Henry County REMC — April 2018 Electric Consumer

HENRY COUNTY REMC

YOUR ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE COMPANION

APRIL 2 0 1 8

Join us on April 19 for our

81st annual meeting!

MEET YOUR DIRECTORS

Brian Becker, Don Shaw, Gerald Shelton, Donald Cross, Wayne Jester, Ron Chew, Randy Maloyed, Don Sloan, M. Shane Young, Jamey Marcum

CEO ANNUAL REPORT As your electric cooperative, HCREMC strives to meet our members’ needs. In 2017, HCREMC moved into our new facility and began a new era of providing the cooperative difference.

If you have not stopped by to see the new office and warehouse, please come see us!

System reliability is always a high priority, and in 2017, we worked diligently throughout the year to rebuild lines, replace poles, clear right-of-way, replace security lights and install new services. Your HCREMC set goals to be more proactive, instead of reactive, to fix issues on the electric distribution system, and we continue to move in that direction.

We all know that the unexpected still happens. Accidents and weather events force us into a reactive mode. HCREMC has implemented full digital mapping, including GPS coordinates for all facilities. We are using those maps to accurately predict outage locations and problem areas. Your cooperative is more prepared and more responsive than it has ever been.

A new communications system was completed as well that provides for accurate and timely exchange of information with the crews out working. If help is needed, or an emergency occurs, we no longer have to be concerned about mobile phones and radios not working. The radios ensure we can get help to them wherever they are in the HCREMC service area.

In 2017, HCREMC retired more than $1 million in capital credits to REMC members who accumulated capital credits between the years 1961 and 1975. We will continue to work year to year to return capital credits to our member-owners.

The cooperative difference offers many benefits. As your electric cooperative, we are committed to serving you, our members, by delivering the advantages of electricity and reliability in a responsible manner. We worked hard for the membership to make that happen in 2017, and we will continue those efforts into the future.

SHANNON THOM

MEETING AGENDA The 2018 annual meeting will be held Thursday, April 19, at First Baptist Church, 709 S. Memorial Drive, New Castle.

5:30 p.m.

Registration (Main Entrance) Members receive a ticket for a special gift upon check-in.

5:30 – 7 p.m.

Dinner (Fellowship Center)

5:30 p.m. – close of meeting Youth Activities Available (Youth Center) Supervision for Ages 5 and Up

6 – 7 p.m.

Entertainment (Sanctuary) New Castle Red Hot Blues

7 p.m. – close of meeting

CEO

Business Meeting (Sanctuary) Call Meeting to Order, Wayne Jester, Chairman

OFFICIAL NOTICE

Invocation, Pastor Ken Durham, First Baptist Church

Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of the members of Henry County REMC will be held at the First Baptist Church located at 709 S. Memorial Drive, New Castle, Indiana, on April 19, 2018, at 5:30 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance

Results of the 2018 director election for districts 1, 4 and 6 will be announced. Cooperative reports will be given, and any other business proper to be brought before the meeting will be conducted. Scholarship award winners will be announced.

Members must detach and bring the official registration card attached to the cover of this publication to the annual meeting. The registration card must be presented to be eligible to attend the business meeting and win door prizes.

Members must be present to win prizes.

— Ron Chew, secretary

National Anthem, New Castle Red Hot Blues Credentials Committee Report

Your ticket to the meeting is on the back of this month’s magazine!

BE SURE TO BRING IT WITH YOU.

Reading of Proof of Mailing, Ron Chew, Secretary Reading of Minutes of Last Meeting Reports Unfinished Business New Business Prize Drawings (Sanctuary) Brian Becker, Vice Chairman

Henry county REMC

YOUR INDIANA COOPERATIVE COMPANION

Happier Trails

Riding research center takes equine therapy to a new level

Prepaid electric service Available April 1

PAGE 6

APR IL 2018

from the editor

Real superheroes I never tire of playing dress up. And donning duds to help me empathize with electric industry superheroes? Now that was fun!

I imagined myself to be a real-life Wonder Woman after slipping on my hero gear: a lineworker’s hard hat, safety glasses and rubber gloves. But, proving clothes don’t make the girl, the hat was heavy, the glasses felt awkward, and the oversized rubber gloves fit me like oven mitts. Mind you — I was just wearing the clothes, not even doing anything remotely resembling the dangerous work linemen do everyday!

I liken electric utility lineworkers to superheroes because like the good guys in the Marvel and D.C. universes, they help others when no one else can, face dangerous situations daily and often work for the common good while high up in the air. Day in and day out, their jobs demand a selfless attitude, a helpful heart and a lion’s share of courage — all attributes claimed by comic book caped crusaders. No matter the weather, the time of day or whatever challenges they may face, linemen stay focused on ensuring you have the power you need. We couldn’t enjoy the lifestyle we’ve come to expect without them.

April 9 is National Lineman Appreciation Day. Your electric cooperative — and I — encourage you to take a moment to thank those brave men who risk their lives to keep the lights on for you. In the Spider-Man comic books, the quote “With great power comes great responsibility” guides this superhero’s actions. And so it goes with the linemen who never take the power of power for granted.

VOLUME 67 • NUMBER 10 ISSN 0745-4651 • USPS 262-340 Published monthly by:

ELECTRIC CONSUMER is for and about members of Indiana’s locally-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives. It helps consumers: use electricity safely and efficiently; understand energy issues; connect with their co-op; and celebrate life in Indiana.

Over 262,000 residents and businesses receive the magazine as part of their electric co-op membership.

CONTACT US: 720 N. High School Road Indianapolis, IN 46214 317-487-2220 or 800‑340‑7362 ec@ElectricConsumer.org ElectricConsumer.org INDIANA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OFFICERS Gary Gerlach President Walter Hunter Vice President Randy Kleaving Secretary/Treasurer Tom VanParis Chief Executive Officer EDITORIAL STAFF Emily Schilling Editor Richard George Biever Senior Editor Holly Huffman Member Relations/ Advertising Manager Ellie Schuler Communications Specialist ADVERTISING Crosshair Media, 502-216-8537; crosshairmedia.net

EMILY SCHILLING Editor eschilling@electricconsumer.org

GLM Communications, Inc., 212-929-1300; glmcommunications.com Paid advertisements are not endorsements by any electric cooperative or this publication.

UNSOLICITED MATERIAL: Electric Consumer does not use unsolicited freelance manuscripts or photographs and assumes no responsibility for the safe‑keeping or return of unsolicited material.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: $12 for individuals not subscribing through participating REMCs/RECs.

On the menu: July issue — Picnic/Pitch-In recipes; deadline April 19. August issue — Kids’ favorites; deadline May 14. If we publish your recipe on our food page, we’ll send you a $10 gift card.

Reader Submissions page: July — What accomplishments

are you most proud of? Send us a short paragraph. Feel free to include a photo to illustrate your story; deadline April 19. August — Photos of folks or their furry friends staying cool in the summertime; deadline May 14.

Giveaways: Winner of Zydeco’s Cajun Actual gift certificate was Mike Hackman, Columbus,

Indiana. Winners of tickets to the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites were Maxine Montgomery, Lebanon, Indiana, and Jane Johnson, Elizabethtown, Indiana.

Three ways to contact us: To send us recipes, photos, event listings, letters and

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Readers who receive Electric Consumer through their electric co-op membership should report address changes to their local co-op.

POSTAGE: Periodicals postage paid at Indianapolis, Ind., and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send change of address to: Electric Consumer, P.O. Box 24517, Indianapolis, IN 46224. Include key number.

No portion of Electric Consumer may be reproduced without permission of the editor.

entries for gift drawings, please use the forms on our website ElectricConsumer.org; email ec@ElectricConsumer.org; or send to Electric Consumer, PO Box 24517, Indianapolis, IN 46224.

APRIL 2018

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contents

APRIL

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17

product picks 03 FROM THE EDITOR 05 CO-OP NEWS What’s happening at your local electric cooperative.

10 ENERGY 12 INSIGHTS 13 BEST OF INDIANA Cast your vote for the best.

14 PRODUCT PICKS Gifts for April “showers.”

food

21

feature story

backyard

16 INDIANA EATS Take a bite of history at Fort Wayne’s Nine Mile Restaurant.

26 LEGISLATIVE Indiana’s senatorial candidates talk issues ahead of May’s primary.

17 FOOD April Fool! These foods may not be what you think.

35 PRODUCT RECALLS Electric blankets from Rural

30 EVENTS CALENDAR

King are on the recall list.

32 OUTDOORS Mongooses in Haiti?

36 H OOSIER ENERGY/ WABASH VALLEY NEWS

33 SAFETY Utility work ahead! Please

37 READER SUBMISSIONS Pictures of our purrrfect pets (not in all editions).

21 COVER STORY A horse therapy center and Rose-Hulman are teaming up to advance research.

Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ElectricConsumer Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/Electriconsumer

be mindful of crews.

34 BACKYARD Celebrate Arbor Day.

On the Cover Arrin Halcomb gives a hug to Dudley, the horse she rides at Lakeland Center for Ther-

Find us on Pinterest www.pinterest.com/Electriconsumer

apeutic Riding and Research in Hendricks

Follow us on Instagram www.instagram.com/ElectricConsumer

right ankle while cheerleading, rides to pro-

County. Arrin, who suffered injuries to her vide therapy for her foot and her emotions.

PHOTO BY RICHARD G. BIEVER

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APRIL 2018

co-op news

www.hcremc.com CONTACT US 800-248-8413 Fax: 765-529-1667 OFFICE HOURS 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday

Come to our 81st annual meeting!

STREET ADDRESS 3400 S. State Road 3 New Castle, IN 47362

HCREMC wouldn’t exist

The cooperative

without our members.

staff has been

That’s because YOU

busy gathering

MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box D New Castle, IN 47362

are a very important

great prizes to

part of the REMC, and

give away, too.

we want and need your

They include a

participation at our

riding lawnmower, bill credits and much more!

A night deposit box is available 24 hours a day.

EMAIL hcremc@hcremc.com SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS To report a power outage, please call 800-248-8413, day or night.

MISSION STATEMENT The mission of Henry County REMC is to provide reliable, safe and cost-competitive electrical service to enhance the lives of our members and the communities we serve.

BILL DUE DATES Bills mailed May 8 are due May 28.

Bills mailed May 15 are due June 3.

Bills mailed May 31 are due June 18.

Know what’s below.

Call 811 before you dig!

annual meeting.

Here are three great reasons why you should

Participate

attend:

More importantly, the HCREMC annual

1. It’s fun!

cooperative's elected officials about what’s on

meeting is a great time to speak with your

2. It’s free!

your mind. You can actively impact how your

3. It’s all about you!

from the membership to represent you on the

electric cooperative is run. You elect directors

Join us at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 19,

cooperative board.

at First Baptist Church in New Castle for

What does this mean? The members always

fun, food and the opportunity to share in our special community. We have plenty of activities, so enjoy some well-deserved time off with your kids. We have invited

come first!

