Jackson County REMC — March 2022 Indiana Connection by IndianaConnection

Scholarship opportunity for high school seniors.

Jackson County REMC’s

s e e B

KEEPERS OF THE

Protecting pollinators is rewarded with bountiful harvests and honey

pages 19-22

MARCH 2022

from the editor

DOWN AND DIRTY I remember eating dirt as a preschooler totally oblivious to the fact that it was, well, dirty. And, in the not-so-distant past, though I certainly washed my hands throughout the day, I rarely used disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer. I would, I suppose, when I wasn’t near a faucet before digging into my French fries at lunchtime. But I certainly never did before grabbing and pushing a shopping cart at the grocery store. Nowadays, most of us are on high alert for germs, and we think twice before touching anything on which nasty bacteria may be lurking. But how do you know exactly where those germs are lurking? As it turns out, it may be places that you may not even consider. •

•

Our workplaces are germ-filled minefields. We might want to carry a canister of wipes wherever we go, wiping down door handles, office equipment, telephones, and breakroom appliances whenever we touch them. Desktops are apparently the filthiest places in our offices, harboring 21,000 bacteria, viruses, and fungi per square inch. That’s 400 times more than a toilet seat. A telephone is even worse with 25,000 germs per square inch. At home, kitchens and bathrooms are the main areas germs thrive. A favorite haunt for E. coli, mold, salmonella and other bacteria: dish sponges — since they stay wet and moist. You can reduce the germs by microwaving the sponge for 30 seconds every five to six days. Although I’m not a fan of scanning QR codes at restaurants to view their menus on my phone, I read once that restaurant menus (and salt and pepper shakers) are germ magnets (since they’re handled by so many but so rarely cleaned). I’m fine with forgoing menus. But if a restaurant does provide you with a menu, be sure you wash or sanitize your hands after you order and never lay your silverware on top of your menu. When I’m at a restaurant, I usually plop my purse on the floor since I’ve heard purse snatchers can easily grab it if you hang it on your chair. But floors are dirty places so I need to remember to wipe the bag with mild soap or disinfectant every few days and let it air dry. I mentioned shopping carts earlier. If there are cart wipes near where you grab the cart at the store, use them. Those cart handles could contain 11 million microorganisms! A swipe of a disinfectant wipe will kill nearly 100 percent of those germs.

Bottom line: Though we’ll never be able to avoid all germs we can be more vigilant about keeping them at bay. Disinfect, disinfect, disinfect!

EMILY SCHILLING Editor eschilling@indianaec.org

On the menu: June issue: Summer salads, deadline April

1. July issue: Fresh from the garden recipes, deadline April 1. If we publish your recipe on our food pages, we’ll send you a $10 gift card.

Giveaway: Enter to win a $30 gift card from The Mean Bean Bistro and Brew in Bremen. Enter the contest at indianaconnection.org/talk-to-us/contests.

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 71 • 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 304,000 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: Randy Kleaving President Steve McMichael Vice President Dr. Richard Leeper Secretary/Treasurer John Gasstrom CEO EDITORIAL STAFF: Emily Schilling Editor Richard George Biever Senior Editor Holly Huffman Communication Support Specialist Ellie Schuler Senior Digital and Layout Design Specialist Taylor Maranion Senior Brand and Visual Design Specialist Lauren Carman Communication Coordinator Chuck Snider Director of Communication and Creative Services Mandy Barth Vice President of Communication ADVERTISING: American MainStreet Publications Cheryl Solomon, local ad representative; 512-441-5200; amp.coop Crosshair Media 502-216-8537; crosshairmedia.net Paid advertisements are not endorsements by any electric cooperative or this publication. UNSOLICITED MATERIAL: Indiana Connection does not use unsolicited freelance manuscripts or photographs and assumes no responsibility for the 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 2022

contents

MARCH

energy

food

03 FROM THE EDITOR

12 INSIGHTS

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

14 COUNTY OF THE MONTH Spotlighting Jay County.

10 ENERGY

16 FOOD Potato chips: Out of the bag and into readers’ recipes.

Continuing to explore EVs.

Indiana Connection

cover story 18 INDIANA EATS Mean morning (and midday) meals at Mean Bean Bistro and Brew. 20 COVER STORY Keepers of the bees.

safety

24 H OOSIER ENERGY/ WABASH VALLEY NEWS 25 DIY Join the outdoor improvement boom. 26 SAFETY Be prepared for spring’s fickle foul weather.

On the cover A frame pulled from a beekeeper’s hive teems with honeybees — a sight to behold. But over the past 16 years, especially, honeybees and native Indiana pollinators have all faced challenges that threaten their survival that include widespread pesticide use, parasites, loss of habitat, and viruses that spread hive to hive. PHOTO BY ESTHER BOSTON PHOTOGRAPHY

MARCH 2022

Jackson County REMC news HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

ADDRESS: 274 E. Base Road P.O. Box K Brownstown, IN 47220-0311

EMAIL info@jacksonremc.com

WEBSITE www.jacksonremc.com

OFFICE HOURS: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

APPLY FOR

a local scholarship RULES

• Applicant must reside in the

Online: www.jacksonremc.com By phone: 1-888-999-8816

REPORT OUTAGES OR EMERGENCIES: 812-358-4458 (local) 1-800-288-4458 (toll-free) day or night

