JulyAug 2026 Midwest

Midwest Energy & Communications

July/August 2026

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

Taking the Long Way Around New Board Chairperson Sketchy Streaming Devices Top Reasons Electric Bills Go Up

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

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Stop wishing and start saving with geothermal from WaterFurnace.

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visit waterfurnace.com/mi The Reliable Renewable is a trademark of WaterFurnace International, Inc.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

Contents countrylines.com

July/August 2026 Vol. 46, No. 7

/michigancountrylines

/michigancountrylines

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.

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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.

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

MI CO-OP Community

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

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6 DIGGING INTO THE RICH

RECIPE CONTEST

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN’S KEWEENAW PENINSULA The majestic land of the Keweenaw captivates visitors with natural beauty and hidden riches below the surface.

GUEST COLUMN

10 MI CO-OP KITCHEN

MYSTERY PHOTO

14 TAKING THE LONG

See details on page 10. Autumn Comfort Foods, due Aug. 1; Heirloom Recipes, due Sept. 1.

Win a $100 bill credit!

See details on page 18. Share your fondest memories and stories.

Win $200 for stories published!

See details on page 18.

Win a $100 bill credit!

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

Chill Out! No Cook: Summer made simple.

WAY AROUND More than an endurance event, the Mackinac Island Swim is rooted in joy, connection, and community.

18 GUEST COLUMN

A Farmers Market Tradition.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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Big, Old Trees

By Terry Rubenthaler, President/CEO 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 Jim Wiseley, Chairperson, Bloomingdale 269-760-4619 Jim.Wiseley@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 Fred Turk, Decatur 269-423-7762 Fred.Turk@teammidwest.com Clarence “Topper” Barth, Three Rivers 269-279-9233 Clarence.Barth@teammidwest.com Jeff Diehl, Union 574-274-6693 Jeffery.Diehl@teammidwest.com Gerry Bundle, Cassopolis 269-414-0164 Gerry.Bundle@teammidwest.com Erika Escue-Cadieux, Onsted 419-346-1088 Erika.Escue-Cadieux@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.

The road I live on has a grove of huge White Pine trees that break and fall every time the wind blows.

I have named them the “widow makers” because I always have an eerie feeling that one is going to fall on me someday.

Like the trees on my road, when I drive around southwest Michigan, I can’t help but notice one thing: fallen trees. In fact, I can’t recall a time when I’ve seen so many large, uprooted trees lying on their side. The storms have been relentless this spring, with several tornados and other storms bringing wind gusts of about 60 mph. That kind of wind can, and has, wreaked havoc on trees and the things in their fall path.

It got me thinking about a couple of questions I’ve heard from you in recent months as a result of this weather, and I’d like to address them: 1. Can we bury all our lines to prevent outages?

2. I s there anything we can do to reinforce our poles to prevent them from breaking?

For starters, we do bury lines, and we have been doing so for years. It’s easier and more cost-effective to bury lines when they are first built.

However, retrofitting our 4,000 miles of infrastructure would cost MEC billions.

In fact, it can be as much as $750,000 to bury just one mile of existing line.

At MEC, we strategically bury lines to balance cost and reliability.

More importantly though, buried lines aren’t 100% outage-proof. While it’s true that outages are less susceptible to Mother Nature, when they do occur, repairs are more complicated and expensive. In fact, sometimes crews have to dig up a large portion of line to find the cause and make the repair. That

means that a single outage that could have been restored in a couple hours now becomes a matter of many hours.

As for reinforcing the poles, we are using larger poles when replacing fallen or bad poles, building new infrastructure, or upgrading lines as part of our regular maintenance. Before you ask, “Why aren’t you replacing all the poles right now?” We have about 100,000 poles, and just like with burying lines, we have to evaluate the overall cost. Unfortunately, our service territory isn’t small, so this will take time.

At the end of the day, though, the issue we’ve faced this year with storms isn’t the poles themselves; it’s that we’ve had a number of very big, old trees outside of our right-of-way fall onto our infrastructure. Legally, we can’t clear all those trees (nor would you want us to), but a tree big enough to reach our infrastructure from over 15 feet away is certainly big enough to cause damage, no matter how big the pole is. Imagine if it were your house!

Therefore, the most effective things we can do are to keep burying lines when it makes sense, replace poles with larger stronger poles, keep our rights-of-way clear and to leverage our smart grid to identify and isolate outages so we can get your lights back on as quickly as possible. In fact, I am happy to report that we’ve restored all storm outages this year in under 48 hours.

