Jay County REMC - February 2024 Indiana Connection

Winter weather impacts reliability

History on a Tray

PAGES 20-23

Native Hoosier Alonzo Fields served as chief White House butler for 21 years

FEBRUARY 2024

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from the editor

The second Sunday in February When many people think of February, they think of Valentine’s Day. In my house, we think of a particular football championship game that, for legal reasons, I can’t name. You know the one. The “big game” is a national holiday for my husband, our friends, and me. Since we have lived in Indianapolis, we have hosted a party that gets bigger every year.

You need a few key things for a successful “big game” party. First, a good group of attendees — being a football fan is not a requirement. Second, delicious, primarily unhealthy food and drinks to help get your guests through about six hours. Someone always tries to contribute a salad to my gathering, and it never gets eaten. A couple of years ago, we made it a breakfast food theme — biscuits and gravy, egg bake casseroles, doughnuts — and that was a big hit.

Third, I like to make the whole night a game for my guests so even if you

VOLUME 73 • NUMBER 8 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 311,000 residents and businesses receive the magazine as part of their electric co-op membership. The average printed and mailed cost per issue is 54 cents.

CONTACT US: 8888 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1600 Indianapolis, IN 46240-4606 317-487-2220 info@indianaconnection.org IndianaConnection.org INDIANA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OFFICERS: Steve McMichael President

don’t like football, you can still have something keeping you interested.

Dr. Richard Leeper Vice President

I created a sheet for each guest with 10 questions about the game, the

Jamey Marcum Secretary/Treasurer

commercials, and the halftime show. Will the National Anthem be over 3 minutes? Will the coin toss be heads or tails? What brand will have the first commercial after kick-off? What’s the first song the halftime singer will perform? The person who gets the most questions right wins a gift card.

The first three months of the year can sometimes feel like a grind. The second Sunday in February helps to give us something to look forward to. My daughter still has a few more years before she can stay up for the game, but I know she will enjoy it when that day comes. Well, I know she will enjoy the food at least.

Do you have unique game day traditions? I would love to hear about them.

bdavis@indianaec.org

On the menu: May: Submit yout favorite spicy recipes,

deadline March 1. If we publish your recipe on our food pages, we’ll send you a $10 gift card.

Richard George Biever Senior Editor Holly Huffman Communication Support Specialist Lauren Carman Communication Manager Kiley Lipps Graphic Designer Ashley Curry Production and Design Coordinator Amber Knight Creative Manager Mandy Barth Vice President of Communication 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 safekeeping or return of unsolicited material.

Britt Davis Editor

John Cassady CEO EDITORIAL STAFF: Britt Davis Editor

you.

Giveaway: A maple syrup prize pack from Maplewood Farms in Brownsville, IN. Visit indianaconnection.org/talk-to-us/contests or send your contact information to the address below. The deadline to enter is Feb. 29.

Three ways to contact us: To send us recipes, photos, 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.

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, Indiana, 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.

FEBRUARY 2024

3

contents

FEBRUARY

12

18

county

food

03 FROM THE EDITOR

13 INSIGHTS

05 CO-OP NEWS Energy news and information from your electric cooperative

14 INDIANA EATS Zydeco’s celebrates 25 years of creating authentic Southern Louisiana home cooking

10 ENERGY Best bang for your buck energy improvements 12 COUNTY Randolph County

16 SAFETY Electrical safety during floods 18 FOOD Get ready for the big game with these recipes

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Indiana Connection

20

30

outdoors

cover story 20 COVER STORY Hoosier native served as chief White House butler for 21 years 26 PROFILE Steve McMichael, Indiana Electric Cooperatives Board President 28 HOOSIER ENERGY/ WABASH VALLEY NEWS

29 TRAVEL Hoosier sugar shacks offer a behind-the-scenes look and taste of Indiana maple syrup (NOT IN ALL EDITIONS) 30 OUTDOORS Mike Lunsford makes a case for providing for your local birds (NOT IN ALL EDITIONS)

On the cover Alonzo Fields was more than just a butler at the White House. He ran the serving staff, planned White House events and greeted world leaders while looking over the shoulder of history. His life story is preserved in Lyles Station and will come to life in Princeton this June.

PAINTING BY KYLE RAGSDALE, COURTESY OF INDIANA REPERTORY THEATRE

4 FEBRUARY 2024

CONTACT US Office: 260-726-7121 / 800-835-7362 WEBSITE www.jayremc.com EMAIL marketing@jayremc.com OFFICE HOURS 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday STREET ADDRESS 484 S. 200 W. Portland, IN 47371 MAILING ADDRESS 484 S. 200 W. Portland, IN 47371 POWER OUTAGES To report a power outage, call 260-726-7121 or 800-835-7362, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kenneth Denton Rick Dues Bethany Edwards, Secretary Dru Hall Kent Homan Phil Laux Klint Moser Steven D. Ritchie, Chairman Ronald Smithson STAFF Neil Draper President/CEO Becky Napert Business Manager Pete Byrum Operations Manager Jeff Myers Engineering Manager Carly Nichols Marketing and Communications Coordinator

DRAWING WINNERS Winner of the Operation Round Up credit was Violet B. and winner of the Christmas gift basket was Teresa H. of Winchester.

WINTER WEATHER IMPACTS RELIABILITY When outdoor temperatures drop, our electricity use increases.

That’s because we’re doing more activities inside, making our heating systems run longer and more often to counteract colder outdoor temperatures. Factor in that we all tend to use electricity at the same times — in the morning and early evenings — and that equals a lot of strain on our electric grid.

At Jay County REMC, we work closely with Wabash Valley Power Alliance — our local generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative — in resource and infrastructure planning to ensure you have the power you need whenever you flip a switch. However, the electric grid is much larger than your local coop and G&T. In winter months, when more electricity is being used simultaneously across the country, it is possible for electricity demand to exceed supply — especially if an unexpected event like a sudden snow or ice storm or equipment malfunction occurs.

If this happens, which is rare, the grid operator for our region of the country may call for reduced energy use. At that time, we may need to alert members that they can help by lowering their energy use with a few handy tips to relieve pressure on the grid, and Jay County REMC will keep you informed about the situation.