Each one of us at HCREMC is absolutely dedicated to improving the quality of life in our

Rhim’s Catering back for another wonderful

community.

pork chop dinner. Plus, the New Castle

From all of your friends and neighbors at

Show Choir will be there to offer enjoyable entertainment for all.

HCREMC, we hope to see you at the annual meeting!

SHANNON THOM CEO

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/ HenryCountyREMC FOLLOW US ON TWITTER www.twitter.com/ HenryCountyREMC

Utility poles are not bulletin boards!

THINK BEFORE YOU POST THAT SIGN. Staples, nails and tacks used to hang signs and fliers create dangerous obstacles for electric lineworkers. Their jobs are dangerous enough. Help us keep them safe!

APRIL 2018

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co-op news

APPLY FOR AN HCREMC SCHOLARSHIP

Be energy smart this spring

Non-traditional students: HCREMC is offering a one-time $5,000

Spring is a perfect time of the year

system making it consume more

scholarship

to make your home more energy-

energy to do its job.

award to

efficient. Here are five quick tips that

a non-traditional adult student who is heading to college for the first

will save both energy and money.

1. Seal the cracks and gaps

3. Check your refrigerator. Clean the outside of the refrigerator as well as the inside. Gently

time, or returning to complete

around your home. Spring

vacuuming the outside coils and

an interrupted education. The

may be the right time to put

checking the seals for air leaks

HCREMC Operation Round

away those storm windows,

can improve the refrigerator's

Up board is excited to support

but it is also a good time to add

efficiency. Ideally, a refrigerator’s

our member-students who are

weather-stripping and caulking

temperature should be between

around leaky windows. Don’t

37 and 40 degrees for maximum

stop there; look for penetrations

efficiency. When it’s time to

around your home that may need

replace your refrigerator, be sure

maintenance. Caulking cracks for

to buy an ENERGY STAR-labeled

air sealing should be done inside

appliance.

continuing their education.

Scholarship deadline is June 8.

Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited vocational school, or a two-year or four-year college and have a high school diploma, GED or HSE/TASC certification. Applicants must be between the ages of 2555 and be a member of HCREMC and cannot be the son, daughter or grandchild of an existing employee or director of the HCREMC or the HCREMC Operation Round Up board.

Visit hcremc.com for more information.

the home, not outside.

4. Think sun block. You can save

2. Change filters monthly. Furnace

on your cooling costs each month

and air conditioner filters need

by closing the blinds on your east-

to be changed regularly. This will

and west-facing windows.

maintain your HVAC system’s ability to operate at maximum performance. Dirty filters can restrict air flow and reduce the overall efficiency of your cooling

5. Control temperature settings.

The Department of Energy suggests setting your thermostat to 78 F in the summer and 68 F in the winter.

PrePaid Electric Service available April 1 Make budgeting easier to maintain.

will alert the member to make a

Participants may view their daily

The HCREMC PrePaid Electric Service

payment. Charges will apply if credit

usage, as well as set up and change

program allows members to pay for

balance drops below $0.

alert settings.

Program advantages:

Program will be available to

• No charges for security deposit

interested members beginning April 1.

• No late fees

For more information about this

• No unexpected high bills

program, please visit www.hcremc.

• No disconnect fee

com or call 800-248-8413.

electric usage on their schedule, not according to a set due date.

Participants essentially prepay for electric use.

When a participant’s credit balance falls below $20, an email notification

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APRIL 2018

co-op news

Students from Tri Elementary pose with books. The school received a $385 Operation Round Up grant for new nonfiction books for its collection.

Supporting our community Earlier this year, the HCREMC Operation Round Up board awarded the following grants: Tri Elementary received $385 to purchase books for all students attending Family Night.

Blue River Valley Elementary received $500 for nonfiction books to

Dear REMC Operation Round Up participants, Thank you very much for

update the school's collection.

selecting Tri Elementary as

HCREMC received the thank you note printed to the right.

a grant recipient. The grant paid for every student to

Operation Round Up combines the spare change of thousands of HCREMC members to change our communities for the better.

HOW IT WORKS

receive a book at their grade's reading level. Our students

When you choose to sign up for Operation Round Up, your electric bill

have benefitted greatly from

is rounded up to the nearest whole dollar each month. For example, a

this grant.

bill of $74.25 would become $75. The 75 cent difference is placed into the Operation Round Up trust fund. The average total contribution each year is about $6 and is tax-deductible.

Thank you,

APPLY FOR A GRANT ONLINE

Nick Kimmel and the

Non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply for an HCREMC

Tri Elementary staff

Operation Round Up grant. Please visit www.hcremc.com for details.

APRIL 2018

7

co-op news

Don’t Waste.

Insulate!

Connect to savings Thank you to Every Good Thing, formerly called Marilyn’s Flowers, for being a business participant in our Co-op Connections® Card program.

Properly insulating your home reduces heating and cooling costs, and improves comfort.

R-values measure a material’s resistance to conductive heat flow.

The higher the R-value rating, the greater the effectiveness of the insulation. Below are recommended R-values for areas of the home that should be insulated. *Recommendations on R-values are subject to regional climate conditions.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy

Every Good Thing offers a 10 percent discount on cash and carry orders when you show your Co-op Connections Card. Visit Every Good Thing today!

TYPES OF INSULATION Batt Foam Blow-in

Slab

Crawlspace

Every Good Thing specializes in unique flowers, gifts and home décor for all occasions. Their designers span three generations and can work with you to create a

DUCTWORK

EXTERIOR WALLS

memorable masterpiece.

Whether it’s made of metal or plastic (PVC), insulated ductwork protects your investment in conditioned air year-round. Minimal R-values of 4.3 are recommended for blanket-style wraps secured with tape. Insulated ductwork rated at R-6 is also available.

There are multiple options for insulating exterior walls.

Rock wool or fiberglass batts of R-13 to R-20 value are preferred behind drywall, but each inch of blown-in polyurethane foam insulation provides an R-value of 3.9.

Every Good Thing 127 S. Memorial Drive New Castle, Indiana 47362 765-529-5162 Open: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday – Friday

BENEATH LIVING SPACE

10 a.m. to 2 p.m, Saurday

Whether your home has a full basement, a crawl space or an attached garage, having an insulation value of R-19 under the living space floor will help increase comfort year-round.

Closed on Sundays

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APRIL 2018

SLAB FOUNDATION Properly installed foam boards around the exterior edge of the slab of an existing home can reduce heating bills by 10 percent or more.

Tired of struggling on the stairs?

Introducing the Affordable Easy Climber® Elevator Home Improvement that actually improves your LIFE!

SAFE

Can be placed virtually anywhere in your home.

America’s Most Popula Home Elevator

r

u Equipped with weight, balance and obstruction sensors u Works even in a power outage

VERSATILE

u Can be placed almost anywhere in your home u Quick professional installation

Imagine the possibilities

CONVENIENT

u Footprint is slightly larger than a refrigerator u Compact and Quiet

•

Revolutionary elevator can give you– and your home’s value– a lift

“We are tickled about our new elevator. This is the first time I’ve seen the second floor of my home! It’s like an early Christmas present.”

Stan W. US war veteran and retired professor

•

Its small “footprint” and selfcontained lift mechanism adds convenience and value to your home and quality to your life. It’s called the Easy Climber® Elevator.

Call us now and we can tell you just how simple it is to own.

For many people, particularly seniors, climbing stairs can be a struggle and a health threat. Some have installed motorized stair lifts, but they block access to the stairs and are hardly an enhancement

No more climbing up stairs No more falling down stairs Plenty of room for groceries or laundry Perfect for people with older pets Ideal for Ranch houses with basements

to your home’s décor. By contrast, the Easy Climber® Elevator can be installed almost anywhere in your home. That way you can move easily and safely from floor to floor without struggling or worse yet… falling.

Why spend another day without this remarkable convenience?

Knowledgeable product experts are standing by to answer any questions you may have. Call Now!

Call now to find out how you can get your own Easy Climber Elevator.

Please mention promotional code 108586.

For fastest service, call toll-free.

1-888-494-8980

Residential installations only. Not available in all areas. Call to see if you qualify. © 2018 Aging in the Home Remodelers Inc.

82838

Elevators have been around since the mid 19th century, and you can find them in almost every multistory structure around… except homes. That’s because installing an elevator in a home has always been a complicated and expensive home renovation project… until now.

Innovative designers have created a home elevator that can be easily installed almost anywhere in your home by our professional team without an expensive shaft-way.

• • •

energy

Contractor checklist Things to consider when hiring a contractor for your home

by Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen Ready to make your home more energy efficient? The first step in beginning a renovation project is finding the right contractor. Here are some things to consider when deciding who to hire.

• Educate yourself so you can be in control of your project. Use reputable sources, like energy.gov, energystar.gov or your local electric co-op.

• Use that knowledge to judge how each potential contractor proposes to make your home more energy efficient. Some products or methods may not work as claimed, or may be too expensive relative to the energy savings they provide.

• Talk to your local building department to find out if your project requires a permit and inspections. Unpermitted work can cause problems if you need to file an insurance claim down the road or when you sell your home.

• Ask the right questions of potential contractors. Ask about the product to be installed, the energy savings it

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APRIL 2018

“

Finding a contractor can be a challenge, especially in rural areas. Your electric co-op may be able to provide a list of approved contractors in your area.

”

should yield and whether it will improve comfort.

• Finding a contractor can be a challenge, especially in rural areas. Your electric co-op may be able to provide a list of approved contractors in your area.

• Hire someone with a contractor’s license, a local business license and three types of insurance: liability, personal injury and workers’ compensation. Be sure to check references to help ensure quality work.

• Once you have settled on a contractor, be sure to get a written contract. It should include “as built” details and specifications that include energy performance ratings you have researched ahead of time.

• Be cautious about pre-paying. Keep the upfront payment as low as possible, set benchmarks the contractor must meet to receive the next payment and make sure a reasonable amount of the payment is not due until the project is completed, passes building inspections and you are fully satisfied. If you don’t feel qualified to approve the project, you could even require testing or inspection by an independent energy auditor.

PAT KEEGAN and BRAD THIESSEN of Collaborative Efficiency write for the member publications of America’s Electric Cooperatives.

For more information on heat pumps, please visit: www.collaborativeefficiency.com/energytips.

insights

Remembering

Kennedy & King PHO TO BY RI CHARD G . BI E V E R

Bronze and steel figures of Sen. Robert Kennedy, left, and the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., reach out to each other over a walkway at the Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Indianapolis. The monument, “The Landmark for Peace,” was dedicated in 1995 to the memory of the two assassinated leaders and the words of peace, prayer and brotherhood they spoke. It was at this park the night King was slain 50 years ago April 4, where Kennedy gave an impromptu speech while campaigning for president that many credit for keeping Indianapolis calm that night while 60 other major cities reacted with violence.

NASHV ILLE SKYLIG HTS Electric cooperative leaders from around the nation and around the world gathered in Nashville, Tennessee, Feb. 26-28, for the National Electric Cooperative Association’s 2018 Annual Meeting and Expo.

Among the plethora of information presented to co-op directors, managers and staff were sessions on energy issues, politics, consumer engagement and co-op governance.

