May 2025 Indiana Connection

PROJECT INDIANA

Illuminating lives one home at a time

PAGES 20-25

MAY 2025

from the editor

Powering Palmira This month’s feature is about a program special to all of us at Indiana Electric Cooperatives, the publisher of Indiana Connection.

Project Indiana is an initiative created by Indiana’s electric cooperatives to bring power to underdeveloped countries. In 2012, to celebrate the International Year of the Cooperative, two teams of Indiana cooperative lineworkers spent a month electrifying three villages in Guatemala. Thirteen years later, 16 Indiana lineworkers traveled to Palmira — a mountainous area along the western edge of Guatemala — with the intention to electrify 109 homes. At the end of the two weeks, they exceeded that goal, with 197 homes receiving power.

As Americans, we tend to take electricity for granted. We might complain about it when we feel our monthly bill is too expensive, but we know when we flip a switch or plug something in, the power will be there.

What the team was able to accomplish down in Palmira in such a short

VOLUME 74 • NUMBER 11 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 311,000 residents and businesses receive the magazine as part of their electric co-op membership. The average printed and mailed cost per issue is 54 cents.

CONTACT US: 11805 Pennsylvania Street Carmel, IN 46032 317-487-2220 info@indianaconnection.org IndianaConnection.org INDIANA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OFFICERS: Steve McMichael President

amount of time is not only an impressive feat of engineering but will change

Dr. Richard Leeper Vice President

the lives of the residents. They can now store their food in refrigerators and

Jamey Marcum Secretary/Treasurer

freezers. They can acquire appliances to cook food safely inside their homes.

Even something as simple as having light in the house after the sun goes

John Cassady CEO EDITORIAL STAFF: Britt Davis Editor

down is now possible.

Mandy Barth Vice President of Communication

Electric cooperatives are governed by seven principles, one of which is

Ashley Curry Production and Design Coordinator

“Concern for Community.” Indiana’s cooperatives care about not only the

Holly Huffman Communication Support Specialist

communities close to home but also those much farther away that can benefit from a helping hand. Readily available electricity not only powers the village but also progress and new opportunities.

I encourage you to turn to page 20 and learn more about this amazing trip and the Project Indiana program.

Britt Davis Editor bdavis@indianaec.org

On the menu: August: Submit your favorite recipes

Lauren Carman Communication Manager

Amber Knight Creative Manager Kiley Lipps Graphic Designer ADVERTISING: American MainStreet Publications Cheryl Solomon, local ad representative; 512-441-5200; amp.coop 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 safekeeping or return of unsolicited material.

you.

featuring tomatoes, deadline June 1. If we publish your recipe on our food pages, we’ll send you a $10 gift card.

Giveaway: Enter to win a bourbon glass from Zimmerman Art Glass.

Visit indianaconnection.org/talk-to-us/contests or send your contact information to the address below. The deadline to enter is May 31.

Three ways to contact us: To send us recipes, photos, letters and entries for gift drawings, please use the forms on our website indianaconnection.org; email info@indianaconnection.org; or send to Indiana Connection, 11805 Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, IN 46032.

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, 11805 Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, IN 46032. Include key number.

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

MAY 2025

3

contents

MAY

12

18

county

03 FROM THE EDITOR 05 CO-OP NEWS Energy news and information from your electric cooperative 10 ENERGY Encourage cooled air to stay inside with the proper insulation

food

12 COUNTY Union County 14 ART CONTEST Announcing the 2026 Cooperative Calendar of Student Art winners 16 SAFETY Keep safe during dangerous storms

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Indiana Connection 4 MAY 2025

20

30

cover story

outdoors

18 FOOD Ranch seasoning and dressing add a creamy zing to any meal

28 HOOSIER ENERGY/ WABASH VALLEY NEWS

20 COVER STORY Project Indiana illuminates Palmira 26 PROFILE Zimmerman Art Glass creates a personal connection through their pieces

29 IN EATS Rosie’s Place brings delicious brunch fare to Indianapolis (NOT IN ALL EDITIONS) 30 OUTDOORS Mushroom hunting leads to other discoveries (NOT IN ALL EDITIONS)

On the cover Sixteen Indiana electric cooperative lineworkers traveled to Palmira in late January as part of an international initiative to bring electricity to a developing area in Guatemala. Learn more about this life-changing program in this month’s cover feature.

Respecting the POWER of

ELECTRICITY

May is Electrical Safety Month and Indiana’s electric cooperatives want to remind you that electricity is vital to our daily lives and should be treated with the respect it deserves. Read on for potentially life-saving safety information from the Electrical Safety Foundation International.

Check your home for hazards Home electrical issues cause over 51,000 fires each year, resulting in more than 500 deaths, 1,400 injuries and $1.3 billion in property damage, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI). There are many measures you can take to ensure the well-being of your loved ones. Use these helpful tips from ESFI to safeguard your home.

