Dubois REC - May 2024 Indiana Connection

Graham Rahal advances the legacy of his talented motorsports family

A tribute to the mamas

Mother’s Day is May 12. This will be my second Mother’s Day as a mother myself. Those of you who have children know that it’s a wild ride. My daughter, Gwen, is 19 months old, and she teaches me something new every day.

I have been fortunate to have many exceptional women in my life. I’m an only child, so my mom, Kim, and I are close. I admire her strength and her ability to keep a calm head through life’s challenges. She always built up my self-esteem over the years, and I doubt I would be where I am today without her in my corner. Watching her spend time with Gwen has been amazing. My grandmother, Sandy, is known as Nan and has been a surrogate grandma to all my friends. She is the quintessential grandmother. If you look up that word in the dictionary, you will see a picture of her with a plate of freshly baked cookies. She loves all her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren unconditionally.

My mother-in-law, Sonja, has always been welcoming and open to those of us who married into the family. When you marry a Davis, you become one of her children (even though she already has four of them). Her generosity knows no bounds, and I’m lucky to have her.

As a mom, I have many milestones ahead of me, but as anyone with small children knows, sometimes you’re just trying to make it through the day. If you’re a mother, I hope you take a moment on the 12th and appreciate where you are and how you got there. I’m sure you’re doing a great job.

Do you have a story you would like to share about your mom? Please send it to me.

Britt Davis

Graham Rahal showed an aptitude for racing starting at 11 years old driving go-karts. Almost 25 years later, he’s expanding the Rahal motorsport legacy while taking care of a growing family of his own.

CONTACT US

Office: 812-482-5454

Billing Dept.: 812-482-1664

Operations Dept.: 812-482-1188

After Hours: 812-482-5455

Fax: 812-482-7015

CEO AND GENERAL MANAGER

Joe Henson

OFFICE HOURS

7 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday-Friday

7 a.m.–3:30 p.m. for Line Dept.

STREET ADDRESS

1400 Energy Drive Jasper, IN 47546

MAILING ADDRESS

P.O. Box 610 Jasper, IN 47547-0610

EMERGENCY POWER OUTAGES

To report service interruptions, call: 812-482-5454 (during regular hours) or 812-482-5455 (after hours) day or night. Please have your account number ready when reporting outages.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Brad Knies, President

Richard A. Wendholt, Vice President

Randall L. Stemle, Secretary-Treasurer

Mark Montgomery

Andy Schwenk

Steve Speedy

David Rudolph

KEY STAFF

Craig Adams Manager of Finance

Matt Brames Manager of Engineering

Greg Dilger Engineering Project Manager

Ruth Hopf Billing Supervisor

Patrick Lichlyter Manager of Operations

CUSTOMER SERVICES

Grow your summer energy savings

One of my favorite things about summer is the opportunity for fresh, homegrown food, whether it’s shopping at the local farmers’ market or sharing the abundance of garden tomatoes with a neighbor. It’s amazing how just a few seeds, some fertilizer, and water can turn into a bountiful harvest.

When I think about energy efficiency, I think about that bounty of food and how, with just a few simple actions, you can use less electricity and reap the rewards of energy savings.

You don’t need to be a farmer or botanist to know that plants need water — just like you don’t have to be a lineworker or engineer to know that adjusting the thermostat or turning off lights can reduce your monthly electric bill. In fact, if you read Dubois REC’s publications regularly and follow us on Facebook, you know there are a lot of things you can do at home to save electricity and money.

Summer months bring some of the highest energy bills of the year. But why? Cooling your home accounts for a large portion of your monthly energy use, and the hotter it gets, the harder (and longer) your air conditioner works to keep you cool.

Here are some simple ways you can manage your home’s energy use and help grow your summer energy savings.

Raise your thermostat. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temp, the more you’ll save.

Install window coverings like blinds or light-blocking curtains to prevent indoor heat gain during the day.

Seal leaks with caulk and weatherstripping around windows and exterior doors. Air leaks force your air conditioner to work harder and run longer than necessary.

Run ceiling fans for additional cooling, but turn them off when you leave the room.

Lower your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees to reduce standby heat loss.

When cooking, limit the use of your oven and stove to avoid heating up your home. An outdoor grill or small appliances like slow cookers and toaster ovens will keep your home cooler.

This is also a good time to remind you of the rebate and incentive plans that members can use to save money and energy –– not only during the dog days of summer but throughout the year.

Visit our website to learn about the rebates we offer for energy-efficient HVAC and water heating equipment. If your home needs a new water heater or heating and cooling system, contact us first to learn about the savings we offer. And, as you’re gearing up for a summer of yard work, see if you might be eligible for our $50 rebate for electric lawn equipment.

Most people don’t know everything about electricity, and that’s why we’re here to help you. There are no investors making profits here. Just knowledgeable people with local jobs, working for our neighbors to ensure there is electricity available when you need it. Contact us, and we can work with you to find more ways to save energy –– and money.

Rate schedule

Service charge

Single-phase ............................................. $33.50

Three-phase $47

Energy charge

The first 500 kWh at $.10522/kWh

The next 2,500 kWh at $.09772/kWh

All remaining kWh at ......................$.09462/kWh

Power cost tracker

All rate classes

All kWh at $-0.01569/kWh

Security light

If you have a security light, add: 175-watt mercury vapor $8.32/month

100-watt sodium vapor $7.50/month

100-watt metal halide ...................... $8.75/month

70-watt LED $7.50/month

Electric bills are due by the 20th of each month.

Members who pay by the 15th will be entered in the monthly drawing for a $50 bill credit.

(See details at right.)

Visit duboisrec.com for easy ways to pay your electric bill online.

The easiest way to win a

$50 bill credit

NEW WINNER EACH MONTH!

