Many schools planned to close Wednesday as frigidly cold weather tightened its grip on the region.

Public, private and charter schools across Lake and Porter counties and Chicago's south suburbs announced the closures Tuesday night. Check http://www.nwi.com/weather/closings for a full listing.

The cold came as crews continued to clean up following several inches of snow Monday night and a six-car pileup injured two people Tuesday on I-65 at the Jasper County/White County line.

The National Weather Service issued a wind chill warning for Cook County and Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties from midnight Tuesday to noon Thursday. LaPorte County was under a wind chill warning from 11 p.m. Tuesday to 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Wind chills are expected to dip to 30 to 35 degrees below zero early Wednesday and rise to just 25 to 30 below zero during the day, forecasters said. Wednesday's high temperature was expected to hover around zero.

Lake-effect snow was expected Tuesday night into Wednesday in LaPorte County, with up to 6 inches possible in the northeastern part of the county. Strong winds in other parts of the region could cause snow to drift and reduce visibility, forecasters said.

On Wednesday night, wind chills were expected to drop back to 30 to 35 below zero with a low temperature between zero and minus 10.

The weather service warned any exposed skin in such harsh conditions could be prone to frostbite in a matter of minutes. Pets should be brought inside, they said.

The impending cold prompted local officials to open several warming centers.

The North Township trustee's offices at 5947 Hohman Ave. and 2835 165th St. will be open to those seeking warmth from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Thursday.

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Brutal cold settles in across the region

TUPELO, Miss. (AP) - The second phase of a $6 million expansion and renovation project is set to begin at the Elvis Presley Birthplace, and officials will be visiting the Legislature on Thursday to talk about their favorite subject.

It also happens to be the 80th birthday of The King.

Some of us will be in Jackson, while some of us will be in Tupelo helping celebrate, said Dick Guyton, the executive director of the birthplace and museum.

Guyton said the trip to Jackson is to serve lunch to legislators and ask for funding for the birthplace. Three years ago, they successfully lobbied to get more than $2 million for the first phase of the project, which was met with a 20 percent match by the city.

Guyton hopes theyll be generous this year, too.

Were looking for $1 million to finish phase two, he said.

Phase two will add two Elvis statues to an overlook with a memorial wall and pavilion, a separate picnic pavilion, a winding walkway from the amphitheater to the overlook and steps from the parking lot that connect to the walkway.

Phase three, which will cost about another $1 million, will rework the landscaping and walkways around the lake on the property.

Well be upgrading the lake, cleaning it up, adding a water feature or two and make it a more enjoyable place to sit, walk and relax, he said. But thats down the road.

Thursdays luncheon at the Capitol will have peanut butter and banana sandwiches, and lawmakers will be serenaded by an Elvis tribute artist, of course.

More here:
Elvis Birthplace looks toward second phase of expansion

January 6, 2015 | 9:25 pm

No one could be blamed for avoiding the outdoors on Tuesday, which saw half a foot of snow on the ground and temperatures in the single digits.

Yet out there on his bike was David Martyn, a delivery driver for Jimmy Johns in Iowa City.

Buried in four layers, Smartwool socks, a face mask and ski goggles, Martyn was hauling subs by way of a stud-tired mountain bike in a five-mile radius of downtown Iowa City. The digital temperature display outside the local bank read 3 degrees.

Its not too bad, Martyn said. Just dress like you are going skiing.

That not too bad assessment could change drastically by Wednesday morning. After a fairly moderate start to the season, which saw only trace amounts of snow in December and relatively mild temperatures, winter is announcing its presence with authority this week. Roughly six inches of snow fell on the area Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning but that was only the opening salvo. Dangerously cold temperatures are expected to follow for the rest of the week.

Forecast

Awful, is how KCRG-TV9 meteorologist Kaj OMara described it.

Its going to be cold and not fun, OMara said Tuesday.

Mondays storm dropped 5 to 7 inches of snow on the region before tailing off Tuesday morning. In its wake will be the coldest temperatures of 2015, OMara said. Beginning Tuesday night, the mercury will fall to a low of -17 degrees.

Continue reading here:
First the snow, then the bitter cold

U.S. Postal Service

MILWAUKEE (WITI) With more snow expected to blanket the region during the next couple days, one seasonal tool is expected to make its return at homes and businesses the shovel. To help letter carriers deliver mail for the holidays, the Postal Service is asking customers to clear snow and ice from sidewalks, stairs and mailboxes.

Snow and ice make delivery dangerous and slow, said A/Milwaukee Postmaster A.R. Bob Odell. Maintaining a clear path to the mail box including steps, porches, walkways and street approach will help letter carriers maintain consistent delivery service and help them get those cards and packages delivered in time for the holidays.

Customers receiving door delivery should make sure their sidewalks, steps and porches are clear. Customers receiving curbside delivery should remove snow piles left by snow plows to keep access to their mailboxes clear for letter carriers.

