March 2018 Electric Consumer

M ARC H 2018

YOUR INDIANA COOPERATIVE COMPANION

k B a e r t s a F Five quick questions for Romeo Langford

PAGE 38

New Life for old Bones State museum re-envisions Indiana in the Ice Age PAGE 23

from the editor

Read on!

VOLUME 67 • NUMBER 9 ISSN 0745-4651 • USPS 262-340 Published monthly by:

A couple of months ago, I shared that I enjoy curling up with a good book when the weather outside is frightful.

This winter, those frightful conditions were quite common so I’ve been able to make quite a dent in my “to be read” pile.

Several of you wrote to offer recommendations of books that I, or other readers, might enjoy.

Elsie Kerr wrote, “One of my New Year’s resolutions was to reread some of the ‘old’ books that were favorites of my own children many years ago. Many are well-worn!” However, to start the year, Elsie read William H. McRaven’s “Make Your Bed” and Hillary Clinton’s “What Happened?” She said both books were “thought provoking.”

Meanwhile, Beverly Johnson Biehr, a published author herself, has been reading “The Zhivago Affair” by Peter Finn and Petra Couvée. It is a biography of author Borya Pasternak about the dangers and struggles that come with being a poet and writer in Russia.

Becky Williams, former director of the Fulton County Public Library, recommends “The Zookeeper’s Wife” by Diane Ackerman. It was the library’s reading group selection in January.

Other readers’ picks: • “A Year in Provence” by Peter Mayle (recommended by Wendy Smith) • “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” by Barbara Robinson (recommended by Liz Gilbert) • “Jesus, The One and Only” by Beth Moore (recommended by Denise Hershman) • Nicholas Sparks’ novels (recommended by Darlene Smith) Now that the weather is starting to warm up you may not be spending as much time inside with a good book. But if you want to escape from reality awhile without leaving your chair, pick up a book or your Kindle and read on!

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

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

CONTACT US: 720 N. High School Road Indianapolis, IN 46214 317-487-2220 or 800‑340‑7362 ec@ElectricConsumer.org ElectricConsumer.org INDIANA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OFFICERS Gary Gerlach President Walter Hunter Vice President Randy Kleaving Secretary/Treasurer Tom VanParis Chief Executive Officer EDITORIAL STAFF Emily Schilling Editor Richard George Biever Senior Editor Holly Huffman Member Relations/ Advertising Manager Ellie Schuler Communications Specialist ADVERTISING American MainStreet Publications, 800-626-1181; amp.coop Crosshair Media, 502-216-8537; crosshairmedia.net

EMILY SCHILLING Editor eschilling@electricconsumer.org On the menu: July issue — Picnic/Pitch-In recipes; deadline April 19. If we publish your recipe on our food page, we’ll send you a $10 gift card.

Reader Submissions page: July — What accomplishments are you most proud of? Let us know in a short paragraph and, if you have one, send us a photo to illustrate your story; deadline April 19.

Giveaways: Zydeco’s Cajun Actual, which was featured in Indiana Eats in February, is providing one lucky reader with a $25 gift certificate. We’re also giving away two sets of four tickets to the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, courtesy of the museum. To enter these drawings, send an email to ec@electricconsumer.org by March 16 with either the subject line “Free Cajun Food” or “Museum Giveaway.” If you submit a recipe or story for the reader submission page when you enter, you’ll increase your chance of winning!

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 ElectricConsumer.org; email ec@ElectricConsumer.org; or send to Electric Consumer, PO Box 24517, Indianapolis, IN 46224.

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

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

SUBSCRIPTIONS: $12 for individuals not subscribing through participating REMCs/RECs. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Readers who receive Electric Consumer through their electric co-op membership should report address changes to their local co-op.

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

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

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

MARCH 2018

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contents

MARCH

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17

product picks

food

23

feature story

03 FROM THE EDITOR

16 INDIANA EATS

27 SAFETY

05 CO-OP NEWS What’s happening at your local electric cooperative.

17 FOOD

28 LEGISLATIVE

10 PRODUCT PICKS Spruce up with tools that make jobs a spring breeze.

12 INSIGHTS 13 C ALENDAR ART CONTEST

19 BEST OF INDIANA Cast your vote for the best.

22 DO-IT-YOURSELF What’s in your toolbox?

23 FEATURE STORY Feel the chill as the Ice Age returns to Indiana State Museum.

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

profile

36 H OOSIER ENERGY/ WABASH VALLEY NEWS

Getting the votes out.

37 READER SUBMISSIONS Pictures of our changing

30 EVENTS CALENDAR

weather (not in all editions).

34 BACKYARD “Perennial of the Year” is a magnet for butterflies and

38 PROFILE New Albany’s Romeo Langford is among the best high school players in the U.S. Learn a bit more about the high-scoring hoops star.

bees (not in all editions).

35 PRODUCT RECALLS

On the Cover March’s mass hysteria in Indiana this year might not be so much about who wins the

Find us on Pinterest www.pinterest.com/Electriconsumer

high school basketball championships, but

Follow us on Instagram www.instagram.com/ElectricConsumer

New Albany’s Romeo Langford, one of the

rather, which college wins the services of most sought-after seniors in the nation.

PHOTO BY TYLER STEWART/NEWS AND TRIBUNE

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Voluntary and Open Membership

Democratic Member Control

Member Economic Participation

Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote).

Cooperatives at other levels are also organized in a democratic manner.

Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

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Co-op’s Keys to Success No matter what their specialization is — be it electricity, agricultural, housing, financial, health or something else — cooperatives are guided by seven principles. Back in 1844, a group of woolen mill workers formed a cooperative in Rochdale, England, to purchase household supplies in bulk. These workers came up with the original Rochdale Principles. In 1995, the International Cooperative Alliance tweaked those original principles as follows:

cooperation among cooperatives

education, training, and information

Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

concern for community Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.

Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public – particularly young people and opinion leaders — about the nature and benefits of cooperation.

Autonomy and Independence Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter to agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.

Cooperation Among Cooperatives

6 The cooperative movement is strengthened by collaboration between cooperative organizations.

This can happen at the local, national and international levels.

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MARCH 2018

Cooperating: It’s what co-ops do best It’s a no brainer that you are more successful when you cooperate with others who know how to cooperate as well. That’s why those at your electric cooperative believe they can best serve member-owners like you — and strengthen the

LIVING THE PRINCIPLE

Learn the electric co-op way!

cooperative movement overall — by following the sixth cooperative principle, “Cooperation Among Cooperatives.”