The abundant trees in our area are part of what makes rural Michigan so beautiful, and my work commute so scenic, even the eerie stretch on my road. But with that beauty comes the risk that Mother Nature will do what Mother Nature does. While we can’t ever make our system 100% outage-proof, rest assured that we are prepared, and we will minimize the impact that high winds have on our system and your life, without breaking your bank.

teammidwest.com /teammidwest

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OUR MISSION: Delivering first-in-class innovations and solutions where others won’t OUR VISION: Creating vibrant, relevant, sustainable rural communities®

We Have a New Board Chairperson Thank you, Topper!

For 30 years, our District 4 Director Clarence “Topper” Barth has served as chairperson of the MEC Board of Directors.

In addition to earning his Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) status and Board Leadership Certificate (BLC) from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), his leadership has seen MEC through a number of new initiatives and opportunities, including: • The merger of Fruit Belt Electric Cooperative and Southeastern Michigan Rural Electric Cooperative in 1997 that resulted in MEC • Partnering with Transworld Network to offer customers a longdistance phone option well before MEC fiber phone • Entering the propane business • Hiring a new CEO in 2002 and again in 2024 • Changing our power supplier to Wolverine Power Cooperative

• Entering the internet business, going all the way back to a partnership for dial-up and continuing through fiber internet grants such as RDOF

Clarence “Topper” Barth

• Building a new headquarters to best serve our customers • Creating the Southwest Michigan Advanced Research and Technology (SMART) Park to bring new economic opportunities and jobs to Cass County It’s an impressive list! Now, it’s time for a well-deserved rest. Topper has elected to step down as chairperson and serve solely as District 4’s director. We can’t thank him enough for his years of leadership and dedication to serving our customers!

At our annual meeting on April 18, the board elected a new chairperson: District 2 Director Jim Wiseley. Jim joined us in September 2022 and has been hard at work ever since expanding his skills as a cooperative director by attending industry events

Jim Wiseley

and education sessions such as the NRECA Directors Conference, NRECA Legislative Conference, Fiber Connect Conference, and more. He’s racked up more than 800 hours serving our customers and has already earned his CCD and BLC by taking a wide variety of classes about topics like political engagement, the electric grid, artificial intelligence, and directorial leadership.

Congratulations, Jim! We know you’ll do a great job and we look forward to many more years of excellent leadership.

SAVINGS THAT MAKE THE GRADE Upgrade your appliances and save energy every time you run them.

Every appliance comes with two price tags— the purchase price and the operating cost.

ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances help reduce the operating cost by reducing energy use without sacrificing performance.

Midwest Energy & Communications is offering rebates on qualified appliances to help you save on the purchase price. Now that’s smart savings!

Scan the QR code to view eligible rebates or visit teammidwest.com/energy-savings

Back to School Back to Savings

DISCOVERING MICHIGAN’S MAGIC Cassondra Wanders Adventure Series

Digging Into the Rich History of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula

By Cassondra Scott

huge influx of immigrants from Finland, Cornwall, and other regions, creating a unique cultural identity and helping shape the area’s diverse population.

This can be seen today in bilingual street signs, architecture, museums, and foods like the famous pasty.

Rising production costs, violent miner strikes, and the Great Depression brought job loss and population decline and ultimately led to the fall of the mining industry. Without the mines, the economy began to collapse. Many towns vanished, leaving behind ghost towns, industrial relics, and remnants of a bygone era.

Today, the Keweenaw National Historical Park preserves 20 heritage sites that offer tours into the past— showcasing the impact the mining downturn left on the communities and landscape for generations. Some of these sites include:

Forming the northernmost tip of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a striking shark fin-shaped area of land stands along the shore of by Lake Superior. Isolated by geography and refined by a geology so unique, there is nowhere else in the world quite like the Keweenaw Peninsula.

To really understand the whole picture, we have to go back a billion years to the Mesoproterozoic Era. This period of forming and shifting of Earth’s continents is when a midcontinent rift formed. Volcanic activity left behind nearly pure copper lava, producing the only strata on Earth with large-scale recoverable native copper at 97%.

For over 7,000 years, Lake Superior Indigenous people and their ancestors

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mined and traded this copper, using it to make tools, beads, and ornaments.

As European settlers arrived, the Ojibwa shared their knowledge of copper resources and by the 1840s, “copper fever” had struck.

In 1842, the U.S. gained title to the Keweenaw Peninsula and opened it to commercial mining, which continued to dominate the economy until the 1960s. Industrialization attracted a

• Once one of the nation’s largest copper producers, the village of Calumet gives a first-hand glimpse of what life was like in a mining town during the 19th century.