In the kitchen •

Vacuum refrigerator coils every three months to eliminate dirt buildup that can reduce efficiency and create fire hazards.

•

Ensure all countertop appliances are located away from the sink.

•

All appliance cords should be placed away from hot surfaces. Pay particular attention to cords around toasters, ovens, and ranges. Cords can be damaged by excess heat.

Light the way to safety •

The wattage of the bulbs you use in your home should match the wattage indicated on the light fixture. Overheated fixtures can lead to fire.

•

Never use an extension cord outdoors unless it is plugged in to a grounded outlet.

Be prepared

6 MAY 2025

•

Regularly clean out your dryer vent. Lint is easy to ignite.

•

Ground fault circuit interrupters in the proper locations can prevent up to 70 percent of electrical shock occurrences in the home. GFCI receptacles should be installed in the bathroom, kitchen, basement, and garage, as well as all outdoor outlets. Arc fault circuit interrupter breakers should be installed in all electrical circuits leading to any sleeping area such as a bedroom or den.

•

Talk to your family about an emergency plan in the event of a fire in your home. If you have small children, include them in planning an emergency escape route. They are more likely to remember the plan if they’re involved in creating it.

WARNING SIGNS

How to spot lithium-ion battery problems Lithium-ion batteries are becoming a larger part of our everyday lives. They can be found in cell phones, tablets, laptops, electric bikes and scooters, toothbrushes, backup batteries, and other regularly used devices. Damaged or defective batteries can cause fires. Learn more about how to spot a battery problem.

Signs of a battery problem: • • • • •

Change in the battery color Sweet electrical burning odor emitting from the battery Noises or leaking coming from the battery Change in the battery or device shape Smoke coming from the battery

WHEN TO CALL AN ELECTRICIAN While electrical safety is something we need to think about every day, and we can do much to ensure it, sometimes we must call in an expert to deal with electrical problems in our home.

Problems may be expensive to fix but none is as costly as an electrical fire that damages your home, or, infinitely worse, burns or kills a loved one.

Be sure to call your trusty local electrician in these situations: •

Recurring tripped circuit breakers or multiple blown fuses can signify a dangerous electrical problem. Contact a licensed electrician immediately.

•

Flickering or dimming lights could mean bigger problems ahead.

•

Installing a new window A/C unit may overload the electrical circuit you are planning to plug it in to.

Large units should have their own separate circuit.

Check with an electrician about adding a new dedicated line.

•

Power strips give you more outlets, but no more “power.” Relying on them too much can be a problem.

You may need to install more outlets in your home.

Call a qualified electrician for help.

What to do if a battery fire occurs: • • •

A damaged battery may release toxic gas that may not be visible and can be deadly even in small amounts.

Evacuate the area as batteries can explode and alert others in the home.

Call 911 and notify them of the battery fire.

What to do with a damaged battery: •

• • •

If safe to do so, move suspected damaged or defective batteries or devices to an area away from the structure or into fireproof containers.

Damaged batteries should be handled with care.

Never place batteries in regular waste and recycling bins, as they will likely catch fire.

Batteries should only be recycled at approved battery recycling drop-off locations. Damaged, defective, or recalled batteries require special attention. Visit call2recycle.org for more information.

MAY 2025

7

KIDS' CORNER

Four seasons of safety Each season has unique electrical and fire dangers. Stay safe all year around by following these tips.

SPRING •

Do not play around power lines or in trees near them. Be especially careful with kites and other flying toys.

•

Stay far away from downed power lines and tell an adult right away.

•

Do not play on or around electrical boxes.

•

Go inside right away if you hear thunder or see lightning.

SUMMER •

Do not use electronic devices in or around water.

•

Never touch anything electrical with wet hands.

•

Never spray power lines or electrical boxes with hoses or water guns.

•

Do not swim around boat docks. The water near them could have an electric charge.

FALL

WINTER •

Keep space heaters at least 3 feet from anything that can burn like blankets, curtains, clothes or papers. Turn them off when you go to sleep or leave the room.

Matches and candles should only be used by adults.

•

Do not overload outlets with too many decorations or appliances.

Make sure all candles are blown out before leaving a room.

•

Make sure all holiday decorations are turned off before you go to sleep or leave home.

•

An adult should always stay in the kitchen when something is cooking.

•

Keep anything that can burn away from the stove, toaster, and other cooking appliances.