Be a team player It may seem easier to work out a

Quite simply, when cooperatives work together as a team, there’s nothing we

problem you have on your own,

can’t accomplish!

but you could be missing out on a different perspective. Whether

Electric cooperatives across the state, nation and world, for that matter, are

it’s in your job, your community or

“working together, working for you,” on many levels. Cooperatives serve their

household, being open to working

members most effectively and strengthen the co-op movement by not only working together in rural communities, but also going as far as helping bring

together will only make it easier to reach your goals.

electricity to unserved parts of the world.

Even though co-ops are independent entities, they still rely on other co-ops to share resources, information, and, in some cases, manpower. Electric co-ops have long relied on one another to get power restored more quickly after severe weather emergencies. We’ve sent crews to help other co-ops restore power after a tornado or ice storm, and co-ops can rely on one another to go the extra mile when help is needed. When co-ops work together, it’s not only safer for them, it’s also more efficient.

Lend a helping hand Sometimes those who need our help do not have the means to reach out and ask for it. Maybe your local food pantry needs help restocking its shelves. Perhaps a co-worker could use some assistance with a project he or she is working on. Consider reaching out to those around you and offering your help. In many

Linemen prove cooperation among cooperatives works Indiana’s electric cooperatives take care of needs at home first, but our crews are eager to help those in need. Late last summer, Hurricane Irma devastated many areas in the southeastern part of the country and beyond. The storm had created

cases, what goes around comes around. The next time you need a helping hand, others just may volunteer to pitch in!

Think big (and small)

widespread property damage with more than 6 million without power.

Many times people will tell you

There was no hesitation from our crews to lend a helping hand. A crew of around

But it’s OK to think small, too.

60 linemen from Indiana’s electric cooperatives traveled to Macon, Georgia, this past September to assist in the recovery efforts. Those at your electric cooperative believe it is important for us to work together to help one another in times of disaster to make sure power delivery systems are repaired as quickly, safely and cost-effectively as possible.

to think big, and you should!

Start collaborating with local community members, and from there you can grow your goals to a larger platform. Sometimes you can make the biggest differences in the smallest way!

The teamwork and camaraderie shown between our crews — and crews from other states — demonstrates why it is so important to have cooperation among cooperatives.

MARCH 2018

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Cooperation: Where everybody succeeds When it comes to cooperation, there’s no winner or loser. The sole purpose of working together is to see everyone come out on top! Round up some friends, family or coworkers, and put your skills to the test to see how you fare out with these team-building games.

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Minefield: Arrange some sort of obstacle course and divide players into teams. Players take turns navigating the “mine field” while blindfolded, with only their teammates to guide them. You can also require players to use only certain words or clues to make it challenging or content-area specific.

Collaborative Skills: Communication, trust Sometimes your electric cooperative can run into obstacles, but we’re lucky to be in a community of cooperatives that works together! When you can trust that your fellow cooperatives have your back, you can rest easy when a setback arises.

2

The Worst-Case Scenario: Fabricate a scenario in which players would need to work together and solve problems to succeed, like being stranded on a deserted island or getting lost at sea. Ask them to work together to concoct a solution that ensures everyone arrives safely. You might ask them to come up with a list of 10 must-have items that would help them most, or a creative suggestion for passage to safety. Encourage them to vote — everyone must agree to the final solution.

Collaborative Skills: Communication, problem-solving Your electric cooperative does this too! Co-op personnel have to solve problems before they happen, so if a problem does arise they’re ready for it. Creating a plan takes teamwork, and everyone has to be on board for it to work.

3

Human Knot: Have players stand in a circle facing each other, shoulder to shoulder. Instruct everyone to put their right hand out and grab a random hand of someone across from them. Then, tell them to put their left hand out and grab another random hand from a different person across the circle. Within a set time limit, the group needs to untangle the knot of arms without releasing their hands. If the group is too large, make multiple smaller circles and have the separate groups compete.

Collaborative Skills: Communication, problem-solving, teamwork At your electric cooperative, there are many people working together to bring you quality services. Whether it’s the linemen, board of directors, communicators or your CEO, everyone has to work together to get the job done right!

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MARCH 2018

product picks

Spruce up

1

4

Spring for

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5

Get ready for a spring spruceup with tools that make the job a breeze.

BY JAYNE CANNON

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Many of us can’t live without our furry friends, but we could sure do without the fur they shed. The Shark Rotator Powered LiftAway Vacuum, with its mini motorhead brush, feeds on left-behind fur like jaws. $300.

It’s been a long, cold lonely winter for your siding, windows and patio. But here comes the Sun Joe Electric Pressure Washer.

It uses a wand, two detergent tanks and five different spray nozzles to make them all sparkle again. $153.

800-466-3337; homedepot.com

If you have allergies, vacuuming every day is a must. But who has time? With a Neato Botvac D5 Connected Navigating Robot Vacuum, you can clean your floors while you sleep or shop. Just control it from your smartphone. $540.

888-280-4331; amazon.com

Your sheets are crisp and clean, but what about your mattress?

The Dyson V6 Mattress vacuum is designed to clean your mattress of things like allergens. Also use it on upholstery or, with its dusting attachment, hard surfaces. $250.

866-693-9766; dyson.com

For the really tough tasks — grimy grout, caked-on grease and more — the McCulloch Heavy-Duty Portable Steam Cleaner uses high-powered jets of steam to clear it all away and includes 18 attachments for just about any job. $140.

800-466-3337; homedepot.com

Spills and stains are especially annoying when they collide with your carpets.

But never fear: Bissell’s Little Green Multi-Purpose Deep Cleaner is here. Don’t let its compact size fool you — it tackles big stains, too. $100.

888-280-4331; amazon.com

800-462-3966; bedbathandbeyond. com

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MARCH 2018

insights

Renewables poised for record year in 2019

F

ederal energy officials expect to see modest growth in the

In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, the Energy Information

nation’s electricity consumption in 2019 — with a record

Administration predicts a 1.3 percent consumption increase

set for renewables.

this year, followed by a rise of just 0.5 percent in 2019.

For the first time, non-hydro renewable energy sources are expected to supply more than 10 percent of the nation’s annual average total generation in 2019. EIA expects the price of natural gas for electricity generation will be lower this year than last and will fall even more in 2019. Natural gas should account for 33 percent of generation this year and 34 percent next year, the report said.

Those lower natural gas prices, combined with retirements of coal-fired plants, will have an impact on coal’s role. Coal supplied about 30 percent of America’s electricity generation in 2016 and 2017, but EIA expects it will fall to slightly below 30 percent this year and 28 percent next year.

Despite the scheduled retirement of reactors at Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island and another in Massachusetts, nuclear’s share of generation is expected to drop just 1 percent, down to 19 percent from the 20 percent seen in 2017 and expected again G ETTY I M AG E

this year.

CORRECTION February’s story “Fireflies in space,” which was about the zero-gravity experiment aboard a Blue Origin sub-orbital flight in December, over-stated the height the rocket flew. The 12-minute flight reached an altitude of 60 miles above Earth.

