Town of Chalmers under boil order

The Town of Chalmers is under a boil order after three water line breaks. Water Superintendent Jeff Haynes said much of the town has been without water since noon on Thursday. He said the weather contributed to the breaks.

"Cold weather, thawing freezing back up again. A couple warm days in there just helped the ground shift a little," Haynes said.

Three crews are working through the night to repair the breaks. The State Highway Department was also called in to clear the flooded roads.

Lafayette resident Mitch McMindes was with family preparing Christmas dinner when the town went dry.

"The water just went off and we went down and talked to the guy and he said there probably wouldn't be any water for the rest of the evening so we went and got water in Brookston at the gas station and we came home had our dinner. It's been alright," McMindes said.

The biggest break happened on the corner near Pioneer Jr.-Sr. High School on 6th and Walnut.

David Bolen lives near the school. He said he came home to find his backyard flooded.

"It's going to be an ice skating rink when it starts to freeze and I hope it didn't actually get in my garage," Bolen said.

Bolen said his family has enough water to get by for now. He said It was going to take more than a water leak to put a damper on Christmas in Chalmers.

"As for ruining my Christmas, nothing is going to ruin my Christmas," Bolen said.

Jeff Haynes said Chalmers residents are advised to boil tap water for the next 48 hours or until further notice. He said they hope to have water back on by midnight.