Delivery service may be delayed or curtailed whenever streets or walkways present hazardous conditions for letter carriers or when snow is plowed against mailboxes. The Postal Service curtails delivery only after careful consideration, and only as a last resort, says Odell. Any curtailed mail is attempted the next delivery day.

Blue collection boxes also need to be kept clear for our customers to deposit their mail and for the Postal Service to collect the mail for delivery. Residents and businesses with collection boxes near their property are asked to keep them clear of snow and ice. We want our letter carriers to be safe, adds Odell. We can only do this with the help of our customers.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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Postal Service urging customers to clear snow, ice from sidewalks, stairs & mailboxes

MORRIS To help letter carriers deliver mail, the Postal Service is asking customers to clear snow and ice from sidewalks, stairs and mailboxes.

Snow and ice make delivery dangerous and slow, Central Illinois District Manager Peter Allen said in a news release. Maintaining a clear path to the mail box including steps, porches, walkways and street approach will help letter carriers maintain consistent delivery service.

Customers receiving door delivery should make sure their sidewalks, steps and porches are clear. Customers receiving curbside delivery should remove snow piles left by snow plows to keep access to their mailboxes clear for letter carriers.

Delivery service may be delayed or curtailed whenever streets or walkways present hazardous conditions for letter carriers or when snow is plowed against mailboxes.

Blue collection boxes also need to be kept clear for customers to deposit their mail and for the Postal Service to collect the mail for delivery. Residents and businesses with collection boxes near their property are asked to keep them clear of snow and ice.

We want our letter carriers to be safe, Allen said. We can only do this with the help of our customers.

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Post office asks residents to clear snow and ice

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -

The temperatures will begin to drop on Wednesday and will stay low for the remainder of the week, and there are steps you can take to be prepared.

Lows will be in the mid-to-upper 20s once again. We'll see a brief warm-up during the afternoon with highs into the upper 40s. A dry cold front will push into the Valley late in the day or overnight.

Tuesday's high, near 48, will be the warmest temperature we will have until after the weekend, according to 48 Storm Team Chief Meteorologist Brad Travis.

The winds will pick up out of the north on Wednesday as the coldest air since last winter settles into the area. Despite mostly sunny skies, temperatures on Wednesday will struggle to make it back to 30. The bitter cold continues that night with lows dipping to around 10.

Sunny skies are in the forecast for Thursday, but a warm afternoon is not. Once again, highs may stay in the upper 20s.

Milder weather is in store as we head into this weekend. Clouds move back in on Friday, and temperatures will climb above freezing in the afternoon. Highs will be into the upper 30s. Afternoon temperatures in the 40s can be expected over the weekend. We'll see more clouds this weekend, and there's a slight chance for rain.

With the freezing temperatures moving in, there are several things you can do to prepare ahead of time.

If you have pets, there are several things to remember during cold weather.

For more tips to prepare for the upcoming weather, click here. For pet tips for the weather, click here.

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Preparing for cold weather as temperatures approach single digits

A FORMER mayor is put 'behind bars', a rock star judges a dog show and an unfortunate wedding car tries to drive through 15,000 people. The Chronicle looks back at what made headlines serious and silly in an unusual spring around Winchester...

APRIL

Two brothers appear in Winchester Crown Court charged with the murder of Eastleigh newsagent Choudhry Zishan. Jonathon McKinley and Samuel McKinley (above) are remanded in custody by Southampton magistrates.

Plans to revolutionise hospital care in Winchester are revealed at a public meeting. A 120 million critical treatment centre could be built between Winchester and Basingstoke, catering for its sickest patients. Residents raise fears that Winchesters Royal Hampshire County Hospital could become a cottage hospital. The cost of the facility later rose to 150 million.

A 1,800-year-old Roman wall in Southgate Street is destroyed to make way for 14 new homes. Witnesses described it as desperately sad.

Meanwhile, a survey on plans for the Extra Care scheme on Chesil Street surface car park is branded a whitewash. Civic chiefs consulted residents, but denounce at what they call a lack of consideration given to alternative sites and officers claims that the car park is underused.

Winchester's great and good are thrown behind bars in full convict gear for a homeless charity. Former mayor Dominic Hiscock joins John Leeson and Roger Matthews to raise thousands of pounds for Trinity Winchester.

Revised plans for Silver Hill are scrutinised at a public exhibition showing public squares and pedestrianised walkways. Stagecoach and developer Henderson clash over new bus routes in the city centre.

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Trials, tirades and a little girl's dream come true: Winchester Year in Review Part Two

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) and Waimakariri District Council say the public has put forward an exciting vision of open spaces with a community focus for the Waimakariri red zones.

"People have told us that they want to see the natural environment restored so that community activities can take place and new community facilities can be developed. They would also like a place to remember the earthquakes and what happened to the land," says CERA Acting Chief Executive John Ombler.

Waimakariri District Mayor David Ayers has welcomed todays release of the summary of the public conversation on future use.

"Canvas was a valuable exercise for the Districts red zones," Mr Ayers says.