The automated experiment, a joint project between second

ELECTRIC CO-OPS SPONSOR 48 STATEHOUSE PAGES

graders at Cumberland

Forty-eight high school students repre-

chamber and learned about current legis-

Elementary in West Lafayette

senting 16 electric cooperatives through-

lation.

and Purdue University’s School

out Indiana got a first-hand look at the

of Aeronautics and Astronautics,

inner workings of Indiana government.

proved that the two chemicals

They participated in Indiana Electric

fireflies mix in their bellies to

Cooperative Page Day at the Indiana

make themselves glow in Indiana

Statehouse on Jan. 31.

summer fields could mix and

The students toured the Statehouse, met

would glow in the weightlessness

with their state senator; observed floor

of space.

sessions; assisted staff members; sat in on a committee hearing in the Senate

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MARCH 2018

The page experience amplifies lessons learned in the classroom, Tom VanParis, Indiana Electric Cooperatives CEO, noted. “Serving as a page gives young people the unique opportunity to participate in state government,” he said.

IEC is the Indianapolis-based service association for Indiana’s 38 member-owned electric cooperatives.

insights

MARCH 2018

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Indiana eats

Great steaks and more!

Johnny V’s Main Street Grille 58 N. Main St.

Frankfort, Indiana

765-654-4702 HOURS/MENU:

Visit johnnyvs.us for more information.

Fans of Johnny V’s Main Street Grille say that this locally owned eatery serves the best steaks in Frankfort, Indiana. But with an extensive menu featuring salads, burgers, sandwiches, pasta, dinner entrees, desserts and more, Johnny V’s makes family dining a breeze for even the pickiest of eaters.

State Rep. Heath VanNatter, who represents the area’s District 38, is one loyal customer who brings his family to the restaurant, located, as its name implies, on Frankfort’s downtown Main Street, across from the courthouse. VanNatter usually opts for the hand-breaded Hoosier Pork Tenderloin sandwich which is served, like all sandwich choices, with steak fries. For just 99 cents more, diners can enjoy onion rings or sweet potato chips with their sandwiches.

Other Johnny V’s regulars rave about the steak and shrimp dinner with two skewers of either grilled or breaded shrimp, and the housemade sugar cream pie, just one of a selection of freshly made desserts. The best time to try a slice of pie? The restaurant’s weekly Free Pie Wednesday.

Besides the tasty food options, Johnny V’s patrons enjoy the comfortable casual atmosphere. Photos of old Frankfort landmarks decorate the walls. The original scoreboard from Frankfort High School’s Howard Hall, the home gymnasium of that school’s quadruple state champion basketball team in the 1920s and ’30s, is also proudly displayed.

During lunchtime, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on weekdays, Johnny V’s not only serves up daily specials for $6.99 each, but also offers 14 other lunch-sized choices. Dinner is served Monday-Thursday, 4-9 p.m; Friday and Saturday, 4-10 p.m.; and Sunday, 4-8 p.m.

The adjoining 21-and-over Sports Pub, which advertises the widest selection of beers on tap in town, is open Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-Midnight and Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

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ABOUT STATE REP. HEATH VANNATTER: Indiana State Rep. Heath VanNatter represents House District 38, which includes portions of Carroll, Cass, Howard and Clinton counties.

He serves as chair of the Employment, Labor and Pensions Committee and also is a majority member of the Environmental Affairs and Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications committees.

food

WE SAY

‘Potato’

Easy Potato Soup

by Heidi Stamets, Monroeville 1 T. butter 1 large onion, chopped 6 cups mashed potatoes 29 oz. chicken broth ½ cup milk In a medium soup pot, melt butter over low heat, and sauté chopped onions until tender.

Stir in the mashed potatoes, and then slowly add the chicken broth. Stir and add milk (use more or less to achieve desired creaminess). Cook until heated through and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Baked German Potato Salad

by Kathleen Tooley, Berne 1 cup mayonnaise-style salad dressing 1 lb. pasteurized processed cheese, melted ½ t. salt ¼ t. pepper 8 medium red potatoes, unpeeled, thinly sliced and cooked ½ cup chopped green onion ¼ cup sliced green olives ¼ cup sliced black olives ½ lb. cooked bacon Mix salad dressing, melted cheese, salt and pepper. Fold in sliced potatoes, chopped onion, olives and half of bacon.

Place all in a greased 8x12-inch baking dish. Sprinkle remaining bacon on top.

Bake at 325 F for 1 hour.

Cook’s notes: This recipe is from my 93-year-old mother-in-law and was passed down to her from her mother.

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food Potato Scones

by Charlotte Rymph, Monterey 2 cups flour 1 T. baking powder 1 t. salt 3 T. cold butter 1 cup mashed potatoes, prepared with milk and butter 1

/3 cup milk 1 egg

In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Combine potatoes, milk and egg.

Sweet Potato Fritters with Sweet and Spicy Sauce

by Patsy Frost, Corydon Fritters:

into patties about ½-inch deep and 2-3

Stir into flour mixture until a soft dough forms. Turn onto a floured surface; knead gently 10-12 times or until no longer sticky. Gently pat or

1 large sweet potato

inches across. Gently place fritters in oil,

roll dough into a 9-inch circle about

1 t. grated ginger root

ensuring they do not touch each other or

¾-inch thick. Cut into 10-12 wedges.

1 egg

the sides of the pan. Fry for 2-3 minutes

Separate wedges and place on an

/3 cup + 1 T. all purpose flour

on each side, adjusting time to achieve

ungreased baking sheet. Bake at

½ t. ground cinnamon

a light golden brown surface. Place on

400 F for 15-18 minutes or until

¼ t. ground fennel

paper towels to drain and salt lightly

golden brown.

½ t. kosher salt + more for after frying

while they are still hot.

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Peanut or coconut oil for frying Sauce: 3 T. mayonnaise 1 T. honey 1 T. sriracha sauce For the fritters, wash, peel and grate sweet potato using the coarse selection of a grater. Grate ginger using a fine grater or microplane. Place grated sweet potato, grated ginger and egg in a medium to large mixing bowl. Add the flour, cinnamon, fennel and ½ t. of salt.

Mix together thoroughly. Heat a shallow frying pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Add oil to the hot pan so that it is about ¼-inch deep. Shape fritters

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MARCH 2018

For the sauce, combine mayonnaise, honey and sriracha in a small bowl.

Whisk to smooth out any lumps. Serve fritters while still warm with the sriracha sauce for dipping.

Cook’s notes: The fritters can be made in advance and frozen. Once they are fried and cooled, lay them flat on a baking sheet and freeze 4 hours or until solid. Place the frozen fritters into a zipped plastic bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.

