May 2019
MICHIGAN
COUNTRY LINES Alger Delta Cooperative Electric Association
UP IN THE AIR Michigan Sky Media’s Aerial Photography
Annual Meeting Is June 5
Director Election Results Local Member Builds Pinball Machine
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In This Issue May 2019 || Vol. 39, No. 5
michigancountrylines
Michigan’s Electric Cooperatives
FEATURED PHOTO FROM
#micoopcommunity countrylines.com
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Executive Editor: Casey Clark Editor: Christine Dorr
Come share in the splendor of rural Michigan with us
Copy Editor: Heidi Spencer Design and Production: Karreen Bird Publisher: Michigan Electric Cooperative Association Michigan Country Lines, USPS-591-710, is published monthly, except August and December, with periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Mich., and additional offices. It is the official publication of the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association, 201 Townsend St., Suite 900, Lansing, MI 48933. Subscriptions are authorized for members of Alger Delta, Cherryland, Great Lakes, HomeWorks Tri-County, Midwest Energy & Communications, Ontonagon, Presque Isle, and Thumb electric cooperatives by their boards of directors. POSTMASTER: SEND ALL UAA TO CFS. Association officers are Robert Kran, Great Lakes Energy, chairman; Mark Kappler, HomeWorks Tri-County Electric, vice chairman; and Eric Baker, Wolverine Power Cooperative, secretarytreasurer. Craig Borr is 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 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.
michigancountrylines Pro tip: Water and electricity don’t mix...unless you are mother nature. #donttrythisathome #beautiful : @andrew_long_expo
ON THE COVER Tyler Leipprandt, photographer and owner of Michigan Sky Media, captures a dangling shot of Michigan’s most iconic landmark, the Mackinac Bridge. Read the full story about his spectacular aerial drone photography on page 14.
6 & 7 MI CO-OP COMMUNITY Guest Columns 62 Years Of Michigan Marriage Linda McCoy, Cherryland Electric Cooperative Michigan’s Fishery Is Nature’s School Rick Fowler, Great Lakes Energy
10 MI CO-OP KITCHEN Breakfast And Brunch Recipes To Enjoy All Day Long
@michigancountrylines
Feature Guest Chef
Tyler Leipprandt of Michigan Sky Media, shares a family favorite Pudgy Pie campfire recipe. Enter Our Recipe Contest And Win A $50 Bill Credit!
14 FEATURE Up In The Air
Michigan Sky Media’s Aerial Photography Emily Haines Lloyd
18 SAFETY May Is Electrical Safety Month
Life-Saving Tips From Your Co-op Guess Our New Mystery Photo And Win A $50 Bill Credit!
Christin McKamey & Our Readers
Michigan Country Lines, Your Communications Partner For more than 38 years, our co-op members have received Michigan Country Lines because it is the most effective and economical way to share information with our members. An empowering communication tool, Michigan Country Lines keeps members up-to-date about everything going on within their electric co-op. Issues contain news about our services, director elections, member meetings and management decisions that members need to know about as owners of the co-op. The magazine also includes legal notices that would otherwise have to be placed in local media at a substantial cost. Sending Michigan Country Lines to you helps the co-op fulfill one of its essential principles——to educate and communicate openly with its members. The board of directors authorizes the co-op to subscribe to Michigan Country Lines on behalf of each member at an average cost of $3.90 per year, paid as part of members’ electric bills. The current magazine cost is 49 cents per copy. Michigan Country Lines is published for us, at cost, by the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association in Lansing. As always, we welcome and value your comments at editor@meca.coop.
MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES
3
It’s Annual Meeting Time!
