Steuben County REMC - March 2023 Indiana Connection

Meet the team: Holly Huffman

I’m new to the Indiana Connection team, so I recently met everyone on staff who works to produce the magazine each month — and I thought you might enjoy getting to know a bit about them, too. Over the next few issues, you’ll learn more about each person, their role and why they’re so important to the team.

First up is Holly Huffman, who has been part of the magazine for nearly 17 years! Take it away, Holly:

I have a varied role. On the communication side, I work on Indiana Connection designing and editing pages; coordinate social media for both the magazine and its publisher; perform website updates; and other tasks. On the events side, I help coordinate events at our office and at off-site venues. I also manage the facilities at our office. I love the variety of my job — no day is ever the same!

Three facts about Holly:

• I grew up in Gaston, Indiana, where my family is located. I currently reside on the northside of Indianapolis. I’m the “black sheep” who moved to the big city!

• I graduated from Ball State University with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in public relations. I am also a Certified Cooperative Communicator (CCC) through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).

• I LOVE coffee! I MUST have my daily cup (well … maybe two) to get the day going. My favorite Starbucks order is a skinny vanilla latte.

If you’ve ever met Holly, you know: She’s a true gem.

Stephanie Groves Editor sgroves@indianaec.org

Enter our contest (info below) to win a $25 gift card to Starbucks to try out Holly’s favorite!

On the menu: June: Recipes using Jell-O, deadline April 1. July: Tropical fruit recipes, deadline May 1. If we publish your recipe on our food pages, we’ll send you a $10 gift card.

Giveaway: Win a $25 Starbucks gift card so you can order Holly’s favorite drink! Visit indianaconnection.org/talk-to-us/contests or send your contact information to the address below. The deadline to enter is March 31.

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 72 • 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. Member’s cost per issue is approximately 32 cents, plus postage.

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

Tom VanParis Interim CEO

EDITORIAL STAFF:

Stephanie Groves Editor

Richard George Biever Senior Editor

Holly Huffman Communication Support Specialist

Lauren Carman Communication Manager

Kiley Lipps Graphic Designer

Ashley Curry Production and Design Coordinator

Amber Knight Creative Manager

Mandy Barth Vice President of Communication

ADVERTISING:

American MainStreet Publications

Cheryl Solomon, local ad representative; 512-441-5200; amp.coop

Crosshair Media 502-216-8537; crosshairmedia.net

Paid advertisements are not endorsements by any electric cooperative or this publication.

UNSOLICITED MATERIAL:

Indiana Connection does not use unsolicited freelance manuscripts or photographs and assumes no responsibility for the 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, Indiana, and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER:

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

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

Holly Huffman

On the cover

Neasa Kalme stands in front of the Steuben County REMC building, where she represents District 6 on the board of directors. Kalme was voted onto the board in 2022 and is the first woman representative.

PHOTO BY BRITTNEY HOLDEN MARCH 2023

Steuben County REMC news

Welcoming NEASA KALME

FIRST FEMALE BOARD MEMBER

ELECTED AT STEUBEN COUNTY REMC

As stated in the quote by Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” This seems to be the case with District 6 Director, Neasa Kalme. In 2022, during the 85th Annual Meeting of the cooperative, Neasa was elected as Steuben County REMC’s first woman to serve on our board of directors.

In recognition of this milestone for the cooperative, we would like to recognize Neasa for her commitment to this organization

and the membership she represents. Along with serving as the representative for District 6 (Scott and York Townships), she is a full-time agriculture teacher for the MSD of Steuben County. She is passionate about many local and national organizations, including Steuben County Farm Bureau.

In a recent interview conducted with Neesa, she shared the

following thoughts:

My parents always said, “Variety is the spice of life.” This phrase has stuck with me throughout my life. Being the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Office Hours

7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Monday–Friday

Contact Us

PHONE

260-665-3563

Call our office 24/7/365 to report an outage.

STREET ADDRESS

1212 S. Wayne St., Angola, IN 46703

MAILING ADDRESS

P.O. Box 359, Angola, IN 46703

EMAIL

CEO@remcsteuben.com remcsteuben@remcsteuben.com

CALL BEFORE YOU DIG

Please call 811 at least two days before you dig.

Management Team

KEVIN KEISER, CEO

DUSTIN EVERETTS, Operation/Engineering

JOSHUA DURBIN, Member Services

STEVE SMITH, Finance

DAVE SHORT, Broadband Operations

How to Understand Your Bill

Facilities charge................................$19/month

First 250 kWh........................9.9 cents per kWh

Next 750 kWh.......................9.1 cents per kWh

All over 1,000 kWh...............8.3 cents per kWh

Wholesale power tracker...+$.017531 per kWh

Dusk to Dawn Light.....................$10.30/month

Indiana Sales Tax..........................................7%

2023 Annual Meeting

JUNE 10

Board of Directors

GARY SHOUGH, Secretary/Treasurer (District 1, Millgrove and Greenfield townships)

SCOTT CHARTERS (District 2, Jamestown Township)

BILL SNYDER (District 3, Fremont and Clear Lake townships)

MIKE KURTZ (District 4, Jackson Township)

CARTER SNIDER (District 5, Pleasant Township)

NEASA KALME

(District 6, Scott and York townships)

WAYNE GINGERICH, President (District 7, Salem Township)

LARRY JACK, Vice President (District 8, Steuben, Smithfield and Grant townships)

MARC NELSON (District 9, Otsego, Richland and Franklin townships)

Disconnection Charges

DISCONNECT DATES ARE

2.5 WEEKS AFTER DUE DATE

Reconnection Charge: $50 (7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.)

Reconnection Charge: $200 (after 4 p.m.)

Deposit: $200

Returned check fee: $25

Your Co-op Advantages

Annual Meeting

Budget Billing

Co-op Solar Program

Dusk to Dawn Light

Indiana Connection Magazine

New Service Electrical Consults

Operation Round Up

Patronage Refund

Residential/Commercial Energy Evaluation

Residential/Commercial Rebates

Safety Demos

SmartHub

Vegetation Management

Water Heater Rebates

Youth Programs

happy INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY MARCH 8

“Leadership is stepping up where there are opportunities to do so, and I feel my contribution to the board will be instrumental.” - Neasa Kalme

Steuben County REMC news

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

first woman on the Steuben County REMC Board provides a little of that variety. The guidance from fellow directors has been so welcoming and appreciated as I learn and serve our membership in this leadership role. I believe our community is open to ideas and direction by both men and women alike. As women, sometimes we have

to be a little more determined to make things happen, but that has never held me back! Leadership is stepping up where there are opportunities to do so, and I feel my contribution to the board will be instrumental.

