Feb 2026 Cherryland by Country Lines

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

Wade Rouse & Viola Shipman: LAKE

MICHIGAN’S STORYTELLERS

Geothermal isn’t just about comfort. It’s about energy independence, grid resilience, and good jobs.

Geothermal heating and cooling doesn’t just make homes more comfortable and efficient—they’re powered by a domestic, underground energy source that’s available 24/7, rain or shine.

Made in the USA: Our geothermal systems are built right here in America, supporting advanced manufacturing jobs.

Grid-friendly: While AI, EVs, and data centers push power demand to new heights, geothermal helps reduce peak load—easing the burden on our utilities.

Job-creating: From HVAC contractors and well drillers or trenchers to engineers and architects, geothermal supports a wide network of high-paying, skilled jobs in every community it touches.

Geothermal isn’t just smart for homeowners. It’s smart for the country.

Allendale

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

Berrien Springs

Grand Rapids

Bel Aire Htg & Clg 1-888-235-2473 belaire.com

Hart

Mt Pleasant

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

WaterFurnace Michiana (269) 473-5667 gogreenmichgeothermal.com

Big Rapids Stratz Htg & Clg, Inc. (231) 796-3717 stratzgeocomfort.com

Cadillac

Wilder Htg & Clg (231) 645-4822 Wilderheatingandcooling.com

Filion/Bad Axe

Air-O-Dynamic Htg & Clg (989) 582-0137 aod-hvac.com

Gaylord Family Plmb & Htg (989) 732-8099 familyplumbingandheating.com

Adams Htg & Clg (231) 873-2665 adamsgeothermal-mi.com

Holland

G.H.P. Systems Inc. (616) 396-5833 ghpsystems-inc.com

Indian River

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

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

Michigan Center Comfort 1/Aire Serv of Southern Michigan (517) 764-1500 airserv.com/southern-michigan/

Muskegon TMC Mechanical LLC (231) 865-1114 www.tmcmechanicalllc.com

Portage Bel Aire Htg & Clg 1-888-235-2473 belaire.com

Portland

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

Sparta

West Michigan Geothermal (616) 887-1290 Westmigeothermal.com

Sunfield

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

WaterFurnace is a registered trademark

Three Rivers

Bel Aire Htg & Clg 1-888-235-2473 belaire.com

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

CO-OP REBATE INCENTIVES

$2,250 rebate available through your co-op.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Casey Clark

EDITOR: Christine Dorr

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, USPS591-710, 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:

Chris O’Neill, HomeWorks TriCounty Cooperative, chairman; Gabe Schneider, Cherryland Electric Cooperative, vice chairman; Shaun Lamp, Great Lakes Energy Cooperative, secretary-treasurer; John Kran, 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.

MICHIGAN’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

MI CO-OP Community

RECIPE CONTEST

See details on page 10. Salads with a Twist, due March 1; Grilled to Perfection, due April 1. Win a $100 bill credit!

GUEST COLUMN

See details on page 18. Share your fondest memories and stories. Win $200 for stories published!

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

6 A CUB, A DREAM, A LEGACY: THE STORY OF DEAN OSWALD’S BEAR RANCH

How Dean’s Childhood Encounter Sparked a Lifelong Passion.

10 MI CO-OP KITCHEN

Chocolate Reimagined: a New Way to Indulge.

14 WADE ROUSE & VIOLA SHIPMAN: LAKE MICHIGAN’S STORYTELLERS

Bestselling Author Writes About the Everyday People Who Make Life Meaningful.

18 GUEST COLUMN

The Poet: How a GLE Member’s Grandfather Mesmerized His Family with Stories from the Gold Rush.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Gabe Schneider, President 517-449-6453

gschneider@cherrylandelectric.coop

Valarie Handy, Senior Vice President 231-392-4705

vhandy@cherrylandelectric.coop

Melinda Lautner, Secretary 231-947-2509

mlautner@cherrylandelectric.coop

Dean Adams, Treasurer 231-642-0014

dadams@cherrylandelectric.coop

Terry Lautner, Director 231-883-6455

tlautner@cherrylandelectric.coop

David Schweitzer, Director 231-883-5860

dschweitzer@cherrylandelectric.coop

Tom Van Pelt, Director 231-386-5234

tvanpelt@cherrylandelectric.coop

CEO

Rachel Johnson

CO-OP EDITORS:

Courtney Doyle: cdoyle@cherrylandelectric.coop

Bailey Watson: bwatson@cherrylandelectric.coop

OFFICE HOURS

Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

TELEPHONE NUMBERS

231-486-9200 or 1-800-442-8616 (Mich.)

