HIGHLINE notes August 2018
What happens when you call before you dig, pg. 4 Co-op contractors, pg. 7 2018 scholarship winners, pg. 8 www.kwh.com
August 2018 Highline Notes 1
editorial COMMITMENT TO ZERO CONTACTS
Marshal Albright, President/CEO
As president/CEO of Cass County Electric Cooperative (CCEC), my single most important role is to make sure all employees make it home safe every day by providing the leadership, support, and resources needed to nurture a strong culture of workplace safety. As a co-op, we are known for our safe work practices and exceptional safety performance statistics. Working safe does not happen by chance; we have a full-time manager of safety and a group of employees who voluntarily participate in a safety committee to implement and manage safe work practices. The safety of our employees is directly related to their training, quality of equipment, and commitment to working safely. But despite any employer’s dedication to safety, repetitive tasks can result in 2 Highline Notes August 2018
complacency, fooling employees into choosing unsafe shortcuts or other deviations from established work practices.
•Test lines and apply personal grounds •Speak up; never accept or ignore a shortcut
Nationally, power line contacts are not going down in our industry. A nationwide survey of 51,000 coop employees conducted annually between 2006 and 2015 found an average of more than 23 serious injuries or fatalities each year. That is not acceptable from an industry perspective, and something must be done to lower that number, hopefully to zero.
Typically, the worst accidents happen during routine jobs where risk awareness declines and complacency is most likely to occur. Combined with peoples’ natural instinct to favor the “fast brain” even during situations that require analytic thinking and reasoning, these factors can lead to deadly consequences. While the factors may vary, a strong culture of safety helps mitigate the risk at all levels of an organization. A strong organizational culture leads to better teamwork, improved communications, and reduced injury rates.
To make sure safety is top of mind, CCEC is implementing a safety initiative called Commitment to Zero Contacts. This program was developed by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange. As CCEC’s CEO, I submitted our co-op’s commitment by signing a pledge of support for the program and the safety of our nation’s line workers. The primary focus of the program is to keep safety at the forefront of everyone’s mind first, last, and always. Employees who work with electricity will be asked to make a voluntary personal commitment to using the following work practices and ideas: •Use personal protective equipment •Apply proper insulating material and cover-up •Use appropriate clearance procedures www.kwh.com
The Commitment to Zero Contacts initiative suggests that co-ops avoid a “bad cop” mentality and instead focus on a systemwide approach that helps strengthen the procedures for: •Clarifying and defining life-saving rules •Verifying use of life-saving rules •Creating effective job planning for all jobs •Forming a structured safety management process •Seeking employee involvement Our line crews and other employees work with and around the dangers of electricity every day. Our commitment to zero contacts will remind employees of those dangers and hopefully prevent a tragedy from occurring.
l
CALL BEFORE YOU DIG. IT’S THE LAW!
811
contents features
4 7 8
What happens when you call before you dig? Co-op contractors 2018 scholarship winners
in ever y issue 2 editorial 12 recipes 14 ad page
11 safety 13 nd photo 15 tech
NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture Policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S. W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call 202-720-5964 (voice & TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Highline Notes Volume 76, Number 8
Writer Peter Koepp, pkoepp@kwh.com Designer Jocelyn Hovland, jhovland@kwh.com Printer Forum Communications Printing Board of Directors Marcy Svenningsen, Chairman Jeff Triebold, Vice Chairman Glenn Mitzel, Secretary Sid Berg, Treasurer Douglas Anderson Russell Berg John Froelich Wendy Loucks Thomas J. Seymour Executive Staff Marshal Albright, President/CEO Jodi Bullinger, Vice President of Engineering and Operations Paul Matthys, Vice President of Member and Energy Services Chad Sapa, Vice President of Corporate Services and CFO Tim Sanden, Vice President of Information Technology and CIO Highline Notes (USPS 244-740) is published monthly except for July by Cass County Electric Cooperative, Inc., 3312 42nd St. S., Suite 200, Fargo, ND 58104 Periodicals postage paid at Fargo, North Dakota 58104, and at additional mailing offices.
DIG
RESPONSIBLY
Power outages caused by damage to underground cables are common during the construction season. These occurrences are extremely dangerous. Safety is the number one priority at CCEC, which is why we remind you to always call 8-1-1 before you dig.