Kevin Keiser, Steuben County REMC’s CEO, said, “Neasa’s involvement with the board

brings a unique perspective and differing point of view. She also adds a welcomed level of diversity that more closely represents our membership.”

Check out Steuben County REMC’s Facebook page for more information about Neasa, and get to know many of the other great women in our organization.

Trees add immeasurable value to your property but maintaining them comes with a cost. They need pruning, and sometimes heavy trimming or removal. The most common types of serious tree trimming accidents are:

• ELECTROCUTION You can be seriously injured or killed if you come into contact with an electric line. If there’s a chance power lines might be involved at all, always call your electric utility first and its experts will come out and advise you. Even when you think there’s room, if the wind blows a limb into a power line as you’re trimming it, you can be electrocuted.

DON’T LET THE CRY OF ‘TIMBER’ SHIVER OR SPLINTER YOUR TIMBERS

• FALLING You can be seriously injured or killed if you fall from a tree. Pruning branches or trimming out dead or overgrown limbs sometimes requires getting into the tree. Always make sure you are using appropriate safety harnesses and ropes. Before climbing, inspect the tree to make sure no power lines run through or near the tree.

• BEING STRUCK You can be seriously injured or killed if you are struck by falling trees or limbs. Cutting large limbs and trees can be tricky. Improper cutting can cause the tree to fall where you hadn’t planned.

Always have two escape routes planned ahead of time in case the tree starts going the wrong way.

A falling tree hits the ground with great force. Branches and limbs crack, bounce, snap and recoil, especially if dead wood is present. Snapped branches can be flung surprisingly far in multiple directions. Tie off limbs to be cut and lower them to the ground with rope. Never turn your back to a falling tree, and always wear a hard hat when trimming and cutting.

• OVERESTIMATING You can be seriously injured or killed if you overestimate your abilities.

Right tree, right place. WHEN PLANTING TREES, FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES TO AVOID POTENTIAL PROBLEMS.

Steuben County REMC news

PHASE 1

Orland/West Otter/Salem/Helmer REGISTRATION OPEN (COMPLETE)

Washing windows and screens

Washing windows and screens is a great way to practice energy efficiency during spring cleaning. Clean windows and screens make your home brighter by allowing more sunlight in, reducing the need for lamps and fixtures. Clean screens also allow more fresh air in the home when the windows are open to recycle indoor air. Natural light and clean air are energy savers, and they enhance overall health and productivity.

EFFICIENCY Tip calendar

Director Petition Deadline: March 10

Daylight Saving Time Begins: March 12

Source: energy.gov

MAKE READY CONSTRUCTION (COMPLETE)

MAINLINE CONSTRUCTION (ZONE 5 HELMER - PENDING)

MAINLINE SPLICING (ZONE 4 ORLAND)

SERVICE WIRE CONSTRUCTION

AT-HOME INSTALLATION (ZONE 1 OTTER NW, ZONE 2 OTTER NE AND ZONE 3 OTTER S)

PHASE 2

Nevada Mills/Lake James/Crooked Lake Construction starting after Phase 1

Calendar of Student Art Contest Application Deadline: March 24

Operation Round Up Submission Deadlines: March 31, June 30, Sept. 29, Dec. 29

2023 Annual Meeting: June 10

Electrical Safety Word Scramble

1. Never place extension rdsoc under rugs or carpet.

2. Make sure electrical cords are not yrafde or broken.

3. Smoke maalsr should be tested every month.

4. Electricity and rwtea never mix.

REGISTRATION OPEN MAKE READY CONSTRUCTION

MAINLINE CONSTRUCTION (UNDERGROUND)

PHASE 3

North-Central-East Angola/Fremont Construction starting after Phase 2

REGISTRATION OPEN

MAKE READY ENGINEERING (COMPLETE)

PHASE 4

South-East Angola/Ashley/Hudson Construction starting after Phase 3

REGISTRATION OPEN MAKE READY ENGINEERING

Tax ‘Ride Off’

Electric vehicle incentives passed in 2022 can make EVs more appealing

A few tax changes passed last year might cause you to turn your head — toward the local car dealership.

The Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress last year includes tax credits for the purchase of electric vehicles. People who may be interested in buying an EV could be in for a nice tax credit for doing so. However, there are requirements, some of which are still being implemented and need clarification, to get a full or even partial tax credit. The good news is that people will have time to consider the credits, which are enacted through 2032.

The available tax credits can be broken down into three categories, and each has different credits and qualifications. It’s important to note that the credits are nonrefundable; the credit that people and businesses get back cannot be more than what is owed in taxes. Still, the credits can help make an EV more affordable.

Buying a new clean vehicle (EV or fuel cell vehicle):

This offers a credit of up to $7,500 for qualifying purchases. There are income requirements, as well as specific requirements for the vehicle. Some of the EV requirements are still being worked out; as a result, not all vehicles will be eligible for a tax credit.

Buying a used clean vehicle:

Individuals who buy a qualifying used EV can receive a portion of the sale price as a tax credit of up to $4,000. Vehicles purchased before 2023 do not qualify. The used EV must be purchased from a licensed dealer for $25,000 or less. There are also income limits and other requirements for the EV, as well as for the purchase.

Businesses purchasing a clean vehicle:

Businesses and tax-exempt organizations can receive up to

a $7,500 tax credit for qualified vehicles with gross vehicle weight ratings of under 14,000 pounds and $40,000 for other vehicles. As with the other credits, there are additional requirements for the organization and vehicle to qualify.

You should consult a qualified tax professional to learn more about the specific requirements for the tax credits. To learn more, visit IRS.gov for details and requirements. You also can contact your local electric cooperative’s energy advisor to learn more about electric vehicles.

by TJ Garner Chief Operating Officer Fulton County REMC

FRESHEN UP A BATHROOM on the cheap

The kids are grown and out of the house. And, as hard as it may be to let go, it’s probably time for their bathroom with the SpongeBob ceiling border and yellow walls to grow up, too. Or, maybe you’re in the opposite position and want your children to delight in a bathroom decorated just for them. Here are some surprisingly simple DIY projects to help refresh a bathroom without breaking the bank:

WAKE UP WALLS

A basic refresh of a bathroom (or any room) begins here. A fresh coat of paint hides scuff marks and gives the room an instant lift. Start with wall putty and sandpaper to patch up nicks or old nail holes. Pick up new brushes, roller covers and drop cloths and get painting. Satin or semigloss paint works best here.

