PERIODICAL Published by October 2022 Tips to stay cyber safe page 7 Insulate for energy savings page 16 Haunting Tales of North Carolina page 8 Your Surry-Yadkin EMC Annual Report inside— see center pages The magazine of
POWERING A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Cooperatives.com/Brighter
Reliability & Innovation
Sustainable, Affordable Energy
Pursuing a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 using new and existing resources to ensure electricity continues to be delivered at the lowest possible cost.
NC
Leveraging new technologies and innovation to deliver reliable electricity across resilient, co op operated electric grids.
Enriching the lives of our local members through continued education initiatives, economic development and communityfocused activities.
North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives are leading the way to a brighter future for our 2.5 million members and local communities. Electric
Local Community Support
8 2022 Henry River Mill Village in Burke County is one of the spooky spots we explore on page 8. Though it has its share of ghost stories, the village, undergoing restoration, is a great destination to explore and get a taste of what life was like in an early 1900s textile mill village. Photo by Walter Arnold Photography. OnFavoritestheCover 8 Haunting Tales North Carolina is rife with spooky spots. 18 Encore Performer Lady tulips can stand the test of time. 20 Queen of the Drive-In Sherry Barnes turned tragedy into a triumph. 2 From Our Readers 4 Viewpoints 6 More Power 16 Energy Sense 18 Carolina Gardens 21 Marketplace 22 Carolina Kitchen 24 Where is This? 24 Carolina Creators CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS Carolina Country Scenes Get your cameras at the ready! Send us your favorite photo of people or scenes from around the state to be considered for our annual photo contest. See page 2 for details. carolinacountry.com | 1 Volume 54, No. 10
Contact us
POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to Carolina Country, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950.
Warren Kessler Publications Director
Experiencing a power outage?
Rue Reynold Editorial Assistant
article, and for openly sharing your personal experience in order to encourage others!
Senior Associate Editor
THIS MONTH: Spooky Spots
RULES
SEND US YOUR PHOTOS!
I knew by adding this line Jacob was promoting the value of therapy for mental health issues. Thank you, Jacob, for your well-written
Web: carolinacountry.com
Change of address: Please contact your electric co-op or go online to carolinacountry.com/address
We retain reprint and online rights for all Paymentsubmission.willbelimited to those entries appearing in print only, not entries featured solely on Findcarolinacountry.comthefulltermsand conditions carolinacountry.com/photocontestat
In the article “Coming Home to Meaningful Change” (September 2022, page 12), Jacob Brooks introduces readers to Megan Hiner, the owner of Mindful Tides, PLLC. Their friendship dates back to their teenage years. Megan eventually returned home to offer mental health counseling services to people in need in northeastern North Carolina.
Tara Verna Creative Director
If you want your print returned, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. (We will not return others.)
Please contact your electric co-op directly to ensure prompt service. Visit carolinacountry.com/co-ops to find yours online.
Your co-op’s board of directors authorizes a subscription to Carolina Country on behalf of the membership at a cost of less than $5 per year.
Hope RandolphHaywoodCounty commissioner
—Scott Gates, editor
3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950
(ISSN 0008-6746) (USPS 832800)
From Our Readers
Send us your best photos of Carolina people or scenes! We’ll pay $50 for those published in the Carolina Country Scenes section of our January 2023 issue.
Senior Vice President & COO
If you did not take the photo you are submitting, please tell us who did so that we can appropriately recognize the photographer.
Published monthly by
Editor’s Note: You can find “Indian Arrowheads of the Piedmont,” from our September 2003 issue, online at carolinacountry.com/arrowheads
When we first started planning our cover story for this month, we came up with a long list of spooky spots around the state, including the Devil’s Tramping Ground in Chatham County, the Maco light in Brunswick County and the Great Dismal Swamp. Although these didn't make the cut this time, we hope you'll enjoy the three we highlighted on page 8. Also, learn about fleet technicians — the often-unsung heroes at your electric co-op — on page 6.
Carolina Country Scenes Photo Contest
SEND TO Online: Nocarolinacountry.com/photocontestemails,please.
Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh, NC, and additional mailing offices. Editorial offices: 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950. Carolina Country® is a registered trademark of the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, Inc.
Why Do We Send You Carolina Country Magazine?
Carolina Country is available on digital cartridge as a courtesy of volunteer services at the NC Department of Cultural Resources, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Raleigh, NC 888-388-2460.
Arrowheads of the Piedmont
North Carolina’s electric cooperatives provide reliable, safe and affordable electric service to 1 million homes and businesses. The 26 electric cooperatives are each memberowned, not-for-profit and overseen by a board of directors elected by the membership.
Include your name, electric co-op, mailing address and email address or phone number
Subscriptions: Individual subscriptions, $12 per year. Schools, libraries, $6.
Renee C. Gannon, CCC
Keith Alexander Keith@carolinacountry.comAdvertising
2 | October 2022
Deadline: Nov. 15, 2022
Jessica Armstrong Graphic Designer
Your cooperative sends you Carolina Country as a convenient, economical way to share with its members information about services, director elections, meetings and management decisions. The magazine also carries legal notices that otherwise would be published in other media at greater cost.
Phone: 919-875-3091
Executive Vice President & CEO
Volume 54, No. 10
Email: editor@carolinacountry.com
Nelle Hotchkiss
Mail: Carolina Country Photo Contest 3400 Sumner Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27616
In your September issue, you mentioned a September 2003 article on Native American arrowheads by Ron Harris and said the article is still frequently read on your website. How can I find this article?
Fred Caruso Fayetteville A member of South River EMC
Submit high resolution digital photos online; print photos need to be at least 5 x 7 inches.
Mail: 3400 Sumner Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27616-2950
All content © Carolina Country unless otherwise indicated.
Scott Gates, CCC Editor
I enjoyed the article, but what really caught my eye was the author’s line at the end of the article. KUDOS to Jacob for helping de-stigmatize mental health issues and services!
Joseph P. Brannan
Personal Touch
EASY Everything you want to do, from texting and taking pictures, to emailing and getting directions, is organized in a single list on one screen with large, legible letters. Plus, Voice Typing makes writing emails and texts effortless.
as
$1999month2 TaUnlimitedlk&Text $1999month* TUnlimitedalk&Text $1999month2 TUnlimitedalk&Text No feescancellationever 100% customerU.S.-basedserviceNocontractslong-termNo monthlyhiddenfeesMost nationwidereliablecoverage *Monthly fees do not include government taxes or assessment surcharges and are subject to change. A data plan is required for the Jitterbug Smart3. Plans and services may require purchase of a Lively device and a one-time setup fee of $35. Urgent Response or 9-1-1 calls can be made only when cellular service is available. Urgent Response service tracks an approximate location of the device when the device is turned on and connected to the network. Lively does not guarantee an exact location. Urgent Response is only available with the purchase of a Health & Safety Package. Consistently rated the most reliable network and best overall network performance in the country by IHS Markit’s RootScore Reports. LIVELY and JITTERBUG are trademarks of Best Buy and its affiliated companies. ©2022 Best Buy. All rights reserved. Available in-store or online at: lively.com/smart To order or learn more, 1.800.819.6950call Flexible and a ordable plans $1499/mo.* 300 minutes | 10¢ per text $1999/mo.* Unlimited minutes | Unlimited texts Add required data plan for as low as $249 a month*
The Jitterbug® Smart3 is our simplest smartphone with a simple menu, large screen and exclusive health and safety services.
SMART Turn your Jitterbug Smart3 into a personal safety device with our Urgent Response Service and exclusive health apps.
as
you,
AFFORDABLE Lively® has affordable value plans as low as $1499 a month or Unlimited Talk & Text plans only $1999 a Choose the plan that works best for then add your required data plan for as low as $249 per month*. plans low $249/mo.2
Our smartphonesimplest ever. Data plans as low as $249/mo.* $1999month TaUnlimitedlk&Text Data
month.
Why Membership Matters
By Greg Puckett
4 | October 2022 Viewpoints
As a member of the cooperative, you are an owner in the company
world operate according to the same set of core principles and values, dating back to the first modern cooperative founded in England in 1844. These principles are:
■ Cooperation Among Cooperatives
Also, because we are owned by the members we serve, electric co-ops are committed to our communities. North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are investing in worthy programs focused on strengthening rural communities and advancing education through opportunities like the NC Youth Tour and the Bright Ideas educational grant program. And by partnering with economic development agencies across the state, we are doing our part to support job creation and businesses seeking to start, expand or relocate, building a brighter future for us all.
■ Concern for Community
Greg Puckett is executive vice president and general manager for Dobson-based Surry-Yadkin EMC. He also serves as president of the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation.
Co-op membership has several other benefits, including getting a return on your investment through capital credits. Cooperatives, unlike investor-owned utilities, are not-for-profits and are operated in a fashion that any margins or revenue remaining after all expenses have been paid are returned to members in the form of capital credits.
■ Members’ Economic Participation
Because we answer to our local members, electric co-ops are able to quickly respond to your changing needs, and we’re deploying innovative technologies to do so in new ways. Working with other electric co-ops across the state, we are creating a future that allows us to continue our mission of providing safe, affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity — powering and empowering the people and communities we serve.
■ Autonomy and Independence
■ Democratic Member Control
October is Co-op Month, giving you, as a member of an electric cooperative, a reason to celebrate. But what does it mean to be a co-op member? How is it different than being a customer?
Membership is a key component of the cooperative business model and how we operate. As a member, you and your voice are important to your electric cooperative, and your participation as a member is Co-opsequitydemocracy,self-responsibility,valuesareCooperativesvital.basedontheofself-help,equality,andsolidarity.aroundthe
■ Open and Voluntary Membership
In each of these, our members and our communities play an important role in the decision-making process at the cooperative. As a member of the cooperative, you are an owner in the company and can actively participate by electing directors who represent you — or even serving on that board if you choose. That’s one reason we see it as so important to keep you informed of happenings at the co-op, in many instances in the pages of this very magazine.
■ Education, Training and Information
The MDHearing™ VOLT uses the same kind of technology incorporated into hearing aids that cost thousands more at a small fraction of the price.
The MDHearing VOLT is a medical-grade, digital, rechargeable hearing aid offering sophistication and high performance; and works right out of the box with no time-consuming “adjustment” appointments. You can contact a licensed hearing specialist conveniently online or by phone — even after your purchase at no cost. No other company provides such extensive support. Now that you know...why pay more?
