March 2024 Cherryland

March 2024

MICHIGAN

COUNTRY LINES Cherryland Electric Cooperative

BEYOND MEDALS The Enduring Spirit of Michigan’s Special Olympics Athletes

Energy Assistance Resources Striking the Balance: Navigating a Rate Change with Affordability and Reliability in Mind Price Surge: Inflation and Utility Materials

WATERFURNACE UNITS QUALIFY FOR A 30% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT1

You don’t have to lower the thermostat to control your heating bills. WaterFurnace geothermal systems use the clean, renewable energy in your own backyard to provide savings of up to 70% on heating, cooling and hot water. And because WaterFurnace units don’t use any fossil fuels or combustion, the EPA calls it the most environmentally friendly and cost--effective way to condition our homes.2 Contact your local WaterFurnace dealer to learn how WaterFurnace is good for the environment, your budget and the feeling in your toes.

YOUR LOCAL WATERFURNACE DEALERS

CO-OP REBATE INCENTIVES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Negaunee J-Goods Plmb. & Htg. (906) 869-2522 jgoodsplumbingand heating.com

Big Rapids Stratz Htg & Clg, Inc. (231) 796-3717 stratzgeocomfort.com Clifford Orton Refrig & Htg (989) 761-7691 sanduskygeothermal.com Filion/Bad Axe Air-O-Dynamic Htg. & Clg. (989) 582-0137 Hart Adams Htg & Clg (231) 873-2665 adamsheating cooling.com

Manistique Hoholik Enterprises (906) 341-5065 hoholikenterprises.com Marinette, WI GPS Htg. & Clg (715) 732-2111 gpsheatingcooling.com Michigan Center Comfort 1/Air Serv of Southern Michigan (517) 764-1500 airserv.com/southernmichigan/

Portland ESI Htg & Clg (517) 647-6906 esiheating.com Sunfield Mark Woodman Plmb & Htg (517) 886-1138 mwphonline.com

Alger Delta Electric: up to $2,000 Cherryland Electric: up to $2,500 Cloverland: up to $6,275 Great Lakes Energy: up to $5,000 Homeworks/Tri-County Electric: up to $4,750 Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op: up to $4,750 Thumb Electric: up to $2,000

Traverse City D&W Mechanical (231) 941-1251 dwmechanical.com Geofurnace Htg & Clg (231) 943-1000 geofurnace.com

visit us at waterfurnace.com

WaterFurnace is a registered trademark of WaterFurnace International, Inc. 1. 30% through 2032, 26% through 2033 and 22% through 2034 2. EPA study “Space Conditioning, The Next Frontier” (Report 430-R-93-004)

Contents countrylines.com

/michigancountrylines

March 2024 Vol. 44, No. 3 /michigancountrylines

Michigan’s Electric Cooperatives

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Casey Clark

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

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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: Tom Sobeck, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op, chairman; Gabe Schneider, Cherryland Electric Cooperative, vice chairman; Chris O’Neill, HomeWorks TriCounty Cooperative, secretary-treasurer; Craig Borr, president and CEO.

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

6 A SOLEFUL MISSION

Travis Snyder takes steps to highlight veterans’ mental health.

10 MI CO-OP KITCHEN

Soups & Stews: Dish out a steaming bowl of comfort food.

14 BEYOND MEDALS

The enduring spirit of Michigan’s Special Olympics Athletes.

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.

18 GUEST COLUMN

Old Friends: A Midwest Energy & Communications member rhapsodizes about the value of lifelong friendships.

MI Co-op Community

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

Recipe Contest

See details on page 10. Tacos & Margaritas due April 1 and Homemade Burgers due May 1.

Win a $100 bill credit!

Guest Column

Share your fondest memories and stories.

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

Win $200 for stories published!

Mystery Photo

See details on page 18.

Win a $100 bill credit!

