Southeastern IN REMC — April 2020 Indiana Connection

Lineworker Appreciation Day April 13.

Southeastern IN REMC’s

APRIL 2020

FIBER and faith Electric co-ops help bridge the digital divide

pages 19–24

from the editor

Cool beans?

They look innocent enough: tiny, smooth, brightly colored, sweet nuggets that rest so invitingly in Easter baskets amid cellophane “grass.”

Why then do they threaten me so? Evil shouldn’t lurk within a jelly bean!

OK, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit when I say “evil.” But since I remember when the only dangers from eating jelly beans were a toothache or a loose filling (both significant risks), it’s a bit jarring to risk devouring something that tastes like dead fish!

But if your “friendly” neighborhood Easter Bunny is really more of a “wascally wabbit,” he has plenty of options to reveal his jelly bean mean streak.

Jelly Belly, the California-based company that has manufactured jelly beans since 1960, offers mouthwatering flavors like pomegranate, wild blackberry, mango and lemon drop. But, under its Harry Potter’s Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans and Beanboozled brands, Jelly Belly’s flavors are far less inviting.

Vile choices like ear wax, rotten egg, dirt and Professor Dumbledore’s most dreaded flavor, vomit, are included in boxes of Bertie Bott’s beans. Beanboozled gets even more creative in its offerings: canned dog food, stinky socks, lawn clippings and skunk spray. Though I can honestly say I have no idea what any of those things taste like, I have no desire to find out. Yet these jelly beans are meant to fool the unsuspecting — they look exactly like the delicious fruity jelly beans that Ronald Reagan himself coveted. Here’s something else: you can actually “enjoy” Beanboozled as part of a Jelly Bean Challenge game during which your friends and family can tempt the fates and try to guess which flavors are yucky and which are yummy.

April 22 is National Jelly Bean Day. May the odds be in your favor if you take the challenge.

EMILY SCHILLING Editor eschilling@indianaec.org

Giveaway: Enter to win Four-pack of Deep River Waterpark tickets

courtesy of South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority in Hammond. Visit indianaconnection.org/talk-to-us/contests. Entry deadline for giveaway: April 30.

On the menu: August issue: Recipes featuring vinegar, deadline June 1. September issue: 30-minutes or less recipes, deadline June 1. If we publish your recipe on our food pages, we’ll send you a $10 gift card.

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

and entries for gift drawings, please use the forms on our website indianaconnection.org; email info@indianaconnection.org; or send to Indiana Connection, 8888 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1600, Indianapolis, IN 46240-4606.

VOLUME 69 • NUMBER 10 ISSN 0745-4651 • USPS 262-340 Published monthly by Indiana Electric Cooperatives Indiana Connection 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 280,000 residents and businesses receive the magazine as part of their electric co-op membership.

CONTACT US: 8888 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1600 Indianapolis, IN 46240-4606 317-487-2220 info@indianaconnection.org IndianaConnection.org INDIANA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OFFICERS: Walter Hunter President Randy Kleaving Vice President Steve McMichael Secretary/Treasurer John Gasstrom CEO EDITORIAL STAFF: Emily Schilling Editor Richard George Biever Senior Editor Holly Huffman Communication Support Specialist Ellie Schuler Senior Creative Services Specialist Taylor Maranion Creative Services Specialist Stacey Holton Creative Services Manager Mandy Barth Communication Manager ADVERTISING: American MainStreet Publications Cheryl Solomon, local ad representative; 512-441-5200; amp.coop Crosshair Media 502-216-8537; crosshairmedia.net Paid advertisements are not endorsements by any electric cooperative or this publication.

UNSOLICITED MATERIAL: Indiana Connection 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. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: If you receive Indiana Connection through your electric co-op membership, report address changes to your local co-op.

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

POSTMASTER: Send change of address to: Indiana Connection, 8888 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1600, Indianapolis, IN 46240-4606.

Include key number.

No portion of Indiana Connection may be reproduced without permission of the editor.

APRIL 2020

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contents

APRIL

10

17

energy

03 FROM THE EDITOR 05 CO-OP NEWS Energy news and information from your electric cooperative.

10 ENERGY How power is restored after an outage.

12 I NSIGHTS 14 COUNTY OF THE MONTH Spotlighting Lake County.

30

food

pets

16 INDIANA EATS

28 DIY

The Post Restaurant in Tell City.

Braking bad: Know when your car’s brakes need to be repaired.

17 FOOD Pitching In: What to bring to a potluck.

19 COVER STORY Electric co-ops help bridge the digital divide.

26 EVENTS CALENDAR What’s going on around the state.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Indiana Connection

33

29 SAFETY Don’t add electrical tragedy to the trauma of a flood.

30 PETS Do storms turn your mighty dog into a scaredy-cat? (Not in all versions)

travel

32 H OOSIER ENERGY/ WABASH VALLEY NEWS 33 TRAVEL Mid-America Windmill Museum is still blowin’ in the wind.

34 PROFILE Brandon Hutton, South Central Indiana REMC’s vegetation department manager. (Not in all versions)

On the cover As fiber optic installation in digitally unserved areas of the state continues to increase, more and more rural Hoosiers will have access to life-altering benefits like improved health care and education, and expanded economic development opportunities.

PHOTO BY ROB FORD

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APRIL 2020

Lineworkers know how to get the job done.

co-op news

Let’s thank them for powering our lives.

www.seiremc.com CONTACT US 812-689-4111 800-737-4111 Fax: 812-689-6987 EMAIL contact_us@seiremc.com OFFICE HOURS 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday STREET ADDRESS 712 South Buckeye St. Osgood, IN 47037 MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 196 Osgood, IN 47037 SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS To report a power outage: 800-737-4111 or SmartHub BOARD OF DIRECTORS Darrell Smith (District 7), President

Lineworker Appreciation Day April 13, 2020

Remember to #ThankALineworker on April 13

Mike Thieman (District 6), Vice President

Lineworkers

Mother Nature doesn’t work

Vince Moster (District 1), Secretary

serve on the

around holidays, vacations and

front lines of our

birthdays. A service-oriented men-

nation’s energy

tality is one of the many admira-

needs, and on

ble characteristics of an electric

April 13, 2020,

lineworker.

Southeastern

Southeastern Indiana REMC is

Brad Bentle (District 2), Treasurer David Smith (District 3) Jesse McClure (District 4) Melissa Menchhofer (District 5) Bonnie Boggs (District 8) Casey Menchhofer (District 9)

Southeastern IN REMC offers...

Indiana REMC, along with other electric cooperatives across the country, will honor

LED security light rental; a community

the brave men and women who

solar program; total home back-up

work hard to keep the lights on.

generators; heating and cooling rebates; water heater rebates; home

Line crews work around the clock,

energy audits; discount online lighting

sometimes in difficult and dan-

store; appliance recycling; payment via phone, online, e-check, automatic payment plan and budget billing; and mobile website!

gerous conditions, to keep power flowing to our local communities.

Whether they’re restoring power after a major storm or maintaining

OUR MISSION To safely provide reliable electricity and diversified services to the members and communities we serve.

critical infrastructure to our electric system, lineworkers are at the heart of our co-op.

proud to honor the lineworkers that maintain over 3,400 miles of power lines in our service territory.

Southeastern Indiana REMC invites all co-op members to take a moment and thank lineworkers for the important work they do. On April 13, you can use #ThankALineworker on social media to show your support for the brave men and women who power our lives.

KEITH MATHEWS General Manager

When a storm hits, they set aside their personal priorities because APRIL 2020

5

co-op news

Celebrate Earth Day by saving energy Earth Day is a good time to save some energy around your home. You can start by:

1

Caulking around windows and doors to seal air leaks, and adding insulation to your attic.

Both will prevent air-conditioned air from getting out of your house through the roof this summer.

Wasting less energy is the easiest way to save it.