FEATURED BUSINESSES: The Little Blind Shop
30% off all Hunter Douglas products, excluding shutters 4631 40th Ave S, Suite 130, Fargo By appointment only 701-893-5134
Berg Auto Supply West
10% Discount 502 Sheyenne St, West Fargo 701-282-6176 On the cover: Amy Mahlum, CCEC cable locator, plays a crucial role in area construction projects of all sizes.
www.kwh.com
Subscription Rate: 28¢/month. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Highline Notes, 3312 42nd St. S., Suite 200, Fargo, ND 58104. © Copyright Cass County Electric Cooperative 2018. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. Contact us Billing questions/ start or stop service: 701-356-4430 or 888-277-4422 Emergency or Power Outage: 701-356-4499 or 888-277-4424 Other questions: 701-356-4400 or 800-248-3292 Call before you dig: 800-795-0555 or 811 Information about the cooperative, articles of incorporation, bylaws and more can be found at www.kWh.com.
August 2018 Highline Notes 3
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CALL BEFORE YOU DIG?
In celebration of National 8-1-1 Day (Aug. 11), we take a behind-the-scenes look at the locating process
When you think of summer, what comes to mind? In this part of the country, there are a few things that just about everyone will say right away—sunshine, time at the lakes, and construction. While the first two are said with grins and a sense of relaxation, depending on the speaker’s line of work, there’s a good chance that the last one is uttered with a furrowed brow and a frustrated tone. Navigating through miles of road work every summer is a cultural event in our region, but from the time the ground thaws in the spring to when it freezes in the fall, all forms of construction are in high gear. Oceans of orange cones and barricades might as well be on postcards from North Dakota and Minnesota, but an entire rainbow of colors decorates empty lots and ditches during the warm months. The colored flags and paint on the ground are part of the underground utility locate process, and they’re a critical piece of construction projects of all sizes. From building a deck to widening a major roadway, the colored marks indicating buried water, sewer, gas, communications, and electricity lines are vital for ensuring safety and service reliability. As one of dozens of utilities operating in southeastern North Dakota, Cass County Electric Cooperative (CCEC) is responsible for thousands of locates every year. In fact, last year, CCEC received 4 Highline Notes August 2018
19,865 requests for underground locates—a whopping 12 percent of all locate requests in the state of North Dakota. The vast majority of these requests are submitted between April and October. For Amy Mahlum, CCEC’s lone cable locator, that means there’s never a dull moment all through spring and summer. Mahlum receives all locate requests requiring CCEC’s attention, and she doles about 75 percent of them out to Citi Lites, a third-party locating contractor. Mahlum handles the other 25 percent—typically more complicated requests—on her own or with the help of CCEC line crews. Mahlum views the location and details of a request on her laptop before heading to the site. For many simple residential requests, Mahlum has a good idea of where CCEC’s lines are just by glancing at the lot but always verifies the location nonetheless. Typically, Mahlum uses either a direct connection to lines at the transformer or induction at the service point on the structure to transmit a radio signal at a specific frequency to CCEC’s buried lines. This signal travels along the line and is picked up by Mahlum’s locator, allowing her to follow the line on the surface and mark it as she goes. Once this is complete, Mahlum photographs her work before designating CCEC’s locates complete via the One Call ticket www.kwh.com
system, which shows the homeowner or contractor the utilities that are required to mark underground lines on the construction site and the status of the request. North Dakota One Call (NDOC) law requires each utility company to provide and maintain information about their line locations or service territory in order to receive notifications prior to excavations. Ron Ness, CCEC manager of system operations, represents the North Dakota electric industry on the NDOC board of directors. The NDOC board is comprised of nine representatives from the various types of utility companies, a representative for excavators and contractors, and two representatives for cities—one for small cities and one for large cities. Each One Call center has its own dedicated staff. While some of the centers are operated by states, many are operated through a contracted vendor, such as One Call Concepts, which provides 8-1-1 services to several states, including North Dakota. Just as each utility industry is a unique world of business and operations, so too is the process for handling requests to locate buried lines. Safety is the top priority at Cass County Electric Cooperative; always call 8-1-1 or visit ndonecall.com before you dig.
One method of locating buried lines involves connecting a transmitter directly to a power line at the transformer. The transmitter sends a signal down the line, which can then be detected by the locator.
August 11 is National 8-1-1 Day, when utility companies and One Call centers across the country raise awareness of the locate process and the dangers of digging without locates.