MARQUETTE ALGER
SCHOOLCRAFT
DELTA
MENOMINEE
Board Of Directors District 1—Big Bay
Darryl Small 906-345-9369 • smallwld14@gmail.com
District 2—Harvey/Deerton
Karen Alholm 906-249-1095 • karenalholm@gmail.com
District 3—Grand Marais
Mike Lawless 906-494-2080 • mclawless79@gmail.com
District 4—Cedar River/Palestine
Dave Prestin 906-424-0055 • cedarriverplaza@gmail.com
District 5—Gourley/LaBranche/Cornell
Ivy Netzel 906-639-2979 • MyAlgerDeltaRep5@gmail.com
District 6—Nathan/White Rapids
Paul Sederquist 906-753-4484 • sedergrove@gmail.com
I
Tom Harrell, Chief Executive Officer
t’s that time of year again—Annual Meeting time! Let this be your personal invitation to join us on Wednesday, June 5, at the Island Resort and Casino in Harris, Mich., (on US 2 & 41 a few miles west of Escanaba). Each year we look forward to gathering with our members to catch up, hear what you have to say about how your co-op is running and enjoy some good food and fellowship. This event is not only a chance to visit with members of your co-op community—it’s also a great opportunity to learn about what is happening at Alger Delta and to get to know your co-op directors and staff. The Annual Meeting makes it possible for us to get some feedback from you on how we’re doing and what’s important to you. It also provides a way for you to tell us how we can better serve you and your family. Faraway investors do not own Alger Delta, and it is not run by a board of directors who were appointed or bought their way onto the board through stock ownership. A democratically elected board of directors runs us— a board who is given the privilege to serve because of your vote. Every decision the board makes affects them personally. Unlike Congress, they cannot exempt themselves from the consequences of their decisions. This is important when it comes to things like setting rates, fees and charges, and allocating or retiring patronage capital and developing policies.
District 7—Stonington/Rapid River
Our directors are members of your community. They are concerned with the issues you face every day because they face them too.
District 8—Nahma/Isabella
A democratic and open election is one of the many elements that make our electric cooperative stand out from other utilities. Having a voice in who makes the decisions that directly affect your life and your family is a right we all share as Americans. We all vote for our state and federal legislators, but not every American has the right to vote for those who will represent community interests within their electric utility.
Kirk Bruno 906-399-1432 • kbruno.algerdelta@gmail.com Ray Young 906-450-1881 • kyoung@uplogon.com
District 9—Hiawatha/Maple Ridge
Doug Bovin 906-573-2379 • dorobo22@icloud.com
CEO
Tom Harrell tharrell@algerdelta.com
Headquarters:
426 N. 9th St, Gladstone, MI 49837 906-428-4141 • 800-562-0950 Fax: 906-428-3840 • admin@algerdelta.com algerdelta.com
Office Hours
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. (ET)
Alger Delta Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
algerdelta.com Join us on Facebook. facebook.com/algerdeltaelectric
4 MAY 2019
Alger Delta is dedicated to providing you with safe, reliable and affordable electricity—and you help make that happen when you attend the Annual Meeting. So make it a point to join us on Wednesday, June 5. We promise it will be worth your while!
Register for the Annual Meeting at algerdelta.com and click on the link 2019 Annual Meeting. You can also register by calling Alger Delta at 906-428-4141 Monday through Friday during regular business hours.
SMALL, BOVIN WIN DISTRICT ELECTIONS
D
arryl Small and Doug Bovin have been elected to the Alger Delta Board of Directors to represent Districts 1 and 9 respectively. District elections were conducted by mail and online balloting for 30 days beginning on March 22 with the winning vote tallies announced on April 22.
DISTRICT 1 DARRYL SMALL
DISTRICT 9 DOUG BOVIN
Small and Bovin both ran uncontested, so the outcome was not in doubt. Small has served on the board for 13 years, nine months. Bovin has served for three years. Both have been re-elected to serve a three-year term that will end in June 2022. Director Small is the second-longest tenured director on the board. Small has earned his Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) and Board Leadership Certificate (BLC) and holds Director Gold status. Director Gold status is conferred by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and recognizes directors committed to continuing their education beyond the CCD and BLC, and who desire a tangible credential
Official Notice Of The Annual Meeting Of The Members Of Alger Delta Cooperative Electric Association Pursuant to the bylaws, notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the members of the Alger Delta Cooperative Electric Association shall be held on Wednesday, June 5, 2019, at the Island Resort and Casino Convention Center, W399 US Highway 2 & 41, Harris, Mich. 49845. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time and actions shall be taken on the following matters: 1. Recognition of elected directors 2. Presentation and consideration of reports 3. New business a. Adoption of Bylaw Amendments Dated this 15th day of April 2019. Paul Sederquist—President
that demonstrates an ongoing commitment to advancing their knowledge and performing their fiduciary duty to the best of their ability. Bovin joined the board in 2016 and with this electoral victory will begin his second threeyear term. Bovin has earned his Credentialed Cooperative Director certificate and brings a wealth of political and business experience to the board. Bovin represented Michigan’s 108th House District from 1999–2002 when he served as a state legislator. Prior to his election to the House, Bovin served for 22 years on the Delta County Board of Commissioners, including 16 as its chairman, nine years on the Gladstone City Commission, and four years as mayor of Gladstone. He currently serves on the Lake Superior State University Board of Trustees and is a past president of both the National Association of Counties and the Michigan Association of Counties, and was the city manager of Munising for 10 years. Directors will be officially seated at the Annual Meeting on Wednesday, June 5, 2019.