2 3 4 5 6

Cooking dinner in your microwave oven. Microwaves

7 8

Running your clothes dryer only when it’s full. Dry two or more loads in a row to make use of the heat already in the dryer.

And locate your dryer (and your washer) in a heated space.

Using the energy-saving cycle on your dishwasher and not using the heated drying cycle. If your dishwasher sits next to your

use up to two-thirds less electricity

refrigerator, move it. The dishwasher

than conventional ovens. They

gives off heat that forces your

also cook food faster.

refrigerator to work harder.

Unplugging the TV, stereo, computer, printer and other electronics when you’re not using them. Unplug cell phone chargers once you remove the phone.

Replacing your old thermostat with a programmable model.

You could save up to 10 percent on cooling and heating, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Lowering the water heater’s temperature to 130 F. Wrap your

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Replacing your air conditioner’s filters before the cooling season begins. Clean filters help the

Putting off using the air conditioner, especially at night, until the weather gets hotter.

Open the windows instead and let the spring breezes into the house to keep you cool.

Keeping the area around the outside of the air conditioner unit clean. Remove dirt, grass and any debris that has collected

to keep it warm so it will use less

around it so those things don’t

Washing clothes in cold water.

You could save more than $60 a year and help your clothes last longer, too.

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APRIL 2020

Start by participating. Half of what American households throw away is recyclable. Check locally to know what’s accepted in your curbside recycling and what day it’s picked up, or find a nearby drop-off site.

1

Know what to throw.

Recycling is a global issue that requires local solutions.

Many communities accept different materials. Visit your local city website to learn what materials are and are not accepted.

2

3

Know what not to throw. Plastic bags, clothing, food and liquid, garden hoses, electrical cords, Styrofoam, needles and yard waste are on the “no list.” They do not belong in curbside recycling.

4

Twin the bin. Make it easy for anyone in your house to recycle – just as easy as it is to throw something away. Locate your in-home recycling bin next to your trash can. For extra credit, twin the bin in your kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry room.

Most of a home’s recyclables originate in these three rooms.

5

Empty your recyclables. Before you toss your empty cans, bottles, and cartons, make sure you remove food waste and such – then recycle.

6

Return items to stores for recycling.

Some items can’t be recycled at the curbside. These include plastic wraps and films, plastic shopping bags, and air shipping pillows. Many retail locations provide recycling centers for these items.

7

Keep electronics and batteries out of the recycling cart. While

system operate more efficiently.

storage tank in a blanket designed energy to heat the water.

Nine tips to recycle more, better in 2020

restrict its air flow. Trim shrubs away so they don’t touch it. You should rinse your unit every now and then — but shut off the power to the unit first. A tip: Never use a power washer to clean the outdoor unit.

Plant a tree on Earth Day Earth Day organizers encourage everyone to plant trees wherever they can: in parks, in their neighborhoods or in their own yards.

If you plant a tree in your yard, choose a strategic location that will allow the tree to shade your home from the hot summer sun. As it grows, the tree will help reduce your air conditioning bills and keep your home more comfortable.

co-op news these should be recycled, batteries and electronics do not belong in your curbside recycling cart or bin. These can start fires at recycling centers and in trucks. Please take a moment to check locally for hard-to-recycle items.

8

Don’t bag your recyclables. Most curbside recycling and drop-off programs require recyclables to be placed directly into the cart or bin. Unless your community instructs otherwise, don’t bag your recyclables.

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Reduce, reuse, and rethink.

When it comes to sustainability, reducing, reusing and rethinking only help to further recycling efforts to protect our planet. Find ways to reduce your consumption, reuse items, and rethink your needs and approach. For example, you can:

REDUCE by purchasing smaller amounts of food or having it pre-cut to your family’s unique needs. Remember, when it comes to sustainability, it starts at the cart.

REUSE

by eliminating singleuse items and opting instead for a reusable shopping bag.

RETHINK by considering the packaging of what you purchase to see if it’s recyclable or how you approach your consumption when it comes to items like cloth vs. paper napkins.

While recycling may feel universal, the truth is only slightly more than half of Americans can recycle at home as easily as they can throw something away, but together we’re working to change this and transform U.S. recycling for good.

— The Recycling Partnership

Why we should

recycle

Recycling benefits the environment by diverting hundreds of millions of pounds of valuable materials from landfills and avoiding millions of metric tons of greenhouse emissions annually, creating healthier air and cleaner waterways. Recycling also reduces the need for sourcing new raw materials through mining and logging, which can create water pollution and emit greenhouse gases. It also saves energy used to produce new products from raw materials.

Recycling creates jobs and supports our economy.

Some tips from the Arbor Day Foundation: Trees on the west and northwest sides of your home will shade the building during mid- to late afternoons.

Keep branches pruned enough that they don’t block your view when you look out of west-facing windows.

Shade trees along driveways and patios will keep you

cooler while you’re outside.

The shade keeps the concrete and your yard cooler.

Protect your outdoor air conditioning unit from weather-related wear and tear by planting a shade tree nearby. The less direct sunlight that hits the unit, the more efficiently it will run all summer.

As recently as 2017, recycling generated $117 billion in economic activity and $13.2 billion in tax revenue.

Today, recycling employs more than 156,000 men and women nationwide and could create more than one 1 million new jobs within the next two decades.

Recycling benefits future generations by decreasing our use and reliance on natural resources, decreasing overly wasteful landfalls, which lead to the production of greenhouse gases, and decreasing water and air pollution.

APRIL APRIL 2020 2020

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Recycle, don’t toss, used appliances When you recycle or donate your used electronics, like computers, cell phones and flat screens, you do the environment a big favor.

Recycling 1 million laptops saves roughly the amount of energy it takes to power more than 3,500 homes in a year.

Even if the device isn’t usable, it still contains metals, plastics and glass, which can be reused by someone else for another purpose. In fact, from

KIDS’ CORNER

Be Kind To Our Planet

1 million useless cell phones, recyclers can reap 35,000 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium.

To find a place near you that recycles electronics, visit www.ecyclingcentral.com.

Being kind to our planet is something all of us can do — no matter how young or how old. Celebrate Earth Day by thinking “green” and developing environmentally friendly habits. Share these suggestions with your parents and other family members, too.

TAKE REUSABLE SHOPPING BAGS WITH YOU WHEN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GO SHOPPING. Sometimes, stores will even give you a small discount on your purchases when you bring your own bags.

BEFORE THROWING OUT A USED PIECE OF PAPER, TURN IT OVER TO SEE IF THE OTHER SIDE IS BLANK. If so, it can still be used as scratch paper on which you can practice spelling words, figure out math problems or play a game of MASH.

VINTAGE CLOTHING CAN BE COOL! It’s fun to check out resale/thrift shops and antique stores to find authentic distressed jeans and true vintage T-shirts.

Plus, you’re actually doing your part to recycle while putting together a unique look!

WATCH HOW MUCH WATER YOU’RE USING. Don’t leave the faucet running longer than it needs to when brushing your teeth. Also, opt for showers instead of baths. Showers shouldn’t last any longer than 10 minutes.

THIS ONE’S EASY TO DO, BUT STILL, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU LEFT A ROOM AND FORGOTTEN TO TURN OFF THE LIGHT? SAVE ENERGY! If there’s no one in the room, there’s no need to have the light on!

GET ON THE RECYCLING BANDWAGON. Encourage your family and friends to

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APRIL 2020

recycle aluminum cans and paper. Donate used clothing, household items, and games and books to charity. Lions Clubs (which are community service organizations) collect used glasses and used cell phones are collected by many community organizations to be used by servicemen or servicewomen overseas or by victims of domestic violence.

GROW YOUR OWN VEGETABLES. This spring, why not try your hand at gardening? Just-picked homegrown vegetables are yummier than you could imagine, and food that you grow yourself does have to be processed or packaged.