When ready to serve, place frozen fritters on a sheet pan and bake at 400 F for about 10-15 minutes or until crispy.

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

Readers’ Choice Awards TELL US INDIANA’S BEST…

Recognizing the ‘Best of Indiana’

Fried Chicken:_____________________________________________

another round of “Readers’ Choice

Antique Store:_____________________________________________

Awards” to be presented in June.

Girls’ Getaway:_____________________________________________

Give us at least five responses to the

Guys’ Getaway:____________________________________________

ballot at right by April 27, and your

Famous Hoosier:___________________________________________

name will be added to a drawing for three randomly selected $50 prizes.

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

Our goal is to highlight the unique things

_____________________________________________________

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

a quintessential Indiana place or event, etc.)

_____________________________________________________

questions and instead tell us about the

Name: ____________________________________________________

places you can find only in Indiana.

Address: _________________________________________________

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

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

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M ARCH 2018

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do-it-yourself

What’s in your Toolbox?

BY M I KE M CCOR D DIYers with a few projects under their belts know a trusty set of basic tools is crucial.

But it may not be in your budget to purchase every tool you think you’ll ever need all at once. Investing in a few quality items up front will get you started off right. Here’s our checklist of non-powered tools and accessories you can easily transport in a regular tool box.

• A good, sturdy toolbox: It seems selfexplanatory, but quite often folks come into the store for a toolbox and choose one that’s too flimsy, too small, or both. Even if you aren’t buying the most expensive high-end tools, you’ll still want to have a box that can handle the weight. Materials such as thick plastic or rigid steel will do the job. Consider the organization factor for all the little bits of hardware you’ll undoubtedly accumulate. Find a box with a tray and plenty of compartments to keep the nails, screws, nuts, and bolts orderly and not floating around inside. Lastly, buy a toolbox that seems too big for what you have − you’ll fill it up eventually!

• Screwdrivers: If you did opt for a smaller toolbox, buy a screwdriver with interchangeable tips. Otherwise, buy a set of slotted and Phillips head screwdrivers in various sizes.

• Claw hammer: This is your typical hammer and one of the most versatile tools you’ll own. It will not only drive nails, but also lever them out when they need to be removed. Find one with a cushioned rubber-grip handle.

• Adjustable wrench: This adaptable tool has jaws that adjust to fit nuts and bolts of many sizes. Higher quality wrenches have jaws that are less likely to slip and damage your fasteners. These come in handy under the car hood too.

• Pliers: You’ll want to get the two most basic types. Needle-nose pliers give you

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MARCH 2018

gripping strength and dexterity when grabbling and pulling nails and other hardware. Groove-joint pliers have wide-opening jaws that are useful for plumbing projects.

• Utility knife: Also known as a box cutter. This sharp knife comes in handy quite often when you need precision cuts with wire or tubing, or general use. Get a sturdy one with a retractable blade and extra replacement blades.

• Tape measure: This unassuming item is essential for providing accurate measurements for multiple jobs. Choose a 25-foot tape that’s retractable, lockable, and at least one inch wide so it won’t collapse when extended.

• Mini level: This smaller version fits nicely into your toolbox, and it provides horizontal and vertical guide lines when positioning fixtures and hardware, hanging photo frames or determining if a wall is plumb.

• Putty knife: This little helper is great for removing old wallpaper or loose paint. And with patching compound, it makes quick work of those countless spackling jobs that pop up.

• Flashlight: When working in tight, dark areas a basic LED flashlight is a necessity.

Some are magnetic and others tilt to shine a bright light just where you need it. If you need to go hands-free, headlamps are perfect.

• Hardware: Fill up all those little compartments inside your toolbox with a selection of general purpose nails and screws. Save room for picture hanging hardware, nuts and bolts, and things like screw anchors and wire nuts.

• Rolls of tape: Teflon plumber’s tape is lightweight tape that is used to thread connections and prevent leaks. Electrical

tape is an insulating tape used in various wiring tasks.

• Safety items: At a minimum, you’ll want to include dust masks, safety glasses and protective work gloves. Simple DIY jobs aren’t usually dangerous, but it’s wise to take precautions. Leave the complicated stuff to the pros.

Visit your local Do it Best store or doitbest. com for thousands of the best home improvement products, including tools and accessories essential for creating the perfect DIYer’s toolbox!

MIKE MCCORD is the owner of McCord’s Do it Best Lumber & Hardware in Logansport and is a member-owner of Do it Best Corp., a Fort Waynebased cooperative of thousands of hardware stores, home centers and lumberyards throughout the U.S. and around the world.

(This article is for informational purposes only. Electric Consumer and Do it Best assume no liability for the accuracy or completeness of its content, or for injuries, property damage, or the outcome of any project.)

Nforew Life

Old Bones

State Museum to open re-envisioned glimpse of Indiana in the Ice Age

feature story

BY RIC HA RD G . BIE VE R

H

ow do you breathe new life into 13,000-year-old fossilized bones?

How do you retell stories almost as

old as time itself?

Visitors to the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis will have a chance to find out later this month — just in time for spring break trips to the state capital.

The state museum will unveil the second of its multi-phase redesign of core exhibits March 24. And unlike when it moved into its state-of-the-art new digs on the west side of downtown Indianapolis in 2002, museum curators say this time they are going to let the found remains of Indiana’s earliest critters — the mastodons and woolly mammoths, saber-toothed cats, dire wolves and giant ground sloths — tell more of the story directly to visitors.

“Between then and now, visitor expectations of a museum visit have significantly changed,” said Brian Mancuso, the museum’s vice president of experience.

PLEASE TURN TO THE NEXT PAGE

Ron Richards, a senior research curator at the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, holds a cast of the skull of a short-faced bear.

Behind him stands a cast of the skeleton of a ground sloth, a 9-foot-long, bison-sized beast that is a distant relative of the modern tree sloth. Both giants roamed Indiana during the Ice Age some 13,000 years ago.

P HO TO BY R IC H A R D G. B IEV ER

MARCH 2018

23

ABOUT THE PHASE 2 REDESIGN PROJECT Phase 2 of the museum’s core gallery redesign opens March 24.

The new core galleries are: • Frozen Reign: A State of Change — feel the tooth of a saber-toothed cat, explore an ice tunnel, hear how mastodons communicated, and see bones from many now-extinct animals that roamed Indiana; covers the time frame from 5 million years ago up to 11,700 years ago.

• First Nations: The Story of Indiana’s Founding People — learn about the culture and communities of Indiana’s founding people through their games, tools and traditions.

The exhibit also shares how descendants of those nations continue to thrive in the modern day; covers the time period from 11,700 years ago up to 318 years ago.

