Southeastern IN REMC — March 2020 Indiana Connection

New and Emerging Technology

Southeastern IN REMC’s

I N D I AN A

CONNECTION

Join us!

ANNUAL MEETING Saturday, March 28 South Ripley High School

MARCH 2020

Celebrating 81 years of service

Join us for Southeastern Indiana REMC’s annual meeting on Saturday, March 28, at South Ripley High School in Versailles, Indiana.

The 2020 annual meeting theme is “New and Emerging Technology.” We are excited to tell you about our strategic plan for the organization and share some details about the products and programs we’ve been working on and hope to offer in the next few years.

As we reflect on the hard work of the past year, we are grateful for

Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of the members of Southeastern Indiana REMC will be held at South Ripley High School located at 1589 S. Benham Road, Versailles, Indiana, on Saturday, March 28.

This meeting will be held for the express purpose of: • Presentation of officers, manager and committee reports • Election of three directors • Any other business

our board’s leadership and their confidence in our team. We are also

which may properly

grateful for you, our members, who put your faith in us and give our

come before the

work purpose and meaning every day.

meeting

Looking ahead, there are exciting challenges to tackle together. As we seek new opportunities to improve the quality of life in southeastern Indiana, we’re more committed than ever to our mission, “to safely provide reliable electricity and diversified services to the members and communities we serve.”

• Door prizes Members are asked to detach and bring the official registration card attached to the back

Southeastern Indiana REMC is powered by impassioned cooperative

cover of this publication to

leaders from across our seven-county service territory and a team of

the annual meeting. The

creative and dedicated employees. Plug into this resource by engaging

registration card must be

with us at the annual meeting and throughout the year. We would

presented to receive the

love the opportunity to work with you and to share the information and

$15 bill credit and to be

resources we have to help you save money and use energy wisely.

eligible for the door prizes.

While SEIREMC provides convenient services like rate options, moneysaving programs, rebate offers, bill payment choices and various

Members must be present to win door prizes.

communication methods, there are times when there is no substitute for in-person engagement. When members of our community come

please consider joining us. We look forward to visiting with you!

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

BRYAN K. MATHEWS

BE SURE TO BRING IT WITH YOU.

together for a common purpose, we improve the quality of life for all.

If you’ve never attended our annual meeting, or it it’s been a while,

General Manager

81st Annual Meeting March 28.

Southeastern IN REMC’s

from Acorns of

Creativity... pages 20–24

MARCH 2020

from the editor

Art from the heart As someone who spent her school years with paper, pencils, canvases and paint at the ready for whenever inspiration hit, I’m especially excited about this month’s issue. It explores the artistic aspects of the Hoosier state.

I love art. Seeing works by renowned masters like da Vinci, Monet, Van Gogh, Degas, Matisse and Rodin in museums around the world are high points of my life.

Although I regretfully haven’t experienced the calming act of sketching in years, I’ll always remember how rewarding it felt to create a personal masterpiece on paper — a drawing that only I could claim.

Art is one of the best ways people of all ages can express themselves. That expression can manifest itself in the artist’s choice of medium, color palette, and subject matter. And each artist sees and presents the world differently. Art is never boring either to the artist or to those who view the finished product.

Creativity has no boundaries. Those who create have access to a special place in their minds where anything is possible. It’s a powerful feeling to go beyond real world restrictions and stretch the limits of reality. All it takes is a pencil or paintbrush or clay or other medium and an active imagination to artistically go where no one has gone before. But creativity can also manifest itself through out-of-the-box problem solving so critical in the scientific and tech worlds.

I encourage everyone to spend some time exploring their artistic sides. I believe the best artwork doesn’t necessarily reside in a museum — it’s what YOU lovingly create from the heart and your imagination.

EMILY SCHILLING Editor eschilling@indianaec.org

Giveaway: Enter to win an Artrageous Prize Pack featuring an

Artrageous T-shirt and sweatshirt, an art portfolio and a sketchbook. Visit indianaconnection.org/talk-to-us/contests. Entry deadline for giveaway: March 31.

On the menu: June issue: Cherry recipes, deadline April 1. August

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

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

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

VOLUME 69 • NUMBER 9 ISSN 0745-4651 • USPS 262-340 Published monthly by Indiana Electric Cooperatives Indiana Connection is for and about members of Indiana’s locally-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives. It helps consumers use electricity safely and efficiently; understand energy issues; connect with their co-op; and celebrate life in Indiana. Over 280,000 residents and businesses receive the magazine as part of their electric co-op membership.

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

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

SUBSCRIPTIONS: $12 for individuals not subscribing through participating REMCs/RECs. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: If you receive Indiana Connection through your electric co-op membership, report address changes to your local co-op.

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

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

Include key number.

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

MARCH 2020

3

contents

MARCH

14

17

county

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

10 ENERGY Helping food keep its cool — even in a power outage.

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

28

food

diy

16 INDIANA EATS

28 DIY

The Chicken Place: Good to the bone.

Stage your home for a successful sale.

17 FOOD Dippity do: What to dunk those chips and veggies into.

29 SAFETY

20 COVER STORY From acorns of creativity.

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

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Indiana Connection

34

Spring into safety on the farm.

30 BACKYARD What’s killing the oak trees?

(Not in all versions)

profile

33 TRAVEL Center founded by Mellencamp diverse in arts programming. (Not in all versions) 34 PROFILE Henry Holcomb: Indiana’s top dog.

32 H OOSIER ENERGY/ WABASH VALLEY NEWS

On the cover Nate Heck may edit episodes of his “Artrageous with Nate” from his nifty backyard treehouse. But the series — comprised of six to nine minute videos available on YouTube — takes the Indianapolis artist and educator around Indiana and the world to explore and inspire art, creativity and innovation.

PHOTO BY RICHARD G. BIEVER

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MARCH 2020

co-op news

Executive report www.seiremc.com

from Southeastern Indiana REMC’s board president and general manager

CONTACT US 812-689-4111 800-737-4111 Fax: 812-689-6987

Our Annual Meeting theme this

Hoosier Energy know that, yes, it

year is “Emerging Technology.”

is important to invest in renewable

EMAIL contact_us@seiremc.com

The landscape where coal once pro-

OFFICE HOURS 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday STREET ADDRESS 712 South Buckeye St. Osgood, IN 47037 MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 196 Osgood, IN 47037 SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS To report a power outage: 800-737-4111 or SmartHub BOARD OF DIRECTORS Darrell Smith (District 7), President Mike Thieman (District 6), Vice President Vince Moster (District 1), Secretary Brad Bentle (District 2), Treasurer David Smith (District 3) Jesse McClure (District 4) Melissa Menchhofer (District 5) Bonnie Boggs (District 8) Casey Menchhofer (District 9)

vided 100% of our generation assets has changed and continues to evolve.

At the end of 2019, it represented 58% of our capacity, with natural gas representing 37%, and renewables 5%. Hoosier Energy now expects to retire its coal fired Merom Generating Station in 2023, transitioning to a more diverse generation mix that includes a combination of low-cost wind, solar, natural gas and storage.

In 2014, Hoosier Energy established a goal to have 10% of total generation coming from renewables by 2025. The current renewable resources include landfill methane, hydro, wind and solar arrays.

The clean, reliable electricity Hoosier Energy provides is something we all depend on — and expect — at the flip

Southeastern IN REMC offers...

of a switch. Hoosier Energy recognizes that each form of generation has its

LED security light rental; a community

pros and cons and works best when

solar program; total home back-up

taken together. Its “all-of-the-above”

generators; heating and cooling rebates; water heater rebates; home energy audits; discount online lighting store; appliance recycling; payment via phone, online, e-check, automatic payment plan and budget billing; and mobile website!

strategy includes coal, natural gas and renewable energy sources that are used to provide the best balance between reliability, affordability and environmental concerns. Coal will not be taken out of this mix until 2023.

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

Members can also participate in the My Solar program by purchasing a share of the community solar, up to 12 solar panels. This lets your co-op (Southeastern Indiana REMC) and

energy.

COMMITTED TO SAVING YOU MONEY Southeastern Indiana REMC offers a roster of energy-saving incentives to help lower energy bills, ranging from efficient heating and cooling equipment rebates to lighting upgrades. Visit TeamUpToSave.com to see the current lineup of savings opportunities available.