BUY 1 FREEGET 1 NEWPRICELOW ONLY $14999 REG $299.98 Each When You Buy a Pair PLUS FREE SHIPPING Limited Time Only! Use Code QY73 and get FREE Shipping Carrying case is also the charger ANEVERCHANGEBATTERYAGAIN! ™ “I was amazed! Sounds I hadn’t heard in years came back to me!” — Don W., Sherman, TX Proudly designed in America and supported by US audiologists
Digital Hearing Aid RECHARGEABLE DOCTOR DESIGNED | AUDIOLOGIST TESTED | FDA REGISTERED How can a rechargeable hearing aid that costs only $14 999 be every bit as good as one that sells for $2,400 or more? CHARGE AND GOAT NIGHT ALL DAY For the Lowest Price Call 45-DAY RISK-FREE TRIAL! If you are not completely satis ed with your hearing aids, return them within 45 days for a FULL REFUND! 1-800-677-4909 www.MDVolt.com Nearly Invisible rating for 10+ years BBBA+
Over 800,000 satis ed MDHearing customers agree: High-quality, digital, FDA-registered rechargeable hearing aids don’t have to cost a fortune. The fact is, you don’t need to spend thousands for a hearing aid.
The answer: Although tremendous strides have been made in Hearing Aid Technology, those cost reductions have not been passed on to you. Until now...
The August training sessions included winching and recovery methods, working load limits, ultimate load limits and safety procedures. Sessions also included hydraulic hoses, crimping techniques and safety procedures when working withAttendeeshydraulics.represented Blue Ridge
USDA Offers Support for conservation Projects
Trick or treating is fun, but can aroundreflectorsglowsticksBringin(andtreacherousbespooky)thedark.flashlights,orwhenwalkingtheneighborhood.
6 | October 2022 More Power
lectric cooperatives work around the clock to provide safe, affordable and reliable service to members. This may be most evident when line crews are spotted in the field, maintaining the system or restoring outages after a storm. But behind every bucket truck or other piece of equipment, there’s an often-unsung group of employees there to make sure everything works when it needs to: fleet technicians.
Oct O ber
e
BOOtiful Glow
Fleet technicians train to Keep co-op Fleets on the cutting edge
from eight electric cooperatives across the state met at EnergyUnited’s Mocksville office for the 2022 Fleet Training Seminar.
NC landowners planning projects to address natural resource concerns can apply for financial and technical assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Past projects include riparian buffer zones, oyster restoration efforts and urban agriculture projects. Applications are due Oct. 14; for more information, contact your local USDA Service Center (visit bit.ly/usdaoffices for a list by county).
Quick Hits
October is National Co-op Month! Celebrate your co-op by historyaboutlearningitsand makescontributionstheittoyourcommunity.
Pumped for Pumpkin Spice up your life with pumpkin.atpumpkin-inspiredFindandpumpkinsomespicefallcuisines.comfortingrecipescarolinacountry.com/
Source: energy.gov
“Fleet technicians undergo training throughout the year to stay on top of new technology and safety protocols, and we’re pleased to play a part in supporting the key role these individuals complete on a daily basis,” Brown said.
Saving the Heat Time to turn on the heater? Save energy by turning down the heat at night or when you’re away. If you have a heat pump, maintaining a constant temperature works best.
EnergyUnited
“The work of fleet technicians may often go unnoticed, but their jobs are critical to ensuring equipment is operating safely and in full compliance 24/7, 365 days a year,” said Jimmy Brown, manager of Fleet Services for StatesvillebasedFleetEnergyUnited.techniciansare responsible for everything from oil changes to equipping vehicles with the latest technology, providing fellow co-op employees with the best equipment and best tools to do their jobs. Staying up-to-date on current technology is critical to keeping fleets in top form, and in August, fleet technicians
We ♥ Co-ops
Energy, EnergyUnited, Pee Dee Electric, Piedmont Electric, Randolph EMC, Roanoke Electric Cooperative, Union Power Cooperative and Wake Electric. Contractors from Utility Lines Construction Services and Asplundh Tree Expert Company were also in attendance.
1Subject to credit approval. Call for details See Representative for full warranty details. *One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. **Offer Valid at the time of estimate only. 1-844-440-9814FREE ESTIMATES! THE PERMANENT SOLUTION TO CLOGGED GUTTERS 15 5 10 %% % off your entire purchase*NOWACT PLUS to first 50 callers** seniors & offmilitaryoff FINANCING THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET! 1 www.Leaffilter.com/15off | Promo Code: 73
■ Enable multi-factor or two-factor authentication for your online accounts. This extra layer of security allows websites and applications to confirm you’re really who you say you are. The additional authentication may come in many forms, including a confirmation text code on your phone, an email or even a separate authenticator app. By adding this second step, you’re making it a lot harder for hackers to access your accounts.
—Justin Luebbert, NRECA
We all have a part to play in combatting cyber threats. Electric cooperatives and their local and national partners will continue working together to advance cybersecurity defenses for all co-op members and the local communities they serve.
Cybersecurity Through Cooperation
Good cyber hygiene is equally important at home and in our personal lives. Here are a few cybersecu rity tips you can implement at home:
■ Think before you click. Be careful when clicking links or opening attachments. This is one of the most important ways to protect yourself against scammers and hackers. If you receive a text message or email that seems too good to be true or threatens negative consequences for not taking immediate action or displays a sense of urgency, take extra precaution.
carolinacountry.com | 7
■ Use secure passwords. This means using unique pass words for all your accounts and ensuring they are at least 15 characters long. Randomly generated passwords or passphrases are typically more secure. You might also consider using some type of password manager.
As cybersecurity threats continue to grow both at home and in the workplace, it’s important to know what we can do as individuals, how we can work with others and measures we can take to reduce our risk of cyber threats. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but good cyber hygiene should be practiced year-round. North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are working together and with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the national trade association for electric coopera tives, to establish relationships, provide tools, share resources and training information to harden and improve the overall cyberYoulandscape.canhelptoo.
and the dead in little Ocracoke Village, well, they may not always be friends, but they are definitely neighbors.”
Every October, hundreds gather in Ocracoke for Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree. The festival concludes with a militia crew march to Springer’s Point, where Blackbeard lost his life (and head) at the hands of Lieutenant Maynard. Joe Sledge, Outer Banks native and author of “Haunting The Outer Banks,” recalls growing up with Blackbeard’s infamous legacy.
North Carolina has plenty of haunts and legends that persist through generations. Yet the more obscure, unknown and unexplainable are some of the best stories of this state.
For Joe, he prefers the Blackbeard tale of a mysterious light in shallow waters. A light that’s chased fearful kayakers and gives all who see it a sense of dread. More than just pirates, Ocracoke itself is quite haunting.
“I once said you can't swing a boat oar on Ocracoke without it going through a ghost,” he says. “The living
Heads Will Swim
For those visiting — after you’re chased through Springer’s Point by Blackbeard’s figure — venturedisembodiedtooneofthe island’s
hauntingtales
“Blackbeard, the angry grimacing pirate with fuses in his beard coming at you with a cutlass, was a wellknown image for us. His figure was sold in stores, along with his treasure and pirate ship, all in miniature and on display,” Joe says. “Almost all the legend of Blackbeard is lore. But his death — the basic story of him being roused up at dawn with the threat of two ships in the water off Ocracoke — that is well documented.”
During the bloody battle on Nov. 22, 1718, Blackbeard suffered a reported 20 stab wounds and five bullet holes. Even after being decapitated, it’s rumored his body swam around the ship three times in search of his head. By that point, Maynard had attached it to the bow of the ship.
North Carolina is rife with spooky spots
“Where did Blackbeard's body get buried?” Joe says. “It is possible the crew was placed in a shallow commu nal grave somewhere nearby, which would be today's Teach's Hole on Springer's Point. So, if there is a ghost of Blackbeard, that's a likely place.”
BY EMORY RAKESTRAW
ReyesCalvin NCVisit 8 | October 2022
In typical Halloween fashion, it’s time to have a good scare, so gather 'round for three truly haunting stories from North Carolina.
COAST
80 cemeteries. Keep your eyes out for Augustus Abner McGuire, a ghost donning a full diving suit, or Mad Mag Howard, a screeching ghost at Howard Cemetery.
carolinacountry.com | 9
ReyesCalvin
Digital Extras
Visit carolincountry.com/extras to watch Michael Greene’s thermal video of what could be Bigfoot in the Uwharrie National Forest.
EASY TO USE Today, cell phones are hard to hear, difficult to dial and overloaded with features you may never use. That’s not the case with the Jitterbug Flip2. A large screen, big buttons and one-touch speed dialing make it easy to call family and friends. The powerful speaker ensures every conversation will be loud and clear. A straightforward list-based menu makes navigating the phone simple.
The Jitterbug® Flip2, from the makers of the original easy-to-use cell phone, has big buttons and an exclusive Urgent Response button on the keypad.
Urgent Response or 911 calls can be made only when cellular service is available. Urgent Response tracks an approx. location of device when device is turned on and connected to the network. Lively does not guarantee an exact location. Urgent Response is only available with the purchase of a Lively Health & Safety Package. Consistently rated the most reliable network and best overall network performance in the country by IHS Markit’s
EASY TO BE PREPARED Life has a way of being unpredictable, but you can be prepared in an uncertain or unsafe situation with Urgent Response Service. Simply press the Urgent Response button to be connected with a highly trained Urgent Response Agent who will confirm your location, evaluate your situation and get you the help you need, 24/7.
EASY TO ENJOY Wherever you go, a built-in camera makes it easy and fun for you to capture and share your favorite memories. And a built-in reading magnifier and LED flashlight help you see in dimly lit areas. With all the features you need, the Jitterbug Flip2 also comes with a long-lasting battery, so you won’t have to worry about running out of power.
Available in-store or online at: lively.com/flip Our easiest Jitterbug® phone ever. Most nationwidereliablecoverage 100% customerU.S.-basedservice No monthlyhiddenfeesKeep your current phone number Nocontractslong-term To order or learn more, 1.866.469.7183call Flexible and a ordable plans $1499/mo.* 300 minutes 10¢ per text $1999/mo.* Unlimited minutes Unlimited texts Unlimited Talk & Text only $1999/mo.*
Monthly fees do not include government taxes or fees and are subject to change. Plans and services may require purchase of Lively device and one-time setup
The Jitterbug Flip2 is one of the most affordable cell phones on the market and comes with reliable nationwide coverage. With no long-term contracts or cancellation fees, you can switch plans anytime. fee of $35. RootScore Reports. By enabling Alexa on the Jitterbug Flip2, you acknowledge that Lively is not responsible for Amazon Alexa’s functionality or services. Amazon, Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Screen images simulated. Appearance of device may vary. LIVELY and JITTERBUG are trademarks of Best Buy and its affiliated companies. ©2022 Best Buy. All rights reserved.
