February 2024 GLE

February 2024

MICHIGAN

COUNTRY LINES Great Lakes Energy Cooperative

SWEEPING SUCCESS Michigan Tech’s Broomball Craze

Meet Your Director: Mark Carson

Knowledge Is Power with Consumer Analytics

Mary O’Connell Joins GLE’s Board

WATERFURNACE UNITS QUALIFY FOR A 30% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT 1

Smart homeowners around the world have scrapped their old furnaces and air conditioners and replaced them with a WaterFurnace geothermal comfort system. That’s because WaterFurnace geothermal systems use the clean, renewable energy in your own backyard to provide savings up to 70% on heating, cooling and hot water. You won’t need that old inefficient furnace or that unsightly outdoor air conditioner because a WaterFurnace system provides complete comfort for your home with a single unit. And because the system doesn’t burn fossil fuels, there are no fumes or carbon monoxide concerns. Make the smart switch to geothermal. Contact your local WaterFurnace dealer today to learn more.

YOUR LOCAL WATERFURNACE DEALERS

CO-OP REBATE INCENTIVES

Allendale Allendale Htg & Clg (800) 327-1937 allendaleheating.com

Indian River M&M Plmb & Htg (231) 238-7201 mm-plumbing.com

Mt Pleasant Walton Htg & Clg (989) 772-4822 waltonheating.com

Bad Axe/Ubly Cutting Edge Htg & Clg (989) 551-0986

Lansing Candor Mechanical (517) 920-0890 candormechanical.com

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

Lowell Arctic Inc. Htg. & Clg. (616) 897-4213 heatingcoolingonline.com

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

Mancelona Top Notch Htg, Clg, & Geothermal (231) 350-8052 Topnotchheatandair.com

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

Michigan Center Comfort 1/Air Serv of Southern Michigan (517) 764-1500 airserv.com/southernmichigan/

Traverse City D&W Mechanical (231) 941-1251 dwmechanical.com

Berrien Springs Waterfurnace Michiana (269) 473-5667 gogreenmichgeo thermal.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 adamsheating cooling.com

Alger Delta Electric: up to $4,000 Cherryland Electric: up to $2,500 Cloverland: up to $6,275 Great Lakes Energy: up to $5,000 HomeWorks/Tri-County Electric: up to $4,750 Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op: up to $4,750 Thumb Electric: 5% financing available up to $22,500 10-year term

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

visit us at waterfurnace.com/mi

WaterFurnace is a registered trademark of WaterFurnace International, Inc. ©2024 1.ENERGY STAR-rated units qualify for 30% through 2032, 26% through 2033 and 22% through 2034

Contents countrylines.com

/michigancountrylines

February 2024 Vol. 44, No. 2 /michigancountrylines

Michigan’s Electric Cooperatives

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Casey Clark EDITOR: Christine Dorr

6

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Karreen Bird RECIPE EDITOR: Christin Russman 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.

10 14

Postmaster: Send all UAA to CFS. Association Officers: Tom Sobeck, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op, chairman; Gabe Schneider, Cherryland Electric Cooperative, vice chairman; Chris O’Neill, HomeWorks TriCounty 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.

6 THE THRILL OF THE CHILL: ICE FISHING IN MICHIGAN Drill a hole and join in the fun.

10 MI COOP KITCHEN

Best Layer Cakes: Recipes as delicious as they are decorative.

14 SWEEPING SUCCESS

Michigan Tech’s broomball craze.

18 GUEST COLUMN

Memories of an Ice Fisherman: A GLE member recalls the first time he saw a “dinosaur fish.”

MI Co-op Community

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

Recipe Contest

See details on page 10. Quiches & Savory Tarts due March 1; Tacos & Margaritas due April 1.

Win a $100 bill credit!

Guest Column

Share your fondest memories and stories.

Win $200 for stories published. Visit countrylines.com/community to submit.

Win $200 for stories published!

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

3

Empowering Our Members Beyond Electricity

gtlakes.com /greatlakesenergy /jointruestream BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Howard Bowersox, Chairman, District 8 219-670-0977 hbowersox@glenergy.com Mark Carson, Vice Chairman, District 2 231-675-0561 mcarson@glenergy.com Paul Byl, Secretary, District 7 231-861-5911 pbyl@glenergy.com

Dale Farrier, Treasurer, District 5 231-564-0853 dfarrier@glenergy.com

Janet Andersen, Director, District 6 231-690-4622 jandersen@glenergy.com David Coveyou, Director, District 1 231-347-4056 dcoveyou@glenergy.com Richard Evans, Director, District 3 231-883-3146 revans@glenergy.com John LaForge, Director, District 9 269-623-2284 jlaforge@glenergy.com

Mary O’Connell, Director, District 4 989-217-8379 moconnell@glenergy.com PRESIDENT/CEO: Shaun Lamp 888-485-2537 COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Brett Streby 231-487-1389 • bstreby@glenergy.com BOYNE CITY HEADQUARTERS 1323 Boyne Ave. Boyne City, MI 49712

Call center hours:: 7 a.m.–5:30 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 FEBRUARY 2024

Shaun Lamp, Great Lakes Energy President/CEO

mpowering our members is at the heart of everything we do at Great Lakes Energy. This goes well beyond providing the reliable electric service that powers your day-to-day lives. It also means giving you the tools to better understand how your electric use affects your monthly costs.