Many kids take single-serve juice boxes or snack bags in their school lunch bags. TO

CUT DOWN ON WASTE, PACK THE JUICE IN A REUSABLE PLASTIC BOTTLE AND PUT THE SNACKS IN A RECYCLED PLASTIC CONTAINER.

energy

When the power goes out, your co-op goes to work BY

Cindy Denney

You may recall a time when you suddenly heard a loud crash or witnessed a bright flash, and then darkness.

The lights were out.

As frustrating as the moment was, you should rest assured your local electric cooperative was already getting to work.

Improved technology has helped electric co-ops quickly identify power outages so crews can repair damage and restore service to homes and businesses. Severe storms can sometimes cause significant damage, resulting in multiple repairs that need to be made before all power is restored. Some of the potential areas for damage include:

Director of Marketing and Customer Service | Jay County REMC

HI G H-VO LTA G E T R A NSM I SSI O N L I NE S: The transmission towers and cables that carry electricity to transmission substations rarely fail. Yet if they are damaged, these can cause significant outages – and they must be repaired to ensure the rest of the system can function properly.

D I S T R I B U T I O N S U B S TATIO N S : Each substation can serve thousands of members; substations are checked during power outages.

If the issue is located at the substation (or the transmission lines leading to the substation), then that means that power can be restored to hundreds or even thousands of members.

DI ST R I B UT I O N L I NE S: If a power outage is not caused by damage at a substation, the main distribution lines are then checked. Main distribution lines carry the electricity to large groups of buildings, including businesses and housing developments, in a community.

TA P LIN ES : These lines carry power to underground transformers or are connected to poles outside of homes and businesses. Line crews prioritize which lines to work on based on which lines will restore power to most members.

I NDI V I DUA L HO M E S: If your home is still without power, then the service line from the nearby transformer to your home may have been damaged. These lines are then repaired to restore power to homes, schools, and other buildings.

If you lose service in your neighborhood or to your home, stay clear of downed power lines and report the outage to your local electric co-op. This will ensure that the line crews are aware and restore service as soon as possible. By understanding the process,

10

you can know more and be assured your local electric co-op is working as hard as it can APRIL 2020

to make sure that the electricity stays on to help power your day.

insights

Co-ops continue to meet consumer needs amid

coronavirus No segment of society has escaped

“Indiana’s electric cooperatives

Many lineworkers are taking their

the worldwide pandemic and public

assure consumers contingency plans

rigs home at night and are doing

health emergency caused by the

are in place, and we have taken the

all they can to limit exposure to

novel coronavirus. How virulent

precautionary steps to make sure

the virus while maintaining power

the virus ultimately becomes is

safe and reliable electricity continues

lines. Several of Indiana’s co-ops

uncertain. But Indiana’s electric

flowing,” said John Gasstrom, CEO

have postponed their annual spring

cooperatives are prepared to keep

of Indiana Electric Cooperatives, the

membership meetings and other

the lights on should the pandemic

Indianapolis-based association for

events.

cause widespread illness at a time

the state’s 38 co-ops.

when it’s not “business as usual” anywhere across the country.

“As the public health response,

Many of Indiana’s co-ops have

recommendations and mandates

closed their lobbies; employees

continue evolving, co-ops will

are working remotely from home.

continue adjusting as well to

SYMPTOMS www.cdc.gov

Covid-19 or 2019-nCov

who.int

Fever

Sore Throat

WHAT IS IT?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some of which are known to cause respiratory infections in humans. The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

Headache

Fatigue

Dry Cough Diarrhea

INCUBATION 1-14 DAYS

12

The “incubation period” means the time between catching the virus and beginning to have symptoms of the disease. Most estimates of the incubation period for COVID-19 range from 1-14 days, most commonly around five days.

APRIL 2020

Shortness of Breath

Aching Muscles

meet consumer needs,” said

began notifying members that

Gasstrom.

annual meetings and other

Attempts to constrain COVID-19, the name given to this new strain of coronavirus, have

community events typically held in spring will be postponed or canceled.

produced unprecedented

Many co-ops are already

closures of businesses and

preparing for the economic

schools and cancellations,

disruption members will face as

postponements and shutdowns

a result of protracted pandemic

of all major sporting events

restrictions, including loss of

across the nation. But

income, unexpected childcare

cooperative leadership began

expenses and related household

raising concerns about novel

cost increases. Some have

coronavirus exposure and its

announced plans to waive

effects on operations in January

late fees and allow for special

as the first deaths in China’s

payment arrangements for

Wuhan Province were making

consumers.

headlines.

“We’re all in this together,”

“Electric cooperatives have been

added Gasstrom. “We appreciate

planning for this over the past

the understanding and patience

several months,” said Gasstrom,

of consumers as co-ops do

noting the pandemic threat

their part to follow public health

represents a unique situation.

officials’ guidance on what they

“Our cooperatives are fortunate

can do to protect themselves

to have technology that will allow

and their community.”

many of our functions to be completed remotely.”

abreast of the rapidly changing directives to combat the crisis.

consumers and their co-op can

What may have been true about

take place electronically, over

COVID-19 when this issue of

the phone or by mail. Skeleton

Indiana Connection went to

line crews will concentrate

press the third week in March

mostly on outages and

may not be current by the time it

maintenance, limiting or slowing

reaches mailboxes.

connections.

All consumers are asked to please get the latest information

Following recommendations

about your local cooperative

from the U.S. Centers for

and its responses and activities

Disease Control and Prevention

related to the virus through its

and Indiana’s State Department

website and/or social media.

of Public Health, many co-ops

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue.

All consumers need to stay

Most transactions between

new construction and new

Stay at home when you are sick.

Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Avoid crowded places. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

county feature

Lake County Most all of Indiana’s 92 counties are named after a person, Native American peoples or other places. But only one is named quite simply

works, and Gary soon became

for the largest geographical

America’s largest company town.

feature that touches Indiana.

Other industries also found the

y t n u o C acts F FOUNDED: 1837

That’s Lake County … the

county to be an ideal location. The

state’s northwestern-most

industrialization brought a diverse

county named for the giant

mix of workers from Appalachia,

body of water that dimples

Europe and Mexico, and the

Indiana’s upper left corner.

population growth continued

Lake Michigan’s footprint is

through World War II and into

little more than a toehold, but

the early 1960s. Then came racial

that 45 miles of waterfront,

tensions, plant closings, and loss

which also includes Porter

of jobs in the steel industry. Gary’s

and LaPorte counties, makes

population went from a high of

Indiana a “Great Lakes State.”

178,000 in 1960 to 76,000 today.

That massive waterway connects Indiana to the

While the region works to

Atlantic Ocean and the world.

overcome its urban blight, some of the most pristine natural areas

NAMED FOR: Lake Michigan POPULATION: 484,411 (2018 estimate) COUNTY SEAT: Crown Point

Along with the lake, railroads

of Indiana are within Gary’s city

running to Chicago spurred

limits and eastern Lake County as

industrial development

an extension of the Indiana Dunes

along the sandy ridges and

National Park. Most of the National

swamps of the Lake Michigan

Park is in neighboring Porter

beachhead. Inland Steel arrived

County to the east, but the Paul H.

in East Chicago, Indiana, in

Douglas (Miller Woods) Trail winds

1903. In 1906, U.S. Steel, a

through several habitats on the

corporation cofounded by

Lake County side. The trail offers

Judge Elbert H. Gary and

wetlands, rare black oak savanna

banking magnate J. P. Morgan,

and open dunes.

built what became its Gary

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APRIL 2020

APRIL 2020

15

Indiana eats

The Post with the most On those days when you aren’t

Open seven days a week from 11

quite sure what you’re craving,

a.m.-10 p.m., The Post is not only

The Post Restaurant and Bar in

a favorite lunch spot for locals,

Tell City just might be the perfect

it satisfies both dinnertime early

dining option. Its eclectic menu

birds and night owls hungry for

includes burgers and other sand-

full entrees or just a cocktail and

wiches, homemade soup, wings,

appetizer.