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: board President John Trinkle, District 3 Vice President Walter Hunter, District 2 Secretary-Treasurer Jerry Kelley, District 5 John Hackman, District 1 Paul Elliott, District 4 Mark Trisler, District 6 Curtis Wischmeier, District 7 Dave Hall, District 8 John Miller, District 9 President/CEO Mark McKinney

children of Jackson County

home of a parent or legal

REMC employees who are

guardian who is a Jackson

members, and directors’

County REMC member and

children are also eligible.

receives electric service from REMC. • Applicant must be a high school senior who has been admitted to a two-year, four-year, or technical school in Indiana for the upcoming fall semester/ quarter. • Special consideration will be

BILL PAYMENT:

• Homeschooled students,

APPLICATIONS WILL BE RETURNED TO Jackson County REMC ATTN: Scholarship Committee 274 East Base Road Brownstown, IN 47220 DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION Return the application to the

given to an applicant attending

Jackson County REMC office by

school to study careers in the

April 15.

field of business, information technology, engineering,

SELECTION PROCESS

communications, marketing,

A scholarship committee will be

human resources, accounting or

composed of employees of Jackson

utility-related fields.

County REMC.

REQUIREMENTS • 300-500 word typewritten essay

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIO

Name of Applicant:

will be required on the topic:

Current Grade Level:

Who powers you?

Home Address (must be in

Current Educational Institution

SCHOL

• Personal letter of reference.

Parent/Guardian Name:

awarded at $1,000 each. Applications will be available at the high school guidance

Attending in 22-23:

Jackson REMC’s service territory):

Jackson County REMC Account

• Three scholarships will be

ARSHIP

Post- Secondary Institution

• Official grade transcript.

APPLICATION PROCESS

OTHER

Number:

Activity

ACTIVITE

S OR AC

Phone Number:

APPLIC

ATION

HIEVEME

NTS Number

of Years

Position

I hereby confirm that I will be attending a post-secon dary institution during the If my name is selected for 2022-2023 school year. a scholarship, I agree to allow my name and photograph to be publicized in written and spoken material for Jackson County REMC.

Student Signature:

Parent Signature:

This sch ola member- rship award program consume is off opportu rs of Jac nity to kson Co ered to enco become more aw unty REMC to urage the son s and da Please further are of car attach the ug the eers in of this ap the rural ir education an hters of ess plication ay, official gra d electric industry. give them an . Students de awarded transcript, and pe will be notified rsonal letter of refere by Jackso nce n Coun ty REMC to the end .

JACKSONREMC.COM

counselor office, from the Jackson County REMC office,

Held

JACKSONREMC.C OM

or online at www.jacksonremc. com/senior-scholarship-2022. MARCH 2022

Jackson County REMC news

Save money with a smart thermostat A premium smart thermostat can come with a hefty price tag, but not when you are a fiber member at Jackson County REMC. Our cooperative has recently introduced a smart thermostat program that allows members who are also fiber customers to receive an ecobee3 light thermostat — at no cost.

Once the connection is confirmed,

Members are responsible for installing

The thermostat will be stabilized

the thermostat and once activated,

you will be asked about your heating and cooling settings and asked to be connected to your WiFi. Being connected to WiFi will allow you access to your thermostat settings from anywhere in the world.

WHAT DOES ENROLLING IN THE PILOT PROGRAM MEAN? by Jackson County REMC during

That is the annual equivalent of: • Saving enough energy to take all the homes in Las Vegas off the grid for a year. • Keeping 7,336,641 tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. • Taking 1,557,673 cars off the road for a year • Protecting 9,581,313 acres of North American Forests

peak use periods. However, as the

HOW DO I QUALIFY?

homeowner, you can override the

Any member who is a fiber customer

added to the program.

stabilization at any time. When peak

may participate in our program.

INSTALLATION

will come up on your thermostat

they are required to contact our energy advisor, Brian Reynolds, to be

The installation is straightforward. You can download the ecobee app on your iOS or Android device for step-by-step instructions, or use the how-to guides and videos on the website. An instruction sheet also comes in the box with the thermostat. Once installed and powered on, the thermostat will confirm the connection.

MARCH 2022

periods are scheduled, a notification screen, and depending on the information on file at the office, you could receive a text, email, and/or phone call.

BENEFITS

All you must do is contact our energy advisor, Brian Reynolds, at 812358- 4458, and he will set up a time for you to come to the office, fill out paperwork and pick up your free ecobee thermostat. If you have your installation of our high-speed fiberoptic internet already scheduled, you can

According to ecobee, these smart

ask for your installer to bring your

thermostats have delivered 13.5 TWh

ecobee to your home.

of energy savings.

Jackson County REMC news

RIGHTOF-WAY CLEARING CONTINUES

PROVIDING YOU WITH SAFE, RELIABLE AND EFFICIENT ELECTRIC SERVICE IS AMONG THE GOALS OF JACKSON COUNTY REMC. One way we do this is by maintaining a clear path, or right-of-way easement, around power lines. Our maintenance program represents a significant investment, the cost of which we feel contributes toward the reliable electric service that meets your needs. Jackson County REMC’s right-of-way maintenance crew, along with crews from four professional contractors, will be working in the scheduled areas throughout the coming year.

2022 RIGHT-OF-WAY CLEARING AREAS The 2022 right-of-way program includes power lines served out of five substations. Those substations include: Borden substation: Parts of Wood Township in Clark County and Jackson Township in Washington

When you see maintenance crews trimming or removing trees and shrubs near rights-of-way, remember they are doing their part to keep your electric service reliable and cost-effective.