• •

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energy T H E PAT H T O E N E RGY E F F IC I E NC Y

Insulation

Encourage cooled air to stay inside your home this summer

You shouldn’t sweat this summer —

levels. In Indiana, attics are

Consider an energy audit to learn

at least not indoors. If your home

recommended to have an insulation

how to improve your home’s

felt hot last summer and colder

value the equivalent of

efficiency. If you want to take a

than usual this winter, you may

at least an R-38. However, the

deeper dive, consider getting an

benefit from checking your home’s

northern part of the state is

energy audit. This will include a

insulation levels and air leaks.

recommended to have more to

deeper analysis of your home’s

Following these steps can save you

provide more support, particularly

energy use and actionable steps you

money and provide more comfort:

in winter. ENERGY STAR

can take to make your house more

recommends an R-49 level for

energy efficient.

First, seal air leaks to prevent drafts. You should search your

most northern states.

You can ensure your home is

home for any air leaks, high and

You can visit the ENERGY STAR

prepared for all that summer has to

low. The greatest percentage of

website for a quick lesson to check

offer. The improved comfort can be

leaks occur from your living space

your attic’s insulation levels; all you

felt immediately, while the energy

into your attic and down low to your

need is a ruler. Even more simple

savings will continue for years to

basement or crawlspace. Sealing

— if you can see that the insulation

come. Contact your local electric

air leaks keeps your conditioned

level is at or below the tops of your

cooperative to learn more about your

air inside and prevents your HVAC

attic ceiling joists, ENERGY STAR

energy consumption and how you

system from working more than

states that you may need to add

can make your home more energy

needed, saving you money.

more insulation. ENERGY STAR

efficient.

Next, evaluate the attic. Once you’ve sealed leaks, you want to check your home’s attic insulation

adds that if you cannot see the joists because the insulation is well above them, you likely have enough.

by Jake Taylor Energy Advisor LaGrange County REMC

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1

county feature

Union County

COUNTY FACTS

Union County, located on the Indiana-Ohio border, is the second least populous county in Indiana, following Ohio County. It is home to the Union County-College Corner Joint School District, the only joint state school district in Indiana and Ohio.

THE GIRL BEHIND ‘LITTLE ORPHANT ANNIE’

FOUNDED:

Born in Liberty, Indiana, Mary Alice “Allie” Smith inspired Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley to write his 1885 poem “Little Orphant Annie.” When Smith became an orphan at 9 years old, Riley’s family took her in as a servant to help his mother with household chores and his three siblings. Originally titled “The Elf Child,” Riley later renamed the poem to “Little Orphant Allie,” but a typesetting error changed “Allie” to “Annie.” Riley kept the misprint because the poem had already become popular under its new name. The poem later inspired the comic strip “Little Orphan Annie,” which led to a Broadway musical and multiple film adaptations.

Photo courtesy of Joe Halberstadt

1821

NAMED FOR: Uniting parts of Fayette, Franklin, and Wayne Counties

POPULATION: 7,087

COUNTY SEAT: Liberty

Photo courtesy of Sailko

INDIANA COUNTY NUMBER: 81

SCENIC VIEWS, RICH HISTORY

PAINTING THE HOOSIER LANDSCAPE

Whitewater Memorial State Park in Liberty was established in 1949 as Indiana’s 16th state park. Union, Fayette, Franklin, and Wayne counties originally purchased the land to memorialize those who served in World War II. Today, the state park features shoreline hiking, flat-water boating, and fishing at its 200-acre Whitewater Lake, along with nine miles of horseback riding trails. The state park is also a prime spot for birdwatching, as migrating flocks pass through to travel between Canada and Mexico. Sandhill cranes have become a common sight at the state park’s Brookville Lake, and visitors can bring their binoculars for a closer look during its “Sandhill Saunter” viewings.

William McKendree Snyder, born in Liberty in 1848, was a painter best known for his Indiana landscapes, especially of southern Indiana Beech trees. After serving as a drummer boy in the Civil War, he studied under painters George Inness, Albert Bierstadt, and William Morris Hunt to refine his composition, layout, gradation, and tonality skills. Strongly influenced by the Hudson River School — an art movement rooted in Romanticism — Snyder became one of the first artists to paint in Brown County, Indiana, helping to establish the Brown County Art Colony. Today, Synder’s artwork is mainly a part of private collections and art galleries.

Nicole Thomas is a freelance writer from Indianapolis.

12 MAY 2025

Liberty

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calendar winners

GRADE DIVISION WINNERS

WINNERS SELECTED

Kindergarten Jane Olsen, Newburgh First grade Luci Lampert, Birdseye

FOR THE 2026 COOPERATIVE CALENDAR OF STUDENT ART

Second grade Lacey Madden, Birdseye

Indiana’s electric cooperatives and

communities," said John

Third grade Nash Cissell, Borden

their statewide magazine, Indiana

Cassady, CEO of Indiana Electric

Connection, recently named

Cooperatives. "This contest is a

the winners of the 28th annual

great way to encourage creative

Cooperative Calendar of Student

expression while giving students

Art Contest. Presley Gray, an

the opportunity to share their

11th-grade homeschooler from

work with people across the

Fort Wayne, has been honored

state. Supporting local students

as Artist of the Year for her piece,

in this way reflects cooperatives’

Autumn Hound. Her skillful use

commitment to the communities

of colored pencils, gel pens,

they serve.”

and markers reveals a detailed portrayal of a basset hound gazing up as the last leaves of November fall.