E

Just like all of you, GLE faces many cost pressures that are out of our control, such as the cost of generating power, fuel, vehicles, and equipment. Last month, I wrote about how important it is that GLE’s electric rates provide sufficient revenue to cover these ever-increasing costs. As the rate adjustments that our board of directors approved in November go into effect on members’ bills rendered this month, it may be helpful to remember that these rate adjustments are critical to ensuring that GLE will remain a reliable source of energy for our members well into the future.

In the face of the challenges that rising costs present for GLE and our members, I’m excited about a new tool GLE began offering in January that can help our members take steps to understand their energy costs. As a GLE member, you now have access to an enhanced suite of consumer analytics tools through your online accounts and the GLE mobile app that will provide much more detailed information about your home’s electric use.

Previously, you could see your homes’ kilowatt-hour usage data broken down by month, day, or hour. You could use this information to make some educated guesses about what uses were driving your electric bills. But our newly enabled consumer analytics tools will cut out much of this guesswork.

These new tools use a process known as disaggregation to analyze the same power consumption data from your home’s meter that is used to calculate your electric bill. The system uses computer models to look for distinct “fingerprints” of power use in this data that can be attributed to the appliances and systems in your home. Although these estimates are typically good, you do have the option of completing a survey about your home that will help the system provide an even better analysis of your home’s electric use.

Not only will the system provide you with a detailed breakdown of your home’s electric use that you can evaluate on your own, but it will also provide energysaving recommendations based on your home’s use data.

You can also sign up to receive email alerts that will provide you with regular updates on your home’s energy use and offer you energy- and money-saving tips.

I encourage all GLE members to log in to their online accounts to explore the energy-saving opportunities that these empowering tools may reveal.

Log in your online account to explore these empowering tools gtlakes.com/.

GLE Scholarship Program Invests In Our Future n our ongoing effort to prepare for the future, Great Lakes Energy invests in regular infrastructure and technology upgrades, ongoing vegetation management, and new services such as Truestream fiber internet. We also invest in people: both our current employees and the next generation of people who will keep the lights on and develop future technological advancements.

I

Meet Your Newest Director P lease join us in welcoming Mary O’Connell of Gaylord to the Great Lakes Energy (GLE) Board of Directors. At its regular meeting in December, the board appointed Mary to fill a vacancy in the District 4 seat created when former board member Shelly Shepherd of Frederic stepped down effective Dec. 31. Mary will serve on the board as the District 4 representative for Crawford, Montmorency, Oscoda, and Otsego counties for the remainder of Shepherd’s term, which expires in August of 2026.

Mary, who has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Central Michigan University, brings a wealth of experience from her professional and volunteer activities that will serve her well in her new role on GLE’s board of directors.

In 2022, she retired from a long career in both cable and telecommunications, which included leadership positions in external affairs and government relations with two Fortune 500 companies.

Most recently, she was a cable company’s regional director of government affairs for the states of Montana, Colorado, and Wyoming.

She has also served on many nonprofit boards including local and state chambers of commerce and taxpayer advocacy nonprofits. In her personal time, she enjoys volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, where she helps build homes.

Although she just relocated to the Gaylord area following her retirement, her family has had a home on Otsego Lake since the 1930s and she has been visiting the area regularly for most of her life.

“It feels good to be back home and enjoying the company of family and long-time friends, and refamiliarizing myself with our beautiful Great Lakes,” Mary said.

That’s why we’re proud to continue two scholarship programs for the 2024–25 school year for people enrolled in lineworker training programs and those pursuing degrees in electrical engineering or information technology.

A total of 10 scholarship opportunities are available ranging from $1,000–$2,500 per school year or program year through these two programs.

The lineworker training scholarship program offers up to six $1,000 scholarships for students pursuing certification or a degree related to a preapprentice electrical lineworker program at an accredited institution in Michigan.

The degree-seeking program offers two scholarships worth up to $2,500 for students pursuing degrees related to electrical engineering and two for students pursuing degrees related to information technology at any accredited college or university in the United States.