County

For conservation stewardship, Jackson County REMC strives to maintain power line right-of-way that provides a natural habitat for wildlife and has as little effect on the landscape as possible. We do this by strategically removing only the branches and undergrowth that directly impact the lines.

townships in Washington County

Once the trimming is complete, we spray the undergrowth with an environmentally conscious herbicide that is not harmful to humans or animals. Members in the affected areas will be notified in advance of the work being done. Members and landowners with questions are encouraged to contact our operations department by phone at 800-288-4458.

Kossuth substation: Parts of Jefferson, Monroe, and Washington

Mount Tabor substation: Parts of Howard, Vernon, and Washington townships in Washington County Pekin substation: Parts of Howard, Pierce, and Polk townships in Washington County South Boston substation: Parts of Franklin and Washington townships in Washington County

MARCH 2022

Jackson County REMC news

Nominating committees to be set at April board meeting Selecting nominating committees

DISTRICT FOUR: Our service area

Nominations by petition

is the first step in preparing for the

in Franklin, Jackson, Pierce, and

Any 25 or more members from

election of directors at the 2022

Polk townships and Washington

within a district may make other

Annual Meeting.

Township east of Indiana Highway

nominations for director from

135, all in Washington County; and

that district in writing by member

Monroe and Wood townships in

petition not less than 70 days

Clark County.

nor more than 100 days prior

committees will be responsible

DISTRICT SEVEN: Our service area

to the meeting of members at

for selecting slates of candidates

is in Jackson, Redding, Vernon, and

which directors are to be elected.

for the following districts for the

Washington townships in Jackson

After verification of member

election of directors at the 2022

County.

petition and bylaw requirements,

Nominating committees will be appointed at the April 13 meeting of the board of directors. These

Jackson County REMC Annual Meeting.

The nominating committees will be printed in the May issue of

the cooperative shall post such nominations at the same places where the lists of nominations

DISTRICT ONE: Our service area

“Indiana Connection” and will be

in Carr, Driftwood, and Grassy

posted on the REMC’s website,

Fork townships and Brownstown

www.jacksonremc.com, and in the

Election questions may be

Township southeast of White

REMC office as soon as they are

referred to Jackson County REMC

River, all in Jackson County; and in

available.

President/CEO Mark McKinney.

made by the committee are posted.

Monroe and Gibson townships in Washington County.

THANK YOU We appreciated your patience and are appreciative of all the thoughtful comments that we received during the large snow and ice storm in February.

MARCH 2022

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energy

Continuing to explore EVs

With the government

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directing funds to

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for an EV, they do still have

on driving patterns, but

some capacity to be used

this is more than offset

as a power storage device

by the savings in gas. For

— charge them with solar

example, if you pay 10

build a robust charging infrastructure and automobile manufacturers

How do you dispose of the used batteries?

ramping up production, the

This is one of the

or wind, and then use

cents per kilowatt-hour for

interest in electric vehicles

developing stories as the EV

that energy to meet needs

electricity, your monthly EV

is growing. We received

industry grows. Lithium-

in inclement weather or

recharging cost would be

several responses after a

ion batteries can be

during demand spikes in

$25 to $33 per month if you

recent article on EV myths,

recycled, and one company

the electrical grid.

drive 1,000 miles.

so we want to explore some

is reclaiming the elements

of those questions in a

from batteries to transform

While this information

follow-up article.

waste into high-value

Where are EV batteries made?

material for future batteries.

The EV battery industry is

the EV industry will

How much does it cost to replace the batteries in at EV?

The process for recycling

dominated by companies

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and upcycling batteries

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MARCH 2022

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ENTER CALENDAR CONTEST THIS MONTH

The deadline to enter artwork in the Cooperative Calendar of Student Art Contest is March 18. This is the 25th anniversary of the contest and calendar. First place winners in grade divisions kindergarten through grade 12 will each receive $200. Their winning artworks will illustrate the calendar’s cover and the 12 months of the year. One “artist of the year” will also be selected and will earn an additional $100. In addition, the judges will select honorable mention winners whose artwork will also appear in the calendar. They will receive $75 each. The contest is open to Indiana public, private or home-schooled students. They must be in grades kindergarten through 12th grade during the 2021-22 school year. A complete set of rules and required entry forms are available at indianaconnection.org/for-youth/art-contest.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ENJOYS THE MAGAZINE

Painting the town Send us your mural photos for June feature

Our June issue will focus on photos of murals taken by you, our readers! Do you have a favorite mural in your hometown that you marvel at whenever you see it? Is there a mural that best represents your hometown’s or state’s spirit? The murals can be painted either indoors or outdoors. When submitting your photo, please indicate where the mural is located and include any background information you may have about the mural and what you like most about it. Submit your photo by April 15. If we publish your photo, we will send you a $50 check. One randomly selected submission will also receive $50. Our address: Indiana Connection, Murals, 8888 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1600, Indianapolis, IN 46240. You can also send us your photo online at indianaconnection.org/painting-the-town.

MARCH 2022

I just wanted to let you know how much I thoroughly enjoy this publication! I look forward to receiving it each month and save many of the stories, recipes, and travel destinations. So many of the stories are heartfelt and inspirational. Who knew that I would be crying when reading a magazine from my electric cooperative! Thank you and your staff for all that you do to make the magazine possible!