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

3

CO-OP NEWS cherrylandelectric.coop /cherrylandelectriccoop @cherrylandec BOARD OF DIRECTORS

David Schweitzer, President 231-883-5860 dschweitzer@cherrylandelectric.coop

Gabe Schneider, Senior Vice President 517-449-6453 gschneider@cherrylandelectric.coop Valarie Handy, Secretary 231-392-4705 vhandy@cherrylandelectric.coop

Tom Van Pelt, Treasurer 231-386-5234 tvanpelt@cherrylandelectric.coop

Melinda Lautner, Director 231-947-2509 mlautner@cherrylandelectric.coop Terry Lautner, Director 231-883-6455 tlautner@cherrylandelectric.coop

Dean Adams, Director 231-642-0014 dadams@cherrylandelectric.coop CEO: Rachel Johnson

Co-op Editors: Courtney Doyle: cdoyle@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

Co-op Board Holds Public Meetings Regarding Rate Change This month, Cherryland’s board of directors will hold two special meetings at the cooperative office in Grawn regarding a proposed rate change. If approved, the rate change would go into effect in May and first appear on bills in June.

A meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 12, at 5:30 p.m. to provide information regarding the proposed rate change and allow members to ask questions of Cherryland staff and board members while offering feedback before the official public meeting.

An official public meeting will be held on Monday, March 18, at 9 a.m. before the monthly board meeting. Members are welcome to provide public comments to the board during that time. For more information regarding the proposed rate change, visit our website, www.cherrylandelectric.coop/rate-change.

Cooperative staff will meet with you or your civic group, neighborhood, or home association at any time to discuss the proposed rate change and answer your questions.

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 Grand Traverse/Kalkaska County director.

To be nominated in 2024, candidates can file a petition with the cooperative’s administrative assistant starting the first day of March until 4 p.m. on the last business day of March. To receive an official petition to begin collecting signatures, please fill out the board candidate interest form available 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.

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

Cherryland Offers Five Scholarships

Cherryland Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Cherryland offers five scholarships—three worth $4,000 ($1,000 for four years) for high school seniors and two for $1,000 each for adult scholarships (post-high school).

Applications for both scholarships are available on our website. The deadline for applications is Friday, April 5.

Save The Date For Cherryland’s 86th Annual Meeting Cherryland’s 86th Annual Meeting will take place Thursday, June 13. The Annual Meeting’s planned location is Incredible Mo’s in Grawn. Cherryland will provide updates regarding the 86th Annual Meeting in Michigan Country Lines, on our website, and through social media.

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“ We will continue to look for creative ways to save money anywhere we can that do not sacrifice the quality of service we provide to you.”

Given all of those numbers, I feel very confident that we have done everything we can to keep our rate increase as modest as possible, at 6% for the average member.

Striking the Balance Navigating a Rate Change with Affordability and Reliability in Mind

By Rachel Johnson, Cherryland CEO

O

ur mission at Cherryland is to provide our members with safe, reliable, and affordable power. However, we increasingly face a growing tension between continuing to invest in system reliability and managing our costs for our members.

We ended 2023 in the red. In response to that, we have frozen hiring and decreased some of our maintenance and tree trimming programs in 2024. But we can’t cut those things forever without negatively impacting our ability to keep your lights on. That’s why we are moving forward with a rate increase proposal that your board will vote on this month.

We are proposing a $4/month increase in our availability charge and a $.004/kWh increase in our energy charge. The average Cherryland member uses 700 kWh per month. If this increase is approved, the average member will see about a 6%, or $6.80, increase in their monthly bill in June.

With increasing cost pressures for wage and benefits, supply chain costs, and interest expense, this rate

increase is simply necessary to help us cover our costs.

Labor is our second largest expense behind power supply. We run a really lean ship—we serve the most meters per employee amongst our co-op peer group across the country. But the people we employ are very technical and in high demand and we must keep up with market wages. Attrition is so much more costly than compensating our employees fairly. Your employees work hard and deliver exceptional outcomes and I am committed to keeping them here on your behalf.

While inflation in general has been high the last few years, it has been particularly high for the materials we use. Since 2021, Cherryland’s cost for electric poles has increased by 30%, transformers have increased by 111%, and underground wire has increased by almost 60%. All in all, our supply chain costs have increased by over 40%.

The third major cost driving our rate change is interest expense. In 2024 alone, we will have over $3.7 million in total interest expense, a 38% increase in our borrowing costs over the last three years.

