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The arrival of the New Year brings with it many things besides just a turn of the calendar. A time for reflection, resolutions and looking forward, the New Year represents a clean slate, one many will welcome after a rather tumultuous 2009.

Another image the New Year invokes is that of winter weather, replete with its short days and snowstorms. While the official arrival of winter is 10 days before the turn of the calendar, for many the unofficial start of the coldest season is when the holiday season ends and the new calendar year begins.

PERRY COUNTY – Once again, the "spare change" of Southern Indiana members has helped many people in our communities.

Thanks to cooperative members who allow their bill to be rounded up to the nearest dollar, many nonprofit organizations serving the people of Southern Indiana Power have been able to benefit from this program.

TELL CITY – Kathy Richmer didn't believe the news a surprise caller delivered Wednesday evening, even though the message came from a white-bearded man dressed in a red coat.

"You just won a new Camaro," Santa Claus said from the upstairs council chambers at City Hall.

"Oh, I guess I'll take that," Richmer replied. It took a couple more minutes of convincing for Richmer to accept that the call wasn't a hoax and she was overcome with emotion as she walked into the city council chambers at City Hall, packed with police officers.

TELL CITY - A new staff member has been welcomed to Tell City's post office. Dan Schroeder accepted the position of postmaster Sept. 5 and started two days later.

Schroeder, who is from Kansas City, Mo., has been a part of the United States Postal Service for eight years. His wife, Lisa, is a native of Tell City and Schroeder said he loved the city the first time he visited with his wife.

"From day one I knew I wanted to be a part of this community," he said.

An airport runway that normally serves local pilots' Pipers and Cessnas and the occasional business jet became an asphalt classroom for local police officers last month, as they pushed mettle and metal in a state-required emergency-vehicle operations course.

Editor's Note: This article, part of a regular series about the Hoosier National Forest, was written by Ben Ingram, a fire engine operator.

Smokey Bear has done an excellent job telling people that fire is bad, but some ecosystems require fire. The Hoosier National Forest landscape has historically burned. So how do we create a healthy forest or grassland ecosystem in the absence of wildfire? There are several answers to this question. One is prescribed burning.

What is Prescribed Burning?

TELL CITY – Continuing a tradition already several years old, First Christian Church in Troy will offer a gospel concert, "A Gospel Thanksgiving in Song," from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Tell City High School.

Doors to the auditorium will open at 1:30. The concert is offered by the church at no cost, though a freewill offering will be collected.

Performing will be the Woodsmen Quartet of Batesville, the Conquerors Quartet from Evansville and the southern Indiana-based SonShiners. Also on stage will be guest pianist-soloist Benjamin Morelock.