It’s easy to enter our monthly $50 drawing! All Dubois REC members who pay their bill by the 15th of the month, using any payment option, will be automatically entered in the $50 monthly drawing. Members who pay by ACH/bank draft and recurring payments are also automatically included in the drawing. (Delinquent payments are not eligible.)

The winner will be notified, and their name will be published here.

MARCH’S WINNER:

Dean Friedman, Dubois

2024 Annual Meeting review

The Annual Meeting of Dubois REC was held at the Huntingburg Event Center on April 9 at 7 p.m.

Since no petitions for nomination were submitted for the districts up for election, the incumbent directors were officially seated for another 3-year term at the 2024 annual meeting.

• District 1 — Andy Schwenk

• District 5 — Brad Knies

Prior to the meeting, members received a registration form in the mail. Members who attended the meeting were entered into the prize drawings. A separate “Early Bird” drawing was held for members who were unable to attend, but submitted their registration card before to the meeting. Winners are listed at right.

In-person prize winners:

Grand Prize, $1,000 gift certificate for electricity:

Gilbert and Patricia Voegerl

$750 gift certificate for electricity

Rose Lee Campbell

Gehlhausen Lake

$500 gift certificate for electricity

Keith Bauer

Bernard Beier

Mark Lichlyter

Schnellville Conservation Club

Sylvia Jefferies

$250 gift certificate for electricity

Allen Bachman

Chester Bayer

Maria Brewer

Wayne Kreilein

Andy Lange

Allen Matthews

Jane Potter

Angela Schaefer

Mary Schroeder

Christopher Schwenk

Brenda Vaal

Robert Ziegler

Early bird mail-in prize winners:

$100 gift certificate for electricity

Jason Baker

Mary Bauer

Kent Beckman

Chad Blessinger

Racheal Burris

Eileen East

Rebecca Gregory

Bruce Guillaume

Rex Hensel

Merkley Homestead

Ron Hulsman

Mark Humbert

Terry Kamman

Fred J. Knebel

Joseph Layton

Nate Messier

Ed A. Schmitt

Robert Oeding

Tim Weidenbenner

Armin Zehr

All bill credits won at the Annual Meeting will be applied to members’ May electric bill.

2024Annual Meeting

Werner marks 20 years with Dubois REC

Matt Werner joined the Dubois REC team as a lineman in 2004. He and his wife, Ashley, have been married 23 years and have two sons — Mitchell and Max. He enjoys spending his time with family and watching Cincinnati Reds games. He is a member of St. Joe Church in Jasper, the Jasper Volunteer Fire Department, and Jasper Outdoor Recreation.

Dubois REC will be CLOSED May 27 in honor of MEMORIAL DAY

Save the date for next year’s Annual Meeting: April 8, 2025

Pictured above are the students who will represent Dubois REC at Camp Kilowatt this summer. Tucker Weyer is the son of Grant and Heather Weyer and a student at Cedar Crest Intermediate School. Trenten Ernst is the son of Matt and Leslie Ernst and a student at Jasper Middle school.Trevor Arnold is the son of Gregory and Aimee Arnold and a student at Southridge Middle School.

Patricia Voegerl and her husband, Gilbert, were the winners of the grand prize at the Annual Meeting, a $1,000 gift certificate for electricity.

During the Dubois REC Annual Meeting, 497 memberships registered and attended in-person, with another 1,616 memberships participating by mailing in their registration cards.

Local organizations receive Operation Round Up Grants

As an electric cooperative, Dubois REC is guided by seven cooperative principles. Principle #7 is “Concern for Community.” One of the most significant ways Dubois REC helps support local groups and organizations in our community is through our Operation Round Up program.

Dubois REC members who participate in Operation Round Up allow their monthly electric bills to be “rounded up” to the next dollar. Participating members contribute around 50 cents per month. That spare change is placed in a community fund, overseen by a volunteer board of trustees.

This volunteer board meets each quarter to review the requests for grants. Local community groups, nonprofits, fire departments, school programs and similar organizations can apply.

This month we are pleased to announce $8,500 in Operation Round Up grants were awarded to three local organizations. They are pictured at right, along with details about each grant.

Since 2011, Dubois REC has given more than $500,000 back to the community in the form of member-funded grants.

APPLY FOR A GRANT

If your group or organization could benefit from an Operation Round Up grant, visit duboisrec.com and look in the “Community” section for information about the Operation Round Up program.

Download an application, complete it and submit the application along with supporting documents by June 30 to be considered for our next round of community grants.

If you are not currently participating in Operation Round Up visit our website, duboisrec.com, look in the “Community” section and download an “Opt-In” form to start rounding up your electric bill. You can also call the Dubois REC office to get more info and an application.

We appreciate the men and women who work for Dubois REC. From the front office to the powerlines, and all the jobs in between — we have some amazing and dedicated employees.

Kelly Eckerle-Dixon of the Dubois County Humane Society, left, accepts a $5,000 grant from Operation Round Up Representative Miranda Swope. The grant will fund Kennel Banks new spay/neuter clinic.

Jasper High School received a $2,500 grant for the Special Needs Department. Pictured, from left, are JHS teacher Mr. Shelton, Adam Nordhoff, Miranda Swope (Operation Round Up Representative), Jenny Cortez, and Dominic Ballou.

Jenny Wellman of the Orange County Cancer Patient Services Inc., left, accepts a $1,000 grant from Operation Round Up Representative Miranda Swope. The funds will be used to purchase gas and food cards for cancer patients.

Connecting with your HOME CIRCUIT BREAKER PANEL

An unexpected power outage likely makes you fly to a far-flung region in your home — your circuit breaker box.

Many home circuit breaker boxes can be found in areas such as garages and basements. They are the electrical nerve center of your home; they control the flow of electricity throughout your home to the various rooms and devices that power your day. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation, homes with service panels installed before 1965 likely use fuses to protect each individual circuit. Newer homes feature circuit breakers that maintain the safe flow of electricity.