Italian fare and Tell City Fish Tacos, the favorite dish of Rep. Stephen Bartels. The tacos feature hand-breaded cod on three flour tortillas topped with pico de gallo and fresh cilantro chipotle sour cream finished with the house jalapeno coleslaw.

Occupying Tell City’s old post office building, The Post’s décor is rich in historic ambience. The bank vault from the early 1900s is one element that adds significant architectural interest.

Those who come hungry to the

ABOUT STATE REP. STEPHEN BARTELS:

Rep. Stephen Bartels (R) represents District 74 which includes Perry and Crawford counties and portions of Spencer, Dubois and Orange counties. He is vice chair of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and also serves on the Courts and Criminal Code, and Veterans Affairs and Public Safety committees. Bartels owns and operates Patoka Lake Marina and Patoka Lake Winery.

restaurant aren’t likely to leave hungry. Diners agree the portions are generous and the prices are affordable.

And the hand-breaded tenderloins served there are among the

Red Beans and Rice

THE POST RESTAURANT

Indiana Foodways Alliance. The

516 Main St. Tell City, IN 47586

Post was selected as one of 52

812-547-4700

restaurants on the alliance’s cel-

11 a.m.-10 p.m.

best in the state, according to the

ebrated “Tenderloin Trail” which pays tribute to the Hoosier state’s signature sandwich.

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APRIL 2020

Cheese Fries

Fun fact! The Post is in Tell City’s old post office.

Fish Tacos F O O D P H O TO S C O U R T E S Y O F B E N J A M I N K O E L L I N G

food

Pitching in Looking for a new recipe for an upcoming potluck? Try one of these reader-submitted suggestions.

Parke County Cornbread Lena Harper, Lafayette, Indiana

6 T. butter, melted 1 egg 1 cup milk 1¼ cups purple, blue, or red cornmeal 1 cup flour ⅓ cup sugar 1 T. baking powder ½ t. salt

Preheat oven to 400 F. Grease an 8-inch square pan. Whisk melted butter and egg, then add milk and whisk again. Stir in dry ingredients, just until Incorporated (it will be lumpy and very thick). Pour into pan and use spatula to spread evenly. Bake for 20-25 minutes until top has browned. Test with a toothpick in the middle to make sure it’s cooked completely

food

Tater Tot Potluck

Tater Tot Potluck Jan Hackman, Columbus, Indiana 1 lb. ground beef

½ cup pasta sauce

½ onion, chopped

¼ cup salsa

1 green pepper, chopped

¼ cup instant rice

1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed

⅛ t. Mrs. Dash salt-free seasoning blend

1 (14 ½ oz.) can diced tomatoes

¼ t. sugar

1 (12 oz.) pkg. frozen peas and carrots

1 lb. tater tots

Brown ground beef with onion and green pepper. Drain grease.

Pour into 3 quart casserole dish with lid. Add black beans, diced tomatoes, peas and carrots, pasta sauce, salsa, and rice. Sprinkle with Mrs. Dash and sugar. Top with a layer of tater tots. Cover with lid. Bake at 375 F for 30 minutes. Serves 6-8.

Easy Popover Pizza

Easy Popover Pizza Maurine Roadruck, Brookston, Indiana 1 ½ lbs. ground beef, sausage, or combination

8 oz. shredded mozzarella

1 (15-oz.) jar spaghetti sauce

2 eggs

½ 4-oz. pkg. pepperoni or turkey pepperoni (optional) I small jar mushrooms, drained (optional) 1 small green pepper, chopped (optional)

1 cup milk 1 T. oil 1 cup flour ¼ t. salt ¼ cup shredded parmesan

Brown meat and drain as necessary. Mix with spaghetti sauce and spread over bottom of 9-by- 13 inch dish.

Layer on other toppings as desired. Sprinkle mozzarella over all. Whisk together eggs, milk, oil flour and salt.

Pour evenly over mozzarella. Sprinkle with parmesan.

Bake at 400 F for 30 minutes.

Cook’s note: A popular twist on a standard favorite — with lots of options to suit personal preferences.

FO O D PREPARED BY I NDI ANA CO NNECTI O N S TA FF PHO TO S BY TAYLO R MA RA NI O N

18

APRIL 2020

Clayton Wilson works on courses on his laptop at his rural Martinsville home. As a sixth grader, Clayton developed a debilitating illness that kept him homebound while poor and pricey internet options left him cut off from the world. With the arrival of fiber optic high-speed internet last summer from South Central Indiana REMC, the now 16-year-old has been able to resume his education with online classes from the Martinsville school system.

P HO TO BY RI CHARD G . BI E V E R

FIBER and faith

Electric co-ops help bridge the digital divide Four years ago, the world stopped turning for Clayton Wilson. While fighting a virus, the Martinsville sixth grader inexplicably suffered something akin to an anaphylactic shock. He required emergency room treatment.

He then began experiencing a series of severe ailments: aches and pains, anxiety, brain fog, fatigue, and even loss of consciousness. The ailments forced him to be bedridden most of the day.

Until then, Clayton had been a normal kid who played soccer and basketball. He had a regular group of buddies and was an “A� student. As his illness wore on without answers from over a half dozen medical specialists, he had to withdraw from school. Then he withdrew from life.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

APRIL 2020

19

P H OTO B Y TAY LOR MA R A N ION

from their individual homes

said SCI REMC President and CEO

became frustrating. His internet

James Tanneberger at the time.

would freeze; he’d be booted out

“Access to a high-speed internet

and have to rejoin. He soon lost

connection has gone from a luxury

touch with most of his friends.

to a necessity.”

“He was basically cut off from the

Cami was champing at the bit

whole world,” said mom, Cami.

when she saw the announcements

Worst of all, without adequate internet service, Clayton couldn’t even take advantage of Martinsville schools’ online programs. Cami tried to homeschool Clayton the

THE MOWERY FAMILY

following years. But having never taught, she said, suddenly trying to teach her only child, a teenaged boy with severe medical issues,

Patrick and Jennifer Mowery, shown with their young daughter, hoped to settle down in the same rural community that Jennifer grew up in. But they faced a major roadblock when they began pursuing that dream — both of their careers were tied to Indianapolis. Although Jennifer’s employer allowed its staff to work remotely, the Mowerys needed access to high-speed internet to give Jennifer flexibility to work and raise a family in their dream location. Find out how their story evolved at indianaconnection.org/living-their-dream. The Mowerys’ broadband story was published in the October 2019 issue of Indiana Connection.

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE “I just kind of vanished,” he said recently. “I just didn’t want to deal with having to tell people.”

became too much of a strain for them both.

“It was just a mess,” Clayton recalled.

LIVING IN THE 21st CENTURY

about the new fiber network offering speeds up to 1,000 megabits per second — 100 times faster than the national average. She began hounding the REMC: “When’s it coming? When’s it coming?”

Last July, it came.

The Wilsons’ home was included in one of SCI’s many expansion projects vining out across its territory.

They could finally, as Cami put it, “live in this century.”

The arrival of high-speed fiber was just in time for Clayton, now 16, to enroll for the fall semester in Mar-

At about that same time the Wilsons

tinsville schools’ online program.

were struggling for solutions to

“I feel more normal,” Clayton said

Clayton’s health and education, In-

of resuming his studies, “even if

diana’s electric cooperatives began

I’m doing it at home.”

answering the call of consumers who, like the Wilsons, lived in internet dead zones across the state.

Just as consumer-owned electric co-ops brought electricity to Indi-

BRIDGING THE DIVIDE High-speed internet has become a major focus across rural Indiana.

ana’s unserved rural residents over

From electric cooperatives and

He didn’t feel like having visitors.