While we will always be driven by providing the best value to you at the most affordable price, I also find it helpful to look at how our rates compare to other utilities. After this rate increase, our members will still be paying less than those of the neighboring investor-owned utility that also serves our region—in fact, they will pay 18% less during summer and 9% less in winter. In addition, we continue to provide some of the highest electric reliability in the state of Michigan, as I shared with you in my column last month. While no one ever wants a rate increase, I hope you can agree that your cooperative continues to provide high-value service at a very competitive price.

Implementing a rate increase is not something we take lightly at Cherryland. As we continue to navigate high utility inflation into the future, we anticipate the need for more frequent rate increases than we’ve had during the low inflationary environment of the last 10 years. We will continue to look for creative ways to save money anywhere we can that do not sacrifice the quality of service we provide to you.

You will find more information regarding this proposed rate change on pages 8 and 9 in this magazine and on our website. We also invite you to join us for a member meeting regarding the proposed change at our office on Tuesday, March 12, at 5:30 p.m.

To learn more, scan here for the latest episode of Co-op Energy Talk.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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A Soleful Mission Travis Snyder Takes Steps to Highlight Veterans’ Mental Health

By Emily Haines Lloyd

hen Travis Snyder returned from his tour in Afghanistan as a U.S. Marine, he was both proud and relieved that everyone in his unit was brought home in one piece. It took time, as well as a pivotal and heartbreaking experience, to realize that maybe he and his unit actually didn’t come back all put together.

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This was the beginning of a new journey for Snyder, one that took an unexpected path to a new purpose.

A Tour of Duty When Snyder joined the Marines at 24, he was looking to make an impact, serve his country, and find both discipline and direction in his life.

When his unit was deployed in October of 2017, it worked in Security Forces with a mission to train, advise, and assist the Afghan army against the Taliban. “We saw it as a blessing,” said Snyder. “You go through this training in order to serve. Serve our country.

Serve a community and its people.

It was a chance to do good.”

Eight months later, Snyder and his entire unit returned home—back to normal. However, it didn’t take long for Snyder to realize things weren’t exactly normal. He still wanted and needed purpose, but instead found depression and anxiety attacks.

Snyder pushed through them, unsure when or if they would stop.

In August of 2019, one year after his tour, Snyder received a devastating phone call. A good friend from his unit, Geoff Hughes, had committed suicide.

Walking for Warriors The loss of Geoff was an unthinkable blow. Snyder had a desire for direction when he joined the Marines. Now he was unsure what to do next. With feelings of being untethered and his grief and shock over Geoff, Snyder knew he needed to do something to change his course and make an impact like he had in the service. “I knew I had to do something. Something big,” said Snyder. “There are too many of my brothers and sisters in the service who feel like I did when I got home— aimless, disconnected.”

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MARCH 2024

As a way to commemorate his friend and to shake up his own life, Snyder took a walk. A long walk. Around Lake Michigan.

A Mission of Miles Snyder’s “walk” turned into an 810-mile journey around the whole of Lake Michigan. He’d started a Facebook page for some friends and family to keep track of his trek.

Snyder knew he wanted to make this trip about veterans and mental health, so he arranged stops along the way to connect with different organizations and bring awareness to their causes.

“I may have taken those steps on my own, but what’s been accomplished has been through a community of caring people. It would not have been possible without them.”

Snyder had packed his camping gear, expecting to spend most nights outdoors along the way. He never had a chance to unpack it. “The first night, a friend from the Marines called me and told me his parents lived along the way and were happy to let me sleep in their RV for the evening,” said Snyder. “Forty-two straight nights, people offered me a place to sleep.

You look at social media thinking there’s so much that is bad, but if you really look around you, there are so many good people in the world.”

And speaking of social media, the five to 10 people he expected to follow him on Facebook turned into 14,000, with another 3,000 on Instagram. The word had gotten out about Snyder’s wild walk. People were tuning in to hear and learn more about veterans’ issues, particularly mental health.

Next Steps Snyder put on his hiking shoes each year through 2023, including walking along the West Michigan lakeshore from New Buffalo to Mackinaw City, across the state, and around Lake Michigan again—totaling 2,590 miles and raising over $15,000 dollars for veteran organizations. “That first mile back in 2019 was to commemorate a friend,” said Snyder. “I may have taken those steps on my own, but what’s been accomplished has been through a community of caring people. It would not have been possible without them.”