Students who enter the art contest are asked to create artwork that illustrates the month that corresponds numerically with

Fourth grade Dustin Otto, Amboy Fifth grade Hunter Spindler, Greenwood Sixth grade Flynn Cissell, Borden Seventh grade Isabella Martin, Fort Wayne Eighth grade Zoe Bubp, Fort Wayne Ninth grade Cooper Baird, Fort Wayne 10th grade Daelyn Kirkdorffer, South Whitley 11th grade Presley Gray, Fort Wayne (Best of Show) 12th grade Cassidy Skinner, South Whitley

A first-place artist was also

their grade at the time they enter

selected for each grade, K-12.

the contest. Kindergartners could

Each will receive $200. Thirteen

use whatever their imagination

HONORABLE MENTIONS

additional artists earned an

thought up when creating art for

honorable mention award and

the calendar’s cover.

Kindergarten Junia Richey, Milford

$75. A complete list of the contest winners is to the right.

The artwork was judged on artistic merit, originality, creativity, and

"Indiana’s electric cooperatives

suitability for a wall calendar. The

value the creativity and talent

art contest is open to any Indiana

of young people in their

K-12 student.

First grade Claire Landis, Georgetown Second grade Suzie Shepard, Fort Wayne Third grade Viola Fessel, New Albany Fourth grade Audrey Katerberg, Madison Fifth grade Elise Weaver, West Lafayette Sixth grade Ella Jamiel, Syracuse Seventh grade Norah Yoder, Fort Wayne Eighth grade Reece Shalley, Bloomington Ninth grade Marissa Rodgers, Fort Wayne 10th grade Elle Zeidler, Elizabeth 11th grade Annalise Nymann, Seymour 12th grade Riley Aebersold, New Albany

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KEEP SAFE WHEREVER YOU ARE DURING DANGEROUS STORMS

If you’ve lived in the Midwest

tornado shelters at your

for any length of time, you know

workplace? If your company

this section of the country has a

doesn’t have a plan, consider

reputation for being a place where

developing one. When a tornado

tornadoes are relatively common,

warning is issued, help your

especially in the warmer months.

co-workers get to a safe place

Although tornadoes are more

with no windows.

common in the Midwest and the Central Plains, they have been reported in all 50 states.

OUTSIDE

While it’s helpful to always know

If you are outside during a

the forecast for your area, it’s

tornado warning, try to find shelter

particularly important during the

in a sturdy building. It’s important

summer months when severe

to remember that sheds, storage

weather can put lives at risk.

facilities, mobile homes, and tents

Pay attention when the forecast

are unsafe during tornado

calls for thunderstorms and the

warnings. If no shelter is

potential for severe weather. The

available, lie flat in a ditch or

following are tips for staying safe

low-lying area, cover your head

no matter where you are when a

with your arms, and get as far

tornado develops.

away from trees as possible.

AT HOM E

ON THE ROAD

Once a tornado watch has been

If you can’t safely drive to a

issued for your area, meaning

shelter, pull over, leave the car,

conditions are favorable for them

and seek refuge in a low-lying

to develop, you want to stay

area like a ditch. Make sure to

updated with local media or other

cover your head. Do not try to

sources. If you’re at home and a

outrun the storm. A vehicle is

tornado warning is issued, go to

considered one of the least safe

your basement or an interior

places during a tornado.

space with no windows or doors to the outside. Take your pets with you.

You should stay in your safe space until the severe risk has passed your area. Remember, multiple rounds of storms

AT WORK

producing tornadoes are possible when severe weather strikes your

If you’ve never practiced what to

area. Once the threat has passed,

do during severe weather at

then let family and loved ones

school or work, now may be a

know you’re safe.

good time to familiarize yourself with safety plans. Where are the

16 MAY 2025

Chris Adam is a freelance writer from Lafayette. Source: National Weather Service

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A Midwestern staple Ranch seasoning and dressing add a creamy zing to any meal

WON T ON SAU SAGE C U PS Jan Fitterling, Culver 1 package wonton wraps 1 lb pork sausage

1 cup shredded Mexican

Preheat oven to 350 F. Place 24 wonton wraps in two

cheese or ⁄3 cup each

muffin tins. Brush with oil and bake for about 5 minutes

1

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cheddar, mozzarella,

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finely diced

½ cup ranch dressing

Spoon the filling into the baked wontons. Place them back in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and the cups are browned.