Landmarks include Calumet Visitor Center, Coppertown Mining Museum, and Calumet Theater.

• Quincy Mine, nicknamed “Old Reliable” for being one of the largest copper producers in the UP, is open year-round for tours.

Free self-guided tours are available above ground, while the full tour takes visitors on a cog-rail tram to descend 360 feet below ground and walk through the massive hoist house.

• From mid-May to October, Delaware Mine offers self-guided underground tours to explore at your own pace. Walk 110 feet below ground to Shaft No. 1. See copper veins on the walls, ruins of stone buildings, antique engines, and mining equipment.

The “Gateway to the Keweenaw” begins in Houghton, the largest city in Copper Country. Directly across the Portage Canal sits the rolling hills and red brick cityscape of Hancock.

Connecting the two cities is the Portage Lake Lift Bridge, the world’s heaviest and widest double-decked, vertical-lift bridge.

The 25-mile partially man-made Keweenaw Waterway bisects the Keweenaw Peninsula. It serves as a vital transport route, also offering cruises and boat tours. Everything to the north is known as Copper Island, because it’s technically surrounded completely by water.

monks. These men of peace have been serving up savory heavenly treats, jams, and jellies since 1983.

Copper Harbor is a harmonious blend of old America sprinkled with parks, beaches, waterfalls, shipwrecks, and lighthouses. It’s a popular destination for hiking, mountain biking, and camping.

It’s also home to Fort Wilkins State Park, an 1844-era frontier fort with 11 original buildings to tour.

Established to keep peace and manage civil unrest during the early copper rush, the fort remained open for only three years, as the harsh winters proved to be nearly unbearable for soldiers

to survive. By 1870, the Army had permanently abandoned the facility.

A wildly majestic place that seems to magically transport visitors back in time, the Keweenaw Peninsula offers natural beauty as far as the eye can see and an even greater treasure just beneath the surface. Shaped by Indigenous influence, European exploration, and a century-long mining boom, it remains one of Michigan’s richest regions in both history and landscape.

Scan the QR code to watch a video of Cassondra’s adventures to the Keweenaw Peninsula.

The drive from Houghton to Copper Harbor, the very northern point of the peninsula, is a little less than 50 miles.

The mountainous, rugged drive makes for an easy day trip. You’ll traverse Brockway Mountain, Keweenaw’s best-known summit, which towers 735 feet above the lake below.

Take a pilgrimage to the Jampot in Eagle Harbor, a bakery, candy, and coffee shop run by Catholic Byzantine

Cassondra Scott is a content creator, writer, and social media influencer at Cassondra Wanders—sharing small businesses and sights to see all over the state of Michigan.

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The Hidden Risks of Sketchy Streaming Devices Switching from cable TV to streaming has many advantages, including the ability to watch what you want on demand from any service you pay for.

Unfortunately, scammers sometimes take advantage of the freedom streaming provides to trick people into buying sketchy devices.

What’s a Streaming Device?

When we talk about streaming devices, we mean any device that’s primarily used to stream TV shows, sports, and movies from services like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.

Most devices like Amazon Fire TV Sticks or Roku boxes connect to your TV and stream videos over your Wi-Fi network. On the other hand, Smart TVs are televisions with streaming capabilities built in.

What Are the Risks?

Using a sketchy device or streaming app could give you a worse internet experience and even open you up to data theft or potential legal action.

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• Performance issues: We have recently seen an uptick in customers who call to report performance issues, only to discover that the culprit is a device streaming illicit content. Disconnecting the device solves the problem.

• Malware: According to the Malwarebytes article, “The hidden costs of illegal streaming and modded Amazon Fire TV Sticks,” sketchy streaming devices often contain malicious software that can steal important personal data. In the article, “Home Internet Connected Devices Facilitate Criminal Activity,” the FBI says these devices can also infect your home Wi-Fi network to be used for criminal activity.

• Potential legal action: The Phillips, Hunt & Walker article, “Is It Illegal to Jailbreak a Fire Stick or Receive Jailbroken Programming?” says that streaming supposedly free content from a sketchy device

could actually be piracy, which can put you at legal risk if the copyright holder decides to sue.

What Should I Watch For? Even when buying from a legitimate site like Amazon, you may come across streaming device listings that advertise “unlocked,” “jailbroken,” or “modded” devices, lots of free content, or Internet Protocol television (IPTV) streaming.

These are red flags that may mean the device is a risky purchase.

Once you have a streaming device, you still should be on your guard for apps that ask you to disable security settings, apps that make you dig deep in menus to access content, and app stores that seem less reliable than ones like the Roku app store. These may be signs that the app or store is trying to exploit you.

