 gauge electrical wire is rated to a maximum of 15 amps and should not be used with any circuit breaker larger than 15 amps.12/2 gauge wiring is rated to a maximum of 20 amps. These two size wires are the standard that are used in homes today for most lighting and wall outlets. Again, heavier gauges and higher amp circuit breakers must be used for certain appliances that use more electricity and as dictated by local and state building codes.

Electrical wire is gauged like shot for a shotgun. The smaller the number the heavier gauge the wire. Twelve-gauge wire is heavier and will carry more of a load than 14-gauge wire but is smaller than 10-gauge wire and will carry less of a load than the 10 gauge.

If the improper gauge wire is used with the wrong size circuit breaker, it can easily result in a fire or a malfunctioning electrical circuit. For example, if a wire of too small gauge is used with a high amp break, then the wire can overheat and catch fire long before the circuit breaker ever trips. On the other hand, if a too large of a gauge wire is used with a low amp breaker then the breaker may continuously trip, disrupting the circuit before the wire ever reaches its maximum electrical load.

It is imperative to know exactly what gauge wire and what amp breaker have to be used for any given application. This is not an area to guess-timate. The result of such guesswork can be a house fire or someone being electrocuted. Also, there are limits under the applicable building codes to how many outlets and/or lights, etc., that a particular circuit can have on them, and even where they can be placed or not placed. Be sure to consult your local and state building codes before beginning any electrical work.

Typical electrical wire for home use comes in an insulated sleeve and consists of three wires. A black wire carries the electrical current and is therefore commonly known as the hot wire. There is a white wire that is the neutral, and, finally, a bare copper wire that is the ground wire. When electrical wires are joined together the black wires must be hooked together, the white wires must be hooked to the white wires, and the ground wires must be hooked together. Otherwise, the circuit will not work, and will result in an electrical short.

Three-conductor electrical wire is available for use with applications that require an additional hot wire, such as with a three-way switch. A total of four wires are found in three-conductor wiring: A white neutral wire, a bare copper ground wire, a black hot wire and a red wire for a second hot wire.

Basic Connections

First and foremost, always disconnect the electrical power supply before working with any part of the electrical system.

For applications such as wiring a light fixture, the fixtures wires are joined to the electrical supply wires with wire nuts. Like the wire itself, wire nuts come in different sizes to accommodate the various gauges of wire. To connect, strip back the insulation from the ends of the wires, hold them between your fingers and twist the wire nut in a clockwise direction onto the ends.

Light switches and wall outlets have screws on both sides for connecting wires. The green screws are for the ground wires, the silver/stainless colored screws are for the white neutral wires and the brass colored screws are for the black hot wires.

Some of the most common electrical projects that a homeowner will encounter are replacing light switches and wall outlets. Room additions or major renovations may even involve having to increase the number of wall outlets in a particular area of your home. Therefore, the scope of this article will be confined to the most basic of electrical jobs using only single-pole switches and end-of-run receptacles.

Light switches simply serve to disrupt, or break, the flow of electricity in the wiring before it gets to the light fixture. This interruption in the flow is what turns the light off, and then back on. To connect a switch, imagine a wire running from a hot junction point to the box that will contain the light switch .Another wire will lead from that light switch box to the junction box that contains the light fixture. The switch itself is what will connect these two wire runs and allow the electrical current to flow to the light or to be stopped at the switch.

Route the ends of the two wires in the switch box, strip the ends and then connect the white wires together with a wire nut and the ground wires together by securing them around the green screw on the bottom of the switch. The black wires are each attached to the switch. One wire is attached to each brass screw on the right-hand side of the switch.

Wall outlets are the other area that may require a homeowners attention .Unlike a light fixture, wall outlets remain hot, meaning that they always have live electrical current in them, all of the time. This is achieved by outlets being connected together in a row much like the lights on a Christmas tree. A hot wire will come from a circuit breaker or other hot junction box and lead to the first wall outlet. From there another wire is run from the first wall outlet to the second wall outlet. This continues until the entire room has been hooked-up or until the maximum number of fixtures has been attached to a particular circuit.