In addition, Southeastern will continue to provide free home energy audits and promote technology to enable you to find ways to be more energy efficient.

Our board of directors stays committed to a 25-year return cycle of patronage or capital credits. Patronage is being returned this March for 1997 and 20% of 2018 in the amount of $2.16 million.

Your cooperative has refunded $25.8 million through the years.

With continued technology improvements, we remain committed to offering optional rates that allow our members to change use patterns, utilize technology to schedule and monitor thermostats, and receive day-ahead notifications via their smart device. Consider the Time of Use/Critical Peak Rate. If you can avoid the peak hours, this may be the rate for you.

As we continue to move forward with technology improvements, we are planning to introduce a prepaid meter

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6-7 MARCH 2020

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co-op news CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 service option for members this year.

This option will allow members to be more engaged in daily monitoring of their electric service.

We continue to utilize SmartHub, which provides members with greater access to their account information.

Currently there are 10,713 members using this service. Once you sign up for SmartHub, you have access to PDF bill statements, daily and hourly energy use information with temperature correlation, outage information, and you can conveniently make payments and report outages.

We are in the initial stages of developing a pilot program for electric vehicle charging stations. More details will be shared as we develop the program.

We are determining if we are able to provide technology improvements to our members by building fiber to the home.

This process involves reviewing our member survey data, researching grant opportunities, seeking member support, looking into partnership opportunities, reviewing financial models and developing a business plan. We are not leaving any stone unturned in this process to ensure that we make a well-informed decision.

Don’t forget our commitment to outage

restoration. If you have computer or

Your board continues to oversee the

smart phone access, you can visit our

upgrades in your electric system by

website (www.seiremc.com) and view

approving the completion of several

our interactive outage map. This map

projects recommended in our RUS ap-

is continually updated with the number

proved four-year engineering work-plan.

of members experiencing an electric

CONCERN FOR YOUR COMMUNITY

outage by county or zip code within our service area. You can quickly determine the extent of electric outages occurring on your system in real-time, which will give you an indication of the severity of interruptions caused by storms, vehicle accidents, etc.

If you would like to save money on your electric bill, please consider participating in our load control switch program, which addresses our critical peak load requirements during the hottest or coldest time periods and reduces your bill by up to $60 per year. We want to help you reduce your electric bill.

The popular generator program is being continued, which is tied to our demand-side management program and provides members the security of automatic switchover to the LP or natural gas fired 22 kW generator during an electric interruption. This cost-effective program has been extremely popular with our members. For 2020, we will continue to offer a one-year financing option, with a quarterly payment plan, to help make the purchase even more affordable.

Co-op Stats

One of the seven cooperative principles is “concern for community”, and one way your REMC demonstrates its support for this principle is by enabling members to be a part of the Operation Round Up® program.

This program has been used by co-ops for more than 20 years and allows you to support much needed projects within our service territory. The purpose of Operation Round Up is to collect and distribute funds for charitable purposes within the Southeastern Indiana REMC area. The money comes from our members who have allowed us to round up their electric bills to the nearest dollar every month. For most, this donation is less than $6 per year.

You have made a wonderful impact.

Because of members like you, we were able to award $136,000 to community projects in our seven county communities in 2019. The Operation Round Up program is present in 86% of the rural electric co-ops in Indiana.

For public safety, we offer a full-scale high-low voltage electrical safety demonstration, which is suitable for schools, fire departments or other large events.

Number of Services......................................................27,336

We continue to concentrate on pole

Miles of Line....................................................................3,226

replacements, protective device main-

Average Number of Services per Mile..............................8.47 Member Equity.............................................................. 56.3%

tenance, right-of-way (tree trimming/ removal) maintenance and replacement of older underground primary cable in certain subdivisions. We have cut down

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MARCH 2020

co-op news thousands of ash trees caused by the

board and staff have put a lot of

infestation of the emerald ash borer.

time and effort into determining what

Because of the increased outages with

steps, if any, will be taken in regard

trees, we changed our right-of-way

to a broadband fiber-to-the-home

program in 2018 to a five-year cycle.

project. We will announce this deci-

to provide services

We now trim ground-to-sky over 600

sion at our annual meeting.

that our members,

miles a year.

To provide safe and reliable power to all members, we must clear all trees that may cause an outage. Not only are we trying to reduce outages, but your safety, the safety of our children and the safety of our employees is of the utmost importance. I trust that most of our members agree.

We continued our commitment to community by supporting rural electric youth programs such as Page Day, Touchstone Energy Camp and Youth Tour. For many years, we have given three $500 scholarships through the Southeastern Career Center, and we will do that again this year. We will also continue to support the 4-H animal auctions in the counties we serve. Additionally, your REMC provides corporate sponsorships for many community festivals and events, and we brought the mobile mammogram program from St. Elizabeth hospital to Ripley County again this year.

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

• New headquarters facilities and succession planning: The succession plan and design for a new

to be one of the leanest co-ops in the nation, striving to maintain the quality service expected by our members.

due to weather patterns and efficien-

will work with Hoosier Energy to

cies. Our distribution system improve-

research emerging technology and

ments and new service extensions in

look for financial and environmentally

2019 totaled $7 million vs. $6.3 million

friendly benefits to provide a more

in 2018. New services connected in

diverse electric grid to our members.

2019 totaled 251 vs. 278 in 2018, 237 in

• Five-year right-of-way plan:

24 home energy audits, installed 74

Your REMC will continue to cover

generators and 99 demand response

the additional expense to provide

units, and rebated $178,550 to mem-

safe and reliable electricity to your

bers who installed qualified member

homes by redirecting our vegetation

electrification improvements.

management program to reclaim the

The combined efforts of your nine-mem-

right-of-way in a five-year cycle.

• Continue the strong focus on

ber board of directors, 61 full-time employees, and various contractors and

safety for employees, members

consultants resulted in another success-

and public

ful year.

• Comprehensive financial plan

Our focus in 2020 is to provide services that our members, and the generations of members to come, will cherish.

Our mission is “To safely provide reliable electricity and diversified services

plan: This will allow us to shine a

to the members and communities we

light on how we currently reach out

serve.”

• Broadband determination: Your

2017, and 186 in 2016. We completed

Rates will remain stable for 2020.

• Comprehensive communication

territory.

2019, our kWh sales decreased 2.8%

• Emerging technologies plan: We

operations

the communities within our service

will cherish.

our employee base. We will continue

key initiatives through our latest strate-

to engage members, employees and

members to come,

day-to-day activities and right-size

that covers the present and future

to members and provide a fluid plan

and the generations of

headquarters allows us to manage

Our board and staff have identified eight gic planning:

Our focus in 2020 is

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR Financially, your cooperative met its mortgage requirements for the year. In

DARRELL SMITH

Board President

BRYAN K. MATHEWS General Manager

MARCH 2020

7

co-op news

2020 director candidates Vince Moster, District 1 Vince Moster lives near Sunman with his wife, Marcy, and their three children: Keegan, Oliver and Lara.

During the past nine years, Moster has served as a director for Southeastern Indiana REMC, is a credentialed cooperative director, and has enjoyed learning about the cooperative business model and distribution of electricity.

He is a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in agricultural mechanization and is currently lead project manager at Batesville Casket Company where he has worked the past 19 years. He also operates a small farm.

Moster is currently on the Ripley County Farm Bureau board of directors and is a past member of the Morris Volunteer Fireman’s Board and the Saint Nicholas Parish Council.

Dan Eckstein, District 1 Dan Eckstein and his wife, Pam, have been married for 33 years and reside in Sunman. They have two children (Ben and Jon), one grandson and a granddaughter on the way.

Eckstein is a graduate of Batesville High School. He attended the Southeastern Career Center for night classes to study for an electrical career and has earned college credits from studies completed in the fire service.

Eckstein is currently the maintenance technician at Enhanced Telecommunication Corporation. His former work experience includes working for the town of Sunman and 25 years as an owner-partner of a construction company.

He is a member of the Batesville Knights of Columbus and a 20-year volunteer fire-fighter for the Sunman Rural Fire Department. As a firefight-

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MARCH 2020

er, he has served in many rolls and held multiple certifications including State Fire Investigator. He was a state-certified EMS first responder instructor and has served as captain of the fire department and held multiple positions on the board of directors, including the office of president for several terms.

