April 2021 GLE

April 2021

MICHIGAN

COUNTRY LINES Great Lakes Energy Cooperative

Appreciating GLE Lineworkers

Truestream Fiber Internet Extends South 2020 Performance Standards

Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary Is

SAVING THE

GATORS

WATERFURNACE UNITS QUALIFY FOR A 26% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT THROUGH 2022 1

Clean Start Rebate For a limited time, you can save up to $1,250 on clean energy geothermal heat pumps

Switch to geothermal and get a clean start to the year!

This year, everyone deserves a clean start! Switching to geothermal is the perfect decision to help your house be as comfortable and environmentally friendly as possible for years to come. The WaterFurnace Clean Start Rebate Program makes switching to geothermal an even smarter decision. For a limited time, you can save up to $1,250 and receive a free Amazon Echo Dot with the purchase of our most efficient, comfortable, and technologically advanced 7 Series and 5 Series geothermal heat pumps and accessories. But hurry, this deal ends April 30, 2021, so contact your local WaterFurnace dealer today!

FREE

UP TO

1,250

$

INSTANT REBATE

Amazon Echo Dot

&

ACT NOW FOR A

26% Tax Credit

&

WITH REGISTRATION2

THROUGH 2022

Your Local WaterFurnace Dealers Bad Axe/Cass City Thumb Clg & Htg (855) 206-5457 thumbcooling andheating.com Berrien Springs WaterFurnace Michiana (269) 473-5667 gogreenmich geothermal.com Big Rapids Stratz Htg & Clg, Inc. (231) 796-3717 stratzgeocomfort.com

Clifford Orton Refrig & Htg (989) 761-7691 sanduskygeothermal.com Hart Adams Htg & Clg (231) 873-2665 adamsheatingcooling.com Indian River M & M Plmb & Htg (231) 238-7201 mm-plumbing.com

Mancelona Top Notch Htg, Clg, & Geothermal (231) 350-8052 topnotchheatandair.com Michigan Center Comfort 1/Aire Serv of Southern Michigan (517) 764-1500 aireserv.com/ southern-michigan Mt Pleasant Walton Htg & Clg (989) 772-4822 waltonheating.com

Muskegon Adams Htg & Clg (231) 873-2665 adamsheatingcooling.com

Traverse City D & W Mechanical (231) 941-1215 dwgeothermal.com

Portland ESI Htg & Clg (517) 647-6906 esiheating.com

Geofurnace Htg & Clg (231) 943-1000 watergeofurnace.com

Sunfield Mark Woodman Plmb & Htg (517) 886-1138 mwphonline.com

waterfurnace.com/CleanStart 1. 26% through 2022 and 22% through 2023. 2. With registration of homeowner’s Symphony Home Comfort Platform. Amazon Dot will be shipped to the address given in Symphony registration.

Promotion available Feb. 8 through April 30, 2021, and only to residential customers through participating dealers. WaterFurnace is a registered trademark of WaterFurnace International, Inc.

Contents countrylines.com

April 2021 Vol. 41, No. 4

/michigancountrylines

/michigancountrylines

Michigan’s Electric Cooperatives

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Casey Clark EDITOR: Christine Dorr

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Karreen Bird

RECIPE EDITOR: Christin McKamey COPY EDITOR: Yvette Pecha CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Emily Haines Lloyd

PUBLISHER: Michigan Electric Cooperative Association Michigan Country Lines, USPS-591-710, is published monthly, except August and December, with periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Mich., and additional offices. It is the official publication of the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association, 201 Townsend St., Suite 900, Lansing, MI 48933.

Subscriptions are authorized for members of Alger Delta, Cherryland, Great Lakes, HomeWorks Tri-County, Midwest Energy & Communications, Ontonagon, Presque Isle, and Thumb electric cooperatives by their boards of directors.

Postmaster: Send all UAA to CFS. Association Officers: Robert Kran, Great Lakes Energy, chairman; Tony Anderson, Cherryland Electric Cooperative, vice chairman; Eric Baker, Wolverine Power Cooperative, secretary-treasurer; Craig Borr, president and CEO.

CONTACT US/LETTERS TO EDITOR: Michigan Country Lines 201 Townsend St., Suite 900 Lansing, MI 48933 248-534-7358 editor@countrylines.com

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please

notify your electric cooperative.

See page 4 for contact information.

The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised.

Cover photo: An inhabitant of Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary is ready for its close-up.