Laura Duwel, via email

SETTING THE EV RECORD STRAIGHT I want to set the record straight about the article on electric vehicles in the January issue. I am an engineer in the IC engine and power industry and this article does not represent the facts. The biggest issue I see with the article is that it failed to mention the efficiencies associated with the coal-fired power plant. This ranges anywhere between 33-35% according to multiple sources (i.e. 65% or more of the energy is lost in the process). There are also electrical transmission and distribution losses. For the state of Indiana, these losses average around 6%. Also, the modern automobile internal combustion engines average around 30-35% efficiency (not 20% as stated in the article). Finally, coal has one of the highest CO2 emissions per BTU of energy released (from burning). If you take all this into account, a car engine operating on gasoline actually emits almost half the CO2 compared to an EV deriving all its power from coal. Please don’t get me wrong. I am a huge fan of EVs. The message just needs to be clear that we need to focus on renewable forms of electrical energy like solar, wind, hydro-electric and nuclear.

Joe Reynolds, Memphis, Indiana

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MARCH 2022

county feature

Jay County Jay County, which sits along on Indiana’s eastern edge with Ohio, is a portal into significant passages of Indiana geography, history, and culture. To name three: The Wabash River. Indiana’s official state river enters Indiana through Jay County. The river’s origin is just over the state line, and the Wabash meekly flows in along Jay County’s northeastern corner, south of the tiny burg of New Corydon. Then, the river draws a wide inverted “J” shape as it loops some 500 miles around the state — upward and westward through northern Indiana and then sharply southward to form the state’s southwestern border with Illinois. Two-thirds of the state’s landmass lies within its watershed. The Salamonie River, a tributary of the Wabash, originates near Salamonia in southeastern Jay County and flows northwestwardly into Blackford County before joining the Wabash River in Wabash County. Native Americans. Jay County is home to the National Center for Great Lakes Native American Culture. NCGLNAC is not-for-profit organization whose mission is to continue and preserve traditional Great Lakes Native American art, history, and culture by passing those traditions on to Native people and educating the general public about its importance. The area was home to Woodlands peoples and is within traditional Miami territory. Nineteen years ago, the Jay County Fair Board donated 30 acres of wooded land north of the county fairgrounds in Portland to NCGLNAC. The site includes a

MARCH 2022

cleared grassy area, a variety of woods and wetlands, and a small lake. Though it is not developed, an ambitious master plan for the site includes a cultural center. In the meantime, NCGLNAC continues hosting an annual gathering of Native American nations at the Tri-State Antique Gas Engine and Tractor Association Grounds, which are adjacent to the county fairgrounds. The pow wow is scheduled for June 11-12. On April 2-3, NCGLNAC hosts Cultural Arts Classes Session 1 at the Lions Civic Center in Portland. Session 2 will be May 21-22. Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve. Said to be named for the original Miami word for “stinking river,” Loblolly is 440-acre restored wetland in northern Jay County that was once was part of the large Limberlost Swamp. The swamp covered some 13,000 acres straddling the JayAdams county line just south of the Wabash River. The swamp attracted international attention in the early 1900s thanks to Hoosier writer, photographer, and naturalist Gene Stratton-Porter. She visited the swamp from her nearby home in Geneva to photograph and write about the Limberlost’s flora and fauna. Discovery of oil and natural gas in the area, along with the desire to increase farmland, led to the draining of the swamp at the very

Jay County is home to the 19th Annual Jay County Fiber Arts Festival, March 11-12 in Portland. Learn more at fiberarts.visitjaycounty.com.

County Facts FOUNDED: 1835

NAMED FOR: John Jay, co-author of The Federalist Papers, Secretary of Foreign Affairs under the Articles of Confederation, and first Chief Justice of the United States. It is the only county in the United States named for Jay. POPULATION: 20,478 (2020 estimate) COUNTY SEAT: Portland INDIANA COUNTY NUMBER: 38

time Stratton-Porter was using it as the backdrop to her beloved novels. In the early 1990s, the land for Loblolly was purchased from five different landowners who entered their land into the Wetland Reserve Program and work began to restore parts of the historic wetland. The return of the natural habitat has brought a resurgence of the natural insects, birds, and wildlife to the restored area. It helps complete the story of Stratton-Porter that begins at her Geneva home, an Indiana State Historic Site. Writing about the wetland restoration and Stratton-Porter in the March 2020 of Smithsonian Magazine, Kathryn Aalto, a historian and educator, noted the “the greatest tribute to her by far is the Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve.”

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food

POTATO CHIP BROWNIES Kathi Tooley, Berne, Indiana

2 sticks butter, melted 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 cups sugar 4 eggs 1 t. vanilla 1 cup flour 1 t. baking powder 3 T. cocoa powder 1 cup potato chips, broken into pieces 1 cup milk chocolate chips

F O O D P R E PA R E D B Y IN D IAN A C ON N E C TION S TA FF P HO TOS BY TAY L OR MA R A N ION

MARCH 2022

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease 9-by-13-inch pan. Line with parchment paper. Combine melted butter with semi-sweet chocolate chips. Whisk until the chocolate is melted. Add sugar, eggs and vanilla. Fold in flour, baking powder and cocoa powder. Spread half of brownie batter into the pan. Top with potato chips. Spoon remaining batter over the potato chips. Bake 45-50 minutes. Cool. Melt the milk chocolate chips. Drizzle over the cooled brownies. (If desired, you could sprinkle more potato chips on top at this point.) Refrigerate until firm (20 minutes). Cut into squares.

food POTATO CHIPS: OUT OF THE BAG AND INTO READERS’ RECIPES

Chip Chip-Hooray! POTATO CHIP COOKIES

Alberta Millikan, Plymouth, Indiana

1 cup brown sugar

2⅔ cups flour

1 cup white sugar

1 t. baking soda

1⅓ cups butter (2 sticks plus 5 T.)

