MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES
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.
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND CASSOPOLIS SOLUTIONS CENTER
60590 Decatur Road, Cassopolis, MI 49031
M–F 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
TECUMSEH SOLUTIONS CENTER
5050 South Occidental Hwy., Tecumseh, MI 49286
M–F 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
CONTACT US
Midwest Energy & Communications
800-492-5989
teammidwest.com
Email: info@teammidwest.com
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Clarence “Topper” Barth, Chairperson, Three Rivers 269-279-9233
Clarence.Barth@teammidwest.com
Dan Bodette, Vice Chairperson, Wauseon 419-344-4015
Dan.Bodette@teammidwest.com
Ron Armstrong, Secretary, Lawton 269-299-0443
Ron.Armstrong@teammidwest.com
John Green, Treasurer, Dowagiac 269-470-2816
John.Green@teammidwest.com
Gerry Bundle, Cassopolis 269-414-0164
Gerry.Bundle@teammidwest.com
Erika Escue-Cadieux, Onsted 419-346-1088
Erika.Escue-Cadieux@teammidwest.com
Fred Turk, Decatur 269-423-7762
Fred.Turk@teammidwest.com
Jim Wiseley, Bloomingdale 269-760-4619
Jim.Wiseley@teammidwest.com
Jeff Diehl, Union 574-274-6693
Jeffery.Diehl@teammidwest.com
PRESIDENT/CEO: Terry Rubenthaler
DIRECTOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING: Amy Pales
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST: Grant Zamora
Midwest Energy & Communications is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Please note: electric customers of MEC must adhere to our bylaws, which can be found at teammidwest.com/bylaws.
Better Together
By Candy Riem, Vice President of Marketing & Customer Solutions
As we close out 2025, I find myself reflecting on the difference we made for our Christmas families this year. Every holiday season, MEC reaches out to local families in need, hoping to make their celebrations a little brighter. I have the privilege of helping to shop for these families and, each year, I’m struck by the same reality: Their Christmas lists are filled with essentials—coats, gloves, boots. Living in Michigan, these aren’t just gifts; they’re necessities.
What makes this effort truly special is that it’s powered by our own employees through the MEGB MEC Employees Give Back fund. Throughout the year, our team contributes to this fund, ensuring we can provide not only winter clothing but also cleaning supplies and other basics that families might otherwise go without. We always try to include a few surprises to brighten their holidays, but the heart of this initiative is meeting real needs in our community.
But our commitment to community goes far beyond the holiday season. In 2025, we proved that when we work together, we make our communities stronger. Here are just a few highlights from the past year:
• Supporting Local Youth and Families: MEC purchased fair animals and donated more than 2,200 pounds of meat to local food pantries, helping families put high-quality protein on the table while supporting youth in agriculture.
• Investing in Early Literacy : Through our community partners, we supported Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides free monthly books to children ages 0–5. We partnered on a matching grant that raised over $21,600 and provided additional support, ultimately helping over 700 kids discover the magic of reading. That’s community dollars multiplied by partnership power.
• Strengthening Schools: Our Strengthening Schools Grants funded projects in over 30 schools, turning
educators’ ideas into reality—from a 3D printer for coding classes to supplies for a therapy dog program, an escape room build, and communication technology for early learners.
• Promoting Safety and Opportunity : We delivered hotline demonstrations to more than 1,000 children and 150 adults and met nearly 1,500 students and adults at career fairs to spark interest in utility careers and STEM pathways.
• Neighbors Helping Neighbors: MEC volunteers served Thanksgiving meals to 330 seniors, raked leaves for eight households, and sent more than 80 care packages to deployed soldiers. We hosted digital literacy classes for about 40 individuals, teaching skills like telehealth and online safety so highspeed internet truly serves rural life. Behind every initiative were employees who gave their time—895 volunteer hours in all—while connecting with more than 360 neighbors at fairs and festivals.
These efforts aren’t extras; they’re essential. They keep us close to real needs, build trust, and ensure our service reflects the values we share. That’s the promise of “Better Together”—because when we combine resources, creativity, and care, we create stronger communities and a brighter future for everyone.
Community isn’t just something we talk about at MEC—it’s one of our Core Values, and it runs deep in everything we do. The stories and examples I’ve shared here are just a small sampling of the many ways our team shows up for our neighbors throughout the year. Whether we’re supporting families in need, investing in education, or helping seniors and veterans, our commitment to service is woven into the fabric of our organization.
We believe that by working together, we create stronger, more vibrant communities for everyone. Thank you for allowing us to serve you—not just as your energy provider, but as your partner in building a brighter future.
Get Outage, Account, & Propane Notification Texts
Did you know you can sign up to receive text notifications about your MEC account? Texts are available for:
• Electric Outages
• Account & Billing Updates
• Propane Deliveries— new!
• And much more!