Your cooperative and our G&T take proactive steps to create a resilient

portion of the grid and to ensure electric reliability in extreme weather, including regular system maintenance, grid modernization efforts, and disaster response planning. However, it takes everyone to keep the grid reliable and power flowing.

To help keep the heat on for you, your family and neighbors, here are a few things you can do to relieve pressure on the grid (and save a little money along the way): • Select the lowest comfortable thermostat setting and turn it down several degrees whenever possible. Your heating system must run longer to make up the difference between the thermostat temp and the outdoor temp.Seal air leaks around windows and exterior doors with caulk and weatherstripping. Air leaks and drafts force your heating system to work harder than necessary.

• Stagger your use of major appliances such as dishwashers, ovens and dryers. Start the dishwasher before you go to bed and use smaller countertop appliances like slow cookers and air fryers to save energy.

• Ensure that your heating system is optimized for efficiency with regular maintenance and proper insulation. Make sure your furnace filter isn’t clogged and dirty.

Replace it as needed.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

FEBRUARY 2024

5

WHY YOUTH PROGRAMS? YOUTH PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS REFLECT AND ENCOURAGE OTHER STUDENTS

Each year, Jay County REMC sponsors students to attend two unique programs — Camp Kilowatt and Indiana Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. As we approach the March 1 deadline to apply for the 2024 programs, here’s what last year’s attendees had to say about the programs and about encouraging their peers to apply.

Jay County REMC’s Camp Kilowatt campers, Ayla Jackson, left, and Alexa Ridenour.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO GO TO CAMP? “I wanted to apply to this camp to meet new people and I thought it would be something fun to do during the summer. I knew that if I didn’t go that I would miss out on the opportunity to go in the future.”

— Ayla Jackson

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL PEERS ABOUT CAMP KILOWATT? “Camp Kilowatt is full of fun and you can learn a bunch of stuff about electricity. You can also make a lot of new friends. You’ll be glad you went.” — Alexa Ridenour

Isaiah White, Jay County REMC’s 2023 Indiana Youth Tour delegate, poses in front of the Washington Memorial.

WHY APPLY FOR YOUTH TOUR? Isaiah White said he wanted to attend the Indiana Youth Tour to see everything in D.C. and to see it with the other delegates on the trip. He enjoyed visiting the museums most of all. A highlight for White was visiting the Gettysburg battlefield on the way to the nation’s capital.

“Anyone who is thinking about applying should definitely do it.

The experience of seeing D.C. was worth it.” — Isaiah White

FOR MORE INFO AND TO APPLY, GO TO CAMPKILOWATT.ORG OR INDIANAYOUTHTOUR.ORG

6 FEBRUARY 2024

co-op news

Interested in serving on

The board of directors?

J

ay County REMC is a not-for-profit, memberowned electric cooperative. As a member, you have more influence on your co-op than you might realize. Not only can you contact us to share your thoughts, ideas and experiences, you can also take part in guiding the direction of your co-op into the future. How? You can serve on our board of directors!

If you are interested in running for our board of directors, petitions will be available at our office on March 1.

Districts 1, 4, and 8 will be up for election in 2024. Please refer to the map at right to determine your district. If you have any questions about this process, contact the office at 260-726-7121.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 • When possible, use cold water to reduce water heating costs. Setting your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit can help you save energy and reduce mineral buildup and corrosion in your water heater and pipes.

• Unplug devices when not in use to eliminate unnecessary

energy use. Even when turned off, electronics in standby mode consume energy. Plug devices into a power strip so you can turn them all off with the push of a button.

As we face the challenges posed by winter weather, understanding its impact on energy demand is crucial for maintaining a reliable power supply. By adopting energy conservation practices during periods

of extreme cold, not only can you save money on your electric bills, but you can also each contribute to the resilience of the power grid, keeping our local community warm and connected.

NEIL DRAPER President/CEO

FEBRUARY 2024

7

co-op news

DITCH THE PAPER! IT PAYS TO GO PAPERLESS WITH SMARTHUB

Sign up for paperless billing directly through your SmartHub portal. If you haven’t signed up for SmartHub yet, you can enroll at jayremc.com/ smarthub or download the app to your phone from your smartphone’s app store. Or, you can call us at 260-726-7121 to enroll over the phone.

Every Jay County REMC member who signs up for paperless billing now through March 31 will receive a $5 bill credit.

REMC RATES AND REBATES RATES RESIDENTIAL AND FARM SERVICE

Service charge: $28 per month Kilowatt-hour (kWh) charge: • 0-500 kWh: $.0371/kWh • 501-1,500 kWh: $.0191/kWh • Over 1,500 kWh: $.0131/kWh Power Cost Adjustment: $.092/kWh Outdoor lights: • 50-watt LED: $8.75 per month • 400-watt MV: $13 per month

Win a $50 bill credit Follow these simple steps for your chance to win a bill credit for $50 in electricity.

CLIP THE COUPON BELOW. Complete and return the form to the office with your monthly payment by the bill due date in order to be entered. Or, you can email your entry to marketing@jayremc.com.

DECEMBER WINNER: Leonard H. of Monroe

Rebates ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS 30 GALLONS OR LARGER

• • •

Replacement of an existing electric water heater: $125 Gas to electric replacement: $175 New construction water heater: $200

Visit jayremc.com for guidelines and restrictions. Additional rebates can be found at powermoves.com.

8 FEBRUARY 2024

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energy

Get more value out of your home energy projects Sometimes, you have to spend money to save money. When it comes to home improvement, with the holidays just behind and tax season just ahead, the challenge is to get the most bang for your buck.

Here are a few options to help make your home more efficient and your dollar stretch the farthest.

Upgrade your home’s insulation First and foremost, consider upgrading your home’s insulation.

Properly insulated homes are more comfortable through winter and summer, reduce wasted energy, and pay off over time, making it both a short-term solution and a long-term investment.

Install energyefficient windows If you’re in good shape on the insulation front, evaluate another cost-efficient improvement — energy-efficient windows. Those are also a form of insulation and will significantly impact your heating and cooling costs.

10 FEBRUARY 2024

Choose LED lighting Replace incandescent and halogen light bulbs with LED options, which are long-lasting, energy-efficient, and cost-effective while paying back your investment in less than a year.