A reminder that no one should walk alone in this life. And with the help of people like Travis Snyder, hopefully fewer of us will.

/travishikeslakemi

/travishikeslakemi

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

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Rate Change and You

How would this proposed rate change impact my energy bill? he average residential member on Cherryland lines uses roughly 700 kWh/month, with a monthly bill around $109.90. Under the proposed new rate, that average 700 kWh/month member will pay about $6.80 more. That’s a roughly 6% increase on your electric bill.

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Cherryland is proud to provide members with best-in-state reliability—but as the cost to keep the lights on goes up, our rates need to change a little too. However, we’re also committed to keeping the cost of electricity as affordable as possible. That’s why we spent months running numbers to find the most effective way to meet the co-op’s needs without breaking the bank.

8 MARCH 2024

Scan here to visit our website for more information on the proposed rate change, including a residential rate calculator, an informational episode of Co-op Energy Talk, and answers to frequently asked questions.

PRICE SURGE THE SHOCKING RISE IN ELECTRIC UTILITY MATERIAL COSTS

We’ve all felt the pressure from rising prices due to inflation over the last few years, electric utilities included. The cost of everyday items are going up, but inflation is impacting utilities like Cherryland at significantly higher rates.

Cherryland Cost Increase

Avg. Consumer Cost Increase*

2021 - 2023

2021 - 2023

111% Overhead

16% Dairy

79%

14%

57%

46%

104%

10%

55%

47% Eggs

30%

18%

Transformers

Underground Transformer

Primary Underground Wire

Secondary Underground Wire

Overhead Primary Wire

Poles

Fruits & Veggies

Gas

Clothing/Apparel

Shelter

*Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index 2023 Year In Review Report

MI CO-OP Recipes

SOUPS & STEWS Dish Out a Steaming Bowl of Comfort Food.

WINNING RECIPE! GARLIC, TORTELLINI, SPINACH & TOMATO SOUP Kathleen Atwater, Cherryland Electric

2 tablespoons butter 6–8 cloves garlic, minced ½ cup chopped onion 6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth 9 ounces fresh or frozen cheese tortellini 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained 10 ounces spinach, washed and coarsely chopped 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped 1 egg ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese ¼ teaspoon salt ¹⁄8 teaspoon black pepper

Recipe Contest

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and sauté until fragrant, 2–3 minutes. Add the chicken broth; bring to a boil. Add the tortellini and cook halfway, about 5 minutes for frozen pasta, or 2–3 minutes if using fresh pasta. Add the can of tomatoes; reduce the heat to a simmer and cook just until the pasta is tender, about 4 minutes. Stir in the spinach and oregano and cook until wilted, 1–2 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk together the egg, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Drizzle into the soup and cook, stirring about 3 minutes more. Remove from heat and serve. Add additional salt and pepper, as desired. Makes about 6 servings.

Win a $100 energy bill credit!

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

10 MARCH 2024

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

BEEF STEW

Ralph Kridner, Great Lakes Energy 6 ounces bacon, chopped into ¼-inch strips 2 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1-inch pieces 2½ teaspoons sea salt (or to taste), divided 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided ¼ cup all-purpose flour 2 cups dry red wine, plus extra for deglazing 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil 5 carrots, peeled and cut into ½-inch pieces 1 medium yellow onion, diced 2 stalks celery, finely diced 6 garlic cloves, minced 2 tablespoons tomato paste 3–4 cups low-sodium beef broth 8 ounces red wine demi-glace sauce 2 bay leaves 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, minced 1 sprig fresh rosemary, finely chopped 1 pound small (fingerling) potatoes, halved or quartered Preheat oven to 300 F. In a large, oven-proof pot, sauté bacon over medium heat until golden brown and fat is released. While bacon is cooking, place beef in a large mixing bowl and season with 1½ teaspoons salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Sprinkle beef with flour; toss to

combine and evenly coat beef. Transfer beef in batches into the hot bacon fat and cook over medium-high heat, until beef is browned (2–3 minutes per side). Add olive oil if needed. When the bacon in the pot is golden brown, remove it and put it in a large bowl. Transfer browned beef to the bowl with bacon. Add a bit of red wine to the pot to deglaze, then reduce the heat to lowmedium. Scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to release meat pieces. Add balsamic vinegar and simmer over low-medium heat, about 10 minutes, being careful not to burn. Pour 2 cups red wine in with the beef and bacon. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add carrots, onion, celery, and garlic; sauté 10 minutes. Then add the tomato paste and sauté another 1–2 minutes. Then return the beef, bacon, and wine to the pot. Add beef broth, red wine demi-glace sauce, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, and remaining 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Stir until the demi-glace has melted. Then add potatoes and stir to combine everything, submerging the potatoes in liquid. Cover with lid and bake for 2 to 3 hours. To thicken, combine 2 tablespoons water and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Mix well and add to stew.