Log into your SmartHub mobile app or our website at teammidwest.com:
1. Go to Settings , then Contact Methods to add your phone number.
a. On the app, look under Add New Contact Method. Choose Phone b. On desktop, click Add Phone
2. Enter your phone number, and select Yes under Receive Text Messages. Click Save
3. Go to Manage Notifications under Settings to choose the notifications you want to receive.
4. Find the type you want to receive. For example:
a. To get notified when your Scheduled Propane Delivery is on its way, look under On Demand .
b. To receive Power Outage Updates , look under Service
c. To get a text when your monthly bill is available, look under Billing.
5. Select the appropriate phone number and click Save
Scholarship Opportunity:
Southwestern
Michigan College
SMC-bound students can apply for our one-course scholarship to cover Intro to Computer Technology. Get full details at teammidwest.com/smcscholarship
Enable Two-Factor Authentication in SmartHub
You can now enable two-factor authentication (2FA) in your SmartHub mobile app.
2FA keeps unwanted visitors out of your MEC account by verifying your identity with a text message, email, or authentication app. Once enabled, 2FA will provide you with a unique one-time code each time you log in to ensure it’s really you.
Visit us at teammidwest.com/2FA to learn how to enable it.
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.
Check Your MEC Account Balance With SmartHub
Did you know the fastest, easiest way to check your account balance is through SmartHub? Logging in through our website or your SmartHub mobile app can help you avoid call queues and get the information you need within just a few minutes, anytime, day or night.
1. Log into your MEC account.
2. On the homepage, look under Customer Overview and click View Account Details or Show Details
3. In the Amount Due column, you will see the balance on each of your individual accounts, plus links to your current bills.
1. Log into your MEC account.
2. On the homepage, you will see the total amount due for all of your accounts. To see individual account balances, tap View Details and select the account you wish to view.
3. The app will show you the account’s balance, plus a link to the corresponding bill.
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.
MEC in the Community
1. Dowagiac Candlelight Christmas Parade: MECers Todd, Ethan, Logan, and Tyler (plus their families) drove MEC trucks in this year’s parade.
2. Toys for Tots: We collected donations at our Tecumseh and Cassopolis solutions centers. Many Cass employees participated in a gift exchange to drive donations, and our Tecumseh employees took a trip together to shop for donations.
3. Marcellus Santa Express: Eight MECers volunteered at Marcellus Elementary for their Santa Express event. They wrapped the gifts students purchased for their families, while school volunteers assisted students with selecting and purchasing presents.
4. Cassopolis Christmas Lights: Fiber Maintenance Technician Ryan bundled up in freezing rain and helped the Village of Cassopolis hang this year’s Christmas lights.
We adopted five local families and donated gifts to supplement their Christmas. MECers and friends of MECers donated funds and helped purchase, wrap, and deliver the gifts.
Strengthening Schools Grant
Recipients
In December 2025, we awarded local teachers, administrators, and school officials with Strengthening Schools Grants to help them bring new and exciting learning opportunities to students throughout our service territory. The program is funded by partnership dollars through our power supplier, Wolverine Power Cooperative.
We’re proud to offer these grants each year to those who share our vision of creating vibrant, relevant, and sustainable rural communities. A team of MEC customers evaluates all applications without knowledge of the applicants, districts, or communities.
2026-2027 Grant Cycle
Information and applications for the 2026-27 funding cycle will be available at teammidwest.com beginning in April. Keep an eye on future issues of Country Lines for further details.
Grant Reviewers Needed
Did you know that MEC electric customers decide which proposals get funded? We need volunteers for the upcoming award cycle!
If you can dedicate time to reviewing, discussing, and awarding grants, including meeting in person for one full weekday in the fall, please email pr@teammidwest.com
The review committee does not know the school, educator, or district when determining recipients.
Take a look at this year’s winners and their projects:
• Addison Elementary School: Updated equipment for chicken hatching project
• Bloomingdale Middle & High School: Woodshop equipment
• Cassopolis Middle School: Headphones for special education accommodations
• Clinton Middle School: Supplies for scientific cooking class
• Clinton Middle School: New books for middle school library
• Coloma Elementary School: STEM building kits
• Davis Elementary: STEM tools and safe cardboard cutting tool
• Davis Elementary: Phonics magnetic boards
• Decatur Public Schools: Updates and repairs to old playground equipment
• Edwardsburg Primary School: New incubator and supplies for chicken hatching project
• Gobles Elementary School: Growing Writers book sets for kindergarteners
• Lincoln Elementary School: Mini Yoto audio players for first grade
• Lybrook Elementary: New playground equipment
• Marcellus Elementary School: PE classroom equipment
• Mendon Jr./Sr. High School: Field trip to Binder Park Zoo
• Michener Elementary School: Decodable readers and games to practice phonics
• Michener Elementary School: Hands-on phonics tools and interactive dry-erase board
• Michener Elementary School: Secret Stories phonics tools
• Morenci Elementary: STEAM activities for kindergarteners
• Niles High School: New classroom library books
• Onsted High School: Basic need items for high school office
• Onsted Middle School: Equipment upgrades for Trades & Tech Lab
• Paw Paw Early Elementary: Materials for Peaceful Pups developmental program
• Paw Paw Later Elementary: Kindles for better access to books
• Schoolcraft Jr./Sr. High School: Books to expand student book club participation
• Tecumseh High School: Games and activities to support and engage students with disabilities
• Van Buren Intermediate School District: Task boxes for special education classroom
• Watervliet High School: Upgraded woodshop tools
• Watervliet South Elementary School: Board books for special education classroom
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
Energy Waste Reduction Programs for Michigan Customers
In his November/December Country Lines column, CEO Terry talked about some new energy-saving opportunities that were coming for Michigan customers. They’re finally here!