Consider new plumbing fixtures Efficient plumbing fixtures save water overall and cut down on hot water use. Examples include showerheads, bathroom faucet aerators, or upgraded toilet replacements. Among those, a lowflow showerhead is likely to offer the quickest return on investment and a significant gain in efficiency.

Replace your water heater If you want to get into a more significant project, look at your water heater. If you replace a standard electric water heater with a heat pump water heater, you will

use around a third of the energy while keeping down the humidity.

Gas water heaters are already more efficient than electric ones.

Still, switching to a tankless model could provide notable savings and reduce the risk of carbon monoxide emissions.

No matter how much you have available to spend, any one of these projects can make those dollars last a little more in the long run. In the process, not only will your wallet reap the benefits, but so will your home, which will become a more comfortable place to live.

by Crystal

Greathouse Project Manager Decatur County REMC

10 - Ye a Guaran r teed Level R ates

Introduces

AFFORDABLE LIFE INSURANCE The Best Idea For ... Personal Insurance - Business Insurance - Mortgage Protection

MONTHLY RATES $100,000

$250,000

$500,000*

Issue Age

Male

30

8.94

7.73

9.77

8.61

14

36

9.12

8.12

10.32

9.44

15

37 38 39 40

9.21 9.21 9.46 9.63

Female

8.37 8.48 8.61 8.83

Male

10.52 11.69 12.35 12.94

Female

9.81 10.16 10.56 11.01

16 17 18

MONTHLY RATES

$1,000,000*

Issue Age

Male

11

18

16

58

28.33

21.98

50.43

36.04

89

62

169

117

13

22

18

59

31.07

23.51

55.50

38.76

98

68

188

129

13

22

20

60

34.14

24.28

59.98

41.71

109

73

207

140

14

24

21

61

37.41

25.65

66.43

47.11

122

84

236

156

15

25

22

62

41.07

27.91

73.90

51.33

136

93

265

171

16

27

24

63

44.58

34.39

85.55

59.61

152

102

287

187

27

64

48.23

38.53

93.16

64.39

169

112

323

206

Male Female Male Female

15

Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved

NON-TOBACCO RATES $100,000

Female

$250,000

Male

Female

$500,000*

Male Female

$1,000,000*

Male

Female

41 10.05

9.05

13.66

11.61

20

17

30

42 10.47

9.26

14.21

12.46

22

19

33

29

65

53.18

41.15 100.34

70.37

188

125

356

229

43 10.98

9.39

14.72

13.25

24

20

38

31

66

59.15

44.62

115.74

75.41

209

135

392

248

44

9.73

15.68

14.10

26

22

41

34

67

65.66

49.09 130.13

83.65

231

148

436

272

45 12.25 10.15

16.86

15.16

28

24

46

38

68

74.33

59.65

145.11 112.92

262

174

491

322

46 12.84 10.65

17.85

15.87

30

25

49

41

69

82.98

65.91 161.68 129.33

293

188

548

352

47 13.43

11.16

19.14

16.84

33

27

54

44

70

93.20

73.30 181.25 148.72

330

204

615

387

48 13.48

11.89

20.45

17.77

35

29

58

48

71

102.45

82.71 204.38 159.34

374

235

702

443

49 13.71 12.33

21.77

18.77

38

31

63

52

72

113.68

94.13 232.46 172.23

427

272

807

512

50 14.37 12.99

23.41

20.00

40

34

69

57

73

127.55 108.24 267.15 188.15

493

319

937

596

51 15.38 13.75

25.38

21.18

45

35

78

62

74

142.08 123.01 303.50 204.84

562

367 1074

685

52 16.37 14.88

28.02

22.76

49

38

87

67

75

159.25 140.48 346.45 224.56

644

424 1235

789

53 17.46 15.88

30.96

24.81

55

44

101

77

76

200.03 174.92 418.29 276.67

785

530 1489

982

54 18.69 16.72

34.00

26.21

60

46

112

83

77

249.54 216.74 505.52 339.94

956

658 1797

1215

55 20.64 17.51

37.14

27.86

67

50

122

90

78

310.70 268.40 613.27 418.11 1167

817 2179

1504

56 22.69 19.48

41.67

31.07

74

53

140

97

79

374.78 322.52 726.16 500.00 1389

983 2578

1807

57 24.69 20.63

45.59

33.43

81

58

154

107

80

450.51 386.48 859.57 596.78 1651 1180 3050

2164

11.58

* $500,000 and $1,000,000 monthly rates are rounded up to the nearest dollar. Therefore, actual monthly rates at $500,000 and $1,000,000 may be slightly less.

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Premiums illustrated represent 10 year level term insurance with guaranteed level premiums for 10 years. $100,000 - $1,000,000 rates are Select-A-Term [policy form no. 07007] Preferred Plus Non-tobacco. This coverage features a level death benefit with fully guaranteed level premiums for the first 10 years with coverage to expire at age 95. The policy may be continued on Annual Renewable Term at the end of the level premium period without evidence of insurability until the anniversary nearest the insured’s 95th birthday. The underwriting risks, financial and contractual obligations and support functions associated with products issued by American General Life Insurance Company (AGL) Houston, TX are its responsibility. AGL does not solicit business in the state of New York. All terms, conditions and limitations of any policy issued shall govern. American General Life Companies is the marketing name for a group of domestic life insurers including American General Life Insurance Company and The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York. Policies and riders not available in all states. Premium rates current as of December 2023; rates may vary by state. Premiums available for other rate classes, ages and payment plans. Premium charges depend on evidence of insurability. Premiums increase at the end of the guaranteed term if policy is renewed. Death benefit remains level. The policy may be contested for two years from the date of issue for material misstatements or omissions on the application. Death benefit is limited to return of premium paid in the event of suicide within first two years. Rates subject to change. Standard Marketing Services represents AGL and other fine insurance companies.

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county feature

Randolph County After forming in 1818, Randolph County became home to many Quaker settlers from North Carolina who supported abolitionism. Abolitionist Levi Coffin worked with these Quakers to help nearly 3,000 enslaved Americans find freedom through the Underground Railroad’s sites in Indiana and Ohio. In 1846, Quakers and free people of color founded the Union Literary Institute in Randolph The Union Literary Institute

County — the first racially integrated school in Indiana.