Stir well and heat for 5 minutes. Pour into bowls, add a sprinkle of salt, serve, and enjoy!

CREAM OF CAULIFLOWER AND CHICKEN SOUP Nancy Hascall, Cherryland Electric

3 tablespoons olive oil 4 stalks celery, diced 1 small head cauliflower, chopped into small florets 1 large onion, diced 1 large carrot, diced 4 garlic cloves, minced 3 cups chicken broth (or more to reach desired consistency) 1 cup salsa 1 cup cooked, diced chicken 1 cup grated cheese of choice 1 cup half-and-half

VINNY’S SEAFOOD CHOWDER Deb Finedell, Great Lakes Energy

2 slices bacon 1 yellow onion, diced 1 celery stalk, diced 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced ¼ cup all-purpose flour 4 cups milk 1 cup firm white fish (cod, tilapia, halibut, etc.) ½ pound shrimp or any other seafood of choice ½ cup corn ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Sauté bacon in a large soup pot over medium-high heat until crispy, 3–4 minutes. Remove bacon from pot and chop into small pieces. Drain all but 1 tablespoon bacon grease from the pot. Add diced onions and celery to the pot. Sauté over medium heat until soft, 3–4 minutes.

Add potatoes and sauté 1–2 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Add the flour and stir, cooking until the flour is completely moistened. Add the milk and increase the heat to medium. Heat the soup until it is steaming, just before it starts to boil, stirring often. Continue cooking, uncovered, until the potatoes are nearly tender, 10–15 minutes. Reduce heat if milk begins to foam. When soup has thickened, add seafood, corn, and cooked bacon. Cook until fish is cooked through, 5–10 minutes.

Add salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley.

Garnishing Options: sour cream, Parmesan cheese, guacamole, fresh cilantro, crispy bacon Heat the olive oil In a large kettle. Add the celery, cauliflower, onion, carrot and garlic; sauté for about five minutes. Cover, turn the heat to low, and cook for another five minutes or until vegetables are soft. Add the chicken broth, salsa, and cooked chicken. Blend with an immersion blender. Add the cheese and gently stir until the cheese is melted. Add the halfand-half and heat to desired temperature. Garnish each bowl with choice of sour cream, Parmesan, guacamole, cilantro, and cooked bacon. Enjoy!

Five Ways to Save Energy in the Kitchen Ah, the kitchen. It’s undeniably one of the most-loved rooms in our homes. It’s where we gather with family and friends for our favorite meals and memories.

But like most of us, you probably aren’t thinking about saving energy when you’re planning that perfect dish. Here are four ways you can save energy in the kitchen with minimal effort.

1.

When possible, cook with smaller appliances.

Using smaller kitchen appliances, like slow cookers, toaster ovens, and convection ovens, is more energy-efficient than using your large stove or oven. According to the Department of Energy, a toaster or convection oven uses one-third to onehalf as much energy as a full-sized oven.

2.

Unplug appliances that draw phantom energy load. Plugged-in appliances continue to draw energy even when they’re not in use. Devices, small appliances, and chargers left plugged in year-round can add up in wasted energy costs. Unplug smaller appliances when they’re not in use, or better yet, use a power strip for convenient control.

3.

Help large appliances work less. Keep range-top burners clean from spills and fallen foods so they’ll reflect heat better. When it’s time to put leftovers in the refrigerator, make sure the food is covered and allow it to cool down first. That way, the fridge doesn’t have to work harder to cool warm food.

Speaking of your fridge, keeping it full can help it stay at a consistent temperature. If you need more to fill it with, try using containers of cold water (or bags of ice for the freezer).