If you have upcoming projects requiring digging, keep a few things in mind:
• File your locate request at least 48 hours before you intend to start working, not including weekends or holidays. This will give all appropriate utility companies time to mark the locations of buried lines. • The individual or contractor doing the excavating MUST be the one who files the locate request. Never dig based on another party’s locates. • Always outline your intended dig area with white flags or paint. This will give all utility personnel a clear picture of where they need to mark underground lines. • Privately installed lines are not maintained in One Call databases and are not accounted for during locate requests. Always call your electrician or appropriate professional to mark private lines before digging.
Amy Mahlum, CCEC’s cable locator, marks an underground power line at a home in West Fargo. During the spring and summer, Mahlum completes 30 to 40 locate requests per day.
www.kwh.com
August 2018 Highline Notes 5
SUMMER FUN WORD SEARCH Summer is the best time of the year! Can you find all the words associated with summer fun in the puzzle below? Use the word bank for help.
WORD BANK BEACH
PICNIC
COOKOUT
SUNSCREEN
FIREFLIES
SWIMMING POOL
ICE CREAM
6 Highline Notes August 2018
www.kwh.com
CO-OP CONTRACTORS
Once the power lines are in the air or underground, the work doesn’t end for an electric utility. With a 10-county service area and more than 49,000 active accounts, it takes a massive maintenance effort to keep the
power running smoothly. To make it happen, Cass County Electric Cooperative augments its 100-employee workforce with contractors on a regular basis to help with some of the heavy lifting.
The companies below provide crucial services to aid our maintenance efforts. If you see them out in the field, there’s a chance they’re working to help us keep the power on for you.
Carr’s Tree Service:
Carr’s handles vegetation management for CCEC. This service is necessary to keep tree limbs clear of power lines to prevent fires and power outages.
Martin Engineering:
Martin Engineering conducts regular pole testing to assess the condition of power poles in the field. Aged, damaged, or otherwise unsuitable poles are marked for replacement to avoid further damage, accidents, and power outages. Martin Engineering also conducts other equipment maintenance and lawn restorations.
Dakota Hills Electric:
CCEC is responsible for select yard lights in rural areas, and Dakota Hills Electric conducts light maintenance and replacements on our behalf.
If you have a question about our contractors or the work they perform, don’t hesitate to call our office at 701.356.4400.
www.kwh.com
August 2018 Highline Notes 7
2018 SCHOLARSHIPS
Cass County Electric Cooperative, with matching grant money from CoBank, contributed $13,000 in scholarships through the North Dakota Dollars for Scholars program and the West Fargo Area Scholarship Fund. CCEC gives to these programs each year as encouragement for high school students to continue their education and pursue careers. Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients:
Caleigh Anderson West Fargo
Anna Astrup Fargo
Nicholas Bergemann Lisbon
Caleb Boehm Richland #44
Misty Briss Enderlin
Hannah Dykstra Litchville-Marion
Mikayla Koenig Page
Tanner Thomson Valley City
Corbin Philipp West Fargo
Carson Rieniets Central Cass
Ashley Samek Barnes County North
Grace Wagner Northern Cass
Sierra Wendt Maple Valley
Kirkland Zitzow Kindred
8 Highline Notes August 2018
www.kwh.com
2ND QUARTER
OPERATION ROUND UP
People doing together what can’t be done individually. Featured Recipient: Fargo South Bruin Food Pantry “The purpose of the Fargo South Food Pantry is to help alleviate child hunger through the provision of food to children and their families at school. School pantries are located on the grounds of the school and intended to provide a more readily accessible source of food assistance to low-income students and their families.”
To enroll, withdraw, or request additional information on the Operation
Round Up Program, please contact our member accounts team at 701356-4400 or 800-248-3292.
JUNE 2018 MEETING: APPLICATIONS REVIEWED: Organization Individual Emergency
17 4 5
Organization Individual Emergency
14 1 3
APPLICATIONS APPROVED:
$37,468 $500 $2,704
APPLICATIONS DENIED: 7
APPLICATIONS TABLED : 1 2017 YEAR-TO-DATE SUMMARY:
Per Member’s average contribution: $2.45 Average member participation: 81.3% Total income: $85,573
TURN YOUR COINS INTO CHANGE!
(Income includes contributions, interest earned, and donations/memorials)
Applications approved (YTD)
40
Make a difference!
www.kwh.com
August 2018 Highline Notes 9
the POWER of
SmartHub
Control your account from your desktop or mobile device • View your bill • View billing and payment history • Schedule and make payments • Manage payment options and autopay
NEW to the app:
• Report a power outage and monitor service status • Manage paperless billing settings • Add additional service providers for multiple accounts
• Access the outage viewer • Read the Highline Notes magazine • Contact CCEC • Check today’s load control • View Prairie Sun Community Solar output
Monitor & compare energy use
See how home energy use changes from bill to bill, and learn how personal habits and behaviors impact your monthly energy usage. 00000
Go paperless for a one-time $5 bill credit Enrolling in SmartHub is EASY! To get started: • Visit kwh.com and click the SmartHub logo on the home page. • Enter your CCEC account number, last name or business, and email address to
create your SmartHub account. • Complete your registration and download the SmartHub mobile app for total control over your electric account.