COUNTY FACTS FOUNDED: 1818

AN AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR Director Robert Wise (Photo courtesy of Alan Light)

Robert Wise, a film director, producer, and editor, was born in Winchester, Indiana, in 1914. Wise is best known for directing the “The Sound of Music” and “West Side Story.” He won the Academy Award for Best Director and Best Picture for both musicals. Throughout his career, he directed 39 films across various genres, from westerns to science fiction. A well-known Winchester artist, Roy Barnes, painted a mural in Randolph County’s courthouse to commemorate Wise and other notable Randolph County natives.

The popular sugar cream pie from Wick’s Pies (Photo courtesy of Dylan Wickersham)

The Winchester Speedway (Photo courtesy of Winchester Speedway)

NAMED FOR: Peyton Randolph, a Founding Father of the United States and president of the first Continental Congress

POPULATION: 24,502

COUNTY SEAT: Winchester

INDIANA COUNTY NUMBER: 68

Union City

AMISH COUNTRY THE ‘WORLD’S FASTEST HALF-MILE’ Ninety miles northeast of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the Winchester Speedway, a half-mile oval racetrack with a 37-degree banking — one of the steepest in motorsports.

In 1914, owner Frank Funk built the speedway in his family farm’s cornfield.

The track has hosted its signature event, the Winchester 400, every fall since 2003 to 5,000 spectators.

Famous drivers who have raced at the Winchester Speedway include Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Sarah Fisher.

12 FEBRUARY 2024

In 1944, Duane “Wick” Wickersham opened a small cafe inside a local factory to serve lunch to its employees. After his success at the factory, Wickersham opened his own shop where he baked his grandmother’s pie recipes and sold 300 pies a day. Wick’s Pies has grown into a commercial bakery in Winchester, where 10,000 pies and 30,000 pie shells are made in an eight-hour shift. North of the commercial bakery is Mrs. Wick’s Restaurant, a bakery and cafe selling 36 pie varieties, including the Wickersham family’s popular sugar cream pie.

Nicole Thomas is a freelance writer from Indianapolis.

Winchester

insights COOPERATIVE CALENDAR OF STUDENT ART CONTEST SUBMISSIONS The art contest for the 2025 Cooperative Calendar of Student Art has begun.

Submissions for the contest should be mailed to the Indiana Connection office

by March 29.

WE REPAIR LEAKY LAKES GUARANTEED We know how to find all water leaks underground.

Entries for the Cooperative Calendar of Student Art Contest are due to Indiana Connection

by Friday, March 29.

A first-place winner will be selected for each grade, K-12, and will receive $200.

The winning artwork will illustrate the cover and the 12 months inside. One “Artist of the Year” will be selected from the first-place winners and will win an extra $100. Additional artists from each grade will be selected for honorable mention awards and will receive $75 and have their works printed in a special section of the calendar.

The contest is open to Indiana public, private, or home-schooled kindergarten through 12th-grade students during the 2023-24 school year. A complete set of rules and required entry forms are available at indianaconnection.org/for-youth/art-contest/.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR L.S. AYRES MEMORIES I cried reading the L.S. Ayres Tea Room article in the Dec. issue of Indiana Connection. My mom worked at Ayres and retired from there after more than 25 years. We always sat in the back of the room on an upper level. We loved their salad dressing, too. I was happy to see the Chicken Velvet Soup recipe. I remember in the 1950’s dimes being on the sidewalk for March of Dimes outside Ayres. It looked like a million dollars to me.

PAMELA SWISS Via email

FEBRUARY 2024

13

Indiana eats

CAJUN CUISINE

Zydeco’s celebrates 25 years of creating authentic Southern Louisiana home cooking

In 1996, Deb Hutchinson went on a

restaurant’s very first day still frequent

to taste everything, especially Cajun

one-day trip to New Orleans for Mardi

it, including one customer who

food. “It’s very flavor-intensive food. It

Gras. She met her future husband

recently celebrated her 88th birthday

should just be this beautiful dance in

and Zydeco’s co-owner, Carter

at the restaurant.

your mouth.”

One of the things she’s most proud of

“Have you heard the term ‘ya-ya,’ like

is when people from Louisiana choose

‘gumbo ya-ya?’” she asked. “‘Ya-ya’

to come to the restaurant.

means ‘everything talks at once,’ and

Hutchinson, at the corner of Bourbon and St. Peter streets.

Carter, who is from Boutte, Louisiana, finished his year as an adjunct professor at Tulane University, sold everything, and moved to Indiana.

“Some customers that live in Indiana hear about us when they go to New

that's exactly what real Cajun food should do.”

Orleans for vacation. They stay in a

“People tell me it’s just like a little mini

“Down there, when a family gets

little hotel, and the hotel clerk sees

vacation down South,” she said. “It’s

together, they cook, so he knew how

they’re from Indiana and asks if

fun and engaging, and I’ve got the

to cook,” Hutchinson said. “He started

they know about Zydeco’s,”

best customers in the world.”

bringing food to me at work, and

Hutchinson said.

Jenna Williams is a freelance writer from Indianapolis.

people would be hovering around my office with spoons in their hands.”

More and more people told them they needed to open a restaurant. Zydeco’s opened its Mooresville doors Sept.

11, 1998. When it was established, Hutchinson says there was a learning curve.

“For the first year, to everyone that walked in the door, we were like, ‘Welcome to Zydeco’s, we have no idea what we’re doing, are you sure you want to eat here?’” she laughed.

The restaurant has gained more customers and was featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”

Zydeco’s is designed to be authentic, southern home cooking in a fun, funky atmosphere. They make almost everything from scratch and bring certain ingredients up from Louisiana.

“I have to go the extra mile just to be authentic,” she said. “I have probably 20 hours a week in labor just of people chopping celery, bell pepper, onion,

ZYDECO'S

and garlic. We make our own roux,

11 E. Main St., Mooresville

“It was great — our customers

and we make our meats. Some items

helped,” she said, sharing that some

on the menu take three days to make.”

of the people who came on the

14 FEBRUARY 2024

Hutchinson said you should be able

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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 can be drowned out by the swell of the stress and water. Don’t jump in and add a tragedy to the trauma.