6 ROAD TRIPPIN’ Treasure All Around Us: Lake Michigan Rock Hunting with Christal Frost 10 MI CO-OP KITCHEN Mexican-Inspired: Rich in spices, these dishes provide the south-of-the-border flavor you’re craving.

#micoopcommunity

14 SAVING THE GATORS Forsaken reptiles find a safe, if unlikely, home at Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary.

18 GUEST COLUMN The Orchard: For one Cherryland member, the family orchard was much more than a place to pick fruit.

Maybe she’s barn with it. Maybe it’s Neighbelline. @dds_photo #beautifulhorse (Danielle Sullivan)

Be featured!

Use #micoopcommunity for a chance to be featured here and on our Instagram account.

MI CO-OP COMMUNITY

To enter contests, submit reader content & more, visit countrylines.com/community

RECIPE CONTEST

Win a $50 bill credit!

Up Next: Whole Grains, and Fish & Seafood Go to micoopkitchen.com for more information or recipes@countrylines.com to submit.

GUEST COLUMN

Win $150 for stories published!

Submit your fondest memories and stories at countrylines.com/community

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

3

gtlakes.com /greatlakesenergy /jointruestream BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Robert Kran, Chairman, District 6 231-464-5889 bkran@glenergy.com

John LaForge, Vice-Chairman, District 9 269-623-2284 jlaforge@glenergy.com Paul Schemanski, Secretary, District 1 231-439-9079 paul.schemanski@glenergy.com Howard Bowersox, Director, District 8 219-670-0977 hbowersox@glenergy.com Paul Byl, Director, District 7 231-861-5911 pbyl@glenergy.com

Mark Carson, Director , District 2 231-675-0561 mcarson@glenergy.com

Thanking Our Heroes

Richard Evans, Director, District 3 231-883-3146 revans@glenergy.com Dale Farrier, Director, District 5 231-564-0853 dfarrier@glenergy.com

Shelly Pinkelman, Director, District 4 989-390-6222 spinkelman@glenergy.com PRESIDENT/CEO: Bill Scott 888-485-2537 COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR/EDITOR: Brett Streby 231-487-1389 • bstreby@glenergy.com BOYNE CITY HEADQUARTERS 1323 Boyne Ave. Boyne City, MI 49712

Hours: 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. M–F Phone: 888-485-2537 Email: glenergy@glenergy.com TO REPORT AN OUTAGE: Call 888-485-2537 or login to your account at gtlakes.com.

Change of Address: 888-485-2537, ext. 8924 Great Lakes Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

4 APRIL 2021

Bill Scott, Great Lakes Energy President/CEO

reat Lakes Energy lineworkers do not wear capes. They do not wear masks or jump into phone booths to change their identities when called upon for help. Their fight is against circumstance when Mother Nature strikes. We depend on our lineworkers to ensure our electric and fiber services are maintained and quickly restored when the need arises. On April 12, we celebrate them through National Lineworker Appreciation Day.

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With so many working from home and spending more time indoors, keeping connected to the electric grid and internet has never been more essential. We often take for granted these very basic comforts. When the inconvenience of an outage occurs in our homes, we want a return to comfort and normalcy as soon as possible. While you and I may feel the immediate effects of this loss and want a quick resolution, no one wants to rectify these outages more than the very lineworkers who labor so hard to maintain service for our members. They demonstrate this with a selfless commitment while working through inclement weather and dangerous conditions, and do so at the most inopportune times because they know that our members are in need. Indeed, a heroic feat.

Often climbing 40 or more feet into the air, lineworkers carry heavy equipment to restore power—all while working next to high-voltage power lines. Behind the scenes, they work to map outages, document their efforts, and troubleshoot problems to keep our 14,500 miles of lines across 26 counties fully operational.

In addition to all they do for our members in our service area, lineworkers may also answer the call to assist neighboring co-ops when they are in need and affected by major outages.

No capes aside, I can say without hesitation that GLE lineworkers are superheroes. We are grateful for their dedication—they truly deserve this recognition and appreciation. Thank you!

Three Openings On GLE Board ominating petitions are available in three districts for Great Lakes Energy (GLE) members who wish to seek election to the cooperative’s board of directors.

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Three board positions, each for three years, will need to be filled. Qualifying GLE members who reside in districts 1, 2, or 7 can seek election to the board.

Counties by district are: District 1 – Emmet County District 2 – Charlevoix and Cheboygan counties District 7 – Muskegon and Oceana counties

Paul Schemanski, District 1

Mark Carson, District 2

The terms of directors Paul Schemanski of Petoskey (District 1), Mark Carson of Boyne City (District 2), and Paul Byl of Shelby (District 7) expire this year. The three incumbents plan to seek re-election.