Always remember: If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

A Pregnant Mare, a Webcam, and MEC Fiber Internet Jim and Darlyn Daratony have MEC fiber internet service at their business Revel Run, an event center, biergarten, and equestrian park in Chelsea, Michigan.

Revel Run is a premier destination for weddings, corporate events, anniversaries, celebrations of life, and more. MEC fiber has allowed Jim and Darlyn to both enhance their customers’ events and provide a secure, reliable internet option to their guests. However, they recently presented us with an entirely different kind of client: a horse named Azura.

To Help a Horse

Crossing the Finish Line

When Jim and Darlyn found that Azura was experiencing complications with her pregnancy, they knew they would have to keep a watchful eye on her at all times. However, having someone in the horse stable around the clock would be difficult at best. A Wi-Fi enabled camera would be ideal, but there was one problem: the stable wasn’t equipped with Wi-Fi, and it was hundreds of feet away from the main building.

Darlyn began checking the camera as often as possible, frequently waking up in the middle of the night to make sure Azura was okay. Then one night at 3 a.m., she suddenly saw a colt. Jim and Darlyn raced to the stable, arriving just a few minutes after Azura gave birth to help the new mother and introduce themselves to the healthy baby—all thanks to their fiber-powered webcam.

It was time to call the experts. Jim got in touch MEC Business Solutions Agent Stevie, who had helped him set up Revel Run’s fiber internet. With Stevie’s expertise and Jim’s in-depth knowledge of the grounds, the two put together a plan to extend Revel Run’s service to the stable.

After the extension was complete and a Wi-Fi camera was hooked up, the moment of truth arrived. Jim and Stevie brought the webcam online and checked the camera feed.

On the screen was Azura. Jim breathed a sigh of relief— instead of worrying, he and Darlyn could now check Azura easily for any signs of distress.

Today, Azura is living a happy, healthy life with her son. His name is Seger, and his highly appropriate show name is Night Moves.

Jim and Darlyn continue to use their MEC fiber internet service to elevate their clients’ events with accessible Wi-Fi, fast video streaming, and convenient payment processing.

And they know that if they run into any other challenges, MEC will be there to help.

“With Stevie, he’s very creative in how to satisfy our needs, even though they’re pretty unique, and I get the sense the whole company would do that too,” says Jim. When Revel Run chose MEC fiber, they got more than just high-speed, reliable internet. They got a local partner who could help them work out the perfect solution to fit the needs of their business and clients.

MEC can be your business internet partner too!

Explore our packages and confirm your eligibility today at teammidwest.com/small-home-business.

Revel Run hosts many events throughout the year and is a premier wedding destination for the Chelsea, MI area. For more information or to inquire about a tour, visit revelrun.com.

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MI CO-OP Kitchen

CHILL OUT! NO COOK Summer made simple.

SESAME CHICKEN CRUNCH SALAD

WINNING RECIPE!

Katie Grzesiak, Great Lakes Energy Dressing: 1 tablespoon sugar ¾ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper ¾ teaspoon ground ginger ⅓ cup neutral oil (such as canola or avocado oil) 1½ tablespoons sesame oil 3 tablespoons rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar) 2 tablespoons soy sauce, or tamari (for gluten-free) Salad: 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded (about 4–5 cups) or 6 cooked chicken breasts, seasoned and shredded 1 small head Napa cabbage, shredded (about 5 cups) or 2 heads romaine lettuce, shredded 1–2 carrots, shredded 4 green onions, thinly sliced 3 tablespoons toasted sliced or slivered almonds 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds 1 (3-ounce) can fried rice noodles (Asian-style crunchy noodles, such as La Choy) In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar, salt, black pepper, ground ginger, neutral oil, sesame oil, vinegar, and soy sauce until well combined. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, cabbage/lettuce, carrots, green onions, almonds, sesame seeds, and fried rice noodles. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly to coat and combine. Serve immediately. If you expect leftovers, allow the chicken to cool completely before adding it to the salad and serve the rice noodles separately to keep them from becoming soggy.

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

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HAM-N-CHEESE BALL

CHOCOLATE PEANUT CLUSTERS

Julie Stellema, Alger Delta 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 1 pound sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 1 teaspoon onion powder 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon dried parsley ½ teaspoon paprika ½ teaspoon seasoning salt 3 tablespoons finely chopped ham, optional 1 cup bacon bits, optional

In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, garlic powder, parsley, paprika, seasoning salt, and ham, if using. Stir well until combined. Form the mixture into a ball, cover, and chill in the refrigerator until firm. When ready to serve, spread the bacon bits on a plate and roll the cheese ball in the bacon until evenly coated. Transfer to a serving platter and serve with crackers.