“When 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 want to save other things from getting wet,” said Jon Elkins, vice president of safety, training and compliance 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 come into contact with electrical outlets, baseboard heaters or other electrical systems, do not go into the water, added Elkins.

“You can be shocked or killed.

Not only can electricity travel through water, it can shock you through a wet floor.”

16 FEBRUARY 2024

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

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

B EF ORE A F LOOD A F TE R A F LO OD If you live in a flood-prone area: Keep an emergency kit of batteries, medications, etc., ready if you must 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.

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 breaker off first, and then turn off

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.

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.

Sources: Electrical Safety Foundation International, FEMA, Electrical Safety Authority

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Game day delights food

MAKE THESE RECIPES IN ADVANCE SO YOU DON’T MISS A SECOND OF THE BIGGEST GAME OF THE YEAR

GAME DAY SLOPPY JOES Glenda Ferguson, Paoli, Indiana

2 T. butter

1 t. yellow mustard

2½ lbs. ground beef

1 T. brown sugar

½ large onion, diced

2 t. chili powder

1 large green pepper, diced

1 cup water

1 T. garlic powder

Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper to taste

½ cup ketchup ½ cup barbecue sauce

Let your game day guests choose for themselves: Are they true blue Sloppy Joe sandwich fans or will they opt to top tots with Glenda Ferguson’s Game Day Sloppy Joe mixture?

18 FEBRUARY 2024

Heat butter in a large skillet. Add the ground beef and break apart. Cook for about 5 minutes and drain. Add the onion and pepper to the ground beef. Cook until soft. Stir in the garlic powder, ketchup, barbecue sauce, mustard, brown sugar, and chili powder. Add the water and stir.

Then let the mixture bubble. Do a taste test with the mixture, while adding Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper to your liking. Transfer to a slow cooker on low heat. Provide buns for sandwiches or put the mixture on tater tots, French fries, or chips.

food KICK OFF CHEESEBALL Doris Anne Kahlert, Berne, Indiana

8 oz. cream cheese, softened 2 T. minced fresh onion ¼ of a large green pepper, chopped 1 can (8 oz.) crushed pineapple, well drained ½ cup chopped walnuts Mix cream cheese, onion, green pepper, and pineapple. Chill for several hours. Shape into a ball. Roll in walnuts and serve with crackers. Makes 10 to 15 servings.

Editor's note: We rolled the cheeseball in 1 cup chopped walnuts and molded it into a football shape.

Score “host with the most” points by shaping Doris Kahlert’s Kick Off Cheeseball into a football shape before surrounding it with crackers of your choice.

It’ll be the star of your get-together’s grazing table.

POPPIN BARBECUPS Patricia Piekarski, Harvey, Illinois

¾ lb. ground beef ½ cup barbecue sauce 1 T. dried minced onion 2 T. brown sugar 1 can (8 oz.) of biscuits ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese Brown the ground beef and drain. Add barbecue sauce, onion, and brown sugar. Separate biscuits into 12 biscuits. Place the biscuits in an ungreased muffin tin. Press down into the bottom and the sides. Spoon in meat mixture and sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 400 F for 12 minutes until the biscuits are brown.

Though electric cooperative mascot Willie Wiredhand stocks up on Patricia Piekarski’s Poppin Barbecups for post-game snacking, we think you’ll be noshing on these flavorful goodies soon after taking them out of the oven.

FOOD PREPARED BY INDIANA CONNECTION STAFF PHOTOS BY KILEY LIPPS

FEBRUARY 2024

19

White House maître d’hôtel Alonzo Fields, center, and other officials welcome President Harry and First Lady Bess Truman home in March 1952 after the White House underwent a major renovation.

History on a Tray

Photo courtesy of the Harry S. Truman Library & Museum

Native Hoosier Alonzo Fields served four presidents as chief White House butler for 21 years

BY RICHARD G. BIEVER At 6-feet-4, Alonzo Fields could look over the shoulder of most people. But none were as broad as those of the four men he served as the chief butler in the White House for 21 years.

Fields served as a butler in the White House for four presidents.

20 FEBRUARY 2024

Born in the tiny Black farming community of Lyles Station in southwestern Indiana in 1900, Fields stood beside Presidents Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and Dwight Eisenhower.

From 1931-1953, through the Great Depression, World War II, and the beginnings of the Korean War, few other men stood so near to so much White House history as it unfolded.

“People don’t realize when this man from Lyles Station was actually in the role as that chief butler, he was exposed to every secrecy and piece of our nation’s history,” said Stan Madison, the volunteer director at the restored Lyles Station Historic School and Museum. The school and museum, a few miles west of Princeton, preserves and shares the history of the Black pioneering settlement and many of its most esteemed residents.

“He tells the story,” Madison continued, “that the chestnut tree that Mr. Thomas Jefferson planted behind the White House was where all the major decisions in wartime

were made. When you think about him being a part of that — just a servant — in the mix of something great, having moments with the president, the top officials, brigadier generals, and all. That has got to be the most heroic thing a person could be exposed to.”

Fields detailed each day’s events in cryptic copious notes and journal entries during his years of service.

While Fields’ observations centered on the minutiae of the menu and services, he often included comments and conversations he had and personal thoughts.

In 1960, seven years after leaving the White House, he began weaving together those journals and his recollections into a memoir of his 21 years there. Though restrained by today’s standards, his memoir provided a unique primary source insider’s view of daily life in the presidential household. And it provided his deeply personal account of American politics and world events from someone who was not a typical historian.

In 2000, James Still, playwright-inresidence for the Indiana Repertory Theatre at the time, began turning the memoir into a one-person play, “Looking Over the President’s Shoulder.” Premiering at the IRT in 2001, the play has been performed around the country and abroad. In June, Lyles Station and the Princeton Theatre are joining together to welcome Fields home for its 2024 Night at the Museum Live Event Series. They are bringing the play to Princeton for the museum’s Juneteenth commemoration.

MOVING ON Lyles Station was a robust farming community in western Gibson County that was settled by Black families as far back as the time of Indiana’s

statehood. When Fields was born, Lyles Station supported about 800 residents, a post office, a railroad station, an elementary school, two churches, two general stores, and a lumber mill. Fields’ father, Clinton, ran a general store and, on weekends, led the town’s brass band. In 1911, the family moved from Lyles Station to Indianapolis, where they operated a boarding house.