To get a name on the ballot, qualifying member-owners of the electric cooperative who maintain a primary residence within its service area must file a nominating petition.

Petitions must be signed by at least 50 active GLE members within the candidate’s district. Completed petitions are due June 11, 2021, via electronic submission.

Visit gtlakes.com/board-of-directors to request a petition or learn more.

1 EMMET

Beaver Island

Paul Byl, District 7

CHEBOYGAN

2 CHARLEVOIX ANTRIM

3

When Do We Vote?

Great Lakes Energy members elect a candidate from within their district to the cooperative’s board of directors once every three years.

Find the district you reside in below to determine when you will receive a mail-in ballot that is mailed in July with the annual election issue of Michigan Country Lines.

2021 Election District 1 – Emmet County District 2 – Charlevoix and Cheboygan counties District 7 – Muskegon and Oceana counties

2022 Election District 6 – Lake and Mason counties District 8 – Clare, Mecosta, Newaygo, and Osceola counties District 9 – Allegan, Barry, Kent, Montcalm, and Ottawa counties

2023 Election District 3 – Antrim County District 4 – C rawford, Montmorency, Oscoda, and Otsego counties District 5 – Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford counties

GRAND TRAVERSE

MANISTEE

MASON

OCEANA

7

6

OTSEGO

MONTMORENCY

4

KALKASKA CRAWFORD

OSCODA

5

WEXFORD MISSAUKEE

OSCEOLA

LAKE

8

CLARE

MECOSTA

NEWAYGO

MUSKEGON

9

MONTCALM

KENT OTTAWA

ALLEGAN

BARRY

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

5

d a o R ’ n i p p i r T

With Christal Frost Treasure All Around Us: Lake Michigan Rock Hunting

I

t’s a crisp and clear February morning as we make the trek to Frankfort’s Point Betsie Lighthouse.

Lake Michigan was a familiar backdrop for my childhood. I spent hours building sandcastles and pressing my feet into the warm sand until my toes found the cold underneath. I often left the beach with a rock—one that I would place on the windowsill in our kitchen until my mom returned it to the outdoors. Even though I think I was always drawn to the colorful rocks that decorated the lakeshore, I never knew the stories behind those treasures until I picked up a copy of the “Lake Michigan Rock Picker’s Guide,” co-authored by the godfather of rock hunting himself, Kevin Gauthier.

Kevin has been drawn to rocks since he was a kid. He would spend hours searching for treasures, a hobby he would turn into a business as a teenager, selling his creations out of a local shoe store. Forty years later, a framed newspaper clipping hangs on the wall of his shop, Korner Gem, in Traverse City. It features a young Kevin smiling next to a small display case. “That was taken right around the time J.R. Ewing got shot on Dallas,” he tells me. “Everyone wanted a belt buckle.” After college, Kevin continued his passion for rock hunting and jewelry making, although his career sent him to Chicago to work for NutraSweet. After a few years of commuting to Traverse City on the weekends, Kevin decided to leave his job and open his own business.

In 1996, he opened Korner Gem in Traverse City and a second location in Frankfort in 2020.

Michigan—Rock Hunting Capital of the World Thanks to a few billion years and massive glaciers, Michigan has more varieties of stones than anywhere else in the entire world. As the glaciers moved south, they picked up stones from Canada and the Upper Peninsula and dropped them along the way, leaving rock enthusiasts a prehistoric treasure hunt. Kevin says only half of the rocks we find on the beaches of the Great Lakes are actually from here; the rest are glacial stowaways from the north.

Show & Tell Earlier that morning while rock hunting at Point Betsie, I took Kevin’s advice and chose the ones that caught my eye. “Really, I think the rocks choose you,” Kevin says as I start pulling rocks from my bag for him to examine.

Among my finds are Petoskey stones, chain coral, and slag.

Christmas Cove Beach, Northport

“The slag is most often called Leland Blue, but it can be found in Frankfort, Elk Rapids, and Marquette,” Kevin explains while inspecting a greenish chunk of slag.

Before Kevin heads to the wet saw to cut and polish a few of my rocks, he asks me to look through once more and choose the one I like best. I chose the first rock I picked up that day, a small pinkish/ greenish unakite that had traveled from Lake Superior. Kevin returns 20 minutes later with a polished stone set in a lovely sterling silver ring, and I gasp as I try it on for the first time. There’s an immediate connection. Kevin clearly understands that connection.