• The R.B. Annis Naturalist’s Lab — explore Indiana’s natural history in this place for hands-on exploration.

Fred, the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites’ iconic mastodon skeleton, will now greet visitors from a new permanent post at the gallery entrance. Follow Fred on Twitter: @FredIndiana.

PHO TO S BY THE I NDI ANA S TATE MUS E UM

Renovations to the state museum allow it to unpack ancient pachyderm “Fred,” the museum’s mastodon, and fully display his fossil bones (shown here shortly after he was assembled in January in preparation for the gallery’s opening later this month). Fred was discovered in 1998 by Dan Buesching while looking for peat on his family’s farm near Fort Wayne. Fred Buesching, Dan’s grandfather and Fred’s namesake, discovered peat on the farm in 1947 which was the start of the family’s peat moss and mulch business that continues today. Though Fred’s been displayed before, this is his first permanent home since he was excavated from the peat bog where he’d spent the previous 13,000 years.

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

the museum. “That’s been a big change “They want it to be more experiential,

because [museums] are using computer

more immersive, more interactive than

screens a lot less now. We’re trying to

museums of the past. Interactive museums

present experiences that people can’t

create memorable touch points.”

have sitting in their house. In the early

For instance, Mancuso noted when visitors read about the massive glaciers they’ll have the opportunity to drag a

curator of science and technology.

piece of granite across limestone in the

In many ways, the 2002 museum

same way a glacier would have moved

exhibits offered too much detail,

over the land.

museum curators talking about the

“For those people that want to

changes agreed, and it was all presented

experience the business end of a saber-

in a similar fashion. “Everything had the

toothed cat tooth, you can feel that,” he

same weight,” noted Lowe.

“It was a lot,” added Fisherkeller. “Our

getting. More than just reading, more

thinking was we’ll put the words there,

than just looking, you’re able to actually

and if people don’t read it all, it’s fine.”

Everyone learns and remembers

MARCH 2018

“Everybody’s got a computer in their pocket, now,” added Damon Lowe, senior

feel the thing.”

24

2000s, it was all really new.”

of the last Ice Age “scouring Indiana flat,”

said. “It’s this tactile experience you’re

The new “Frozen Reign” gallery takes visitors through a sub-glacial ice tunnel with cool breezes and sounds of dripping and cracking from an actual glacier. During the last Ice Age, sheets of ice a half mile to a mile thick covered the upper two-thirds of Indiana.

Peggy Fisherkeller, curator of geology at

But over the years, beyond simply observing what information visitors

things in different ways, he noted.

were taking in or passing by, curators

By providing text, audio and tactile

learned from visitor surveys something

experiences, the museum’s “universal

a tad unsettling about all those words.

design” tells the story of Indiana’s past

Though few visitors would have time

more fully for everyone, especially those

to read every screen and placard, some

who may be visually impaired.

expressed guilt about skipping things

“When we opened [in 2002], we

— akin to the guilt some folks may have

were on the cusp of everyone trying to

about skipping a workout or playing

use computer screens to interpret,” said

hooky. “People had this internal bad

How Fred the mastodon (on the opposite page) met his demise near present-day Fort Wayne during the last Ice Age some 13,000 years ago is not certain. But many mastodons have been found in what were once ancient bogs around Indiana.

Part of the redesigned “Frozen Reign” gallery depicts the giant frame of a mastodon cracking through the ice on a bog and, despite trumpeting and thrashing about, it would have languished until it drowned, starved or was attacked by more mobile meat eaters, like bears or wolves.

PHO TO BY RI CHARD G . BI EVER

“

I am still awed at the immense size of some of these animals and at how abundant their remains are in Indiana.

But many more lie buried, possibly from animal species not previously known from the state. Folklore relates that any bog larger than an acre likely has mastodon remains in it.

”

Quinn, left, and Brooke break away from a start line during timed repeat drills around the ice during a weekend practice in Fishers.

Ron Richards, Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites feeling that we didn’t intend them to

passing through to an otherworldly

immense glacier, a moving sheet of ice a

feel,” Fisherkeller said.

place and another time. Recordings of

half mile to a mile thick. This is why most

Lowe said the new design will

water running off and the creaking and

of Indiana is flat. The land was scoured

accentuate the most significant points of

cracking from inside an actual modern

by the slow moving mountain of ice

what visitors want to know — not what

glacier will be heard. A cool wind will also

and rocks, and then filled and leveled by

the curators think they need to know.

hit visitors at the entrance to the tunnel

glacial till. But the spine of uplands from

— just as wind would blow from off the

around Bloomington south to the Ohio

top of a real glacier.

River that the glaciers missed were also

“We’re not really the best judge of what they need to know,” he said. “But if we ask them what they want to know, then we can give it to them.”

“The gallery was 15 years old,” added

“I wanted people to have a sense of

the run off carved and molded the hills

was covered by an ice sheet up to about

and hollows.

Fisherkeller, “so I think it was time to

16,000 years ago. So this is an imagining

present new information in a new way.”

of what that climate might have been like.”

One new feature will be a subglacial tunnel that will take visitors

shaped by the glaciers. As they melted,

how this feels,” Fisherkeller said. “Indiana

“Hopefully, visitors get a sense that the ice was here. It was big. It modified

During the last Ice Age, the northern two-thirds of Indiana was covered by an

PLEASE TURN TO THE NEXT PAGE MARCH 2018

25

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE the land. It changed our life,” added Ron

explore the museum’s efforts to find and

underground was like 25,000 years ago,”

preserve Indiana’s last native giants.

said Richards.

“The exhibit feeds into the active

By the completion of this multi-

Richards, senior research curator of

field work going on that a lot of people

phase project, museum visitors will get

paleobiology at the museum.

in the public probably don’t necessarily

to travel through space and time — from

In addition to the ice being big,

know about. But it is something that

the distant past to the possible future and

Richards talks about the wildlife that

is pretty unique about this museum,”

back, examining artifacts in a way that’s

once teemed throughout the region.

said Hannah Kiefer, the state museum’s

more interactive, more immersive and

“I am still awed at the immense size

director of communications. “We have

more hands-on.

of some of these animals and at how

active digs going on. You can see the

abundant their remains are in Indiana.

product of that.”

But many more lie buried .... Folklore

Another exhibit in the new “Frozen

“It is a rethinking of how it’s shown, what’s shown, how the visitor moves through the space, and how they’re

relates that any bog larger than an acre

Reign” gallery depicts a cave setting

experiencing the space,” said Mancuso.

likely has mastodon remains in it.”

featuring bones and scenes created

“It’s as new as new can be ....”

That segues to another focus of the new exhibitions: the Indiana State Museum’s focus on discovery. The

from actual underground excavations in southern Indiana.