Fields developed a beautiful baritone and, initially, wanted to be an opera singer. In 1925, he left Indianapolis to enroll in Boston’s New England Conservatory of Music to pursue a teaching degree in music and a career as a singer.

While he had talent, he lacked tuition.

An acquaintance helped him get an interview for a butler position for Samuel Stratton, the president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was hired on, and Stratton agreed to pay Fields’ tuition at the music conservatory.

Fields quickly became a high-profile member of the MIT service staff.

A REMARKABLE OPPORTUNITY While working for MIT, he met Thomas Edison, John D. Rockefeller, and many other dignitaries, including the wife of President Hoover, First Lady Lou Henry Hoover. But then, in October 1931, Stratton died

unexpectedly, and Fields lost his means of support. Despite having a date set for his singing debut, Fields had to find work where it was available. By then, he had a wife, Edna, and a stepdaughter to support.

Hearing of Stratton’s death, the First Lady recalled the strapping butler who had waited on her during her visit to the Stratton household. She offered Fields a job as a butler in the White House. Realizing this was an opportunity he couldn’t afford to pass up, Fields and his family packed and moved to Washington, D.C. The position was only to be for a few months, and Fields had dreams of returning to the conservatory. But he was in a Catch-22: He couldn’t return to Boston without a job (and it was the Depression, after all); yet the longer he stayed in the White House, he feared, the less chance he’d ever return to following his dreams.

As it turned out, his “most thrilling experience” in his 21 years at the White House, he later recalled, was when he was invited to sing in the East Room for the Christmas Eve party given for the help staff in 1932.

“I had my day,” he later wrote, “and a very appreciative audience gave me reason to believe they enjoyed my renditions.” continued on page 22

At the Lyles Station museum, some of the handwritten notes Fields kept during his 21 years as White House butler are on display. This entry, from Jan. 8, 1942, notes the number of drinks Fields served to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Churchill was a White House guest from mid-December 1941, a week after the U.S. entered World War II, until mid-January 1942.

FEBRUARY 2024

21

continued from page 21 When the Roosevelts arrived in March 1933, Fields’ character and eye for detail quickly had him ascend to the head butler position and maître d’hôtel of the White House.

He then planned and managed family, social, and state events at the White House, prepared menus, and directed the kitchen staff and more than a dozen butlers. He worked horrendous hours, 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week, Madison noted. He met royalty, heads of state, military brass, and Hollywood stars.

“When you think about the importance of this guy,” Madison said, “he was considered part of that network that made things happen. He rolled the red carpet out; he found out what [the guests’] favorite ‘everything’ was; and when they got there to that door, I’m sure they were shocked to see a Black man open it to invite them into the White House.”

While in the White House, Fields brought his brother, George, on staff, as well. George Fields, who was born in Lyles Station in 1911, worked in the White House from 1937-1941. Once World War II began, he joined the Navy.

Alonzo Fields left the White House in February 1953 to attend to his wife whose health began failing. They moved back to Massachusetts. Over the next two decades, Edna would be in and out of the hospital. She died in West Medford, Massachusetts in 1973.

During that time, Fields found solace in writing his memoir from the extensive notes he had kept. “My 21 Years in the White House” made him something of a celebrity, and he began public speaking about his experiences. In the late 1970s, he became reacquainted with Mayland McLaughlin, also of West Medford, who had lost her spouse. An article published by the Medford Historical Society said the two had an “immediate connection,” and formed a deep bond.

They married in 1980. Fields died of leukemia just short of his 94th birthday in March 1994 in Cambridge.

Though he heard negative comments like, “Who in the world would ever come from a hick town called ‘Lyles Station,’” Fields got to thinking about it, Madison said. That little community instilled in him a strong education and a strong character — a character which four U.S. presidents, their wives, other esteemed Americans, and foreign dignitaries must have found admirable. “My God. I’m pretty proud of where I came from,” Madison noted Fields might have said. “Starting out with an education in a small little farming community, and to say that that education took me all the way to the White House … I feel pretty blessed.”

Richard G. Biever is senior editor of Indiana Connection.

22 FEBRUARY 2024

Coming home

Fields’ life story to be performed in Princeton this summer This June, Alonzo Fields, the Gibson County native who literally looked over the shoulders of four presidents as the chief butler at the White House, is coming home. Lyles Station Historic School and Museum and Princeton Theatre bring the award-winning play about Fields’ 21 years in the White House to Princeton.

Based on Fields’ memoir and the daily notes he kept, “Looking Over the President’s Shoulder” takes place on the eve of his last day on the job as maître d’hôtel at the White House. Throughout the one-man, two-act play, Fields reflects on his years of service to his country with humor and pride, including the presidential reactions to the attack on Pearl Harbor, the desegregation of the military, and the beginning of the Korean War. Tickets are now on sale for the three performances at the Princeton Theatre, June 21-23. The Saturday performance will be preceded by a “Presidential Dinner” replicating one of Fields’ own White House dinner preparations. James Creer, a stage and voice-over actor and singer, will reprise the role of Fields in the play, which he has performed around the United States.

The play was originally commissioned by the Indiana Repertory Theatre in Indianapolis, where it premiered Nov. 2, 2001.

LOOKING OVER THE PRESIDENT’S SHOULDER • Friday, June 21, 7 p.m.

• Saturday, June 22, 7 p.m. (with Presidential Dinner at 5:30 p.m.)

• Sunday, June 23, 2 p.m.

TICKETS • Performance: $25 • Dinner and Performance: $90

THE PRINCETON THEATRE 301 W. Broadway St., Princeton, IN 47670 For more information, call 812-635-9185 or visit PrincetonTheatre.org.

LYLES STATION HISTORIC SCHOOL AND MUSEUM 953 N. 500 W. PRINCETON, IN 47670

Stanley Madison, chairman of the Lyles Station preservation corporation and volunteer director of the school and museum, has a seat in the restored classroom that serves as an educational resource center.

He and the school are consumers of WIN Energy REMC.

For more information about the museum and its various programs available to educators and schools, contact the museum at 812-385-2534, lylesstation.com, and on Facebook.