Tony Schwab, District 1 Tony Schwab and his wife, Melinda, live on a small farm in Franklin County. They have one daughter.

Schwab is the maintenance manager at Owens Corning in Brookville and has a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering technology from Purdue University. His former work experience includes director of operations (Osborn International), general manager (Anderson Manufacturing), senior manufacturing engineer (Delta Faucet), project engineer (Mazak), and Franklin County economics director.

He serves on the Hoosier Hills Water District board of directors and as a local handyman.

His hobbies include gardening, building cars and racing at Edgewater Raceway, golfing, traveling, hiking, snorkeling, creating scrap metal art and having neighbors over for dinner.

He and his wife have a few pets — most notably a rescue sheep they taught to do tricks.

Darrell Smith, District 7 Darrell Smith is a self-employed farmer, raising beef cattle, hay and tobacco. He is also a licensed auctioneer in the states of Indiana and Kentucky.

For over 35 years, Smith has served as a director for Southeastern Indiana

Vote at the Annual Meeting MARCH 28

REMC and is currently the 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. board president. He is a Credentialed Cooperative Director and has received his Board Leadership Certificate. He is also president of the Macedonia Cemetery Association.

Smith is a past board member of the Indiana Tobacco Growers Association, Jefferson County Extension Ag Council and the Farm Credit Services advisory board. He and his family attend the Macedonia Baptist Church.

Smith and his wife, Michelle, are residents of Dow Ridge Road, Madison, in Milton Township, and are parents of one daughter and two sons.

Bonnie Boggs, District 8 Bonnie Boggs has served on the board of directors for 27 years, serving as treasurer for 16 years. She has earned education credits as a Credentialed Cooperative Director and has completed both the Board Leadership and Director Gold certifications through NRECA. Boggs has over 50 years of experience in small business and human services in her home community and has also held an Indiana real estate license for several years. She also attended Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis to further her education.

Boggs is a lifelong resident of Jennings County and a member of the Vernon Baptist Church where she serves as the administrative assistant.

She has one son, Kevin Boggs, who lives on a fifth generation family farm in Vernon Township with his family.

energy

Help food keep its cool — even in a power outage

With winter around

Before an emergency,

to be refrigerated. Doing

the cold temperatures

the corner, weather

put appliance

so will help keep you

to make ice. Fill buckets,

emergencies are bound

thermometers in

out of the refrigerator

empty milk cartons or

to happen — but they

your freezer and

and also provide you

cans with water and

don’t have to reach crisis

refrigerator. Freeze

with a backup food

leave them outside to

status in your household.

containers of water—

source in an extended

freeze. You can then use

If you prepare for power

like milk jugs — to put

blackout.

the homemade ice in

outages before they

in the refrigerator and

occur, you can minimize

help keep food cold

For a prolonged

your worries, especially

longer, but don’t fill

outage, find local

about food safety.

them to the top. Water

stores that sell dry ice

Finally, when the power

your refrigerator, freezer or coolers.

expands as it freezes, so

and block ice. Block

outage is over, don’t

The most important tip

leave some extra space

or dry ice will keep the

take chances if the food

to remember is to keep

in the container.

refrigerator as cold

is questionable. If in

as possible for longer

doubt, throw it out.

your refrigerator and freezer doors closed

If you know in

as much as possible

advance that adverse

during an outage. If

weather conditions

Though some may

electricity is out only for

are imminent, freeze

encourage you to,

a short time and your

leftovers, milk, fresh

don’t bury food in the

refrigerator maintains

meat and poultry that

snow, because this

a temperature of 40 F

you may not need

isn’t a safe alternative.

or below, your food will

immediately. Grouping

Frozen food can thaw

be safe for about four

food together in the

if exposed to the

hours. A full freezer will

refrigerator will help

sun’s rays, even if

stay cold for 48 hours —

items stay cool longer.

temperatures are frigid.

24 hours if it’s half full.

Also, stock up on food

Rather than storing food

supplies that don’t need

outside, consider using

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MARCH 2020

periods of time.

by

Leslie Beard

Director of Marketing and Member Services WIN Energy REMC

insights L ETTE R S TO THE

editor

Off the ‘to do’ list

I’ve had a “to do” item on my list for over a year … so today I am going to “do” it! I’ve long wanted to write you and tell you what a wonderful job you do with the monthly Indiana electric publication!

I’ve been a long time Dubois REC customer. Your contributions to my enjoyment each month have been significant! I know thousands of other Hoosiers have the same experience … but, like me, letting you know can be hard to get off the “to do” list. Thanks … and keep up the good work!

Mike Rendel, Mentor, Indiana

Still time to enter Calendar art contest deadline March 20 Indiana students in grades kindergarten through 12 still have time to enter the Cooperative Calendar of Student Art contest. But the deadline to enter the contest is just weeks away. Artwork must be received at the Indiana Connection office by 5 p.m. on March 20. The address is Indiana Connection, Calendar Art Contest, 8888 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1600, Indianapolis, IN 46240.

Winning entries will illustrate the 2021 art calendar sponsored by Indiana’s electric cooperatives.

‘For the people’ magazine

A complete set of rules and the required entry form are available at

Just finished reading your editorial in the recent magazine about your tiny house desire (January 2020 issue, page 3).

A first place artist will be selected for each grade and will receive $200.

I love all your articles. They speak to each and every one of us. Your magazine is something I look forward to each month. It is filled with interesting informative articles, chances for opportunities and good homemade recipes and restaurants to try. It also showcases parts of our beautiful state that otherwise might go unnoticed!

Thank you again for a great “for the people” magazine!

Jennifred E. Jones, Wingate, Indiana

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MARCH 2020

www.IndianaConnection.org/for-youth/2021-contest.

The artwork of each grade level winner will illustrate either the cover or one month of the calendar.

Honorable mention award winners will receive $75. Their artwork will appear in a special section of the calendar. An “Artist of the Year” will be selected from among the first place winners and will receive an additional $100. Judges will also select merit winners who will receive certificates.

Contact either Emily Schilling (eschilling@indianaec.org) or Richard G. Biever (rbiever@indianaec.org) at Indiana Connection if you have questions about the art contest.

MARCH 2020

13

county feature

Vigo County Vigo County has been home to a celebrated array of people. But let’s meet three: a songsmith, a saint, and Holocaust survivor.

PAUL DRESSER. Whenever Hoosiers sing about “the moonlight … along the Wabash,” they honor all Indiana homesteads. But really, that home gleaming with candlelight was that of Dresser, a Terre Haute native and songwriter who composed the song in 1897. “On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away” was officially adopted as the state song in 1913.

y t n u o C acts F FOUNDED: 1818

NAMED FOR: Francis Vigo, an Italian-born fur trader who aided the American forces during the Revolutionary War, most famously as an informant to George Rogers Clark in recapturing the British-held fort at Vincennes.

POPULATION: 107,386 (2018) COUNTY SEAT: Terre Haute NOTED FOR: Vigo County is nationally known as a bellwether for U.S. presidential elections; it has voted for the winning candidate in every election since 1956, and in all but two elections since 1888 (1908 and 1952).

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MARCH 2020

Dresser’s birthplace and boyhood home, a state shrine listed on the National Register of Historic Places, now sits in Terre Haute’s Fairbanks Park, a stone’s throw from the Wabash. Dresser, it should be noted, was born Dreiser and was an older brother to another famous Hoosier, acclaimed writer and social reformer Theodore Dreiser.

SAINT THEODORA GUÉRIN. Long before Dresser wrote about “nature’s school,” a Catholic nun arrived at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, a wilderness settlement in northwest Vigo County, in 1840 from France.

Mother Théodore Guérin, aided by several other sisters, advanced education and religious vocation in the region. One school she founded became Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, which continues today as a Roman Catholic liberal arts school open to both women and men.

More than 50 years after she died in 1853, the first considerations began for her sainthood. Pope Benedict XVI canonized her in 2006. Saint Theodora Guérin is the only saint to have served in Indiana.

Eva Kor at the CANDLES museum in Terre Haute. She died unexpectedly on her annual CANDLES trip to Auschwitz July 4, 2019.