When circuits are overloaded or encounter a disturbance, they may “trip” or open to interrupt the flow of electricity. The Electrical Safety Foundation reports that blown fuses in older homes require replacement when an issue arises, while circuit breakers can be reset once the potential problem is resolved. The organization adds that a tripped breaker is typically the result of too many appliances overloading the circuit, which should be fixed immediately.

When a short circuit occurs, an electrified wire directly contacts a neutral wire or the ground, causing

a surge of electricity. Circuit breakers are designed to trip almost instantaneously in this situation to prevent significant damage or possibly even a fire.

Ground fault circuit interrupter breakers and outlets are used for circuits where there is water or high moisture, such as a bathroom, kitchen, or garage. Some homes have GFCI breakers in the breaker panel or GFCI outlets designed to shut off power within a fraction of a second for safety. The outlets have a push button to reset in case they ever trip.

There are steps you can take to investigate and resolve a tripped circuit breaker. Sometimes, the situation can be resolved quickly. However, if the issue cannot be found or the breaker continues to trip, contact a qualified electrician to investigate and fix the problem.

Source: Electrical Safety Foundation

HOW TO RESET A TRIPPED BREAKER

• Unplug or turn off appliances in the room.

• Find your main breaker panel and open the cover.

• Locate the tripped breaker or blown fuse. A tripped circuit breaker will be in the off position or in a middle position between on and off.

• To reset the breaker, switch it to the off position and then back to on. This may restore power to the room. If the problem continues, there may be more severe issues. Contact an electrician to diagnose the problem.

by Matt Strahl Energy Advisor, NineStar Connect

good. The installers are highly skilled professionals and I would recommend Renewal by Andersen to all my contacts.”

F. | RENEWAL BY ANDERSEN CUSTOMER

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county feature

Ohio County COUNTY FACTS

Covering 80 square miles with less than 6,000 residents, Ohio County is Indiana’s smallest and least populous county. Rising Sun, Indiana — the sole incorporated municipality within Ohio County — is home to Ree’s Harps, one of the state’s only two harp manufacturers.

SETTING SAIL IN SOUTHEASTERN INDIANA

The Ohio County Historical Society Museum’s star attraction is the Hoosier Boy, a famous powerboat from the early 1900s. J.W. “Row” Whitlock — an inventor, furniture builder, and boating enthusiast from Rising Sun — owned and raced the 40-foot boat with a 62-mph top speed. In 1924, he set an unbroken distance record for a round trip between Cincinnati and Louisville. He covered 267 miles of the Ohio River in 267 minutes and 49 seconds, despite branches in the Ohio River breaking a hole in the Hoosier Boy’s wooden hull. The museum also houses the Hoosier Girl, a replica made in 2003 of the Hoosier Boy’s sister boat that sank in the 1940s.

RESCUING WILDLIFE WONDERS

FOUNDED: 1844

NAMED FOR: the Ohio River

POPULATION:

5,940

COUNTY SEAT:

Rising Sun

INDIANA COUNTY NUMBER: 58

LEGACY OF LIBERATION Rising

Sun

In 1836, Samuel Barkshire and his family moved to Rising Sun from Boone County, Kentucky, after becoming freed slaves. Risking capture and resale back into slavery, the Barkshires became Underground Railroad activists, helping enslaved people of color along the Ohio River — the border of free and enslaved territories — find their way to freedom. Samuel even worked with the wife of his former slaveholder, Nancy Hawkins, who moved to Rising Sun after her husband’s death. She and the Barkshires hid slaves seeking freedom in their homes. The Indiana Historical Bureau and the Ohio County Historical Society designated the Barkshire’s home on North Poplar Street a historical marker in 2018.

Since 1979, Red Wolf Sanctuary in Rising Sun has preserved native North American animals through its educational tours and outreach programs about the wonders of nature and wildlife. The non-profit organization permanently homes various animals, from hawks to opossums, unfit for release into the wild because of lifealtering injuries or human interaction. The sanctuary also rehabilitates and releases hundreds of sick or orphaned wildlife animals annually. Visitors can book either a two-hour walking tour or an RTV-driven tour through the sanctuary’s habitats to view its residential wolves, foxes, bobcats, and more.

Nicole Thomas is a freelance writer from Indianapolis.

Photo by Valerie Rice, courtesy of Red Wolf Sanctuary

Photo by J.J. Prats

Photo courtesy of Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Experience

SHARE YOUR 4 TH OF JULY traditions

In the July issue of Indiana Connection, we want to celebrate America by highlighting our readers’ 4th of July traditions and memories. Does your family have a favorite firework spot or a special meal eaten every Independence Day? Tell us about it! Submit entries by mail to our office (11805 Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, IN 46032) or at indianaconnection.org/share-your-4th-of-july-traditions by May 24.

MARKETPLACE

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

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COOL BEANS

Unique coffee places around the state offer more than just hot beverages

THE ATTIC/COFFEE MILL CAFÉ

Madison Atticmadison.com

CAFÉ ROYAL COFFEE HOUSE

New Castle

facebook.com/caferoyalnc/

The Attic, housed in a building that dates back to 1860, is a unique family-owned business in the heart of Madison. The Coffee Mill Café opened in 1993 and features gourmet flavored coffees, breakfast paninis, pastries, and desserts available all day. Soups, salads, and sandwiches are served during lunch hours. Besides coffee, The Attic also features unique gifts, including clothing, jewelry, home décor, and more. This year, owners Chris and Lyndsey Hornbrook will open the newly renovated Historic Madison Bed and Breakfast so you can eat, drink, shop, and sleep in one location!

BLACKBIRD CAFÉ

Valparaiso

blackbirdvalpo.com

Blackbird Café sits just off the Valparaiso town square on Lincolnway and is currently the town’s longest-standing café. The owner is the third generation of the family who ran The Donut Hut, which began serving Valparaiso in 1974. Blackbird offers a relaxed, cozy atmosphere perfect for “working from home” or gathering with friends. The building has housed a café since the early 1990s when it was an “Internet Café.” Blackbird offers breakfast, lunch, and bakery items made from scratch daily.