Scholarship eligibility requirements are included on the applications, which are available online at gtlakes.com/youthprograms/ or by contacting GLE’s Human Resources Manager at (231) 485-2537, ext. 8478, or via email at hr@glenergy.com.

The application submission deadline is March 31.

In 2023, GLE awarded a total of $14,000 in scholarships between the two programs.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

5

The Thrill Of The Chill Ice Fishing In Michigan

By Yvette Pecha

t’s February in Michigan, and the deep freeze is here.

Some people will complain, some will seek respite in warmer regions, and some, like Tim Cwalinski, with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, will embrace this opportunity bestowed upon us by Mother Nature. Cwalinski, fisheries unit supervisor for the Northern Lake Huron Management Unit based in Gaylord, Michigan, enjoys fishing and is grateful to have a sporting activity he can take part in year-round. “Ice fishing gives us an additional recreation in the winter,” he said. “It’s a value we have in coldweather states, and we should use it to our advantage.”

I

“Hard-water fishing” is not just another fishing trip—it’s a completely unique experience. Aside from the level of solitude you likely wouldn’t find in other seasons, the lack of bugs, and different setups with different equipment give people a prospect they may not have the rest of the year. “Not everybody can afford a 20-, 40-, or 50-thousand-dollar boat,” Cwalinski said. Anglers who were previously relegated to fishing on the shoreline can now get to the middle of the lake simply by walking, snowmobiling, or driving out. Another perk—according to many anglers—is that ice fishing produces some of the

6 FEBRUARY 2024

best-tasting fish. “I think there’s some truth to that,” Cwalinski said. “Some species that live in lake vegetation, like crappie and bass, taste a little like their environment in the summer, but not in the winter.”

One unfortunate part of ice fishing is that it’s highly dependent on weather. If Michigan experiences a mild winter, ice conditions will be poor. Cwalinski says Saginaw Bay is a popular destination when conditions allow because there’s an abundance of walleye and perch in the bay. But Cwalinski notes that recent winters haven’t been particularly cold, and people have wound up traveling to places with cooler temperatures.

“Some people eagerly anticipate hard-water fishing, so downstate people will drive north and follow the good ice,” he said. Cwalinski lives in Gaylord (where he receives service from GLE) and says he generally fishes in lakes close to home, which are inhabited by plenty of trout. He said they’re also full of panfish, which he is partial to. Panfish, thusly called because they fit in a campfire-style pan, are classified by fish types such as blue gill, pumpkinseed, crappie, and yellow perch.

Cwalinski says it’s better for everyone if there’s cold weather statewide because

it spreads out where people fish and doesn’t deplete the northern bodies of water. But no matter the temperatures in the lower part of the state, Gaylord and other upstate communities enjoy a financial boon in the ice-fishing season.

“If you come up from downstate to fish, you’re spending money on bait, you’re buying gas and food, you might eat in a restaurant or stay in a hotel—all of that money is getting pumped into local economies,” Cwalinski said. There are also numerous northern Michigan ice fishing festivals and tournaments that serve as valued community development opportunities.

Before you head anywhere for ice fishing, it’s important to ensure conditions are right for it. “You have to consider the safety measures,” Cwalinski said. “Go to websites and find out what ice is good. In general, three inches is safe, but just because a certain spot is three inches doesn’t mean that’s the case throughout the body of water. Ask around and look for places where people are already out on the ice.”

As for when to fish, well, we are currently in what Cwalinski calls the “winter doldrums of ice fishing”—

a time where fish go into a state of “torpor,” during which they generally aren’t feeding or moving much.

“The thicker you are into the meat of winter—your Februarys, your early March—the harder it is to catch anything because they’re staying still and conserving energy,” he said.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go ice fishing this month, but you may fare better when the shorelines are starting to break up and the fish are more active. Regardless of when in the year you go out, the best times of day to fish are around sunrise and sunset.

Give ice fishing a try and experience for yourself why it is such a timehonored tradition in our state. With more than 11,000 Michigan lakes waiting to be explored, you don’t have to be housebound just because it’s cold outside. “Many of our Michigan recreational anglers look forward to the ice-fishing season year-round,” Cwalinski said. Though he is not a diehard ice angler, Cwalinski said he does find himself anticipating it sometimes in the off-season. “I’ll be sitting in deer stands in the fall and thinking about the blue gill fillets I’m going to catch soon,” he said.

FREE FISHING WEEKEND If you want to experience ice angling but don’t have a fishing license, there are two weekends a year you can fish without one. The first is Feb. 17 and 18. In addition to license fees being waived, you won’t need a recreation passport for entry into state parks or boating access sites. The other free fishing weekend is June 8 and 9.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

7

Annual Vegetation Management Program Begins

T

his winter, contracted tree-trimming crews will start removing trees and limbs near power lines throughout the Great Lakes Energy service area.