Even as gallon prices rise, painting is still one of the most economical, value-adding DIY projects. It’s also a great way to “mature” a kid’s bathroom and ditch childlike designs and colors. Don’t skip the ceiling — if it has that dusty old popcorn texture, scrape it off. Either way, prime and paint your bathroom ceiling with a coat of bright white.

EASY HARDWARE

Speaking of the ceiling, bathroom fans are an often-forgotten necessity. Vacuum the grates and interior blades or upgrade to a quieter, more efficient model. Hardware swaps are simple, so replace outdated drawer knobs and pulls with modern designs and finishes.

Also consider new towel racks, hooks, toilet paper holders and shower curtain rods — they’re often packaged together in the same design family. Round out the look with a new faucet and showerhead. Consider hiring a pro for these jobs if you’re not the handy type. If you are, pick up some plumber’s tape, pliers or a strap wrench to prevent marring metal fixtures.

by Charlie Gillman

LIGHT IT UP

Today’s light fixture designs are almost endless, from modern shapes and materials to retro-inspired options such as visible filament Edison bulbs. Long-life, efficient and cool-to-the-touch LED bulbs are the way to go. Switch out fluorescents or incandescents for warmer bulb colors to make morning mirror time a lot less harsh. Try popular sconce fixtures next to your mirror(s) to reduce glare even more.

EXTRA EXTRAS

Turn a boring, buildergrade mirror adhered to the wall into something special. Paint or stain inexpensive wood molding or trim, then nail or glue it around the mirror’s edges to create a frame. Use tile and grout-safe cleaners to freshen up stained or

moldy grout, or use a grout removal tool and apply a new bead around sinks and shower walls.

Keep the momentum going by making your bathroom sparkle from top to bottom. Use cleansers and scrubbing pads specially designed for bathrooms to battle soap scum around sinks, tubs and glass shower doors. If you have hard water, clean faucets and showerheads with a solution that combats mineral deposits. Add some final touches with a new shower caddy, matching towels and a new shower curtain and liner.

VISIT YOUR LOCAL DO IT BEST STORE OR DOITBEST.COM for thousands of the best home improvement products, including wallpapering supplies.

Charlie Gillman is the owner of Gillman Home Center, with locations throughout central Indiana. He’s a member-owner of Do it Best, 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.)

TEMPORARY FOSTER HOMES NEEDED

The Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) needs loving, temporary homes across the state of Indiana for children of all ages — especially teens and sibling groups. DCS is looking for people who are willing to open their hearts and their homes to foster youth as they work toward safely reuniting with their families. If you’ve thought about providing that safe place for a youth or sibling pair, please inquire online at indianafostercare.org.

Artwork due this month

The art contest to illustrate the 2024 Cooperative Calendar of Student Art draws to a close this month. A first-place winner will be selected for each grade, K-12, and will receive $200. The winning artworks will illustrate the cover and the 12 months inside.

Entries for the Cooperative Calendar of Student Art Contest are due in the Indianapolis office of Indiana Connection by 3 p.m. on Friday, March 24.

One “Artist of the Year” will also be selected from among the first-place winners and will earn an additional $100. Additional artists from each grade will be selected for honorable mention awards and will receive $75 and have their works printed in a special section of the calendar.

The contest is open to Indiana public, private or home-schooled students in kindergarten through 12th grade during the 2022-23 school year. A complete set of rules and required entry forms are available at indianaconnection.org/for-youth-art-contest.

MARKETPLACE

Please contact Cheryl Solomon, 847-749-4875 or cheryl@amp. coop, for other small business advertising opportunities in Indiana Connection.

Wabash County

Wabash County is named after Indiana’s famed “official” river, the Wabash. The river flows through the heart of the county and the city of Wabash, the county’s seat.

While the Wabash River has its place in Indiana culture and history, the county and city have had their share of the limelight. One instance came on March 31, 1880. That was the day Wabash became the “First Electrically Lighted City” in the world.

On that dark night, thousands of people came to see what was billed as the dawn of a new age. All eyes were turned to the county courthouse on the bluff above downtown Wabash. At 8 p.m., four electric “arc” lights, mounted to the flagstaff atop the courthouse’s clock tower, were powered up.

Like most towns at the time, Wabash was lit by gas streetlamps. Electricity was still a scientific novelty to most people. Thomas Edison had successfully tested his incandescent lightbulb six months earlier, but the leaders of Wabash saw the potential and began investigating the possibility of lighting the town electrically.

For several years before Edison, Charles F. Brush, an inventor in Cleveland, had been innovating electric arc light and electricity generation. In their search for new lighting, Wabash leaders crossed paths with Brush and

agreed to pay him $100 to test his lights. The decision was made to mount the lights in one central location — atop the courthouse clock tower dome.

As the clock struck 8 p.m. on that night, a steam engine began turning Brush’s dynamo, generating electricity to the lights. A reporter from the Fort Wayne Daily Sentinel described what happened next: “… the thousands of eyes that were turned toward the inky darkness over the courthouse saw a shower of sparks emitted from a point above them, small steady spots of light, growing more brilliant, until within a few seconds after the first sparks were seen, it was absolutely dazzling; a loud shout went up from the crowd, the band began to play …”

Some folks believed the lights would bring a transformation to agriculture, too. In its issue dated May 14, 1880, the weekly Wabash Plain Dealer conjectured that crops might double in size from the extra light during the night. The article included a fanciful woodcut illustration of men harvesting ears of corn with ladders and handsaws. “We look for a crop on the Wabash bottom lands near town this autumn that

County Facts

FOUNDED: 1835

NAMED FOR: Wabash River POPULATION: 30,976

COUNTY SEAT: Wabash

INDIANA COUNTY

NUMBER: 85

will even excel the illustration … and astonish the world,” the Plain Dealer reported. “Electricity is surely destined to revolutionize agriculture.”

While electricity did revolutionize agriculture, it wasn’t in this way, but in how Wabash County REMC (now Heartland REMC) and other electric co-ops electrified and modernized American farms 5560 years later.