80 years ago, electric co-ops began

allied rural organizations to the

He didn’t feel like doing anything.

bringing high-speed internet to

offices of the governor, lieutenant

What made the disabling illness

unserved consumers. Among them

governor, and legislators who serve

worse, his home, just three miles

was the Wilsons’ electric co-op,

rural areas, finding the financial

northeast of Martinsville, was in an

South Central Indiana REMC, the

wherewithal to fund expensive

internet “dead zone.”

state’s largest co-op with al-

fiber-optic networks into sparse-

most 34,000 meters across seven

ly-populated areas is no longer a

counties. SCI REMC created a new

quixotic quest. It’s happening.

division — SCI Fiber — and in 2018

“Hoosiers need affordable, quality

began installation.

internet regardless of where they

pricey. What little contact Clayton

“Today, quality of life and eco-

live, work, or go to school,” Gov. Eric

maintained with friends playing

nomic development are tied to the

J. Holcomb told Indiana Connec-

online video games they’d stream

availability of high-speed internet,”

tion. “Access to broadband brings

There was no cable. Groves of trees and weather limited satellite service. Using hotspot service through a mobile phone was slow and

20

APRIL 2020

countless opportunities. And that’s why I’m excited to see key infrastructure projects positively impact economic development, health, agriculture, and quality of life.”

facts about broadband in rural America

Closing the digital divide allows those in under-served or unserved areas the same opportunities that exist in connected communities: Modern Health Care. Barriers that limit access to advances in modern health care in medically under-served areas of the state would be diminished. Rural Hoosiers would be able to take advantage of prompt access to specialists and expanded monitoring and treatment options.

Modern Education. Technology would help keep rural students from falling behind their urban peers and improve student performance. Adult learners would have access to distance education, as well, to improve job skills and offer opportunities for personal growth.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded, bringing unprecedented mass closings of schools and colleges nationwide, the need for universal broadband deployment has become ever clearer. How can students be expected to complete coursework shifted from a classroom to the internet without high-speed access at home?

Economic Development. The path to economic development begins with bridges across the rural digital divide. With quality internet service, local small businesses can enter a global marketplace, agricultural and business income

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

1

MILLIONS OF CO-OP MEMBERS LACK BROADBAND

About 34 million Americans don’t have high-speed internet service, according to the FCC. Of that number, at least 13.4 million people in 6.3 million electric co-op households lack broadband access.

2

PRIVATE CARRIERS FEAR RURAL COSTS

There is a huge gap between the benefits to consumers and what a private service provider will earn by deploying broadband in areas with low population density. Many of these areas are electric co-op territories.

Private carriers often find their returns fail to justify their per-customer investment cost even when the lost value for these rural consumers could exceed deployment costs by 70 percent.

3

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS LEFT ON THE TABLE

The FCC estimates that nearly all of the areas in the U.S. without broadband could be connected with an initial capital expenditure of $40 billion. In comparison, a 2018 study by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association found that the lost consumer value of not connecting electric co-op members with broadband is $68 billion over a 20-year period.

4

BROADBAND BACKBONE EASES CO-OP ENTRY

A modern electric co-op requires upto-the-minute smart communications technology, and that requires a broadband backbone. Such a system would allow the co-op to communicate with its substations, better oversee power lines to restore or even prevent outages in a timely fashion, and provide smart meters and other advances that consumers demand.

A broadband backbone also affords co-ops the opportunity to provide retail high-speed internet, when possible, as it passes fiber-optic cable by members’ homes and businesses.

Thus, co-ops that build a broadband backbone for their electric power system can more economically connect rural areas.

5

A GOOD PARTNER CAN HELP

Many hands lighten the load, and that rings true for rural broadband.

While electric co-ops may have infrastructure in place and brand recognition among consumers in rural areas they serve, the cost to deliver high-speed internet can give many pause.

Government loans and loan guarantees and grants for rural broadband can help close the digital divide. Partnerships between co-ops and private carriers are an economical way to deliver internet service to members.

SOURCE: NRECA

APRIL 2020

21

P H OTO B Y TAY LOR MA R A N ION

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

TONY NEHRT

opportunities can expand, rural areas will become attractive homes for skilled employees and their families, and more.

INCREASED SPEEDS, INCREASED MARKET

In addition, high-speed fiber in REMC service territories will help modernize electric operations to meet members’ growing desires to save energy and money through

Tucked in the rural Indiana community of Brownstown is a small business named Nehrwess. Tony Nehrt started the company after he sold Brownstown Quality Tool and Design, a business his father founded more than four decades earlier, to two longtime employees in 2015.

load control, real-time pricing, smart appliances and other functions that require smart infrastructure.

ancing investment against return is the same issue rural areas faced trying to get electricity in the early 1930s. That was before not-for-profit electric co-ops formed and, with federal loans, came to the rescue.

Installing fiber optic can range from almost $30,000 per mile and upward. That fixed cost doesn’t change much whether 40 households tap into the mile, or if it’s just four. But how soon that investment is repaid, and how much the shared cost of maintenance is, obviously does. The density issue

To further consider the economic

makes installing broadband an

impact, a 2018 study conducted by

impossible dream for some of the

Purdue University and commis-

state’s electric co-ops if they have

Nehrwess designs and manufactures small straps, hangers and clamps that mount underground utility distribution lines to poles. The company, with three full-time and three part-time employees, sells its products throughout the U.S.

sioned by Indiana Electric Co-

to go it alone.

“It’s important for us to keep the images and data on our website up to date.

It wasn’t uncommon for us to spend 15 minutes uploading a single image to the site,” Nehrt said. “We were always able to get the job done before, but it was much more frustrating.”

period if broadband were deployed

When Jackson County REMC introduced fiber internet service to its service area through Jackson Connect, Nehrwess was one of the company’s first internet customers.

“The fiber service from Jackson Connect now frees up our time to do other things.

It’s important our small staff is efficient and now we have more productive hours,” Nehrt said.

Nehrt said he remembers when Brownstown Quality Tool couldn’t finish projects because it was impossible to transfer the large design files among vendors.

“It’s almost instantaneous now,” said Nehrt. “It has definitely had a positive effect on our company.”

Nehrwess has seen an uptick in sales through its website because the company can produce new products in a timely manner. The company has also now entered a global market with increased internet22 speeds available through Jackson APRIL 2020 Connect.

operatives, the trade association for the state’s REMCs/RECs, estimated Indiana could reap nearly $12 billion in economic benefits over a 20-year into the state’s rural areas. The report estimated a return of nearly $4 to the local economy for every $1 spent on high-speed infrastructure.

“A 4-to-1 return is significant,” said John Gasstrom, CEO of IEC. “The Purdue report clearly validated the opportunities created by broadband investment. The areas of the state that lack affordable and reliable high-speed internet are largely the same areas served by electric cooperatives. That makes it fundamentally important to us.”

Indiana’s 38 electric co-ops distribute electricity in 89 of the state’s 92 counties. When internet is unavailable, too slow or too expensive, the impact harms areas already economically disadvantaged and losing population. The technology has changed, but the challenge of bal-

Two of every five of the state’s REMCs have fewer than six households per mile. These are many of the co-ops along the state’s edges and interior that still serve mostly agricultural areas farther from larger cities and their dense suburbs.

Lower density causes fixed costs to be spread among fewer consumers.

It makes it more challenging for a nascent fiber network to be economically feasible. But many variables can come into play. Grants and other funding mechanisms can help offset some of the “minimum threshold” numbers to create new opportunities for even areas of sparse population.

EASING THE PATHS Over the past seven years, IEC and its legislative allies in the Indiana General Assembly have been working hard to find the funding components to bring broadband benefits to all Hoosiers.

Five bills to enable easier deployment or provide tax incentives or grants to develop high-speed internet in rural areas have passed into law. All five were either authored or sponsored by Sen. Eric Koch (R-Bedford, District 44) and Sen. Erin Houchin (R-Salem, District 47).