ADDRESS

P.O. Box 298, Grawn, MI 49637

PAY STATION

Cherryland Electric Cooperative office 5930 U.S. 31 South, Grawn MI, 49637

Cherryland Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

CO-OP NEWS

Cherryland Cares Awards $15,000 To Eight Nonprofits

At its fourth-quarter board meeting, the Cherryland Cares board awarded grants to eight local nonprofit organizations: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan, HelpLink, The Baby Pantry at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Redeemer of Interlochen Baby Pantry, Leelanau Christian Neighbors, North Ed Foundation, Benzie Senior Resources, and Benzie Area

Christian Neighbors. In 2025, Cherryland Cares awarded a total of $60,365 in grants to 20 area nonprofits.

The Cherryland Cares board is comprised of five volunteer Cherryland members. The funds distributed by Cherryland Cares result from members electing to round up their monthly bills to the nearest dollar. Members can contribute to the Cherryland Cares fund by calling 231-486-9200, signing up through SmartHub, or emailing us at cec@cherrylandelectric.coop.

If you are an area nonprofit agency looking to apply for our next grant cycle, please call Shannon Beery at 231-486-9218 or email her at sbeery@cherrylandelectric.coop.

Serve On Cherryland’s Board

Any qualified Cherryland member can be elected to serve a three-year term on the cooperative’s board of directors. Two directors will be elected at this year’s Annual Meeting, including one at-large director and one Leelanau County director.

To be nominated in 2026, candidates may file a petition with the cooperative’s executive administrative assistant starting the first day of March until 4 p.m. on the last business day of March. To receive a nominating petition, please fill out the board candidate interest form on our website.

Review Article III of the co-op’s bylaws on our website for more information regarding board nominations and the election process.

Cherryland Offers Four Scholarships

Cherryland offers four scholarships—three worth $4,000 for high school seniors and one adult scholarship (post-high school) for $2,000. Applications for both scholarships are available on our website. The deadline for applications is Friday, April 3.

KALKASKA

MANISTEE WEXFORD

Seeing Reliability from a New Angle

By Rachel Johnson, Cherryland CEO

Ever tried to take a group selfie? You stretch your arm, tilt the phone, squint at the screen, and somehow still end up with everyone’s chins front and center. Finding the right angle makes all the difference.

At Cherryland, we’ve discovered that applies to power lines, too.

For decades, inspecting those lines meant crews driving from pole to pole and looking at the equipment from both the ground and bucket trucks. It worked but it was slow and tedious. Then we realized maybe we just needed a better angle.

So, we took to the skies.

Under the leadership of Cherryland’s engineering team and with a little help from Northwestern Michigan College’s drone program, we now use high-resolution and infrared images captured by drones to analyze our system from above. These digital snapshots allow us to spot potential issues before they turn into outages.

That shift has been a game-changer for system inspection. What once took us 14 years to complete now takes just nine, and we’re on track to bring that down to seven. That means faster maintenance cycles, fewer outages, and less time spent on this necessary process. When we work more efficiently, we reduce redundant labor and travel, which helps keep costs down for our members.

When storms strike, those drones can inspect roughly 150 poles an hour, five times faster than traditional methods. It makes a huge difference when it comes to getting your lights back on faster, even in the worst conditions. It’s also making the work safer for our crews. Fewer climbs, less driving, and minimal encounters with poison ivy and mosquitoes.

But the real magic is in what comes next. Every image captured feeds into a growing library of data that helps us plan long-term maintenance and spot trends before they turn into trouble. In the future, artificial intelligence will help us sift through that data to automatically identify things like vegetation risks or equipment wear. That proactive approach lets us plan improvements thoughtfully over time, rather than reacting in the middle of an emergency. Waiting for a storm or equipment failure is almost always more costly.

Of course, with great perspective comes great responsibility. While our drones capture incredible detail, they’re focused only on Cherryland’s electric infrastructure, not what’s happening in your backyard. Every flight follows strict FAA regulations and our own data privacy policies. We take your privacy as seriously as we take reliability.