2 cups crushed potato chips

2 eggs

2 cups butterscotch chips

2 t. vanilla

1 cup chopped pecans

Cream sugars and butter. Add eggs and vanilla, then add rest of ingredients. Mix well. Drop by teaspoonfuls on cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 F.

HOT HAM SALAD

Doris Ann Kahlert, Berne, Indiana 3 cups diced ham

½ cup sweet pickle relish

2 t. minced onion

2 t. prepared mustard

¾ cup mayonnaise

1 cup diced celery

2 hard boiled eggs, chopped

1 T. lemon juice

¼ t. salt

1 cup crushed potato chips

¼ t. pepper Combine all ingredients except potato chips. Place in a casserole dish. Sprinkle potato chips on top. Bake, covered, for 20 minutes at 425 F. Yield: 8 servings.

MARCH 2022

Indiana eats

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MARCH 2022

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ABOUT STATE SEN. RYAN MISHLER: Sen. Ryan Mishler has represented District 9, which includes Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall and St. Joseph counties, in the Indiana Senate since 2004. He chairs the Appropriations Committee and also serves on the Health and Provider Services, the Tax and Fiscal Policy and the State Budget committees. Mishler is president of both Mishler Funeral Homes and Bremen Monument Company. He serves on the Bremen and Kosciusko County chambers of commerce and is a member of the American Legion Post 191, the Masonic Lodge 414, the Scottish Rite of South Bend, and the United Methodist Church.

s e Be

KEEPERS OF THE

Protecting pollinators is rewarded with bountiful harvests and honey BY RICHARD G. BIEVER

P HO TO S BY ES T H E R B OSTON P H OTOGR A P H Y

Between a drought and a lack of pollinators, the Community Share Gardens at Lebanon’s St. Peter’s Episcopal Church had little harvest to share in 2013. But help soon came from above — on the wings of … not a snow white dove … but honeybees. From the church’s small but active congregation (weekly attendance is 30-some adults and children), two parishioners in particular, Chuck and Sandy Dailey, looked into what could improve the then 2-year-old garden ministry. The husband and wife team of now-retired Rolls-Royce engineers spent 2014 researching options, including beekeeping. By the spring of 2015, the St. Peter’s Apiary ministry was born. Chuck Dailey, now the ministry’s senior and a certified master beekeeper, has overseen up to nine hives on the church’s 8-acre grounds. “Once we got the bees, our gardens became so much more,” Dailey said. “The harvest is so much better.” But he noted honeybees don’t pollinate everything. By making their

gardens safe for their honeybees — by practicing natural pest control methods and no longer spraying pesticides — it also brought back native pollinators like bumblebees and butterflies. “The native pollinators have really been bountiful because of our honeybees.” The cornucopia the church began producing on half-acre plots and raised beds allowed the church to share its wealth of produce with the larger Boone County community, and beyond. Produce went to the food pantry run by St. Joseph’s, the Catholic church in Lebanon. Produce went to the Shalom House, a Saturday soup kitchen in town for seniors. And through beekeeping, St. Peter’s also connected with the Indiana Black Farmers Co-op.

Members of the cooperative grow gardens where they can in Indianapolis for those living in Indy’s food deserts where fresh healthy produce is harder to come by. Four groups from the co-op accepted an offer from St. Peter’s in 2020 to come north to Boone County to farm a halfacre plot the church provided. They then take the produce they grow there back to the markets in Indy. “We’ve been really trying to expand our ‘Care of Creation’ ministry,” Dailey, 63, noted. “That is taking watch over what we’ve been given and being good stewards of the earth and everything that we have.” continued on next page MARCH 2022

continued from page 19

Plight of the humble bees Honeybees play essential roles in pollinating plants that humans and animals rely on for food. Declines in bee populations — including 20% of honeybee colonies per year in Indiana — threaten that food supply. Insecticide exposure, loss of flowering plants and nesting habitats, disease and parasites like varroa mites, and poor hive maintenance are all factors in the decline. The national media has been abuzz with the plight of honeybees on and off for some 16 years. Dubbed “Colony Collapse Disorder” in 2006, the syndrome includes widespread honeybee deaths and the mysterious abandonment of hives by worker bees. Since then, much research has been directed at honeybees that help pollinate three quarters of the grown food we consume. Overall, the number of honeybees kept in the United States has been declining since 1950. The Department of Agriculture said there were some 5.6 million honey-producing colonies then. Today, there are around 2.8 million. In Indiana, it’s estimated there are currently over 6,000 honeyproducing colonies. Most colonies will have around 60,000 bees which include the workers we most often see gathering the nectar, the male drones that mate with the queen, and the one queen who lays the eggs. While culturally honeybees appear everywhere symbolizing natural goodness — from breakfast cereals to perfume to even alcohol (mead) — most people who slather golden honey across their breakfast biscuit or drop a dollop in their midday tea may not realize that honeybees are not native to North America. They are imports from Europe. The first colonists

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P H OTO C OU RTESY O F ST. PETER’ S EPI SCO PAL CHURCH

Children from the summer Caring Hands Camp suited up to get a close up look at beekeeping at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Lebanon. The camp is an annual program of the Boys and Girls Club of Boone County.

brought domesticated honeybees with them in the early 1600s for the natural sugar and the wax they provide.

analysis, 28% of North America’s 47 bumblebee species “face some level of extinction risk.”