Bill & Mary Jo Williams, Great Lakes Energy 1 (6-ounce) bag Nestlé Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels 1 (10-ounce) bag Reese’s Peanut Butter Morsels

1 can (10–12 ounces) Planters Spanish Peanuts (use only Spanish peanuts for best results)

Combine the semi-sweet chocolate morsels and peanut butter morsels in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute, then stir well.

Continue microwaving in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until the mixture is completely melted and smooth. Stir in the Spanish peanuts until evenly coated. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto wax paper or parchment paper. Let the candy harden at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then leave on the counter for at least 1 hour before storing in a tin or airtight container. Makes approximately 45–50 clusters. The recipe can easily be doubled.

GRAPE SALAD

SEVEN-LAYER TACO DIP

Rhonda DeBolt, Cherryland Electric

Linda Gowman, Presque Isle

4 pounds seedless green grapes, or a combination of green and red grapes 8 ounces sour cream 8 ounces cream cheese, softened

½ cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 4 ounces chopped pecans 2 tablespoons brown sugar

Remove the grape stems and rinse the grapes in vinegar water, then allow them to dry completely. In a medium bowl, combine the sour cream, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth. Stir in the grapes, then mix in most of the pecans and brown sugar, reserving a small amount to sprinkle over the top before serving. Cover and refrigerate overnight if possible, allowing the sugar to fully dissolve and the flavors to blend.

RECIPE CONTEST

1 (15-ounce) can refried beans 5 tablespoons mayonnaise 5 tablespoons sour cream 2 tomatoes, seeded and diced

1 bunch green onions, chopped (green tops only) ½ can black olives, drained and sliced 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

Layer the ingredients in the order listed in a shallow serving dish, glass pie plate, or 8x8-inch baking dish, beginning with the refried beans and ending with the shredded cheddar cheese. Serve chilled or at room temperature with tortilla chips and salsa.

Win a $100 energy bill credit!

Autumn Comfort Foods, due Aug. 1; Heirloom Recipes, due Sept. 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.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 11

Meet Our 2026

FIRST-YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarship Winners We recently awarded $1,000 scholarships to four local students based on their academic achievements, leadership, and community involvement. All four are children of MEC customers. Scholarships are funded via partnership dollars through our power supplier, Wolverine Power Cooperative.

Applicants were told to film a video showing at least five items to include in a time capsule that will be opened in 10 years, clearly showing each item and explaining its importance. Visit teammidwest.com/scholarships-2026 to see each of their videos and learn more about the students.

Jackson Bement, Cassopolis Ross Beatty High School

Olivia Stockwell, Dowagiac Union High School

Rocky Karsen, Lawton High School

Brenna Broman, Clinton High School

We also awarded two second-year scholarships to previous awardees, who were asked to film a short video reflecting on their first-year college experiences.

High school seniors whose families receive monthly service from MEC at their primary residence are eligible to apply for our scholarship program.

The application period is January through mid-March every year. Selection is based on the student’s answer to the challenge prompt as well as academic performance, extracurricular activities, community involvement, employment, and/or honors and awards. A minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required, and an official transcript must be submitted for final approval.

SECOND-YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS

Awardees are eligible to apply for a second scholarship after their first year of college. Up to two students will be awarded a second scholarship based on their answer to the second-year challenge prompt.

Please note that children of MEC employees and board members are not eligible to apply. Check teammidwest.com/scholarships in January 2027 for more information.

Charlotte Cultice, University of Michigan

Kira Kessen, Eastern Michigan University

Build Your Online Skills with MEC This spring at the Cass District Library’s Mason/ Union branch, we helped community members explore exciting topics like telehealth, streaming TV, and other ways internet can make life more convenient.

We also sponsored classes at the Coloma Public Library, where attendees learned about online safety, smartphones, digital tips for older adults, and much more.

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More free digital skill-building opportunities are coming soon: JULY 8

AUGUST 11

Van Buren District Library, Covert Branch

Sodus Township Library

TOPIC: Improve Your Life With Internet (Telehealth, Streaming TV, Fact-Checking) SESSION TIME: 1–2 p.m.

TOPIC: Improve Your Life With Internet (Telehealth, Streaming TV, Fact-Checking) SESSION TIME: 4:30–5:30 p.m.

SPACE IS LIMITED—RSVP now at teammidwest.com/classes!