4.

Use your dishwasher efficiently. Only run full loads, and avoid using the “rinse hold” function on your machine for just a few dirty dishes; it uses three to seven gallons of hot water for each use.

You can also save energy by letting your dishes air dry. If your dishwasher doesn’t have an automatic air-dry switch, turn it off after the final rinse and prop the door open so the dishes will dry faster.

5.

Use Energy Star-certified products. The blue Energy Star label tells you that a product is more energy efficient than a product without the label.

For example, Energy Star-certified refrigerators tend to be around 9% more efficient than models that aren’t certified, while Energy Star-certified lightbulbs can use up to 90% less energy than normal incandescent bulbs, according to the Energy Star website. Shopping for Energy Star-certified products can save lots of energy in the long run, especially if you’re replacing older, non-certified appliances with newer certified ones.

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Need a little help paying your electric bill?

Here are some resources that might help: CHERRYLAND PROGRAMS: Payment Arrangements: (231) 486-9200 If you’ve fallen behind on your bills, just give us a call to see if you’re eligible for a payment arrangement.

Time Of Use Rate: (231) 486-9200 This optional rate gives you the control to save by choosing when you use electricity.

STATE OF MICHIGAN ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS: State Emergency Relief Program (SER)/Department of Health and Human Services: 1-844-464-3447 Assistance may be available to members facing extreme hardship or an emergency that threatens your health and safety.

Michigan Veterans Trust Fund: 1-800-642-4838 Assistance may be available to members who are veterans facing a financial emergency or hardship.

Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP): 1-844-464-3447 Assistance may be available to help members pay bills, build budgets, and more.

Home Heating Credit: (517) 636-4486 Assistance may be available for home heating bills.

LOCAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS Salvation Army: (231) 946-4644 Utility assistance may be available for members who qualify.

Father Fred: (231) 947-2055 Financial assistance may be available for essential needs, such as utilities, for those who qualify.

Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency (NMCAA): (231) 947-3780 Emergency energy assistance, home repairs, and budgeting support available, among other programs that may be available.

United Way: 2-1-1 Assistance may be available for utility bills, budgeting, and more.

Benzie Area Christian Neighbors (BACN): (231) 882-9544 Assistance may be available to members in Benzie County and northern Manistee County.

Leelanau Christian Neighbors (LCN): (231) 994-2271 Assistance may be available to members in Leelanau County.

Love Inc.: (231) 779-1888 Assistance may be available to members in Wexford County.

Echo His Love: (231) 723-6613 Assistance may be available to members in Manistee and Benzie counties.

Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians: (231) 534-7910 Assistance may be available to tribal members who are income eligible.

For additional information on these resources, visit our website at cherrylandelectric.coop or call us at (231) 486-9200.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 13

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n 2000, the former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela said: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire.

It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does…Sport can create hope where once there was only despair…It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.”

In Michigan, there are some amazing athletes who would surely agree with Mr. Mandela.

SOMETHING SPECIAL IN THE MAKING Since 1968, when the first Special Olympics Games were held at Chicago’s Soldier Field, these athletes with intellectual disabilities have been a force of inspiration and support for one another. The goal was to put a bright—and very public—spotlight on ability, not disability. A delegation of athletes from Michigan attended those original games. The next year, Michigan’s first State Summer Games took place in Kalamazoo at Western Michigan University.

BEYOND MEDALS The Enduring Spirit of Michigan’s Special Olympics Athletes

By Emily Haines Lloyd

14 MARCH 2024

Fifty years later, more than 5 million athletes train and compete in more than 100,000 events each year, in 172 nations. The program has grown perhaps more than anyone could have anticipated and the impact is massive. Yet it still brings meaning to one athlete, one coach, and one family at a time.

A SPARK OF INTEREST Max Hinga was just 8 years old when his curiosity was sparked at his elementary school in Portage, Michigan, by a friend who first mentioned Special Olympics to him. Max then began his sports journey with softball. “I was the youngest and smallest player on an almost all-adult team,” said Max. “But I was ready to go and felt at home.”