10 Highline Notes August 2018 www.kwh.com
safety The safety of our members, employees, and communities is our number one priority. If you are involved in a group and are looking for a speaker on electrical safety, call our manager of safety at 701.356.4400.
SUMMER STORM SAFETY
When strong summer storms come roaring across the flatlands, torrential rain, crackling lightning, and rumbling thunder can be both beautiful and destructive. These powerful forces coming into contact with utility infrastructure can lead to power outages and damage to equipment. Keep a few things in mind to keep yourself and others safe during the summer months. Lightning can prove deadly and destructive. Head indoors at the first sign of lightning and invest in surge protection devices for your home electronics. If you rely on a backup generator during power outages, please be sure it was installed through
a transfer switch by a licensed professional. Improperly wired generators can result in electricity backfeeding onto power lines. This can be incredibly dangerous for co-op line workers and those inside your home. Never operate a generator indoors or in confined spaces. If trees or branches fall on power lines in your area, please report them to our power control center at 701356-4499. Never attempt to remove anything caught in or leaning against a power line. Treat all downed power lines as if they are live and dangerous. Report downed lines to our power control center immediately or 911.
www.kwh.com
During extended power outages, remember that an unopened refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about four hours; a full freezer will do so for about 48 hours. Keep fridges and freezers closed as much as possible during a power outage. Report power outages by calling our power control center or through the SmartHub mobile and web app. When calling to report an outage, you may receive a busy message. In this case, our Outage Management System will use your phone number to log the outage automatically or encourage you to call back in a few minutes.
August 2018 Highline Notes 11
food RECIPES FROM YOUR KITCHEN
Email to ccec@kwh.com or mail to: Cass County Electric Cooperative; Highline Notes 3312 42nd St S, Suite 200, Fargo, ND 58104
This month’s featured kitchen gadget: Immersion Blender
Cream of Tomato Soup
Ingredients: 2 T. olive oil 1 red onion, diced 2 carrots, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 5 tomatoes, diced 1 T. tomato paste 8 fresh basil leaves 3 c. chicken broth (or vegetable broth) 2 t. salt ¼ t. black pepper ¾ c. cream (can substitute regular milk or unsweetened almond milk)
Preparation: Heat the olive oil in a large, deep stock pot over medium heat. Add the onion and carrots, sauté for 8-10 minutes, until tender. Add the garlic and cook for one minute. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, chicken stock, salt, and pepper and stir well. Bring the soup to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes, until tomatoes are very tender. Use an immersion blender to blend until pureed. Can use a blender or food processor if you do it in batches. Add the cream or milk and stir to combine. Season with more salt and pepper if needed. Makes four bowls. Freezes and reheats well.
Butternut Squash Bisque
Ingredients: 1 T olive oil 1 butternut squash Preparation: Heat oven to 350°, cut the squash in half and remove the seeds. Line a baking sheet with tin foil, and place the squash cut side down on the foil. Drizzle with the olive oil, place in oven and roast for 1-1 ½ hours or until a fork inserts easily into the flesh. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. When cool enough to work with, scoop out the insides and discard the skin.
¼ t black pepper 1/8 t nutmeg 3 c vegetable or chicken broth ½ c half and half Preparation: Add olive oil to medium sauce pan and heat over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and sauté for 8-10 minutes. Add the squash and cook for an additional five minutes. Add the broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to a low-medium and simmer 8-10 minutes.
Ingredients: 2 T olive oil 1 small onion, diced 2 carrots, diced ½ t salt 12 Highline Notes August 2018 www.kwh.com
Using an immersion blender or food processor puree the mixture until completely smooth. When smooth add the cream, heat until hot but do not boil. Add more salt and pepper as needed. Can top with cream and nutmeg if desired.
d
photo NORTH DAKOTA THROUGH YOUR EYES We look forward to publishing member photos that encompass anything North Dakota. Email your photos for publication to ccec@kwh.com in a high-resolution format along with the first and last name of the photographer.