Wabash County Courthouse

ADD THESE HOOSIER FAVORITES TO YOUR RECIPE BOX

FRIED PORK TENDERLOIN SANDWICH

Marilles Mauer, Greensburg, Indiana

1 lb. pork tenderloin

2 eggs

2 cups buttermilk

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 t. salt

½ t. black pepper

⅛ t. cayenne pepper

1 cup flour

Oil for frying (like vegetable, peanut or canola oil)

For breading:

10 saltine crackers, crushed

Cut the pork tenderloin into 4 pieces. Place 1 piece of pork at a time in a plastic bag, and using a meat mallet, pound meat to ¼-inch thickness. Mix together eggs, buttermilk, minced garlic, salt, and black and cayenne peppers in a large bowl. Add tenderloin pieces and stir to coat each piece. Place bowl in the fridge and marinate 4-12 hours. Remove from fridge and pour the buttermilk mixture into a shallow bowl. Set up another bowl with the flour in it. In a third bowl, create the breading

using the crushed saltines, panko breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, garlic and onion powders and paprika. Wipe excess buttermilk off one piece of tenderloin, then dip it into the flour, covering both sides. Next, dip it into the buttermilk mixture and then into the breading, pressing the breading firmly into the pork. Set aside, repeat with the remaining pieces of pork, and let them all sit for 10 minutes. Heat ½-inch of oil in a skillet to 360 F. Fry each tenderloin piece for about 3 minutes per side,

1 cup panko breadcrumbs

½ t. salt

⅛ t. black pepper

⅛ t. garlic powder

⅛ t. onion powder

⅛ t. paprika

For sandwich: Buns

Toppings of choice, like lettuce, sliced tomatoes and mayonnaise

turning once, until breading is golden brown. Remove to a wire rack or baking pan lined with paper towels to drain. Once drained, add one piece of pork to a bun and add toppings of choice. Makes 4 sandwiches.

FUNNEL CAKES Glenda Ferguson, Paoli, Indiana

2 cups flour

1 t. baking powder

¼ t. salt

¼ cup sugar

2 eggs

1½ cups milk

Oil for frying (like vegetable, peanut or canola oil)

1 cup powdered sugar for topping

In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients. In another bowl, combine the eggs and milk. Slowly stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until smooth. Heat ½-inch of oil in a heavy skillet or large saucepan for 2-4 minutes until it is ready for frying, about 375 F. Pour ½ cup of the batter into a squeeze bottle or a plastic baggie with one corner cut off. Drizzle the batter into the hot oil in a back-and-forth pattern. Fry each side of the funnel cake until golden brown, turning once. Drain on a paper towel and dust with powdered sugar. Repeat the process until all the batter is used.

HOOSIER PIE

Kaela Anderson, Underwood, Indiana

1 pre-made, unbaked

9” pie crust

½ cup sugar

½ cup brown sugar

¼ cup cornstarch

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup half-and-half (or use another cup of heavy cream)

½ cup butter, cubed

1 T. vanilla extract

Cinnamon and nutmeg for dusting

Preheat oven to 425 F. Bake the pie shell for 15-20 minutes — you can use pie weights to keep the shell in place in the dish. Lower the oven temperature to 375 F. In a saucepan, use medium heat to bring sugar, brown sugar, cornstarch, heavy cream and half-and-half to a boil. Stir frequently. Once the mixture starts to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes until thickened. Remove mixture from heat and immediately stir in butter and vanilla. Dust the bottom of the pie crust with nutmeg. Pour the filling in the pie crust and dust the top with cinnamon. Bake for 20 minutes at 375 F. The pie will jiggle slightly but firm up once cooled. Cool completely and then refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours before serving — although overnight is best.

FOOD PREPARED BY STEPHANIE GROVES AND BARBARA BUTZ

PHOTOS BY KILEY LIPPS

The 1894 Lodge bills itself as a “place where everyone comes to drink, eat and have fun.” The original structure, nestled on E. Main Street in New Washington, was built in 1894 (hence the name) as a Masonic temple. It later served as a school and even a movie theater before being transformed into its current iteration in 2015.

Managed by Logan Hostettler, The 1894 Lodge offers elevated homestyle cooking as well as an interesting array of craft beers and a nicely stocked bar. The restaurant’s leadership prides itself on the fact that the business grows its own produce and herbs, and actively supports local farmers.

With its tasty fare and hometown hospitality, the restaurant has earned its place as a must-visit in Clark County — and rumor has it that it’s also become the go-to spot for many local firefighters to dine.

Open for dinner from 5-9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, The 1894 Lodge offers two different dining rooms as well as a lively bar area. For a more formal meal, you can opt for the main dining room, which boasts a gas fireplace, exposed brick and original floors. If you’re interested in laid-back dining, there’s also a lively

lounge area featuring a reclaimed wood bar and televisions that are usually airing the sports games of the night.

As for the cuisine, there are rotating specials to enjoy that might include a “blue plate” offering like Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy, a “handheld of the week” and even an “egg roll of the day.”

Indiana Connection’s Creative Manager Amber Knight made a trip to The 1894 Lodge, and she was enamored with the restaurant’s charm, service — and of course, the food. “The 1894 Lodge has some of the best food around and the menu is so fun,” Knight said, adding, “Their burger was one of the best I’ve ever had — the beef sourced from local farmers makes a huge difference. And don’t forget dessert!”

The hamburger Knight mentioned is the “1894 Lodge burger,” described on the restaurant’s menu as a “half-pound 80/20 burger cooked to order, dressed with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle on a brioche bun” and served with golden, crispy fries.

Main course options include fish and chips made with cod loins, “Lodge fried chicken,” as well as juicy steaks. If you have a sweet tooth, you won’t be disappointed in the rotating dessert features — if there’s a cheesecake available, odds are good that it’s stellar.

The next time you’re traveling on I-65 and looking for a place to dine, consider popping by The 1894 Lodge. Or, check out the restaurant’s Facebook page (facebook.com/ 1894Lodge), and when one of their “blue plate” specials catches your eye, make the drive to this unique dining destination. It’ll be worth it.

A beer cheese-topped burger was a recent special at The 1894 Lodge.

Back TO THE farm

FORMER COLTS PUNTER RETURNS TO HIS ROOTS AND FINDS HIS FUTURE

By Richard G. Biever

A wintry wind blustered around the big red-sided barn at WonderTree Farm, just north of Zionsville. Inside, Hunter Smith pulled another wedge from a neatly stacked cord of firewood and deposited it into a pot-bellied stove.

The 105-year-old restored relic is the newest addition to the farm’s store. Set in a corner off the barn’s central aisle, the wood burner creates what Smith noted is “the coziest nook on the farm.”