As we schedule more, we will post them on that page and on Facebook at facebook.com/TeamMidwest. Keep an eye out for a class at a library near you.

The Top Reasons Your Electric Bill Goes Up Have you ever been surprised at how much your electric usage changed from one month to the next? Here’s what might have happened.

Monitor Your Electric Usage in SmartHub You can review your current and prior electric usage via SmartHub—it’s easy!

DESKTOP

#1: The Weather Changed Air conditioning and heating are some of the most energy-intensive activities in your home.

You may also run appliances like space heaters, dehumidifiers, or hot tubs depending on the time of year. Don’t forget Halloween and Christmas decorations, which aren’t weather-dependent but may get plugged in around the time it gets colder.

ENERGY-SAVING TIPS: • Use fans instead of air conditioning (this works for heat too—set your fan to rotate clockwise to push warm air back down).

• Use window shades to block the sun when it’s hot, or open them to let it warm your home when it’s cold.

• Change your thermostat by a few degrees so your HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard.

#2: Faulty Appliances A leaky water heater, older HVAC system, or other appliance in need of maintenance may be overworking itself to keep up.

ENERGY-SAVING TIPS: • Inspect your appliances regularly to make sure they’re running efficiently.

• Keep your HVAC system’s airflow clear by vacuuming vents and moving furniture out of the way, and keep its filter clean so it doesn’t have to work as hard.

#3: New Appliances Every new appliance or gadget that uses electricity, from a refrigerator to a video game system, will cause your usage to rise. Even when turned off, anything that’s plugged into an outlet can still draw electricity (we call this a phantom energy load).

ENERGY-SAVING TIPS: • When shopping for new appliances, look for the ENERGY STAR® label to help you save electricity.

• When practical, unplug devices and chargers from wall outlets to keep them from drawing extra electricity.

1. Log in at teammidwest.com.

2. Navigate to the menu and click Electric Usage. Then, choose one of the following: • Average Usage: View your average kilowatt-hours or cost for a chosen date range.

• Usage Comparison: Compare two months directly to see the difference between kilowatt-hours used, maximum temperatures outside, and more.

• Usage Explorer: View electric usage and cost statistics for a chosen date range.

• Usage Management: Download data to help you identify how you use your services and evaluate ways to save electricity.

MOBILE

1. Log in to your SmartHub mobile app.

2. Navigate to the menu and tap Electric Usage, then select the account you want to view.

3. In the box at the top of the screen, scroll left or right to view the kilowatt-hours you’ve used each day.

4. Choose a time frame from the options in the middle of the screen to view a graph of your usage.

5. On the graph screen, click the “I” icon in the top left for more detailed data, or click the gear icon in the top right to change the graph’s settings.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 13

British Landing

TAKING THE LONG WAY AROUND

By Emily Haines Lloyd Grand Hotel

Fort Mackinac

Arch Rock

SWIM START

M

ost Mackinac Island visitors take the familiar route, walking its streets, pedaling its perimeter, or settling into a horse-drawn carriage.

But on one August morning each year, before the first rush of day-trippers arrives, hundreds of swimmers cross the straits with a different plan entirely. They step off early ferries wrapped in neoprene and nerves and head toward the shoreline to do something equal parts daunting and delightful: swim 8.2 miles around Mackinac Island.

From the outside, the Mackinac Island Swim can look like a test of endurance alone, the kind of event soaked in competitiveness and bragging rights.

And, yes, it is a serious challenge. But that’s only part of the story.

More Than an Endurance Event Talk to Event Director Jon Vos, and a different picture comes into focus.

“Endurance events can become all about the competition,” Vos says.

“From day one, we wanted it to be about the experience, the people, and just enjoying this thing we love to do with others who love it, too.”

14 JULY/AUGUST 2026

FINISH LINE

That philosophy shapes everything about the day. Yes, swimmers are timed, but mostly so organizers can track who is safely in and out of the water. There are no podiums at the finish line and no pressure to outperform. In fact, the only “trophies” handed out come from the local bakery, appropriately called Humble Pies. What you do see and feel are the people cheering each other on, taking in the crystal-clear water, and embracing the rare chance to experience Mackinac in an entirely unique way.

A Challenge Shared One of the most unique aspects of the swim is how connected it feels. Mackinac’s bike path traces the shoreline, making it unusually spectator-friendly. Friends and family can follow along from land, turning the entire route into a moving cheering section. Aid stations become gathering places. Visitors become invested in strangers.

“People make it their own,” Vos says.

“You see families out there, relay teams, people coming back year after year. It becomes part of their story.”