“That rock has been around for, let’s say conservatively, 4 billion years,” he tells me. “In 4 billion years, you are the first person to pick up that rock. That is special.”

It really is special. For as long as I have this ring, I will remember the day I found it—or, more accurately, the day it found me.

It was 25 degrees, but the wind was calm. The air smelled like fresh snow and each wave that crashed around my rubber boots brought a slightly changed beach, as thousands of rocks, some older than dinosaurs, moved ever so slightly around me.

KORNER GEM JEWELERS

72

327 Main St. Frankfort, MI 49635

Point Betsie Lighthouse, Frankfort

Van’s Beach, Leland

Mission Point Lighthouse, Traverse City

22 22

37

Empire Beach, Empire

13031 Fisherman Cove, Traverse City, MI 49684 231-929-9175

201

MY FAVORITE ROCK HUNTING BEACHES IN THE GREATER GRAND TRAVERSE AREA

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MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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Home Energy Savings Made Easy ho doesn’t get excited about FREE products— especially when it comes to in-home energy savings? Through the Energy Optimization program, the Home Energy Express program provides FREE energy-saving products for your home, as well as complimentary installation by an Energy Optimization program contractor.

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When you participate in the Home Energy Express program, you have two options to choose from. Simply select the one that best meets your individual needs.

Option 1: FREE in-home* consultation and products, with direct installation of energy-saving products by a qualified energy professional.

• An in-home consultation by a trained professional can help identify areas where additional energy savings are possible. During the consultation, the representative will provide and install the energy-efficient products and offer you tips for saving even more.

• These products help control the amount of energy you use to heat, cool, and light your home. Some of the products even help you use less water.

Option 2: FREE product kit containing energy-saving items, delivered to your home with instructions for installation.

• For the do-it-yourself version, product kits are delivered to your home and may include energy-saving items such as LED light bulbs, LED night-lights, and a smart power strip. Additionally, some kits contain watersaving fixtures. To learn more or to schedule your FREE services, contact us today at 877-296-4319 or info@michigan-energy.org. *Based on COVID-19 restriction guidelines.

Home Energy-Saving Solutions

The Home Energy Express program offers FREE in-home energy-saving products and installation by a program contractor. Kits may include:  LED bulbs  LED night-lights  Smart power strip Or request a product kit be delivered straight to your home.

Contact us today to learn more.

michigan-energy.org • 877.296.4319

Energy Optimization programs and incentives are applicable to Michigan electric service locations only.

Incentive applies to qualified items purchased and installed between Jan. 1, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2021.

Other restrictions may apply. For complete program details, visit michigan-energy.org.

GREAT LAKES ENERGY

PHOTO

CONTEST

Gorgeous Gardens 1. My cousin in the garden—Sarah Pletcher, East Jordan 2. Dew you like lilies?

—Jamie Weinert, Ludington 3. Hummingbird moth—Susan Dietz, Howard City 4. Mellow yellow—Debbie Andrews, Reed City 5. Flowers in the sky—Whitney Reeds, Allegan 6. A piece of heaven—Beth Fiedorowicz, Baldwin

MOST VOTES!

2

1

3

4

5

Enter to win a

$200

energy bill credit!

6

Submit Your “Dad & Me” Photos!

Each month, members can submit photos on our website for our photo contest. The photo with the most votes is published here along with other selections.

Our April theme is Dad & Me. Photos can be submitted by April 20 to be featured in the June issue.

How To Enter: Enter the contest at gtlakes.com/photocontest/. Make sure to vote and

encourage others to vote for you, too. The photo receiving the most votes will be printed in an issue of Michigan Country Lines along with other favorites. All photos printed in the magazine in 2021 will be entered to win a $200 bill credit in December 2021.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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MI CO-OP Recipes

Photos by Robert Bruce Photography || Recipes Submitted by MCL Readers and Tested by Recipe Editor Christin McKamey

Mexican-Inspired Recipes you’ll be making on repeat.

WINNING RECIPE!

CHICKEN ENCHILADA SOUP Alice Knoebl, Great Lakes Energy

1 1 2 1 2 1 4 1 ¾ 1 ¼ 2–3 2 1 •

Win a

$50

energy bill credit!

10 APRIL 2021

RECIPE CONTEST

Whole Grains due May 1 • Fish & Seafood due July 1 Submit your favorite recipe for a chance to win a $50 bill credit and have your recipe featured in Country Lines with a photo and a video. Go to micoopkitchen.com for more information or recipes@countrylines.com to submit.