The work is part of the cooperative’s annual vegetation management program to improve electric service reliability and safety. About $8.7 million will be invested in 2024 to re-clear trees along 1,166 miles of power line rights-of-way (ROW) in 18 counties and 70 townships.

Counties and Townships Scheduled for 2024 Reclearing Allegan County: Dorr, Salem

Antrim County: Banks, Central Lake, Custer, Echo, Forest Home, Helena, Kearney, Milton Cheboygan County: Mentor, Tuscarora, Wilmot

Great Lakes Energy members will be notified by postcard, email, and phone if ROW re-clearing work is scheduled in their area. Please be sure we have your current billing address, email address, and primary phone number for your service location. You can verify and update this information by logging in to your online account or by calling (888) 485-2537. This will help ensure we are able to reach you.

Crawford County: Frederic, Lovells, Maple Forest

Tree-related power line damage is a major cause of outages. Re-clearing of the co-op’s entire power line distribution system is performed on six- to seven-year cycles. The amount of trimming to maintain adequate power line clearance depends on the tree type, location and growth, and type of line voltage. In addition to weak and dying trees, healthy trees may need to be trimmed or removed if they pose a threat to your electric service. As always, we will address any trees, both in and out of the ROW, that pose an imminent threat to our lines as needed throughout the year.

Mason County: Branch, Custer, Freesoil, Meade, Riverton, Sheridan, Sherman

Please see the list on this page for areas where contracted crews will work this year.

If you have questions about our re-clearing program or concerns about a tree that may be a hazard to our lines, contact our vegetation management department at (888) 485-2537, ext. 8221 (all areas south of Cadillac) or ext. 1295 (all areas north of Cadillac).

8 FEBRUARY 2024

Emmet County: Bear Creek, Cross Village, Readmond, Springvale Kalkaska County: Clearwater, Rapid River Kent County: Nelson, Spencer

Lake County: Lake, North Newkirk

Manistee County: East Stronach, West Stronach

Mecosta County: Aetna, Big Rapids, Deerfield, Green, Mecosta Montcalm County: Maple Valley, Pierson

Newaygo County: Barton, Denver, Everett, Goodwell, Lincoln, Merrill, Monroe, Norwich, Wilcox Oceana County: Benona, Claybanks, Grant, Pentwater, Weare Osceola County: Burdell

Otsego County: Bagley, Chester, Corwith, Dover, Hayes, Livingston, Otsego Lake Ottawa County: Blendon, Olive, Robinson

Wexford County: Cherry Grove, Henderson, South Branch

GLE PHOTO CONTEST

Travel Around The World

1

2

3

4

5

6

Enter to win a $200 energy bill credit!

Submit Your “Fishing” photos By Feb. 20!

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 February theme is Fishing. Photos can be submitted by Feb. 20 to be featured in the April 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 2024 will be entered into a drawing to win a $200 bill credit in December 2024.

MOST VOTES! 1. Paris! Sherri O'Neil, Gaylord 2. Floating above New Mexico, Dave Christiansen, Charlevoix 3. View from the Worthington Glacier in Valdez, Alaska, Shalene Sommer, Central Lake 4. Photobomb by giraffe at Giraffe Manor, Nairobi, Kenya, Swati Dutta, Shelby 5. Rebel bike in the Hoge Veluwe National Park, Eric Arnoys, Shelby 6. H orseback riding in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador, South America, Rick Borman, Bailey

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

9

MI CO-OP Recipes

BEST LAYER CAKES Recipes as delicious as they are decorative

WINNING RECIPE! CARROT CAKE

Tom Long, Midwest Energy & Communications 4 1½ ½ 1 2 1 2 1½ 2 1 1 2 1

eggs cups granulated sugar cup vegetable, almond, or walnut oil cup applesauce cups flour teaspoon salt teaspoons cinnamon teaspoons baking soda teaspoons baking powder teaspoon vanilla (16-ounce) can crushed pineapple, including juice cups grated carrots cup chopped pecans, for the sides of the baked cake

Frosting: ¾ cup unsalted butter 12 ounces cream cheese, softened 4–4½ cups powdered sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl, cream together the eggs, sugar, oil, and applesauce. In a medium bowl, add the flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix together until well blended. Then transfer the flour mixture into the sugar mixture and stir until just blended. Fold in the vanilla, pineapple, and grated carrots. Spray the bottom of two 9-inch round cake pans. Line the pans with wax paper cut to fit only in the bottom of the pans. Then add the cake batter evenly to both pans. Bake for 40–45 minutes, then set the cake aside to cool.