18 MAY 2025

FOOD PREPARED BY INDIANA CONNECTION STAFF PHOTOS BY KILEY LIPPS

food R ANCH PO TATOES Verna Wagler, Odon

8 to 10 potatoes, peeled or unpeeled, cut into ½-inch cubes 1 lb bacon, fried, drained, and chopped 1 cup ranch dressing 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded 6 Tbsp butter 1 tsp salt ½ tsp pepper Preheat oven to 350 F. Boil the potato cubes until soft and drain. In a 9x13 pan, layer half the cooked potatoes

C H IC K EN BAC ON RANC H PAS TA

and half the bacon. Place a few pats

Jake Davis, Whitestown

of butter on top, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add a layer of ranch

8 oz pasta

½ cup heavy cream

1 lb chicken breast, diced

3 Tbsp ranch dressing

4 slices of bacon, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

1 ranch seasoning packet

Parmesan cheese for topping

dressing and cheese. Repeat the layers. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and melted. Serves 10 to 12.

1 cup spinach Cook the pasta according to the instructions, then drain and set aside. In a large skillet, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon and set aside, leaving the drippings in the pan. Add the diced chicken to the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook the chicken until it’s browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the ranch seasoning, ranch dressing, spinach, and heavy cream until well combined. Let it simmer for a couple of minutes until it thickens slightly. Then mix in the cooked pasta and crispy bacon. Stir well to combine and heat through for about 2 minutes. Top with Parmesan cheese and serve warm.

MAY 2025

19

Cody Campbell, of South Central Indiana REMC, and Kolbie Cox, of Miami-Cass REMC, prepare to hang a transformer.

PROJECT INDIANA

Illuminating lives one home at a time

BY STEPHANIE BERNABA

20 MAY 2025

Sixteen Indiana electric cooperative lineworkers and six support team members traveled to Guatemala in late January to bring electricity to Palmira.

I

n the remote Guatemalan mountains

“We took our first trip to Guatemala in

Trenkamp marveled at villagers who

along the Mexican border, nearly 200

2012. This last trip was probably one

walked 20 minutes just to return a

homes around the village of Palmira

of my most rewarding and probably

dropped screw or piece of wire from a

were illuminated for the first time as

the hardest, just because of the terrain

previously wired home. He noted that

lineworkers from Indiana’s electric

and the number of people we gave

no villager would let any material go to

cooperatives brought electricity —

power to,” Banfield said.

waste, no matter how small.

What made the 2025 trip most

“They tracked down where we were,

remarkable to him was how greatly the

walked 20 minutes over to us, just

team exceeded its established goals.

to hand us back that screw,” said

and hope — through their volunteer mission with Project Indiana.

The trip, which took place between January and February of this year — the team’s sixth since 2012 — brought electricity to communities that have never had access to it.

“When we first received the information, our goal was 70 homes and 30 poles,” said Banfield. “When we went over to complete the project

Trenkamp. “That happened a half a dozen times. Despite having almost nothing, they’re some of the happiest people I’ve ever met. They all knew each other and helped one another —

For the 22 crew members who made

engineering, the number jumped to

the journey, the experience could only

109 homes. By the end, we wound up

be described as transformative.

electrifying 197 homes.”

MORE THAN JUST POWER LINES

A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT

While bringing electricity was their

“It was one of the best things I’ve felt I’ve done with my life so far as giving back to others,” said Paul Trenkamp, a first-time volunteer lineworker from Decatur County REMC.

THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT The initiative’s crew leader, Joe Banfield, operations manager at

The villagers’ enthusiastic involvement made this extraordinary achievement possible. Some helped place electric poles, while others learned how to install outlets and light fixtures so

mission, the Indiana crew found themselves forever changed by the villagers, especially one struggling family whose circumstances stirred them to extraordinary action.

modifications could be made once the

“We ended up meeting a family that

team returned home.

was basically orphaned kids, and the

Tipmont, now a three-time Project

This spirit of collaboration and

Indiana veteran, described the

gratitude was evident throughout the

remarkable scale of the team’s

team’s 18-day stay.

achievements.

and us — without hesitation.”

head of the household was a 6-yearold girl,” Trenkamp explained. continued on page 22 MAY 2025

21

Local volunteers carrying a pole.

All poles on the mountain are dug by hand and set by hand.

Photo courtesy of Ron Holcomb

RELATIONSHIPS BEYOND BORDERS The residents’ and lineworkers’ lives have become intertwined like the power lines now linking their village.

“Billy was a 10-year-old kid who showed up on day one or two,” Trenkamp said. “When we were wiring on the inside of the houses, you could drop a screw, and Billy would have it picked up before it hit the ground.”

Billy’s devotion and work ethic impressed the whole crew.

continued from page 21 “It hit me right at home, and I felt a lot of compassion for them. So, I made sure we would do something special for them.”