Customers, friends and suppliers — many who are one and the same — concur as they huddle in blankets with a kitten or three during the farm store’s winter business hours.

“We have a little club,” said Shannon Smit, one of the regulars, one Tuesday in January. “Hunter had to install this so we’d have somewhere to keep warm and chat, right?” she added, nodding toward Smith.

“We talk football. We talk music. We talk a lot about food and homesteading and farming. We talk about all kinds of things,” Smith said, “and all the topics you’re not supposed to talk about. We talk about faith, religion, politics.”

Hunter Smith shares a laugh with customer Justine Smith (no relation) as he weighs the meat she’s picked out, bags her items and totals her bill.

Photo by Richard G. Biever

The scene evoked the wistful charm of an old country store that artist Norman Rockwell could have painted. Both the old and the new of it invoked the spirit of what WonderTree is all about.

WonderTree is a “regenerative farm” that harks back to an agriculture of the past. Regenerative farming emphasizes community and locally produced food, as well as sustainable farming methods that improve the health of people, the land and the animals that provide the food. In a personal way, the farm takes Smith, the 45-yearold former punter for the Indianapolis Colts, full circle, returning him to his family roots.

“People think that there is such a benefit to the way agriculture has adapted and developed into a large mechanistic system,” Smith said. “What we have lost by doing that is the human element, both the human impact on agriculture and the impact of agriculture on humans.”

Smith, who earned degrees in theology and sociology at the University of Notre Dame while punting for the Fighting Irish, said regenerative farming is just the traditional model that people have used since time immemorial. As Smith put it, it’s “giving back to the land that gives to us.”

“For 10,000 years we have produced our own food. That is just a part of the human experience that we’re moving back toward because it’s part of our nature.”

For Smith and his dedicated patrons who drive through the open barn to shop for cuts of grass-fed beef, pastured pork, chicken, turkey, eggs and gallon jugs of raw milk, this farming is not of the past. This farming is of the present — and of the future.

“We are one of those ‘green’ outfits,” Smith told leaders of Indiana’s electric cooperatives as a guest speaker at their annual meeting in Indianapolis in December. “However, there’s nothing more off-putting than a self-righteous green farmer. So, I’m not one of those. We are open to all kinds of agriculture. But we think it’s good for people to be on the land, to be around living things and to watch things grow. Children need that especially.”

PIVOTING FROM PUNTING

When Smith talks about children being close to land and nature, he speaks from experience. He grew up on a farm in Texas and has four children, ranging in age from 10 to 17. It took a re-examination of his role as a father and the lessons he wanted to leave

his children to bring him back to the farming of his upbringing and bring WonderTree Farm to life.

After his 12 years in the NFL ended in Washington in 2012 (he spent 10 with the Colts, two with the Redskins), he and his wife, Jennifer, began looking for a home. He said they looked at his home state of Texas, and they considered Nashville because Smith is also a songwriter and musician. But they came back to Indiana, where he played most of his college and pro careers, and where he met and married Jennifer.

“We looked at a couple of places. But in the end, it came down to people and the culture of the place, and we could not find a better place to raise children,” he said.

Yet, after settling back in suburban Indianapolis, there was an emptiness. Smith, a devout Christian, said he felt as if God was tugging at him and asking, “What have you got for me now?” as he tried to figure out what to do with the second half of his life. For a while, he and his band traveled the state playing their brand of mostly Christian and country music at festivals and other venues. He felt he could also do the motivational

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Friends and customers, along with some kittens, gather beside the “new” 105-year-old pot-bellied stove at WonderTree Farm. Kerowyn Lark, with her 4-month-old baby, Evelyn, left, chats with Shannon Smit, as her daughter and son, Noël, 6, and Aiden, 9, focus on lap cats.

Photo by Richard G. Biever

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speaking circuit. But Smith wondered what he was modeling for his children.

“I looked around at our life, and something was wrong,” he said. “Something was missing in my kids’ development.” Smith said he noticed a “real weakness” in their work ethic, their coping ability, and their understanding of what hardships are — and that taking them on matters.

Looking back, he realized those values were instilled in him by his parents on the 1,000-acre ranch he grew up on north of Dallas.

“A lot of people raise great children in suburbs and subdivisions. I was raised on a farm, where dealing with life issues was a part of life. Anything redeemable about me was imparted through the medium of agriculture. And so, my best idea was to give my children the same experience.”

He approached Jennifer, who grew up on a cul-de-sac in Carmel, about buying a farm, and, though it was a stretch for her, she agreed. In 2014, they bought a 22-acre parcel of land and named it after an expansive 340-year-old white oak tree that stood out across a pond behind the home they built on the property.

“We named it ’WonderTree’ because standing and looking at it just inspired wonder,” Smith said. “It was so big and so old; 180 years old at the Civil War. You just think about all the things that that tree has been here for, before we were a country. How many deer ran past it as a sapling and didn’t step on it? How many soldiers camped under its branches? How many farmers built their house near it?”

The move from their previous home and lifestyle was a complete 180. “It was two miles away from our farm in distance,” Smith said, “and it was a million miles away culturally.”

Smith then designed and built the winged rectangular barn, based on the one he grew up with in Texas, because all farms need a barn, he reasoned. When the barn was complete, the past came home to roost. He bought 18 laying hens, 40 meat chickens and five cows to raise as family food. While he wanted to live on a farm and have his children experience animals and nature, he said he had no expectation of it becoming a working farm.

A FORMATIVE LESSON

There’s an old saying from football: “When in doubt — punt.”

That strategy has become a metaphor used in all walks of life. To punt is to buy time, regroup, reset one’s game plan and avoid doing something halfcocked, risky or uncertain.

Though Smith made his career as a punter, farm life is often about doing the opposite. “There are some things that must be done, and they have to be done now. And it doesn’t matter if they’re hard or life-threatening,” Smith said. Those are the life lessons he wanted to sow in his children. “There’s no punting in this job. That’s kind of an interesting irony. Surrender is not an option.”

Flashback to Texas, mid-1980s. Smith shared with his audience of co-op leaders one of the defining moments of his life — and it wasn’t winning the Super Bowl with the Colts or playing for legendary coach Lou Holtz at Notre Dame.

He and his dad were checking on the cattle one sweltering day. They saw a nose just inches above the green surface of a swampy watering hole. It was a cow mired in mud after walking out to cool off in the 110-degree heat. Smith said the cow was probably in four feet of water, about 20 feet out. He and his dad were going to have to wade out together, go under the water to tie a rope around her belly, and pull her out with the truck.