3. Discussion of long-range planning;
In connection with the election of three (3) directors, of which results will be announced during this meeting, the following members have been nominated by the Nominating Committee appointed by the Board of Directors of the Cooperative pursuant to the By-Laws:
Elections will be held via mail-in and electronic ballots with the voting period opening September 20, 2022, and closing October 24, 2022, at 5 p.m.
Winter peak hours switch on Oct. 16
Karoline Overby | Secretary, SYEMC
District 3 — Willard Swift District 8 — David Miller District 10 — Eddie Campbell
1. The reports of the officers, directors, and committees;
powermoreandnow9hourssystemtimesettingandances,dayrateTime-of-Day/Shift-to-Saveoption,thisisthetimeoftonotoperatelargeappliavoidusinghotwaterkeepyourthermostatatatolimittheamountofyourheatingandcoolingruns.SYEMC’swinteron-peakarebetween6a.m.anda.m.dailybeginningOct.16.NotonShifttoSave?Signupandreceivea$25billcreditthepotentialtosaveevenmoneyonyourmonthlybill.Inaddition,youcan
willDonationscard.begiventolocalfoodbanks.
11 A publication for Surry-Yadkin EMC members October 2022
You are invited to donate to SYEMC’s Annual Food Drive, Oct. 24-Nov. 17. Those giving will be entered in a drawing for a $50 gift
receive another $25 bill credit with the Bring Your Own Thermostat incentive program. For more in formation or to sign up, contact a member services representative at 336-356-8241.
2. Announcement of the results of the election of three (3) directors of the Cooperative;
Official notice of Annual Meeting for SYEMC
The Annual Meeting of the members of Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, and aired live on the Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation YouTube page to take action upon the following matters:
4. All other business which may come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.
Peak hours refer to the time of day when demand for elec tricity is at its highest. For our members taking advantage of the
Similar to how our wires run through our service territory, our concern for community flows through all of our decisions — because being a coop means being a responsible partner and good Surry-Yadkinneighbor.Electric works to help our community thrive through initiatives led by our employees and local board that’s comprised of neighbors
We’re proud to support local youth through our Youth Tour and scholarship programs. With your help, we offer Operation Round Up to provide assistance to our community. We partner with and support area food banks and other charitable organizations such as area united funds, homeless shelters, medical ministries and more.
Above all, as a co-op we put our members’ priorities first. As your trusted energy partner, we know that saving energy and money is important to you. That’s why we have numerous programs in place to help, including Time-of-Day/Shift to Save, home energy audits, energy efficiency tips we
The word “cooperative” is close to “cooperation,” meaning people working together towards a common goal — mutually benefitting one another and the larger community. That’s the essence of the cooperative spirit. Our employees and member-elected board members are invested in the community in which they live and serve.
Surry-Yadkin EMC is continuously examining ways to operate more efficiently while continuing to provide the highest level of friendly, reliable service you expect and deserve. After all, we’re your local co-op. We were built by the members we serve.
Celebrating co-op membership
empower you to manage energy use at home. If you haven’t already, I encourage you take a moment and download our SmartHub app. Through the app, you can conveniently monitor and manage your energy use. And we’re of course here to help, so give us a call if you have questions about your energy bills.
President & General Manager
Fall is a busy time, and October is a particularly eventful month with school, community and sports activities in full swing. It’s also when all cooperatives celebrate National Co-op Month.When I say Surry-Yadkin EMC celebrates Co-op Month, it really means we are celebrating you! After all, our co-op wouldn’t exist without you, our members.Ourcore business purpose is to serve as your electricity provider, but the larger mission of the co-op is to help make our corner of the world a better place. “Concern for community” is one of seven guiding principles that all co-ops share.
who live right here in our community. Because we’re local, we understand our community’s unique needs and strive to help meet them.
Cooperatively yours, Greg ExecutivePuckettVice
share regularly on social media and on more.website,ourandWewantto
October 202212
Dear Valued Member,
Manager's Message | GreG Puckett syemc.com
2021AnnualReport ConnectionsPowerful
t is with great pleasure that we bring you the 81st Annual Report of Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation. In addition, I would like to invite you to virtually attend our 81st Annual Business Meeting being held via YouTube Live on Oct. 25, 2022, at 7 p.m.
I
Presenting the 81st Annual Report
This year’s Annual Report is a chance to provide our members with updates and key information about the cooperative and our business operations. We look forward to sharing this with you, and we hope you will join us for our virtual Annual Business Meeting on Oct. 25 via YouTube Live or take time to watch the meeting the following day on our website, syemc.com.
We encourage our members to vote in this year’s elections for members of the Board of Directors. A new option for voting this year is through the SmartHub online portal and app. Those voting either via mail-in or digital ballot will be entered in a drawing for a chance at several bill credits. Ballots, being handled by third-party vendor Survey and Ballot Systems, must be returned by 5 p.m. Oct. 24, 2022.
Results of the election and winners of the drawing will be announced during the Annual Meeting.
We appreciate the support of you — our members.
A Community Information Session is being planned for 2023 at a location in the Elkin/State Road area of our service territory. We look forward to connecting with our members at this event. More details will be provided in Carolina Country in the coming months.
B POWERFUL CONNECTIONS Don’t just go green, Learn more at syemc.com
In 2021, we invested $9 million in our infrastructure, bringing the value of our system less depreciation to $125,314,240. This year, we are happy to report that we will be retiring approximately $3 million in capital credits to our members. Our members who had service in 1996 and 1997 should have received a refund on their electric bills prior to the Oct. 25 Annual Meeting. Former members who had service in 1996 and 1997 will be mailed a check at their last known address.
A message from SYEMC President Lee Von “Toby” Speaks
This 81st year of service has continued to provide us with the opportunity to serve our members based on cooperative values that make us unique and relevant to the rural communities we are so fortunate to serve. Despite continued challenges, from supply chain to increased prices of equipment and materials and ongoing health-related matters stemming from COVID-19, we have maintained an impec cable safety record and continued to upgrade and improve our infrastructure so we can uphold our pledge to “provide outstanding service that powers our rural communities.”
District District District of Directors
District 4 Brenda Hardy District 5 Alvin Reid Jr.
C SYEMC.COM
SecretaryOverby
6 Stephen Joyce District 7 Lee Von “Toby” PresidentSpeaks
8 David TreasurerMiller
District 10 Eddie Campbell
District 1 Karoline
District 2 Stephen Hutson District 3 Willard Swift Vice President
9 David Pendry Your 2021 Board
n 2020, during a Value of Power series in Carolina Country, Surry-Yadkin EMC announced it would be hosting Community Information Sessions for members around the service territory. Unfortunately, shortly after the announcement, the cooperative had to delay plans for those information meetings due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Community info session planned for
Refreshments were provided and those in attendance were entered into a drawing for a chance to win door prizes and gift cards. Attendees also were given the opportunity to schedule home energy audits with the cooperative’s Member Support and Energy Services team.
A fourth Community Information Session is being planned for 2023 in the Elkin/State Road area. Once plans are finalized, the cooperative will make an announcement in Carolina Country and on social media to let members know where we will be. The staff looks forward to meeting with members again.
2023 D POWERFUL CONNECTIONS
(Above right) Jeff Nixon, senior apparatus technician for SYEMC, shows members where the Yadkin transmission line upgrade project is taking place on a map during the East Bend Community Information Session. (Right) Anna Jones, center, human resources manager at SYEMC, and Eddie Campbell, District 10 director for SYEMC, meet with Mary Jessup, a member of the co-op and of the SYEMC Operation Round Up board.
The information sessions provided members with a chance to meet cooperative employees and board members. They allowed members to learn more about different areas of the cooperative, such as solar and renewables, transmission and distribution projects, financials like capital credits, energy savings tips and more.
Jaye Hall, right, a member of Surry-Yadkin EMC’s Member Support & Energy Services team, speaks with a member about energy savings and energy efficiency options during the Community Information Session at East Bend Senior Center.
I
In fall of 2021, the cooperative held its first Community Information Session at Salem Baptist Church in Dobson. Then in 2022, two more sessions were held — one at East Bend Senior Center and one at Westfield Baptist Church.
Inventory to improve outage response, efficiency
A partnership with HomeServe, an optional service offered to members, provides home emergency repair plans that are not covered by homeowners’ insurance. Plans are individualized, covering plumbing, heating and cooling, and electrical repairs.
For additional information on how you can get started with either of these services, visit syemc.com/ value-added-products-services.
The Generac/Carolina Generators partnership offers affordable back-up generators to members. Generac, founded in 1959, was the first to engineer affordable, stand-by generators. The company also designed the first engine developed specifically for the rigors of generators.
Generac offers a wide range of power products, including portable, residential, commercial and industrial generators. They are the leading designer and manufacturer of manual and fully automatic transfer switches and accessories for back-up power applications — up to 2 megawatts.
SYEMC.COM
S
urry-Yadkin EMC in partnership with Davey Resource Group (DRG) has completed a nearly two-year process of performing an audit to accurately assess the cooperative’s inventory in the field. This information provides the cooperative with the capa bility to create brand new mapping data that will show staff where everything is, down to each unit on a pole.
Furthermore, this data supplies a new outage model that will improve outage predictions, decrease the total time of an outage and raise efficiency in locating the exact cause of an outage. Now, when an outage occurs, staff can look at the Geographic Information System (GIS) and pinpoint exactly the location and what equipment is needed to repair damage once they are on scene to assess the outage.
information that was missing data. Today, their jobs will be more efficient thanks to the accuracy of the new mapping system.
Carolina Generators, owned and operated by Brad Harrison, is a licensed Generac dealer and will install and provide service options for the gen erators purchased through the partnership with Surry-Yadkin EMC.
In addition to the accuracy of the new mapping data, there are also benefits with taxable assets. Taxes are based off the location and number of the co-op’s assets, and the inventory allows the cooperative to have an updated count of these assets.