EVA MOZES KOR. While the Nazis killed her parents and older sisters during the Holocaust in World War II, young Eva and her twin sister, Miriam, were spared for the sadistic pseudoscientific experiments carried out on twins at the Auschwitz death camp in Germanoccupied Poland.

Though they survived, they suffered physical complications throughout the rest of their lives.

In 1960, she married American Michael Kor, also a Holocaust survivor, and settled in Terre Haute. In 1984, Kor founded CANDLES (an acronym for “Children of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Survivors”), and, in 1995, opened the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Terre Haute to educate the public about the Holocaust and the power of forgiveness.

Despite her age, Kor made annual trips to Auschwitz to tell others about her childhood experiences. During last year’s CANDLES trip, she died unexpectedly on July 4 near Auschwitz in Kraków, Poland. She was 85 years old.

This year, CANDLES museum celebrates 25 years and will be hosting programs and initiatives, speakers, events, and activities that carry on Kor’s legacy.

Indiana eats

Good to the bone The Chicken Place is THE place for your fried chicken fix This St. Patrick’s Day take a trip to

keeps the family tradition alive — as

Ireland — Ireland, Indiana, that is.

well as the area’s rich German tradi-

But don’t head to this small town in

tion. German Potato Salad and Ger-

Dubois County for an Irish Stew and

man Fries (potato slices fried with on-

Colcannon dinner. The Hoosier state’s

ions) are menu staples. Chicken can

Ireland is synonymous with fried chick-

be ordered by the piece or as quarter

en from The Chicken Place.

and half chicken portions. Hankering

Yes, this purveyor of good old-fashioned skillet-fried chicken, made fresh to order, is actually called “The Chicken Place.” Make no bones

for livers, gizzards or hearts? They’re on the menu, too. A full order of ’em all is aptly noted as “Organ Trail” in the Appetizers listing.

about what this Ireland institution is

Though fried chicken fanatics from

known for, although its menu includes

across the country have hit the trail

burgers, strip steak, ham, shrimp,

to Ireland, Indiana, locals love the

tenderloins and oysters.

eatery as well. Readers of The Dubois

Four generations of the Leinenbach family have been serving good-tothe-bone chicken using Katie Leinen-

County Herald voted it the “Best Fried Chicken” in the 2019 Best of Dubois County Awards.

bach’s top secret recipe since the

Patrons also love the restaurant’s 20

restaurant opened its doors in 1948

ounce scooners of draft beer which

as Leinenbach Café. The Chicken

are a perfect accompaniment to the

Place’s current owner, Chris Himsel,

crisp chicken.

16

MARCH 2020

THE CHICKEN PLACE 970 W. State Road 56 Ireland, IN 47546

812-482-7600 thechickenplaceireland.com

HOURS: Monday–Tuesday: 4 to 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday–Friday: 4 to 9 p.m.

Saturday: 3:30 to 9 p.m.

Sunday: Closed

food

Dippity

Do

Take a veggie slice, cracker or chip ... and dip!

Jalapeno Popper Dip

Marilles Mauer, Greensburg, Indiana 2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese, softened 6-8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled 1 cup mayonnaise 4-6 jalapenos, seeded and chopped 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese ½ cup diced green onions 1 cup crushed buttery round crackers (about 18) ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese ¼ cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray 8-by-8-inch casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

Blend cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Combine with bacon, mayonnaise, jalapenos, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and diced green onions in a bowl. Stir well. Transfer mixture to a casserole dish. Spread evenly. In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs, parmesan cheese and melted butter.

Sprinkle cracker crumb mixture all over the top of the dip. Bake 20-30 minutes or until bubbly.

Editor’s note: We garnished the dip with finely chopped red and yellow peppers.

food Pizza Dip

Pizza Dip Angela Rouch, Peru, Indiana 1 pkg. 8 oz cream cheese 1 t. Italian seasoning ¼ t. garlic powder 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ¾ cup pizza sauce

½ cup finely chopped green pepper ½ cup finely chopped red pepper ½ cup mini pepperoni slices, optional Tortilla chips, breadsticks, or crackers for dipping

In a bowl, combine cream cheese, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder; spread on the bottom of a greased pie plate. Combine cheeses; sprinkle half over the cream cheese layer. Top with pizza sauce and peppers; can add pepperoni slices. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses. Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips, breadsticks, or crackers.

Mexican Cheese Dip

Mexican Cheese Dip Kayla Knepp, Montgomery, Indiana 2 lbs. Queso Blanco - style pasteurized processed cheese ¾ cup milk 1 T. butter 2 (4 oz.) cans chopped green chiles ½ t. cumin ½ t. garlic powder ½ t. onion powder ⅛ t. cayenne pepper Place cheese, milk and butter in a saucepan over low heat. Cook until melted. Stir in green chiles, cumin, garlic and onion powders, and cayenne pepper. Serve with chips or over Mexican rice.

Editor’s note: We garnished the dip with chopped green onions and jalapeno slices.

FO O D PREPARED BY I NDI ANA CO NNE CTI O N S TA FF

18

PHO TO S BY TAYLO R MA RA NI O N

MARCH 2020

from Acorns of

Creativity...

by Richard G. Biever Nate Heck works in the world’s greatest office space.

But it’s not the cozy insulated and energized tree house in his backyard. Though editing video beneath a giant live oak limb that passes through definitely makes a unique and awesome studio.

It’s not the New York City museums, industrial plants, or even Holiday World where he’s made episodes of his internet-based educational series, “Artrageous with Nate.” Though visiting these places inspire and fascinate.

And it’s not even the beautiful and historic homes and basilicas in Spain or Italy he’s taken viewers to. Though touring Salvador Dali’s home on the Mediterranean seemed surreal.

No. Nate Heck toils and tarries within a space that embraces all these places — and limitlessly more. His work station is within the imagination.

His mission, the reason he created “Artrageous,” is to share the stories of creative people. The goal is to inspire and invite viewers to revisit their own imagination and creativity, and to project it outward. “Everybody’s creative,” Heck said. “The most fascinating creative people I have ever met are not artists. They’re usually

INDIANAPOLIS

20

MARCH 2020

Nate Heck sits back in his backyard tree house where he edits episodes of “Artrageous with Nate.” Along with a live oak limb running overhead, his workspace includes a loft, where he reads or his kids play, Emmys he’s won, and memorabilia.

PHO TO BY RI CHARD G . BI EVER

I NTERNATI O NAL PH O TO S CO URTE S Y O F ARTRAGE O US WI TH NATE

engineers, designers — people that are just looking at problems differently.”

And, “Wherever you see creativity and innovation,” he says in an introduction video for “Artrageous,” “I’ll be there.”

STORIES TO TELL Heck, 42, is trained as an artist and an educator. From his home on the east side of Indianapolis, he says he’s

PARIS, FRANCE

more of a speaker and a storyteller.

Nate Heck visits the Louvre, the world’s largest art museum.

“I still consider myself an educator.

I love storytelling. Good teaching is

“Art was a way that I didn’t feel

raised a few

good, good storytelling. I love telling

worthless,” he said. “I started doing

eyebrows. Though his students would

other people’s stories.”

local fair competitions … anything just

occasionally bring home a finished

to have a chance to have somebody

product, his classes would spend

see what I was making. Even if I didn’t

months on projects. A fifth grade class

win, I’d get some encouragement.

dissected various elements of the

Heck was the guest speaker at Indiana Electric Cooperatives’ Cooperative Calendar of Student

Sistine Chapel, for instance.

Art reception for the contest winners

“It is important,” he continued. “If it

last year. He’s been invited to be on

weren’t for these art competitions,

Another project had students building

the panel of judges for this year’s

where else are some of these kids

full-size mummies and sarcophagi

contest that concludes later this month

going to get to shine a little bit? It’s not

and turning the hallways outside

(please see page 12 for information

going to be the SAT. They’re not going

the art room into an Egyptian tomb.

about the contest). Winning works

to make the honor roll, per se. They

His students also erected a 30-foot

from the contest in all grades, K-12,

may not be the football star.”

tower of colorfully painted plastic

will illustrate the cover and the months of the 2021 wall calendar that will be made available by participating electric cooperatives around the state in the fall.

Despite his rough early start with academics, Heck went on to earn degrees in art education and telecommunications at Ball State

water bottles that looked like glass, akin to the Dale Chihuly blownglass sculpture at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum.