The two senators co-auGrant Program, Senate Enrolled Act 460, which created a fund for grants to rural broadband service providers. A year earlier, the two co-sponsored a bill that created a grant

FI LE PHO TO BY RI CHAR D G . BI E V E R

thored the 2019 Broadband

framework.

Prior to that, in 2017, they

George Plisinski, manager of telecom operations at NineStar Connect, right, shows Sen. Todd Young, left, and Brendan Carr, an FCC member, a fiber optic strand about to be spliced together in the back of a van.

Young and Carr visited the installation site along a Hancock County highway during a visit in May 2018.

co-authored a bill allowing Indiana’s electric co-ops

Despite the publicity generated

understand how critical it is to im-

to use existing overhead utility

by the rural digital issues, a lot of

prove high-speed internet access,

easements to extend fiber for the

folks from larger cities, even in the

and I have worked hard to bridge

purpose of delivering broadband

legislature, simply cannot believe

the digital divide in our unserved

service.

the oft-told but true tales of rural

areas of the state.”

“The easement bill prevented us from having to renegotiate thousands, if not tens of thousands, of easements,” said Tom Havens, director of state policy and broadband initiatives at IEC. “That bill alone

kids who still do their homework at the nearest McDonald’s. It’s not for milkshakes and fries; it’s to take

INVESTING IN FIBER

advantage of free WiFi because

From out of the legislation Koch

their internet at home is too slow,

and Houchin helped create last year

too expensive or non-existent.

came the Holcomb administration’s Next Level Connections Broadband

may have saved co-ops wanting

“Access to affordable and efficient

Grant Program. The broadband

to install fiber years in deployment

broadband service is vital for Hoo-

component is just a part of Hol-

delays and all the associated costs.”

sier families, students, businesses,

comb’s broader $1 billion Next Level

and farmers, and this technology

Connections infrastructure plan.

“My focus has been on removing regulatory obstacles that have impeded the expansion of broadband into rural areas, and these initiatives have shown great success,” Koch said. “We are now seeing investment flow to parts of our state that have had little or no access to high-speed internet service.”

is often taken for granted where services are easily accessible,”

The first phase of the broadband

Houchin said. “Far too often, my

grant program awarded nearly $8.5

internet-secure colleagues seem to

million to three electric co-ops and

have a general misunderstanding

their partner organizations in 2019.

regarding the severity of issues

Southern Indiana Power received

related to the lack of broadband

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

connection. Representing a rural district in Southern Indiana, I

APRIL 2020

23

“It [internet service] has just opened so many doors.”

Cami Wilson

cardia syndrome (POTS) — which affects the nervous system. Little is known about the ailment, even its root cause. Those with it can range from suffering mild fatigue to total debilitation.

Clayton was put on medications that helped ease his condition. It’s

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE $6.5 million, Tipmont REMC received about $500,000, and Jackson County REMC received about $1.3 million.

“By creating and implementing grant programs, we are beginning to connect the unconnected,” said Houchin. “We are grateful to Gov. Holcomb for the $100 million investment in Next Level Connections for broadband grants and are hopeful this will spur additional investments among the provider community to reach those final miles.”

As recent as 2015, only two electric co-ops in Indiana were deploying fiber in their service territories.

Those two served the dense suburbs bordering Indianapolis. As of 2020, 12 co-ops — from Marshall County REMC in far northern Indiana to Southern Indiana Power on the Ohio River — are now actively engaged in broadband projects. Another 12 co-ops are expected to begin projects by 2025.

hoped the disabling complications of POTS will diminish as he grows into adulthood. While he is still mostly homebound, the high-

including prompt access to specialists, and expanded monitoring and treatment options.

“There was a time when all hope seemed lost,” said his mom. “Since we’ve gotten the new internet, I have seen a huge change in his mental status because he’s now able to communicate with friends.

He’s taught himself to play keyboards streaming YouTube. He just inherited a guitar. Once we get some schoolwork under his belt, he’s going to learn that. It has just opened so many doors.”

Cami and Clayton live on Teeters Road. The rolling land all around their home had been in her family for generations. The road itself is named for her family. But as Clayton’s outlook on life was being sapped away by his illness and isolation, she was becoming desperate for other solutions. “I was to the point,” Cami said, “‘What are we going to do? Move to town?’

she said. “The new internet has been a blessing. It came at the per-

his mysterious illness. The Mayo

fect time.”

APRIL 2020

Affordable and reliable quality internet means life-altering improvements for rural Hoosiers in:

emotional and physical health.

Wilson finally had an answer to

24

Electric cooperatives are finding ways to help close the rural digital divide, providing all Hoosiers the same opportunities.

MODERN HEALTH CARE,

Three years into his illness, Clayton

der — postural orthostatic tachy-

Tell us why expanding high-speed internet to all of Indiana is important.

world has helped improve both his

“We didn’t want to. We love it out

diagnosed him with a rare disor-

broadband story?

speed connection to the outside

HIGH-SPEED BLESSING

Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota,

WHAT’S YOUR

here. But I have to put him first,”

This story was compiled by Indiana Connection/Indiana Electric Cooperatives staff.

MODERN EDUCATION options so rural students can use technology previously available only to their urban peers. Adult learners will have access to distance education options.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT opportunities mean small businesses in rural areas can enter the global marketplace.

And, young families seeking a rural lifestyle can enjoy that small town sense of community with the modern conveniences of an urban area.

Tell us how having access to affordable and reliable high-speed internet could improve your family’s quality of life, or how new service options have changed the way you live. Your stories will continue to inspire our state’s leaders to do all they can to bring broadband to all of Indiana.

Visit IndianaEC.org/ YourBroadbandStory to share your broadband story!

product recalls Leaf blowers recalled for fan dangers ECHO and Shindaiwa have recalled 2-cycle gas powered commercial backpack blowers with shoulder straps. This recall also includes shoulder straps. The blower’s shoulder straps, plastic buckles, or the anti-static ground wire can be drawn into the blower fan and fan housing causing plastic pieces to be expelled from the machine, posing laceration and impact hazards.

Recalled model numbers are PB-8010H, PB-8010T, EB810 and EB810RT. The model and serial numbers can be found on the blower’s engine block.

The ECHO or Shindaiwa logo appears on the shoulder strap, and the replacement strap part number appears on the plastic bag at the time of sale.

The blowers were sold at independent ECHO and Shindaiwa outdoor power equipment dealers and online at www.HomeDepot.com and www.Grainger. com between August 2018 and February 2020 for about $600 for blowers and $30 for replacement straps.

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.

Marketplace Our Marketplace offers maximum exposure for your business or organization at a minimal cost. A limited number of display ads (such as the one to to the right) are available each month.

Don’t miss this opportunity to reach over a half million consumers at an affordable rate!

Please contact Cheryl Solomon, 847.749.4875 or cheryl@amp. coop, for other small business advertising opportunities in Indiana Connection.

CUSTOM POLE BARNS, DESIGNED TO LAST Buy Factory Direct & Save!

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25

calendar NORTHWEST

22

FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW OF CARROLL COUNTY, Flora (Carroll), Flora Town Park. Flowers, hanging baskets, vegetable plants, perennials, garden art, supplies and more! Door prizes. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. 574-967-3022.

25

SPRING HAS SPRUNG BLOOMERS RUN, North Judson (Starke), Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum. 5K and 1-mile fun runs. Prize for the best bloomers! 10 a.m. mrs.brenda.palmer@gmail.com

May

1-2

INDIANA GOURD SOCIETY STATE GOURD SHOW, Rochester (Fulton), Fulton County Museum. Gourd art, crafting supplies, auction, demonstrations, classes, food, crafted gourds, dried gourds, gourd seeds. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Admission charge. 765-674-8088. indianagourdsociety.org

CENTRAL

1719

VIKING FEST, Whitestown (Boone), Anson Park (4671 Anson Blvd.).