Receptacles, also known as outlets or plugs, are connected in a row, so-to-speak, by attaching the black wires to the brass screws, the white wires to the silver/stainless metal screws and the ground wire to the green screw at the bottom. Modern receptacles are called duplex receptacles because they have two screws on both sides. As the name implies, they can bring electrical current into one set of screws and then send it out on the other duplex set of screws to another fixture.

Wires are attached to the receptacles and switches by bending the end into a hook shape. I usually do this by holding the bare wire between a pair of needle nose pliers and then rotating the wrist to make the hook shape in the wire. This hook will easily go around the screws on each side of the outlet and/or switch to make a secure connection when tightened.

Remember that all electrical work in a home is governed the jurisdiction having authority. Most jurisdictions follow the standards that are promulgated in the National Electrical Code, but have sometimes modified these standards in their local and state building codes. Many states and local jurisdictions permit homeowners to perform their own electrical work, but some do not. Consult your local laws, ordinances and local building codes before beginning any electrical work. In addition, be certain that you know what you are doing. If drywall is improperly hung, then you will just have an eyesore on your hands. If electrical work is improperly done, it can result in your house burning down or someone being electrocuted! When in doubt, dont do it.

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Electrical 101 for the Homeowner - Extreme How To

SANFORD, MI When the rainfall kept coming down and the water level in the nearby river began to rise, Rebecca Johnson was sure it was just the usual spring weather.

A look at the Sanford Dam on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, after heavy rainfall and the failure of the Edenville Dam upstream caused it to fail and flood the surrounding area. The village of Sanford is on the far left. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

She had no idea her life was about to turn upside down.

I look back now and I was so naive. We could have been packing things, said Johnson, who lives in Sanford, a village in Midland County that sits in the shadow of the Sanford Dam. They had it hyped up so much, but I was like, It floods every year, its not going to be that bad, the dams are not going to break.

Flashing red lights woke her around 4 a.m. on May 19 as firefighters went door to door telling residents to evacuate. They expected the Sanford dam and the Edenville Dam above it to fail after all.

Rebecca Johnson and her daughter Autumn Pontseele stand near a Christmas tree during a Sanford community tree lighting event downtown on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

Johnson and her daughter, 18-year-old Autumn Pontseele, stayed put for awhile, until rising water began creeping up into their backyard. They escaped just in time.

Their home was one of more than 4,000 in Midland County damaged by flooding after the two dams failed and millions of gallons of muddy water poured downstream. Sanford, located just northwest of the city of Midland, was among the hardest hit areas.

When Johnson and Pontseele were able to return, they found their home full of squishy mud.

Rebecca Johnson takes a call as the rebuild continues in her home in Sanford on Friday, June 26, 2020. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

Recovering from the disaster has taken months of hard work and some good fortune. As Christmas 2020 approaches, they are ready to celebrate in a residence rebuilt with the help of donors, family and volunteers.

See an extended gallery of photographs of their journey or buy images by clicking here.

Rebecca Johnson watches her stepdad Ron Eurich set up the electrical for the ceiling lighting in the kitchen area for her home in Sanford on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

Their house did not sit even one day after the initial flooding before the cleanup began. Help swarmed in from coworkers at Big Boy, friends from Autumns old school, Samaritans Purse volunteers, SFT Remodeling, FEMA, United Way and many more.

Autumn Pontseele feeds one of their cats a treat while they all take cover in the garage as it rains in Sanford on Wednesday, June 10, 2020. Crews began repairing their home less than a month after the Edenville and Sanford dams failed and damaged the structure as well as the family's possessions. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

Throughout the whole process, the hardest part for Johnson was letting go of the damaged items that had meaningful memories attached to them. The pressure and time constraint to get everything out of the house to avoid mold caused many belongings to be overlooked and thrown into a garbage pile.