HomeServe finds it important to remind custom ers that should an electrical service line break, it is the responsibility of the homeowner to repair the damage. Repairs could range from $3,000 to $10,000 or HomeServemore.assists
nforeseen home repairs and general maintenance are responsibilities that come with being a homeowner. Unfortunately, some of these repairs are unpredictable and can be extremely costly. Surry-Yadkin EMC has partnered with outside agencies to offer members additional services and resources that are beneficial during these types of occurrences.
During the audit, DRG inventoried 58,512 distribution poles and 1,458 transmission poles. The review also included 28,316 active meters and 235 inactive meters. In addition to other beneficial data, 14,121 yard lights, 19,139 overhead transformers and 2,839 underground transformers were assessed.
Often, homeowners are unaware of their responsibility to cover maintenance and repairs of water and sewer laterals, and more.
U
Value-added products available to members
The success of this project will be beneficial to all parties involved. Members will start to notice improvements in restoration times, and staff will have a better understanding of how they can better serve members through more accurate data.
E
more than 4 million home owners in the U.S. and Canada and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Members who choose service can call to report problems 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. HomeServe sends out technicians who are local and licensed to cover repairs, and a 90-day guarantee is provided with eachHomeServemaintenance.isaservice that is optional to members. All payments, repair requests, and communication will take place between the member and HomeServe. Fees will appear separately from monthly SYEMC billings.
The newest value-added products available are through a partnership with Generac and Carolina Gen erators, which is also a member of Surry-Yadkin EMC.
SYEMC’s engineering technicians also will benefit from the new system. Before the new system was in place, technicians were forced to rely on
The food drive is typically held in October and November. The dates will be announced in the October Carolina Country and on social media so that members can participate as well.
Cooperative employees volunteer for a Community Projects Committee, which determines the projects they will take part in each year. In addition to the food drive, the committee rallied employees to donate money to sponsor children for Christmas. Ten children from the Surry-Yadkin service area were sponsored with Christmas gifts and clothes.
F
Also, for the first time in two years, the Community Projects Committee was able to host the 10th annual Surry-Yadkin EMC Charity Golf Tournament in June of 2022. The committee set out with a goal of raising $30,000 to benefit four area nonprofits — Yadkin Valley United Fund, Grace Clinic of Elkin, the Greater Mount Airy Ministry of Hospitality, which oversees the Shepherd’s House and Helping Hands Foundation, and Second Harvest Food Bank.
Once the sponsorships came in, the committee had raised $39,000, donating $9,750 to each of the four organizations. In addition, 120 players hit the golf course at Cedarbrook Country Club, with a wait
Representatives of three of the nonprofits that benefitted from the 2022 SYEMC charity golf tournament are on hand at Cedarbrook Country Club to help out with the tournament. The day’s efforts raised $39,000, which was donated in four checks for $9,750 to Yadkin Valley United Fund, Grace Clinic of Elkin, Second Harvest Food Bank and the Greater Mount Airy Ministry of Hospitality, which oversees The Shepherd’s House and Helping Hands Foundation.
C
In the fall of 2021, the employees were teamed up in groups and went head-to-head to see who could donate the most food during Surry-Yadkin’s annual food drive to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank. The regional food bank supports the smaller food banks in our five-county service area, and beyond. In 2021, cooperative employees donated 7,896 pounds of food to Second Harvest.
The Shepherd’s House, a nonprofit shelter for women and families, moved into a new location this past year, and Surry-Yadkin EMC was able to donate some IT (information technology) manpower to support getting the new location set up.
The cooperative also supports several youth programs, in addition to hosting field trips at the office and solar farm and going out and visiting youth at schools. Each year, $6,250 is provided to teachers from the service area through Bright Ideas Education Grants. The cooperative sponsors two high school juniors as delegates to the NC Youth Tour, which includes a week-long trip to Washington, D.C., and a $500 scholarship, as well as one student to the Cooperative Council of North Carolina’s Cooperative Leadership Camp. Also, each summer, the cooperative sends a middle-school girl and boy to basketball camp at NC State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, respectively, through Touchstone Energy Sports Camp Scholarships. More information on these programs can be found at syemc.com.
Surry-Yadkin’s members also help support those in need in the community through the Operation Round Up program. Members who are willing opt in to having their monthly bill rounded up to the nearest dollar (never more than $11.88 a year). Those funds are then distributed to area nonprofits such as food banks, school backpack programs, homeless shelters and more, as well as to victims of house fires and catastrophic illness. A board made up of co-op members meets three times a year to determine where the funds are distributed.
ing list of teams still wanting to participate. With such success, the committee is looking to reorganize the tournament some for 2023 to accommodate more golfers and allow for more funds to be raised.
Community projects benefit those in need
oncern for Community is one of the key guiding principles by which the cooperative operates. This community aspect includes everything from educating people on electrical safety to providing support for those in need.
POWERFUL CONNECTIONS
SYEMC.COM
Over its 82 years, Surry-Yadkin Electric has retired
The cooperative must keep or retain a portion of each year’s cooperative earnings as equity capital to use for a period of time. Like any business, a cooperative must have adequate funds to pay bills, make investments in the system such as building new lines and replacing outdated copper lines and old poles and improving service reliability through projects such as new transmission lines and substations, and have reserves for risk management (storm damage, for example). Equity capital is one of the measures by which financial institutions use to lend funds to the cooperative to pay for the cost of construction as part of the long-range planning goals.
Where
One of the 7 Cooperative Principles that Surry-Yadkin EMC follows as a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative is Members’ Economic Participation. Part of the members’ economic participation includes allocating and distributing any excess margins the cooperative may have when it is financially feasible to do so. These returns are known as capital credits.
Surry-Yadkin EMC retires capital credits back to its members using the FIFO method — First In, First Out; the first ones on our system will be the first ones paid out. Once a year, the board will vote to retire the oldest year(s) or a portion of year(s) as a general retirement based on financial conditions. For example, the capital credits from 1994 were retired across two years, 2019 and 2020. We have had years when we’ve been able to retire more than one year. The general retirement typically occurs prior to the annual meeting held in October each year.
When
$38.5 million to its member-owners.
If financial conditions allow, the board of directors will pay out (or retire) capital credits to members. Having strong and healthy financial ratios is important to continue the well-being of the cooperative and must be present before retiring members’ equity.
T
Why
The Who, What, When, Where & Why
his year, 2022, Surry-Yadkin EMC is refunding capital credits to those members who had service in 1996 and 1997. During its July meeting, the board of directors approved the retirement of approximately $3 million in capital credits. This includes 100 percent of 1996’s and 1997’s capital credit retirement. Mem bers should see those retirements as a credit on their bills prior to the October annual meeting.
About $3 million in capital credits retired Capital Credits
What
Members’ equity is created by the excess margins that remain after all the year’s expenses have been paid. Any revenues above the cost of doing business are considered margins. These margins represent capital furnished by the members to the cooperative for use as operating capital.
Members receive a refund on their investment in the form of a capital credit retirement because Surry-Yadkin EMC is an electric cooperative, a not-for-profit organization that operates at the cost to provide service.
Members must invest in their cooperative. The equity built within the cooperative is used for leverage to finance large projects that are necessary to upgrade the system to improve system reliability and provide electric service to our members.
Who
At the end of the year, the margins are allocated to each member as capital credits based upon how much electricity was used during the year. For example, if the total membership paid in $50 million toward their power bills and at the end of the year $3 million in margins remain after expenses are paid, the $3 million in margins will be allocated to each member based on the percentage that each member paid in. If member A paid in $2,700 a year for electric service and member B paid in $12,000 a year for service, the capital credit amount allocated to member A would be $162 and the allocation for member B is $720. A record of each member’s capital credits is kept on file by year of allocation.
G
The board also will approve special capital credit retirements at the monthly board meeting to estates and to other types of early retirements. The special capital retirements are retired at an amount discounted to net present day value.
As an electric cooperative, the members of the cooperative are the primary source of ownership (equity) funds for the cooperative.
Surry-Yadkin EMC also is a participant in the Brighter Future initiatives through its solar farm in the Fairview community as well as its electric vehicle charging network. The EV network includes a DC Fast Charger at Circle K at the Zephyr Road/I-77 interchange, as well as Level II chargers at Fairfield Inn in Elkin, Hampton Inn at the Zephyr Road interchange, the Surry-Yadkin EMC main office, Surry Communications’ Dobson of-
A Brighter Future: Cooperatives work together to meet energy goals
POWERFUL CONNECTIONS
The goal of Eagle Chase is to provide enhanced electric service reliability and resiliency while reducing peak electricity costs. During outages, the microgrid will be able to support the neighborhood for up to 36 hours, and during normal operations, it remains connected to the main grid to provide power diversity and increased reliability. The residential microgrid includes a propane-powered generator and a battery system, as well as integrating smart water heater controls and homes prewired for electric vehicle charging.
The Butler Farm microgrid, in Lillington, is a project that incorporates co-op-owned components and farm-owned resources. It utilizes biogas produced from hog waste along with solar, battery storage and a diesel generator to support the needs of the farm, as well as selling power produced through a partnership with South River EMC. The Butler Farm microgrid launched in 2018.
microgrids include Ocracoke, which launched in 2017 in partnership with Tideland EMC and includes a controller, solar panels, battery storage, internet-connected smart thermostats, water heater controls and a diesel generator.
The fifth microgrid is a partnership between NCEC, egg producer Rose Acre Farms and local cooperative, Tideland EMC. The project will integrate solar panels, energy storage and other NCEC-owned components with resources owned by the farm, such as existing backup diesel
Nest in Shalotte is a partnership between developer The Adams Group and Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation, and Eagle Chase in Youngsville is being developed by NCEC in partnership with builder Winslow Homes and Wake Electric.
Microgrids are one way the cooperatives are incorporating innovation and technology into the electric grid serving our members. At present, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives has five microgrids online. Different than a power plant, a microgrid is a small electric system that combines several energy resources and control technologies to provide power to an area. While they are connected to the main energy grid, they also can operate independent of theNCEMC’sgrid.
H
The power portfolio for Surry-Yadkin EMC is one provided through a partnership with the co-op’s wholesale power provider, North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation. More than half the power comes from emissions-free nuclear generation. NCEMC acquires its power from a number of sources including its ownership of a 61.51-percent share of the Catawba Nuclear Station’s Unit 1 in York County, S.C.