Alger Delta Workweek And Office Hours To Change June through August Alger Delta’s workweek and office hours will change beginning June 3. Alger Delta will transition to working four, 10-hour days on June 3 and will continue that schedule through August 30. All Alger Delta personnel and services will transition to the new schedule. Alger Delta’s office will be open from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The office will be closed on Fridays. Outage calls and any other issues will be answered as they are now. Alger Delta’s after-hours answering service takes calls anytime outside of regular hours. For more information or to report a problem, call Alger Delta at 906-428-4141.
Period
Days of the Week
June 3–August 30 Mon–Thurs
Office Hours 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Eastern)
For Service or Outage Call: 906-428-4141
MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES
5
GUEST COLUMNS
MI CO-OP Community
62 Years Of Michigan Marriage By Linda McCoy, Cherryland Electric Cooperative member
O
n July 7, 1957, as young newlyweds, we headed north from Indiana to see the sights.
and Spider Lake. The Driftwood Motel was our destination for many years. We stayed in condos after the Driftwood was no more. As a family of 17, we’ve experienced all the amenities the Traverse City area has to offer.
Our first stop was seven miles west of Kalkaska, Michigan into the Sand Lakes quiet area. Greatgrandpa McCoy was alone now at the nicknamed Visiting Underwood and Rennie orchards in “Bitzy” cabin where he and Great-grandma had July and mushroom hunting in the spring. Our spent many summers. It was a one-room log activities included climbing the dunes, rafting cabin with a hand pump on the porch and an down Crystal River, air shows on East Bay, outhouse out back. They fished the many area Parasailing, bicycling, marching lakes. I wondered how in the band concerts, horseback riding 1940s did they ever find this “Five families of at Ranch Rudolph, fishing and the secluded place? McCoys have an famous Cherry Festival parade. interest and still enjoy We again headed north to see Michigan vacations.” The “Bitzy” cabin was torn the great Mackinac Bridge. We down due to deteriorating logs marveled during the tour that and rebuilt in the ‘90s by the family as vacation took us under the bridge which had one span left to complete before joining Lower Michigan and the time permitted. It is now modern, which was a significant event, complete with power from Upper Peninsula. Cherryland Electric Cooperative. Five families of McCoys have an interest and still enjoy We had little money to spend, but we took in Michigan vacations. many first-time sights, and this would be the beginning of a lifetime of Michigan adventures. The once-newlyweds will celebrate over 62 years It was our home away from home. of marriage in July, and our lifetime memories of happy days with family throughout Michigan Our three children would know Michigan, as well bring us joy. as their spouses and our nine grandchildren. We camped in the early years at Interlochen and Glen Arbor. We rented cottages on Little Glen Linda has lived in Northeast Indiana for all of her 79 years. She is a retired beautician and enjoys caring for families in her community. and Big Glen, and years later at Lake Leelanau
6 MAY 2019
Michigan’s Fishery Is Nature’s School By Rick Fowler, Great Lakes Energy member
A
t 5 a.m. on any of the bodies of water I venture to, be it a lake, river, stream, or pond, I am inundated with a myriad of sounds. The slow, rhythmic lap of waves reaching the shore after a night of travel is indeed soothing early in the morning.
way toward the inlet. The rapid flow of water cascades down boulders forming a chaotic scene as it bubbles back up. My line remains steady in the calm water beyond the little falls. I remember not too many years ago bringing my two children here. Armed with fishing gear, Barbies and GI Joes, we had claimed our spot. Amid the yelps of lucky fishermen and those who weren’t so lucky, I heard the laughter of my kids. Today, even though both are now in their late twenties, I can still get them to “wet a line” with me.
The plop of fish on calm waters just before the sun breaks makes an angler’s heart race. The head turns quickly in an attempt to see what it was that raised so quickly and, like an Olympic diver, reenter with “The memories, the Every so often I feel like a little only splash rings remaining, stories, the sights that wave that thought his purpose spreading like oil on the water. a morning offers keep was gone when he reached In fact, when the boat engine is me trickling back to the sandy shore. However, the cut or the paddles raised, the Michigan waters to fish.” memories, the stories, the sights serenity of a moment like this is that a morning offers keep me spine-tingling. trickling back to Michigan waters to fish. I have this sense that if I don’t, it will be the end of something. With a headlamp, waders, rod, small tackle box, flies and other bait, I descend the muddy bank of my favorite river. The eastern sky is lit brightly with Rick taught high school English in Boyne City for 34 years. For the past an easel of colors, making my climb down to the 25 years, he has been an outdoor freelance writer. waters edge flashlight free. The squish and clomp of my wading boots seem to be twenty decibels higher than they need to be. As I approach, there is an eerie screech reverberating from the tree Win $150 for stories published! line. The Blue Herons’ hollering momentarily blocks out the roar of the rushing water. As I near, the finger pier is empty of anglers on this particular morning. Many fishermen will be approaching the mouth soon to test their skill against the steelhead that are now making their
Guest Column: Country Lines invites members to submit their fond memories and stories. For guidelines and to submit your guest column go to countrylines.com under the MI Co-op Community tab.
MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES
7
Recycle Old Appliances To Save Energy And Money!
D
o you have an old, working refrigerator or chest freezer taking up space in your basement or garage? While you may not think about these appliances often, they could be adding hundreds of dollars to your utility bill each year. Declutter your home and save money with the Energy Optimization program. You can earn $50 for removing and recycling a secondary refrigerator and freezer!*
Free Appliance Pick Up Made Easy: The Energy Optimization team will pick up and recycle your old refrigerator(s) and freezer(s) for FREE. You can choose to send along an old window air conditioner or dehumidifier for recycling as well. NOTE: All items must be in working condition.
How To Participate: Contact the Energy Optimization team at 877-296-4319 to schedule an appointment. A representative from our
Cash incentives are available for the following: Appliance Type
Pick up or Ride-Along Item
Incentive Amount
Refrigerator
Pick up
$50
Chest Freezer
Pick up
$50
Window Air Conditioner
Ride-Along
$15
Dehumidifier
Ride-Along
$15
*Limit two appliances per year, per residence. All items must be in working condition.
team will come to your home for the pick up, and a cash incentive will be mailed to you. It’s that simple!
More Ways To Save! Working on a remodeling project? Your electric utility’s Energy Optimization program provides cash incentives toward qualifying new ENERGY STAR® appliances, including refrigerators, washers and dryers, ceiling fans, room air conditioners, televisions, and more. Please visit michigan-energy.org for more information, or call 877-296-4319 with any questions.
Ready to upgrade or get rid of an old refrigerator or freezer? Recycle it and save! Earn cash incentives for recycling your old, functioning appliances. ■ Refrigerator = $50 ■ Freezer = $50 ■ Dehumidifier (ride along item) = $15 ■ Window Air Conditioner (ride along item) = $15 Contact the Energy Optimization team to schedule a free pick up.
Shopping for new appliances?
Recycle and
Save!
Energy Optimization offers cash incentives for qualifying ENERGY STAR® appliances. Visit our website for a complete list of savings opportunities.
ONLINE: michigan-energy.org PHONE: 877-296-4319
Energy Optimization programs and incentives are applicable to Michigan electric service locations only. Other restrictions may apply. For a complete list of participating utilities, visit michigan-energy.org. All items must be in working condition.
Photo Contest
2
1 3
4
Spring Flowers 1. Pitcher plant, a carnivorous plant, traps insects which is a welcome springtime bonus. By Kim Foos 2. Brunnera sibirica, the first perennial flower that blooms in my garden each spring. By Lynda Graham 3. Bloodroot flower—they look so delicate, but they’re tough as nails. They can emerge and bloom as soon as the snow is gone, impervious to freezing nights. By Dean Juntunen 4. Wild Rose—their scent fills the air. By Nancy Warren 5. Trillium in late May near the town of Victoria. By Mary Coleman
5
Share Your Photos!
Alger Delta invites members to share their amazing photos. Selected photos will be published in Michigan Country Lines.
Upcoming Photo Topics And Deadlines:
Four-Legged Friends, deadline May 20 (July/August issue) Sunrise/Sunset, deadline June 20 (September issue) To submit photos go to http://bit.ly/countrylines We look forward to seeing your best photos!
MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES
9
Breakfast & Brunch Start your day right with these savory and sweet recipes. Photos by Robert Bruce Photography
Winning Recipe!
Little Masterpieces (Homemade Doughnuts) Kris Hazeres, Alger Delta ½ 3 1¼ 1½
cup vegetable oil large eggs cups granulated sugar cups applesauce, mashed bananas, puréed strawberries, or puréed fruit of choice teaspoons vanilla extract teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional (good with apple or banana flavored doughnuts) teaspoons salt teaspoons baking powder cups + 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour granulated sugar or cinnamon-sugar, for coating
a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If making muffins, bake for 20—23 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease two standard doughnut pans. Note: If you don’t have doughnut pans, you can bake these in a standard muffin tin.