A pile of trash lies on the ground as construction continues inside of Rebecca Johnson's home in Sanford on Friday, June 26, 2020. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

Everything sat at the road for days, and I hated seeing it every day. It was all our stuff, it was awful. I watched them take it away and I think that was worse, Johnson said. Its really real, thats it, well never see it again.

A look inside Rebecca Johnson's home in Sanford on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 less than a month after the Edenville and Sanford dams failed and damaged the structure as well as the family's possessions. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

They had to gut the interior of the home. Cutting the ruined drywall out, removing insulation, spraying for mold, ripping the beloved hardwood floor up and drying out the basement took many weeks.

Rebecca Johnson and Greg Yancer say goodbye to Johnson's daughter Hayley Pontseele and her fiance Kurt Lehmkuhle after finishing unloading the last storage unit in Sanford on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

They first stayed with Johnsons other daughter, Hayley Pontseele, before deciding to move to a hotel. After three weeks there, a disaster relief company paid for their stay at a Midland hotel. Red Cross took over the expenses at a different Midland hotel for the next two weeks before Johnson and Autumn Pontseele set up a camper in their yard.

Autumn Pontseele's dog Decker jumps for the ball as they play in the yard in front of a camper in Sanford on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. Pontseele has been staying in the camper since July due to the major flooding from the Edenville and Sanford dams failing in May. Reconstruction continues on their house, so the camper is home for her and Decker temporarily. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

Both were taking classes while all of this happened. Once it began getting colder, Johnson moved in with her boyfriend, Greg Yancer, to be able to give Autumn and herself more space to continue their schoolwork.

Greg Yancer and Rebecca Johnson cook the first family meal in her newly finished home in Sanford on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

They tried to make the best of the situation.

We really didnt have any bad times. We made it fun as it was constant go, go, go. We didnt really have any woe is me feelings at all, Johnson said. I smiled the whole time, what else could you do?

Rebecca Johnson smiles as people pull in to her driveway with a trunk full of donated items for flood victims in Sanford on Friday, June 26, 2020. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

Little did they know, a big break was coming their way. Angela Cole, a local attorney who lived in Sanford for over 40 years, was tasked to pick families in the area to receive funding assistance from the Rebuild Project, which is a partnership through the Midland Business Alliance and Three Rivers Corporation. Cole threw Johnsons name in the mix.

The company came by and surveyed how far along they were in the rebuild process, which included having a working bathroom, electrical set up throughout the home, floors ripped up, drywall hung and so on.

Rebecca Johnson works on wiring her home in Sanford on Friday, June 26, 2020. Johnson's home had to be stripped on the main level up four feet due to the major flooding from the Edenville and Sanford dam failures in May 2020. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

Johnson and Pontseele continued working on the home with the help of others as they waited to hear if they would be picked, and got the call shortly afterward. Midland Area Community Foundation and Three Rivers Corporation were going to cover the rest of the job up to $100,000.

Rebecca Johnson wires an electrical outlet in the kitchen area in her home in Sanford on Friday, June 26, 2020. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

There were so many reasons I provided Rebeccas name. She was already underway with her rebuild, was close to downtown and was a long-term Sanford resident, Cole said. Rebeccas attitude and joy humbled me. In every interaction she was so thankful and grateful for help in spite of all she had been through.

Rebecca Johnson stands at the door of the garage with a couple of her pets to stay out of the rain while a friend of hers attempts to start their generator while work is being done on her home in Sanford on Wednesday, June 10, 2020. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

Rebuilding was paused for about two months as paperwork was sorted out. Once it began, Johnson had to give her input for what she wanted for the floors, kitchen and bedrooms. She and her daughter had an idea of what they were going to do, but getting all-new items was an unusual experience for them.