Their situation was grim. After their mother passed away, the oldest boy, around 13 or 14 years old, left home to work in the coffee fields to support his siblings.

“The oldest boy is out working in the coffee field, and the way it sounded, he doesn’t even come home,” Trenkamp said.

Most heartbreaking was the burden placed on the 6-year-old girl who had been thrust into the role of household caretaker in her brother’s absence.

“The grandmother lives across the street,” he explained, “and she’s trying to teach the 6-year-old girl how to maintain a house, cook meals, and clean. She hasn’t even started

Together, the lineworkers purchased a refrigerator, a gas stove, a table and chairs, and paid the family’s electric bill for a year. They also provided school supplies, including bookbags and uniforms.

Zach Albin, another lineworker from Heartland REMC, took time from his assigned duties to lend a hand.

“I chose to take a break from the line crew for one day so I could go them their fridge, and hand out their backpacks,” Albin said. “We wanted to watch them unpack and see all the stuff we got.”

“Being able to give back was amazing,” Trenkamp added. “It made me feel really good about what we were doing.”

The impact was particularly emotional for Albin, who has three young daughters at home.

“It was just rough,” he explained.

responsibilities that are challenging for

“They were young — too young to live

some adults.”

the way they did. It was a little difficult

family’s circumstances, pooled their resources to provide much-needed assistance.

22 MAY 2025

old and grown up beyond his years.

I was glad to help give him some advantages for the future. Before we left, I gave him some of the tools I brought to Guatemala with me,” Trenkamp said.

The unexpected bond with Billy, who rapidly became the crew’s most devoted assistant, transcends distance and grows stronger by the day.

make the table we got them, show

school yet, and she already has

The lineworkers, moved by the

“He was really helpful — 10 years

for me, especially because one looked similar to my middle child. It was difficult for me to fathom my child in that situation.”

Billy, a 10-year-old resident of the village, became the lineworkers’ best assistant.

“Billy texts and calls about every single day,” Albin shared. “He sends me pictures, and I send him pictures of things back here. It’s just a lot of fun.”

CFC SUPPORT EASES THE FINANCIAL BURDEN

Left to right: Kevin Bay, JCREMC; John Cassady, CEO, Indiana Electric Cooperatives; Andrew Don, CEO, CFC; Carolina Park, Senior Manager, CFC; and Joe Banfield, Operations Manager, Tipmont

Project Indiana’s trips to

A LASTING IMPACT ON BOTH SIDES Amanda Barth, vice president of communication for Indiana Electric Cooperatives and executive director for Project Indiana, explained that Project Indiana is about more than electrification — it’s about building sustainable futures.

“We don’t just stop with electrifying a village and building the infrastructure.

We try to help them create a better way of life, and we’re best able to do that by focusing our energies and continuing to support them,” Barth said.

Many lineworkers confessed the experience has enriched their worldviews.

Guatemala would not be possible without the support of the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC). Since 2017, CFC and National Cooperative Services Corporation (NCSC) have helped finance 30 international electrification projects undertaken by 18 states. Over the years, CFC and NCSC have contributed more than $2 million in support of those missions.

“We are very grateful for CFC’s support of Project Indiana,” said Amanda Barth, executive director for Project Indiana. “CFC’s support helped ease the financial burden on our member cooperatives in a tough economic climate for the industry. CFC’s grant assisted with purchasing the supplies, crew member hotel rooms and meals in Guatemala, rental vehicles, and many other things.”

Barth noted the other very valuable component of CFC’s participation in this project was having the expertise of CFC CEO Andrew Don and CFC Senior Manager of Financial Tools and Analysis Carolina Park on the trip. Park also serves as a Project Indiana board member.

Coopeffa R.L. is the small, local cooperative utility that serves Palmira. While

“I did want to remind myself often

in Guatemala, Don and Park met with Coopeffa R.L.’s board and staff to

how I take little things for granted, like

counsel them on the cooperative business model and how to make the most

filtered water and common amenities

of that model in operating their small utility. They also met with Guatemalan

like air conditioning,” reflected Albin.

dignitaries, including the minister of energy, to express their support for using

“I sleep dry and warm every night, but

the cooperative business model in electrifying the rest of the country.

some of those people did not sleep

“We want to support our member electric cooperatives to undertake these

dry, and they were either too warm or freezing. I try not to take those small things for granted anymore.”

Crew leader Joe Banfield also noted a particularly touching moment the

international projects,” Don said. “It’s a big endeavor putting a project like this together. They just need a little financial help. It’s the sixth cooperative principle: Cooperation Among Cooperatives. And helping communities like the village of Palmira is also very important. It made a big impact on me to visit the village and see similar situations to what many rural Americans probably faced

day he electrified a 105-year-old

90 years ago.”

woman’s home.