Even when conditions have been tough with cold water, wind, and waves, the response is often the same: “That was awful…see you next year.”

How It Began Like many good ideas, the Mackinac Island Swim started with a simple question.

In the wake of COVID, when events were canceled and plans disrupted, a small group of swimmers found themselves still heading north, still eager for connection and adventure.

Someone floated the idea: What if they went to Mackinac Island and swam around it?

It was a little bold. Totally impractical.

And immediately exciting.

With help from local swimmers and organizers, the idea quickly came together. The first year drew a whopping 250 swimmers. Last year there were over 400, with solo swimmers, relay teams, and support crews taking part.

What has stayed constant is the intent behind it. From the beginning, Vos wanted the swim to feel different from

MACKINAW ISLAND SWIM August 9, 2026 For more information, visit swimaroundmac.com

the ultra-competitive atmosphere often found in endurance sports: Less swagger. More shared experience.

A Community Effort Pulling off an 8.2-mile swim around an island is no small feat. It requires coordination with ferry operators, local boat captains, lifeguards, island paramedics, the Coast Guard, and city leaders. Around 70 people are involved each year, including a core planning team and dozens of volunteers.

But that effort reflects something more than logistics. The event has become part of the community itself.

Through its partnership with the Mackinac Women’s Club, the swim has helped raise roughly $100,000 to support local initiatives.

Where Bravery Meets Joy When the swimmers come ashore, they’re usually tired, sometimes shivering, but always smiling.

Yes, it takes endurance. Yes, it takes bravery.

But what people remember is the joy.

The cheers from shore. The stories traded afterward. The feeling of having done something hard, beautiful, and just a little bit crazy. Together.

As swimmers come out of the water smiling ear to ear, it’s clear this was never really about who finished first or beat their personal best. It was about taking the long way around to see both Mackinac and themselves differently.

And to carry home a story that only the water could give them.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 15

Turning Off Rotation – iPhone • Open the Settings app, then tap Wi-Fi. • Make sure the device is not currently connected to the network. Then, tap Edit in the top-right corner.

Parental Controls Not Working?

This hidden privacy feature could be the problem.

Sarah is an MEC fiber customer who uses the free CommandIQ app to filter out unwanted websites and apps from her son Jack’s devices.

many others like it) comes with a privacy feature that “rotates,” or changes, its MAC address every so often to improve privacy.

There’s just one problem: Shortly after she blocks YouTube from Jack’s phone, she gets a notification that a new device has connected to her network. Then, she sees him watching videos with no problem. What gives?

Think of it like this: If MEC knows your email, we can send you important notifications about your account.

However, because your email is always the same, it’s not just MEC that knows it, and it’s possible to start receiving spam or other communications you didn’t sign up for. A rotating MAC address is like if your email changed every day, and only you and MEC knew what it changed to—it would be a lot harder for others to send you unwanted communications.

Rotating MAC Addresses It would be understandable for Sarah to assume that Jack has figured out a way around the parental controls on his device. However, this issue isn’t happening because of something Jack did.

All devices communicate with Wi-Fi networks by identifying themselves with something called a “Media Access Control (MAC) address.” If a device uses the same MAC address at all times, it’s easier to track that device’s activity. Jack’s phone (and

16 JULY/AUGUST 2026

The problem is that many routers and network management apps, including CommandIQ, use the MAC address to implement parental controls. To stop Jack’s phone from getting around its restrictions, Sarah needs to turn off the rotation feature using the following steps.

• Tap the info icon (a circle with a lowercase “i” inside) next to the network name, then configure the setting: -

If using iOS 18 or later, tap Private Wi-Fi Address, then tap Fixed.

-

If using an early version of iOS, turn Private Wi-Fi Address off.

Turning Off Rotation – Android • Open the Settings app, then tap Network & Internet/ Connections followed

by Internet.

• Tap the gear icon next to your Wi-Fi network.

• Tap Advanced, then Privacy.

• Tap Use Device MAC.

Turning Off Rotation – Android (Samsung Galaxy Devices) • Open the Settings app, then tap Connections, followed by Wi-Fi. • Tap the gear icon next to your Wi-Fi network.

• Tap MAC Address Type and choose Phone MAC.

ELECTRICITY SAFETY

contest winners

Our free hotline demonstrations teach local fourth-graders about the dangers of electricity. As part of the demonstrations, we ask each student to create a poster that illustrates something they learned.

Jimena H.; Redwood Elementary School (Hartford)

Two overall winners are selected—one from southwest Michigan and one from southeast Michigan. Their messages get shared on billboards with the greater community. The winners also get a pizza party for their classroom, and their teachers receive an Amazon gift card for classroom supplies.