Note: these store well in the freezer. When it’s time to serve, pop them in the microwave for a minute or so, then plate them and fill with ice cream, fruit, pie filling, etc., for an over-the-top looking treat in just a few minutes!
1½ 1 1½ 1½ 1¾ •
Beat together oil, eggs, sugar, puréed fruit, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder until smooth. Add flour, stirring just until smooth. Fill wells of the doughnut pans nearly to the rim; use about ¼ cup of batter in each well. If using muffin pans, fill each well about ¾ full; the recipe makes about 15, so you’ll need to bake in two batches (unless you have two muffin pans). Bake doughnuts for 15—18 minutes, or until 10 MAY 2019
Remove doughnuts from oven, and loosen edges. After about 5 minutes, transfer to a rack. While doughnuts are still warm (but no longer fragile), gently shake them, 1 or 2 at a time, in a clean paper bag or baggie with sugar. If you’ve made muffins, sprinkle tops with sugar. Cool completely, and wrap airtight; store at room temperature for several days. To make fancy doughnuts: fill the hole in each doughnut with choice of ice cream, pudding, mousse, sliced fruit, etc. Top with sauce; add whipped cream if desired.
Watch a video of this month’s winning recipe at micoopkitchen.com/videos
Simple Savory Corn Cakes Deb Finedell, Great Lakes Energy 2 1 ½ 2 1 1 2 1 4 2 1 •
featured
cups all-purpose flour teaspoon baking powder teaspoon salt cups frozen corn, thawed cup (4 ounces) smoked cheddar cheese, shredded cup fat-free (skim) milk egg whites, beaten whole egg, beaten green onions, finely chopped cloves garlic, minced tablespoon chili powder salsa
GUEST CHEF As Tyler Leipprandt of Michigan Sky Media and his family spend their summers camping across Michigan, they know that yummy campfire food is all part of the memorymaking. And no campfire cuisine is complete without a Pudgy Pie.
Combine flour, baking powder and salt in large bowl with a wire whisk. Stir in corn, cheese, milk, egg whites, egg, green onions, garlic, and chili powder until well blended. Spray a large nonstick
skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat. Drop batter by ¼ cupfuls into skillet. Cook 3 minutes per side or until golden brown. Serve with prepared salsa, if desired.
Sausage And Kale Frittata
3 ½ 2 1½ 4
Katie Schneider, Midwest Energy & Communications 8 ¼ ¼ ¹⁄ ³
large eggs teaspoon salt teaspoon black pepper cup milk
cups kale, stems removed, leaves chopped cup chopped red onion cloves garlic, finely chopped or crushed teaspoons olive oil ounces Italian turkey sausage, cooked and crumbled ½ cup chopped red bell pepper 2 tomatoes, ¼-inch round slices, cut in half
Combine eggs, salt, pepper, and milk; stir with a whisk. Heat a 9-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Sauté kale, red onion, and garlic in olive oil until tender. Layer in sausage and bell pepper. Carefully pour egg mixture over sausage and bell pepper. Preheat broiler to high. Place tomato slices on top of eggs in a single layer. Cook over medium heat, 5 to 6 minutes, or until eggs are partially set; then broil 5 inches from heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until browned and almost set. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
Tailgating Favorites: due July 1 Venison: due August 1 Submit your favorite recipe for a chance to win a $50 bill credit and have your recipe featured in Country Lines with a photo and a video. Go to micoopkitchen.com for more information and to register.
Enter to win a
$50
energy bill credit!
Photo by Tyler Leipprandt
Pudgy Pies • • • •
Refrigerated tube biscuits Cooking spray Pudding or pie filling Wooden dowels
Use a 5-inch diameter wooden dowel attached to a roasting stick and spray wooden dowel with cooking spray. Flatten and stretch one biscuit over the end of the dowel. Roast over the fire slowly until biscuit cup is cooked through. Let cool and carefully remove from the dowel. Fill the biscuit cup with your favorite pudding or pie filling or make as a s’more with a roasted marshmallow and chocolate. Read the full story about Tyler Leipprandt on page 14, and find this recipe and others at micoopkitchen.com.
MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES
11
Happy Flipping! By Lois Corcoran
T
he obsession started when we brought our 5-yearold son, Kelly Corcoran, to the bowling alley. The balls that caught his eye had no finger holes though. They were small and shiny and lived inside a pinball machine. A mechanical glitch allowed him to play forever on one quarter, and I’m pretty sure he’d still be there if we hadn’t dragged him home.
couple of months to come up with the design,” he said. “It went through 11 different iterations as I tried to determine exactly the right layout. For the most part, I think that was a good choice, although it probably would have benefited from a playable whitewood stage because there are a couple of things that are very hard to hit that really ought not to be,” Kelly said.
From that point on, Kelly’s sole focus became pinball. In Kindergarten he used crayons as flippers to power an imaginary ball. He drew hundreds of playfield designs and crafted pinball machines from whatever materials he could round up. Legos, cardboard. Even macaroni.
Next came construction of the cabinet. Kelly shares how he learned attention to detail during this stage, “The design of this cabinet really drove home the point that I need to measure things ahead of time and pay attention to those measurements. There are a lot of things that could have been done better. But I learned quite a few things about woodworking in the process and I’m not going to have this issue again.”
As a high school graduation gift, we brought him to the annual Midwest Gaming Classic in Milwaukee. His eyeballs all but dislodged when he spied row upon row of gleaming pinball machines from the ‘60s through 2011. And, joy of joys, they were all set on free play. He returned to this Nirvana several times, and it was there that inspiration hit to start building his own pinball machine at age 24. Kelly chose the theme of Undertale, a popular video game that he and his friends played on weekends. “I took a
12 MAY 2019
The machine’s design is intricate as the metal ramps were designed with help from Inkscape, which served as a basic CAD program. The ramps were assembled out of raw steel rails purchased from Grainger Metal Supply and required a lot of welding. Kelly recognizes and appreciates the help he received from his dad, Dan. “I could not have done it without him,” Kelly said.
Kelly thoughtfully and strategically crafted his pinball machine. “There are two sets of flippers. I tried to design the entire layout so that every flipper had at least two significant shots to hit, with more on the bottom ones. I didn’t want to stick extra flippers in there just for the sake of having them.” The machine’s lighting is key and includes frosted LED lights from Titan Pinball. They resemble incandescent bulbs but stay much cooler and use a lot less power. The machine is powered by components of a desktop computer for the game program. And it’s connected via USB to a couple of controllers to operate the playfield and all of its devices. The game includes many materials purchased from local businesses and Kelly credits them under a “Special Thanks” message in the attract mode screen. “In particular, all the wood products came from 41 Lumber, and all of the printed artwork was done by Meier’s Signs. They were the biggest local suppliers of material for this project.” It took two years, but his custom-built pinball game is finished. He’s counting the days till he can showcase it at this year’s Midwest Gaming Classic. Beyond that? “This is not the last build,” he said with a grin, but mum’s the word as to the next theme he chooses. “I’ll leave that as a surprise.”
Interested readers can take a virtual tour of the game in action on YouTube. Search for “Undertale Pinball Tour” and “Undertale Pinball Gameplay.”
MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 13
UP IN THE AIR Michigan Sky Media’s Aerial Photography By Emily Haines Lloyd
very artist finds a way to show others the world from a different perspective. For Tyler Leipprandt, photographer and owner of Michigan Sky Media, his perspective often comes from hundreds of feet in the air with his drone photography. Leipprandt never saw himself as an artist in his earlier life or even once he began working in drone photography for the commercial sector. An athlete growing up, Leipprandt spent most of his time in the gym and didn’t really see art as part of his future plans. Currently, he spends his days in education, instructing teachers how to integrate and use technology in the classroom. “It was my brother who got me interested in drone photography,” said Leipprandt. “No one in our area was really doing aerial shots for real estate, so that’s where I started. We did well in real estate, but I began to see how fun it was to use the drone in other ways.” Snapping cool photos around the state opened Leipprandt’s eyes to all sorts of opportunities; including a visit to the Port Austin Farmers Market where he saw some beautifully handcrafted cutting boards in the shape of Michigan that he noticed people admiring. The very next year, Leipprandt was back at the market, but in his own stall selling his photos that paid homage to
14 MAY 2019
+
Top left: Lake of the Clouds at sunrise. Top Right: This photo named “Don’t Look Down,” placed in the Top 25 in his category at Grand Rapids’ Art Prize competition. Bottom Left: Tahquamenon Falls at twilight. This Page: Leipprandt in the midst of capturing one of his signature dangling shots.
If you want to see more of Tyler Leipprandt’s amazing photography, visit him Saturdays at the Port Austin Farmers Market from Memorial Day through Fall (9am–5pm) or check out his portfolio at michiganskymedia.com. He can also be found on Facebook and Instagram @michiganskymedia.
the Great Lakes state. Last year he made the Top 25 in his category at Grand Rapids’ Art Prize competition.
was flying 120mph with the doors off. I’ve never been so cold in my life.”