Museum Hours: Tues.-Sat., 1-4 p.m. (Central Time)

flourishing community grew Lyles Station: Afrom fertile soils and resilient souls While Indiana native Alonzo Fields was making a home for himself as chief butler and maître d’ at the White House, Lyles Station, the historic Black community where he was born in 1900, was being lost to the shifting tides of fortune and fate.

Folks needn’t travel to Washington to learn about Lyles Station. Though much diminished from its heyday when Fields was born, Lyles Station is still home to families of farmers, nearly all descended from the original settlers, who still work the land. And, the community’s story is being told In 2016, that almost at the restored Lyles Station forgotten community also Historic School & Museum, Lyles found a home in Washington Station one of the community’s last — with the Smithsonian remaining landmarks.

National Museum of African American History and Culture opening near the BOOM, THEN DECLINE Washington Monument.

The school was built in 1919 and “Lyles Station offers a window into produced many high-achieving the largely unknown story of free graduates. It closed in 1958. By black pioneers on the American 1997, the school was collapsing in frontier,” the Smithsonian notes of its ruins when the Lyles Station Historic permanent exhibit. “African American Preservation Corporation formed and farmers have been cultivating their teamed with Indiana Landmarks to own land in and near the area since rescue the building.

1815. Through two centuries of “In Washington, D.C., they’re looking tumultuous change, the community at southwestern Indiana as having of Lyles Station has rested on the a unique place that is still farming. pillars of home, farm, church, and And they want to tell that story,” school — and on an unbroken history said Stanley Madison, chairman of of land ownership.”

the preservation corporation and volunteer director of the museum.

“We have deep roots.”

Those deep roots were planted by free Black families attracted to the area by its fertile land, created by the nearby Patoka, White and Wabash rivers. The settlement, later called Lyles Station, grew into a robust self-sustaining farming community of approximately 800 residents. At its peak, from 1880 to 1913, Lyles Station consisted of 55 homes, a post office, a rail station, an elementary school, two churches, two general stores, and a lumber mill.

The rivers that helped the community grow and thrive were also prone to flooding. After a devastating flood in 1913 that destroyed much of the town, Lyles Station began a steady decline. Madison noted many younger members of the community left for new opportunities and goodpaying jobs with developing industries in places like Gary, Indianapolis, Evansville and Ohio, leaving only core family farmers behind.

FEBRUARY 2024

23

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Preparing future FOR THE

M C MICHAEL ELECTED AS INDIANA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES BOARD PRESIDENT

S

teve McMichael was recently

know the involvement and education

92 counties, count on Indiana’s

elected as the president of

needed to be an effective co-op board

REMCs for their power.”

the board for Indiana Electric

member, but I am thankful for the

Cooperatives. IEC is the statewide

opportunity to serve.”

trade association representing

McMichael believes the co-op industry is ever-evolving. “The

Since joining the Paulding Putnam

co-op electric industry is perhaps

board, he has served on various board

changing more rapidly than ever

committees, as vice chairman of the

in our almost 90-year history,”

board, and is the current board chair.

said McMichael. “It’s important

McMichael lives in New Haven,

McMichael has also been a frequent

for everyone involved (CEOs,

Indiana, with his wife of 36 years,

panelist at National Rural Utilities

directors, and all staff) to keep

Judy, and their dachshund/beagle

Cooperative Finance Corporation and

updated and educated on changes

mix, Zelda. Their two daughters

National Rural Electric Cooperative

as we prepare for the future. Our

and their husbands also live in

Association events regarding board

future includes solar, wind, electric

New Haven. McMichael is a retired

governance. He also traveled to

Realtor/broker and was first elected

Guatemala with Project Indiana to help

mayor of New Haven in 2019. He

train new electric cooperative directors.

Indiana’s 38 electric cooperatives and is the publisher of Indiana Connection.

was just re-elected to another fouryear term.

Before serving as mayor, McMichael served on the city council and township advisory board. He joined Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative, Inc.’s board in 2013.

McMichael is excited to take on the role

baseload retirements, and additional challenges — including broadband for many co-ops.”

of IEC board president.

McMichael is committed to

“I believe IEC is in a strong position

engaging his board-member

with a great staff, a new and effective CEO, and an upcoming new facility,” said McMichael. “IEC is a vital organization whose mission is to unify, lead, advocate, and serve. As the

“When I joined the board, I was

statewide association — the nation’s

looking for additional ways to serve

first for REMCs — IEC assists local

the New Haven community,” said

co-ops in serving their members. Over

McMichael. “At the time, I didn’t

1.3 million Hoosiers, in 89 of Indiana’s

26 FEBRUARY 2024

vehicles, large scale batteries,

educating, equipping, and peers across the state. “I hope to continue to work towards additional resources for board directors through additional education opportunities, networking opportunities, and a new mentorship program we are rolling out in 2024.”

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Wabash Valley Power news

BEEFED UP CHARGING: New EV charger network powers Hoosier travelers Electric vehicle drivers eating at the Beef House Restaurant in Covington can now fill up their automobiles at the same time.

The electric vehicle charger installed at the Beef House is one of over 50 high-speed direct current fast charger stations in a new statewide network created by GO Electric Vehicle Indiana (GOEVIN). The collaboration consists of electric utilities in Indiana, including Wabash Valley Power Alliance (WVPA) and its member cooperatives, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, and Drive Clean Indiana. The group is installing high-speed chargers near major transportation corridors throughout the state.

“Range anxiety is still causing some people to be hesitant to purchase an electric vehicle,” said Joan Soller, director of grid innovation and portfolio integration for WVPA. “This program will fill a huge need in electric vehicle infrastructure.”

Joan Soller, director of risk management and regulatory affairs at Wabash Valley Power Alliance, with Beef House Restaurant co-owner Bonnie Wright at the new electric vehicle charger.

28 FEBRUARY 2024

The statewide program received more than $6 million from the Indiana Volkswagen Mitigation Settlement for the new chargers.

According to the IDEM website, the funding came from the $2.9 billion Environmental Mitigation Trust as part of the Volkswagen Corp.’s settlement with the U.S. Justice Department. Funding from the trust is to offset the excess air pollution emitted by Volkswagen vehicles that violated the Clean Air Act, IDEM reported.

The utilities in the GOEVIN collaboration are funding the remaining balance for the charging stations. EV owners will pay a fee to charge their vehicles at the stations.