Heron’s Nest was the state’s first residential microgrid. The site, once fully developed, will have at least 30 homes equipped with solar panels, demand response water heaters, demand response Ecobee programmable thermostats and an option for electric vehicle charging. It also will include a larger community solar array with battery storage.
n 2020, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives launched A Brighter Future initiative, with three main goals — providing reliable, low-carbon electricity with a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050; to incorporate innovation and technology into the grid; and to support community development to improve the lives of co-op members and strengthen the communities served by co-ops.
Less than 5 percent of the co-op’s power is through coal-fired generation. The other sources of power include natural gas, renewables such as solar and wind, hydro and purchases from the wholesale market, primarily PJM, which is a regional transmis sion organization (RTO) serving 13 states, and whole sale suppliers such as Duke Energy, American Electric Power (AEP), Southern Power, BP Energy Company, Shell and Morgan Stanley.
Two residential projects also serve as microgrids for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. Heron’s
Agribusinessgenerators.partnerships
I
beyond microgrids also are part of the innovation and technology being incorporated by cooperatives. Locally, Surry-Yadkin EMC has partnered with Hollar and Greene Produce in Surry County on an eTRU (electric transport refrigeration unit) project. This BEST (Beneficial Electrification & Sustainable Technologies) Solution will help enhance Hollar and Greene’s operations, allowing their refrigerated trailers to be powered by electricity rather than using the onboard diesel generator for cooling during load staging. This alternative fuel technology will allow Hollar and Greene to meet sustainability goals and improve operational efficiency.
Where does SYEMC power come from? & What is our renewable breakdow n?
Power portfolio mix (purchased from North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation) Energ y Credit (REC) mix
As the cooperative continues to increase commu nications efforts, it is also significant to mention that text message alerts are a feature which will be coming to members soon. Electing to receive text messages is something that will be completely optional to members. It is also a service that allows for the delivery of news and outage updates quickly and effectively. When text alert options are available, the cooperative will notify members of its availability.
A
I
If you do not have a social media account, SYEMC also delivers news and important information on the
Community development in Surry-Yadkin EMC’s area includes partnerships with community organizations such as Mount Airy and Lewisville fire departments for United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant (REDLG) program.
Other community development efforts include Bright Ideas Education Grants, Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership, Touchstone Energy Sports Camp Scholarships, NC Youth Tour, 4-H Partnership, UNC Burn Center and the Brighter World Initiative, which sends linemen to help bring power to areas that don’t have access to electricity.
dvancements in communication efforts have increased throughout the year for Surry-Yadkin EMC members. Social media has played a significant role in the delivery of information, such as power outages, employee introductions, safety tips, hours of operation, and more. Surry-Yadkin’s social media presence is through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
new and improved website, syemc.com. The new website launched in July 2022 and is updated routinely. Available on this site are the latest podcasts, Caroli na Country magazines, informational videos and any news-worthy events affecting our members and co-op family. Additionally, emails containing important updates and co-op news are sent to those who have chosen to share their email addresses with the cooperative.
fice, Surry Community College’s main Dobson campus and one to be installed at the Hanging Rock State Park visitors center. Additional Level II chargers are in the works in the service area as well.
For more information on A Brighter Future, visit ncelectriccooperatives.com/brighter-future.
Communications efforts continue to grow
Renewable
SYEMC.COM
In addition to informing members of outage repairs, co-op news and energy efficiency tips, SYEMC also uses social media as a tool to connect with members on a personal level through interactive posts. Engagement with and among members has expanded significantly through social media posts, which often times are inter active and thought-provoking — permitting the member to comment and post photos that relate to the post, print coloring pages for their children, and much more.
J
Consumers Accounting and Collecting ..................................... 1,690,964 ......................... 1,447,959 Consumer Services and Information Expenses ........................... 234,250 ........................... 404,273 Administrative and General Expenses .......................................... 4,215,421 ........................
Total Revenue $53,514,835...................$53,916,027 Expenses Purchased Power
Capital Credits from Associated Organizations 1,111,856
$26,321,333 Operations of Lines 3,439,252
of Operations Revenues 2020 2021 Sale of Electric Energy $52,128,927 $52,520,777 Non-Operating Revenue 274,052
Maintenance of Lines and Property 5,809,114
Statement 133,712 1,261,538 27,223,373 4,735,888 5,891,069 4,659,206 4,480,319 2,094,478
Depreciation 4,364,352
Other Operations Deductions 4,978 2,500 Total Expenses $49,242,426...................$50,037,025 Net Margins for the Year (Patronage Capital) ..... $4,272,409.....................$3,879,002 Average kWh per Member per Month 120010008006004002000 ‘91 ’01 ‘11 ’21 910 1,032 1,173 1,127 300002500020000150001000050000 Members Connected ‘91 ’01 ‘11 ’21 19,073 25,098 27,010 27,590 500040003000200010000 Miles of Line ‘91 ’01 ‘11 ’21 3,000 3,681 4,000 4,149 Members per Mile of Line ‘91 ’01 ‘11 ’211,127876543210 6.36 6.82 6.75 6.65 2021 System Upgrades Capital Credits Estimated 2022 Capital Credit Retirement: $3 million ∞ System improvements, about 610 pole replacements, replacing 11.372 miles of copper wire; new construction ($1.4 million) POWERFUL CONNECTIONS
Interest on Long-Term Debt and Other 2,260,722
on Hand and in Bank
Payable
2020 2021
K Balance Sheet
Electric
Assets .......................................................................
Consumer Deposits 82,207 551,423
Our System
Current Assets
Accounts Payable
............................
Total Other $148,980,479..................$160,081,171
and
Deferred 20,130,851 19,693,444
Long-Term
Debits
Credits and Other Liabilities ......................................
.................
Debt
Members making a difference
Current of Long-Term 2,825,049 3,168,690 3,808,554 3,480,508
and other assets .........................................................
Debt
and Notes Receivable
Debt ..........................................................................
Liabilities and
......................
Prepayments 124,119 150,139
Margins
Present Value of 118,732,850 125,314,240
Materials and Supplies ........................................................................
Investments $16,973,179....................$21,181,010
...........................
Credits .........................
Other Current 988,241 2,355,874
and
MembershipOweEquity
Cash $1,323,162 $2,959,936
Operation Round Up 2021 donations $57,609 Donations since 2001.......................................................$1,653,228
What We Own
SYEMC.COM
Long-Term $67,233,863
& Accrued Liabilities
What We
Current Liabilities
Accounts 10,325,768 8,880,080 754,421 981,495
....................$72,855,262
Plant in Service ...........................................................
$154,758,941 $163,793,302
Notes 333,333 233,333
Depreciation
Maturities
Deferred $746,980.........................$614,271
Less Accumulated 36,026,091 38,479,062
Total Assets Other $148,980,479....................160,081,171
Patronage Capital Unallocated 53,578,381 $57,742,637
O
Utility Plant
peration Round Up is a mem ber-supported relief program that was started in December 2001 through Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation. Over 20 years later, member contributions have assisted in aiding 26 com munity agencies and hundreds of individuals and families in need throughout SYEMC’s service area.
The Double Creek substation is the end-product of a multi-year project that included the construc tion of a four-mile transmission line from the Westfield substation to the site of the new Double Creek substation. Construction on the substation began in July of 2020. The substation should be completed and energized in mid- to late November this year.
The project included construction and upgrading of the transmission lines in Yadkin County, replacing lines that were installed 53 years ago and wooden poles averaging 30 years or older with steel poles to avoid woodpecker damage. It also will raise the height of the conductor to help avoid trees falling from outside of the right-of-way and making contact with the conductor. The smaller 2/0 conductor, rated for 275 amps, also is being replaced by a new 795 conductor, rated for 905 amps.
urry-Yadkin EMC continues to upgrade and update its power grid annually through routine maintenance and other special infrastructure proj ects. Supply chain issues, which many industries are facing at this time, have led to delays in the completion of a couple of major projects, but work is almost complete on those.
During 2021, Surry-Yadkin replaced 610 of its 58,512 poles and 11.372 miles of copper line as part of its annual upgrade process. Each pole takes anywhere from two to six hours to replace, depending on the attachments on the pole and the accessibility of the pole. Surry-Yadkin’s aging infrastructure still includes 40-year-old poles and 80-year-old cop per lines, and the annual replacement project helps keep the co-op moving in a direction of renewing the system for safety and reliability for its members.
Infrastructure upgrades aid grid efficiency
distribution circuits to help reduce outage times and the number of members affected and to provide the needed capacity for future growth in these areas.
The lines, poles and equipment have been upgraded to newer standards and capacities for many more years of service. Surry-Yadkin EMC’s substation department employees are constructing the Double Creek substation.
Contractors attach insulators to a new pole before they erect it as they work on a transmission line upgrade this year.
With this project, a double-circuit distribution line is being built along N.C. 268 going east from the new substation. This line will allow future projects that could help split power loads and offer a back-feed potential for sections of line in the case of outages.
L Connect with us: 510 S. Main St., Dobson | 336.356.8241 | 800.682.5903 | syemc.com
POWERFUL CONNECTIONS
The construction is being built to allow for future growth and many years of service by using specifications for the future conversion from 44 kilovolts (kV) to 100 kilovolts as growth requires. The increase to 100 kV decreases line loss and makes the system more efficient.
S
Two large infrastructure projects kicked off in 2020 and 2021 as well — the construction of the new Double Creek substation just northeast of Pilot Mountain in Stokes County, and the construction and upgrade of the Yadkin County transmission lines be tween Yadkin, Baltimore and East Bend substations.
The Yadkin County transmission project began in March of 2021. It should be completed near the end of September this year. The construction was contracted to Lee Electric Construction.