Opened in 2009, Café Royal is a family-owned coffee shop with a community focus in New Castle. The restaurant offers all-day breakfast and lunch options and an assortment of specialized coffee drinks. They also have a soup and sandwich special of the day, and reviews claim they have amazing biscuits and gravy.

OUR PLACE COFFEE

Zionsville

Ourplacecoffee.com

Our Place Coffee is a popular spot on 1st Street in Zionsville. Started by the Deinlein family, Our Place Coffee is inspired by their father’s love of coffee and their mother’s love of community. They want the café to be a place where people slow down and connect face-to-face. Our Place Coffee is open for breakfast and lunch and offers traditional coffee drinks and “fancy lattes” with flavors such as berries and cream, snickerdoodle, and red velvet.

Steps to

RESTORING SERVICE

Tornadoes or other weather-related disasters often bring widespread power outages. Most electric utilities follow a similar methodical plan that ensures power is restored to the greatest number of people in the shortest amount of time in the safest manner possible. To do that, your co-op utilizes this priority system when line crews are working on outages.

PRIORITY 1: Transmission lines

These high-voltage lines carry electricity from generating plants to substations (or between substations). They are supported by tall towers, usually of steel lattice framing or tall wooden poles in an “H” or “M” configuration. Since tens of thousands of people could be served by one transmission line, damage here needs to be taken care of first.

PRIORITY 2: Substations

These electrical facilities contain equipment that switch or regulate the voltage of electricity. They

lower the voltage from the transmission lines so the electricity can be transmitted through the distribution lines. If problems are taken care of at the substation, power to a large number of people can be restored.

PRIORITY 3: Main distribution lines

You see these along roadways. They carry electricity from the substations to groups of consumers, like towns or housing developments. They are usually T-shaped and support three or more wires. When power is restored here, all consumers from this supply line will see their lights come on unless there is a problem farther down the line.

PRIORITY 4: Tap lines

These are electric feeder lines running from the main distribution line to utility poles and underground transformers outside houses or buildings. They serve small numbers of consumers.

PRIORITY 5: Individual service

These lines run from the transformer on the nearest pole to the individual consumer’s electric meter. Repairs to individual homes come after all other larger fixes. Consumers may see lights on at neighboring homes and see line crews working in the area, but they may still not have power. When this happens, it generally means the service line between their home and the nearby transformer has been damaged.

If a family member relies on lifesustaining medical equipment, please notify your electric cooperative now so it can be aware of the situation. Do not wait for an outage. Have an emergency generator or backup power in place.

In addition, unless you are personally affected, stay away from stormdamaged areas. Utility and other emergency vehicles will need access to the roads. If you see utility workers along your road or in your yard, please do not approach them for updates. It slows the progress and is dangerous for you and the lineworkers who are focused on their job.

Photo courtesy of Orange County REMC

Popular CoQ10 Pills Leave Millions Suffering

Could this newly-discovered brain fuel solve America’s worsening memory crisis?

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA — Millions of

Americans take the supplement known as CoQ10. It’s the coenzyme that supercharges the “energy factories” in your cells known as mitochondria. But there’s a serious flaw that’s leaving millions unsatisfied.

As you age, your mitochondria break down and fail to produce energy. In a revealing study, a team of researchers showed that 95 percent of the mitochondria in a 90-year-old man were damaged, compared to almost no damage in the mitochondria of a 5-year-old.

Taking CoQ10 alone is not enough to solve this problem. Because as powerful as CoQ10 is, there’s one critical thing it fails to do: it can’t create new mitochondria to replace the ones you lost.

And that’s bad news for Americans all over the country. The loss of cellular energy is a problem for the memory concerns people face as they get older.

“We had no way of replacing lost mitochondria until a recent discovery changed everything,” says Dr. Al Sears, founder and medical director of the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine in Palm Beach, Florida. “Researchers discovered the only nutrient known to modern science that has the power to trigger the growth of new mitochondria.”

Why Taking CoQ10 is Not Enough

Dr. Sears explains, “This new discovery is so powerful, it can multiply your mitochondria by 55 percent in just a few weeks. That’s the equivalent of restoring decades of lost brain power.”

This exciting nutrient — called PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone) — is the driving force behind a revolution in aging. When paired with CoQ10, this dynamic duo has the power to reverse the agerelated memory losses you may have thought were beyond your control.

Dr. Sears pioneered a new formula — called Ultra Accel II — that combines both CoQ10 and PQQ to support maximum cellular energy and the normal growth of new mitochondria. Ultra Accel II is the first of its kind to address both problems and is already creating huge demand.

Over 47 million doses have been shipped to men and women across the country and sales continue to climb for this much sought-after brain fuel. In fact, demand has been so overwhelming that inventories repeatedly sell out. But a closer look at Ultra Accel II reveals there are good reasons why sales are booming.

Science Confirms the Many Benefits of PQQ

The medical journal Biochemical Pharmacology reports that PQQ is up to 5,000 times more efficient in sustaining energy production than common antioxidants. With the ability to keep every cell in your body operating at full strength, Ultra Accel II delivers more than just added brain power and a faster memory.

People feel more energetic, more alert, and don’t need naps in the afternoon. The boost in cellular energy generates more power to your heart, lungs, muscles, and more.

“With the PQQ in Ultra Accel, I have energy I never thought possible at my age,” says Colleen R., one of Dr. Sears’s patients. “I’m in my 70s but feel 40 again. I think clearly, move with real energy and sleep like a baby.”

The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and Dr. Sears receives countless emails from his patients and readers. “My patients tell me they feel better than they have in years. This is ideal for people who are feeling old and run down, or for those who feel more forgetful. It surprises many that you can add healthy and productive years to your life simply by taking Ultra Accel II every day.”