Amazon Marketplace
Easily find and purchase ENERGY STAR ® –rated appliances and smart devices through Amazon Marketplace.
Appliances with an ENERGY STAR ® certification are more efficient than other comparable appliances, helping you save energy without sacrificing performance.
Home Rebates
Apply for a rebate when you buy a new ENERGY STAR ® appliance or qualified heating and cooling equipment. Be sure to review our 2026 Residential Rebate Snapshot to learn more about what qualifies.
Coming Soon: Community Solar Program Energy Efficiency Videos
Watch our YouTube playlist for energy efficiency tips and tricks.
Income-eligible residents will be able to receive bill credits while supporting green energy. Stay tuned for more details!
Visit us at teammidwest.com/energy-savings for full details and to get started. Please note that this program is part of the State of Michigan’s Energy Waste Reduction Standards and is not available to customers in Indiana and Ohio.
in Their Tracks Stop Hackers
The CommandIQ app comes with free, automatic hacker blocking and malware detection for all devices connected to your network. It’s free for MEC fiber internet customers on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Tree Cutting and Spraying Plans 2026
In August 2003, a massive blackout swept through the northeast United States and parts of Canada. An investigation by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) found that one of the main causes was the interaction of a tree and a power line in Ohio, which could have been prevented with proper tree and shrub control.
The DOE concluded that better, more consistent tree and brush removal practices were necessary to prevent similar events in the future. At MEC, we take these practices very seriously.
Our chief responsibility as an electric cooperative is to provide reliable and safe power, and plants present a major hazard to our electric lines. As a result, we proactively remove trees and brush within 15 feet on each side of our power lines. This has been proven to significantly reduce the amount of time our customers spend without power, and it helps our linemen more efficiently identify and repair damage when needed.
We understand the value of trees, but unfortunately, power lines and plants do not mix. If the plants on your property end up tangled in our power lines, it could result in an outage for many customers. Therefore, we remove the hazard wherever possible.
You can learn more about our cutting and spraying process at teammidwest.com/tree-cutting-spraying.
Here are the townships where we plan to prune and/or remove trees in 2026:
Southwest Michigan: Calvin, Constantine, Florence, Howard, Jefferson, Lockport, Mason, Milton, Mottville, Ontwa, Porter (Cass County), White Pigeon
Northern Indiana : Harris, Osolo, Washington, York
Northern Ohio: Chesterfield, Clinton, Dover, Franklin, German, Pike, Royalton
Here are the townships where we plan to spray brush in 2026:
Southwest Michigan: Antwerp, Arlington, Bainbridge, Bangor, Bloomingdale, Calvin, Coloma, Constantine, Covert, Decatur, Fabius, Florence, Hamilton, Hartford, Howard, Jefferson, Keeler, LaGrange, Lawrence, Lockport, Newburg, Ontwa, Paw Paw, Penn, Pipestone, Pokagon, Porter (Cass County), Porter (Van Buren County), Silver Creek, Volinia, Watervliet, Waverly, Wayne
Southeast Michigan: Adrian, Cambridge, Clinton, Deerfield, Fairfield, Franklin, Hudson, Madison, Ogden, Palmyra, Raisin, Ridgeway, Riga, Rollin, Rome, Woodstock
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.
Cremation of Sam McGee—from “The Spell of the Yukon and Other Verses,” Robert Service, 1907
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TR ADE SCHOOL and
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS
High school seniors — answer this video challenge and you could earn $1,000 toward your trade school or college education!
Additionally, this year’s winners will be able to apply for a second scholarship after completing their first year of trade school or college. Up to two second-year scholarships will be awarded.
Please note: Children of MEC employees and board members are not eligible to apply.
THE CHALLENGE
Create a time capsule that you’ll open in 10 years. Include at least five items. In your video, show each item clearly, and talk about the importance of each one.
Your time capsule can be serious or funny it just needs to be yours! Visit teammidwest.com/scholarships to get full details and apply.