(10-ounce) can green enchilada sauce (15-ounce) can white beans, drained (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts (4-ounce) cans diced, fire-roasted green chiles, undrained (10.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes teaspoons chili powder tablespoon ground cumin teaspoon paprika teaspoon salt teaspoon black pepper tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, optional cups chicken broth/stock (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened Toppings of choice: pepper jack cheese, sour cream, limes, etc.

Add green enchilada sauce, white and black beans, and chicken into a large slow cooker. Add undrained fireroasted green chilies, diced tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, chopped cilantro, and chicken stock/broth. Cover and cook on low for 5–7 hours or on high for 3–5 hours, or until chicken easily shreds. Remove chicken from slow cooker and place into another bowl. Add softened cream cheese to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for an additional 30 minutes or until the cream cheese has melted. Whisk to ensure all ingredients are combined.

Shred chicken with a fork and add back into the soup.

Serve immediately. Add any additional toppings.

Watch a video of this month’s winning recipe at micoopkitchen.com/videos

SIMPLE CHICKEN FAJITAS Shelley Ehrenberger, Cherryland 2 ½ ¼ ½ ¼ 1

CHALUPA CASSEROLE

Michele Smith, Ontonagon REA 1 2 ¹⁄ ³ 1 1 1 3 2 •

pound ground beef tablespoons taco seasoning cup chopped green onions (12-ounce) can evaporated milk (8–10 ounce) can enchilada sauce teaspoon salt (8-inch) flour tortillas cups shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese Toppings: shredded lettuce, sliced jalapeños, sour cream, diced tomatoes, black olives, taco sauce, etc.

tablespoons lemon juice teaspoon salt teaspoon black pepper teaspoon garlic powder teaspoon ground cumin pound boneless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces

Mix sauce ingredients and add chicken (I often double the sauce). Marinate for 30 minutes. Heat skillet and cook chicken, adding oil as necessary, until cooked through and slightly browned.

Serve in warmed flour tortilla shells with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and any other desired toppings.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Coat an 8x8-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Brown ground beef in a large skillet; drain grease. Add taco seasoning and chopped onions. Stir in milk, sauce and salt. Simmer until hot and bubbly. Cut tortillas into ½-inch strips. In baking dish, alternate layers of tortillas, beef mixture, and cheese three times.

Cover dish and bake for 40 minutes.

Remove foil, let cool 10 minutes, cut into squares, and serve with desired toppings.

EASY CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

Debbie Speer, Great Lakes Energy 3 chicken breasts, skinless and boneless 1½ teaspoons cayenne pepper, divided 1 tablespoon coarse salt 1 tablespoon ground black pepper 1 tablespoon garlic powder 2 tablespoons butter 1 large onion, minced 2 jalapeño peppers (or poblano for milder flavor), seeded and minced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened ½ teaspoon paprika ½ teaspoon chili powder 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 (28-ounce) can green enchilada sauce, divided 8 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese 7 flour tortillas (or corn tortillas for gluten free)

Preheat oven to 350 F. Season chicken breasts with 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, salt, ground black pepper, and garlic powder. Bake chicken for 45 minutes (or internal temp of 165 F). Let cool and shred. Set aside.

Heat butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced onion, jalapeño peppers, and garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in softened cream cheese (in chunks), and remaining ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, paprika, chili powder, and ground cumin. Add the shredded chicken and mix thoroughly. Remove from heat. In a 9x13-inch baking dish, spread half the enchilada sauce over the entire bottom. Fill all tortillas with the chicken mixture and 1 tablespoon of shredded cheese in each. Roll each tortilla and place seam-side down in baking dish. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over all the tortillas; sprinkle the tops with remaining cheese. Bake for about 30–35 minutes.

Serve immediately.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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Make A Difference In Your Community We’re never short on grant requests for worthy causes. Help us to make a difference in your community by enrolling in People Fund today!

Do you know of, or represent, a nonprofit, charitable organization that provides humanitarian, educational, or community development services within our 26-county area? We can help!

gtlakes.com/people-fund

When the power goes out, we go to work right away to get your power turned on as quickly and safely as possible.

2020 Annual Standards And Results

Meeting High Standards GLE exceeds state performance standards.

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reat Lakes Energy exceeded nine out of the 10 state-mandated standards for electric service and reliability in 2020.