University. He then received a

But some parents would ask, “Where

Thinking back to his talk with the

master’s degree in educational

are the hand turkey things for

winners, Heck noted art contests like

technology from Indiana University.

Thanksgiving?”

After college, he and his wife, Jessica,

“I’m way more fascinated by the

who is a French and Spanish teacher,

process of creativity than I am whether

lived in France for a couple of years.

you make some beautiful painting,” he

In 2005, they returned to the east side

said. “I just wanted to immerse kids in

of Indianapolis where he taught high

experiences.”

the co-ops’ calendar project were important to him growing up. He was not strong in the core subjects, he noted, and even repeated third grade.

But inspired by his grandfather, an artist with The Indianapolis Star, Heck began using his imagination and creating with his hands.

school and elementary art for the next 10 years.

Heck’s unorthodox style of teaching

In the meantime, he had begun using his skills in videography to create

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 MARCH 2020

21

MADRID, SPAIN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

Nate Heck interviews Oscar Sanz, CEO of Ink and Movement, at its headquarters.

Ink and Movement manages artists and creates art and cultural projects to bring contemporary art to the public. Vinnie Manganello, an Indianapolis based producer and videographer, handles the camera.

teaching resources that would tell the back story of artists and their works,

Then, as budget cuts came to his

measured or appreciated as the

like Edvard Munch’s “The Scream,”

school system, arts education was

courses within the STEM (Science,

or Georges Seurat’s pointillism, for

among the first casualties. Heck saw

Technology, Engineering, and Math)

example. “I couldn’t find anything like

fellow art teachers losing their jobs,

curriculum. “And if we can’t measure

what I wanted,” he said. “I love art

and he was forced to spread his time

it very simply on a test, we devalue

history. I love history, and I did not

thin teaching between two and then

it. Just because we can’t quantify it

like the way it was presented. It just

three schools.

perfectly, then somehow we think,

seemed really dry, and these kids were not connecting to the artists.”

Finally, by 2016, he realized he wasn’t putting into the art classes what he

‘Well, the arts are the first thing if we’ve got to cut.’”

With the help of the PBS station in

should and left teaching to focus strict-

Indianapolis, Heck’s videos became

ly on “Artrageous” to spur creativity

“Artrageous,” short 6- to 9-minute

and the need for the arts. “That’s why I

clips. They were disseminated over

got pretty passionate,” he said.

Heck admits part of the trouble with

The problem with the arts in schools,

general, is how they are presented

the internet and on PBS out of Washington, D.C.

22

MARCH 2020

he said, is that they are not as easily

THEORIES OF RELATIVITY the “arts” in school, and society in and interpreted.

“You can’t say ‘art.’ It just separates,”

it. I’m fascinated by making all of that

Safari theme park in southern Indiana

he said. “It’s a loaded word. I call it the

relatable.”

to talk about roller coaster design

‘un-four letter word.’”

“Artrageous with Nate” bridges that

and engineering. “It was one of my favorites because it was great seeing

He said people will immediately

gap between the art room and what’s

separate between those who have the

beyond it. In the short engaging clips,

skill sets to paint and draw, and those

Heck enthusiastically shows how

who feel they don’t, and, therefore,

creativity, imagination and art combine

couldn’t care less.

with math and engineering to create

Another episode featured an industrial

wonderful human experiences. In

designer at Delta Faucet near

everything from roller coasters to

Indianapolis. It followed her vision for

literally the kitchen sink, Artrageous

a new faucet design, inspired by an

explores the ins and outs of the

old milk bottle, from her sketches to

creative process and innovation

collaboration with engineers through

from the Renaissance to today, from

to a final beautiful functioning faucet.

“Where is it in the process … where is it in middle school or high school that something happens, and we start to think we either have ‘it’ or we don’t?” he said. “People always say ‘I can’t draw a stick person.’ But that’s not really what I’m concerned about. I’m

Indiana to Europe.

more concerned about them not losing

For one episode, Heck and his crew

the belief that they ARE creative. The

ventured to Holiday World/Spashin’

world actually needs more people thinking creatively through problems than making paintings.”

He said being innovative is the number one trait every business

all that come together. Design artists, engineers, the user experience. That was really fun.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 LERMA, SPAIN Nate pauses for a picture beside the Collegiate Church of San Pedro, which was built in the early 1600s, while donkey trekking to a shoot in northwestern Spain near its border with France.

wants. To nurture that, “You need to support the arts. You need to support creative opportunities for kids so they have more time to just experiment.”

Heck said he’d like to see a new emphasis in arts curriculum. Instead of advocating for the addition of “A” for “art” to STEM to create STEAM, he said art — or rather the creativity, innovation and imagination the arts stimulate and strengthen — needs to extend beyond the art room. Those essential skills need to become fused with every STEM subject, too.

“When I speak at art conferences, a really a big question I am asking is: At what point do we stop calling it the ‘art room.’ If we want the arts to survive, I think we’re going to have to stop labeling it like that,” he said. “The only way to do it is to start connecting — by saying what happens in the art room connects to everything outside

MARCH 2020

23

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 With major funding from multiple sources, Heck has produced some

scientists, technicians, engineers, mathematicians — successful people in all walks — do the same.

100 episodes available on his website

“Imagination is more important than

or YouTube. “I love filming creative

knowledge,” once opined a guy

stories that focus on the relationship

known not as an artist but more for

between designers and engineers,

a few theories he concocted in the

form and function. I not only dig into

STEM line of work. But he added, “I

the culture they grew up in, but also

am enough of the artist to draw freely

into the companies and cultures

upon my imagination … Knowledge

that cultivate this type of innovative

is limited,” he said. “Imagination

thinking,” he noted

encircles the world.”

The show reaches an international

That guy was Albert Einstein.

audience, a little over half from the United States with the rest in Canada, Europe, Australia and India.

ACORNS OF INSPIRATION Acorns fall from the giant oak tree in Heck’s backyard. He hears them toppling onto the tree house roof.

Even after multiple rakings last fall, acorns still cover parts of the yard.

That’s how creativity often comes.

Inspiration doesn’t always come in a brainstorm of fully-blown ideas.

Creativity can come in persistent tapping that builds upon itself. And from those tiny acorns of inspiration, as they say, sprout mighty oaks carrying those ideas upward. They branch out and grow.

Artists nurture and harvest their creativity. Successful

Heck said every field of study is important. “But we must also realize creativity is often the fuel within it all, giving us everything from the lightbulb

NATE HECK,

to the iPhone. Nearly everything we

executive producer and host, Artrageous

wear, ride in, and live in has been touched by not just STEM but also a heavy dose of creativity.”

Research, he said, has proven that one side of the brain doesn’t do all the creative thinking while the other solves math equations. “Researchers are discovering creative thinking happens in multiple areas of the brain, with both hemispheres working together,” Heck said. “If our brains are designed this way, maybe our companies, schools, and industries should be, too.”

Richard G. Biever is senior editor of Indiana Connection.

Guide Cayetano Vinzia describes the history of the Basílica de la Sagrada Família (Holy Family basilica) for an episode of “Artrageous with Nate.”

MARCH 2020

NATE HECK Age: 42 Family: Jessica Heck, wife Children: Geneva, Phoenix, Zara Home: Indianapolis Education: • Ball State University, degrees in art education and telecommunications • Indiana University, Masters in educational technology Awards: Six Emmy Awards for episodes of “Artrageous with Nate” About 100 episodes produced for both digital and broadcast.

BARCELONA, SPAIN

24

You need to support the arts. You need to support creative opportunities for kids so they have more time to just experiment.

“Artrageous with Nate” is supported by major funding from the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation and the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation.

www.ArtrageousWithNate.com

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

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calendar NORTHWEST

17

ST. PATRICK’S DAY NIGHTTIME PARADE, Crown Point (Lake), downtown.

The only nighttime parade in Northwest Indiana. Parade at dusk. Free. 219662-3290.

21

TRACK THE PAST MODEL TRAIN SHOW, Rensselaer (Jasper), Rensselaer Public Library. Several different sizes and ages of model trains. Includes layouts that have buttons for the children to push and Thomas.. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (Central Time). Free.

219-866-5881. jwilma@myjcpl.org

April

11

EASTER TRAINS, North Judson (Starke), Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum. Passengers ride in vintage coach or open-air sightseeing cars.