The Double Creek substation will help ease the load and burden on other substations in the West field, Francisco and Hanging Rock areas. The new substation also will provide a way to back feed
extremely fragile artifacts. Visitors can learn about, and leave with an appreciate of, how a typical middle-class family (the Hausers) and a free family of color (the Sawyers) lived in 1900-1913,” said Turney.Sharing
Courtesy of Horne Creek Living Historical Farm
October 2022 13
Lisa Turney, site manager, has been working at the farm since 1989 and as her responsibilities have increased over the years, so too have the offerings brought by the farm. “Horne Creek is not your typical museum. The vast majority of museums are a ‘look, but don’t touch’ situation. Horne Creek was meant to be very interactive with the public. You can actually sit down in a chair in the house, play the organ, learn how to shell corn, etc. We just ask people not to handle the site’s textiles and
The 113-acre farm features the Hauser family’s original farmhouse, smoke house, wellhouse, fruithouse, corncrib, double-crib feedbarn and tobacco barn, as well as a reconstructed dryhouse, relocated outhouse and six modern structures. As if that isn’t impressive enough, the farm also is home to the Southern Heritage Apple Orchard with 425 varieties of old southern apples and the Hauser Orchard with apple, peach and pear trees. Apples, peaches and grafted trees are available for the public to purchase at specific times of the year.
in the popularity of the farm equipment are the farm animals, of which many are considered rare and endangered breeds. For example, there are Spanish goats, Gulf Coast Native Sheep, Dominique chicken, Rhode Is land Red Chickens, Guineas, five cats, a mule, Butch, and a Bluetick Hound Dog namedSocialCharlie.events also take place at the farm. In the summer, locals and visitors are invited to attend old-fashioned ice cream socials, and in the fall is the pop ular Cornshucking Frolic. The Corns hucking Frolic is scheduled this year to take place Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The farm also hosts other pleasurable events such as Heirloom Apple Tree Sales, Sheep Shearing Day, A Labor of Love Quilt Exhibition, Christmas by Lamplight and more.
By Kasey Martin
H
The Hauser farm, located in Pin nacle, is recognized as one of the best preserved examples of a late 19th and early 20th century middle-class farm in North Carolina and is on the Nation al Register of Historic Places. Several generations of the Hauser family farmed on the land from 1830 to 1953. Owner ship of the property was retained until it was sold in 1970, becoming part of the Yadkin River Section of Pilot Mountain State Park. In 1987, it was declared a state historic site, operated by the NC Department of Cultural Resources through its Division of State Historic Sites and Properties.
Families enjoy participating in the annual Cornshucking Frolic held each fall at Horne Creek Living Historical Farm. This year’s event will be Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature 40 to 50 heritage demonstrations, five music groups and an array of food.
ney. “They also will learn about how neighbors came together and helped one another.”Foryears, travelers from all over the state and nation have been drawn to the quaint domain, and relish in the unique opportunities available — allowing them to experience farm life in the good ol’ days. Perfectly capturing the state-ofmind was none other than Jeff Hauser, a grandson of Thomas and Charlotte Hauser. In a 1986 interview, he said, “There’s a way of doing things if you have to. People talk about hard times now, they ought to go back a few times. I mean you can do without a whole lot. If I had to, I could live on one-tenth of what I live on. And live good, too. If you think about it, we are practically self-supporting. Of course, we had to buy salt and coffee, and sugar. And lamp oil. That’s the four main ingredients we had to have. With them, we ate like kings,” said Hauser.
orne Creek Living Historical Farm, formerly known as the Hauser family farm, is one of many attractions that draw visitors to Surry County. However, unlike popular destinations in the area, this family farm offers its guests the simplicity of “farm life,” a tranquil way of living that is often hard to find these days.
Tour groups and school groups are encouraged to visit the farm with a promise that when departing, they will leave different than when they arrived. “Visitors will learn about how vitally important teamwork was within families. Everyone in the family had jobs that they had to carry out in order for the farm to be successful,” said Tur
Horne Creek Farm bringing 1900s life to new generation
Moment:Member
Horne Creek is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admis sion to the farm is free, but there is a cost for special events, like the cornshucking frolic.Additional information may be found by calling the farm at 336-325-2298 and by visiting ApplesHorneinformationhorne-creek-farm.historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/PhotosandotheralsocanbefoundontheCreekandSouthernHeritageFacebookpages.
vampires at
Sealing Air Leaks: Common areas air leaks are mostly found around floors, walls, ceilings, windows, doors and fireplaces. Correcting and sealing these air leaks can generally save you 5% to 30% in energy cost yearly. The most common ways to air seal are spray foam, weatherstrip and insulation.
Water heating: Water heating is the third largest energy expense in your home. Consider reducing the water heater temperature, this can really save on energy cost. The recommended hot water temperature is 120 degrees or lower. If it’s time to upgrade, there are several different energy efficient options available that can really pay off.
Unplug: Unplug all chargers for your devices when not in use. Some chargers can pull the same amount of power even when your device isn’t plugged up. Learn about some of those Energy Vampires below.
Jaye Hall is a journeyman lineman and serves as an energy advisor and auditor for SYEMC.
Insulation: It is recommended that you check your insulation annually. Check for insulation that has settled or fallen out of place. Also look for discolored or thinned out insulation. Adding insulation in your attic crawl space and exterior walls can play a big role in air sealing your home.
computers, DVD players, cable boxes with DVR, cell
chargers, printers,
syemc.com
Learn how
use, including
ENERGY VAMPIRES DON’T LET THEM DRAIN YOUR WALLET
Maximize savings appliances are even when not in televisions, phone and game Depending on how many appliances are used, costs can quickly add up to $100-200 a year. you can stop energy SafeElectricity.org.
consoles.
Programmable Thermostats: Installing a programmable thermo stat can help you to save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7-10 degrees for 8 hours a day.
14 October 2022 Member Connections is a monthly publication intended for the members and friends of Surry-Yadkin EMC. Board of Directors Lee Von (Toby) Speaks, President Willard Swift, Vice President Karoline Overby, Secretary David Miller, Treasurer Board Members Brenda GregStephenEddieAlvinDavidStephenHardyHutsonPendryReid,Jr.CampbellJoycePuckett, Executive Vice President and General Manager Wendy Wood, Editor Serving the Yadkin Valley since 1940. Surry-Yadkin EMC 510 South Main Street Dobson, North Carolina 27017 336.356.8241 | www.syemc.com800.682.5903 Office Hours Mon-Fri: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. To report an outage, day or night 336.356.8241 | 800.682.5903 An Equal Opportunity Employer syemc Connect with SYEMC SurryYadkinEMC@SurryYadkinEMC Many household
using energy
Energy efficient lighting: Look for the ENERGY STAR-qualified LED light bulbs. An average household dedicates 11% of its energy usage to lighting. Using the new lighting technology can reduce lighting energy in your home by 50% to 75%.
Happy October! This is the month where many people are thinking about ghosts and goblins, jack-o’-lanterns and witches, princesses and fairies, but it is also a great time of year to check off some energy efficient upgrades to your home. Here are some things to think about to maximize energy and cost savings as you plan your upgrades.
Windows and Doors: Are your windows over 20 years old? If so, it may be time to look into upgrading. Again, look for the ENERGY STAR-rated windows and doors. This can be a worthwhile investment that can save you on energy costs for years to come.
Call before October 31st Windows & Patio Doors1 Buy One, Get One 50% Off timeFirsteveroffer! Pay $0 for a year!2 1Subject to availability, on a total purchase of 4 or more. Buy 2 windows or doors and get the second 2 windows or doors, of equal or lesser value, 50% off – applied to lowest priced window and/or door products in purchase. BOGO 50% off discount valid during first appointment only. To qualify for discount offer, initial contact for an appointment must be made and documented on or before 10/31/22 with the purchase then occurring on or before 11/10/22. 2No payments and deferred interest for 12 months available from third-party lenders to well qualified buyers on approved credit only. No Finance Charges will be assessed if promo balance is paid in full in 12 months. Products are marketed, sold and installed (but not manufactured) by Renewal by Andersen retailers, which are independently owned and operated under S&L Windows and Doors, LLC d/b/a Renewal by Andersen of the Carolinas. NC Residential Builders License #80213. South Carolina Residential Builders Commission #571. See complete information and entity identification at www.rbaguidelines.com. ©2022 Andersen Corporation. ©2022 Lead Surge LLC. All rights reserved. Call or scan the code to book your FREE Window & Door Diagnosis CarolinaReplacementWindow.com704-626-1644 BOGO OctoberBonanzais Month!
Sheet metal and high-temperature heat-resistant caulk should be used to seal gaps between framing, chimneys and metal flues.
DIY considerations
This column was written by Miranda Boutelle of the Efficiency Services Group. Visit carolinacountry.com/your-energy for more ideas on energy efficiency.
Insulation rating
Air sealing prevents drafts and air infiltration from the outside of your home. Consider air sealing before adding more insulation to areas of your home, such as the attic.
Air sealing can be done as a DIY project, but it is challeng ing to pinpoint and properly seal air leaks. Consider hiring a contractor to complete a blower door test and seal leaks.
Think of insulation as a cozy sweater and air sealing as a windbreaker for your home.
Your home should also be insulated between the floor and crawlspace or unheated basement. If your basement is heated, install insulation in the box sills — the area between the foundation floor of the home’s main level. Consider building and insulating the exterior walls in the basement or installing foam insulation on foundation walls. Check your local building code requirements. Recommended R-values for floor insulation range from R-19
Air sealing prevents drafts and air infiltration from outside. It can improve efficiency, comfort and indoor air quality.
Where to insulate
Wall insulation can be installed during construction or a remodel. If your home wasn’t insulated when it was built, you can have the insulation blown in by a contractor. Blown-in options include cellulose, fiberglass and foam.
The typical locations for insulation are the attic, walls and floor. If you have a forced-air heating or cooling system, your ductwork should be insulated, too. You want a consistent thermal barrier around your home for maximum efficiency. A bonus to insulation is it can reduce noise from the outside of your home.
Typically, air sealing is done around plumbing and elec trical penetrations with spray foam or caulk. If using spray foam around gas appliances, temporarily turn off pilot lights. Spray foam is extremely flammable.
Making insulation and air sealing a priority adds comfort, efficiency and savings to your home.
16 | October 2022 Energy Sense
Attic insulation minimizes energy waste and can help maintain a more consistent temperature throughout your home. Combined with air sealing, it also can prevent ice dams from forming on your roof in colder climates.
If you are planning a DIY approach for air sealing, do your research about best practices for the proper home ventilation. Before going the DIY route, contact two or three local contractors for a project estimate. Sometimes the contractor can get cheaper bulk pricing on insulation.
Know your recommendedregion’s‘R-value’
MadeInsulationEasy
Importance of air sealing
If you are considering a DIY approach, protect yourself when going into spaces with insulation. Wear a properly fitted mask or respirator. Wearing a Tyvek suit and gloves are also recommended. Kneepads can come in handy and make the crawling more bearable.
I
t isn’t pretty, but insulation and air sealing typically provide the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to home energy efficiency improvements. When installed together, they can save you money and make a big difference in comfort and energy use.
Insulation is rated in R-value. The “R” stands for resistance to heat transfer. The higher your R-value, the slower the heat transfer or less wasted energy. There are several different types of insulation, including fiberglass batts, blown fiber glass, cellulose and foam. Each has its own R-value listed on the packaging. To determine the R-value of your existing insu lation, multiply the number of inches by the R-value per inch for the type of insulation.