You may have seen Dr. Sears on television or read one of his 12 best-selling books. Or you may have seen him speak at the 2016 WPBF 25 Health and Wellness Festival in South Florida, featuring Dr. Oz and special guest Suzanne Somers. Thousands of people attended Dr. Sears’s lecture on anti-aging breakthroughs and waited in line for hours during his book signing at the event.

Will Ultra Accel II Multiply Your Energy?

Ultra Accel II is turning everything we thought we knew about youthful energy on its head. Especially for people over age 50. In less than 30 seconds every morning, you can harness the power of this breakthrough discovery to restore peak energy and your “spark for life.”

So, if you’ve noticed less energy as you’ve gotten older, and you want an easy way to reclaim your youthful edge, this new opportunity will feel like blessed relief.

The secret is the “energy multiplying” molecule that activates a dormant gene in your body that declines with age, which then instructs your cells to pump out fresh

MEMORY-BUILDING SENSATION: Top doctors are now recommending new Ultra Accel II because it restores decades of lost brain power without a doctor’s visit.

energy from the inside-out. This growth of new “energy factories” in your cells is called mitochondrial biogenesis.

Instead of falling victim to that afternoon slump, you enjoy sharp-as-a-tack focus, memory, and concentration from sunup to sundown. And you get more done in a day than most do in a week. Regardless of how exhausting the world is now.

Dr. Sears reports, “The most rewarding aspect of practicing medicine is watching my patients get the joy back in their lives. Ultra Accel II sends a wake-up call to every cell in their bodies… And they actually feel young again.”

And his patients agree. “I noticed a difference within a few days,” says Jerry from Ft. Pierce, Florida. “My endurance has almost doubled, and I feel it mentally, too. There’s a clarity and sense of wellbeing in my life that I’ve never experienced before.”

How To Get Ultra Accel II

This is the official nationwide release of Ultra Accel II in the United States. And so, the company is offering a special discount supply to anyone who calls during the official launch.

An Order Hotline has been set up for local readers to call. This gives everyone an equal chance to try Ultra Accel II. And your order is backed up by a no-hassle, 90day money back guarantee. No questions asked.

Starting at 7:00 AM today, the discount offer will be available for a limited time only. All you have to do is call TOLL FREE 1-800-798-0074 right now and use promo code ICUA524 to secure your own supply.

Important: Due to Ultra Accel II recent media exposure, phone lines are often busy. If you call and do not immediately get through, please be patient and call back.

BRING THE heat

Looking to turn up the heat? These spicy recipes add a kick to some traditional Midwest fare.

FOOD PREPARED BY INDIANA CONNECTION STAFF

PHOTOS BY KILEY LIPPS

TACO BURGERS

Patricia Piekarski, Harvey, Illinois

1 egg, beaten

¼ cup water

½ cup crushed corn chips

1 packet of taco seasoning

1 lb of ground beef or pork

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

FOR TOPPING:

4 buns

1 large tomato, chopped ½ cup cheese, shredded

1 cup lettuce, shredded

Combine the egg and water. Stir in corn chips and half of the taco seasoning. Combine the mix with the meat. Shape into four ½-inch patties. Fry till brown and cooked all the way through. Combine tomato sauce and remaining taco seasoning. Serve burgers on buns. Top with tomato sauce mixture, cheese, tomato, and lettuce.

JALAPENO POPPER ROLL-UPS

Marilles Mauer, Greensburg, Indiana

8 oz pepper jack cheese, shredded

8 oz cream cheese

4 oz can diced jalapenos, drained

½ tsp salt

Two 8 oz cans of crescent rolls

¼ cup melted butter

1 tsp garlic powder

Preheat oven to 375 F. Shred an 8 oz block of pepper jack cheese. Add it to a mixing bowl with softened cream cheese, jalapenos, and salt. Stir to combine all the ingredients. Roll out both cans of crescent rolls and press the perforations together. Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the dough. Starting with the short end of the dough, roll up each sheet of the dough tightly over the cheese mixture. Use a knife to slice each roll into eight 1-inch rolls, making 16 total with both crescent roll sheets. Arrange the rolls in a greased 9x13 baking dish. Combine melted butter and garlic powder in a small bowl, then brush it evenly on top of the rolls. Place in the oven and bake for 28-30 minutes or until golden brown.

HOOSIER SPICY GREEN CHILI

Jan Steenburg, Oaktown, Indiana

2 lbs chicken or pork tenderloin cut into small cubes

1 cup onion, medium chopped

14 oz chicken broth (any brand, lowsodium or regular)

10 oz green salsa (canned or bottled)

20 oz (canned or bottled) whole green chilies, seeded and chopped

1 can black beans (low-sodium is fine), drained

SPICE MIX (mix separately and set aside)

3 tsp garlic, minced or mashed

1 tsp celery salt

1 Tbsp flour

2 tsp oregano

1 Tbsp cumin

3 Tbsp jalapeno pepper, diced

1 Tbsp dried cilantro (or 3 Tbsp fresh, finely chopped)

1 Tbsp chili powder

In a large pot, brown meat and drain. Return the pot to the stove and add onion and broth to the browned meat. Simmer on low uncovered for one hour. (Give the pot a few stirs during cooking times to avoid sticking). Add spice mix and green salsa. Simmer another hour on low heat. Add green chilies and black beans. Simmer another hour on low heat, then it’s ready to serve. Garnish with shredded cheddar if desired. Serves well with a buttermilk biscuit.

A DRIVER and A GENTLEMAN:

Graham Rahal advances the legacy of his talented motorsports family

BY BRIAN D. SMITH

Of the six children of Bobby Rahal, only one bears the name of a famous race driver — son Graham, named after legendary British

Maybe Bobby sensed something no ultrasound could: That Graham would be the only child to follow in his tire tracks. This month, 35-yearold Graham Robert Rahal hopes to qualify for his 17th Indianapolis 500, a race his father won in 1986.