Sometimes, solving big challenges just means finding a better view. By changing our angle, literally, we’re keeping your power safer, more reliable, and more affordable.

Because whether it’s a selfie or a power pole, the right angle makes all the difference.

To hear more, listen to the Co-op Energy Talk Podcast

A Cub, A Dream, A Legacy The

Story of Dean Oswald’s Bear Ranch

By Allie Brawley | Photos by Abby Moran

This article was originally published in Cloverland Connections, September/October 2025.

When Dean Oswald was 6 years old, he and his family would vacation near Newberry, Michigan, where one of the highlights was watching wild bears forage at the local landﬁll. When Dean spotted a cub at the side of the road, he pleaded with his dad to pet the little creature. His dad cautioned that the protective mother bear would be nearby—and she soon appeared and nudged the cub back into the woods. Then she turned to the vehicle where Dean and his family watched and stood on her hind legs, a sign of threatening protection, and disappeared back into the woods with her cub.

“I was fascinated by that cub,” Dean recalled. “And I thought, someday I’ll have a bear cub.”

That childhood dream stayed with Dean throughout his life. Even as he served in the Marines, worked as a police offi cer and fi refi ghter in Bay City, and raised four children with his wife Jewel, the dream of having a bear never left him. After retiring, Dean and Jewel bought an 80-acre property near Newberry in 1983 and moved north to begin building Dean’s childhood dream.

Shortly afterward, someone contacted Dean with a bear cub that needed a home—and his dream ﬁ nally came true.

Dean remodeled their cabin, cleared the overgrown wood, and built the fi rst bear enclosure by the lake. As he bonded with his fi rst bear and then raised a second cub, word spread. Curious visitors started showing up to see the bears, photograph them, and sometimes even feed them. Recognizing the growing interest, Dean and Jewel began collecting food donations from local restaurants and grocery stores. That support continues to this day—fi vegallon buckets filled with produce, freezer-burned meat, and sweets arrive regularly.

“We buy granola by the ton—20 tons at a time,” Dean laughs.

With growing public interest and appetites, Oswald’s Bear Ranch quickly became known for more than just bear sightings. When the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) closed landﬁlls to spectators, a popular, low-cost way to view wildlife disappeared. As a result, the ranch emerged as a prime and meaningful opportunity to observe bears up close in a natural setting.

What began with just ﬁve bears has since grown to a thriving community of 50, divided among three expansive habitats for yearlings, males, and females. One enclosure spans an entire mile. Today, the ranch covers 250 acres and features pools

Dean Oswald with his wife Jewel and son Monty, who help carry on the family’s passion for providing rescued bears with a safe, enriching habitat in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

“ The best part about the ranch is that you’re with family and friends all day.”

for the young bears to cool off, elevated viewing platforms for visitors, and hibernation dens—some hand-built by Dean and others instinctively dug by the bears themselves.

To meet federal and state regulations, the Oswalds were required to build a 10-foot-high wire mesh fence with a fourfoot-high perimeter fence. The cost strained the ranch’s operating budget. To help subsidize increasing operational costs, the Oswalds opened a gift shop selling hats, t-shirts, and bear gifts.

Today, Dean is recognized across the state as a bear rescuer. The DNR regularly contacts him when orphaned cubs need a home. Of the 50 bears at Oswald’s Bear Ranch, 48 were bottle-fed by Dean himself.

“When we started, we thought ﬁ ve or six cars a day would help us pay the bills,” he said. “Now we’ve had visitors from Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, South Africa, and Newfoundland—all in one day.”

What began as a dream is now a beloved destination, operated with the help of Dean and Jewel’s family. Their son Monty helps during the season, and Monty’s son runs the gift shop and manages ﬁ nances. Neighbors help cut apples and direct traﬃ c. A local artist designed the entrance sign and a fellow bear enthusiast created the information board of frequently asked questions. Local specialized contractors installed fences, water lines, and electrical systems to safely support the bears.

“The best part about the ranch is that you’re with family and friends all day,” Monty says.

The ranch runs on simple pricing—$30 per vehicle—and offers the unique chance to get a photo with a bear cub. Many visitors seek out Dean himself to thank him, snap a photo, or meet his chipmunk companion “Chippy,” who eats sunﬂ ower seeds right from Dean’s hand.