Experience Norse culture, food and music. Reenactments and performances. Friday, 4-10 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m; Sunday, Noon-5 p.m. Admission charge. 317-732-4537. facebook.com/ VikingFestWhitestown

VILLAGE May PURDUE CONTEMPORARY DANCE 25- MANSFIELD MUSHROOM FESTIVAL, SPRING WORKS 2020 DANCE 1-2 COMPANY (Parke), CONCERT, West Lafayette (Tippecanoe).

26 Mansfield various locations.

Nancy T. Hansen Theatre. Seven dance Mushroom auction, food and vendor sales.

Car show on Sunday.

Free. 765-653-4026.

MansfieldVillage.com

works choreographed by faculty and selected students. Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $14, general public; $11, students; $7 children (age 1-12); children under 1 year of age are free. 765-494-5993. dapdance@groups. purdue.edu

SOUTHWEST

1826

ORLEANS 52ND ANNUAL DOGWOOD FESTIVAL, Orleans (Orange), Historic Congress Square. Parade, carnival rides, food, live music and more. Free. Visit website for events and times. 812-865-9930. orleansdogwoodfestival.com

2122

GARDEN GATE: JAZZ, WINE, & CRAFT BEER Huntingburg (Dubois), Huntingburg City Park. Enjoy jazz music while sampling wine and craft beer.

Art Garden, tasty treats, Jazzed Up 5k and a Kiwanis Car Show. Noon-7 p.m. Admission charge. 812-683-5699. gardengatefestival.com

26

APRIL 2020

May

2

NEWBURGH WINE FEST, Newburg (Warrick), Old Lock & Dam Park. Features Indiana wineries, craft beer garden, restaurants, food trucks, artists and live music all day. Admission charge.

Must be over 21 to attend.

Noon-9 p.m. (Central Time). 812-853-2815. historicnewburgh.org

APRIL

MAY

Due to the ever-changing coronavirus situation, please note that the events below may not occur at their originally scheduled times. Be sure to reach out to the event contacts below to ensure that the programs you are interested in are still taking place.

NORTHEAST

24

30

SHIPSHEWANA FRIDAY NIGHT ANTIQUE AUCTION, Shipshewana (LaGrange), Shipshewana Auction and Flea Market. Live auction with 6-10 auctioneers selling simultaneously. Antiques, collectibles, furniture, primitives, glassware, books, advertising, toys, and miscellaneous items.

Free. 5 p.m. 260-768-4129. info@shipshewanatradingplace.com. https:// shipshewanatradingplace.com/auctions/misc-antiques BABY SHARK LIVE!, Fort Wayne (Allen), Fort Wayne Embassy Theatre. Learn about shapes, colors, numbers and more. Tickets: $29. 6 p.m. https://www.visitfortwayne. com/event/baby-sharklive!-at-the-embassytheatre/25593

May

1-2

MAYFEST IN SHIPSHEWANA, Shipshewana (LaGrange), townwide. Bluegrass and gospel music, food, family activities. Parade on Saturday at 10 a.m. Free. 866-631-9675. shipshewana.com/mayfest

SOUTHEAST

1718

2425

INDIANA DAFFODIL SOCIETY’S ANNUAL DAFFODIL SHOW, Columbus (Bartholomew), Hamilton Community Center. Only daffodil show in Indiana open to the public and sanctioned by the American Daffodil Society. Enjoy the phenomenal hybrid and species of daffodils on display.

Fun activities for your junior gardeners on Saturday. Hours: Friday, 3-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. 502-424-3431. cccutshall@yahoo.com. www.indianadaffodilsociety.org CROSSROADS ACOUSTIC MUSIC FEST, Seymour (Jackson), downtown.

Regional and national artists at multiple venues. Food vendors, wine and beer, artist merch and more. Admission charge. 812-707-9583. crossroadsacousticfest.com

25

ST. JOSEPH SPRING GARDEN SHOW, , North Vernon (Jennings), St. Joseph Catholic Church Parish Hall. Garden plans, crafts and homemade foods. 812-346-3604.

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

Indiana Connection 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 Indiana Connection strives for accuracy, please note that events, dates and time may change without notice. Indiana Connection 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 indianaconnection.org; or mail your info to: Calendar, Indiana Connection, 8888 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1600, Indianapolis, IN 46240. Please submit info two months before the date of the event.

APRIL 2020

27

do-it-yourself

Braking Bad HOW TO K N OW W H E N YO UR VE H I C LE NE E DS BR AKE R E PAI R Let’s face it: In the normal course of driving, we’re hard on our vehicle’s braking system. We tap our brakes while enduring stop-and-go traffic and occasionally have that sudden “brake check” to avoid a collision.

During your automobile’s life span, and depending upon how long you keep your vehicle, you may need to replace your brakes more than once. So, how do you know when your car is ready for a brake repair or replacement?

According to AAA, there are five warning signs when you may need brake repair:

1

2

You apply the brakes and hear a high pitch or grinding noise. This is a strong indicator the brakes have worn thin.

You apply the brakes and feel a vibration. This indicates warped brake rotors. A professional inspection can help determine whether they should be resurfaced or replaced.

The brake pedal feels differently — either low or spongy — and takes more effort to apply. This means there’s a potential problem with the brake system that should be promptly diagnosed.

4

5

You apply the parking brake, either by foot or hand, and do not feel resistance. This may require an adjustment or a repair. (Whether you have an automatic or manual transmission, AAA recommends always applying the parking brake before exiting the vehicle.)

The dashboard indicator for the anti-lock braking system (ABS) is illuminated (usually yellow). The ABS prevents the wheels from locking up so you can maintain control of the vehicle during hard stops.

If you notice any of these signs, it’s best to take your automobile to a professional for an inspection. He/ she can determine the extent of the repairs or replacement to your braking system.

28

APRIL 2020

3

Source: AAA Motor Club https://www.hoosier.aaa.com/automotive/five-waysknow-you-may-need-brake-repair

safety

electrical tragedy DON’T ADD AN

TO THE TRAUMA OF A FLOOD

“Electricity and water don’t mix” is a safety rule we’ve all heard. But when flooding occurs in our home, the cautionary voices echoing in our mind can be drowned out by the swell of the stress and water.

Don’t jump in and add a tragedy to the trauma.

“Whenever there’s flooding, it’s human nature to want to quickly assess the damage and start cleaning up. And if the water’s still rising, we definitely want to save other things from getting wet,” said John Gasstrom, CEO at Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “But that old rule about electricity and water holds true whether we’re talking about running water in the tub or two feet of water in the house.”

If water has risen above or comes into contact with electrical outlets, baseboard heaters or other electrical systems, do not go into the water, added Gasstrom. “You can be shocked or killed. Not only can electricity travel through water, it can

shock you through a wet floor.”

Here are some things to keep in mind before and after a flood.

breaker off first, and THEN turn off the main breaker. You may also need to shut off the main valve for your home’s gas and water.

Before the Flood

After a Flood

If you live in a flood-prone area:

• If you’ve had to evacuate, do not enter a flooded area until it has been determined safe to do so by a first responder or other authority.

• Once you return home, do not touch a circuit breaker or replace a fuse with wet hands or while standing on a wet surface.

• If your home experienced flooding, keep the power off until an electrician has inspected your system for safety.

• Have an electrician inspect electrical appliances that have been wet, and do not turn on or plug in appliances unless an electrician tells you it is safe.

Most wet appliances will require replacement.

• If your home experienced severe flooding, snakes and other animals may be in your house.

Wear heavy gloves and boots during cleanup.

• Keep an emergency kit of batteries, medications, etc., ready if you have to leave immediately, or if services are cut off.

• Keep important documents in a waterproof container. Create password-protected digital copies.

• If your basement requires a sump pump, install a backup pump that uses a battery and sounds an alarm in case the main pump fails or the electricity is out for an extended time during the storm.

If flooding is forecast or imminent: • Move electrical appliances and devices out of your home or to an area in the house above the expected level of flood water.