In addition, Indiana was represented on stage by flag-bearer Devan Smith (above), Indiana’s Youth Leadership Council representative selected during the 2017 Youth Tour.

At left, George Carter, CEO of Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative, accepted the National Cooperative Purpose Award for PPEC’s Honor Flight Fundraiser that sent 475 veterans on an Honor Flight out of Fort Wayne in 2016.

The national award recognizes co-ops for meaningful contributions to the community and exemplifying the purpose of co-ops. Based in Paulding, Ohio, PPEC serves consumers in Adams and Allen counties in Indiana and five counties in northwest Ohio.

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APRIL 2018

Hoosiers to mark 50 years since fate forever linked slain leaders in Indy

A

pril 4 marks the 50th anniversary of one of Indiana’s shining moments in the darkness of a national tragedy.

On April 4, 1968, Robert Kennedy was campaigning in Indiana for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. That evening, he flew to Indianapolis for a planned inner-city rally. Upon landing, he was informed that Martin Luther King, Jr., had been assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.

Told that riots had broken out in other cities and advised not to go, Kennedy proceeded to the park at 17th and Broadway where a crowd of mostly African-Americans had gathered.

When he arrived, he realized most had not yet heard the tragic news of King’s death.

Instead of a campaign speech, he broke the news to audible gasps and cries. And then, he gave a short improvised, emotional talk asking for peace, wisdom, compassion and prayers in the face of such violence. Parts of it were later inscribed on his own memorial at Arlington National Cemetery after the senator’s assassination two months later.

To commemorate the date, April 4 events at the site of the speech, now home to the Landmark for Peace Memorial at 1702 N. Broadway St., will include civil rights pioneer John Lewis and Kerry Kennedy, daughter of RFK, and other dignitaries.

While the events are free, tickets are needed.

For information, visit: kennedykingindy.org.

REMC to get part of $276 million rural investment The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced last month that it is investing $276 million in rural electric infrastructure to improve system efficiency and reliability in 12 states including Indiana.

to meet current and future needs of rural businesses and residents. It will also support $65 million in smart grid technologies to help rural electric utilities reduce outages and integrate new systems.

“Investing in our nation’s electric infrastructure is fundamental for rural economic growth,” USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue said. “USDA’s longstanding partnerships with rural electric cooperatives help ensure that rural areas have affordable, reliable electric service. These investments also increase efficiency and productivity for businesses and residents, and support the quality of life in rural America.”

The loan guarantees are being provided through USDA Rural Development’s Electric Program, which is the successor to the Rural Electrification Administration.

USDA’s investment will build nearly 1,000 miles of line and improve 733 miles of line

The USDA is awarding a $74 million loan to Jackson County REMC in Brownstown, Indiana. The utility will build 84 miles of line and improve 32 miles to provide reliable, affordable electricity to 20,000 residential and business consumers. The loan includes $59.3 million for smart grid technologies. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.

Your chance to pick more of Indiana’s best Electric Consumer is gearing up for

Readers’ Choice Awards TELL US INDIANA’S BEST…

Recognizing the ‘Best of Indiana’

Fried Chicken:_____________________________________________

another round of “Readers’ Choice

Antique Store:_____________________________________________

Awards” to be presented in June.

Girls’ Getaway:_____________________________________________

Give us at least five responses on the

Guys’ Getaway:____________________________________________

ballot at right by April 27, and your name will be added to a drawing for

Famous Hoosier:___________________________________________

three randomly selected $50 prizes.

Claim to Fame (ie: could be what being a “Hoosier” is all about; what makes our state unique;

Our goal is to highlight the unique things

_____________________________________________________

that make us proud to call Indiana “home.” We hope you will avoid national chains and franchises when answering

a quintessential Indiana place or event, etc.)

_____________________________________________________

questions and instead tell us about the

Name: ____________________________________________________

places you can find only in Indiana.

Address: _________________________________________________

Mail your completed form to: Electric Consumer, Best of Indiana, P.O. Box 24517, Indianapolis, IN 46224. Go to our website for an electronic form to fill out and full entry rules and details: ElectricConsumer.org.

City:___________________________ State:_____ZIP:______________ Phone or email:____________________________________________ Your electric cooperative:____________________________________

Kick back and relax

Book your Brown County Summer Getaway today!

Brown County, Indiana’s largest selection of fully furnished Log Cabins, Homes and Cottages

Vacation Rentals

10% off new reservations

Call 812.988.6429 or use code INSP2018 online

BrownCountyLogCabins.com | Like and Follow Us on APRIL 2018

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product picks

April

Showers

1

4

April brings showers — not just the rainy kind but the wedding and baby kind, too. Consider one of these nifty gifts when your invitations arrive.

5

BY JAYNE CANNON

2 3 1

6 2

3

4

5

6

A TOAST TO YOU

MORNING JOLT

MIX IT UP

BABY’S BREATH

DOUBLE DUTY

CUTE AS A BUTTON

Burnt toast is a bad way to start the day.

The Cuisinart 4-Slice Metal Classic Toaster perfectly browns bread, bagels and more in four slots with custom controls. Its polished chrome looks as good as the toaster works. $70-$75.

800-211-9604; cuisinart.com

Save the newlyweds time and money in the morning rush. The Nespresso by Breville Pixie Espresso Maker’s high-pressure pump delivers a barista-style cup, and it heats up in just 25 seconds. No need to stop at the coffee shop. $230.

800-462-3966; bedbathandbeyond.com

If the newlyweds are bakers, they’ll be thrilled with a KitchenAid Artisan Mini Stand Mixer.

The stainless steel bowl has a 3.5-quart capacity, so it won’t hog countertop space, and it comes in a variety of colors. $330.

800-462-3966; bedbathandbeyond.com

Fresh air makes for a happier, rested baby.

The Crane Ultrasonic Cool Mist Drop Shape Humidifier offers variable control and quiet operation in a colorful shape. For safety’s sake, it shuts off when the water tank is empty. $50.

800-462-3966; bedbathandbeyond.com

For new parents, 2 a.m. feedings are part of the new normal.

The Cuisinart BW-10 Baby Bottle Warmer and Night Light makes them easier with a warm bottle and a faint light that helps baby go back to dreamland quickly. $40.

888-280-4331; amazon.com

New parents want to watch their little one every minute for the baby’s safety and their own peace of mind. The MonBaby Smart Breathing Movement Monitor sends information from a button attached to the baby’s clothing to a smartphone. $80. monbaby.com

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APRIL 2018

Indiana eats

Mouthwatering baby back ribs are one of the most popular items on Nine Mile Restaurant’s menu.

Homemade onion rings are a favorite among dinners.

A bite of history In 1837, Martin Van Buren was sworn in as president; John Deere started his business in Decatur, Illinois; and Nine Mile Restaurant, located in a small farmhouse on historic U.S. 27 in Fort Wayne, opened up for hungry customers. Today, it welcomes a whole new generation of diners as one of the oldest restaurants/bars in northern Indiana.

Since its humble beginnings as a tavern, Nine Mile — so named siince it was located exactly nine miles from the Allen County Courthouse — has grown into a full-service restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. Popular dishes include its specialty chicken gizzards, baby back ribs, “mess of lake” perch, a battered or breaded tenderloin, and homemade onion rings. Its wide menu also includes salads, soups, seafood, sandwiches and pizza.

The restaurant features a family-friendly, casual atmosphere for all ages and

16

APRIL 2018

offers carry-out and catering services for patrons. Nine Mile Restaurant is open seven days a week, Mondays through Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to midnight; and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

If you’re in the area, owners Joe Strack and Barry Liggett invite you to stop by and take a bite out of Fort Wayne history!

Nine Mile Restaurant 13398 U.S. 27 South

Fort Wayne, Indiana

260-639-8112 Website:

Visit ninemilerestaurant. com for more information and to peruse its menu.

food

! l o fo

These readers’ recipes contain an unusual, unexpected ingredient.

Miracle Whip Chocolate Cake

by Ruth Ann King, Warsaw 1½ cups sugar 6 T. cocoa powder 3 cups flour 1½ cup mayonnaise-style salad dressing 1½ t. vanilla 1½ cups water 3 t. baking soda Mix dry ingredients. Add mayonnaise-style salad dressing and vanilla. Dissolve soda in water and add, mixing well. Bake in two 9-inch greased pans at 350 F for 30 minutes or until toothpick in center of cake comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans.

Zucchini Pie

by Linda Martin, Warsaw 1 cup zucchini (measure it after blending it in a blender) 1 cup sugar (I use ½ cup) 1 cup evaporated skim milk 1 t. vanilla 2 T. butter ¼ cup egg white (I use a whole egg) 2 heaping T. flour 1 unbaked pie shell Nutmeg and cinnamon Cook zucchini for 20 minutes. Measure 1 cup. Blend zucchini, sugar, evaporated milk, vanilla, butter, egg white (or whole egg) and flour. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Sprinkle with nutmeg and cinnamon.

Bake at 400 F for 15 minutes and 325 F for 30 minutes.

Cook’s notes: I mix up the filling in the summer and freeze containers for winter. I knew my grandchildren and great-grandchildren wouldn’t try it if I mentioned the “Z” word, so I didn’t tell them until they were done and asked for more!

APRIL 2018

17

food Sweet Sushi

by Marilles Mauer, Greensburg ¼ cup butter

While the mixture is still warm,

4 cups mini marshmallows

place a gummy worm on it from end

6 cups crisped rice cereal

to end, starting at one side an inch

20-25 gummy worms

up from the lower edge. Gently roll

1-2 boxes Fruit Roll-Ups

the lower edge of the marshmallow mixture over the gummy worms.

Grease a 12x17-inch baking sheet.

Then cut the log away from

Melt butter in a large saucepan over

the rest of the mixture. Use the

low heat. Add the marshmallows

same method to form four more

and stir until smooth. Remove the

logs. Slice each log into 1-inch

mixture from the heat and stir in the

thick “sushi” rolls and wrap them

rice cereal until it’s evenly coated.

individually with a strip of the Fruit

Turn the marshmallow mixture onto

Roll-Ups. Makes 4-5 dozen.

the baking sheet, pressing and distributing it evenly.

FO O D PREPARED BY ELECTR I C CO NS UME R S TA FF PHO TO S BY RI CHA RD G . B I E V E R

Strawberry Tomato Jelly

by Gale Rhodes, Battle Ground 4 cups peeled, chopped tomatoes (very ripe ones work best!)

2 cups sugar 4 T. lemon juice 1 (6-oz.) box strawberry gelatin Mix tomatoes, sugar and lemon juice in a saucepan and slow boil for 20 minutes. Add gelatin and stir well. Pour into small jelly jars.

It will thicken as it cools/sets. Refrigerate or seal jars as you would regular jelly.

Cook’s notes: This tastes nothing like tomatoes; you would swear it is strawberry jelly! And the seeds from the tomatoes even mimic strawberry seeds!