Dean often sits near the habitat, smiling as visitors walk up to say, “Thanks for sharing your bears,” and fellow Marines pass by exclaiming, “Semper Fi.”

When asked what he’s most proud of, Dean doesn’t hesitate: “Just the fact that I accomplished a passion.”

Learn more at oswaldsbearranch.com.

Cloverland Electric Cooperative’s communications team, Allie Brawley and Abby Moran, feed a cub ice cream. The photo booth is one of the most memorable parts of a visit for guests of all ages.

A sign at the entrance answers frequently asked questions and shares stories of Tyson, Patton, and Zac—just a few of the bears who’ve called the ranch home.

YOUR POTENTIAL POWERED BY CHERRYLAND

Apply for Cherryland scholarships by April 3, 2026

$4,000 Scholarship

Must be a high school senior

Must have a 2.75 GPA

Parents or legal guardians must be Cherryland Electric Members

$2,000 Scholarship

Must be a Cherryland Electric Member

Must be enrolled in college classes

A Different Way to Heat & Cool Your Home

Heat pumps move heat instead of creating it. Depending on your lifestyle they can keep homes comfortable year-round while using less energy. Heat pumps don’t burn fuel or create heat. Instead, they move heat from one place to another—bringing warmth inside during winter and moving heat out during summer.

What Is a Heat Pump?

These pumps use the earth’s natural heat to transfer heat to and from the ground. Supplement heat may be needed on cold days.

These pumps each serve one room of home. These heat pumps offer individual room temperature control. More energy efficient than baseboard, in-floor heat and no ductwork is required.

These pumps use electricity to move heat from one place to another. These units will have a forced air furnace inside and an outside coil.

CHOCOLATE REIMAGINED

CANDIED BACONWRAPPED DATES

Cynthia Hodges, Ontonagon REA

1 12-ounce package bacon strips (12 slices)

24 medjool dates, pitted (soak in water for 15 minutes if ﬁ rm, then drain)

¼ cup cream cheese, softened

¼ cup packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 425 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut the bacon strips in half crosswise. Split each date in half and fi ll with about ½ teaspoon cream cheese. Wrap each stuffed date tightly with a half strip of bacon and set aside. On a small plate or shallow bowl, mix together the brown sugar, cocoa, chili powder, and cinnamon, then roll each bacon-wrapped date in the sugar mixture to coat both sides. Secure each piece with a toothpick or small skewer and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 30 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp (thicker bacon may require more time). Enjoy warm!

DECADENT CHOCOLATE AVOCADO EDAMAME ZUCCHINI MOUSSE

Janet Ruggles, Cherryland Electric Cooperative

¼ cup soft steamed zucchini, packed and well-drained

20 shelled edamame beans (about 10 pods), steamed or microwaved

4 ounces 70%–92% cacao

dark chocolate

2 very ripe avocados

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

6 tablespoons maple syrup

⅓ cup almond milk

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

⅛ teaspoon sea salt

30 raspberries

Cut the zucchini into chunks and steam until soft (use leftover zucchini for dinner if desired). Measure ¼ cup, packed and well-drained. Separately, steam about 10 edamame pods (or more, as needed) and remove 20 beans. Melt chocolate in microwave, stirring every 20–30 seconds to prevent burning. In a food processor or blender, combine all ingredients except raspberries. Purée until creamy and silky. Add a little more almond milk if needed for a smoother texture. Spoon the mousse into 6 small dessert cups (about ½ cup each). Chill for at least 1 hour. Top each cup with 5 raspberries before serving.

GARBAGE COOKIES

Emily Binard, Great Lakes Energy

1 unsalted stick butter, softened

½ cup brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt

1 large egg

1 cup + 1 tablespoon all-purpose ﬂ our

½ teaspoon baking soda

½–¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

¼–½ cup chopped Heath or Skor toffee bars

10 Kraft caramels, cut into quarters

½ cup mini marshmallows (or chopped marshmallow peeps)

¼ cup chopped mini pretzels/mini pretzel rods

¼ cup chopped Oreo cookies

Preheat oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, mix the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Beat in the egg. Add the fl our and baking soda and stir until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips, toffee, caramels, marshmallows, pretzels, and Oreos. Scoop dough into 1-tablespoon portions and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 11–13 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool on the sheet or serve warm.