“These are the places that locals have spent their vacations and spare time exploring all their lives,” said Leipprandt. “Places that you’ve seen a million times, but captured in a totally different way.”
Not all of Leipprandt’s excursions are quite so daredevilish. He, his wife and their four kids spend a good part of their summers exploring Michigan based on year-long pins they’ve stuck in a map. Before dinner, during grace, the kids never forget to say an extra prayer for an RV they can take around the state to cover more ground and capture even more beautiful memories.
Leipprandt’s photos are stunning, from twilight shots of Tahquamenon Falls to aerial feats over The Mighty Mac and University of Michigan’s Big House. Including Leipprandt’s now-signature shots of his feet dangling over the edge of bridges or from the sides of helicopters. “The dangling shots started by accident when my brotherin-law and I went to the U.P. last fall and through some wild circumstances ended up being invited to the top of the Mackinac Bridge,” Leipprandt said. “The Big House pictures were for a marketing promo—it was almost Thanksgiving, about 30 degrees outside and the helicopter
It’s that sense of exploration and curiosity that Leipprandt brings to his photography. The joy of seeing something unique and beautiful that not everyone has an opportunity to experience for themselves. “I love making people excited about where they’re from and what’s around them,” explains Leipprandt. “I want to help folks find new places they can explore for themselves.”
MCL SOCIAL MEDIA TAKEOVER! Watch Tyler Leipprandt as he does a live takeover of Michigan Country Lines’ social accounts, May 6–10. He’ll bring you some amazing, neverbefore-seen shots of the 2019 Tulip Time Festival in Holland, Mich.
May 6–10
michigancountrylines facebook.com/MichiganCountryLines
A
t the 2019 Annual Meeting, the board is proposing to amend the bylaws and recommending that members vote to adopt the changes. Authority to change the bylaws resides with both the board and the membership as a whole. Over the last several years, the board has undertaken to complete a thorough review of the bylaws with the intent of cleaning up outdated language, ensuring compliance with current law, making them clearer, and revising the structure of the document itself. A “redline” version of the recommended changes to the bylaws is posted on the cooperative’s website at algerdelta.com. If you would like to comment on the bylaws, the recommended changes or anything related to the process of adopting the amendments, please email admin@algerdelta.com or call us at 906-428-4141.
Members To Vote On Bylaw Amendments Your Board In Action At each monthly meeting, the Alger Delta Cooperative Board handles several routine administrative items, including review and approval of memberships, expenditures, director and CEO expenses and related items. The board also gets reports from the management team. The following is a recap of other board action during the first quarter of 2019. January: A representative from Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC), one of Alger Delta’s lenders, presented the board with a review of the co-op’s key financial ratios. For each key performance parameter
16 MAY 2019
This serves as official notice of the board’s intent to adopt new bylaws and modify or amend the existing bylaws of the Alger Delta Cooperative Electric Association. The Annual Meeting is to be held on Wednesday, June 5, 2019, at the Island Resort and Casino Convention Center, W399 US Highway 2 & 41, Harris, Mich. 49845. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
reviewed, the board was shown the current ratio and a comparison of our position with other co-ops in the state, region, and the U.S. as a whole. The board also heard a presentation from a consulting engineer about a proposed substation and adopted a resolution to amend the work plan to fund a new delivery point near Marquette. Board members reviewed the Code of Conduct and supported Alger Delta joining the Commitment to Zero Contacts safety initiative. February: The board approved a contract for pole replacements in the Big Bay area, received a report from the Metering Committee and accepted their recommendation for a new meter
system, and approved writing off just under $16,000 in uncollectible debt. March: The board was presented with and reviewed the 2018 financial audit and accepted the auditor’s report. The board also discussed revisions to the bylaws and supported presenting them to the members for approval at the 2019 Annual Meeting, reviewed proposed changes to the Capital Credit retirement policy and allocated $1.3 million in margin to the members. This narrative covers some of the highlights of each month’s regular board meeting. After approval, meeting minutes are posted on our website (algerdelta.com/About Us/Board of Directors/Board Meeting Minutes).