Recipe Contest

To make the frosting, blend the butter and cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla; blend until smooth. When the cake is cooled, add a layer of frosting to the top of one of the cakes, then place the remaining cake layer on top. Frost the cooled cake on top and around all edges, then press the chopped pecans around the sides of the cake. If desired, use food coloring to color a small amount of frosting green and orange, and use frosting tips and a piping bag to decorate the top with small, frosted carrots.

Win a $100 energy bill credit!

Quiches & Savory Tarts due March 1; Tacos & Margaritas due April 1 Submit your favorite recipe for a chance to win a $100 bill credit and have your recipe featured in Country Lines with a photo and a video. Submit your recipe at micoopkitchen.com, or send it via email (include your full name and co-op) to recipes@countrylines.com.

10 FEBRUARY 2024

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

RUBY’S CARAMEL APPLE CAKE Deb Finedell, Great Lakes Energy

For the Cake: 1 (15-ounce) box spice cake mix, plus ingredients called for on box For the Ganache: 1½ cups heavy cream 3 cups chocolate chips For the Caramel Buttercream: 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened 1 cup caramel, plus more for decoration and dipping 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 cups powdered sugar 2 teaspoons cinnamon 3 teaspoons heavy cream • pinch kosher salt For top of the cake: 3 apples, sliced ¹⁄ ³ cup chopped peanuts, preferably roasted Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two 8- or 9-inch cake pans. Prepare cake batter according to package directions. Divide between pans and bake according to package directions. Let cool for 10 minutes in pan, then transfer to a

cooling rack to cool completely. To make the ganache, heat heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until bubbles begin to form around the edges. Place chocolate chips in a large heatproof bowl, then pour hot heavy cream on top. Let set for 5 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Let cool slightly.

To make the buttercream, use a hand mixer to beat the butter and caramel in a large bowl until light and fluffy.

Add vanilla, then gradually beat in powdered sugar and cinnamon. Add heavy cream and mix until smooth. To assemble the cake, place the bottom layer on your serving platter. Spread with buttercream and pour ganache over the buttercream. Place the second layer of the cake on top, then frost cake entirely with buttercream, letting the ganache drip over the edges. Pour some of the additional caramel over ganache for decoration, letting it drip over edges (for perfect drips, use a squeeze bottle).

Dunk apples in remaining caramel, then place on top. Sprinkle chopped peanuts around the apples. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!

GWEN’S ITALIAN CREAM CAKE Victoria Hueter, Great Lakes Energy

½ cup butter ½ cup shortening (or skip shortening and use 1 cup butter if you prefer) 2 cups sugar 5 large eggs, yolks separated from whites 1 tablespoon vanilla 2 cups cake flour (all-purpose also works) 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup buttermilk 1 cup flaked coconut Nutty Cream Cheese Frosting: 1 cup chopped pecans + additional chopped pecans and pecan halves for garnishing cake, if desired 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened ½ cup butter, softened 1 tablespoon vanilla 1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar, sifted Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl, cream butter and shortening.

Gradually add sugar, beating well. Add

egg yolks one at a time. Add vanilla and beat until blended. In a medium bowl, combine flour and baking soda.

Add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended. Stir in coconut. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Fold egg whites into batter. Pour into three greased and floured 9-inch cake pans. Bake for 23–25 minutes, until toothpick test is clean. Cool 10 minutes in the pans, then remove and cool completely on racks. To make frosting, bake pecans in shallow pan at 350 F for 5–10 minutes or until toasted. When you can smell the pecans, they are done. Cool completely.

Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla at medium speed until blended, then beat at high speed until smooth. Stir in pecans. When the cake is cooled, between each cake layer and on top, frost with the Nutty Cream Cheese Frosting. Garnish with pecan halves and chopped pecans or pat additional coconut on the sides.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

11

Tap Into Outage Information G

LE works hard to provide our members with reliable electric service. However, thanks to the whims of the weather and other factors, occasional power outages are unavoidable. When that happens, our crews work just as hard to get the lights back on as quickly as possible.

We know power outages can be a significant cause of concern and inconvenience for our members. We also know that when an outage occurs, members want to know if GLE is aware of the outage, if we are working to restore it, and how long it will be until their service is restored.

To help provide more information to members when they are affected by a power outage, GLE now offers the option of signing up to receive automated outage notifications via text message, email, or the GLE mobile app.

Learn more at: gtlakes.com/opt-in/

To sign up for outage notifications: 1. Log into your GLE online account or the GLE mobile app and select “Manage Notifications” under the “Settings” menu.