Bruce Lykken, Kindred Lake Tewaukon
CCEC Mission: To serve our members’ energy needs with affordable and reliable electricity. CCEC Core Values: Safety, Integrity, Innovation, Accountability and Commitment to Community www.kwh.com
August 2018 Highline Notes 13
ads AD POLICY
All ads must be 40 words or less and will be abbreviated following our guidelines. No real estate or commercial ads will be accepted. Ads are published for members at no charge as space permits on a first-received-first-printed basis. Ads are due by the 15th of the month prior to publication. Members may submit only one ad per issue. Ads must be resubmitted to run an additional month. Editor reserves the right to edit or reject any ad. Email ads to: ccec@kwh.com (preferred). Mail ads to: Highline Notes, 3312 42nd St. S. Suite 200, Fargo, ND 58104
For sale: 1945 reversed WD Allis Chalmers, 4 spd, power steering, Koyker loader, $1,500 OBO. 701.749.2646 or 701.840.1094 Air comp, generators, 1/2” hammer drill, many hand/power tools, household items, grills, boat props, & more. 303.725.8998 Giant 21 spd road bike, $250. Never used Coleman Vertex 5500W generator, $325. Like new baby crib, $100. Sears 16 gal wet vac, $25. Infant booster chair, $5. 701.306.7560 Used fuel/gas tanks. O’Day 550 & 400 gal. steel tanks on 7’ stands, stored inside, no rust. Masterbuilt 30” digital elec smoker w/ cover. Saber Cast 500P infrared gas grill. All in great cond. Pics avail. Make offers. 701.361.8229 Outback duster for cowboys, lg, wore 5 times, $160 new, asking $100. New Magic Bullet juicer, 11-pc, $30. 701.238.9549 200 utility poles 30’ to 45’ very good cond, $25 ea. 300 steel T-posts $1 ea. 701.490.1344 Cat Napper elec lift chair recliner for taller person. Like new, used less than 2 mo., beige, $850 OBO. 701.371.1787 18-pc scaffolding, $300 OBO. 701.683.4263 1932 Ford 2-dr sedan project, missing parts, w/ title, $5,500. 1930-31 Ford 5-window coupe body. 701.367.7762 Budweiser & Strohs mugs, very pretty, make good gifts. 701.282.4559
30 brand new double tilting Twicebright black downlights for ceiling install. CL1220TI-60. Pd $100 ea., asking $70 ea. 310.367.4813 International super 98 elec fencer. Trailer house rims & tire size 8-145. 4 like new 225-60R-16 car tires. 701.437.2862 12’ 5-panel galvanized gate, $20. 701.282.2851 Older Baldwin upright piano, all keys & foot pedals work, top opens, w/ nonorig bench, pics avail, no delivery, $250 OBO. Frontload LG washing machine, 4 yrs old, very good cond, always maint, pics avail, $500 OBO. 701.238.8905 10” Sears deluxe radial elec saw w/ 6-drawer 44” cabinet. 12” Sears radial saw w/ stand. 701.840.3848 Oak China cabinet, good cond, $200. 507.340.4873 4 fishing rods & reels, lg landing net, lg tackle box full of tackle, all for $200. 701.318.1310 Oak Curio cabinet 6’ by 32 in. 5 shelves, $115. 701.373.1375 Pearl Export Series drum kit great cond. Includes 5-piece blue drum set w/ hardware & cymbals, $600. 360.703.4632 2003 Chevy Venture van, maroon, 8 seats, good rubber, new batt, power windows, brakes, air, heat, V6, license current, under 100k mi, $4,500. 701.412.3257 Glass-front china cabinet, 2 sect: ea 32” wide, 75” tall, 18” deep, glass shelves,
14 Highline Notes August 2018 www.kwh.com
lighted, $200 OBO. 701.212.5828 Round oak pedestal table, 42”, 2 – 12” leaves, 6 chairs, $200 OBO. 701.367.9239 Samsung 19” flat screen TV, $40; Garmin GPS nuvi 40LM w/ dash stand, $45. 701.320.7830 Antique oak swivel desk chair, $50; WeeRide CoPilot bike trailer, $30; Interstate men’s leather side-laced vest XL, $50; Wilson’s men’s leather chaps XL, $150; 13” pink Hello Kitty stereo color TV/DVD combo, $25; bridal skirt sz 16, $20. 701.893.6278 Samsung J327 Galaxy J3 Eclipse 4G LTE smartphone in case, new, $150, cash. 2001 Toyota Camry 4-dr sedan, engine runs fine, needs some exterior repairs. 701.478.0727 2015 Husqvarna DRT 900 walk-behind garden tiller, 17” wide, elec start, purchased new, used 6 times; exc cond., $800 OBO. 701.874.2449 Sun 3-wheel adult trike w/ rack & tools, never used, make offer. 701.840.9349 King size, black spindle all wood bed w/ footboard & rails. Exc cond. $100. 701.367.4198 Wurlitzer player piano, good cond, make offer. 701.282.4647 Men’s Wranglers, reg fit 945, sz 46x30, brand new, 2 pair, $25. King bed headboard, $10. Holland grill, $25. 701.238.1976, no texts Metal patio furniture, light green, matching floral cushions, crank-up umbrella w/ floral pattern, 4 stackable