Thousands of Great Lakes Energy members are benefiting from improvements in reliability and service. It has led to our success in meeting all 10 state performance standards in eight of the last 14 years. The addition of more line protection devices, use of new technologies, improvements to major power line circuits, and ongoing vegetation management to limit tree damage to power lines are all helping to get the lights back on safely and more quickly for members during storms.

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) requires electric utilities to annually report how well they are able to meet standards established to protect consumers from unacceptable levels of electric service and reliability. Standards to help measure utility performance in emergency outage situations are included.

Complaint Response. A utility must respond in three business days or less to at least 90% of any formal complaints filed against it with the MPSC. GLE score: 88.89%

Outage Restoration (Normal Conditions). At least 90% of the customers should have their power restored in eight hours or less.

GLE score: 96.68%

Call Blockage. No more than 5% of incoming calls should receive a busy signal.

GLE score: 2.5%

Outage Restoration (Catastrophic Conditions).

At least 90% of the customers should have their power restored in 60 hours or less.

GLE score: 100%

Meter Reading. At least 85% of the meters must be read within the approved time period.

GLE score: 99.52% Wire Down Relief Factor.

At least 90% of the time, a utility must respond within four hours to nonutility employees, such as firefighters, who request relief from guarding a downed power line.

GLE score: 98% New Service Installation.

At least 90% of new services must be installed in 15 business days or less. Great Lakes Energy handled 859 new service installations last year, excluding those installed in combination with primary lines.

GLE score: 96.72% Average Call Answer Time.

Calls must be answered on average in less than 90 seconds. In 2019, the cooperative handled over 234,697 calls through its call center and outage and operator queues.

GLE score: 47 seconds

State rules define catastrophic conditions as either severe weather conditions that result in service interruptions to at least 10% of a utility’s customers or events of sufficient magnitude that result in a government-issued state of emergency declaration.

Outage Restoration (All Conditions). Power should be restored to at least 90% of the customers in 36 hours or less under normal and catastrophic conditions.

GLE score: 99.93% Same Circuit Repetitive Interruption. No more than 5% of the utility’s electric circuits should experience five or more outages in a 12-month period.

GLE score: 1.29%

Getting the lights back on quickly is another way Great Lakes Energy looks out for you.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 13

Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary Is

SAVING THE

GATORS

By Emily Haines Lloyd Photos Courtesy of Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary

W

hen we think of alligators, we’re flooded with imagery of sunbathing crocodiles on southern golf courses or Evergladesdwelling animals we’d just as soon not have a run-in with.

But in Athens, Michigan, alligators are not only living and thriving, but people are actually hoping to have a real-life encounter with these prehistoric-looking beasts.

When David Critchlow was a FedEx delivery man, he enjoyed chatting up people on his route, and while there were always interesting stories to hear and packages to deliver, a weird, but common, thread started to arise.

“Dad would see a package from an exotic pet supplier and realize he might be delivering a snake,” said David’s daughter, Lina Kelly, the director of animal care and enrichment of Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary.

“As time passed, he’d start chatting to folks, and the conversations changed to ‘hey, do you know anyone who wants a snake?’”

Peter Critchlow with Godzilla, an 11-foot-long, 500-pound alligator.

14 APRIL 2021

Unsurprisingly, many people who thought a snake would be an interesting pet were less interested when that same pet began to

FLO

outgrow its habitat. David was always an animal lover and outdoorsy sort, and he eventually started offering to take in the newly homeless reptiles.

“At some point, we had dozens of snakes,” remembers Lina. “Growing up, there were always reptiles around. It felt super normal.”

One day, a new request came in, as someone asked David if he knew anyone who could take in an alligator.

While David had never owned an alligator before, his heart couldn’t take the idea that the animal would be put down because its owner hadn’t thought through the consequences. David figured out what it would take to make a suitable environment for an alligator and become a new foster owner.

Little by little, word spread that there was a guy who would take in alligators, and the family eventually had 10 to 30 of them housed in fenced-in areas in the backyard at any given time.

“Eventually, people would just drive up to the house and ask if they could go take a look at the alligators,” said Lina.

“We’d give them these little tours and tell them about each alligator’s story and what we knew. That’s how the sanctuary got started.”

In 2007, David made his informal reptile shelter into a fulltime sanctuary. The family learned about alligators, snakes, and even tortoises, as new members continually found their way to the Critchlows. It involved extensive research, along with reptile-related workshops and conferences, to understand the animals, as well as finding out how to best feed, house, and even train them. The Critchlows never buy or sell any of the animals in their care—all are rescues.