Approximately 12-mile round trip travels to the Kankakee River at English Lake and continues to a park for an Easter Egg Hunt and visit with the Easter Bunny. Purchasing tickets online is recommended as trains have sold out in the past. View train departure times and book tickets at hoosiervalley.org.

Tickets: $9 and up. 574-896-3950. marketing@hoosiervalley.org

CENTRAL

1718 21

DELAWARE COUNTY FARM FESTIVAL, Muncie (Delaware), Delaware County Exposition Center/Fairgrounds. Teaches children and adults about farming and agriculture, past and present, and the importance it plays in today’s society. 8:30 a.m-8 p.m. Joe Scott, 765-760-4443, or Dee Chambers, 765-760-8626. Visit Facebook page or https://www.farmfestival.org/ CHRIS KATTAN AND FRIENDS, Franklin April (Johnson), Beeson Hall. The former Saturday Night Live cast member, performs his stand-up comedy show.

Recommended for 17 and over. Tickets: $20 and $35. 6:30 p.m. https://www.etix. com/ticket/p/8876604/chris-kattanand-friends-in-franklin-franklinbeeson-hall?country=US&partner_ id=240&language=en&cobrand=mhshows

4-5

29TH ANNUAL TRADITIONAL POW-WOW, Lebanon (Boone), Boone County 4-H Fairgrounds. Native American singing, dancing, Red Road specials, vendors and food. Admission charge. 765-453-9025. americanindiancounci. wixsite.com/ americanindiancounci

SOUTHWEST

21

THE LICK CREEK BAND, Mitchell (Lawrence), Mitchell Opera House.

Eclectic acoustic music. 7 p.m. Tickets: Adults, $13; Children 12 and under, $6. Purchase tickets at ACE/Ben Franklin in Mitchell or online at www. mitchelloperahouse.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the door. 812-8494447. aprince@hoosieruplands.org.

2122

“THE GREAT WAR” WORLD WAR I LIVING HISTORY EVENT, Vincennes (Knox), Indiana Military Museum.

Hundreds of artifacts including artillery, vehicles and living history displays. Battles will be re-enacted both days. Free admission to outdoor events.

Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 812-882-4316. http://indymilitary.com/events

26

MARCH 2020

April

2

FERDINAND TOWN WIDE YARD SALE, Ferdinand (Dubois), townwide.

Housewares, clothing, home decor, toys, etc. Over 100 sites throughout and around town.

812-367-2041.

MARCH

APRIL

To ensure our readers have sufficient time to plan ahead to attend these events, we have revamped the timeline of our calendar. Our events listing runs from the 15th of the current month to the 15th of the next month. We hope you find this revised schedule helpful.

NORTHEAST

2122

MAPLE SYRUP DAYS, LaGrange (LaGrange), Maple Wood Nature Center.

“All-you-can-eat” pancakes and sausage meal, 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Horse drawn wagon rides into the sugar bush and tours of the sugar shack from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sugar making demonstrations, children’s entertainment, maple syrup and maple syrup-flavored food items for sale. All activities are free. The pancake breakfast requires a meal ticket purchased at the event (Adults, $7; Children, $3). 260-854-2225. larnold@lagrangecounty.org. http:// lagrangecountyparks.org/index.php?Itemid=106

28

SHIPSHEWANA STANDARDBRED HORSE SALE, Shipshewana (LaGrange), Shipshewana Auction and Flea Market. Standardbred auction. Preview and driving, 7-9:30 a.m. To consign a horse, call Dale Chupp, 260-499-0093.

9:30 a.m. sale begins. Free. info@shipshewanatradingplace.com. https:// shipshewanatradingplace.com/events/standardbred-horse-sale-auction

April

SPRING CRAFT BAZAAR, Fort Wayne (Allen), Allen County Fairgrounds.

9 a.m.-2 p.m. A food booth will be available the day of the event.

Free. 260-402-1315 or 260-623-3702. momriley5@yahoo.com. http:// allencountyfairgroundsin.com/event/2020-spring-craft-bazaar/

11

SOUTHEAST

27April

18

“FAB FOUR,” Corydon (Harrison), Artisan Center. Beatles themes portrayed by local area artists. Free. Visit https://www.thisisindiana.org/event/fabfour-at-the-artisan-center/ or visit the center’s Facebook page. 812-7382123.

28

METAMORA MANDOLIN GATHERING, Metamora (Franklin), MPA Opry Barn. Full day of workshops, jams and networking. Evening show open to the public. Admission charge. 317-627-1377. https://www.metamorampa. org/metamora-mandolin-gathering

April

FARM CLUB OF SOUTHEASTERN INDIANA SWAP MEET, Osgood (Ripley), Ripley County Fairgrounds. Buy, sell or trade. 8 a.m.-noon. $3 per person.

812-621-8302. chrismaryschmaltz@gmail.com. http://www.farmclubonline. com/id4.html

11

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

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

To add events to Calendar, please use the “Submit and Event” form under the “Talk to Us” or “Calendar” buttons at indianaconnection.org; or mail your info to: Calendar, Indiana Connection, 8888 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1600, Indianapolis, IN 46240. Please submit info two months before the date of the event.

MARCH 2020

27

do-it-yourself

FIRST IMPRESSIONS MATTER stage your home for a successful sale When selling your home, you want it to look its absolute best

Or attach

for potential buyers. Home staging highlights your home’s

an air

most impressive assets. It can also greatly decrease the time a

freshening

home sits on the market. Follow these suggestions for a cost-

pad to your

effective way to make a big impact.

furnace

DE-PERSONALIZE: Staging helps buyers visualize the property as their own. If they’re distracted by a wall of family photos, a refrigerator covered in magnets and kids’ artwork, or tons of

filter for a fresh scent throughout.

toiletries on a bathroom counter, they’ll miss what’s important.

TOUCH UP AND REFRESH: Once you’ve de-personalized,

Take the personal stuff down and store it in bins with lids

decluttered, and cleaned, you’ll probably notice areas that

while your home is on the market. Replace wall hangings with

could use a little extra help. Nail holes that weren’t reused

neutral pieces so your walls aren’t completely bare. In the

will need some light spackling and touch-up paint. Speaking

bathroom, stow personal items in small bins so you can quickly

of paint, it’s best to neutralize brightly colored walls, another

hide them under the sink or in a linen closet, keeping counters

distraction to buyers. Paint is one of the most noticeable and

clutter free. Small decorative fabric totes corral items neatly on

cost-effective ways to freshen up a space.

open shelving.

Small fixes like a fresh bead of bathtub caulk, updated

DECLUTTER: Clutter takes up space, and space is what sells.

cabinet knobs, or new light switch plates quickly give a more

De-personalizing often takes care of some of the clutter but look around and see what else isn’t needed on a daily basis.

Don’t stash everything in closets, because buyers will look there to see if your home has enough storage space for their belongings. So, it’s a good time to start filling more bins or large sealable storage bags with extra clothing and outerwear

modern appearance. Add more light with brighter LEDs. And remember, a buyer’s first impression begins at the curb and front door. In the winter, make sure walkways are free of snow and ice. Your lawn and landscaping should look tidy and healthy the rest of the year. New mulch and pots of annuals do wonders for curb appeal, not to mention a modern doorknob

that’s out of season. Collectibles and knickknacks should be

on a freshly painted, great looking front door.

put away as well, so stock up on packing boxes, paper and

Visit your local Do it Best store or doitbest.com for thousands

tape.

of the best home improvement products, including storage,

CLEAN UP:

A clean home suggests to buyers that the current

cleaning, and touch up supplies for home staging.

occupants took good care of it. Make sure every area of the house is free of dust, dirt, and soap scum. Have plenty of cleaning supplies on hand to tackle the highly visible areas like countertops, bathrooms, sinks, and windows, as well as more hidden areas like refrigerator shelves. Try Mr. Clean eraser pads to remove scuffs from walls. Get some new reusable or disposable mop heads or Swiffer WetJets to keep kitchen floors shining. Dusters on extendable poles make it easy to

by

Pat Sullivan

Pat Sullivan is the owner of Sullivan Hardware & Garden stores in Indianapolis and is a member-owner of Do it Best Corp., a Fort Wayne-based cooperative of thousands of hardware stores, home centers and lumberyards throughout the US and around the world.

tackle dust and cobwebs on baseboards, ceiling fans, and wall corners. Buyers also judge your home’s cleanliness with their noses. Keep that “freshly cleaned” vibe going by discreetly placing plug-in style or solid air fresheners around the house.