18

APRIL 2018

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cover story

Happier Trails

Riding research center and Rose-Hulman take equine therapy to a new level

S T ORY A N D P HOTO S BY RIC HA RD G . BIE VE R Above: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology biomedical engineering seniors, from left, Stefanie Panzenhagen, Jordan Hagood, Changlin Shen and Benjamin Stone developed a riding pad with 16 sensors to measure a horseback therapy rider’s weight distribution. The sensors are wired to a circuit board (in Stone’s hand) which processes the sensor data. The circuitry lets instructors know immediately through color-coded LEDs on the back of the pad whether the rider is applying more pressure to either side or is balanced on the horse. A computer app the team also developed translates the sensor data into measurable documentation that can track how a rider is progressing. The pad is one of several projects RHIT students developed this year for the Lakeland Center for Therapeutic Riding and Research.

Inset: Christy Menke and her world-class jumping horse, Lakeland, are shown in an old snapshot from about 20 years ago. She said the “fire-breathing” horse had a knack of forming special bonds with people with special needs. Though Lakeland died in 2005, his spirit is the inspiration for Menke’s nonprofit therapeutic riding center that rebranded itself from Hope Haven to Lakeland Center last fall.

F

or 17 seasons, Christy Menke’s Hope Haven Horse Farm helped kids and adults with special needs and injuries find relief from their challenges.

When clients begin returning this month for the 2018 season, they will

find a new name out front and a new emphasis on trail-blazing technology to help them even more when they get back in the saddle.

Hope Haven, a nonprofit riding facility in southwest Hendricks County, has rebranded itself as Lakeland Center for Therapeutic Riding Research.

While it will always be a place of hope, the therapeutic farm has set a higher fence to jump — to move beyond being merely a “haven” or a refuge. Lakeland Center is striving to fuse horseback therapy with new and innovative electronic and mechanical devices being developed in collaboration with biomedical engineering students at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Along with vastly improving the therapy riders receive, the emerging projects are capable of providing standardized physiological feedback — the tangible, medical proof — that equine therapy does what it’s supposed to do.

PLEASE TURN TO THE NEXT PAGE APRIL 2018

21

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE “As professionals, we see the difference therapeutic riding makes. I can see that clients are getting better, but the part of the world that needs to support this, can’t,” Menke said.

“Insurance companies want data, data, data,” added Christy Whiteside, who is the newest instructor at the center.

“There’s no reason why therapeutic riding — what we’re doing — shouldn’t be covered by insurance.”

But both Christys admit it’s hard for insurance to cover equine therapy since “industry standards” vary widely around the country and even from therapy center to center within the state.

Every center may use a different system to set client goals, define success and document it.

“Our vision is that the data we collect will provide the scientific measurements needed to increase resources for those we serve in therapy lessons and improve the industry as a whole,” Menke said.

A horse’s gait Horses have been used in forms of therapy as far back as the ancient Greeks. But only in the last 60-70 years has modern equine therapy taken off. The practice started in Europe and came to the United States and Canada shortly after.

Horseback riding is beneficial to people who cannot walk or have trouble walking because a horse’s four-beat gait mimics human walking. The horse’s movements stimulate and work the same muscles in the rider’s pelvic area and lower back that the person would use if he or she were actually walking.

Alison Garceau works on her balance while riding a mule at the indoor arena at Lakeland Center last month. Assisting her are, from right, Christy Menke, who founded Lakeland Center 18 years ago; Christy Whiteside, an instructor; and Arrin Halcomb, a riding client at the center who is rehabbing her reconstructed ankle and volunteering as an assistant.

“

When someone who’s been in a car accident

I’m on a horse!’ And the whole arena just starts crying because ever be able to do that

cognitive disorders, traumatic brain

again.… Those are the

strength, fine and gross motor skills, confidence, coordination, endurance, cardiovascular and respiratory function and even interpersonal relationships.

22

APRIL 2018

on the jumping circuit along the East

equestrian Grand Prix.

syndrome, cerebral palsy, learning and

posture, mobility, flexibility, balance,

and 90s, she was a rising equestrian

says, ‘I’m on a horse!

she never thought she’d

Riding has been shown to improve

horses most of her life. In the late 1980s

Coast. With her world-class show horse,

Riding has been shown to help

orthopedic and comorbid challenges.

The 48-year-old Menke has been around

and is a quadriplegic

people with autism, ADD/ADHD, Down

injury, and ambulatory, neurological,

A haven in Indiana

moments we live for.

”

Christy Menke

Lakeland, she was hoping to reach the Then, she suffered a back injury in a car accident which nipped her career. In 2000, at the invitation of her grandparents, she returned to her Indiana roots with her daughter and Lakeland, whose spirit became the inspiration for the rebranded center.

(Please see side bar on page 23.)

On 10 acres of her grandfather’s farmland and with the help of her mom, grandfather and relatives in Hendricks and Putnam counties, she launched Hope Haven. “I wanted it to be family oriented, and what we have here is very special,” she said. “We don’t just do the lessons, we sit with the families afterward whether it’s music or whether

it’s just laughing. But we want to make a difference.”

Though Hope Haven grew to over 200 clients and a dozen horses, Menke said something was missing. “I just felt it wasn’t doing what it needed to do.”

Toward that end, Menke went to nursing school about eight years ago and became a registered nurse to add a medical background to further assist clients. But the biggest change to the farm and its future came with a new riding client at about the same time.

New connections Drew Christy had been a Rose-Hulman biomedical engineering student, football

Lakeland’s world Center’s namesake had a way with people with special needs

C

hristy Menke first saw equine

was crying. And his

therapy work its magic when

neck had gone

she was riding on the com-

over her and was

petitive jumping circuit in the early 1990s. In a poignant, personal way, it seared a lasting impression in her mind that became her lifelong passion. And it didn’t even involve riding.

Lakeland was her world-class

squeezing her.

“I just stood there.

“She had taught him to bow. She was in

player and 2006 Hendricks Power Co-

jumper, “a fire-breathing dragon” that

the stall, and she had

operative scholarship winner who grew

could leap 5-foot, 6-inch fences. “He

him bowing!”

up nearby in southern Putnam Coun-

wanted it known that it was his world,”

ty. In February 2008, the sophomore

Menke said. “He lived in padded stalls.

Lakeland, her sleeves

suffered a traumatic brain injury when

If he didn’t like you, his ears would go

slid up her arm. For

his car slid off an icy U.S. 40 while he

flat back, and he’d run at you.”

the first time, Menke

drove home from Rose-Hulman. For five

One group Lakeland particularly

As Jen hugged

Christy Menke and Lakeland, circa 1994.

Lakeland died in 2005, but his spirit lives on.

also saw why she kept them down. “I

months, he was in a coma. His doctors

disliked was “the foo-foo girls,” as

could see all the bruises. I can see the

gave him a 1 percent chance of survival.

Menke called them. These were the

beatings, the burns, all that.”

But Drew survived, emerged from

girls at the stable she managed near

Menke sought help for Jen with

the coma and slowly and persistently

Atlanta who were too big for their

her home life, and began giving her

began to work on rehabilitation. Biomed

expensive riding britches, spoke

riding lessons. To the chagrin of the

engineering students at Rose-Hulman

in loud voices and surrounded

foo-foo girls who all wanted to ride

helped by developing and refining therapy

themselves in adolescent drama.

Lakeland, the highest jumper in the

equipment for him to use at home.

“Those girls would come through,” she

stable, Jen was the only other person

said, “and he’d pound that door. He

allowed to ride Menke’s horse.

By May 2012, Drew had regained enough strength and mobility to begin

would charge it, and his water bucket

equine therapy at Hope Haven. His mom

would be flying....”

reached out to Rose-Hulman professors

Behind the farm was a low-rent

“Show jumpers, they’re wild.

They are hard to ride,” Menke continued. “When she got on him, he

to see if students could also assist with

trailer park. Jennifer, a teenage girl

was like a plow horse. He just babysat

devices to help riders there. Rose-

with a learning disability, lived there.

her. If she started to shift her weight,

Hulman jumped at the opportunity.

Menke hired her to come in, feed the

he’d stop. If something was wrong,

horses and clean the stalls. When she

he’d stop. His complete demeanor

Christy family,” Menke said. “Drew gave

would, Menke noticed she always kept

changed when this child was around

us so much inspiration and paved the

her long sleeves down.

him. Lakeland gave her the power to

“We owe this new journey to the

way for many to follow. The collaboration

One day, Menke came into

seek out the help she needed. She had

with Rose-Hulman would have never

the stable, and Lakeland was being

the confidence through Lakeland to

happened without Drew and his mom

uncharacteristically quiet. “You could

know that she was somebody.”

and dad, Debbi and Mark Christy.”

hear all the little foo-foo girls walking

That first year, 12 Rose-Hulman students came to Hope Haven to work on their senior “capstone projects”

Lakeland, the feisty, striding,

through. He’s not charging. He’s not

German Warmblood with a tender

doing any of those crazy things.

side, showed Menke the difference

“So, I peeked around the corner,

a special horse could make in a

which they renamed “Christy projects”

and this little girl from the trailer park

troubled child’s life. That planted

in honor of Drew and Menke. Projects

with the learning disability and the

the seed that became Hope Haven —

included an electronic horse simulator to

ratty clothes who only shoveled poop

which is now the center for riding

was in there hugging him, and she

and research that bears his name.

PLEASE TURN TO THE NEXT PAGE

APRIL 2018

23

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE replicate the beneficial equine movement for clients unable to ride a full-sized animal or limited by time and location; equipment that helped support and balance riders on a horse; and more.

Menke immediately realized incorporating the new technology into the riding lessons and therapy vastly improved clients’ experiences. Clients became stronger and were able to move more quickly to the next level of therapy.

The prototypes also provided biofeedback data on the physical and cognitive status of the riders. That measurable feedback is the Holy Grail needed to advance therapeutic riding.

“All the puzzle pieces started coming together at the same time,” Menke said of her nursing degree and the research and feedback brought in by Rose-Hulman.

“What I’ve learned from nursing school and from being a nurse is the rationale. I need rationale for why we’re

Another team of Rose-Hulman biomedical engineering students, Matthew Davis, from left, Colton Watson and Chris Hockaden, displays a stirrup the three have worked on along with its interfacing circuitry and software. The stirrup measures the force being applied by the rider’s foot as it sits in the stirrup and will be able to tell therapists the rider’s balance and pressure the rider is able to apply. The team upgraded the special stirrup that Rose-Hulman students originally developed two years ago.

doing things. All the statistics, all the

riding at Hope Haven for her physical

it this year. “It’s a feeling of accomplish-

things we’re doing now are the same

and emotional pain caused by the

ment that we designed this, and we went

things hospitals are doing.”

chronic ankle injury.

out and built it,” said Chris Hockaden, a

Once Arrin started riding, she

senior from Greensburg. “The hands-on

Back in the saddle

realized her injury also limited her there.

experience of actually building it is one

Arrin Halcomb wanted a horse as far

“I couldn’t feel how much I was pushing,”

of the best parts.”

back as she could remember. “That’s what

she said of using her right foot in the

I asked for every year for my birthday,”

stirrup to help direct the horse, “or if I

she said. “But we lived in the city, so we

was even pushing at all.”

didn’t have any place to put it.”