While electrifying the village was the primary goal, that was not the only benefit.

“I was there when she first turned on

“Electricity brings economic prosperity,” Don explained. “With electricity, you

her light switch. You’ve got to think back for a second — 105 years with

can create a better way of life. For the lineworkers, they’re able to see how it’s making a huge difference in somebody’s life. That was one of the biggest

no electricity. That is mind-boggling.

takeaways for me, seeing how the experience resonated with them.”

She turned that light on for the first

“The line crews were very proud and happy to be there,” said Park. “They

time, and she started bawling. She’s

were not only putting up the lines and bringing electricity; they really engaged

crying, she’s hugging me. It was very

with the community. I knew this experience would not only change lives in the

overwhelming.”

community but change our and the linemen’s perspectives as well.” continued on page 24

MAY 2025

23

continued from page 23

A COMMUNITY INVESTMENT Project Indiana transcends typical charity work — it’s a true partnership in which local communities actively shape their own futures alongside American volunteers.

Project Indiana thrives on partnerships — from Milwaukee Tools’ significant equipment donations to National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation’s (CFC) crucial financial backing — but its invaluable work requires ongoing support to Brandon Bambush, of Orange County REMC, offers a young girl a doll he carried from Indiana and made by his wife.

Photo courtesy of Ron Holcomb Local children watch as Terry Minic of Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative, Inc., works up on a pole.

Photo courtesy of Ron Holcomb

brighten Guatemala’s remote highlands.

“We’re not giving them a handout, we’re giving them a hand up, and they are working alongside our guys the entire time,” Barth emphasized. “We have people from that village working with our guys every step of the way because they are personally invested in this as well. They look forward to our trips and helping out the teams.”

For the lineworkers who volunteered their time, Project Indiana offers an opportunity to use their specialized skills to significantly improve the villagers’ lives.

As Project Indiana continues its mission, the impact ripples far beyond the electrification of homes.

“The companies and people that support Project Indiana,” Albin said, “I urge them to continue so we can do these trips. Our trip alone changed the lives of 200 families.”

Paul Trenkamp, of Decatur County REMC, installs an outlet at a villager’s home.

SUPPORT PROJECT INDIANA Project Indiana depends on corporate and individual supporters to accomplish its mission of empowering global communities one village at a time. To learn more about Project Indiana and donate to the program, visit projectindiana.org/support.

24 MAY 2025

PROJECT CREW

Zach Albin, of Heartland REMC, prepares to frame a pole while enjoying the view.

Photo courtesy of Ron Holcomb

Jonah Brewer, Bartholomew County REMC

Kolbie Cox, Miami-Cass REMC

Bo Simpson, Clark County REMC

Brandon Bambusch, Orange County REMC

Collin Crabtree, Decatur County REMC

Terry Minic, Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Paul Trenkamp, Decatur County REMC

Jaylin Brown, RushShelby Energy

Garret Berg, Dubois REC, Inc.

Cody Campbell, South Central Indiana REMC

Steve Saltsgaver, Harrison REMC

Dakota Grimes, South Central Indiana REMC

Zach Albin, Heartland REMC

Jimmy Applegate, Southern Indiana Power

Kevin Bay, JCREMC

Matt Bassett, Tipmont

SUPPORT TEAM Robert White, Indiana Electric Cooperatives

Chris Todd, Northeastern REMC

Eric Jung, Northeastern REMC

Joe Banfield, Tipmont

Ron Holcomb, Tipmont

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25

profile

connection

C R E AT I N G A P E R S O N A L

At Zimmerman Art Glass, fourth and fifth

generations carry on a tradition of functional artistry If the question is whether good things come in small packages or perhaps small buildings, Kerry Zimmerman might smile slyly and reply, “Come with me over here,” and he would show you that they do. It happened that way once, he said, when a man appeared disappointed after he arrived at Zimmerman Art Glass, repurposed from a former gas station in downtown Corydon, and asked, “This is it?”

Brian Zimmerman

The dubious visitor was surprised when he was guided around and given a demonstration, said Zimmerman, and had left impressed. “It’s that personal connection that’s so important, that we really value.”

Zimmerman is a fourth-generation glassblower from a family that immigrated from France in the 1880s.

Ferdinand Zimmerman began his journey into mass-production glass by making punch bowl sets in a Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, factory. In the early 1920s, the second generation of the Zimmerman family moved to Corydon and continued the glassblowing business.

From left to right: Alex, Kerry, and Brian Zimmerman work in the Corydon shop.

Kerry Zimmerman

With a strong local and online presence in videos and social media, Zimmerman and his sons, Brian and Alex, aim to make that personal connection often.

Multiple times a year, busloads of students and tourists visit the shop, in addition to individuals, local groups, and attendees of the twoday Glasstober Festival in October.