From that point on, Max’s involvement became a life-altering experience, introducing him to lifelong friendships and instilling in him a sense of belonging. Max’s mother Gretchen Hinga became equally involved, as she noticed there were significantly more adult athletes than those her son’s age. “Within a year, I was recruiting younger athletes,” said Gretchen. “With more

athletes comes the need for more volunteers. So, I started recruiting for volunteers.”

In no time, the numbers grew, and Gretchen found herself as the local outreach coordinator.

She now plays a pivotal role in managing, coordinating, and organizing various aspects of the games, from athlete physicals to volunteer applications and verifying coaching credentials.

NURTURING A COMMUNITY OF INCLUSION Max’s dedication extends beyond the playing field; he has become a U.S. Youth Ambassador, amplifying the voices of those who often go unheard. “Not everyone can get up and speak to the whole world about change and inclusion,” said Max. “I traveled with my Unified Partner and my mentor, spoke about inclusion, and learned how to spread the word to others.”

For Gretchen, Special Olympics is more than just a series of events; it is a community that provided support and companionship while Max was growing up. Now, as a coordinator, she is dedicated to extending that sense of community to others. “Special Olympics is about so much more than just sports. It is one big family of support and encouragement,” said Gretchen.

“It is a lifelong movement and is for anyone.”

She encourages those who may not qualify as athletes to become volunteers, assuring them that the experience will be life-changing.

said Max. “We (athletes) can get a job, get a degree, and be who we want to be. I’ve turned my disabilities into abilities.”

This smart and capable young man insists that no one should ever say they can’t do something.

Our efforts can’t be measured in medals or applause. It is the effort, the courage, and the joy with which we apply ourselves that tells the world who we are.

As Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who helped establish Special Olympics, said at the first opening games: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

FOR INFORMATION: somi.org TO VOLUNTEER: somi.org/volunteer TO DONATE: somi.org/waystogive

A TRIUMPH OF ABILITIES OVER DISABILITIES The impact of the games can’t be easily measured, as passion, inclusion, and growth of the athletes, families, and volunteers have an ongoing ripple effect that goes well beyond the sporting arena. “Special Olympics challenged me to not only want to get my driver’s license, but show many people I can be a leader,”

UNIFIED SPORTS & INCLUSION CENTER IN GRAND RAPIDS For over 50 years, Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI) has sought to create a community of inclusion where every person is accepted and welcomed, regardless of ability or disability.

In 2019, the SOMI Board of Directors purchased the former South Christian High School building in Grand Rapids with the dream of turning this 127,000-square-foot facility on 17 acres into the largest Special Olympics training and sports center in the world.

With the official groundbreaking in November 2023, the complex will feature six soccer fields, 10 bocce courts, putting and chipping greens, and pickleball courts, as well as an eight-lane track and an artificial turf soccer and flag football field.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

15

Your Board In Action: January • Cherryland’s chief operating officer gave an informational presentation to the board regarding the cooperative’s five-year work plan. The presentation outlined anticipated projects to upgrade and rebuild areas of our system where we have challenges with reliability or to upgrade the system where we’re seeing growth.

• The board revised the cooperative’s equity management policy, lowering the target equity from 40% to 35%.

The revised equity target allows for more flexibility on capital credit retirements when possible.

• The board received an update on the cooperative’s record-high reliability. Cherryland’s COO reported that thanks to investments in reliability and a lot of hard work, the co-op kept the lights on 99.99% of the time in 2023.

Members have the opportunity to provide input to the board prior to any regularly scheduled board meeting. To have your comments included in a monthly board packet for review, please submit them to Shannon Beery at sbeery@cherrylandelectric.coop a minimum of three business days before the monthly board meeting.

Notice to Members of Cherryland Electric Cooperative A Special Public Hearing is set for March 18, 9 a.m., at the Cooperative’s Grawn office The board of directors will consider changes to the cooperative’s rates at its meeting on March 18, 2024, to be held at the cooperative office at 5930 US 31 South, Grawn, Michigan.

The meeting will start at 9 a.m. and is open to all members of Cherryland Electric Cooperative.

The session will begin with an opportunity for members to provide direct input to the board of directors. Members may come to the lobby by 9 a.m. and request to speak to the board. Members are asked to keep their comments to five minutes or less.

The following items will be considered:

1. Revisions to the cooperative’s rates to meet current and future financial needs.

Notice of changes or additions to the cooperative’s rates or service rules shall be sent to all members, as required by P.A. 167, by publication in Michigan Country Lines at least 30 days prior to their effective date.