Riding and now also volunteering

“That brings it home,” added Menke, “when they see somebody using it.”

“Our hope would be that we help individual clients at Christy’s farm just

When her family did move to four

at the farm helped Arrin regain feeling:

get better. That’s the first goal,” said

acres in rural Hendricks County some

both in her foot and with her emotions.

Stefanie Panzehagen, a senior from New

seven years ago, she was getting into

“I’m surprised at how much it’s helped,

Berlin, Wisconsin. She was part of a team

gymnastics — which led to competitive

especially not just my ankle. I suffer from

developing a riding pad with pressure

cheerleading. “I had a pretty great sport

depression and anxiety, too,” she said.

sensors and LED lights that measure a

that I loved,” the 16-year-old Cascade

“Coming here with all the positivity and

rider’s balance and tells instructors when

High School sophomore said. “I really

all the laughter, it’s really helped.”

balance is shifting. “Going from there,”

didn’t need a horse.”

Then, her right ankle sustained a

While she’s learned techniques to

she added, “hopefully it can be used in

help overcome the foot issue, one of the

more applications and for more people to

series of devastating injuries — torn

projects Rose-Hulman students will unveil

spread the impact.”

tendons and ligaments — requiring

this month will help even more. It’s an

two reconstructive surgeries and the

upgraded pressure-monitoring stirrup.

will change the therapeutic riding

insertion of three rods. Arrin was left

“I’m really excited for the new stirrup

nationwide. Besides improving therapy

with only partial feeling in her right foot

because it’s really going to be able to show

for riders and providing data for

and was no longer able to compete in

how much pressure is there,” Arrin said.

insurance, the technology offers more

cheerleading.

That’s when horses re-entered her dreams.

She and her family started therapy

24

APRIL 2018

Bringing it home Also excited to see the new stirrup in use is the Rose-Hulman team that worked on

Menke said the technology

opportunities for people to participate and help instructors improve techniques.

“Not everybody can come and do therapeutic riding. They may have

Christy Menke, left, and Christy Whiteside lead Alison Garceau through a series of warmup stretching and strength exercises on a mechanical horse before taking the 38-year-old riding on a live animal. The mechanical horse simulates the back movements of a real horse as it walks. It was an earlier Rose-Hulman student project for Lakeland Center, then known as Hope Haven. The farm, southwest of Indianapolis, is served electrically

by Hendricks Power Cooperative.

“

We don’t want to take away the warm fuzzy of the horses, but these

FOR MORE INFO Lakeland Center for Therapeutic Riding Research (formerly Hope Haven Horse Farm) is located at: 10416 U.S. 40 Coatesville, IN 46121 317-641-5716 LakelandCtr.org The nonprofit center accepts donations to help in its mission such as: grain or hay to be used as horse feed, riding equipment, legal expertise to help apply for patents, and more. Contact the center if you are interested in donating or helping.

For a list of 20 certified equine therapy riding centers around Indiana, please visit this story on our website: ElectricConsumer.org.

One rider, with a diagnosis of

astonishing, and we continue to learn

autism, could not speak or communicate

every time we utilize it. The research

well, but she always rode straight in

avenues are endless at this point.”

the saddle. Then, her instructors began

But even with the added technology,

noticing her leaning forward more, but

Menke hasn’t lost sight of the reason she

they could not pinpoint why.

and so many other horse therapy centers

Menke said at the same time, they

do what they do. That’s providing the

are ways to reach

were working also with occupational

emotional connection between riders and

therapy students from Indiana State

horses; that “warm fuzzy” she spoke of.

hundreds and hundreds

University on a balance study. Using

and hundreds of clients.

”

Christy Menke

An example of this, Menke said,

the Rose-Hulman technology of saddle

involved a woman who became a

and stirrup sensors along with the ISU

quadriplegic at age 16 after a vehicle

balance team’s documentation, they

accident. She came to the horse farm in

found the rider had a discrepancy in leg

her 20s. One of her favorite memories of

length and an uneven pelvis on both the

her life before the accident was riding a

horse simulator and live horse.

horse, but she thought she’d never ride

“Everything is telling us what’s going on with her. She can’t tell us. Even with

again. Instructors and volunteers worked together to put her back in the saddle.

our expertise, we can’t see what her hip or

“These are the tearful moments,”

asthma. They may be in a hospital. It may

the stirrup pressures are telling us,” Menke

Menke added. “When someone

be too far to drive,” Menke said. “Now

said. “We were able to tell her agency

who’s been in a car accident and is a

that we have a simulator, we will be the

to look at her hips. Now, we’ve got the

quadriplegic says, ‘I’m on a horse! I’m on

first mobile unit. We don’t want to take

technology to find diagnostic problems

a horse!’ And the whole arena just starts

away the warm fuzzy of the horses, but

that can be fixed before they get to the

crying because she never thought she’d

these are ways to reach hundreds and

point they are going to need surgery.”

ever be able to do that again. It gave her

hundreds and hundreds of clients.”

She said the technology has already

“This was my ‘aha’ moment … giving me hope for a new era of therapeutic

paid dividends in the long-term health of

riding,” she added. “The information

clients, too.

from the data we are retrieving is

legs.

“Those are the moments we live for.”

RICHARD G. BIEVER is senior editor of Electric Consumer.

APRIL 2018

25

legislative

Your vote counts Tight races expected in May primary

P

olitical pundits across the country are keeping a close eye on the 2018 Senate race in Indiana, calling the outcome “too close to call” even before we know which Republican candidate will be challenging Democratic incumbent Joe Donnelly for his seat.

Who Donnelly, running unopposed in the primary, will face in the November election is anyone’s guess. Three candidates — Republicans Mike Braun, Luke Messer and Todd Rokita — will be battling it out in the May 8 primary elections.

Donnelly, who spent six years in the U.S. Congress, defeated former Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock six years ago to claim Sen. Richard Lugar’s seat.

While Messer and Rokita, who currently serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, seek a new position on Capitol Hill, their congressional seats are up for grabs. In both districts, there’s a full field of candidates interested in those coveted positions.

On the next three pages, the four candidates vying for Senate answered some key questions posed by Indiana Electric Cooperatives.

Please visit this story at ElectricConsumer.org for more on the candidates.

PHO TO BY I STO CK/ G ETTY I M AG ES PLUS

26

APRIL 2018

legislative

Three Republicans vie for Senate vote INDIANA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES: What makes you the best candidate to serve as Indiana’s next U.S. Senator?

MIKE BRAUN: Hoosiers are ready for leaders who can break the stranglehold career politicians have on the federal government. I will bring conservative change to Washington. As founder and CEO of Meyer Distributing and owner of Meyer Logistics, I have employed thousands of Americans across the United States. My companies serve all 50 states and have locations in 38 states.

I am running for the Senate because I believe Washington needs more people with experience in the private sector, not politics. I have spent my career building a business and creating jobs.

LUKE MESSER: In Congress, I’ve been a partner for President Trump, and I will go to the U.S. Senate to fight for Indiana’s families and move our country forward. President Trump is working to pass the agenda the American people voted for, and the Senate is standing in the way almost every time.

TODD ROKITA: In the House of Representatives, I have been a leader on education reform, promoting school choice and stopping Common Core. I have worked to reform out-of-control federal spending, demand efficiency and accountability from government and put the United States on a path to a balanced budget.

I’ve also been a leading voice for spending reform and rolling back excessive federal regulations that hurt small businesses and Indiana agriculture. I’ve brought over $5 billion of Indiana’s tax dollars back for roads and infrastructure.

YOUR

VOTE REGISTER BY

APRIL 9

ELECTION DAY

MAY 6

What are rural America’s biggest challenges? How would you address them?

BRAUN: The biggest challenges facing rural America are keeping good-paying jobs and fighting the opioid crisis. Career politicians have promoted policies that allowed good jobs to leave America, with rural America being hit harder than most.

As jobs have fled overseas, the politicians have sat idly by while opioid addiction began ravaging our communities. I will fight to bring jobs back and help those afflicted by opioid addiction.

MESSER: Hoosiers want to see goodpaying jobs and a strong economy so they have their shot at the American dream. Unfortunately, for too many people today, that dream no longer rings true. President Trump is working to revive the American dream, and his recent tax cuts were a great first step.

Hoosiers are already seeing more jobs and more take-home pay.

I’m excited to continue working with the president to advance policies that

support Hoosier workers and grow our economy. That means reducing regulation that hinders growth, investing in our crumbling infrastructure, and ensuring Hoosiers have the skills and resources they need to be competitive in the modern economy.

ROKITA: The number one issue I hear about is the opioid epidemic. We need the federal government, the Health and Human Services Department and federal law enforcement working with states and localities to crack down on doctors overprescribing opioids and companies pushing opioids outside of the law, expand access to addiction treatment services and increase enforcement.

That’s why I voted for the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act in 2016, and supported President Trump when he designated the opioid crisis a national health emergency.

We also need to build a wall and secure that border because 95 percent of the heroin in this country comes across that border.

Next, the federal government needs to create the environment for a growing economy. Hoosiers, and all Americans, in depressed communities hit hard by the opioid epidemic, need opportunity and hope, not welfare dependency and hopelessness.

How should Congress approach energy policy?

BRAUN: Energy independence is a matter of national security. I think Washington should work together to improve our energy efficiency and independence.

I support efforts in Congress which increase our energy capabilities, such as drilling for more domestic oil and natural gas, opening more offshore drilling, and reducing regulations for the approval of natural gas pipelines.

PLEASE TURN TO THE NEXT PAGE APRIL 2018

27

legislative CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

MESSER: I support an “all-of-theabove” energy strategy. Unfortunately, excessive government intervention has hampered our ability to remain a global energy leader. From the Clean Power Plan’s arbitrary rules to the effective ban on new coal power plants, to the maze of federal bureaucracy, the Obama administration’s mandates hurt our energy sector. I’m working with President Trump to roll back the Obama administration’s heavy-handed policies

that hampered innovation and increased energy production costs.

As your senator, I will support policies that promote the development of reliable and affordable energy for all Americans.

ROKITA: We must continue to pursue an all-of-the-above strategy not only for our economy and for jobs, but also for our national security.

I have supported EPA efforts to grow our energy industry and create a diverse set of resources. In the 114th Congress, I supported S.J. Res. 24,

which would overturn the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan. The CPP would provide virtually no climate benefit but would lead to higher energy prices, particularly hurting the Americans who can least afford it.

I support Interior Department actions to boost oil, gas and coal production by repealing Obama-era regulations that govern fossil fuel production on public lands. I voted to open up areas for drilling that were previously off-limits.

MIKE BRAUN (R) Home: Jasper, Indiana Political experience: Represented District 63 in the Indiana House of Representatives from 2014-17. Resigned his seat on Nov. 1, 2017 to focus on running for the U.S. Senate.

Website: MikeBraunForIndiana.com

LUKE MESSER (R) Home: Greensburg, Indiana Political experience: Currently U.S. Representative, Indiana’s 6th District. First elected to U.S. Congress in 2012. Previously served in the Indiana General Assembly from 2003-06, representing District 57.