CHOCOLATE-KISSED CHICKEN THIGHS

Katie Schneider, Midwest Energy & Communications

Chicken:

6–8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

• olive oil

• sea salt

• black pepper

Chocolate BBQ Sauce:

2 tablespoons butter

8 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup tomato sauce

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cumin

½ teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon chili pepper (more if desired)

4 ounces 62% semisweet dark chocolate, chopped

4 tablespoons chopped cilantro

• sea salt

• black pepper

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Pat the chicken thighs dry, rub them with olive oil, and season generously with sea salt and black pepper. Arrange the thighs skin-side up on a baking sheet or in a cast-iron skillet. Roast for 25 minutes, or until the skin begins to crisp. While the chicken roasts, make the sauce: Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic, and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the tomato sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, cumin, cinnamon, onion powder, and chili pepper, then simmer for 5–7 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove the pan from the heat and add the dark chocolate, stirring until smooth, then mix in the chopped cilantro and season with salt and pepper to taste. When the chicken has roasted for 25 minutes, remove it from the oven, brush the thighs generously with the chocolate BBQ sauce, and return them to the oven for another 10–15 minutes, until the glaze caramelizes and the chicken is fully cooked. Serve with extra sauce spooned over the top.

More Than a Game: How Guns N’ Hoses Unites and Lifts Our Community

By Bailey Watson | Photos by Memories by Andy

This community knows how to rally when it matters most. For over 10 years, Centre Ice Arena has been the place where support turns into action through the Annual Guns N’ Hoses hockey game. This year, on Saturday, Feb. 21, the community will come together at Centre Ice Arena again in support of the Miner Family.

The Grand Traverse Guns N’ Hoses hockey game began in 2014, from a drive to support a local law enforcement family dealing with a child’s cancer diagnosis. A group of other public service members came together to put on Guns N’ Hoses, a hockey game of firefighters vs. police officers from around the area. From then on, a rivalry on the ice and a legacy of community support off the ice began.

Since its inception, Guns N’ Hoses has given back over $300,000 to those in need in the Grand Traverse Area. The organization’s volunteer board spends its time outside of work putting together all aspects of the hockey game and the annual golf outing, as well as finding other ways to support the community.

Seeing the impact on the families after the event is over is what keeps these volunteers going. “After the event, when we sit down with the family and we give them that check, along with the continuing updates and feedback that we get from past families keep us going,” said Board Member Nick Lemcool. The families this board has helped have become part of the community and support system. “That’s one thing we’ve created with this is that family. We pick a family

that we’re going to help out, and then they stick around and continue to help,” said Lemcool.

Behind every selection is thoughtful consideration and deep respect. When nominations open each fall, the board understands they aren’t just choosing a beneficiary—they’re choosing a family the community will stand behind. While a formal evaluation process helps guide the decision, it’s the impact that matters most. “It relieves some of the financial pressures on them for a time,” Lemcool said. “And everyone we’ve helped has been gracious. They always come back to help us and support others.”

The 2026 beneficiary will no doubt return to help in the future, as helping is at the heart of their foundation.

Cherryland member Austin Miner lost his father, Lieutenant Jonathan Miner, unexpectedly in the fall of 2025. Lt. Miner lived a life of service to others; on the job, he served for 30 years with the Springfield Township Fire Department. At home, he and his wife Deena fostered 40 children and adopted four. “He was always the first one to jump up and do something when needed, and then when it was done, he’d take a shirt off and give it to you and say, ‘what else do you need?’” shared Austin Miner.

Lt. Miner’s legacy of service lives on through his son Austin, who serves with the Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department, and his daughter, Kayla Grant, who is a firefighter/paramedic with the Springfield Township Fire Department, where he served. It is clear that Lt. Miner’s impact was felt even further. “It’s extremely humbling. You don’t really expect to be in this position ever. When all these places, Guns N’ Hoses included, reached out, it just shows the impact that he had. It’s been so amazing,” said Miner.