The plight of the honeybee is real, but honeybees are hardly at risk of extinction. “They’re not a native species. So, they’ll never be an ‘endangered species’ in the United States,” said Kathleen Prough, chief apiary inspector with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. “In Europe they can be but not here.”

They don’t get the media attention, but native pollinators — bumblebees, butterflies, hummingbirds — also pollinate plants that grow into the fruits and vegetables we eat. And some of the same issues affecting honeybees, especially pesticides, is affecting native pollinators. Many, like bumblebees, nest in the ground. Any pesticide on the ground can kill them.

In fact, more honeybees are on the planet today than at any time in history noted Alison McAfee, a honeybee researcher at North Carolina State University, writing in Scientific American. “For some reason, maybe because they are small, honeybees are not generally viewed as the massively distributed livestock animal that they are.” Scientists, meanwhile, know little about the population status of most indigenous bees. Data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature indicates that many species are declining. Of particular concern: bumblebees. According to a 2015

“The biggest thing I tell people,” Prough said, “is if you plant flowers, the more native flowers you plant the better because they’ll attract native bees. And the honeybees will show up, as well.” She also noted a large variety of native flowering bushes and trees that attract both honeybees and native pollinators. For folks interested in becoming a beekeeper, Prough, 60, who is retiring this month from the DNR, suggests connecting with other beekeepers at their local meetings. “Talk to the beekeepers, go out with a beekeeper

into their hives,” she said. “You have got to get used to bees flying around you. That freaks some people out even with a hat and veil.”

Healing power of bees “The Keeper of the Bees” was the last work of famed Hoosier writer and naturalist Gene Stratton-Porter. Published originally as a magazine series shortly after her December 1924 death in a vehicle accident, the story was pollinated with her common theme of nature’s power. The piece spoke of reconciliation and healing for a wounded World War I veteran, an aging ailing beekeeper and a precocious child who come together through beekeeping. Stratton-Porter seemed to foreshadow how beekeeping would come to be used to heal the afflicted. Veterans suffering PTSD, people with all kinds of physical and mental conditions find relief in bees. “They’re getting veterans into beekeeping because once you get in the hive, you just calm right down,” Prough explained. “You don’t want to be super hyper when you’re in the hive because the bees will know. You just calm down and just go slow and watch the bees.” Ross Harding, 36, an Indianapolis-area beekeeper who makes his living keeping bees and selling the honey, noted humans and honeybees have been working together since the days of the Old Testament. “It’s a special relationship we’ve had for thousands of years, a long, long time. So, there’s all this folklore about people talking to bees, and how statistically beekeepers live longer …. It’s weird ... it’s like that all across the world,” he said. The ancient Greeks spoke of a special healing power in bees. And Harding noted “apitherapy” — that uses honey, pollen, bee secretions like “royal jelly,” and bee venom — is a thriving alternative medicine for many people in the U.S. Apitherapy is considered a traditional medicine in some parts of Europe and Asia.

stewards of the Hives and the earth It’s apropos that the apiary at St. Peter’s has become a ministry. St. Peter’s likes to note that most all churches offer coffee and doughnuts. But what other churches can offer coffee, doughnuts, and honey — especially honey that’s harvested on the church grounds? continued on next page

YOUR PERFECT LAWN COULD BE KILLING POLLINATORS Once upon a time, running barefoot through the yard meant treading carefully for fear of stepping on a bee making its way from one flowering white clover to the next and getting stung. And there was a time kids put dandelion and clover flowers into old jelly or peanut butter jars and then caught honeybees. They’d watch the bees up close and hear them buzz around next to their ear for a bit before opening the lid and letting them fly away. Throughout much of suburbia and even down country lanes, those are cherished memories younger generations never experienced. That’s because at some time between “once upon” and now, Americans started spending $75 billion a year for the perfect lawn. But in getting rid of clover and dandelions, we also rid our yards of honeybees and native pollinators. While those flowering “weeds” may be unsightly to you, it’s important to remember they’re food to bees and other pollinators, said Doug Richmond, a professor of turfgrass entomology and applied ecology for Purdue’s College of Agriculture. He joined other researchers studying the impact lawn care practices have on pollinators several years ago. These researchers created a pollinator-friendly guide for lawn care that includes:

Wait until May or June to apply pesticides if you need to use them at all. Early-season pollinators and colonies of bees are still recovering from winter stress in March and April.

Use granular formulations of insecticides, which fall to the ground and avoid direct contamination of flowering portions of blooming plants. If you must spray, mow first to remove the flowers and the presence of pollinators. Establish plots of diverse, pollinator-friendly native plants that bloom from early spring to fall. Check with your local Master Gardeners for ideas on what to plant. Source: Purdue University

MARCH 2022

Ross Harding looks over a frame of bees pulled from a hive. Harding, a professional beekeeper for about 10 years, cares for hives around urban and suburban Indianapolis. He sells the honey he collects to numerous restaurants and venues. PHO TO BY ESTHER BO STO N PHO TO G RAPHY

continued from page 21 Dailey noted that while honey is a beneficial byproduct, “Our main focus is teaching beekeeping.” Last year, the ministry welcomed over 200 individuals, adults and children, who visited its hives to learn about the importance of pollinators. “We suit them up and take them in,” he said. The church offers regular tours of the apiary twice a month. But if someone just stops by the church, Dailey said he and Sandy, who live nearby, are there about every day tending the hives or working in the gardens. Dailey is also the education chair for The Beekeepers of Indiana. With local groups all around the state, the association brings beekeepers and those interested in beekeeping together to share information and insights. Dailey regularly gives talks across the state on beekeeping, including at the Indiana State Fair. In the meantime, St. Peter’s developed another new ministry — “The Harvest House Community Center” — led by Sandy Dailey, a certified master gardener. In an 800-square-foot teaching kitchen beside the church, the