“One of the greatest things about the GOEVIN initiative is that it’s truly a collaboration,” said Shawn Seals, senior environmental manager for IDEM. “We are somewhat the envy of the Midwest in that we have a genuine collaborative of

utility groups working on EV infrastructure across the state.”

Each charging station, which can charge two vehicles simultaneously, was installed within about one mile of a major highway or thoroughfare. In addition to the Beef House, three other chargers are installed in locations served by WVPA member cooperatives: Fair Oaks Farms in Jasper County, served by Jasper County REMC; JJ’s Travel Plaza in Peru, served by Miami-Cass REMC; and Meijer in Whitestown, served

by Boone REMC. “We’re all pioneers. This is the opportunity for us to learn together,” said Carl Lisek, executive director of Drive Clean Indiana. “This gives Hoosiers a choice to travel from northern Indiana to southern Indiana with collaboration on a branded program that people will be able to identify.”

The Beef House in Covington hosts one of the more than 50 new direct current fast charger stations under construction along major Indiana highways and thoroughfares.

travel

magic MAPLE Breakfast enthusiasts, preservationists, and nature buffs all have something to love when it comes to maple syrup, and one magical weekend a year, they can see it up close and personal during Indiana Maple Syrup Weekend. In its 10th year, the statewide celebration provides a unique invitation to 14 of the state’s sugar shacks on March 9-10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visitors can experience each shack’s production process, sample maple products, and purchase their favorites. Some offer tours, hayrides, refreshments, pancakes, and even welcome exploration of their grounds.

No two sugar shacks will offer the same experience, so it’s best to plot your visit strategically.

While maple syrup is the primary draw, syrup producers do more than transform sap into the versatile product we know and love. Syrup producers are also fierce stewards of the sugarbushes they manage, advocate for the industry, and the preservation of the process.

Rutherford’s Sugar Camp, located just north of New Castle, has been in operation by the same family since 1911. Visitors here have easy access to the camp and can marvel at the

Hoosier sugar shacks open to the public in March for a behind-thescenes look and taste of Indiana maple syrup.

Photos courtesy of Indiana Maple Syrup Association

1841 log cabin and former sugar shack that now serves as the camp’s sales room.

“For the adventurous hikers, I would recommend Maplewood Farms southwest of Richmond. A modern camp with some pretty good hills, remote hiking, and spectacular views,” suggested Kevin Hart of the Indiana Maple Syrup Association.

Visit indianamapleweekend.com for maps, details, and everything you need to plot your route toward maple goodness.

If a visit to a sugar shack isn’t in the cards this year, the Parke County Maple Fair can get you your fix. Feb. 24-25 and March 2-3, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, enjoy a pancake breakfast at the Parke County Fairgrounds and peruse maple offerings from local producers, plus arts and crafts. Learn more at coveredbridges.com.

While maple syrup season has a short window, there’s no reason to be without this Hoosier-made essential at home. Look for Indiana maple syrup at your local farmers market or online at indymaplesyrup.com.

Enter our monthly giveaway to win a maple syrup prize pack from Maplewood Farms in Brownsville, Indiana.

The prize pack includes two maple sugar shakers and two pints of maple syrup. See page 3 for more details.

Natalie Derrickson is a freelance writer from Indianapolis.

FEBRUARY 2024

29

outdoors

Our bowl is always full Many winters ago, I stood in a short line at a local feed store with a bag of sunflower seed over my shoulder and a box of suet cakes tucked under my arm. As I waited for the cashier to ring up a lady in a sweater and stocking cap, I noticed a man in overalls who wandered the shop’s clutter of mole traps, heat lamps, and dog food bags.

As the clerk made the change, the man came up behind me — a bag of sweet feed in his hands — and with apparently little else to do, he asked why I fed the birds. “This time of year, they need a little help,” I said, “Besides, we love to watch them from our windows.”

As if my last statement was a confession of idleness, willful unemployment, or plain simplemindedness, he told me that I was wasting my time and money, that wild birds didn’t need to be fed, and that they should fend for themselves. He spoke as if laziness among bird populations was a growing national problem as if they were on the government dole. Being more polite than perhaps I am now, I told him that he chose to feed

30 FEBRUARY 2024

horses, and I chose to feed birds, and I didn’t see much of a difference in the two, except for the size.

Now, all these years later, I still feed birds, and there’s not a day goes by that I don’t make it a morning’s priority to slip on my broken-down boots to slide out our back door holding a scoop of seed in one hand and an old plastic pitcher of water in the other. I top off the feeders in the yard with the seed and fill a small leaf-shaped bowl with the water.

No matter how cold it is, I leave the bowl on the railing of my little cabin’s walkway.

Since the bowl is shallow, it sometimes freezes in a few minutes, but, at least for a while, the heartiest of its visitors — usually titmice and chickadees — brave a growing berg of ice to dip their beaks and swallow its chilly offering. On occasion, since I am also in the habit of writing at a north-facing window each day, I see a bird or two take a “polar plunge” of sorts, preening in a frigid bath.

It is a common practice for rural and city folks alike to feed wild birds.

One source tells me that Americans

Yellow-rumped warblers are one of the most common warblers in Indiana. This one seeks a drink at the Parke County writer’s bowl in late November.

spend no less than $4 billion a year to do it, and it is getting considerably more expensive every day. But birds also need water, and supplying it, although a A red-breasted nuthatch hassle in the looks to sip water from an winter, is just ice-encrusted bowl on the writer’s cabin railing as important last February. as leaving out seed and suet.

Whether the birds around our place become dependent on us for it or not, our feeders and that bowl will always be full.

I’m not hearing any complaints.

Mike Lunsford is a freelance columnist, feature writer, and photographer, primarily for the Terre Haute Tribune-Star and Terre Haute Living magazine.

The author of seven books lives in Parke County with his wife, Joanie. Contact Lunsford at hickory913@gmail.com.

SPRING INTO DIGGING SEASON WITH 811 Spring is the perfect time to refresh and beautify your outdoor space! Whether you are planting a tree or installing a new mailbox, always contact Indiana 811 first to ensure your underground utilities are marked before you dig.

811 Spring Checklist: • Submit your free locate request at Indiana 811.org at least two full working days before your digging project.

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