s
chairs, 40” round glass-top table, all pieces in good cond., stored inside during off season, $249 OBO. 701.234.0204 1950s Seeburg stereo jukebox w/ records intact, plays great, $2,200. 701.729.1572 2008 Newmar Cypress 5th-wheel camper, mdl 35KSRL, 39’ long, 3 elec slides, ample storage, exc cond, clean, non-smoker, king-size bed, separate clothes washer/dryer, central air & vac, fireplace, 17’ power awning, pics avail., $27,000. 701.527.3701 25 30’ cedar pole, $250. 50 used 2x12x16’ white pine planks, $1,000. 25 used 2x10x30’ white pine planks, $750. New Pella picture window, 73”x72.5”, argon filled, maint free. 928.216.6186 Firewood, $80 pickup load, can do smaller amounts for campfires. Cabela’s hunting boots size 10.5, $100 ($225 new). 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, restored, $6,500. 701.793.2201 7500W Kato light USA generator. HD 110 bu hopper bin. 16’ Taylor Way disc. 2 generator starters for 16hp gas grain auger off Briggs & Stratton. TC Thomson .22, 250 - new. Springfield 3’ .410 pump, mdl 67. 701.361.3109 1994 Chevy Silverado, 200k mi, custom paint & little rust, stored inside, $3,500. 701.282.5542 Home brewing equipment, used little. Stainless steel brew pot, 6 gal. glass carboy, 6 gal. plastic primary fermenter, 6 gal. plastic bottling bucket w/ spigot, bottle fillers, 45-bottle drying tree, several cases of beer bottles & more. $150 OBO 701.936.1799
tech SMART HOME ENTRY 7: SAMSUNG WATER SENSOR
Water damage in your home can be one of the most frustrating and potentially costly situations that you can face as a homeowner. Luckily, the world of smart gadgets includes a selection of tools to help prevent such a situation from occurring, one of which is our latest smart home addition. The Samsung water sensor is compact and without glamor. It looks like a small block with two metal leads protruding from its bottom. In addition to providing wet/dry readings, the sensor also submits temperature data. The main and perhaps most important capability of the water sensor paired with the SmartThings hub is notifications. Through SmartThings, you can elect to
receive text and/or push notifications when the water sensor detects water. Secure the sensor above the level of the float switch in your sump well and you’re prepared to receive mobile notice of an issue with your pump, potentially preventing a flooded basement. The sensor can be placed anywhere else for similar effect—beneath sinks, next to troublesome clothes washers, or anywhere you’re concerned about water leakage. Of course, with SmartThings, you can take your notifications even further by setting alarms to trigger or lights to turn on or change color (such as with the Philips Hue colored bulbs) to keep you in the know when you’ve got moisture where it shouldn’t be.
J.D. 535 round baler w/ bale kicker, $4,500. 2,000 gal. underground diesel tank, $250. 100 steel posts, $2 ea. 100 bent steel posts, $1.50 ea. 701.683.4809 Wanted: Motorcycles & ATVs. All makes/models. All years. Any cond. 701.361.7289 Four row corn planter. 701.840.9050 Day of the Bonanza book by Hiram M. Drache, published ND Institute of Regional Studies in 1964, any cond. as long as readable. Looking to trade old American toy soldiers for book but will pay cash. 701.799.4677 no texts.
www.kwh.com
August 2018 Highline Notes 15
3312 42nd St. S., Fargo, North Dakota 58104 800-248-3292 • www.kwh.com
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ME MBE R
RENDEZVOUS
AT THE ZOO RED RIVER ZOO | 5-8 PM
SEPTEMBER 9, 2018
Free carousel rides | Animal demonstrations | Games & activities Free admission for all | No need to RSVP | Concessions available for purchase 16 Highline Notes August 2018 www.kwh.com