“This is not just a fabrication of

museum is responsible for unearthing

the cave. This is an actual mold and

more ancient mammals than any other

cast of the cave. We went underground.

Indiana institution. The new exhibits will

This is an exact duplicate of what the

And telling a story as old as fossilized bones in a way that’s “as new as new can be” is truly saying — and showing and touching on — something, indeed.

RICHARD G. BIEVER is senior editor of Electric Consumer.

Indiana State Museum facts, figures & FYIs Experience the Hoosier story at this world-class institution and its 11 state

Win

free passe s to the India na State Muse um and Historic Sit es!

See page 3

historic sites that feature unique, hands-on exhibits and artifacts which individually and collectively showcase the events and characters shaping Indiana’s history.

The museum opened its present facility in White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis in the spring of 2002. A multi-phase redesign to

ABOUT THE REDESIGN

its core, permanent galleries began immersive and interactive.

• Phase I galleries – “Contested Territory,” “Natural Regions” and “19th State” – opened Nov. 12, 2016.

The museum celebrates its

• Phase 2 galleries open March 24.

sesquicentennial in 2019.

• The remaining galleries will close and reopen in subsequent phases.

in 2016 to make each gallery more

Near the museum are other points of interest: the Statehouse; Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art; NCAA Hall of Champions; Indianapolis Zoo; Eugene and Marilyn

• Founded in 1869

• General Admission: Adult — $14.95; Child — $9.95

Field, home of the Indianapolis Indians

• 90 buildings over 1,400+ acres

Indianapolis Colts.

26

MARCH 2018

• Address: 650 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, 46204 • Hours: Mon-Sat — 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun — 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

• All 92 Indiana counties represented in sculptures on museum exterior

Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL

MUSEUM NUTS & BOLTS

MUSEUM AND HISTORIC SITES AT A GLANCE

Glick Indiana History Center; Victory minor league baseball team; and

• One of the three largest Abraham Lincoln collections in the world, due mostly to ISM receiving the collection of the former Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne from the Lincoln Financial Foundation in December 2008.

• Five National Historic Landmarks and one National Engineering Landmark

Call the museum at 317-232-1637 or visit indianamuseum.org for discounted admission and group packages, special closings, extended hours, IMAX information and other details.

safety

Avoid

DANGERS AFTER A STORM

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about about learning the safety precautions to take once it’s gone.

live wire of only a couple hundred volts.”

After a storm, many think the dangers

become a victim. Immediatley call 911 for

have left with the high winds, heavy

assistance, and then contact your electric

rain and lightning strikes, but some-

utility to turn off the power.

• Don’t step in water near downed lines.

During the storm recovery process,

• Never drive over a downed power line.

times danger can come during the storm recovery period. Keeping your distance from downed power lines, and knowing what to do if you see them, are the first steps to take when recovering from a storm safely.

If you see a downed power line, which could be making contact with tree limbs, vehicles and puddles, always stay clear at least 35 feet. There is no way of knowing whether or not the power line is still live, and if you happen to touch one that is, consequences could be deadly.

“Large overhead power lines can carry more than 700,000 volts of electricity,”

If you see that someone already made contact with a power line, do not try to rescue him/her. You can’t help if you

downed power lines are a threat to the area around them. Here are some helpful safety tips from your electric cooperative to help you stay safe around downed power lines: • If you see a downed power line, move away from it and anything touching it. Keep a distance of 35 feet, as the ground around downed power lines may be energized.

• Assume all downed power lines are live.

• If you see someone in direct or indirect

• NEVER attempt to move a downed power line or anything else in contact with it using an object such as a broom or stick. Non-conductive materials like wood or cloth can conduct electricity if slightly wet.

• If your vehicle comes in contact with a downed power line while you’re in the vehicle, stay inside the car. Call 911 or honk your horn to get help, but tell those rendering aid to stay away from the vehicle.

• If you must exit the vehicle for life-threatening reasons — jump out and away from it, making sure to land with your feet together and touching.

Then, shuffle away with your feet touching until you reach a safe distance. NEVER get back into a vehicle that is in contact with a power line.

said Tom VanParis, CEO of Indiana Elec-

contact with a downed line, DO NOT

tric Cooperatives. “Fatalities can occur

touch him/her. You could become en-

Stay safe around electricity and downed

when someone comes in contact with a

ergized as well. Call 911 for assistance.

power lines after a storm. It could save a life.

MA R CH 2 018

27

legislative

YOUR

VOTE

HELPS PROTECT THE FUTURE OF INDIANA’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

As a member-owner of an Indiana electric cooperative, you are among 1.3 million Hoosiers who can claim ownership in a not-for-profit, consumer-controlled utility that provides electricity at cost.

REGISTER TO VOTE BY

APRIL 9

REGISTER TO VOTE AND MORE AT

ACTION.INDIANAEC.ORG

28

MARCH 2018

calendar NORTHWEST

2

DENNIS STROUGHMATT, Delphi (Carroll), Delphi Opera House.

Stroughmatt takes listeners on a musical odyssey with his fiddle. 7:30 pm. Tickets, $20-$35. 765-564-4300. delphioperahouse.org

17

ST. PATRICK’S DAY NIGHTTIME PARADE, Crown Point (Lake), Downtown. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Crown Point with the only nighttime parade in Northwest Indiana. No admission charge. 219-6623290. crownpoint.in.gov

1718

SUGAR CAMP DAYS, New Carlisle (St. Joseph), Bendix Woods County Park. Sugar House. Pancake breakfast.

Sugarbush tours. Music, horse-drawn wagon rides, ice carving, kids’ activities, artisan demonstrations, Native American lifeways.

Admission charge. 574-6543155. sjcparks.org

CENTRAL

1-3

INDIANA HERITAGE QUILT SHOW, Bloomington (Monroe). Downtown Convention Center. Over 200 quilts on display, workshops, vendors and free shuttle to other community quilt exhibits. Admission charge. 812355-7721. ihqs.org

3-4

PARKE COUNTY MAPLE FAIR, Rockville (Parke).

4-H Fairgrounds. Pancake breakfast served all day, painting, arts and crafts, maple syrup, and maple camp tours.

No admission charge. 765569-5226. coveredbridges. com

1517

ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION, Indianapolis (Marion), Downtown Indianapolis. Indianapolis’ official St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Block Party. No admission charge. 317-498-5299. indystpats.com.

SOUTHWEST

1618

IRELAND ST. PATRICK’S CELEBRATION, Ireland (Dubois), Townwide. Enjoy the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. The whole town comes alive with a wide variety of events. 8 am, Fri. - 5 pm, Sun. 812-482-4271. stpat.irelandindiana.com

17

SHA NA NA, Vincennes (Knox), Red Skelton Performing Arts Center. The legendary band performs.