The Guns N’ Hoses board invites everyone to come out and join them on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Centre Ice to support the Miner Family. This impact will ripple through many communities as Lt. Miner’s legacy continues to

shape future generations. The 21st is sure to be a night of community support and making memories, which is what Jonathan was all about. When asked what something is that they want the community to know, Austin shared this: “Make those memories with loved ones, families, friends. Don’t dwell on the past; just keep moving forward one day at a time. You don’t know if tomorrow’s coming. So make those memories and make ‘em count. It’s pretty much Dad.”

“He was always the first one to jump up and do something when needed, and then when it was done, he’d take a shirt off and give it to you and say, ‘what else do you need?’”

The Guns N’ Hoses 2026 Game will be Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Centre Ice. Learn more about tickets, volunteer opportunities, and silent auction donations on their Facebook Page, Grand Traverse Guns N Hoses.

Photo courtesy of the Miner Family

Wade Rouse & Viola Shipman: LAKE MICHIGAN’S STORYTELLERS

By Emily Haines Lloyd

“So many of our mothers and grandmothers sacriﬁced so much so we would not have to endure what they did. And they did it with such grace.”

Before Wade Rouse ever knew he would become a bestselling author, he knew the gentle weight of his grandmother Viola’s charm bracelet as she held his hand in church. He knew the sound of her recipe box opening like a treasure chest. He remembered sitting with her at the beauty parlor, listening to women share everyday heartbreaks and triumphs, and somehow knowing—these stories matter.

Those simple, unpolished moments would become the heartbeat of the ﬁ ction he would one day write. But it was not until he faced some of the hardest chapters of his own life that Rouse understood their deeper purpose. Standing in his childhood attic after losing his mother and watching his father succumb to dementia, he found Grandma Viola’s charm bracelet tucked in a box of keepsakes. Holding it, he realized the stories she passed down were not meant to fade. They were meant to be shared. That moment sparked the beginning of his decision to write under her name: Viola Shipman.

From Loss to Legacy

That act of remembrance grew into a body of ﬁ ction that honors the everyday people who hold families and communities together with quiet resilience.

“So many of our mothers and grandmothers sacriﬁ ced so much so we would not have to endure what they did,” he said. “And they did it with such grace.”

Rouse’s novels celebrate friendship, hope, and the strength of ordinary lives. His characters reﬂ ect the same small-town values that shaped his youth in the Ozarks.

“As a writer, I see myself as a vault for those voices,” he explains. “We live in a world obsessed with perfection, but that is not real. I write about the real people who make life meaningful.”

Finding Belonging in Michigan

That sense of authenticity Rouse carried from his Ozark childhood eventually found a new home along the Lake Michigan shoreline. About 20 years ago, after a summer trip to Saugatuck, Rouse traded the bustle of St. Louis for a knotty pine cottage tucked near the dunes. It was in that cabin, a purchase made with equal parts hope and recklessness, that Rouse began writing full time.

Michigan did more than spark his creativity. It echoed the feeling he once had sitting beside his grandmother Viola, surrounded by stories and love.

“Rural Missouri will always have a piece of my heart, but Michigan feels like home now,” he says. “The community is so generous and Lake Michigan has been both calming and centering. I love knowing that 100 years from now, it will still be there, unchanged.”

Stories Rooted in Simplicity and Strength

Through the voice of Viola Shipman, Rouse writes about the small, steady things that make a life whole: a warm

meal, a quiet lake, the comfort of friends and neighbors.

“Michigan recentered me,” he says. “It took me back to those summers with my grandparents, to a time when we bathed in the creek and I thought I had everything I needed.”

In many ways, that is the thread that ties his life together: the joy he found in the Ozarks, the belonging he built in Michigan, and the legacy he continues to carry forward through Viola’s name. The stories he tells now are rooted in both places, shaped by the people who showed him what home and love look like.

Full Circle

Now, when Rouse sits at his desk, he often ﬁ nds himself reaching instinctively for the memory of his grandmother’s hand in his, the steady comfort of her charm bracelet, the murmured gossip of the beauty parlor, and the warm clatter of her recipe cards on an Ozarks afternoon. Those simple moments built him. They shaped his voice. And in every novel he writes as Viola Shipman, he is still holding her hand, still listening, still honoring the woman who taught him that home is not a place. It is the people and moments we hold dear and the love we carry forward.