2. On the next page, select “Service” from the drop-down menu, allowing you to add the phone number and email address to which you’d like each type of outage notification sent.

3. Finish up by clicking “Save.”

BONUS: If you’ve enrolled in text notifications, you’ll also have the option of reporting an outage simply by sending a text message with the word “OUT” to (855) 939-3703.

PRO TIP: Save (855) 939-3703 in your phone's contacts as “GLE.” That way you can easily find the number if you need to report an outage, and you’ll know who the text is coming from when you receive an outage notification.

Reminder:

Rate Changes Take Effect With February Bills Great Lakes Energy members will notice changes in their electric bills starting with statements rendered in February.

The changes, which the Great Lakes Energy Board of Directors approved at a meeting in November, includes a rate increase of $0.02202 per kWh, and a $5 increase in the fixed monthly charge for the residential and seasonal rate classes. The power supply cost recovery factor will decrease by $0.01687 per kWh, resulting in a net kWh rate increase of $0.00514.

12 FEBRUARY 2024

For the average residential member using 800 kWh per month, this equates to a $9.48 monthly increase.

The increase, although small, will raise revenues to provide sufficient funding levels for maintaining reliable electric service, providing adequate margins, and ensuring members receive the service they need to power their homes and businesses. More information about the recent rate changes is available on GLE’s website at gtlakes.com/faq/.

Consumer Analytics Puts The Power At Your Fingertips G reat Lakes Energy has long been committed to providing its members with power—both in the reliable, affordable electricity we provide and in many other services and programs we offer.

Now, GLE members have even more empowering information right at their fingertips thanks to a new suite of consumer analytics tools that provides a much more detailed breakdown of their home’s monthly electric use.

The information is just a few taps or clicks away through GLE members’ online accounts or the GLE mobile app.

The new system uses a process known as disaggregation to analyze the same power consumption data from your home’s meter that is used to calculate your electric bill. The system doesn’t directly detect which device, system, or appliance in your home is using power. Instead, it uses computer models to look for distinct “fingerprints” of power use that can be attributed to appliances, such as refrigerators, air conditioners, water heaters, and ovens.

With the right software algorithms, the usage of specific appliances or home systems can be identified and estimated.

Among the many tools this new system offers is an energy detail. This tool will show you a color-coded breakdown of your use by percentage of your bill and by cost for each category, along with a line that represents the average temperature for each month in the display. This tool is useful for reviewing how the weather may be impacting your heating and cooling costs.

This more detailed look at your home’s energy use may shine a light on opportunities for energy and cost savings.

Historic Farm Honored A family farm served by Great Lakes Energy was recently certified as a “Centennial Farm.”

The Edwin and Rachel Brooks Farm, which was certified on Nov. 1, 2023, was founded on Aug. 20, 1892, near Cadillac in Wexford County. The current owners of the farm are John and Sarah Bostwick.

Great Lakes Energy is a sponsor of the Michigan Centennial Farm Program that honors Great Lakes Energy members and other Michigan residents whose farms have been owned and operated by the same family for 100 years for centennial farms and 150 years for sesquicentennial farms. Once a farm is certified, the owners receive a certificate as well as a display marker for their farm. GLE members can request an application or obtain more information about the program by contacting The Historical Society of Michigan at (517) 324-1828 or by visiting the organization’s website, www.centennialfarms.org.

* Please note: Members must have their online accounts set up to take advantage of these new tools.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 13

SWEEPING SUCCESS

Michigan Tech’s Broomball Craze

By Emily Haines Lloyd

Wait. Duct tape?

Statistics are a part of most athletics. But there’s nothing average about the stats coming out of Michigan Tech’s intramural sport of choice—broomball.

3 rinks.

224 games.

2,000 student-athletes.

404,235 linear feet of duct tape each year.

14 FEBRUARY 2024

Let us explain.

The Essence of Broomball: Duct Tape and Bristles The name “broomball” is derived from the unique construction of the brooms used in the game. While contemporary brooms are now manufactured, original enthusiasts would insist brooms should have straw bristles with duct tape wrapping all but a few inches at the end.

These brooms, akin to hockey sticks, are used to propel a small round ball into the opponent’s goal. Played both indoors and outdoors on an ice rink, broomball features two teams of six players each, with a goaltender and five field players. Unlike traditional ice hockey, players do not wear ice skates, opting instead for rubber-soled shoes, typically their everyday sneakers.

Broomball on a Budget Despite the university’s reputation for impressive math and engineering programs, the less serious endeavor of broomball has become a significant part of campus life, involving over a quarter of the student body each season.

Wyatt Helzer, a computer science and ethics major and the current chairperson of broomball at Michigan Tech, highlights the sport’s accessibility as a key factor in its popularity.