“We’ve learned so much over the years,” said Lina. “And it’s important always to be learning more, so we can help as many animals as we can.”

DIABLO

PEACHES

“WE LOVE WHAT WE DO, BUT IN SOME WAYS, WE’D RATHER NOT BE IN THE REPTILE RESCUING BUSINESS. WE’D RATHER HAVE PEOPLE MAKE SMARTER DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY’RE CAPABLE OF THE COMMITMENT.” —LINA KELLY The sanctuary has grown into a home for turtles, tortoises, snakes, and nearly 200 alligators in the past decade. All the alligators are given names, but training them to learn their names happens when they are around 5 feet in length. These include Godzilla, an 11-foot-long and 500-pound fella, and Medusa—named because she’s not exactly attractive and is a little on the cranky side. Another, named Grace, is a 100-pounder who came to the sanctuary with a missing left foot. She’s been trained to lie still for medical treatment, a positive sign for some additional training David looks to do.

If it sounds like a lot to do, it’s because it is. So, to round out the crew, Lina, along with her nephew (Alex) and her brother (Peter), all came on board to help with the family business. They’re committed to making education a huge arm of their mission, with David doing hundreds of school and community presentations a year.

“A little baby alligator is cute. There’s no denying it. But you have to think of the animal and be ready for when that baby grows up,” said Lina. “We love what we do, but in some ways, we’d rather not be in the reptile rescuing business. We’d rather have people make smarter decisions about whether or not they’re capable of the commitment.”

For now, the need is still there, and the Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary remains a safe space for displaced reptiles. It’s an unlikely place where these animals can live out their lives while enriching the lives of those who make the visit and are willing to learn.

For more information, visit alligatorsanctuary.com.

1698 M-66, Athens, MI 49011 • (269) 729-4802

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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We know many of you are anxious to get the high-speed internet you deserve, and we thank you for your continued patience. Building the Truestream network the right way takes time, dedication, and many resources. The process can be broken down into three major phases.

Truestream Fiber Internet Expansion Continues W

hen you are forced to take a step back, the best way to follow up is two steps forward!

We’ve experienced federal and state permitting challenges in the Newaygo and Middleville areas that have caused us to take a step back and delay construction.

The good news is we’re now taking two steps forward and shifting resources to expand construction efforts within the Hart service district in 2021.

The expansion will include nine new areas, bringing the total up from two to 11 areas expected to see mainline construction and installations this year in Oceana County.

The Hart service areas targeted for Truestream now include: • Shelby 1, 3, and 4 • Rodgers 2, 3, and 4 • Baseline 2 and 4 • New Era 3 and 4 • Silver Lake 2 Those in the newly announced service areas (excluding Shelby 4 and Rodgers 4) are encouraged to complete your online registration by May 1 and return the necessary paperwork by June 1 to ensure free in-home* installation and timely design and construction to your home.

We’re not stopping there, though.

We’re also exploring expanding our fiber internet and voice service to parts of the Waters and Kalkaska service districts! *Construction fees are subject to change and may apply. Visit jointruestream.com for construction timelines.

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Phase 1—Exploration.

In this phase, we collect data, including the type of residence, pole information, and other data related to infrastructure. This data helps us determine the feasibility of expanding Truestream, including mapping out infrastructure needs and how to get the fiber lines to members’ homes.

Phase 2—Construction.

The information gathered during the Phase 1 fielding process, including a proposed budget and map of the mainline fiber route, will be presented to the board for approval.

If approved, the construction of the fiber network would begin. This construction process can be labor intensive because it involves running the fiber line along the electrical path, including both underground and overhead electrical lines.

Phase 3—Installation.

Once phases 1 and 2 are complete, it is the moment everyone has been waiting for! During this phase, we install and test the necessary equipment to light up the Truestream network. Once the network is verified as fully operational, we can begin calling to schedule in-home installations.

Stay updated on our progress on truestreamfiber.com or on our Facebook page. If you’re in one of the Hart areas where we will be constructing, be sure to complete your online registration by May 1 to receive free in-home installation.

Visit truestreamfiber.com today!

Small Changes Make Big Improvements W

ith Earth Day coming up on April 22, many people take a closer look at their own personal impact on our planet. Whether it is assessing their use of electricity, adjusting their consumption and waste, or finding alternatives in their daily routines, there are many opportunities to minimize our carbon footprint. Earth Day is our reminder that alone, these changes do little to improve our planet, but when we band together and act as one, the potential for improvement is exponential.