Bobby Rahal takes no credit for clairvoyance, but he’s happy to explain his admiration for Hill, who drove to victory lane in 1966. “He might not have had the natural talent of a Jimmy Clark” — another of Bobby’s heroes, who won Indy in 1965 — “but he just had that work ethic and got things done.”

Indeed, Graham Hill remains the only driver in history to capture the so-called Triple Crown of Motorsport, which in his day comprised the Indy 500, the Monaco Grand Prix, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race.

Graham Rahal, meanwhile, just wants a less soul-crushing Indy 500 than he experienced last year. Driving for his father’s team, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, he overcame mechanical issues to qualify for the 33rd and final position in the starting grid. But in the closing moments of time trials, teammate Jack Harvey ousted him with a four-lap average that was just .007 mph faster.

Afterward, in an emotional scene witnessed on national television, Graham sat alone and dejected on the sidepod of his blue-and-white No. 15 car, head buried in his hands. Then, suddenly, he was surrounded by his consoling wife, Courtney Force, and two young daughters as he wiped away tears, mindful that he would sit out the 500 for the first time since 2008.

Or would he? The next day, a practice accident sent driver Stefan Wilson to the hospital and his team, Dreyer & Reinbolt Racing, searching for a replacement to drive the backup car in the race. “That evening, I got the call,” said Rahal. “I was in Dreyer’s at midnight.”

The two teams came to terms, allowing him to drive in the Indy 500.

Rahal called it an honor, adding, “My thoughts are with Stef Wilson. This isn’t the way we wanted to get into the race.”

But his good fortune took a sharp U-turn on Race Day. “Drivers, start your engines,” came the familiar command, but Rahal’s engine wouldn’t start. A faulty battery, which had to be replaced, put him two laps down before he ever got the car in motion. Rahal finished 22nd, still managing to overtake one-third of the field despite his disadvantage.

And so it went at the 107th running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

When Courtney Force offers her husband a comforting hug after a tough day at the track, she

knows firsthand the demands of high-stakes competition and the pressures of living in the shadow of a famous father.

Like her husband, Force not only grew up in a famous motorsports family, but took up the same profession as her dad, right down to his choice of fast cars. The youngest daughter of drag racing superstar John Force, a 16-time National Hot Rod Association champion in the Funny Car class, she is the winningest female driver in the same class. Two of her three sisters also became drag racers, and now two nieces and a nephew are carrying on the family tradition — along with her still-unretired father, who turns 75 this month.

continued on page 22

Rahal and his family at the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2023. (Photo courtesy of Penske Entertainment: James Black)

continued from page 21

“Obviously, the types of racing that we do are very different,” said Rahal, who exchanged vows with her in 2015. “But she’s tremendous. She understands what I have to go through.”

She also understands what devoted fans and followers want to know, posting timely social media dispatches about major family events. For instance, she took to Twitter to announce her retirement from drag racing in January 2019 and confided in May 2020 that “we’ve been keeping a little secret … baby Rahal coming November 2020!”

Three months later, she shared a baby bump photo and invited recommendations on “travel-friendly gear for this future race track kid.”

And when Harlan Ann Rahal entered the world on November 2, Force quipped, “Rahal party of 3.” Naturally, the arrival of little sis Tinley Leighton Rahal on Sept. 6, 2022, also merited an update.

Despite the girls’ DNA, it’s probably too soon to plan for another Rahal taking the green flag at Indy or another Force girl firing up a dragster. But if it means anything, Rahal notes that with 3-year-old Harlan, “I can tell you there’s no doubt that kid loves racing” and that Tinley, too, has shown an early affinity for cars.

Rahal was about Harlan’s age when he began displaying the aptitude of a future race driver, said Bobby Rahal. “For anybody who knew him at about 3 or 4 years old, it was a foregone conclusion that Graham would end

up where he is,” he said, recalling the times he attended racing industry dinners with his son in tow. “Most little kids would tug at your sleeve and say, ‘Let’s go,’” said Bobby, yet Rahal would sit quietly in his lap, often falling asleep from physical exhaustion but never seeming to tire of the racing scene.

Rahal recalls it similarly. “As a little kid, I always wanted to be at the race track with my dad,” he said. “At 4 or 5 years old, I wanted to be a race car driver. I started racing go-karts at 10, and 25 years later, here I am.”

Rahal was only 11 when he won nine of 16 Ohio Valley Karting Association races and received Rookie of the Year honors. At 15, he got his first taste of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Formula BMW series, turning laps on the road course at an age when most teens can’t legally drive solo around their own block.

Not that his dad pushed him into it. “To be honest, I wasn’t supportive of him racing,” said Bobby. “First, there was his education, and second, I didn’t want him to feel like he had to follow in somebody’s footsteps.”

Yet his determined son would not be deterred, and when Bobby finally allowed him to race go-karts, Rahal’s immediate success convinced him that the boy was a natural. “He was made for it, and it was made for him,” Bobby said.

Perhaps it’s in his bloodline and Bobby’s, since neither was the original racing Rahal. That title goes to Bobby’s father, Michael, an amateur race driver who piloted a Porsche, an Austin-Healey, and other high-end models in Sports Car Club of America events from 1957 through the 1970s. “Racing was his outlet, a place for him to have fun,” said Rahal.

His grandfather, who had immigrated with his family from what is now

Rahal poses with Scott Dixon and Pato O’Ward after winning 2nd place during the 2023 Gallagher Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. (Photo courtesy of Penske Entertainment: Chris Owens)

Lebanon, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and started a successful wholesale food distributorship in Chicago. Still a family business, it exists today as Rahal Fruits & Flavors, with Bobby’s brother, Ian, as president and CEO.

The casual fan might imagine that when Rahal was deemed ready for prime time, Dad’s racing team supplied the wheels. But that’s not how his father raised him. “I thought it was important for him to drive for other people,” said Bobby, “and he drove for two of the greatest teams in history: Newman-Haas and Ganassi. He earned that — I didn’t buy him a ride.”