MARCH 2022

Daileys and a member of the Boone County Master Gardeners lead young people from the community through activities based on the Junior Master Gardeners curriculum. They teach the basics of gardening, the need for pollinators, and basic canning and food preparation techniques. The food grown by the youth at the church is either used by the youth themselves or donated to local food pantries. “And so we’re trying to be good stewards, we try to be good teachers,” said Dailey. And the church tries to be good neighbors, too. A bottle of honey is given every year to those who live alongside the church. “A lot of them grow fruit trees and different vegetables and things,” Dailey said. “That’s just more food sources our bees have.”

pollinators back … back here, anyway. Bumblebees are huge here. They’re probably one of the hardest working pollinators.” The Care of Creation ministry uses pollinators as a teaching tool to youngsters about the fragile balance in the greater circle of life. And Dailey said the humble honeybee and other pollinators highlight humankind’s role. “We’re placed here to leave the earth better than we found it,” he said. “I have my ‘Masters Certification’ in beekeeping, but we’re placed here as stewards, not as masters. And not just honeybees, but native bees. They’re all important to us because our food source really depends on these guys.” Richard G. Biever is senior editor of Indiana Connection.

Was it just honeybees that turned St. Peter’s gardens around after that one rough harvest in 2013?

For more information about beekeeping, visit The Beekeepers of Indiana website: indianabeekeeper.com.

“No,” Dailey said. “It was a combination of honeybees and being very conscientious about what we do. Our realization that ‘hey, stop putting stuff on plants that kills pollinators’ has really brought our native

For more information about St. Peter’s Apiary Ministry and the other “Care of Creation” ministries at the Boone County church, visit churchthatgrows.org/.

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Waylan Case, left, and Mitchell Werner, right, with Andy McComas, institutional director at North American Lineman Training Center.

Hoosier Energy news

CLIMBING TOWARD THEIR DREAMS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS GRADUATE FROM LINEMAN TRAINING SCHOOL Whether it was first grade or eighth grade, the dream began early. On Dec. 17, 2021, that dream became reality for Jasper, Indiana’s Mitchell Werner and Greensburg, Indiana’s Waylan Case as they graduated from the North American Lineman Training Center. Both claimed their diplomas from the school in McEwen, Tennessee, with the help of a scholarship from Hoosier Energy. Werner and Case are the inaugural recipients of the W. Eugene Roberts and Daniel L. Schuckman Memorial scholarships, respectively, a tribute to more than 35 years of dedicated service to Hoosier Energy and its members.

THIRD GENERATION CAREER It is a third-generation dream come true for Werner, whose grandfather, Eugene, and father, Matthew, also worked as linemen. And he knew it early on in life. “In first grade, we were asked, ‘What do you want to be when you grow

MARCH 2022

up?’” Werner recalled. “I drew a picture of a lineman because of my dad and grandpa.” However, where his father broke into the business by signing on as an apprentice, the son opted to attend lineman school.

“I was interested in welding or electrical work, but welding was being inside too much for me, so I decided to pursue the lineman thing,” said Case, a graduate of Greensburg High School and member of Decatur County REMC.

“It shows that you’re not messing around,” Werner said. “You spent (a lot of money) already, so they know this is something you want to do, that you’re serious about it.”

He also had uncles who worked as electricians, so Case got some experience doing wiring. But he wanted to do more than go from the breaker to the outlets; he wanted to go from the power lines to the breaker.

Now he has his first job, working for Duke Energy in Bloomington.

Earning the scholarship was a bonus.

FROM THE POWER LINES TO THE BREAKER It’s a similar story for Case, although his dream began a little bit later in life. His father, Alex, is an agricultural seed salesman whose clients are sometimes both farmers and linemen. So, when Case showed interest in the electrical field as an eighth-grader, his dad mentioned the possibility of becoming a lineman.

“Anyone who goes to school is hurting for money or has a loan, so this was a good opportunity to help keep me afloat,” Case said. “It sure helps a lot.” So will the job Case begins for Brink Constructors, a traveling contractor. Case will head to Colorado to begin his career and perhaps pursue his interest as an avid outdoorsman between shifts.

do-it-yourself

JOIN THE OUTDOOR IMPROVEMENT BOOM Many folks have rediscovered the importance of home improvement, and that’s led to a renewed focus on enhancing their outdoor spaces. Young homeowners today are taking more pride in their yards, largely bypassing paid services for a DIY approach. Whether it’s a basic cleanup, adding pizzazz to your next backyard gathering, or improving curb appeal, we’ve got some tips for getting your piece of the outdoors in shipshape this spring.

spots a lawnmower can’t reach. A leaf blower can quickly disperse wayward grass clippings.

growth. If it’s all in good condition, simply turn mulch over with a rake to give it new life.

CLEAN UP — If your driveway,

GREEN UP — Several

sidewalks, and paved walkways are looking dingy, a pressure washer easily cuts through the grime. The same goes for vinyl siding, especially on the north side where algae can form. Enhance it with an application-specific detergent that’s safe for kids, pets, and plants.