28

MARCH 2020

(This article is for informational purposes only. Indiana Connection and Do it Best Corp. assume no liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein, or for injuries, property damage, or the outcome of any project.)

safety

Spring into safety on the farm

Spring has sprung in the Hoosier state. It’s planting season for many of the state’s roughly 94,000 farmers. While you prepare to plant the crops that keep the world fed, Indiana’s electric cooperatives remind you to keep safety in mind — especially when working around electricity.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 62 farm workers are electrocuted each year in the U.S. Farm worker deaths and injuries can be prevented by practicing some simple electrical safety measures around farm.

Helpful safety tips for farmers to keep in mind this season: • Make sure farm equipment like planter arms and sprayers safely clear overhead power lines. This tall equipment can easily become entangled in power lines and pose an electrocution risk. Keep

a minimum of 20-foot distance from power lines in all directions.

Consider asking your electric cooperative to move overhead lines around buildings or frequently used pathways. If you’re planning any new construction, consult your cooperative for information on minimum clearances and the location of overhead lines.

• Keep a safe distance from power poles and guy wires when working the land or planting crops.

Contact 911 immediately if your equipment comes into contact with a guy wire or power pole. Do not try to fix it yourself. Leave that to the experts.

• If your farm equipment comes in contact with power lines, call 911 immediately. Keep others away and remain calm. DO NOT try to exit the equipment or touch someone who has had electrical contact. If you must exit the equipment for life-threatening reasons, jump out and away from the equipment and make sure

to land with your feet together and touching. Then, shuffle at least three tractor lengths away with your feet touching. NEVER attempt to get back into or touch equipment that is in contact with a power line.

• If a standby generator is used on a single-phase system, it must be connected to the farm’s wiring system through a double pole, double-throw switch. The switch disconnects the farm’s electrical system from the electric cooperative’s lines during an outage and prevents backfeed – keeping lineworkers safe from the risk of electrocution.

• Finally, make sure full-time and seasonal farm workers are educated to stay safe on the farm.

Each worker should be aware of the dangers and use proper safety procedures.

Indiana’s electric cooperatives stress the importance of staying safe around electricity this planting season. It could save a life.

MARCH 2020

29

backyard

Ask Rosie 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,” Indiana Connection, 8888 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1600, Indianapolis, IN 46240-4606, or use the form at IndianaConnection.org.

BULBS CAN OVERCOME WAY-TOO-EARLY SPROUTING

Q

In December’s

mild weather, I found several bulbs

WHAT’S KILLING THE OAK TREES?

sprouting in my

Q

garden. Then it got

In 22 years I’ve had more than a dozen oaks die because of a grub or larvae. Symptoms: First the leaves die and turn brown at the top

of the tree. It slowly spreads down the tree until all the leaves are brown and have fallen off. Then the bark begins to peel away from the trunk, and then it falls off pieces at a time. You can see where it cuts off the water supply to the tree. It spreads from tree to tree, usually the closest to the one

Fluctuating temperatures in fall and winter can fool bulbs, but in most cases, they will bloom as normal.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PURDUE EXTENSION

really cold again.

Will my bulbs bloom this spring?

A

It’s not unusual for Indiana weather to have trouble

deciding what season it is. Warm

affected. It may be nine months total time before the tree dies. I’m sure this

spells during the dormant period

is spreading in the forest behind my house.

often lead to bulbs poking their foliage through the soil. Though

Eugene Pigula, DeMotte, Indiana

A

we’re more used to seeing this Our Purdue Entomology Specialist

happen during February warm

was able to identify the culprit as

spells, our frigid temperatures

a longhorned beetle called red oak borer. The gallery pattern showing right angles and dead ends are distinctive for this species of borer. As with other kinds of borers, stressed trees are more likely to be attacked. By the time you’re seeing symptoms, it is too late to help that tree.

The best strategy is to protect trees not yet affected by alleviating stress as much as possible, such as irrigating during prolonged dry weather. Woodpeckers

may provide some biological control, Red oak borers leave distinctive trails (galleries) in the wood of the tree.

P H OTO B Y R IC H A R D G. B IE V E R

but they damage the bark and wood during their foraging. Remove dead and damaged trees to help reduce overwintering beetle population.

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MARCH 2020

arrived a bit early in fall 2019.

Indiana temperatures widely fluctuated in November, December, and January. Low temperatures at the Purdue ACRE Farm in West Lafayette, for example, dropped to 3 F on Nov. 14, and rose back up into the 40s a week later. And the alternating pattern of below and above freezing continued through December and January.

There’s not much you can do about bulbs that have sprouted, but the good news is that in most cases, the bulb itself should still be well protected and should bloom as normal. The tips of the leaves may be brown from the freeze damage.

product recalls

Trek recalls electric bicycles due to fall hazard A wrong-sized bolt has led to a recall of a high-end electric bicycle. This recall involves Trek Super Commuter+ 8S electric bicycles, model years 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Trek has received two reports of the wrong bolt being installed to secure the front fender to the fork crown. This can cause the front fender to fall onto the front wheel and stop the bicycle suddenly, posing a fall hazard to the rider. One injury has been reported, resulting in a vertebrae fracture.

“Trek” is printed on the bicycle’s downtube and the bike has an integrated battery and motor. The bikes were sold at independent bicycle stores nationwide and online from June 2017 through June 2019 for about $5,200.

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

Call: 800-373-4594; or go online: www.trekbikes.com and click on Safety & Recalls at the bottom of the page.

Don’t make a withdrawal from this power bank

If you have this hammer … stop hammering

The Spare 10,000 mAh Power Banks, used to charge electronic devices, has been recalled. Its lithium-ion battery can overheat and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards. The power banks, given to consumers as free promotional products at meetings or events nationwide from July 2019 through September 2019, are white and are decorated with various logos. PO number 1813582 is printed on the back of the power bank. The power banks measure about 5.5 inches long by 2.5 inches wide.

A STANLEY® brand 16 oz. wooden handle nailing hammer has been recalled. The molded grip on the hammer can come loose, posing an injury hazard to consumers.

One fire with no injuries has been reported.

Call: 800-860-1555; or go to: www.pcna. com and click on the “Recalls” link at the bottom of the page.

Recalled is model number STHT51454. It’s etched below the STANLEY logo on the steel hammer head. The hammers have a metal head, a natural wood handle with a black over-molded grip.

STANLEY is marked on the wooden handle in black and on the steel hammer head.

The hammer sold exclusively at Walmart stores nationwide from July 2018 through August 2019 for about $6.

Call: 866-215-1132; or go online: www.stanleytools.com, click on Support, then Safety Notices and Recalls.

Mr. Steak can go up in flames Bass Pro has recalled two models of gas patio grills. The grill’s gas regulator hose with attached fuel gauge can melt if it comes in contact with the bottom of the grill’s firebox creating a fire hazard.

The recall involves MR. STEAK four and five burner models, MS-4B-PG, SKU 2472264 and MS5B-PG, SKU 2472265.

The stainless steel grills have black trim and four or five black and red dials.

Bass Pro has received nine reports of grill fires. No injuries or property damage have been reported. The grills were sold at Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, and appliance and electronics stores nationwide and online from May 2017 through July 2019 for about $500 for the four burner grill and $600 for the five burner grill.

Call: 1-833-677-8325; or go online: mrsteak.com, and click on “RECALL”; or mrsteak.com/ repairpartskit.

MARCH 2020

31

Hoosier Energy news

Pole-top rescue training focuses on speed, safety Line specialists stay ‘Safe by Choice’ A second-generation line specialist,

our jobs are dangerous, and, at any

Dave Helton once saw his dad’s

time, one of us might require rescuing

friends climbing poles and putting up

off a pole.”

power lines near his workplace.

first step is to call 911, and then

I wanted to be a lineman,” says

assess the situation fully so rescuers

Helton, who has worked for Hoosier

don’t endanger themselves when

Energy almost 27 years. “I’ve never

committing to a pole-top rescue. “We

looked back. I love working with my

climb up in a safe position, tie the

hands, climbing poles, being outside,

correct knot – bowline or three half-

doing hard physical labor.”

hitches – and try to lower them to the

About seven years ago, Helton became a safety and training

Dave Helton stands next to a rescue mannequin used in pole-top rescue training at the English work center.