Website: LukeMesser.com

TODD ROKITA (R) Home: Brownsburg, Indiana Political experience: Currently U.S. Representative, Indiana’s 4th District. Served as Indiana Secretary of State from 2003-10. Was president of the National Association of Secretaries of State from 2007-08.

Website: ToddRokita.com

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APRIL 2018

legislative How would you address the growing digital divide in rural Indiana and across America?

BRAUN: Limited access to broadband hinders educational opportunities and job growth.

Improving the digital infrastructure in rural America must be a priority for leaders in Washington. We can make it easier to expand broadband access into rural areas by reducing regulations on providers and promoting market driven innovations.

MESSER: Investing in rural broadband means investing in Hoosiers. Such investments can help the working mom go back to school at night, encourage the student to take an advanced science or math course, or empower the sick patient to receive telehealth care without having to drive hours to a doctor.

I’ll continue to champion efforts to expand high-speed internet access, reduce regulatory barriers, and incentivize more private investment because it is an essential component to our national infrastructure.

ROKITA: In January, I sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney requesting $50 billion in funding in the president’s infrastructure plan. The administration listened to my request, as their proposal to Congress included the $50 billion that I suggested.

I also support improving rural broadband access by making it easier to deploy “last-mile” hardware to houses in rural areas. I support changes to our regulations to make it easier for companies to get permission to install broadband infrastructure.

JOE DONNELLY (D) Home: Granger, Indiana Political experience: Currently, Indiana’s senior U.S. senator. Elected to the Senate in 2012.

Served as U.S. Representative, Indiana’s 2nd District, from 2007-13.

Website: JoeForIndiana.com

Democrat Donnelly seeks second Senate term IEC: Why should voters reelect you to the U.S. Senate?

How should Congress approach energy policy?

JOE DONNELLY: Hoosiers want someone who works for them. There are plenty of folks in Washington fighting for the far left or the far right — I’m willing to fight to deliver results for the folks in the middle. When we take Hoosier common sense to Washington, we can give more people a shot at the American dream.

I support an all-in American energy policy, which creates jobs right here in Indiana, reduces our dependency on foreign oil, and strengthens our national security. My all-in approach includes coal, ethanol, biodiesel, oil, wind, and solar. In Congress, I have worked to streamline permitting and approvals for energy infrastructure, supported the RFS, introduced legislation to allow E-15 ethanol to be sold year-round, and opposed regulations that would unfairly target the coal industry.

What are rural America’s biggest challenges? How are you addressing them?

The biggest challenge facing rural America is jobs. I’ve tackled this issue head on by introducing the End Outsourcing Act, which would create new incentives to stop companies from sending jobs to foreign countries and to encourage companies to relocate outsourced jobs to rural communities.

I’ve been fighting for investments in infrastructure, especially rural broadband.

I also hear a lot about health care. The lack of health care access impacts our ability to respond to the challenges of the opioid epidemic. I have introduced bipartisan legislation that would address the shortage of addiction treatment providers in rural areas and direct several USDA Rural Development programs to focus on developing facilities for things like telemedicine and substance abuse prevention and education programs.

How are you addressing the growing digital divide in rural Indiana and across America?

The 2014 farm bill, which I helped write, included provisions to deploy an ultrahigh speed internet pilot program in rural areas, and I am fighting for further investment in rural broadband through USDA’s Rural Utilities Service. In addition, I have worked with a bipartisan group of senators to pressure the FCC to continue their efforts to deploy broadband in rural communities.

Please visit this story at ElectricConsumer.org for more on the four candidates.

APRIL 2018

29

calendar NORTHWEST

7

SUMMER CAMP OPEN HOUSE, Chesterton (Porter), Dunes Learning Center. Sample popular activities, tour camp facilities, meet the staff and more. Free family event – online registration requested.

11 am-3 pm. 219-395-9555. mkrueger@duneslearningcenter.org. duneslearningcenter.org

28

MAXINKUCKEE ODD FELLOWS BREAKFAST, Culver (Marshall), Odd Fellows Lodge #373 (15003 18th B Road and Pine Road). Allyou-can-eat pancakes and sausage/biscuits and gravy.

6 am-noon. $8 adults, $6 children. Bake sale items support Union Township 4-H.

28

21ST ANNUAL CARROLL COUNTY GARDEN FAIR, Flora (Carroll), Flora Community Park. Food, photo contest, door prizes, children’s booth, plants and garden sculptures. 10 am-3 pm. Doris Harter. 574-6862046.

CENTRAL

7-8

27TH ANNUAL TRADITIONAL POW-WOW, Lebanon (Boone). Boone County 4-H Fairgrounds. Native American singing, dancing, Red Road specials, vendors and food. Admission charge. 765-453-9025. americanindiancounci.wixsite.com/americanindiancounci

2728

SPRING WORKS DANCE CONCERT, West Lafayette (Tippecanoe), Nancy T. Hansen Theatre, Purdue University.

Performed by Purdue University Contemporary Dance Company.

7:30 pm, Friday and Saturday.

2 pm, Saturday. Tickets: $7-$14 (under 1, free). 765-494-5993. vpadance@purdue.edu

28

EARTH DAY FESTIVAL AND CRAFT FAIR, Saint Maryof-the-Woods (Vigo), Saint Mary-of-the Woods College.

West Central Indiana’s largest and longest-running Earth Day celebration. Freewill donation appreciated. 10:30 am-3 pm.

812-535-2932. whiteviolet.org.

SOUTHWEST

6-7

DAFFODIL STROLL, Huntingburg (Dubois), 4th and Market Streets. Great sales and spring collection items available in antique and specialty shops. No admission charge. 812-6835699. huntingburgchamberofcommerce.org

7

WHITE RIVER VALLEY ANTIQUE ASSOCIATION SWAP MEET, Elnora (Daviess), Hwy. 57. Tractors, farm implements, antiques and more. 8 am-2 pm.

Free for attendees. 812-8763445. benrchestnut@gmail. com. wrvaa.org

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APRIL 2018

2529

ORLEANS DOGWOOD FESTIVAL, Orleans (Orange), Congress Square. Arts and crafts, carnival rides, music, food, parade and more. No admission charge.

812-865-9930. orleansdogwood festival.com

NORTHEAST

7

THE OLD FORT: PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT DRILL 1777, Fort Wayne (Allen), The Old Fort. Watch a local living history group recreate both military and civilian life in colonial America. Cooking and sewing demonstrations as well. 10 am-4 pm. oldfortwayne.org

2729

WAKARUSA MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL, Wakarusa (Elkhart), Downtown. All-you-caneat pancakes and sausage or barbeque meal and more.

No admission charge.

574-862-4344. chamber@ wakarusachamber.com. wakarusamaplesyrupfestival. com

28

KITE KOMOTION, Shipshewana (LaGrange), Shipshewana.

Watch international kite teams, learn to fly professional kites, make and fly your own kite! No admission charge. 260-7684008. shipshewana.com/ festivals.php

SOUTHEAST

7 28

SPRING STROLL, Corydon (Harrison), O’Bannon Woods State Park.

Sponsored by Southern Indiana Hiking Club. 10 am. Event is free. Gate admission: $7 for Indiana residents, $9 for out of state residents. 812739-2318. www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2389.htm.

POLLINATOR DAY, New Albany (Floyd), Purdue Research Park.

Free, family-friendly event dedicated to pollinators with hands-on activities for all ages.

Free T-shirts while supplies last. Complimentary lunch provided. 10 am-3 pm. 812-9485470. gmanders@purdue.edu. extension.purdue.edu/floyd

2829

SASSAFRAS TEA FESTIVAL & CIVIL WAR LIVING HISTORY, Vernon (Jennings), North American House. Reenactments, demonstrations, sassafras tea, food and more. Charges for food and reenactments. 812-3468969. hector@1838@frontier.com. jenningscounty.org/events. php

This calendar is published as a service to readers and the communities electric cooperatives serve.

Electric Consumer publishes events free of charge as space allows, giving preference to free community festival and events in and around areas served by subscribing REMCs/RECs. While Electric Consumer strives for accuracy, please note that events, dates and time may change without notice. Electric Consumer advises using contact phone numbers or internet sites to check times and dates of events before making plans.

To add events to Calendar, please use the “Submit and Event” form under the “Talk to Us” or “Calendar” buttons at electricconsumer.org; or mail your info to: Calendar, Electric Consumer, P.O. Box 24517, Indianapolis, IN 46224. Please submit info two months before the date of the event.

APRIL 2018

31

FLORIDA, USA

outdoors

Atlantic Ocean

Gulf of Mexico

THE BAHAMAS

CUBA

Caribbean Sea

JAMAICA

HAITI

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Port-auPrince STO CK / G E TTY I MAG E S P LUS

MONGOOSE, ...

whither shall you wander?

B Y JACK S PAU L D IN G

I

Say what? Holy “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi!”

recently returned from a six-day

I’ve read The Jungle Book, and the mon-

mission trip to Haiti. Haiti is a country

goose is from India, not Haiti. These little

with which I have become well-ac-

cobra killers are some of the toughest

quainted as I have been there seven times.

and fastest predators around!

Overall, the western side of the island of

Looks like Old Jack was about to get a

Hispaniola is mostly devoid of jungle and

lesson in an invasive species in a country

woodland having been stripped of wood

other than the United States.

for charcoal for cooking fires. It is hard

It seems the small Indian mongoose

to imagine the bareness of the land from

(Herpestes auropunctatus) was intro-

the capital city of Port-au-Prince north.

duced to Haiti in the late 19th and early

However, the southern portion in the Les

20th centuries and quickly became a

Caye area has a proliferation of jungle,

destructive invasive species. It greatly

farm fields, and banana, plantain and

damaged the natural ecosystem on the

mango groves.

island. The mongooses were originally

In Haiti, any critter caught or captured is

introduced to help control the enormous

fair game for the cooking pot. Needless

populations of mice and rats. But when

to say, wildlife of any type is scarce.

those rodents ran low, the mongooses

I always make a mental list of my wild-

started eating everything else.

not easy to trap, even when using a wide variety of bait such as dried fish, shredded coconut, canned dog food and Haitian peanut butter — which contains cayenne pepper.

My hat is off to the Muncie mongoose master. I find it amazing where you can find expertise on even the rarest of subjects.

Speaking of the cayenne pepper-laced Haitian peanut butter, one of the ladies accompanying our group spread it on a piece of toast one morning at breakfast.

After a couple of bites, she said, “This bread is really hot and spicy.”

It’s not the bread!