Rouse’s latest book “That’s What Friends Are For” releases March 3, 2026—inspired by the television show “The Golden Girls,” which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. /authorviolashipman /viola_shipman/ violashipman.com

RECIPIENTS 2025 CHERRYLAND CARES

• Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan

• Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan

• Remain in Touch

• Women’s Resource Center

• Generations Ahead

• Grand Traverse Dyslexia Association

• Love Thy Neighbor

• SEEDS Ecology and Education Centers

• The Leelanau County Cancer Foundation

• Food Rescue, a program of Goodwill Northern Michigan

• 5Loaves2FishNMI

• Acme Christian Thrift Store

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan

• HelpLink

• The Baby Pantry at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church

• Redeemer of Interlochen Baby Pantry

• Leelanau Christian Neighbors

• North Ed Foundation

• Benzie Senior Resources

• Benzie Area Christian Neighbors

Board In Action

December 2025

• The board of directors approved the cooperative’s 2026 operating budget.

• The board of directors renewed Cherryland’s renewable energy tariffs, including net metering, buy-all/sell-all, and community solar programs.

• The chief executive officer presented an update on the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant, which is on track to restart in spring 2026.

• Cherryland’s senior management team provided updates on the cooperative’s strategic priorities, including:

– Data analytics projects

– Cost of service study

– Facilities planning

FAVORITE HOBBY

1. MOST VOTES

Parker Michels—“Demolition derby all the way #233”

2. Cheryl Susan—“Sailing reflections at sunset on Bass Lake”

3. William Sharp—“The great turtle hunting expedition on Lake Ann”

4. Kathryn Gordon—“My favorite hobby is making my grandchildrens’ birthday cakes every year”

5. Viki Everhart—“Take me to the beach”

6. Eric Campbell—“Over 50 and still rolling strong!”

Enter to win up to $200 off your energy bill!

Submit Your “Outdoor Adventures” Photos By Feb 25! Submit your best photo and encourage your friends to vote! The photo receiving the most votes in our Facebook contest will be printed in an issue of Country Lines, along with some of our other favorites. Our February theme is Outdoor Adventures! Photos can be submitted through Feb. 25 to be featured in our April issue.

Enter Your Photos And Win A Bill Credit! To enter the contest, visit cherrylandelectric.coop/ photo-contest or visit facebook. com/cherrylandelectriccoop for a link to the current photo contest. Enter your picture, cast your vote, and encourage others to vote for you as well. If your photo is printed in Country Lines during 2026, you will be entered to win a credit of up to $200 on your December 2026 bill.

The Poet

By David Clapp, a Great Lakes Energy Cooperative member

My grandfather, Francis Merton Clapp, was born in 1897 in Genesee County, Michigan. He served in the United States Navy in World War I, owned a furniture store, was a gardener, wine maker, and a genius woodworker. He made his own woodworking machines, and built a log cabin on the shore of Higgins Lake when it was still mostly pine forests and empty shorelines.

What most people, other than those closest to him, probably didn’t know about him was that he loved to recite poetry. And he did it from memory.

Thinking back to when my sister and I were kids, the poems we remember (and loved) best are those of Robert Service, the Scotch-Canadian poet who spun tales of the Gold Rush days of western North America in the middle 1800s. They are beautiful stories, but I think we loved them because they involved danger, wild animals, death, and gold.

It was usually around the holidays, after a big Thanksgiving or Christmas meal. The adults savored after-dinner drinks, while the kids angled for one more of Grandma’s chocolate chip cookies. The last rays of daylight streamed through the big plate glass window overlooking Grandpa’s garden and workshop. A grandfather clock that he had made stood in the corner—most times the swinging pendulum made a loud “tick-tock,” but as we settled in, it seemed to grow quiet, as if it knew something more important was about to happen.

At the urging of some of the older relatives, Grandpa Fran would stand up, take a sip of something to wet his lips, clear his throat, and the words would begin to pour forth…

There are strange things done in the midnight sun By the men who moil for gold; The Arctic trails have their secret tales That would make your blood run cold…*

*The

As kids, we didn’t realize how signiﬁ cant this was, or how special. We just knew that it was different…and it certainly held our attention. We were magically transported from a living room in Grand Blanc, Michigan, to a land of ice and snow and dog sleds and bad guys. And how could Grandpa remember it all? These weren’t haikus, or short sonnets…

GUEST COLUMN

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