At times, Bobby probably wished he’d kept Rahal to himself, especially when his son notched his first Indy car victory — the rain-soaked Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in 2008 — and set a record (since broken) as the youngest driver to win an Indy car race at 19 years, 93 days old.

Rahal’s open-wheel racing career actually began a year earlier while still a student at New Albany High School in suburban Columbus, Ohio. His racing schedule forced him to miss out on the usual high school highlights, including his senior prom. But he tried to make it up to his would-be prom date by flying her to Texas to see him compete in the Grand Prix of Houston. She was

probably impressed — Rahal placed second.

Yet Bobby never demanded top finishes from his son. “Shockingly to a lot of people, his biggest piece of advice was to follow my heart,” said Rahal. “Do what you truly love.”

Bobby had a few other thoughts, too.

“I told him I don’t care about how many races you win. What I care about most is that you’re a gentleman — good to the fans and good to your crew. Everything else will take care of itself.”

To hear Mark Jaynes talk, Rahal has already achieved as much.

continued on page 24

Graham Rahal starts his dive into the Carousel (Turns 8-8A) during the team test at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in February 2019.

(Photo courtesy of Penske Entertainment: Chris Owens)

continued from page 23

“He’s a tremendous ambassador for the sport,” said Jaynes, the current “Voice of the 500” for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network. Some of Rahal’s finest moments occurred during his news conference after he got bumped from the Indy 500 field, Jaynes said. “If you are raising a young child who’s a football player, a basketball player, a golfer, you owe it to them to sit them down and let them hear everything Graham had to say,” he said. “I don’t think anybody’s ever handled adversity with more class and grace.”

Graham and his wife also operate the Graham and Courtney Rahal Foundation, a charity that has raised

$1.5 million for cancer research and PTSD treatment for military veterans.

The race driver’s life is never dull but never certain, either. As Rahal likes to say, “You’ve got to plan for when the music stops.” He’s nowhere near ready to park his Indy car permanently, but “you don’t know. Racing can change at any point, your life can change at any point, and you’ve got to be prepared.”

To that end, he has embraced the Indianapolis suburb of Zionsville in a big way. An August groundbreaking in Creekside Corporate Park kicked off construction on a new 115,000-square-foot headquarters

for his GR Brands, whose upscale portfolio encompasses dealerships for specialty cars and Italian-made motorcycles and motor scooters under the Ducati and Piaggio labels. He’s also building a new home in exclusive Holliday Farms, a golf community with a Pete Dye course.

In racing, as with many professions, the father’s success opens doors for the son but also imposes often unfair expectations. As a teenager, Rahal was first hailed in the press as his sport’s much-needed “phenom to capture the imagination of the American public” — then questioned a year later about why he hadn’t won in the past 20 races.

Rahal with his father, Bobby Rahal, before the 2019 REV Group Grand Prix at Road America at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (Photo courtesy of Penske Entertainment: John Cote)

And his respectable 17-year career record, which includes six victories and two third-place finishes in the Indianapolis 500, will forever be measured against his father’s 24 wins, notably at Indy in 1986.

But it’s not as if Rahal has forgotten how to drive at Indianapolis. Last August on the road course, he was runner-up to Scott Dixon in the Gallagher Grand Prix, foiled by a lengthy yellow light after dominating most of the race.

His father cautions against comparing eras. “When I drove, the differences between teams were greater than they are today,” said Bobby. “In ’82, there were two or three, maybe four teams at most that were very

competitive, and everybody else was out there for the scraps. And there were only five or six people who had new cars. Today, everybody has new cars.”

It’s also worth noting that Rahal is only two years older than his dad was when Bobby took the checkered flag at the Indy 500. Not that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has lost any of its magic. “It’s a very special place, just as special today as it was for race one,” he said.

And when the music finally stops for Rahal, hopefully many years from now, it’s a safe bet that he’ll walk away from the sport in the same way he carried himself during his career — as a gentleman.

FAST FACTS

BIRTHDATE

January 4, 1989

HOMETOWN

New Albany, Ohio

RESIDENCE

Zionsville, Indiana

YEARS RACING 22

FIRST INDYCAR WIN

Streets of St. Petersburg, 2008

SIX TOTAL INDYCAR WINS

St. Petersburg, 2008

Fontana, 2015

Mid-Ohio, 2015

Texas Motor Speedway, 2016

Detriot Race 1, 2017

Detriot Race 2, 2017

Professional progression: THE ROAD TAKEN

While attending Purdue University’s construction management program, Josh Durbin envisioned a dream job of building log homes in the Rocky Mountains, far from where he grew up in Steuben County.

After college in 2008, he was offered a job in the mountains. But that was right in the middle of the Great Recession. “I had fears of moving 2,000 miles away from home and being without a job with the downturn of the economy,” Durbin recalled. “So, I decided to stay home and look locally.” And that decision — to take the more familiar road home — has made all the difference.

Today, he’s the director of member services at Steuben County REMC. While growing up, Durbin said he knew of the REMC through a friend whose dad was a lineman and a family friend who is a director. When looking for an internship, one business stood out. “I saw ‘Tipmont REMC’ on the job board. I was like, ‘Hey, I know them.’ I knew enough to think it was going to be a hometown feel.”

As a student, Durbin worked three summers and partially through the year with Tipmont in drafting and engineering. It gave him a strong sense of the cooperative culture.

Though Tipmont offered him a job upon graduation, he and his wife wanted to go home.

He took a job near Fort Wayne as a project manager for a mechanical contractor that kept him either behind a computer or traveling around the country. While he liked it, the office was an hour from home, and his wife had just given birth to their first child. “I was looking for a change. I wanted to be home and present for my family life.”