Breakdown of Proposed Rate Change Cherryland’s board of directors will consider a rate change proposal at its monthly board meeting on March 18. The proposed rate change for residential members includes: • $4 increase to the availability charge.

• $0.004/kWh increase to the energy charge.

For a complete list of proposed changes on all rate classes, visit cherrylandelectric.coop/rate-change. The proposed rate change would go into effect May 2024, and first reflected on the June 2024 bill. For more information, attend one of the upcoming member meetings (see page 4) or contact us at 231-486-9200 or cec@cherrylandelectric.coop.

Statement Of Nondiscrimination In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr. usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust. html and any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; 2. fax: (202) 690-7442; or

3. email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

16 MARCH 2024

Pets

PHOTO CONTEST

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

Submit Your “Flowers & Garden” Photos By March 20!

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 March theme is Flowers & Garden! Photos can be submitted through March 20 to be featured in our May 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 2024, you will be entered to win a credit of up to $200 on your December 2024 bill.

7 MOST VOTES

1. “Bozlee running through wild violets.” — Misha Barney 2. “Siblings Kimber and Ruger wait patiently for treats!” — Danielle Ringel 3. “Watch for the dogs!” — Kelly Lemcool 4. “Frequent flyer.” — Cyndi Abbe 5. “Queen Lilly.” — James Watson 6. “Best friends!” — Laura Korch 7. “Baby girl Soda Pop.” — Jackie Nielsen

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 17

MI CO-OP Guest Column

Old Friends

By J. Joseph Mapes, a Midwest Energy & Communications member

I

t has been said that “old friends are the best friends.” I surely agree. Growing up in Grand Rapids, I began forming many friendships, beginning in kindergarten in 1950. In those days, we didn’t hang out with our parents much...we hung out with our friends. You could say we raised each other, as we were always together having fun.

Although I went to Culver Military Academy in high school, my GR friends kept in touch. I then moved to New Jersey and Florida for a few years. Several friends would visit me in Florida (imagine that), and one suggested that I transfer to Western Michigan University for my junior year, and sent the paperwork. I couldn’t wait to get back to Michigan and live off-campus with some of those same friends. We had the time of our lives!

During the late ‘60s/early ‘70s, most of us got married, raised children, and worked. Many moved out of state, making it difficult to get together. In 1981, however, one of the guys decided that enough was enough and started what we call “the boys’ weekend,” a time to reconnect and let loose.

There were around 15 attendees that first year, many from out of state. Some years, an extra weekend was planned with the wives, who wanted to join in the fun. In 1993, we rented a cottage on Lake Michigan in South Haven, and we have been going there every September to this day.

Unfortunately, we have lost a number of these dear friends over the years, but nine of us continue the tradition.

This May, we (and wives) are meeting in Grand Rapids to celebrate us all turning 80. We will take a bus tour of our childhood homes (16), then be dropped off at Roses for dinner. There is nothing like old friends, as we hold on to so many memories of good times together, while still making new memories!

About the Author: J. Joseph is a retired owner/manager of Bank Street Bingo Hall and Bank Street Winter Market in Kalamazoo.

His family’s history is interesting! The grandfather he was named after (Col. J. Joseph Reddy) was a medic and surgeon who was General Douglas MacArthur’s personal aide and physician in the Philippines in the 1930s.

Guest Column

Win $200 for stories published!

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

Mystery Photo Win a $100 energy bill credit!

Where In Michigan Is This?

Identify the correct location of the photo to the left by March 20 and be entered into a drawing to win a $100 electric bill credit.

Enter your guess at countrylines.com/community.

January 2024 Winner! Our Mystery Photo winner is Eileen Gustafson, an Alger Delta member, who correctly identified the photo as the Benny the Beard Fisher art attraction at the Northland Outfitters Campground, Germfask, Michigan.

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

18 MARCH 2024

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cherrylandelectric.coop

Serve on Cherryland's Board!

Want to run for a seat on the Cherryland Board of Directors?

The nominating period for board candidates begins March 1 and ends at 4 p.m. on March 28.

Visit cherrylandelectric.coop to learn more!