“

In an emergency, Helton says the

“After I saw that, I knew going forward

ground in a safe and timely manner,” Helton explains.

instructor with one of his primary

Despite the best preparation, rescue

duties being pole-top rescue training.

efforts pose numerous challenges to

According to Helton, this training focuses on speed and safety for both the rescuer and the victim in situations when somebody has been in contact with an energized conductor or has a medical emergency. He says

overcome. Not only is every incident different, so are weather conditions, the poles being climbed and if the conductors are energized or not.

This means rescuers have to adapt procedures to get the person down as quickly and safely as possible.

We do this type of

workers can encounter anything on

training because our

the pole, from a bee sting to a high-

Helton adds that being safe and

voltage shock to any type of medical

training properly are ways for line

emergency or inclement weather,

specialists to take care of themselves

including storms and lightning.

and each other, as well as live out the

jobs are dangerous, and, at any time, one of us might require rescuing off a pole.

”

DAVE HELTON, Hoosier Energy

32

MARCH 2020

“We are trained in ascending the pole, tying a rope with the proper rigging

Hoosier Energy initiative, “Safe by Choice.”

around them, and letting the victim

“We are trained to be our brothers’

down within minutes,” he explains,

keepers,” Helton says. “That’s at

adding that speed is vital to ensure a

all times, not just with this pole-top

better outcome for the person in crisis.

rescue, but in all aspects of our work.”

“We do this type of training because

travel

Art

OASIS OF

Center founded by Mellencamp diverse in arts programming

H

oosier musical artist John Mellencamp has achieved international fame for over 40 years punching out a unique brand of rootsy rock’n’roll.

Mellencamp’s radio-station standards — like “Hurts So Good,” “Jack and Diane,” “Pink Houses,” “Small Town,” and “Rain on the Scarecrow” — have ranged from catchy Top 40 tunes about teenage romance and rebellion to plaintive and provocative broadsides about the struggles of rural and small-town America.

But he’s also an accomplished visual artist. He started painting at an early age, was formally trained in New York. and actually might have pursued art as a career — had a recording contract not found him first.

So, when the Mellencamp family established the Southern Indiana Center for the Arts in his hometown of Seymour in 1991, it came as no surprise that it would be an oasis for arts of all sorts — fine, performing, culinary, architectural, literary, and artisan.

The Southern Indiana Center for the Arts is housed in a beautiful 1851 brick mansion sitting upon a hill overlooking the White River. The Center is a notfor-profit organization operated by volunteers and a volunteer board of directors.

While the Center has become a Mecca for Mellencamp fans from as far away as Australia, Europe and South Africa, and his spirit embodies the Center, the Center stands on its own with support from the community.

When asked, Mellencamp does autograph posters and pamphlets for the people who visit the Center. He also allows the Center to have one room reserved to exhibit around six of his works. Prints from three of his paintings, signed and unsigned, also are exclusively sold at the Center as fundraisers.

SICA has two galleries, the Main Gallery and the Front Gallery. Exhibits in the Main and Front galleries rotate approximately every 30 days. Artists can request a oneperson or group show.

Upcoming events at the center include Spring Break Art Camps later this month, two sessions coinciding with the spring break vacations of area schools. The Center also hosts a Summer Art Camp.

Check the Center’s website for updates of exhibitions and performances.

IF YOU GO: Southern Indiana Center for the Arts 2001 N. Ewing St. Seymour, Indiana 47274 Hours: Wednesday-Friday, Noon-5 pm Saturday, 11 am-3 pm (or by appointment)

812 522-2278 soinart.com MARCH 2020

33

profile

INDIANA'S TOP DOG A hot-diggity conversation with Henry Holcomb While Statehouse politics were underway early this year, your Indiana

First Dog Henry

Connection team hounded out a behind-the-scenes interview with a Holcomb administration insider that’s

PHO TO CO URTE S Y O F THE G O VERNO R'S O FFI CE

not just another shaggy-dog story.

What follows is an edited portion of our

HH: We have a lot of really interesting

HH: I’m a huge fan of the Indiana

visitors, but the most famous person

Canine Assistant Network (ICAN),

I’ve gotten to sniff has to be rapper

that trains and places assistance

MC Hammer. He is on the board of

dogs with people with disabilities, and

INDIANA CONNECTION: Tell us

directors of “The Last Mile”, a program

humane societies across the state

about your pedigree. When did you

that prepares incarcerated people to

that help animals like me. This year,

come to live with the Holcombs?

re-enter society through business and

I invited my friend Grady [the mascot

technology training. Dad loves this

from the University of Indianapolis]

program and made Indiana the first

and some dogs from IndyHumane

state outside of California to have the

over to our house to celebrate my 9th

program.

birthday. I’m proud to say that we were

hot-diggity conversation with mover and shaker (especially when he’s wet) Henry Holcomb, First Pooch of Indiana.

HENRY HOLCOMB: I was born in Fort Wayne. I was a part of a litter of five dogs – four girls and yours truly.

I love my sisters, but they were pretty noisy and rambunctious. While they

IC: What’s your most embarrassing

were running, barking and making a

moment as First Dog?

scene when Mom [Janet Holcomb] and Dad [Gov. Eric Holcomb] came to visit to adopt one of us, I crawled right into Dad’s lap, curled up and fell asleep. You could say I snuggled my way into their hearts.

IC: Since you’ve become First Dog, who’s the most famous person you’ve gotten to sniff?

34

MARCH 2020

able to get all five of my friends at IndyHumane adopted within a week!

HH: When Dad first started this job, we visited our new house and well – a

Follow Henry on social media.

certain miniature schnauzer may have

His handle is @FirstDogHenry on

accidentally peed on the curtains …

Facebook, Twitter and Instagram;

I’m not proud, but life comes at you

or write to him at Henry Holcomb,

fast.

200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis,

IC: Do you have any special causes you support?

IN 46204, Room 206.

36

FEBRUARY 2019

Official Registration Card Present this card for the following:

REGISTRATION • VOTING BALLOT • ENERGY KIT • PRIZE DRAWING Detach and bring this card to the annual meeting on March 28.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS STATEMENTS OF REVENUE Years ended Dec. 31, 2019, and 2018

BALANCE SHEET

Years ended Dec. 31, 2019, and 2018

Purchased Power, 63.72%

COST PER kWh

Operations and Maintenance, 17.27%

(Residential)

.1352¢ .1353¢ .1348¢

.1408¢

Where Your Dollar Went

IN 2019

Customer Accounts, 3.32% Administrative and General, 3.46% Depreciation Expense, 6.51% Gross Receipts Tax and Other Taxes, 2.12% Interest on Debt to Lenders, 3.61%

2016

2017

2018

2019

2019 INCOME BREAKDOWN

Residential: $51,568,538 (75 percent)

Commercial and Industrial: $16,323,082 (24 percent)

Other: $952,345 (1 percent)

THIS IS YOUR OFFICIAL REGISTRATION CARD. Please bring this card with you to the annual meeting on Saturday, March 28.

Do not throw this card away! Tear it off and keep it. It’s your ticket to the annual meeting.

MEETING

Agenda

DOORS OPEN AT 10:30 A.M.

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

1 – 2:30 p.m.

REGISTRATION

CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

VOTING Districts 1, 7 and 8

ENTERTAINMENT Musical performance by the Keith Swinney Band

ENERGY EXPO

Free Energy Efficiency Kits ChooseEV Booth Generac Generator Booth My Solar Booth Specialty Lighting Booth

LIVE LINE SAFETY DEMO

Presented by SEIREMC Journeyman Linemen

Silly Safaris LIVE Animal Show

BUSINESS MEETING

Special Guest Speakers • Randy Frye, State Representative House District 67 • Donna Walker, CEO of Hoosier Energy

DIRECTOR ELECTION RESULTS Districts 1, 7, and 8

DRAWING FOR DOOR PRIZES Grand Prize: Zero-turn Lawn Mower

South Ripley High School 1589 S. Benham Road Versailles, IN 47042