On every trip I make to the country, our native Haitian missionary asks me to bring along a few jars of American-style

life encounters while there. The last trip

While researching on the mongoose

peanut butter. It seems it’s not only the

was typical with only a few species listed.

population of Haiti, I learned a Ball State

mongooses that don’t care for Haitian

During this most recent trip, I had tallied

grad from Muncie did an honors thesis

peanut butter!

but three egrets, uncountable geckoes, a

on the Haitian mongoose. This struck me

few small unidentifiable brush land birds,

as odd — discovering a certified mon-

some mourning doves and a rat.

goose master had matriculated from my

I didn’t actually see it, but someone on

favorite college, Old Fruit Jar Tech!

the return to PAP from Les Caye in our

I read the thesis, available online, with

SUV shouted out, “There’s a squirrel!” Our

interest (find its link in this story at

native Haitian missionary said, “No … it

ElectricConsumer.org). As I read, I

was a mongoose.”

was struck by the fact mongooses are

32

APRIL 2018

JACK SPAULDING is a state outdoors writer and a consumer of RushShelby Energy living along the Flatrock River in Moscow.

Readers with questions or comments can write to him in care of Electric Consumer or email jackspaulding@hughes.net.

safety

Be mindful of line crews SO EVERYONE MAKES IT HOME Do you slow down when you see that flashing orange “Men at Work” sign? This year, National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 9-13, and Indiana Electric Cooperatives reminds drivers to be mindful of lineworkers on the job.

Utility trucks are equipped with flashing lights and reflective materials. Work zones are marked on the road with orange cones. And line crews wear reflective clothing when working near roadways. But even with these measures in place, work zones are dangerous.

“Our crews often work during harsh weather, which makes the job even more dangerous for our line crews,” said Tom VanParis, CEO of Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “Equipment that would be clearly visible in daylight is difficult for motorists to see when there is rain, snow, sleet or hail.

But keeping the power on means we work during those conditions, too.”

When driving through a work zone or past a line crew, remember workers are doing their job and what they’re doing is simply to help you. We can help keep workers, other drivers, passengers and ourselves safe by paying attention to warning signs and flaggers and not speeding or tailgating in and around work zones.

Those at your electric cooperative understand work zones can be frustrating, especially when you’re in a hurry. But road crews and lineworkers work diligently to reduce the effect of roadside activities during your commute. They need your full attention to get the job done quickly and safely.

“On behalf of Hoosier lineworkers, please slow down and take your time while passing through work zones,” VanParis said.

“It’s important to your safety and also those who are hard at work to help you and your neighbors.”

A PR I L 2 018

33

te ra eb Cel Arbor Day April 27 backyard

by B. Rosie Lerner

T

here’s no better way to celebrate Arbor Day than to add beauty and value to your home landscape

with a new tree. Trees can also provide shade and wind protection for many years to come if given the proper start.

The last Friday in April is both the national and the Indiana Arbor Day.

soil can be worked. But waiting until hot summer days arrive will put additional stress on young trees.

Prepare the soil where the tree is to be planted well ahead of time so that the roots will not be endangered of drying out before you get them in the ground.

If planting must be delayed, be sure to supply moisture to the roots. Dig an area that is larger than the root system. The

The first step should be thoughtful selec-

hole should be at least a foot wider than

tion of an appropriate plant to match the

the root spread or soil ball, and the sides

location. Assess your planting location for

of the hole should be vertical, not sloping.

such factors as light, moisture availability,

Plant the tree at the same depth it was

drainage, amount of space, exposure to

grown in the nursery. If the hole is too

wind and location of any nearby utilities.

deep, replace some of the soil at the bot-

Then search for plant species that are best adapted to those conditions. Keep

tom, but be sure to firm the soil to prevent the tree from slipping down later.

in mind such characteristics as winter

Refill the planting hole with the same soil

hardiness, heat tolerance, plant size

you took out of the hole. Do not amend

at maturity, growth rate and cultural

the backfill with organic materials such as

requirements. Once you have narrowed

mulch or peat moss, as it only makes root

down a list, check local nurseries and

establishment more difficult once they

garden centers for availability and prices.

grow beyond the amended soil, particu-

Trees can be purchased either as bareroot, containerized or balled and burlapped (B&B).

Bare-root stock should be planted while

larly in clay soils. Do not mix dry fertilizer or manure with soil as young developing roots will be easily burned.

When planting B&B stock, make sure you cut the twine

dormant,

or wire that binds

before leaves

the burlap to

break bud. Containerized and B&B stock can be planted any time the

the trunk. If left in place, these materials will cut through the trunk as it expands in diameter.

The damage may take several years to show up, but by then it will be too late to rescue the tree.

I S TO C K /GE T T Y IM A GE S P L U S

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APRIL 2018

Ask Rosie

Q: I’m attaching a picture of some berries. Can you tell me what shrub they’re from? The plant is growing as a hedge in our front yard, and we want to trim it way back this winter, but we don’t want to kill it.

Many thanks for any help you can provide.

A:

T.G.

That looks to be one of the Euonymus species, although I can’t distinguish enough character from this photo to be certain which. It could be Euonymus europaeus, a species introduced from Europe and more commonly known as European spindle-tree or Euonymus bungeanus (Winterberry euonymus) introduced from China.

You can see more clear images of the fruit at https://gobotany.newenglandwild. org/species/euonymus/europaeus/.

Late winter/early spring is a good time of year to prune any plants. More information about pruning shrubs is available in a previous article at purdue.edu/hla/sites/yardandgarden/ assess-pruning-needs-2 and in Purdue Extension publication HO-4-W, Pruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs, available from the Education Store at edustore.purdue.edu/item.asp?Item_ Number=HO-4-W. B. ROSIE LERNER is the Purdue Extension consumer horticulturist and is a consumer of Tipmont REMC. Questions about gardening issues may be sent to “Ask Rosie,” Electric Consumer, P.O. Box 24517, Indianapolis, IN 46224; or use our “Talk to Us” form online at ElectricConsumer.org.

product recalls

1

Rural King recalls electric blankets Rural King Supply has recalled its Bellavie queen electric blankets and throws because the electric cord can overheat and catch fire, posing fire and burn hazards.

The 100 percent polyester blankets and throws were sold in cream and brown colors and in two sizes at Rural King stores nationwide and online from October through December 2017 for between $30 and $60. Rural King has received four reports of the blankets and throws overheating, two fires and one burn injury.

As a service to our readers and to promote electrical safety, here are some recent recall notices provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Visit www.cpsc.gov/en/recalls for full details of these recalls and for notices of many more.

Call 800-561-1752; or go to www.ruralking.com and click on the Safety Recall Information link at the bottom of the page.

2

Cordless electric chainsaws recalled Three brands of cordless electric chainsaws, by Greenworks, Kobalt and Snapper, have been recalled because the chain brake guard can fail and allow the chainsaw to continue operating, posing an injury hazard to users. The recalled chainsaws have a 16- or 18-inch saw and an 80- or 82-volt lithium ion battery. The saws were sold at Lowe’s and other stores nationwide and online from January 2015 through October 2017 for between $170 and $300.

Call 888-266-7096; or go to www.greenworkstools. com and click on “Important Safety Notice” at the bottom of the page.

3

1 2

Hair dryers pose burn hazard Hand-held hair dryers sold under the ISO Beauty and Proliss brand names have been recalled because the cord can become brittle near the base of the dryer, posing burn hazards. The dryers have “ISO” or “Proliss” printed and model number HD-1820 and were sold in the various colors and animal patterns at various online stores from March 2013 through January 2018 for between $30 and $40. ISO Beauty has received 35 reports of the dryers sparking or smoking, including two reports of flames and three injuries to hands or fingers.

3

Call 800-490-5919; go to isobeauty.com and click on “Product Recall.”

4

Electric kettles’ handle could separate KitchenAid 1.7 liter electric kettles have been recalled.

The handle can separate from the kettle, causing hot contents to spill. The kettles were sold at Bed Bath & Beyond, Fry’s Electronics, Kohl’s, Target, Williams Sonoma, and other home improvement, home appliance and retail stores and online from September 2013 through February 2018 for about $100 to $120.

4

Call 800-874-0608; or visit repair.whirlpool.com.

APRIL 2018

35

Hoosier Energy news Your energy producer is a co-op, too!

Hoosier Energy is a generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative providing wholesale electric power and services to your electric cooperative.

Founded in 1949 and based in Bloomington, the power producer generates power from coal, natural gas and renewable energy resources. The G&T delivers power through nearly 1,700 miles of transmission lines on the electric grid.

Hydropower keeps energy flowing Since 2012, Hoosier Energy has had a power purchase agreement at a 4-megawatt hydroelectric facility near Dayton, Illinois.

River regulates water flow that is directed to a side canal. Electricity at this facility is produced by water pressure with virtually no emissions.

The plant produces about 18,000 megawatt-hours annually — enough to power about 1,500 homes.

For more information about Hoosier Energy’s generation sources, log onto hoosierenergy.com/about/ energy-strategy.

A 600-foot long dam on the Fox

How energy is transmitted to your home

Power generation Generating energy from a diverse set of fuel sources is an important part of the power supply portfolio, including a hydroelectric facility.

36

APRIL 2018

Switching substation After leaving a power plant, electricity feeds into a substation that raises or “steps up” the voltage – similar to increasing water pressure.

Transmission Electricity generated

by Hoosier Energy and other utilities is placed on a regional grid and transmitted at highvoltage over long distances throughout central and southern Indiana and southeastern Illinois.

Distribution substation

Energy to your cooperative

These stations lower the voltage before being sent along to your local electric cooperative.

At this phase, your electric cooperative distributes and meters the energy you use at your home or business.

reader submissions

“Grand-cat” Anna peers through the handle of Jennifer Loving’s “cat mom” coffee cup.

Loving is from Marshall County.

Purrrrfect pets

Jacqueline Satori’s “Valentine” cat, George, is ready for some fun in his sweater and hat.

‘T

here are two means of refuge from the miseries of life,” the late theologian, musicologist, humanitarian and Nobel Prize winner Albert Schweitzer is cited as saying. Those two means? “Music and cats.”

Last August, we asked readers to submit photos of their canine companions. This month, in the interest of fair play, we present our frisky furry feline friends.

While some folks complain about the sometimes finicky, aloof and schizophrenic nature of cats, it’s this wacky, entertaining behavior that endears them even more to cat lovers.

And cat lovers, as Schweitzer was, know a little secret: To truly know a cat is to

Sunny, a golden tabby, is Nina Staton’s handsome “fur baby.” They are from Charlestown, Indiana.

love a cat. What’s more, to be loved in return by a cat, and hear that purr coming from the furball curled up on one’s lap (or sleeping on one’s head), is one of life’s special joys.

Lauri Olson of Ireland, Indiana, said Tullie, her silky, long-hair rescued kitty, popped into her life shortly after her father died in 2013.

Olson said she thinks Tullie, who, apparently like all cats, can’t resist hopping into an open suitcase, was heaven-sent from her father to get her through some tough times.

Margie Krick rescued a 6-week-old stray kitten, starving and freezing, from a ditch, then took him directly to a veterinary clinic. She said he named himself “Lucky,” and is now an adorable family addition.

Katherine Demshar says her cat, Frankie Doodle, was named after “old blue eyes” Frank Sinatra by her late husband. She and Frankie live in Unionville.