Tenley W.; Blissfield Elementary School

These weren’t the only two worth seeing. For more winners and honorable mentions, visit teammidwest.com/ safety-contest-2026.

KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE We offer free electrical safety demonstrations for any group or organization at any time throughout the year. Programs are adaptable for various audiences and timelines, and they can be conducted at our facility or yours. For more information, please contact the community relations team at 800-492-5989 or pr@teammidwest.com.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 17

Where In Michigan Is This?

MI CO-OP Guest Column

A Farmers Market Tradition

By Kelsee Nemetz, A Cherryland Electric Cooperative member

MYSTERY PHOTO Win a $100 energy bill credit!

Identify the correct location of the photo above by July 25 and be entered into a drawing to win a $100 electric bill credit. Enter your guess at countrylines.com/community.

MAY 2026 WINNER! Our Mystery Photo winner is Christian Kleber, a Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op member who correctly identified the photo as Gertz Village Square in downtown Millersburg, Mich.

Winners are announced in the following issues of Country Lines: January, March, May, July/ August, September, and November/December.

18 JULY/AUGUST 2026

A family tradition is something that moves us closer to those we love. They provide an opportunity for bonding and create lifelong memories. These family traditions were exactly what we were looking to create for our new little brood.

We moved from my daughter’s and my birthplace of Grand Rapids when she was 3, and landed in my husband’s hometown of Traverse City. Moving from a bigger city to a smaller beach town was a bit jolting. Everything was now much closer to us, no longer needing a trek across the highway just to get groceries. And that newfound shorter driving radius included a ton of little pop-up farmers markets.

I have always loved the idea of a farmers market. However, traveling to the markets in Grand Rapids always proved stressful. Traffic was usually a nightmare, and when you arrived...it was a coin flip if you would find a decent parking space. I noticed that all changed when we moved up north. With everything much more spread out and spacious, I experienced a lot less stress just getting around town.

We began by visiting the Sara Hardy

market in downtown Traverse City, and then expanded our search to the Interlochen Farmer’s market.

Now, opening weekend is a bit of a ritual. My daughter loves riding in our wagon and looking around at the jewelry and baked goods stalls, always appreciating a good cookie.

My favorite stop lately has been the Cheese Lady’s stand. There’s a special feeling that comes with strolling the market on a finally warm and sunny mid-morning, and it has now become our treasured spring tradition. Creating and keeping family traditions looks different everywhere you go. For our family, it’s a sunny stroll through a local farmers market on warm weekends. Maybe it’s the weather, finally getting out of the house and doing an outdoor activity after months of stagnation. Maybe it’s the togetherness of it all and the joy of browsing local treasures with the ones you love the most. Or maybe it’s creating those lasting memories, the ones that my daughter will take on to adulthood. One day, maybe she will take her own children to her town’s farmers markets. Just like her mom used to take her.

GUEST COLUMN Win $200 for stories published!

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

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TeamMidwest.com

HIGH SCHOOLERS:

THE GAME

You’re Invited to the

November 7

Rocket League

DOORS OPEN

10 a.m.

Teams of three high schoolers will compete in a double-elimination bracket at Southwestern Michigan College's Barbara Wood Building.

Teams can be school-affiliated, or you can sign up to compete with friends (you must form your team prior to registering–we will not match you up).

Just want to spectate? That's cool too! Come watch the showdown and enjoy Smash Bros. (casual play) and small giveaways.

All players and spectators must RSVP by Oct. 16! *Maximum 16 teams. Must be a current high school student to compete. Admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is limited. Priority will be given to school teams for competing.

T O U R N A M E N T S TA R TS :

11 a.m.

NEW THIS YEAR:

SUPER SMASH BROS. SINGLES TOURNAMENT That’s right–by popular demand, we’re testing a whole new tournament this year!

Up to 16 individual players will compete in a single-elimination, best-of-three Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament. The winner will get a Nintendo Switch 2! Match rules are available at teammidwest.com/esports.

Please note that you cannot compete in both the Rocket League tournament and the Smash Bros. tournament–you must choose only one.

The tournament will be livestreamed on Twitch at twitch.tv/teammidwest!

Lenovo Legion Go S* SIGN UP: teammidwest.com/esports

QUESTIONS: email mec.esports@teammidwest.com

GRAND PRIZE

*Or similar console.

Subject to change based on product availability.

2

$100 Gift Cards ND

$50 Gift Cards

3RD

Any school teams that place in the top three will also win a donation to their school! Limit one team per school.