7:30 pm. Tickets, $20$35. Call 812-888-4354 to order tickets. vinu.edu/ communityseries

30

MARCH 2018

31

4192: AN EVENING WITH PETE ROSE, Evansville (Vanderburgh), Victory Theatre. Spend an evening with one of the greatest baseball players of all time. 7 pm.

Tickets, $37-$101.

812-422-1515. victorytheatre. com.

MARCH NORTHEAST

1-4

FORT WAYNE HOME AND GARDEN SHOW, Fort Wayne (Allen), War Memorial Coliseum. The tri-state area’s largest home and garden event. Visit website for hours and ticket prices. 260-432-1705, ext. 101. home-gardenshow.com

2-3

MICHIANA OUTDOOR SPORTSMAN SHOW, Shipshewana (LaGrange), Michiana Event Center. Enjoy all things outdoor at this show. Hours: Fri, 10 a.m. - 8 pm; Sat, 8 am. - 5 pm. $10 admission charge. 260-5629187. michianaevents.com

910

JAY COUNTY FIBER ARTS FESTIVAL, Portland (Jay), Jay Community Center. Festival for all fiber crafters. Lectures, demonstrations, vendors, and more. Hours: Fri, 10 am.

- 5 pm; Sat, 9 am - 4 pm. $1 admission. 260-726-3366. visitjaycounty.com

SOUTHEAST

4

SPUD, SOUP AND SALAD LUNCHEON, Batesville (Ripley), St. John’s United Church of Christ. Try an assortment of over 20 types of homemade soups along with a salad bar and a baked potato topping bar. Silent auction. Freewill offerings accepted. 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. 812663-7422.

18

FALLS OF THE OHIO FOSSIL, MINERAL AND JEWELRY SHOW, Clarksville (Clark), Falls of the Ohio State Park. First indoor fossils, minerals and jewelry show at the park. 10 am - 4 pm. $7 admission. 812-280-9970.

31

CHILDREN’S EASTER EGG HUNT, Corydon (Harrison), Downtown Square. The event will also include live music, bounce houses, carriage rides, food and carnival games, and pictures with the Easter Bunny. 10 am - 12:30 pm. 812738-2138. thisisindiana.org

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

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

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

MARCH 2018

31

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A magnet

backyard

Ask Rosie

by B. Rosie Lerner

T

after the plants fade. This plant is hardy to USDA zones 4-9 (possibly zone 3), which

he Perennial Plant Association

makes it a great choice throughout the

selected its 2018 Perennial Plant

Midwest. No serious pest problems have

of the Year: Allium “Millenium”

been reported, though leaf spot may oc-

(yes, that’s Millenium with just one “n”).

cur in overcrowded growing conditions

This announcement continues to show

with decreased air circulation. Deer and

the focus on pollinator habitat these

rabbits appear to avoid browsing.

days — Allium Millenium is appropriately referred to as a butterfly and bee magnet!

Gardeners sometimes avoid planting

Q: We cut open a spaghetti squash

Alliums because of their unwanted

Millenium is a hybrid Allium selected for

reseeding behavior. Fortunately, Mille-

late flowering. It has masses of rose-pur-

nium produces 50 percent fewer seeds,

ple blooms; a uniform habit; and neat,

which raises less concern for unwanted

shiny, green foliage that remains attrac-

self-seeding.

tive long after blooms have faded. It is also known for its resistance to drought.

fibrous root system, which makes it easy to propagate by division in either spring

glossy, deep-green leaves reaches 10-15

or fall.

two or three flower stalks rise above the foliage, and each produces two or three showy globes of rose-purple florets that last as long as four weeks. They dry to a light tan, often holding a blush of their former rose-purple color.

The Perennial Plant Association selects a different perennial plant each year to promote throughout the nursery and gardening industry. PPA members nominate plants based on several criteria, including low maintenance needs, adapability to a wide range of climates, pest

Millenium is just about the perfect

and disease resistance, wide availability,

low-maintenance perennial for full sun.

multiple seasons of interest, and ease of

Once established, about the only mainte-

propagation. A selection committee then

nance it needs is cutting

narrows the field to three or four

back foliage in late fall

choices from which the members cast their votes.

For more info about the Perennial of the Year program, please go to www.perennialplant. org.

34

MARCH 2018

and it had green sprouts growing inside. Have you seen this before?

Is it safe to eat the squash?

Bryan Overstreet, Rensselaer, Indiana

A: Although uncommon, premature

Millenium has a clump habit with a

The upright foliage clump of grass-like, inches tall in spring. In midsummer,

P HO TO BY BRYAN O V E RS TRE E T

for butterflies and bees

sprouting of seeds inside a fruit sometimes occurs in squash, tomatoes, peppers, corn, strawberries, and other species. This early seed germination inside the fruit is called vivipary.

Normally, the balance of plant growth regulators inside a fruit inhibit germination until seeds are harvested from the pulp. But occasionally, seeds begin to germinate while still attached to the fruit. Environmental conditions are the most likely cause, though some plants are genetically predisposed towards vivipary. Also, overripe fruit may be more prone to vivipary. In tomatoes, cool temperatures coupled with low light conditions may promote premature seed germination inside moist, warm fruit.

Regardless of the cause, the squash should be safe to eat.

B. ROSIE LERNER is the Purdue Extension consumer horticulturist and is a consumer of Tipmont REMC. Questions about gardening issues may be sent to “Ask Rosie,” Electric Consumer, P.O. Box 24517, Indianapolis, IN 46224; or use our “Talk to Us” form online at ElectricConsumer.org.

ALLI UM PHO TO BY PERENNI AL PLANT ASSO CI ATI ON BUTTERFLY PHO TO S BY I STO CK/ G ETTY I M AG ES PL US

product recalls

VTech recalls two products for infants VTech, a global maker of electronic learning products for children, has recently recalled its Lights & Lullabies Travel Mobiles and Shake and Sing Elephant Rattle after receiving reports of problems with cracking or breaking. No injuries have been reported.

On the mobile, the clamp attaching it to the crib rail can break causing the mobile to fall, posing an injury hazard to an infant in the crib. On the rattle, the ears on the elephant can break off, posing a choking or laceration hazard.

The Lights & Lullabies Travel mobiles were sold in blue and pink — model numbers are 80-503000 (blue) and 80-503050 (pink). The model numbers are printed on the battery compartment door. The mobiles were sold at Kmart, Walmart and online at Amazon.com and zulily.com from December 2015 through November 2017 for about $25.

The Shake and Sing Elephant rattle has a purple elephant with yellow and blue ears at one end and a black and white plastic teething ring at the other end. The rattle has the model number 1848 printed on the back of the rattle adjacent to the battery door. The rattles were sold at Walmart, Kmart, Meijer and other stores and online from November 2015 through November 2017 for about $8.