Thunderstorm Safety Tips When thunderstorms are rolling your way, stay safe with these helpful tips from the American Red Cross:
Listen to local news or NOAA Weather Radio for emergency updates. Watch for signs of a storm, like darkening skies, lightning flashes or increasing wind. Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are likely to occur. Many people struck by lightning are not in the area where rain is occurring. If a severe thunderstorm warning is issued, take shelter in a substantial building or in a vehicle with the windows closed. Get out of mobile homes that can blow over in high winds. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be in danger from lightning. If thunder roars, go indoors! The National Weather Service recommends staying inside for at least 30 minutes after the last thunder clap.
Avoid electrical equipment and telephones. Use battery-powered TVs and radios instead. Close windows and outside doors securely. Keep away from windows. Do not take a bath, shower or use plumbing. If you are driving, try to safely exit the roadway and park. Stay in the vehicle and turn on the emergency flashers until the heavy rain ends. Avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity in and outside the vehicle. If you are outside and cannot reach a safe building, avoid high ground; water; tall, isolated trees; and metal objects such as fences or bleachers. Picnic shelters, dugouts and sheds are NOT safe.
Access To Rules And Rates Please be advised that the following information is available to Alger Delta Cooperative members: 1. Complete rate schedules; 2. Clear and concise explanation of all rates that the member may be eligible to receive; 3. Assistance from the cooperative in determining the most appropriate rate for a member when the member is eligible to receive service under more than one rate; 4. Clear and concise explanation of the members’ actual energy use for each billing period during the last 12 months.
Have A Safe And Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Alger Delta will be closed for Memorial Day on Monday, May 27. Payments may be made at the drop box or online at algerdelta.com. To report a power outage, please call 800-562-0950.
The information can be obtained by contacting Alger Delta Cooperative at 800-562-0950.
MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 17
Guess this photo and enter to win a
$50
energy bill credit!
May Is Electrical Safety Month
Electric cooperatives’ top priority is always to provide safe, reliable, and affordable energy to their members. Your well-being and that of the larger communities we serve are of paramount concern. This month, we share a few safety tips that we hope you never have to use. But if you do, they could save their life.
Where In Michigan Is This? Identify the correct location of the photo above by May 20 and be entered into a drawing to win a $50 electric bill credit. Enter your guess at countrylines.com or send by mail to: Country Lines Mystery Photo, 201 Townsend St., Suite 900, Lansing, MI 48933. Include the name on your account, address, phone number and the name of your co-op. Our Mystery Photo Contest winner from the March issue is Steven ZisslerHayes, a Thumb Electric Co-op member, who correctly identified the photo as Saint John Nepomucene Catholic Church Historical Marker. This church was established in 1885 and is located in East Jordan. Winners are announced in the following issues of Country Lines: January, March, May, July/August, September and November/December.
March 2019
Life-Saving Tips That Can Save Your Life • If a car hits a utility pole, the vehicle may be charged with electricity. Anyone exiting the car could come in contact with thousands of volts of electricity from the downed line. In essence, when you step out of the car, you become part of the electricity’s path to the ground and could be electrocuted. It’s critical for everyone to stay in the vehicle until emergency crews have told you it’s safe to exit the car. • If the vehicle is on fire or you must exit for other safety reasons, jump clear of the vehicle. Do not let any part of your body or clothing touch the vehicle and ground at the same time. Land with your feet together and shuffle away (in small steps with your feet still together) to avoid electric shock. Keep moving away until you are at least 40 feet from the vehicle. • If you come upon a car accident involving a utility pole and downed power lines, keep your distance. A downed power line can energize the ground up to 35 feet away. The best action you can take is to alert emergency officials. Also, never drive over a downed power line or through water that is touching a downed power line. • If you have a downed power line on your property as a result of a falling tree, storm or other circumstance, do not go near the power line. Assume that the downed line is energized and dangerous. Never try to move the power line even if you think it’s not energized or if you are using a non-conductive material. Please wait until an electric co-op crew or emergency officials have confirmed that it is safe to do so. Contact your local electric co-op for additional electrical safety tips or if you would like to request a safety demonstration at your school or community event. Safety is a top priority!
Photo by Thomas Mann
18 MAY 2019
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JOIN US FOR OUR
80th Annual Meeting
TING E E M L A U N N A 19 0 2 ’S A LT E D R E G AL rris, Mich. d Casino, W399 Hwy. 2 & 41, Ha sort an
Wednesday, June 5 • Island Re
at algerdelta.com or call Register for the Annual Meeting hours. Friday during regular business gh ou thr ay nd Mo 41 -41 28 6-4 90 ess re’ll be prizes, the annual busin Along with a delicious meal, the s and the directors, staff, your friend meeting, and more. Come meet ars of service to the members. neighbors as we celebrate 81 ye