In 2012, a friend at Steuben County REMC let him know they were looking for an energy advisor. “I knew these people live and breathe our community. And that’s ultimately what I wanted,” he recalled.

Durbin received more education and certification as an energy analyst once at the co-op. In 2018, he was promoted to his current position, which still has him advising on energy and puts him in charge of load management programs and large key accounts. It also puts him in more public contact as a co-op representative.

“The beauty of what I do now is I’m involved with Junior Achievement. I’m in the schools, which I really enjoy. I’m on the local economic development board. The ‘community’ in this job allows me to do that. I didn’t think that was really me or was a necessity. But the deeper I get into it, the more I feel like I fit,” he said.

And that’s what keeps him coming back to work each day. It’s also the people he works with. “We’re a family of sorts. Everybody says that. But, when you work for a local company, that’s ultimately true. Our kids go to school together; I may have gone to school with some of the employees. It’s a small world in the sense that everybody in the community is tied together one way or another.”

Indoor/Outdoor Illuminated Atomic Clock

Now you can honor a time-tested American farming icon with a clock dedicated to technical precision. This limited edition is available only from The Bradford Exchange.

The classic Model H tractor stands proud against a black-bordered, Farmall red background, along with the IH logo and “time-proved” slogan. Because it is in sync via radio waves with the of cial source of U.S. time in Fort Collins, Colorado, it is completely self-setting* and accurate to the second. You never need to adjust it, even for Daylight Savings. As night falls, a built-in sensor cues hidden LED lights to

A WOODPECKER EVICTION

Hoosier Energy rebuilds line near Redbird State Recreation Area

To keep electricity flowing safely and reliably, Hoosier Energy crews must be ready for anything.

This spring, anything meant woodpeckers, resulting in the Redbird Line Rebuild.

A hole had been spotted in one of the poles at Structure 80, part of a right of way running through the Redbird State Recreation Area in Greene County. That’s not an unusual problem and can often be patched up with epoxy.

But when Hoosier Energy Line Working Foreman Aaron Price went up to make the repair, he found more than he bargained for.

“It wasn’t just a hole,” Price said. “It was a woodpecker mansion.”

The result was replacement instead of repair. The decision was made to replace the wood poles hoisting the 345 kV lines at Structure No. 80 and the adjacent Structure No. 79, which shared the same access point.

The Redbird Rebuild was efficient, installing 100-foot galvanized steel poles at Structure 80 and 105-foot poles at No. 79 while using a new framing package for the first time.

In addition to the crane contracted from R.H. Marlin, two Hoosier Energy bucket trucks and a digger derrick truck were in use to keep the poles, cross bolts, and framing in place, all while working around the deenergized lines. Contractor Hudson Excavating also aided the effort.

A Hoosier Energy crew member measures the depth of the hole created by woodpeckers in a wooden pole along the right of way in Redbird State Recreation Area.

After finishing the project, the crew followed up with other minor fixes on the lines in the area — sliding dampers, replacing braces, and patching smaller woodpecker holes.

The new steel poles still attract wildlife, as wasps find the flange halfway up an attractive place to build nests, but the rebuild closed the woodpecker housing market.

Review of

spring The color of

ike most country people, we have a spot along our woods that serves us well. It is both a compost heap and leaf pile, a place where we toss rakings and trimmings and lifeless vegetables. It is regularly inspected by possums, birds, and earthworms, where nothing man-made spoils its organic richness.

Despite no planning, I often find irises sprouting there among the stems and wilt and rotting carcasses of the frost-bitten and seasonally worn, for as I clean old flower beds or thin the garden, I fill my wheelbarrow and empty it at that spot.

I planted irises when we moved to our property over 40 years ago. In those days, we had a threadbare and flowerless yard with little character, and since I was the son of a mother who couldn’t live without color around her house and who had plenty of starts to spare, I brought irises home from her garden and gave them prominence in mine.

Irises have a fascinating history. They have been cultivated for centuries, with the ancient Egyptians and Greeks writing their earliest botanical chapters. Their name is derived from the Greek word for “rainbow,” an apt appellation since irises come in a variety of colors. Today, it is said that there are about 250 kinds — some growing wild — and although most of what I have are various shades of purple and yellow, one can find them in pink and blue, burgundy and white, and even black.

Some irises bloom in both spring and fall. Many have double or triple the number of “beards” than others; some have tiny, nearly reed-like blades. One native variety — called “blue flag” —

grows wild in a ditch not a half-mile from my house.

It is said that purple irises, the most common color, were placed on the graves of Greek women to summon Iris, the Goddess of the Rainbow, so she could help the departed find their way to the afterlife. Irises do, indeed, have a sort of eternal quality, for their oils can be used for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory goodness, as well as in perfumes and cosmetics.

Irises have been found included in drawings discovered in the archeological digs of Egypt, and, centuries later, the Bourbon kings of France adopted its shape in the fleur-de-lis. I recently came across a portrait of Queen Elizabeth I of England, painted around 1559, in which she is wearing a dress adorned with irises.

Less than a month ago, I drove to my son’s place and, like his old man, he is a bit obsessed with a neat yard. With great effort, he built his own flower beds out of old railroad ties and stones. As I stepped out of my truck, I saw the pale green tips of irises poking their heads above the leaf litter he had left in place and was planning to soon rake away.

In just a few days, a stand of purple and white irises, a new generation, will be in bloom.

Mike Lunsford is a freelance columnist, feature writer, and photographer, primarily for the Terre Haute Tribune-Star and Terre Haute Living magazine. The author of seven books lives in Parke County with his wife, Joanie. Contact Lunsford at hickory913@gmail.com.

A dark purple iris, the most common color, shows off its "beard," the soft white and yellow "caterpillar" that provides a hold for pollinators to grab.

A lone iris blooms in a hillside flower bed near the writer's Parke County cabin. The petals of the irises are called "falls."

Raindrops drip from a bloomed iris in the writer's yard in early May.