BELOW: WonderTree Farm specializes in three meats: grass-fed beef, pastured chicken and pastured pork, all raised at the Zionsville farm.

Hunter Smith arranges a shelf in the farm’s walkin refrigerator. In winter, the barn is opened up as a drive-thru that allows customers to step from their vehicle right up to the refrigerator doors.

Photo by Richard G. Biever

Photo courtesy of WonderTree Farm

From his adolescent point of view, he described mosquitoes the size of robins and the scummy pond teeming with water moccasins. Sensing Smith’s apprehension, his dad turned to him right before they walked into the water. “He looked at me with his blue eyes and said, ‘Son, we can’t just leave her here.’

“When you’re 9 or 10 years old, that doesn’t sound like a very profound statement. But all these years later, I’ve learned — and it’s something that we need to re-learn as a society, that young people need to know: There are some things that must be done. You can’t log out and log back in tomorrow. And that has shaped my life.”

Out they waded, and down they went. Each took a side. His dad fished the rope under the cow’s belly. In the muck, Smith found his dad’s hand and brought the end of the rope up. Together, they saved the cow.

SOWING SEEDS OF ’WONDER’

Returning to raising cattle and chickens at WonderTree rekindled a passion for farming in Smith. And, like a lot of living things, he said, the farm continued to grow.

“Once we started producing eggs, people started asking if they could buy them, and we started selling. Everything we were making for ourselves, other people were interested in, and we had surplus. So, we just sold it. In the truest sense — not the government branding sense — but in

the truest sense, it is an organic venture,” he said. “The farm just organically came together.”

Before COVID-19 came along, WonderTree opened on Saturdays for an experience called “Farm Day,” inviting patrons out for horse rides and hayrides pulled by a red, white and blue painted Farmall tractor. “We just decided to make it a bit of an attraction. My daughter sells cotton candy, we have desserts, it’s kind of a festive environment,” Smith said. “We have horses and cows and goats and donkeys, dogs and cats.

“The main thing that we offer is an unregulated day in the country. We just say, ‘Come during our open hours. As long as you buy something, just be here. Enjoy it.’ You’d be surprised how a kid can be there for three hours and never ask their parents for a phone or a screen. That’s pretty remarkable.”

Farm Day now attracts some 300 to 400 people every Saturday. The farm also hosts field trips, birthday parties and group outings.

As the farm added more animals, the farm store grew. Other sustainable farmers in the area who share in the regenerative vision added dairy products, honey, elderberry syrup and other organically grown goods to the meats and eggs raised at WonderTree. Today, the farm has thousands of regular customers.

“We never intended to put a walk-in freezer over there,” Smith said,

Scouting report on Hunter Smith

• Born Aug. 9, 1977; Sherman, Texas; age 45

• Married with four children; lives in Zionsville, Indiana

• Attended Sherman High School (19911995); lettered in football, basketball and track. In football, he played quarterback, tight end, punter and kicker, and was a two-time Texas AllState selection.

• Attended the University of Notre Dame in South Bend (1995-1999); played in every game over the course of his four seasons as punter and field goal kicker. He ranks second at Notre Dame in career punting yardage with an average of 41.2 yards per punt. He graduated from Notre Dame in 1999 with degrees in theology and sociology.

• Drafted in the seventh round by the Indianapolis Colts (210 overall) in the 1999 NFL Draft; played 10 seasons (1999-2008) with Indianapolis; wore number 17.

• Signed with the Washington Redskins in 2009; played two seasons (20092010) in Washington; wore number

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

AND STATS:

• Super Bowl Champion (XLI) (Feb. 4, 2007) with the Colts

• Named Pro Bowl Alternate three times.

• Punts: 691; punting yards: 24,500; punting average: 43 yards.

3.

On Saturdays from late spring through October, WonderTree Farm hosts “Farm Day” — a time customers can enjoy a day in the country, including hayrides chauffeured by the popular former Indianapolis Colts punter-turned-farmer.

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Photo provided by Hunter Smith

Photo courtesy of WonderTree Farm

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pointing out how things have changed in his original barn. “We never intended this kind of store.”

He originally elevated the barn’s floor off the center aisle — where the pot-bellied stove and restrooms now sit — because he thought he’d eventually add an office there. “I put in 16-by-16 doors thinking, ’I’m kind of clumsy; I don’t want to drive a tractor into the doorframes.’ Turns out that they’re easier for people to drive through to buy meat through the winter,” he said. “There are just so many things here that were unintentional that ended up being good ideas.”

One change, however, wasn’t as serendipitous. The farm’s namesake, the WonderTree itself, gave up the ghost. Smith said it was thinning when they bought the land. Finally, it put out no leaves at all. Last summer, the massive, venerable tree was cut down. Smith left its huge stump for a future, yet undecided project. As one would expect of a regenerative farmer, Smith milled the limbs and branches into boards which he’s now using to side a new multi-use barn on the farm. “It’s special for it to live on and remain part of the fiber of the farm,” he said of the mighty tree.

Today, the farm may have as many as 100 cattle, depending on the season, as well as pigs, chickens and other

WONDERTREE FARM

2280 S. U.S. 421

Zionsville, IN 46077

MARKET HOURS

Tuesday: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Thursday: 3-6 p.m.

Friday: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

FARM DAY

Saturday: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

(Begins in May/June and runs through the last Saturday in October)

livestock. Along with the original 22 acres, he now leases over 120 more nearby — as his sociology experiment in “how to raise good kids” evolved into a new full-time career he loves. What’s more, he said Jennifer also loves it, and the kids do, too. “They have all been pretty much raised in it. And in their work ethic and in their general hardiness, they’re beginning to understand why this was a really good idea.”

Though Smith’s father died in 2020, Smith said his dad did get to see the farm at its beginning. “He got to see his influence on me. He was very proud.”

But he said his dad was from a generation that questioned why anyone would farm if they didn’t have to. “They were in a real sweet place in American development when you had

plenty of food, you had plenty of farmers. You didn’t need to farm for your community, necessarily. Of course, I say, we’re getting back into a time we’re going to need people to farm.” Whether his children follow him into farming isn’t important, Smith said. “What matters most to me is that whatever they do in life, they take the lessons we’ve learned here — the work ethic that has been modeled for them and that they’ve taken part in and the character that just comes from the kind of work we do — and apply it to whatever they do. There’s no pressure on my children to be a farmer, only pressure to be tough, and good and hardworking.”