• Follow any directives to turn off utilities. To switch off the main power to your home, flip each

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pets

Do spring thunderstorms turn your mighty dog into a

scaredy-cat?

Does your dog jump, shake, tense up, cower, become anxious or crawl under a bed with an approaching storm? If so, your dog might be suffering from anxiety or phobias related to storms or loud noises.

Just as in humans, some unusual behaviors in dogs may not ratchet up to the point of concern. But it’s time to seek professional help if your dog engages in destructive behavior like chewing, digging, scratching and tearing up objects in the home.

Severe phobia can trigger panicked attempts to escape by scratching and digging at doors or even jumping out of windows. A dog may injure itself — breaking teeth or nails — or people during a panic attack.

Veterinarians don’t know all the triggers but suspect the dogs are set off by some combination of wind, thunder, lightning, barometric pressure changes, static electricity, and low-frequency rumbles preceding a storm that humans can’t sense. Fireworks, gunshots and vacuum cleaners are also common causes of anxiety and fear in dogs.

Here are some ways veterinarians suggest helping your cowering canine through a storm:

Reward calm behavior year-round. Don’t wait to soothe a dog when it’s whimpering or climbing on you during a

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storm; your dog may interpret that as extra attention — which will encourage more panicky behavior. But also, never scold your dog for its increased clingy behavior or ignore it. Try to stay calm yourself; your dog will sense your fear or nervousness during a storm which will reinforce its belief they should be afraid.

When thunder roars, pooches like Lucy (above) are reassured by a snug pressure garment’s calming effect.

Shelter. Notice where your dog likes to go during a storm and let it go there, if possible. You may want to move to an area with no outside doors or windows, such as a finished basement or a tiled bathroom. If your dog prefers its crate, try covering the crate with a blanket until the storm ends.

Consider a snug garment. Snug-fitting shirts and wraps especially designed to calm anxious dogs may be worth a try. A so-called pressure garment is said to have a calming effect similar to swaddling a baby. You can also make your own by wrapping your pet in a stretchable bandage, towel or old T-shirt. Just be sure not to wrap your pet too tightly that it can’t breathe.

Medicate. Finally, if all else fails, the use of medications, such as sedatives, can be helpful in severely affected pets. Supplements, pheromones and herbal remedies are also available.

Talk to your veterinarian. As with any concerns you have for your pet’s health or safety, the best bet is to see your vet. A vet can help determine if your pet is suffering an anxiety or phobia, or if there is an underlying physical ailment causing an overreaction to outside stimuli. Your vet may also have more ideas for behavior modification and can help you determine what supplements or remedies to try, or if a prescription of anti-anxiety medication is needed.

Hoosier Energy news

Site links Hoosiers to

job opportunities Hoosier Energy is a generation

commitment to that mission

The variety of jobs at the G&T

and transmission (G&T) electric

through our actions and results.

cooperative is highlighted in a

cooperative that provides wholesale power and services to 18 member electric cooperatives in central and southern Indiana and southeastern Illinois. We deliver power through a nearly 1,700 mile transmission network.

Our mission is to provide members with assured, reliable and competitively priced energy and services in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner. We demonstrate our

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Hoosier Energy has been recognized as best-in-class for engaging our workforce, and we are passionate about serving members. Every Hoosier Energy team member has a story to tell about advancing a culture to serve members well.

Hoosier Energy’s website is a valuable resource for those looking for a job in the electric utility industry. On the site, you can search for job opportunities.

video at HoosierEnergy.com/ careers. As an electric cooperative employee, you can make a positive impact on the lives of people in your community.

VIEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES TODAY HoosierEnergy.com/careers

travel

Still blowin’ I N TH E WI ND FI LE PHO TO BY RI CHARD G . BI EVER

Museum preserves mechanical marvels of the past; tells the story of wind power Long before electric cooperatives began stringing silver strands of singing wire across rural America in the 1930s, the rhythmic chatter of windmills performed many of the tasks needed to make America grow. Every farm, ranch and railroad stop had those mechanical marvels of wood and steel blades and fins to pump water and do other tasks that made the land workable.

In the heart of the Midwest, from where so many of the windmills were manufactured, the Mid-America Windmill Museum in Kendallville tells this story of wind power. The museum opens for the season April 1.

Having celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, the museum is still dedicated to collecting, preserving and publicly displaying these clean-energy

machines of the past. Through video presentations, guided tours, exhibits, interactive displays, and photographs, the museum tells the whole history of wind power: from 4,000 years ago to the sprawling wind farms generating electricity today.

A total of 53 windmills of varying shapes and sizes have been restored and are on exhibit across several acres of land. Most are mounted on down-sized towers and are free to spin in the wind as designed. Others are protected against the elements in an 1889 bank barn that houses most of the museum. The barn was moved from its original location eight miles away in Avilla by Amish craftsmen in 1994.

Along with the American windmills, a highlight of the museum is its replica of the Robertson Post windmill, an enclosed single-stone grist mill with a 52foot diameter wind wheel. The original Robertson, the first windmill built in the American colonies, was shipped from

England and erected on the James River near Jamestown, Virginia, in the 1620s.

The museum, on the southeast edge of Kendallville, also features 11 Flint & Walling models of windmills beginning with its original “Star,” patented in the 1870s. Flint & Walling was established in Kendallville in 1866 and manufactured windmills until 1954. Still in Kendallville, Flint & Walling today manufactures high-performance water pumps and systems. The company celebrated part of its 150th anniversary in 2016 on the museum grounds beneath some of its original products.

While rural electrification brought an end to the heyday of the American windmill, World War II brought an end to many of the windmills themselves — as farmers turned the antiquated relics in for scrap metal to aid the war effort. But thanks to museums like the Mid-America Windmill Museum, this passing but important part of American history is being preserved.

UPCOMING EVENT: GO FLY A KITE!

IF YOU GO:

Colorful kites of all sizes and shapes will be flying high over the grounds of the Mid-America Windmill Museum during its annual Mother’s Day kite flying demonstration, May 10. Working together with members of the Hoosier Kiteflyers Society and museum volunteers, children of all ages can build a simple sled kite in Baker Hall.

Mid-America Windmill Museum

Sunday, May 10; 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Children 12 and under are free, $2 for children age 13+.

732 S. Allen Chapel Road Kendallville, Indiana 46755 260-347-2334 www.midamericawindmillmuseum.org Check the museum’s Facebook page for the latest news on its new opening date.

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career profile

Providing

quality service Top 3

responsibilities in a day: • Provide direction. I lead the superintendents and forepersons who oversee our tree crews.

• Purchase. I make sure our crews have the resources they need to run safely and efficiently like personal protective equipment, tools and equipment.

• Budgeting. I set and maintain a consistent budget for the required scope of work.

How would you describe working for a cooperative?

It is like working with your friends on a project that you all care about.

What are your professional goals at the cooperative?

I take every opportunity that is presented to show my skills and look for opportunities for personal development, and then teach others as quickly as I learn new skills.

What kind of education has made you successful in this role?

I am a certified arborist, certified utility arborist, certified category 5 (aquatic) and 6 (industrial) herbicide applicator. Most of my education has been through Purdue University Extension.

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Brandon Hutton Vegetation Management Manager South Central Indiana REMC What part of your job do you find to be most fulfilling?

Being a part of the hardworking team at our cooperative and providing our consumers with a quality service.

What’s the most challenging part of your job?

There are many opportunities for growth at an electric cooperative and we train our tree crews with the knowledge we may someday lose them to another career within the cooperative.

Why did you choose to accept a job at a co-op?

It was a great opportunity to work

with my friends and neighbors while providing a needed service in the community I grew up in.

How is your cooperative involved in the community?

We are always looking for ways to support the communities we serve with either our equipment or the talents of our employees.

INTERESTED IN AN ELECTRIC CO-OP CAREER? Visit WePowerIndiana.org to learn about available careers or tell us about yourself.