"Its important that the end use of these areas reflects and encompasses what the community needs and the Canvas ideas have provided us with a good basis for drawing up some options. The summary of the community feedback will help us do this before going back to the community for their input."

The Canvas public engagement process ran for six weeks from 30 July to 12 September. Over this time, nearly 600 people contributed their vision, from which more than 2750 ideas and values were identified for the future use of the red zones in Waimakariri.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says the engagement has been a real success in encouraging public discussion about the future use of the land.

"The leadership of the Mayor and the Waimakariri District Council has also been crucial in getting the community involved in looking ahead to that future use," Mr Brownlee says.

Mr Ombler says recreation has emerged as the most popular theme from the public engagement, with contributions ranging from walkways to BMX parks to community gardens.

"This is strongly supported by requests to create natural reserves and restore native ecosystems. People are also interested in business and commercial opportunities such as markets, cafes, festivals and entertainment events," Mr Ombler says.

See the article here:
Exciting vision put forward for Waimakariri red zones

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) and Waimakariri District Council say the public has put forward an exciting vision of open spaces with a community focus for the Waimakariri red zones.

"People have told us that they want to see the natural environment restored so that community activities can take place and new community facilities can be developed. They would also like a place to remember the earthquakes and what happened to the land," says CERA Acting Chief Executive John Ombler.

Waimakariri District Mayor David Ayers has welcomed todays release of the summary of the public conversation on future use.

"Canvas was a valuable exercise for the Districts red zones," Mr Ayers says.

"Its important that the end use of these areas reflects and encompasses what the community needs and the Canvas ideas have provided us with a good basis for drawing up some options. The summary of the community feedback will help us do this before going back to the community for their input."

The Canvas public engagement process ran for six weeks from 30 July to 12 September. Over this time, nearly 600 people contributed their vision, from which more than 2750 ideas and values were identified for the future use of the red zones in Waimakariri.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says the engagement has been a real success in encouraging public discussion about the future use of the land.

"The leadership of the Mayor and the Waimakariri District Council has also been crucial in getting the community involved in looking ahead to that future use," Mr Brownlee says.

Mr Ombler says recreation has emerged as the most popular theme from the public engagement, with contributions ranging from walkways to BMX parks to community gardens.

"This is strongly supported by requests to create natural reserves and restore native ecosystems. People are also interested in business and commercial opportunities such as markets, cafes, festivals and entertainment events," Mr Ombler says.

Read the rest here:
Vision put forward for Waimakariri red zones

Advice and installation help at the John Bridge Tile Forums

How to build and tile steps and walkways (sidewalks)

John P. Bridge, May, 2001 (Revised December, 2009)

Way back in the day, I spent about 6 months of my apprenticeship training studying step/stair building and layout. One of the points that was constantly emphasized was that stairs are a hazard to your health a necessary one but a hazard no less. There are certain conventions that are essential to a safe and eye-pleasing step project.

Think about it. When you walk you tend to build up a cadence where, unless something inhibits you, each step taken is about the same as the previous one in length and speed. The same tendency is in force when you are ascending or descending stairs or steps. If all the steps are not the same height and width, it tends to throw you off balance, and this can lead to a serious mishap.

A good rule of thumb when building a series of steps is called seven-eleven. No, thats not a convenience store chain, its a stair-building convention. The front of the steps or risers are about 7 inches in height, and the tops of the steps or treads are about 11 inches in width. Now this is not a hard, fast rule, but it should always be taken into consideration when a project is planned. In my opinion risers should never be higher than 7 inches, and treads should never be narrower than 11 inches. A step that is about 6 to 6-1/2 inches high and 11-1/2 to 12 inches wide is just about ideal in my book, whether you are building one step or a hundred. People have gotten used to this norm through decades (centuries) of climbing stairs and steps.

Once again, though, although there is leeway in the height and width of steps, all steps in a series must be uniform. The height of the risers cannot vary by more than 1/4 inch, and the width of the treads must be constant to within 1/4 in. On commercial tile projects the tolerance is usually less than 1/8 in.

Do not build steps in tread widths that cause people to take more than one step per tread. A normal person should be able to walk up or down a series of steps without breaking stride. A tread width of, say, 16 inches or more might cause a persons foot to land on the edge of the tread, half on and half off. The foot tends to slip or tilt toward the next riser, a sure recipe for disaster, especially when walking downward. When ascending such steps its very possible someone might trip on a riser and fall forward.

In outdoor construction, nothing is level. All surfaces are tilted somewhat so that rain water doesnt collect on them. This includes steps, whose treads should be pitched ever so slightly toward the front. In the width of a 12 in. tread, a 1/16 to 1/8 in. pitch is ideal just enough to keep water from collecting but not enough to cause a slip. It should go without saying, but Ill say it anyway step treads absolutely must be constructed from materials that will provide plenty of grip for the feet. Brick, rough stone, and non-slip quarry tiles are good choices. If your steps are to be simply concrete, finish the treads with a fine broom.

Steps in Conjunction with Walkways

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How to Build Steps, Walkways and Handicap Ramps | Tile ...