GROWING THE FUTURE

With the morning farm store hours over and those big barn doors closed, Smith sat before the pot-bellied stove

NEWSLETTER

Through WonderTree's website, sign up for its emailed newsletter that's filled with information about the farm and its products. The newsletter includes Hunter Smith's thoughtful, entertaining and insightful essays about the farm and his views on agriculture, faith, family, traditions, nature ... you name it.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: WonderTreeFarm.com info@wondertreefarm.com 317-732-8930

WonderTree is a true family farm — operated by Hunter and Jennifer Smith, along with their children, from left, Josiah, Beau, Lydia and Samuel.

Photo courtesy of WonderTree Farm

for a time out, black kitten on his knee, before heading out to continue work on the new barn, sided with the wood from the WonderTree.

A few hours earlier, Smith was sacking groceries and helping customers carry bags to their SUVs and minivans. Some 40 vehicles passed through the barn that day. The winter drive-thru, an idea Jennifer first proposed, made it easier for their customers and was needed to keep the farm open during winter.

WonderTree Farm is on the scrimmage line between an encroaching Greater Indianapolis suburbia and the flat farmlands to the north. To its south, east and west are new housing developments and golf courses, some that will eye-rollingly use “Farms” in their name. But WonderTree is an honest-to-goodness working farm — with an emphasis on “honest” and “goodness,” and “working,” too.

“I am not an ex-football player playing cowboy in the suburbs,” Smith said. “We have real ground, real stocking rates, real production and 4,000 customers that buy from us who live within 10 miles of my farm. So, it’s very much a real thing.” He has noted that he feels God gave him the ability to play football for a while so he could come back to farming like this.

“And,” Smith added, “we actually believe that this is the future of agriculture. We believe that the best way to have sustainable food systems is for people to raise food and sell to the people around them. Maybe 40 farms like mine and larger in central Indiana, selling to people who live all around them, is a good idea. Then, if I get run over by a beer truck, the guy next door can pick up the slack while my kids are coming in underneath me, or we’re selling the farm or something like that. You won’t have these situations where some giant

plant has 12 people get COVID-19 and they have to euthanize 3 million hogs. We think that’s pretty unsustainable … call me crazy.

“A more sustainable food system would be one where you had a myriad of farms like ours that produce for the people around them. And those people who live around them also have gardens, laying hens, and a milk cow … that’s how my grandparents lived. People think that’s crazy, but it’s really not. If you live in a neighborhood, and you have a 16th of an acre in your backyard, some tiny little plot, you’d be shocked how many vegetables, fruits and eggs you can produce,” he continued. “I just think more responsibility placed on individuals and on local farms is probably how my kids and grandkids end up producing food.”

Richard G. Biever is senior editor of Indiana Connection.

Spring into safety on the farm

Planting season is at hand for many of Indiana’s roughly 94,000 farmers. While you prepare to plant the crops that keep the world fed, Indiana Electric Cooperatives reminds 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 United States. “Farm worker deaths and injuries can be prevented by practicing some simple electrical safety measures around the farm,” said Jon Elkins, vice president of safety, training and compliance at Indiana Electric Cooperatives.

Here are some 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. Some clearances may have changed since the last time you entered the field. The tall equipment can easily become entangled in power lines and pose an electrocution risk. Keep a minimum of a 10-foot distance from power lines in all directions. Consider asking your electric cooperative to move overhead

lines around buildings or frequently used pathways.

• Keep a safe distance from power poles and guy wires. If your equipment strikes and damages a guy wire or power pole, do not try to fix it yourself. Call your electric cooperative to make the repair.

• If your farm equipment becomes entangled 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.

SOURCES: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Virginia Cooperative Extension, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Evergy, Kansas State University

KEEP YOUR PLANNED BURN UNDER CONTROL

Controlled burns can be a beneficial way to clear a field of debris. But they must be planned carefully and correctly. Here are safety tips if power lines are nearby:

• Mow and remove vegetation at least 15 feet around any pole and apply fire retardant to the area as recommended by the manufacturer prior to burning. Do not directly spray or treat the pole.

• Do not allow the fire to cross under power lines in large areas. Smoke contains carbon particles which can conduct electricity. If the concentration gets high enough around power lines, an electrical discharge from the line to the ground, similar to lightning, can occur. When working below power lines with water hoses, extreme care must be taken to keep water streams out of overhead lines. Water will conduct electricity and the water stream will act as a conductor.

• Should a burn get out of control and endanger poles or other electrical equipment, call 911 immediately.

A CAREER, NOT A JOB

After high school and college, Pete Byrum worked a couple of jobs, but no job felt like a permanent “home” until he took a position just beyond his high school’s front doors at his hometown electric cooperative. It was a place his dad had encouraged him to look into since high school.

At age 28, Byrum came home to Portland, to Jay County REMC, in 2011. He left his previous bricklaying and asphalt jobs behind and took a position as a groundman — one who assists the journeymen linemen. As is often the case with newly hired groundmen, within the year, Byrum began the four-year apprentice lineman program on his way to becoming a lineman himself.

Now 40 years old, Byrum is the REMC’s operations manager. He oversees six linemen and two apprentices plus a warehouse/ purchasing manager and the staking technician. He reports directly to the CEO.

“Once I started here, I knew this was more than likely going to be the place I retire from,” he said. “I definitely love the rural feel, the way they interact with the members and what all the REMCs are about. I like the kind of work we do, keeping people’s power on. We’ve got the best jobs in Jay County.”

Byrum went to college, he admitted, to play baseball. His degree in human resources was more of a bonus. But he was more interested in working outdoors, so when he was offered a job as a bricklayer, he took it. Once he and his wife started a family, the need for better insurance and benefits led him to an asphalt company in Ohio. Not long after, his dad told him about an opening at the REMC.

Byrum said he enjoyed being a lineman. “Line work is not a job for everybody. But there’s a lot of pride

in it. And the type of work — always working outside — just went along with what I like to do.”

In 2019, the metering department had an opening. He joined that department while maintaining line duties.

When the operations manager moved to another position at the REMC, Byrum applied and moved into that position. The transition, he said, was easy, because of the people he works with. “We have a really great group of employees.”

His first jobs out of college were just that, he said, jobs. “This is a career, compared to a job.”