Attics can be insulated using batts or blown-in insulation. Recommended R-values in North Carolina range from R-30 to R-60 (although our state spans a few climate zones, so check specifics at bit.ly/r-valuezones). If you use your attic for storage, you can build a raised platform with room for insulation underneath. Add insulation and weatherstripping to access doors or hatches.
You know that cozy sweater is no match for winter winds, so you need an extra layer to stop it from ripping through. The same goes for your home.
to R-30 (again, based on what part of the state you live in). Also, insulate heating and cooling ductwork located in unconditioned spaces to prevent energy waste.
By Miranda Boutelle
Lady tulips love full sun, and they prefer neutral soil, which can be easily pH-balanced in acidic growing grounds with an annual light dusting of lime in the winter. Good drainage is essential, meaning these springtime dazzlers will perform well in raised beds, rock gardens and even containers.
M
L.A.’s website of the month: MrMaple Nursery (MrMaple.com) is an online garden shop in East Flat Rock specializing in Japanese maples as well as many other ornamental trees and shrubs.
18 | October 2022 Carolina Gardens
However, exceptions exist, and one particularly pretty example is the lady tulip (Tulipa clusiana), variously cate gorized as a species, botanical, heirloom or miscellaneous tulip. Although humble in height — about a foot tall — and with smallish flower heads, it can still be a real cutie in the spring garden. And a definite plus the lady tulip has over bigger, fancier hybrids is that, true to its temperate East Asian origins, it doesn’t need an extended winter chill to wake up its inner flower power spring after spring.
F Shrubs and small trees that need to be relocated can be transplanted now. Moving them in the fall will give their roots time to establish themselves before leaf growth starts next spring.
There are other species of tulips that, like the lady tulip, can settle into a southern garden and flower for many springs to come. Tulipa bakeri “Lilac Wonder,” with its pinkish petals surrounding simmering yellow flower centers, is a fairly common offering at garden centers in the fall. The bright yellow blooms of Tulipa sylvestris make this cutie worth considering, too, but while it is more of an online find, this European native is worth the hunt for history buffs because it was a garden favorite of Thomas Jefferson at his Monticello home.
“Lilac Wonder” is another pretty species tulip.
Although an oddity, the lady tulip won’t be that hard to find. I have even spotted “Cynthia” at big-box garden shops in the early autumn. There are, of course, online avenues, and three good e-retailers to check are: Brent and Becky’s Bulbs (brentandbeckysbulbs.com); Terra Ceia Farms (terraceiafarms.com); and John Scheepers, Inc. (johnscheepers.com).
ost hybrid tulips, while gorgeous, are fleeting flowers in North Carolina — planted in the fall, they are one-shot wonders that usually grace gardens for only a single spring. This is because, in our region, there are usually not enough winter days of extended cold to stimulate tulip bulbs into flowering spring after spring.
Lady tulips can stand the test of time
Story and photos by L.A. Jackson
L.A. Jackson is the former editor of Carolina Gardener Magazine. Contact L.A. at lajackson1@gmail.com
There are many lady tulip variations. For starters, “Lady Jane” is a charmer with its bicolor coat of outer red and inner white petals — an appealing look that is echoed by the similar, well-named “Peppermint Stick.” “Tinka” also has comparable colors, but it blushes more, having its rich red contrasted with a pale yellow. For a real zinger, go with the popular “Cynthia,” a sassy selection that combines stop sign red on the outside of the petals with taxi cab yellow on the inside.
Encore Performer
If deer are a problem in your area, stay vigilant because they could munch on these pretties. Planting them close to the house can help keep Bambi at bay, and an early spring spraying of a commercial deer repellent will add an extra layer of protection.
F Vegetable plants that were afflicted with cucumber or tomato mosaic virus this growing season should be pulled up and tossed away —not composted. Also, these diseases can overwinter in perennial weeds, so do a fall cleanup in the veggie patch to remove these pesky plants as well to help prevent the reoccurrence of mosaic virus.
Garden To-Do’s for October
In short, with just a little care, lady tulips can become reliable repeat performers in the spring garden. If kept happy, they can even naturalize and spread by way of stolons or offsets.
Cynthia is a species tulip that can be a beautiful repeat performer in spring gardens.
• MOW FIELD GRASS up to 8' high • CUT BRUSH up to 3" thick • Engines up to 22 HP • Decks up to 34" wide • Power steering America’s Original Field & Brush DRMowerfieldbrush.comDRfieldbrush.com SOME APPLYLIMITATIONS FREE SHIPPING SALE! FREE Catalog! Call 888-212-1081Toll-Free ENGINEEREDUSAANDBUILT Assembled in the USA using domestic and foreign parts. PLUS Commercial-GradeALL-NEW XD Series with hydrostatic drive! ©2022 Morton Buildings, Inc. Certain restrictions apply. A listing of GC licenses available at mortonbuildings.com/licenses. 800-447-7436 | ExperienceMORTONBUILDINGS.COMlimitedtimesavingsonRVand other storage and hobby buildings. Savings now through November during Building Value Days! To learn more or to get started today, visit mortonbuildings.com. PROTECTING YOUR ENDLESS ADVENTURES Savings for a Limited Time Morton_Car.Country.NC.10.22.qxp_Layout 1 9/6/22 10:08 AM Page 1
Stateline’s Haunted
L
Sherry’s drive-in, State Line Movie Time, opened on May 9, 2019. Besides first-run movies, there are plenty of fun activities, such as hula hoop contests, pennies from heaven, bubble mania, fireworks, and a roasting pit for cooking hot dogs and marshmallows. Special events include live bands, car shows and a haunted trail, and Sherry is always thinking of new events and games for her customers. Her health isn’t 100% yet, but you won’t hear her complain.
Trail 20 | October 2022
BY LORI GROSSMAN
“When I was in speech therapy, those kids didn’t laugh at how I sounded,” Sherry says. “I wanted to do something for them and their families when I got better, but I didn’t know what. So I prayed on it.”
“I called some contractors and they brought out four pieces of heavy equipment — dozers and things,” Sherry
in her heart. STATELINE MOVIE TIME DRIVE-IN 3851 Dothan Rd., Tabor statelinemovietime.comCity910-499-1756
“I’m grateful,” she says. “God gave me the surgeons who put me back together. It’s been girl-power, backed by God.”
Sherry was both saddened and inspired by the sick children she met while slowly recovering in Duke Hospital, and later in physical and speech therapy.
“My spinal cord was severed in several places,” Sherry remembers. “Plus, I had head, neck and hip injuries. I still need to have more surgeries on my hands, too.”
currently lives in Texas, but carries memories of North
The glory days of drive-in movies were in the past, but Sherry, a Brunswick Electric member, was determined. And she knew just where to build it. She already owned some land on Dothan Road between Tabor City, North Carolina and Longs, South Carolina, but some trees had to go first.
OF THE Sherry Barnes turned tragedy into a triumph
She needed to get it done, so the next morning, she cleared out those trees herself. She graded the surface so rainwater would drain, and then spread crushed rock. Sherry researched how to construct berms (mounds of earth) that also helped drainage. As if that wasn’t enough, when the 40-foot-by-50-foot movie screen had to be repainted, she did that, too, suspended in a harness.
says. “But they said they were running behind on another job and they would come back in 10 days.”
“I look back and think it was like a dream that I did all this,” Sherry marvels. “God was looking over me. I prayed over it and it happened.”Astheopening night approached, she acquired a state-of-the-art digital projector, which she nicknamed “The Beast,” and put it in her “she-shed.”
Lori Grossman Carolina DRIVE-INQUEEN
ife can change in the blink of an eye. No one knows that better than Sherry Barnes.
She wanted to do something outdoors that was family-oriented. Something that would get the kids away from their phones and laptops for a while. When the idea of a drive-in movie theater came, it was a total“Neversurprise.ina million years did I think I would do this,” she says.
Before November 2011, Sherry was a land developer for a Myrtle Beach real estate agency. One afternoon, she and a friend were hit by a drunk driver. Sherry’s friend died the next day. Sherry’s injuries were so severe that doctors told her if she did survive, she would never walk again.
Miscellaneous
SPEED, SIMPLICITY AND AUTOMATION!” “First Mover Advantages!”
WE WILL SELL YOUR RURAL LAND FOR FREE! GroundBrokers specializes in rural NC acreage. Sell with No Listing Agreement, No Obligation, No Risk, No Cost! Any size tract, (no lots in subdivisions), anywhere in NC. 919-436-1450 www.groundbrokers.com – Licensed NC Land Broker.
Business Opportunities
TIMESHARE VICTIMS! call 800-223-1770 <> receive a legal attorney timeshare cancellation for less<> A+BBB Rating<>Five Star Reviews <>Trust is our Reputation<> since 2007<>timesharevictim.com
Classified ads will be dicontinued after
HATTERAS CABANAS – Oceanview – Surf Fishing – Dogs Allowed. Call Manager office 1-800-338-4775 ask for info on #23
WE BUY AND COLLECT OLD STUFF! – Estates, Collections, Barn/House/Storage Unit Clean Outs – Antiques, Collectibles, Tools, Cars, Decoys, Primitives, etc. Anything Old, Even Old Barns Removed! We Bring Cash and A Trailer! www.carolinacollectors.com 919-801-5383 webuystuff@carolinacollectors.com
Free
FREE MATERIALS: SOON CHURCH/GOVERNMENT UNITING. Suppressing “Religious Liberty”, enforcing a “National Sunday Law”. Be informed! Need mailing address only. TBSM, Box 374, Ellijay, GA 30540. thebiblesaystruth@yahoo.com 1-888-211-1715.
Advertising published in Carolina Country is accepted on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are accurately described and willingly sold to customers at the advertised price. All ads must adhere to Carolina Country’s advertising policy, which can be found in our media kit at carolinacountry.com/advertise/MediaKit. The magazine, North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, Inc., and the member cooperatives do not necessarily endorse the products or services advertised. Advertising that does not conform to these standards or that is deceptive or misleading is never knowingly accepted. Should you encounter advertising that does not comply with these standards, please inform Carolina Country at 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616. 919-875-3091.
COLLECTOR BUYING OLD TOYS, old comic books and WWII military souvenirs like helmets, uniforms, patches, pins, swords and almost anything else. Call 704-616-6567
Gold Maps
GOLD PANNING/METAL DETECTING IS FUN Eastern and Western U.S. WWW.GOLDMAPS.COM.