“Not only is it relatively easy to learn,” said Helzer.

“But it’s affordable too. I mean, a broom, some duct tape, and 35 bucks lets you play all season.”

Helzer encourages cash-strapped college students to work a few shifts at the rinks to cover their entry fees, making broomball an accessible and inclusive activity for students.

Evolution of Rules and Broomball Culture When broomball first hit Michigan Tech in the 1950s, there were only two rules: the first addressing how many inches of broom bristles needed to show below your tape and the second being that brooms couldn’t be used as a bat against other players. For a university nestled in the harsh weather of the Upper Peninsula, these seem like fairly reasonable rules for the hearty individuals who call Michigan Tech home.

Over the years, broomball has evolved into its own subculture at the university, attracting fans for life. Now, three outdoor rinks are situated in the center of campus, making it nearly impossible for the student body to avoid its charms.

Nerds on Ice David Wingard, a 2008 MTU alumnus working in research and development, returns annually for the Alumni Tournament during Winter Carnival, which showcases broomball’s enduring allure.

“Tech is filled with a bunch of nerds,” Wingard jokes. “But that’s the thing about broomball— you don’t have to be a serious athlete, you just have to be up for some fun.”

As the sound of brooms hitting balls echoes through the icy rinks of Michigan Tech, it resonates with the laughter, friendships, and memories that make broomball an integral part of the Tech experience. Broomball is a reflection of the Upper Peninsula and Michigan Tech itself— resilient, innovative, and unapologetically unique.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

15

YOU’RE PART OF A LARGER POWER GRID Every time you charge your phone, you’re connecting to more than just an outlet—you’re plugging into a complex power grid.

The Interconnected Power Grid Great Lakes Energy Cooperative, along with four other cooperatives, gets its power from Wolverine Power Cooperative. Together, we co-own Wolverine, which makes power more affordable and reliable than operating on our own.

Wolverine and Great Lakes Energy are a part of an even bigger network that extends from Canada to Louisiana, connecting various power generators and high-voltage transmission companies.

How Being Connected Impacts You The connected grid works great as long as there is enough supply to meet demand. In recent years, utilities have faced increasing pressure to retire coal plants faster than they can replace them, resulting in a reduction of power supply reserves. Even though Wolverine has secured more than enough power for Great Lakes Energy members, we share the grid and its power supply with other utilities.

WE SHARE POWER

Being connected allows regions to share power and send it to where it’s needed most. This provides you with enhanced reliability and reduced energy costs.

WE SHARE RISK

If one part of the region has an electricity shortage, it can spread through the connected grid like a contagious illness.

WE SHARE RESPONSIBILITY

Even though Great Lakes Energy has more than enough power to meet your needs, during a grid shortage, rules can require us to participate in rolling blackouts or ask you to conserve energy.

So, the next time you switch on a light or plug in your gadgets, remember that you’re plugging into a network of collaboration.

Building On A Tradition Of Teamwork M

ark Carson knows the important role teamwork plays in the success of any organization. It’s a lesson he’s learned from many facets of his life, including the nearly 18 years he’s served as the District 2 representative on the Great Lakes Energy Board of Directors.

But his roots with GLE go back much further than that.

A native of Boyne City, Mark grew up in the small town he now calls home.

His first thoughts of serving on GLE’s board likely grew out of hearing his father, Howard Carson, talk about serving on what was then the Top O’ Michigan Electric Cooperative Board of Directors (one of the cooperatives that later merged to form today’s GLE.) Shortly after he graduated from high school, Mark participated in a summer work program with GLE’s power supplier, Wolverine Power Cooperative. Mark was part of a crew that visited Wolverine’s electric substations doing maintenance work such as lawn mowing and painting fences.

He went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration. Mark started his professional career working for Walmart, and for the past 29 years, he has worked as a manager with Gordon Food Service in Gaylord.

Mark Carson works with members of his team at Gordon Food Service in Gaylord, where he has worked as a manager for the past 29 years.

Mark Carson stands outside the Wolverine Power Cooperative’s Carson Generating Facility near Gaylord, which is named in honor of his father Howard Carson, a former Top O’ Michigan Electric Cooperative board member, and his uncle Bill Carson, who was a supervisor at Wolverine’s former Advance power plant.

“ Coaching, management, and serving on the board blend together in many ways, especially when it comes to teamwork. You have to look at who fits best in which roles and how you can equip the team for success.”

For much of that same time, he’s been actively involved in youth basketball. He first got involved as a parent, then for about 15 years as a coach, and in 2021, he switched from coaching to officiating.

Mark said the same teambuilding, leadership, and decision-making skills that he’s developed in his professional and youth basketball pursuits have served him well in his time on the GLE Board of Directors.

