Levee breaks along Wabash River \nThe Wabash River broke through levees in at least two places south of Terre Haute, swamping a rural area on Tuesday as the crest of flood waters continued surging south.\nThe levee break caused the National Guard to fly several residents by helicopter away from their homes in Sullivan County, said State Conservation Officer Tom Lahay.\n"We couldn't get to them by water. It was just too dangerous," Lahay said.\nOfficials also turned their attention to Vincennes as the Wabash, still swollen from a storm that hit north-central Indiana last week, was expected to crest there late Wednesday at 28.3 feet, about 12 feet above flood stage, according to the National Weather Service.\nThe river might not crest until Friday, however, because of the levee breaks upstream, said John Streeter, Knox County's emergency management director.\n"From what I've been told, that may delay our crest a little, but it's not going to have that much of an impact," he said Tuesday.\nIn northern Indiana, a Winamac man died of carbon monoxide poisoning after his furnace was submerged by flood waters, the Pulaski County Sheriff's Department said.\nEmergency workers found Denny R. Henderson, 56, dead in his bedroom at about 8:30 p.m. Monday, the sheriff's department said in a news release. Another person, Linda J. Eakins, was taken to a hospital for treatment and was listed in stable condition Tuesday afternoon.\nSeveral homes and river cabins were left flooded by the levee breaks some 25 miles north of Vincennes. Authorities said most of those living near the river chose to leave their homes.\nMonte Chenoweth, who stayed at his Sullivan County home, said the water had slowed down after first rushing into the area.\n"I feel pretty secure here," Chenoweth said. "The one home (a mobile home) that I could see from here is gone. I'll just try to keep the heat going and keep things from freezing up."\nLevee leaks were reported in Vigo County over the weekend at Prairieton and in West Terre Haute, where residents and National Guard troops continued sandbagging to shore up the levee.\nMeanwhile, officials were keeping a close eye on the 4-mile-long levee at Vincennes, where a valve on a flood gate and the flood wall were leaking. Both the gate and the wall were holding, said Alden Taylor of the state emergency management agency.\nNational Guard troops were starting full-time patrols of the levee Tuesday to watch for leaks and keep sightseers away.\nLong stretches of the Wabash and White rivers and their tributaries remained above flood stage on Tuesday, but the extensive flooding seen in many of those areas has subsided.
Registration ends today for dodgeball tournament \nA dodgeball tournament will begin 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Bloomington High School South. The tournament is organized by Bloomington Parks and Recreation, where teams of six must register today for the tournament. Another tournament will take place Feb. 12, and registration needs to be turned in by Feb. 10. Registration can be turned in between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at the Bloomington Parks & Recreation main office, 401 N. Morton St., Suite 250. The cost is $15 per team.\nWinners receive plaques for first and second place, along with other prizes to be announced.
BACC to hold chili cook-off Jan.25\nThe Bloomington Adult Community Center, 349 S. Walnut St. is putting on a chili cook-off for aspiring chili cooks and chili lovers in Bloomington. The cook-off will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 25. Deadline to register for the cook-off is Friday, and contestants or chili eaters can register between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at the BACC. It costs $2 to submit a pot of homemade chili and $5 for the after contest "free-for-all." If interested, chili enthusiasts should call 349-3720.
Coats, boxed cereal wanted for needy \nStudents can donate warm coats, sweaters, hats, gloves, warm socks, canned foods and especially boxed cereal to the Shalom Center, 219 E. Fourth St. Donations can be turned in between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and can be dropped off at the First United Methodist Church, across from the Bloomington Post Office. "Donations go out as fast as they come in," said Joel Rekas, executive director of the Shalom Center. "Poverty, hunger and homelessness are year-round issues that need to be supported"