LARGE CAST IRON FIREPLACE INSERT with electric blower or use as standalone in shop or garage. Night Owl 8 camera security system. New, never used. 919-738-7689
–
TENANT AND EMPLOYEE BACKGROUND CHECKS credit, criminal, eviction. www.KingBackgroundScreening.com 941-284-4612
FUNERAL INSURANCE Plans for any budget. Easy qualification. Visit finalexpenseassured.com or call 813-352-2587.
CEMETERY PLOT PINELAWN MEMORIAL PARK Kinston NC$1495 leave message if I miss call 252 566 9734
ELIMINATE YOUR DEBTS FOREVER https://debtfree4life.com/073-837 or call 980-406-6268
Large selection of metal detectors and gold prospecting equipment,
Real Estate
ATLANTIC BEACH OCEANFRONT CONDO, breathtaking view. 1/BD, 1½ /BA, $100.00. 816-931-3366.
WEEK 26/JULY 4TH TIMESHARE N. Myrtle Beach Spacious 2bedrooms 3 full baths $7,000 910-476-2689
Insurance
Notice: Dec.
CASH PAID FOR OLD FISHING LURES – Call Rick Hutton 704-695-4917
TRIANGLE DETECTORS. SALES & RENTALS. Durham 919-949-4007
BANDSAW BLADES FOR PORTABLE SAWMILLS & RESAWS – Made in the USA bandsaw blades for any portable sawmill or resaw – Any length you need – Widths available: 1", 1¼", 1½" & 2". Great pricing, excellent service! Ship nationwide. Sample pricing: 13'2" (158") 1¼" x .042 x 7/8" – Only $18.83 each. Visit us online at www.cookssaw.com. Order online or if you don’t see your size listed give us a call toll free 1-800-473-4804
For Sale
Vacation Rental
“MONEY LIKES www.PerpetualProfits.biz
2022 EASTERN STORAGEHORSEHAYBUILDINGSBARNSBARNSGARAGES 1-888-427-BARNwww.nationalbarn.com(2276)Callforspecials!Hurricane Upgrade E of I-95 • Fully Insured • #1 Metal • Custom Sizes 4/12 roof pitch • Engineered trusses • Local codes/freight may affect prices building*Customshown.Callforpricing. NURSERY STOCK & SEED GROW HALF DOLLAR SIZE MUSCADINES & BLACKBERRIES, FREE CATALOG. 200 varieties fruit, nut trees, vines & berries. 1-800-733-0324. ISON’S NURSERY, Brooks, Georgia www.isons.com30205 carolinacountry.com | 21 Marketplace
1 large sweet potato, cut in ¾-inch cubes
1 large sweet onion, diced
Once done, season with salt and pepper to suit your taste. We find that if using salted broth, with the natural flavors of these ingredients, little to no additional salt and pepper is needed.
Unless otherwise noted, recipes on these pages are from Wendy Perry, a culinary adventurist and blogger, who chats about goodness around NC on her blog at WendysHomeEconomics.com
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
1 can (29 ounce) puréed tomatoes, optionalFreshparsley to garnish, optional
4–5 cups chopped cabbage
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
Several bay leaves
Carolina Kitchen
Combine all ingredients except parsley in a 6-quart slow cooker. Cook on high 4–6 hours or low 6–8 hours until vegetables are tender, stirring periodically. Time will vary depending on your pot.
Beat eggs with oil until fluffy, about 2 Combineminutes.sugar, flour, baking soda, salt and spice. Beat in a cup at the time until all has been incorporated into egg mixture. Using spatula, fold in remaining ingredients.Pourinto a 9-by-13-inch prepared pan. Bake for about 45–50
Enjoyminutes.as-isor with a dollop of whipped cream, lemon or other curd, on a pool of applesauce, or with ice cream dusted with cinnamon.
*Variations: Make this a vegetarian soup by leaving out the meats. Love creamy soups? Swirl in a bit of half and half or heavy cream before serving, or purée some of the soup and stir in.
Yield: Makes 5–6 quarts
1 teaspoon rum extract, optional
½ cup chopped dates
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pound ground chicken*
²/₃ cup chopped nuts, any kind, optional
22 | October 2022
3 Gala apples, peeled, cored, seeded and roughly chopped
1 cup vegetable oil
2 medium turnips, peeled, cut into ½-inch pieces
Who says you need to wait until the holiday season to enjoy fruitcake? So moist from all the fruits, this lightly spiced cake is reminiscent of ginger bread and tastes like autumn on a plate. It is easy to omit or change up some of the fruits, as well.
2 sorghumtablespoonsmolasses
Harvest Time Cabbage & Root Vegetable Soup
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup raisins
1 package (12 ounce) smoked sausage, cut in ½-inch cubes*
2 large carrots, peeled, cut into ½-inch pieces
3 cloves garlic, minced
1¾ cups sugar
Fall Fruitcake
3 pears, peeled, cored, seeded and roughly chopped
The arrival of fall and the changing weather brings a shift in produce at our farmers markets. Root vegetables provide nourishment with so much depth of flavor — simply throwing them in our slow cooker calls for little seasoning, just their own natural goodness. This recipe makes ample soup to freeze for busy nights.
3 tablespoons pumpkin or apple pie spice
2–3 parsnips, peeled, cut into ½-inch pieces
3 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted 1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ranch dressing mix
Variations: Other cheeses that work well include mozzarella, pepper jack, Swiss and asiago.
An often overlooked flavor, a mention of butterscotch may conjure fond memories of pudding cups and hard candies. Forgo your oh-so-common chocolate chip cookies for these rich, crispy butterscotch beauties loaded with chips. And don't forget the milk!
Crispy Butterscotch Cookies
¾ cup grated parmesan cheese
Digital Extra
½ cup of sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 bag (10–12 ounce) butterscotch chips 1 cup walnutschoppedorpecans
Combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, butter, sugars and vanilla extract until creamy.
Contributors whose recipes are published will receive $25. We retain reprint rights for all submissions. Recipes submitted are not necessarily entirely original. Include your name, address, phone number (for questions), and the name of your electric cooperative. Mail to: Carolina Country Kitchen, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC, 27616. Or submit your recipe online at: carolinacountry.com/myrecipe.
Gradually add the flour mixture and mix well. Stir in the butterscotch chips and nuts.
Recipe courtesy of Andrea Kyker of Franklinville, a member of Randolph EMC.
carolinacountry.com | 23
Drop by rounded tablespoon or roll in balls and place on ungreased baking sheets. Leave room for spreading.
Send Us Your Recipes
¾ cup brownpackedsugar
Yield: Makes about 2 dozen crackers
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
1 teaspoon baking soda
Carolina Kitchen
½ teaspoon of salt 2 large eggs 1 cup margarinebuttersoftenedor
Best if enjoyed soon after baking but will keep in refrigerator for several days in covered container.
Place loose heaping tablespoons of mixture onto sprayed or parchment-lined baking pan about 1 inch apart. Don’t make piles too thick or your crackers will be chewy in the middle. Dust with seasoning if using. Bake about 6–7 minutes until a little brown around the edges. Remove to cooling rack.
Once dried and cooled, combine with remaining ingredients except seasoning.
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
Salt-free “everything” seasoning, optional
Ranch, Cheddar and Cauliflower Crackers
1 medium cauliflower
Pinch of crushed red pepper
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Counting carbs? Even if not, these crispy crackers with the subtle flavor of cauliflower are perfect to enjoy alongside soup or just as a snack. You might just get your picky little ones to eat a vegetable with these!
From Your Kitchen
2½ cups all-purpose flour
Break cauliflower into small pieces and steam in microwave about 5 minutes. Once tender, pulse in food processor to “rice” consistency. Spread between layers of paper towels and roll up to remove as much moisture as possible. (You will need about 2 cups of riced cauliflower.)
Bake for 9–12 minutes or until golden; cool on baking sheet.
We take food seriously. Visit carolinacountry.com/recipes to search more than 1,000 recipes by name or ingredient.
Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified. The winner, chosen at random and announced in our December issue, will receive $25.
where
August’s winner
Sign up for email updates to guess next month’s “Where Is This” ahead of print publication: carolinacountry.com/register
Online: carolinacountry.com/where
carolina creators
carolinacountry.com/creators
Learn more about Neal and watch a video of his process, from tree-felling to weaving.
Neal Thomas, of Wendell, is a basket maker. His medium is white oak, and he follows the wood throughout the entire process, cutting the trees and splitting the logs himself. He picks trees by touch, drawing on 45 years of experience. Once split, he uses a sharp blade to deftly extract and shape strips of the oak to weave the basket. It’s a precision skill, one he learned in his 20s, from a man named Herman Holden. Now, he carries on the tradition, crafting the baskets and setting up shop at the NC farmers market where he’s been a regular for many years.
The August “Where Is This” photo by Tideland EMC member Rachel Hollowell features the Weathered Soul Shoppe, located on NC Highway 99 in Pinetown, just outside of Belhaven. This Beaufort County store, known as the “Cool Shoppe for the Coolest People,” features antiques, rustic furniture and hand-painted decorative items, with a large selection of locally made art, crafts, jewelry and soaps. Readers commented that the store is fun to browse for treasure. The winning entry chosen at random from all correct submissions came from Ryan Mooney of Rougemont, a Piedmont Electric member.
Have a roadside gem you’d like to share? Submit a photo, plus a brief description and general location information, at carolinacountry.com/where
The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and the NC Arts Council are proud to bring exciting NC creators to readers of Carolina Country.
in Carolina Country is this ?
CouncilArtsBuren/NCVanZoe
By mail: Where in Carolina Country? 3400 Sumner Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27616
Send your answer by October 15, with your name, address and the name of your electric cooperative.
Neal Thomas
dncr.nc.gov/fallinoneplace North Carolina Arts, History & Nature Fall in One Place
We’ve put together a selection of fall fairs and festivals across the state. Whether you’re looking for carnival rides and games, arts and crafts or outdoor music – or if you’re just here for the food – you’re sure to find something on our list that strikes your fancy. all in one place
The leaves are changing and a wide range of colorful events are sweeping our state. Autumn is a perfect time to take in everything North Carolina has to o er, from the gorgeous weather to local foods to traditional music.
Find it
at dncr.nc.gov/fallinoneplace #FallinOnePlaceNC. NC DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