Rebecca Johnson reacts to seeing her brand new kitchen cabinets for the first time for her home in Sanford on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. Throughout the years, Johnson has always lived in rentals and never had the chance to have brand new anything, so she is very grateful to have her home rebuilt after the devastation of the flood in May. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

The companies working on the home set Thanksgiving for the family to move back into the home. As of December, the home is occupied, though they are waiting on the countertops, which are to arrive in January as the pandemic caused a backorder on some of the products chosen for the house.

Theyve been able to empty out their two storage units filled with their belongings and the new project of decorating and putting things in their place has begun. Just in time for Christmas.

Autumn Pontseele moves a tote out of her and her mom Rebecca Johnson's storage unit on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

As things begin to settle down, they both say they will be on the job hunt in the new year. And they are both elated to still call Sanford home as their community continues to pick up the pieces.

Rebecca Johnson searches for the correct light switch covers for her home inside the local Sanford hardware store on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

We never thought about abandoning it, never thought about moving, Pontseele said. Weve already had two community events, even with nothing here. People still come down and celebrate.

Greg Yancer, Rebecca Johnson and her daughter Autumn Pontseele walk across the street during a Sanford community tree lighting event downtown on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

They are certain they couldnt have done it without the help of the community, volunteers, donations, and family and friends who chipped in over the last seven months.

From far left, Autumn Pontseele, her boyfriend Julien Plamp sits next to her on the right, Hayley Pontseele, Kurt Lehmkuhle, Rebecca Johnson, Greg Yancer and Trey Yancer sit together on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 for the first family meal after Johnson and Autumn were displaced from their home back in May due to the major floods in Sanford. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

I want to figure out a way to give back, Im just not there yet. Ill figure it out though, one way or another, Johnson said. I mean, how many times can you say thank you? They just made the whole situation better. We couldnt have done it alone.

Autumn Pontseele walks around in her newly decorated room on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

Rebecca Johnson stands on her brand new porch at her home in Sanford on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

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Flood and mud destroyed their home, but now a Michigan family has reason to celebrate - MLive.com

No doubt you have received the important time sensitive mail regarding the future repair of your homes gas lines. Many Bossier Parish residents have seen the important information regarding your gas line mailers a thinly-veiled sales pitch from CenterPoint Energy for a home warranty program.

All interior gas lines are the homeowners responsibility, the mailing says, detailing the estimated costs for the repair or replacement of gas lines and components.

District 5 Commissioner Foster Campbell has asked the Louisiana Public Service Commission to investigate such home-warranty programs promoted to thousands of CenterPoint Energy and SWEPCO customers.

We owe it to the people we serve to look at this, Campbell said during the LPSCs monthly meeting, held Wednesday by teleconference because of the coronavirus.

I think SWEPCO and CenterPoint should be in the utility business, not the insurance business, Campbell added.

In his argument Campbell cited a 1991 LPSC order prohibiting utilities from directly engaging in the sale, installation or service of any type of residential equipment or appliance.

He said the Louisiana utilities appear to be using Connecticut-based HomeServe to skirt the order by employing HomeServe to shield the companies from direct involvement in activities prohibited by the Commission order.

Campbell said he has received complaints from Louisiana contractors concerned that HomeServe would hire low-bid, unqualified electricians and plumbers to do repair service on SWEPCO and CenterPoint customer homes.He also cited marketing materials from HomeServe using SWEPCO and CenterPoint logos and carrying messages that could be misunderstood by consumers.

If you get a letter from your utility you dont throw it away, Campbell said, especially if it carries messages like Important Information Enclosed and quotes deadlines to sign up.

Campbell asked LPSC staff to conduct a thorough review of the HomeServe offerings and report back to members of the Commission at their February 2021 meeting.

Read more from the original source:
PSC's Campbell Urges Investigation into Utilities Selling 'Protection Plans' for Wiring and Gas Lines - Bossier Now