“Coaching, management, and serving on the board blend together in many ways, especially when it comes to teamwork,” Mark said. “You have to

look at who fits best in which roles and how you can equip the team for success.”

Mark said he has enjoyed the many learning opportunities he’s had and serving on a board comprised of people with diverse backgrounds who work well together in the best interest of GLE and its members.

He’s also proud of the fact that he was serving as the chairman of the board with GLE when Truestream was in its beginning stages.

“There were a lot of discussions about if it was the right time for GLE to take on such a big project. But we also heard so many comments from members that access to fast, reliable internet was something they really needed,” he said.

Looking to the future, Mark is excited about the continued growth of the Truestream network, how it will enhance members’ lives through access to reliable high-speed internet, and how it will help improve GLE’s electric reliability for many years to come.

Mark is one of three board members whose seats are up for re-election in 2024, and he is planning to seek re-election.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 17

MI CO-OP Guest Column

Memories Of An Ice Fisherman

By Rick Fowler, a Great Lakes Energy Cooperative member

1958…the earliest memories of being on the ice would probably spark the flames of many of us who had dads, granddads, uncles, etc., who led us on our first journeys onto the hard water.

I was 6 when my dad and grandfather included me in their plans, which involved spearing sturgeon from their fishing shanty on Mullett Lake. My grandparents lived in Indian River, Michigan, and since the lake was only a couple of miles away, we had ample time, a place to get to quickly if we needed to warm up (meaning me), and we could get home and eat.

My dad and grandfather had speared a sturgeon before and loved to talk about their experiences to anyone who would listen. This morning had been slow, and we had seen nothing swimming by in the clearcut hole of the shanty.

Dad and Grandpa decided to visit another shack nearby to talk to them, no doubt about how they had speared their sturgeons, and it had taken at least 20 minutes to land the monsters (every year, the pounds, length, and battle times seemed to get longer).

While they were gone, they instructed me to watch for any fish that swam by and to holler if it was really big. Now, I had never seen a sturgeon before and therefore could not envision how massive they were. Within minutes of their departure, I got down on my hands and knees to get a clearer picture of the world below me. At that exact moment, the dinosaur fish decided to make his presence known and swam by the hole without a care in the world.

BEST OF MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

COOKBOOK

A decade of award-winning recipes from Michigan Country Lines.

Little did that fish know that up above, a 6-year-old kid screamed at the top of his lungs, busted down the thinskinned door to escape the monster, and ran to his father.

They never let me forget that moment!

Rick taught high school English in Boyne City for 34 years. For the past 25 years, he has been an outdoor freelance writer.

Order now!

Guest Column

Scan the QR code to embark on your culinary journey.

Share your fondest memories and stories. Win $200 for stories published. Visit countrylines.com/ community to submit.

Please allow 7–10 days for shipping.

Win $200 for stories published!

18 FEBRUARY 2024

TURN YOUR WELL INTO AN INFINITE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE

JUST ADD A WELL-CONNECT TO HEAT & COOL YOUR HOME FOR HALF

DIY OR PROFESSIONAL, ANY TIME OF YEAR

ONE-DAY INSTALLATION

FINANCING AVAILABLE & ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO

$2,000 REBATE & 30% TAX CREDIT

HOW DOES THE SYSTEM WORK? Well-Connect is a hybrid ground-source heat pump that works with your existing furnace, it does not replace it. Similar to how a hybrid vehicle greatly reduces the need for gas, doubling the fuel efficiency, a Well-Connect significantly reduces the amount of propane, fuel oil or wood need to heat a home. This hybrid approach saves a homeowner 50% to 75% on heating costs. Heating with Well-Connect is like paying less than 70 cents per gallon of propane!

70° AIR

50° WATER

95° AIR

38° WATER

Hybrid Geothermal

EXISTING FURNACE

EASILY ADD A WELL-CONNECT TO YOUR HOME

COMPLETE VIRTUAL HOME ASSESSMENT WITH WELL-CONNECT SPECIALIST

COMPLETE IN-HOME TECHNICAL SITE REVIEW WITH LOCAL INSTALLER

Geothermal Made Affordable

833-436-9355 wellconnectgeo.com

GET YOUR WELL-CONNECT SYSTEM INSTALLED OR INSTALL IT YOURSELF

ENJOY YOUR ENERGY SAVINGS AND IMPROVED HOME COMFORT, YEAR-ROUND

SCAN HERE TO GET STARTED

gtlakes.com facebook.com/greatlakesenergy

PERSONALIZED ENERGY TRACKING WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED. More ways to track and save with Great Lakes Energy. gtlakes.com/energy-tracking/