In many cases, reducing your carbon footprint is simple and painless. Replacing incandescent lighting with LEDs throughout the home can yield hundreds of dollars of savings over the life of each bulb. That reduction in energy consumption also means fewer carbon emissions are being produced to power our homes.

Speaking of fewer emissions, the electricity purchased by Great Lakes Energy (GLE) that powers your home is 60% carbon free. That means more than half of the electricity you use comes from renewable energy, such as wind and solar, and nuclear power. This is just one of the steps GLE has taken to make the rally for improvement more possible.

What else is GLE doing?

To empower our members on their journey to become more energy efficient, GLE is encouraging the purchase of chargers and electric vehicles through new incentives, thanks to the growing interest from our members. Each GLE office offers access to free electric vehicle charging stations. GLE has recently added pay-per-use level 3 DCFC EV chargers at its Scottville location that will be active

later this year. Select EV rebates are also available for GLE members for EVs and chargers.

The Energy Optimization program is another excellent means for introducing savings and efficiency into GLE members’ homes. By incentivizing the installation of high-efficiency appliances and utilities through generous rebates, members are provided opportunities for significant savings to their monthly bills and to carbon emission production—a win-win for our planet.

What can you do?

GLE members interested in finding opportunities to improve their home’s electricity consumption efficiency can visit the Energy Optimization page on gtlakes.com to learn more. Taking the online home audit will provide members with insight into the best course of action for improvement and connect them to a curated list of rebates.

Additionally, GLE’s community solar program is an affordable way for members to make a long-term commitment to our environment by choosing to use renewable energy as a power source. Instead of putting solar panels on your roof, your panel subscription entitles you to a share of the energy produced by our utility-scale community solar array.

Visit gtlakes.com for more information regarding these initiatives and opportunities. With the collective participation of GLE members, the planet will surely be a cleaner place to call home.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 17

MI CO-OP Community

The Orchard Road

Gearing Cherry Orchard, 1971

Guest Column

The Orchard

By Rebecca Carlson, Cherryland Electric Cooperative member

T

he best angle from where to throw the rotting sour cherries and have the most victim impact is to position yourself in one of the trees. Quietly find the best branch, have ammunition in hand (also a great source of sustenance while waiting for victims) aim and FIRE! Each of us knew if the cherry juice got on our shirts or jeans, it was close to impossible to get the stain out. It was so easy to simply destroy someone’s favorite Star Wars or Peter Frampton t-shirt. But you better be able to ninja your way out of the tree to escape retribution and run like blazes, or be ready with lots of cherries.

It was a daily ritual to walk the forest road up to the cherry orchard, the best playground in the world. The orchard is full sun, quiet, and is protected on all sides by a thick forest. There is no noise from Jacobsen Road, just farm noises from our neighbors. At the peak of the orchard, 600 Montmorency cherry trees covered about 35 acres.

The old Omena stagecoach road separates our orchard from Donny Hermann’s perfectly manicured cherry trees.

He had Queen Anne, black, and sour cherries in his larger

WIN $150!

18 APRIL 2021

orchard. We were a weekend farming family, while he was a full-time family business.

The most magical time of the day in the orchard was nighttime. Although it was a little scary making our way up the forest road, it was worth the trip as you emerged from the dark two-track road into the orchard. The only light came from the moon and stars. It was the best place in the world for stargazing and scaring the heck out of a poor victim. Every night, the orchard trees would be waiting for our crew to arrive and witness the night’s activities: a game of bloody murder or good old-fashioned tag. Over the years, we broke fingers, arms, ankles, and egos, bruised just about every part of the body, destroyed clothing, and I cannot think of a time I miss more.

Rebecca is a college English professor. She enjoys traveling, writing, and paddle boarding on West Bay.

Share your fondest memories and stories. Win $150 for stories published.

Visit countrylines.com/community to submit.

“When I could no longer physically cut 20 cords of wood, I installed a Well-Connect. The system has met all claims and surprised me. If people are heating and cooling with propane, fuel oil, or wood and have their own well, they can cut their heating & cooling costs by at least half (as well as emissions).”

- Jess S., Cherryland Electric Member wellconnectgeo.com

Hybrid Geothermal

989-356-2113

gtlakes.com

facebook.com/greatlakesenergy

LINEWORKERS BRING THE LIGHT.

Lineworker Appreciation Day On April 12, remember to #ThankALineworker.