POWER UP — When yard

Clear debris from your landscaping and ditch old mulch and dead foliage. Lay a new sheet of weed control fabric with cut-outs to accommodate plants and shrubs, then spread fresh mulch. Pruning shears and hedgers help redefine shapes, keep the overgrowth from blocking sunlight near windows, and spur new

varieties of grass seed are available for large areas or small bare spot repair. Multi-step lawn fertilizers, weed inhibitors, and disease control products are great preventatives that do require consistency. Prep for dry summer months with multifunctional lawn sprinklers and sprayers, and keep hoses tidy with a wheeled or fixed storage unit or wall hanger.

work requires extra oomph, invest in some key pieces of outdoor power equipment. Many tools — including lawnmowers — have gone cordless as consumers seek greener options, and that’s resulted in even longer-life batteries. Gas-powered equipment is still plentiful: just make sure to buy the right oil for mixing if necessary. Chainsaws and pruning saws make quick work of dead trees and limbs. Trimmers clear out weed overgrowth and do double duty as an edger and grass trimmer in

GUSSY UP — Even a small connection to nature makes your home more inviting and improves curb appeal when selling. Try some perennials, annuals, or bulbs in porch or windowsill plant boxes. Or create a large planter to anchor your patio with a colorful focal point. Handheld

garden tools like a cultivator, trowel, and bulb planter will get you started. Hardscaping materials like river rock, decorative stone pavers, edging, and border walls take a little more muscle but are very achievable DIY. Decking, pergolas, fencing, and outdoor lighting add a “wow factor” that takes your outdoor space to another level!

LIVEN UP — Before inviting guests to gather, freshen up your patio furniture with a cleaner and some elbow grease. Or upgrade to a decorative chat set with comfy padded chairs and a festive patio umbrella. Visit your local Do it Best store or doitbest. com for thousands of the best home improvement products.

Brian Baker

Brian Baker is the owner of Builders Lumber and Hardware in Shelbyville. He’s a member-owner of Do it Best Corp., a Fort Wayne-based 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. 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.)

MARCH 2022

safety

BE PREPARED FOR SPRING’S FICKLE FOUL WEATHER

TIPS FOR SAFELY CLEANING UP AFTER A STORM •

Wear proper safety material. As you are cleaning up, wear proper protection to prevent injury. Work gloves, safety

pring is a fickle season that brings nature’s renewal of buds and blooms to the trees and fields and also brings dark, powerful rolling storms that can wreak havoc. From 2016 through 2020, the National Weather Service recorded 28 deaths, 133 injuries and over $64 million in property and crop damage from weather events in Indiana alone. Weather disasters can occur yearround, but most of the worst storms Indiana receives come in the spring. “While not all damage can be prevented, being prepared can minimize damage and reduce injury or death,” said John Gasstrom, CEO of Indiana Electric Cooperatives. Here are some tips from your electric cooperative for staying safe before and after a storm hits.

BEFORE THE STORM • Make sure your cell phone is charged. Consider purchasing an external battery charger for your phone to charge it without electricity. • Have a battery-operated radio available so you can stay updated on the latest weather watches and warnings. • Unplug appliances and other electrical items, such as computers. Damage can occur from power surges caused by nearby lightning strikes.

glasses, heavy-duty work shirt

• Have an emergency kit ready and create a family communication plan.

with long sleeves, work pants, and steel-toe work boots are a good idea if you are clearing large amounts of broken,

FOLLOWING THE STORM • If you are driving and come upon fallen power lines, turn around. Never drive over or around fallen lines.

splintered or sharp debris. •

Always assume a downed power line is live. Downed

• If a downed power line falls on your vehicle, stay in the vehicle. Call 911. Exit only if your life is in immediate danger from a fire or other reason. Then, jump clear of your vehicle being certain to never touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time; then shuffle away keeping your feet together at all times. • While checking for damage outside your home, be aware of hazards from exposed nails, broken glass, and broken tree branches dangling on other limbs.

Stay away from power lines.

power lines pose a particularly dangerous threat in areas where individuals are clearing fallen trees and branches from roads and lawns. Let the professionals handle this job. It’s not worth the risk. If you see a downed power line that is sparking or on fire, call your electric utility immediately. •

Stay away from damaged buildings or structures. If a building has been subjected

• To avoid the chance of a fire or explosion, use a flashlight, instead of a candle or torch, to inspect your home in the dark.

to flood waters or high winds,

• Since downed power lines could still be energized, do not touch them or any objects in contact with them. Call 911 to report the downed lines.

until professionals can

When the spring storms arrive, know how to keep yourself, your family and your property safe from harm during severe weather.

it may not be structurally safe. It’s best to stay away from these types of structures assess the extent of the damage. •

Never operate gasoline-powered equipment indoors. Gas engines emit carbon monoxide — an odorless, colorless, and poisonous gas you should never breathe.

MARCH 2022

There's more to 811 than

SUBMITTING A TICKET You know you need to contact 811 before you dig—but did you know that there is much more to safe digging than that, and contacting 811 is just the first step?

Quick 811 Spring Tips: • Submit your free locate request at Indiana811.org at least two full working days before you plan to start digging for your spring projects. • Working days are every day except Saturday, Sunday, and state and national holidays. • If a contractor is needed for the project, request they contact Indiana 811 before they start digging. • It’s fast, easy and free. As always, please follow the Five Steps to Safe Digging:

PLAN YOUR PROJECT

CONTACT INDIANA 811

Indiana 811

WAIT FOR THE MARKS

CONFIRM THE MARKS

DIG WITH CARE