Wabash Valley Power

In addition to bringing you pleasure, your garden can help save you energy — or even provide you energy if you grow a vegetable garden. Smart planning in advance can help you create an energyefficient garden that will last all season long.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF RAIN BARRELS

A rain barrel can save you a significant amount of energy. For each inch of rain that falls on 500 square feet of roof, you can collect about 300 gallons of water. In most areas of North America, you can collect more than a thousand gallons of water each year to use on your containers, houseplants, garden, or even your lawn.

Also, be sure to water during the coolest parts of the day, typically mornings and evenings. This saves energy because the cooler weather doesn’t cause evaporation to occur as quickly as the intense heat during the day.

INVEST IN ENERGYEFFICIENT LIGHTING

At 10 times the efficiency of incandescent lights, LED lights are a great option for outdoor lighting. There are thousands of options for solar-powered garden lights on the market. You can have a beautifully lit garden without racking up big electrical bills. Whatever lights you choose, always remember to turn the lights off when they’re not in use.

MULCH YOUR BEDS

Mulch is a gardener’s best friend. It helps cut down on water evaporation and slows weed growth. It also helps improve soil quality and gives your yard a clean, organized look. Add a layer of mulch at the start of your gardening season; you’ll be thanking yourself for the rest of the year.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT PLANTS

Planting drought-resistant plants like salvia, lavender and ornamental grasses will help reduce your water use. These perennials don’t require as much watering compared to other plant species, and unlike annuals, they won’t require planting year after year.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SPACE

Even small yards offer plenty of space for a garden. Peppers, tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries and even some herbs will thrive in the summer. You can save money by purchasing seeds and allowing them to germinate in pots on your windowsills before transplanting them later.

A well-designed garden provides more than just aesthetics for your home. It’s an investment that can provide joy and even food all spring and summer.

You can contact your local electric co-op for more tips and advice to improve your home’s (and garden’s) energy efficiency.

‘poplar’ choice

If you’ve ever had to work on a tree leaf collection, no doubt you included a leaf from Indiana’s state tree. Also known as tulip poplar, yellow poplar, or tulip tree, the tuliptree is actually not a poplar at all. It is a member of the magnolia family known botanically as Liriodendron tulipifera.

The tuliptree is native to most of the eastern half of the United States and prefers rich, moist, well-drained, loamy soil. It is

found throughout Indiana, but it is more prevalent in the southern two-thirds of the state.

Its unusual flowers inspired the common name. The flowers are shaped much like a tulip with greenish-yellow petals blushed with orange on the inside. Because they generally are found high in the leaf canopy, the flowers often go unnoticed until they drop off after pollination. The leaves of this tree are also quite distinct — each one has a large, V-shaped notch at the tip.

Because tuliptrees transplant easily and grow fast, they are a popular choice. But don’t be fooled by its small size in the nursery. Give a tuliptree plenty of room in your landscape plan. A tuliptree can reach as tall as 190 feet where it’s allowed

to thrive, but it is more likely to reach 70 feet tall as a mature landscape specimen.

Tuliptree is not without its share of pests and diseases. Among the most common are leaf spots, cankers, scale insects and aphids. In midsummer, tuliptrees in Indiana often develop black spots followed by a yellowing of the foliage thought to be related to heat and drought stress. Aphids suck plant sap from the leaves, but their damage is mostly cosmetic because they secrete a sticky honeydew that then develops a black sooty mold, which lends a dirty appearance in midsummer.

Despite all of these problems, the tuliptree continues to endure and endear, as demonstrated by its wide availability in nearly every garden center nursery. Given appropriate water and fertilizer, the tuliptree can be a beautiful asset to your home landscape.

INDIANA’S STATE TREE IS A POPULAR LANDSCAPING PICK

Source: Purdue Extension

product recalls

Gas range recalled for carbon monoxide danger

ZLINE has recalled three sizes of a gas range due to a serious risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. The oven of the gas ranges can emit dangerous levels of carbon monoxide while in use, posing a serious risk of injury or death.

Recalled ranges include 30-inch, 36-inch and 48-inch models (RG30, RGS-30, RGB-30; RG36, RGS-36, RGB-36; and RG48, RGS-48, and RGB-48). ZLINE has received 44 reports of carbon monoxide emission, including three reports of consumers seeking medical attention.

The ranges were sold in multiple finishes, including stainless steel, black stainless steel and DuraSnow (a cloudy steel finish), at Best Buy, Lowe’s, The Home Depot and other stores nationwide and online from February 2019 through December 2022 for between $2,300 and $6,900.

Contact: ZLINE at 888-359-4482; email at ZLINEKitchen@realtimeresults.net; or online at zlinekitchen.com/recalls or zlinekitchen.com and click on “Product Recalls” for more information.

Cordless wet dry vacuum poses fire hazard

Bissell has recalled cordless multi-surface wet dry vacuums — models 2551, 2551W and 25519. The circuit board inside the vacuum’s battery pack can overheat and smoke, posing a fire hazard. Bissell has received 66 reports of the vacuum smoking and emitting a burning odor; including five reports of the battery pack catching on fire, three of which resulted in minor property damage and one resulting in a burn injury.

The vacuums were sold at Walmart stores nationwide and from multiple online sources from January 2019 through November 2022 for about $360.

Contact: Bissell at 855-417-7001, or online at bissell.com/recall or bissell.com and click on “Product Recalls” at the bottom of the page for more information.

Multi-purpose helmets fail to meet safety standards

Sakar International has recalled three models of multi-purpose helmets: Credhedz Lizard, Crayola Dry Erase and Tony Hawk helmets. The helmets do not comply with federal safety standards for bicycle helmets and can fail to protect the wearer’s head in the event of a crash. They were sold at Big Lots, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and other stores nationwide and online from November 2020 through October 2022 for about $30.

The Tony Hawk multi-purpose helmets were sold in various colors and have black straps and a black buckle. Credhedz Lizard multi-purpose helmets are black with a green plastic lizard on the top of the helmet and have black straps and a black buckle. Crayola Dry Erase multi-purpose helmets are white and have black straps and a black buckle and are sold with a five-pack of markers.

Contact: Sakar at 800-592-9541; email at support@sakar.com; or online at vivitar.com/pages/ recalls or vivitar.com and click on “Recalls” at the bottom of the page.

As a service to our readers and to promote electrical safety, we want to keep you aware of recent recall notices provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Full details of the above recalls, and many more, can be found online by visiting www.cpsc.gov/en/recalls.