Michiana

If you've tried to buy a bouquet of balloons lately for a birthday party or to cheer up a sick friend, you may have been told you're out of luck. That's because a nationwide helium shortage is bursting Michiana's balloon sales. Glenn Collier spends most of his time at Miami Florist & Gift shop in South Bend making fresh flower arrangements. Wednesday morning he got a balloon order, but had to turn away the sale. "They wanted 150 balloons for a party. I had to turn down the work because I don't have the helium to do that," says a frustrated Collier.

Counting on your air conditioner to keep your home cool? If you said yes, can you afford the cost? Help is available to lessen the burden of electric costs … if you qualify. With Michiana's most recent heat wave just behind us and another on the way, area utility companies say electric usage increased significantly. Those who could qualify for help meeting summer cooling costs include the elderly, disable, those who receive energy assistance or who meet strict income guidelines, says Ingrid Simmons, with REAL Services.

Area lake levels are dropping as Michiana suffers through a serious drought. At Heaton Lake north of Elkhart, its level drops daily. “It's way lower now than what it's ever been. I have never seen it this low,” says Darrell Niles. He's among a growing number of homeowners along Heaton Lake who are concerned about how drought conditions have lowered water levels considerably. Everett Leinhart has lived in the area near 40 years, close to the inlet that feeds Heaton Lake.

Heat's on … how are you holding up? While area cooling centers are open to provide relief from  heat and humidity … no one's taking advantage. Why not?    WSBT reporter John Paul and videographer DeMarco Brown checked out Niles' cooling center. One person. Three hours into their shift at the Charles Martin Youth Center in South Bend, they've not seen one visitor seeking cool relief.

Hot like fire? Maybe not. But by the looks on some of the faces at the St. Joseph County 4-H fair, it's close. “It almost takes your breath away,” said Susan Smithberger, who has cattle, sheep and pigs at the fair. Most of Smithberger's cattle and pigs are home, but she can't enjoy the air conditioning there, yet. The basics like ice, water and a shady tree will have to do. “The breeze has been nice, the last couple of days,” she said. Susan had a birds-eye view of the fairgrounds.

A reminder on this 4th of July that American troops are still in battle to preserve freedom halfway across the world. Some people don't need a reminder of what this day stands for. On this 4th of July, the day we celebrate our freedom, WSBT-TV met a man who is headed back overseas to fight for it. Army Sgt. Raymond Scott's unit is based out of Plymouth. He is headed back to Afghanistan after being on leave for the past two weeks. Wednesday morning, Sgt. Scott said goodbye to his family and friends at the South Bend Regional Airport.

On a hot summer Saturday, more than a thousand spectators crowded Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph to watch a World War II re-enactment. Dozens of volunteers dressed up in authentic military uniforms and re-enacted the European and Pacific Beach landings and air attacks on Iwo Jima.  The presentation included a Yankee Air Force B-17 WWII  Bomber, Korean M*A*S*H helicopter as well as Yankee Air Force C-47 Skytrain, B-17 Flying...

Several communities across Michiana are offering public fireworks displays through the weekend. Go prepared with plenty of bottled water to stay hydrated during the area's extreme heat and lawnchairs. Above all ... Enjoy! INDIANA Marshall County issued comprehensive fireworks ban, including public displays. Michigan City ... Dusk on July 8 at Washington Park Mishawaka ... 9:30 p.m. July 5 at Beutter Park  Syracuse ... Dusk on July 7 at Lake Wawasee MICHIGAN Hartford ... 10 p.m. July 6 at Hartford Motor Speedway    

Power outages from heavy storms that raked Michiana Friday afternoon aren't going to end soon. Crews are working across northern Indiana and southern lower Michigan to restore electric service to more than 107,000 customers. As of 10 p.m. Friday, here are power restoration estimates from Indiana Michigan Power/AEP: Elkhart and surrounding area: Midnight Saturday   South Bend and surrounding area: Midnight Sunday   Fort Wayne and surrounding area: Midnight Wednesday   Company officials ask residents NOT to stop crew trucks to ask for service, as that slows down repairs for all customers without service.

Triple digit temperatures had people finding any way they could to stay cool. Still, the health of some people was affected by the heat. Fire departments throughout the area were sent on sporadic heat-related medical calls. Neither Memorial Hospital nor Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center any emergency room visits because of the heat, but Elkhart General Hospital had six patients with heat-relates issues. "(People need to) limit the amount of time in the heat and you take breaks.