For either product, call 800-521-2010; or go to vtechkids.com and click on “Support.”

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.

1

other recalls of note:

Cribside space heaters recalled The Vornado Sunny nursery electric space heater (model EH1-0090) has been recalled. A broken motor mount can allow the electric heating element to come in contact with the interior plastic materials and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards.

The cribside heaters were sold at Bed Bath & Beyond, buybuy Baby and other stores nationwide and online from October 2017 through December 2017 for about $100.

Call 844-205-7978; or go to www.vornado.com and search “Recalls.”

2

Recessed canister lights pose shock hazard LEDVANCE has recalled a series of SYLVANIA Batch 0, RT56HO900 LED recessed canister light kits which can short circuit, posing a shock and electrocution hazard when consumers try to troubleshoot flickering lights. The recalled canister lights were sold to industrial and commercial distributors between June 2015 and October 2016 for about $45 per kit. The recalled product was not sold directly to consumers.

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Call 800-654-0089; or got to www.SYLVANIA.com and click on “Legal” and then “Recalls.”

3

HP recalls batteries due to fire, burn hazards HP has recalled lithium-ion batteries for its HP notebook computers and mobile workstations. HP has received eight reports of battery packs overheating, melting, or charring, including three reports of property damage totaling $4,500 with one report of a minor injury involving a first degree burn to the hand. The batteries were shipped with HP ProBooks, HP ZBook and Mobile Workstations sold from December 2015 through December 2017 or sold as accessories or replacement batteries for between $50 and $90 at Best Buy and other stores and authorized dealers nationwide and online.

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Call 888-202-4320; or go to www.HP.com/go/batteryprogram2018 or www. hp.com and click “Recalls.”

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Wabash Valley news

Business and fun!

Win prizes, eat, be entertained and catch up with friends — all at your electric co-op’s annual meeting!

As snow melts and the ground thaws, electric cooperatives start planning for their annual meetings. Did you know that as a retail member of your local energy co-op, you are also part owner? You have an ownership stake and a direct say in how things are run. As a result, your cooperative’s annual meeting directly impacts you.

Annual meetings are a lot more than simply business. For many electric co-ops, the annual meeting feels more like a family carnival with a brief meeting as just part of the day’s festivities.

Seven things you can do at your local co-op’s annual meeting include: Socialize. Catch up with family, friends and neighbors who you don’t regularly see. The annual meeting is a community event, with something to offer everyone.

Eat! Co-ops’ annual meetings have some of the best food around. They typically offer breakfast,

lunch or dinner as part of the day. When you attend, be sure to go hungry.

Be entertained. Annual meetings frequently have a carnival-like atmosphere that includes music, live entertainers, kids’ activities (such as face painting) and more. It’s a family-friendly event.

Win prizes. Register when you arrive, stay for the annual meeting and you may be eligible for door prizes or even a bill credit. Each cooperative handles things differently, but prizes usually are involved. You don’t want to miss it.

Learn. You should learn something new every day, and at your co-op’s annual meeting you definitely will! Learn how your electricity supplier (that’s us) creates the energy powering your home, and even about programs offered by your local co-op that can help save you money.

Meet. Get acquainted with the folks who run your local co-op. They frequently live in and are part

of your community. Shake hands with the CEO and meet your co-op’s board of directors, which makes decisions on your behalf.

Vote! Speaking of the board of directors, the annual meeting is your chance to have a direct impact. As a part owner of your local electric cooperative, you have a say in how it’s governed.

Participate in your local co-op elections at the annual meeting to vote for the board of directors, which creates policy directly impacting you and all members. Democratic participation is a part of the foundational bedrock of all cooperatives, and voting is part of the cooperative principles!

As you make plans for your spring, keep an eye out for your local cooperative’s annual meeting.

It’s a great time with fun activities and you get to participate in one of the best parts of the cooperative culture. Contact your local co-op for details about the next annual meeting.

Hoosier Energy news

How natural gas power plants work Natural gas facilities in use by Hoosier Energy add to system reliability, environmental stewardship and fuel diversity.

Gas turbines, as shown above, operate by drawing ambient air through intake

structures. Air is then compressed and mixed with natural gas and ignited in a combustion chamber. The exhaust gases are used to turn turbines that rotate generators to produce electricity.

Hoosier Energy has three natural gas

facilities. Combined, these units output 976 megawatts of energy.

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

How energy is transmitted to your home

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

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

Transmission Electricity generated

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

Distribution substation

Energy to your cooperative

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

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

reader submissions

Rachel Isch made this photo of funnel clouds forming over a bean field in August 2016.

Carla Branam made this photo outside Donaldson Cave at Spring Mill State Park in January 2018.

On a visit to Coal Creek in Veedersburg, Darin and Ashley Bowling made this photo of their son Gavin under a dramatic curtain of icicles.

Picture perfect

weather

If you don’t like the Indiana weather you are experiencing, “they” always say give it a few minutes; it’ll change.

Now that we’ve made it to March and the transition of seasons, you can bet we’ll see even more Fahrenheit fickleness waffling between winter and spring, sometimes within hours of each other. Whether

It may look as if Hercules the dog has a severe overbite, but those are just icicles and snow clinging to his whiskers and fur as he hangs out with his family while they were sledding in the back yard. The photo was submitted by the Rivera family, Decatur County REMC consumers.

you like winter or spring the best or summer or fall, here’s a sampling of picture perfect weather readers have captured in the past.

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profile

Fast Break

5 questions

for Romeo Langford

R

omeo Langford is chasing Indiana scoring records as he and the rest of the New Albany High School bas-

ketball team pursue another state championship. But what Indiana’s top high school player does after he graduates this spring is garnering even more attention from fans and sports writers. Langford, the number five player in the country, answered five questions for Electric Consumer.

Q: How did you get started playing basketball?

A: I got started playing basketball at Coach [Jim] Shannon’s Kindergarten Basketball Camp at Mt. Tabor Elementary.

Q: How do you cope with the media scrutiny and the pressure of being one of the top high school basketball recruits in the country?

A: I really don’t pay a lot of attention to it.

I let the fans and other people worry about the recruiting.

Q: You’ve narrowed your college choices to Indiana, Kansas and Vanderbilt. What factors will impact your decision of which college you will attend?

A: The main factors are the relationship my family and I have with the coach, and to decide which program is going to get the best out of me both on and off the court.

Q: If basketball were out of the picture, what career path would you pursue?

A: I would probably study to be an architect.

Q: What’s one thing most people wouldn’t know about you?

A: I used to play the trumpet in middle school, and I can still play it.

PHO TO BY I NDY STAR/ USA TO DAY NETWO RK

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