APRIL 2018

37

Drug Companies Fear Release of the New AloeCure

ADVERTISEMENT

Big Pharma stands to lose billions as doctors’ recommend drug-free “health cocktail” that adjusts and corrects your body’s health conditions.

by David Waxman Seattle Washington:

Drug company execs are nervous. That’s because the greatest health advance in decades has hit the streets. And analysts expect it to put a huge crimp in “Big Pharma” profits.

So what’s all the fuss about? It’s about a new ingredient that’s changing the lives of people who use it. Some call it “the greatest discovery since penicillin”!

The name of the product is the AloeCure. It’s not a drug. It’s something completely different.

And the product is available to anyone who wants it, at a reasonable price. But demands may force future prices to rise.

TOP DOC WARNS: DIGESTION DRUGS CAN CRIPPLE YOU! Company spokesperson, Dr. Liza Leal; a leading integrative health specialist recommends AloeCure before she decides to prescribe any digestion drug.

Especially after the FDA’s stern warning about long-term use of drugs classified as proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec®, Nexium®, and Prevacid®.

In a nutshell, the FDA statement warned people should avoid taking these digestion drugs for longer than three 14-day treatment periods because there is an increased risk of bone fractures. Many people take them daily and for decades.

Dr. Leal should know. Many patients come to her with bone and joint complaints and she does everything she can to help them. One way for digestion sufferers to help avoid possible risk of tragic joint and bone problems caused by overuse of digestion drugs is to take the AloeCure.

Analysts expect the AloeCure to put a huge crimp in “Big Pharma” profits.

The secret to AloeCure’s “health adjusting” formula is scientifically tested Acemannan, a polysaccharide extracted from Aloe Vera. But not the same aloe vera that mom used to apply to your cuts, scrapes and burns. This is a perfect strain of aloe that is organically grown under very strict conditions. AloeCure is so powerful it begins to benefit your health the instant you take it. It soothes intestinal discomfort and you can avoid the possibility of bone and health damage caused by overuse of digestion drugs.

We all know how well aloe works externally on cuts, scrapes and burns. But did you know Acemannan has many of other health benefits?...

HELPS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO CALM INFLAMMATION According to a leading aloe research, when correctly processed for digesting, the Aloe plant has a powerful component for regulating your immune system called Acemannan. So whether it’s damage that is physical, bacterial, chemical or autoimmune; the natural plant helps the body stay healthy.

RAPID ACID AND HEARTBURN NEUTRALIZER Aloe has proved to have an astonishing effect on users who suffer with digestion problems like bouts of acid reflux, heartburn, cramping, gas and constipation because it acts as a natural acid buffer and soothes the digestive system.

But new studies prove it does a whole lot more.

SIDE-STEP HEART CONCERNS So you’ve been taking proton pump inhibitors (PPI’s) for years and you feel just fine. In June of 2015 a major study shows that chronic PPI use increases the risk of heart attack in general population.

UNLEASH YOUR MEMORY Studies show that your brain needs the healthy bacteria from your gut in order function at its best. Both low and high dosages of digestion drugs are proven to destroy that healthy bacteria and get in the way of brain function. So you’re left with a sluggish, slowto-react brain without a lot of room to store information. The acemannan used in AloeCure actually makes your gut healthier, so healthy bacteria flows freely to your brain so you think better, faster and with a larger capacity for memory.

Doctors call it “The greatest health discovery in decades!”

body’s ability to break down and absorb calcium. Aloe delivers calcium as it aids in balancing your stomach acidity. The result?

Thicker, healthier looking hair…more youthful looking skin… And nails so strong they may never break again.

SAVE YOUR KIDNEY National and local news outlets are reporting Kidney Failure linked to PPI’s. Your Kidney extracts waste from blood, balance body fluids, form urine, and aid in other important functions of the body. Without it your body would be overrun by deadly toxins. Aloe helps your kidney function properly. Studies suggest, if you started taking aloe today; you’d see a big difference in the way you feel.

GUARANTEED RESULTS OR DOUBLE YOUR MONEY BACK Due to the incredible results people are reporting, AloeCure is being sold with an equally incredible guarantee.

“We can only offer this incredible guarantee because we are 100% certain this product will work for those who use it,” Says Dr. Leal.

Here’s how it works: Take the pill exactly as directed. You must see and feel remarkable improvements in your digestive health, your mental health, in your physical appearance, the amount inflammation you have throughout your body – even in your ability to fall asleep at night!

Otherwise, simply return the empty bottles with a short note about how you took the pills and followed the simple instructions and the company will send you...Double your money back!

HOW TO GET ALOECURE This is the official nationwide release of the new AloeCure pill in the United States. And SLEEP LIKE A BABY A night without sleep really damages your so, the company is offering our readers up to 3 body. And continued lost sleep can lead to all FREE bottles with their order. sorts of health problems. But what you may not This special give-away is available for readers realize is the reason why you’re not sleeping. of this publication only. All you have to do is Some call it “Ghost Reflux”. A low-intensity call TOLL-FREE 1-800-746-2873 1-800-746-2951 and provide form of acid reflux discomfort that quietly keeps the operator with the Free Bottle Approval you awake in the background. AloeCure helps Code: JC025. The company will do the rest. digestion so you may find yourself sleeping Important: Due to AloeCure’s recent media through the night. exposure, phone lines are often busy. If you CELEBRITY HAIR, SKIN & NAILS call and do not immediately get through, Certain antacids may greatly reduce your please be patient and call back.

THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.

Official Registration Card DETACH AND BRING THIS CARD TO THE ANNUAL MEETING ON APRIL 19.

Must present this card April 19 to register for the meeting and be eligible for drawings.

MEMBER NAME (PRINT CLEARLY): ACCOUNT NUMBER:

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS STATEMENTS OF REVENUE

BALANCE SHEET

Years ended Dec. 31, 2017, and 2016

Years ended Dec. 31, 2017, and 2016

Electric Revenues

2017

2016

$22,701,130

$23,182,070

Utility Plant in Service

Operating Expenses Purchased Power Operations

14,634,214

15,154,226

2017

2016

$53,425,396

$50,067,789

17,066,257

17,263,230

36,359,140

32,804,558

9,683,600

9,570,095

Assets less depreciation Net Utility Plant in Service

532,007

556,660

1,506,698

1,541,348

763,074

579,305

Administrative Expense

1,737,316

1,513,531

Cash and Cash Equivalents

1,244,888

3,347,950

Depreciation

1,764,836

1,336,350

Account Rec. Consumer

3,835,025

3,447,999

Taxes

420,197

465,176

Materials and Supplies

442,957

352,424

Interest on Long-Term Debt

564,390

195,460

Prepaid Expenses

20,462

16,714

21,922,855

21,372,991

Total Current Assets

15,481,449

16,958,468

778,275

1,809,078

Total Assets

51,840,589

49,763,026

186,400

185,353

Maintenance Consumer Acc. Expense

Total Cost of Service Operating Margins Interest Income Patronage Allocations Gain (loss) Sale of Assets

Net Margins

2,924

2,301

752,656

802,639

(13,332.20)

(3,695)

$1,400,532

$2,610,324

Investments Current Assets

Equities and Liabilities Equities Memberships Patronage Capital

Above are comparative Balance Sheets and Statements of Revenue for 2016 and 2017, prepared by management. The 2016 Financial Statements were auditied, under separate cover, by Monroe Shine, Certified Public Accountants, New Albany, Indiana.

The 2017 Financials will be audited by Monroe Shrine, Certified Public Accountants, New Albany, Indiana, and report issued by May 31, 2018.

30,189,670

30,437,361

Total Equities

30,376,070

30,437,361

Total Long-Term Debt

17,103,355

14,496,308

Accounts Payable

2,392,387

3,027,200

Accrued Liabilities

1,968,777

1,802,158

Current Liabilities

Total Current Liabilities Total Equities and Liabilities

YOUTH PROGRAMS HCREMC members are invited to register their children to attend youth activities during the annual meeting event. Activities and supervision are available to children ages 5 and up from 5:30 p.m. to the close of the HCREMC business meeting. Youngsters will assemble and decorate their own solar light, meet with the Henry County Sheriff’s K-9 unit, learn about bike safety, play games and more. Simply register your child during the event at the First Baptist Church Youth Center located in the fellowship hall. Contact Lara Sullivan at 800-248-8413 or lsullivan@hcremc.com for more information.

4,361,165

4,829,358

$51,840,589

$49,763,026

THIS IS YOUR OFFICIAL REGISTRATION CARD. Please bring it with you to the annual meeting on April 19 at 5:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church in New Castle.

ENTERTAINMENT The New Castle “Red Hot Blues” has been burning up the stage since 2009. RHB is an auditioned mixed show choir of 46 singers and dancers, 10 instrumentalists and 16 stage crew members. This year’s show, titled “Into Battle,” takes you on a journey through the Battle of Jericho, delivers you to the Prince of Egypt and defeats you at Pompeii. Run across the span of time and oceans to the World Wars and then fast forward to a post-apocalyptic internal battle. RHB is under the directional team of Shannon Harter and Matthew Hurst. Music arranger is John Doty. Choreographers are Caitlin Stevenson, Leigh Stevenson and Bryce Stevenson. Visual and costume design is by Katy Stevenson. This year’s group is eager to share their talents and hours of hard work with others.

ENERGY EXPO BOOTHS 211 LOCAL ASSISTANCE

offer great savings by using HCREMC’s Co-

HENRY COUNTY REMC COMMUNITY

Find out about resources in East Central

op Connections Card. Also, hear about billing

FUND/OPERATION ROUND UP

Indiana, such as food help, counseling,

options such as Automatic Payment Plan,

Operation Round Up® gives back thousands

employment, health care and more.

E-Billing and Budget Billing.

of dollars to nonprofits in our community each

811 CALL BEFORE YOU DIG

HCREMC MEET YOUR DIRECTORS

Planting a tree? Installing a fence or deck?

HCREMC directors represent you, the

Know what’s below. Learn about services

members. If you have questions or would just

available to REMC members that will keep

like to say “Hi,” this is the perfect opportunity.

you and your family safe when digging.

HCREMC ENERGY ADVISOR

CO-OP OWNERS FOR POLITICAL ACTION

Do you have questions about your home’s or

(COPA)

business’ energy use? Ask us.

COPA gives member-owners the opportunity to use their voices on behalf of their cooperative on the legislative level. Learn about what you can do to keep energy bills affordable, protect our economy and more.

HCREMC BILLING OPTIONS/CO-OP CONNECTIONS CARD Learn more about the local businesses that

YOUTH ACTIVITIES HCREMC has several wonderful programs available to the youth in the communities we serve.

ELECTRIC CONSUMER Stop by the Electric Consumer booth to enter to win a door prize and talk with EC staff.

year. To hear more about the grant program, talk with one of our Operation Round Up board members at this booth.

LIGHTING OPTIONS Looking to upgrade your lighting? Lighting accounts for up to 5 percent of your home’s cost for electricity. Recruiting all-star bulbs can make a big difference on your power bill.

Find out where to purchase your efficient lighting and what to buy. Member can also view new security lighting technology.

RENEWABLE ENERGY Looking for the 411 on “Green Energy?”

Come talk with our specialists to hear all the details.