26 MAY 2025

These events give Zimmerman the opportunity to recite his demonstration talk upwards of 600 times a year. During the Christmas season, Zimmerman offers signups for one-on-one experiences for people to create their own glass ornaments under his family’s expert guidance.

While needs and tastes for glass products have changed over the generations, Zimmerman said many things about their creation, including tools and certain techniques, have stayed the same. “It’s art,” he said, “but it’s functional art.”

Their showroom and images on their website showcase their beautiful creations. They offer vases, handled dishes, paperweights, bottles, bowls, pitchers, and glasses, as well as memorial items that can incorporate a loved one’s ashes. Custom etching is available, and glass items can be made in a wide variety of colors. Whimsical pieces include flowers, animals, fruit, and an annual specialty item for various Indiana landmarks.

The family’s craft and legacy stretch beyond its current physical footprint. But what matters most for Zimmerman is the link to people.

“Even though we just met, or when I’m looking at your order,” he said, “I’m making that just for you.”

Veni Fields is a journalist and freelance writer from Virginia Beach.

grassroots

What does a grassroots advocate do?

Why politics matter to co-ops

and how you can help For most people, their electricity provider is just the company that keeps the lights on. But an electric cooperative’s relationship with its member-owners is different.

Since the 1930s when Indiana’s electric cooperatives were formed, they have thrived because of the political engagement between their members and local, state, and federal governments.

Indiana’s electric cooperatives advocate for rural Hoosiers like you on the state and federal levels so they can continue providing safe, reliable, and affordable energy — and maintain the quality of life in rural communities.

But electric cooperative members need to participate in the process, too.

Indiana’s electric cooperatives thrive when their members stay politically engaged and advocate for policies that help cooperatives.

How can you help do this? It all starts with grassroots activism. In the

context of the electric cooperative program, “grassroots” is a powerful word. In fact, the historical success of the electric cooperatives can be largely credited to that single word.

The electric cooperative definition of “grassroots” is “electric cooperative activists — directors, managers, employees, and members — who take an active role in the political process to protect their cooperative from harmful legislation and regulation, as well as to promote the value of cooperative ownership to their legislators.”

Grassroots involvement means communicating with local, state, and federal legislators on issues affecting electric cooperatives.

By registering as an advocate for Indiana’s electric cooperatives, you will be kept up to date on major legislative and political utility issues, at both the state and federal levels. You will receive monthly communication via email or text alert, ranging from educational pieces, surveys, story collections, and even calls to action.

Grassroots advocates for Indiana’s electric cooperatives help keep rural Indiana strong and the cooperative voice heard. Advocates may also be called upon to contact their legislators and speak up for Indiana’s electric cooperatives.

As a grassroots advocate, you will be on the front lines of keeping rural Hoosiers’ voices loud and strong.

To become a grassroots advocate for Indiana’s electric cooperatives, visit action.indianaec.org.

Grassroots — the unified efforts and voices of the nation’s electric co-op supporters — has proven to be the foundation of the industry’s 85 years of success in serving electric co-ops, their owners, and their communities.

MAY 2025

27

Hoosier Energy news

A FOCUS ON DEVELOPMENT Hoosier Energy’s Pipkin and Sowders work to advance local communities Hoosier Energy aids in the development of Gateway Industrial Park, situated near Cambridge City, Indiana, in the Whitewater Valley REMC service area.

Nearly every day, the Hoosier Energy economic development team is answering questions.

possible while making sure parts of the community are not being left behind.”

But Economic Development Manager Jeff Pipkin wasn’t satisfied with questions from member Jeff Pipkin cooperatives, member consumers, or other local government and economic leaders.

That certainly fits with the work Pipkin and fellow Economic Development Manager Jeremy Sowders do. They’re involved in projects that could impact Hoosier Energy and its member cooperatives, as well as the towns and counties in and around those territories.

Over the past three years, Pipkin has taken classes with the Midwest Community Development Institute and recently answered many more questions to pass the exam to become a Professional Community and Economic Developer.

Pipkin sits on the economic development boards in Lawrence County and Greene County and is the Board President for Radius Indiana, an economic development organization for the eight-county region of Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, and Washington.

“It’s always been a professional goal of mine to get a certification,” Pipkin said. “Community development is more focused on the foundation of a community to accept industrial development or economic development. You’re looking at the quality of a place, you’re looking at housing, and you’re looking at developing your government assets so they can work as efficiently as

Sowders is on the economic development board in Owen County, a board member for the Bloomington Jeremy Sowders Economic Development Corporation, and serves on the boards for the I-74 Business Corridor and Accelerate West Central

28 MAY 2025

Indiana Economic Development. He is also an accredited Certified Economic Developer through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

“One of our department’s focuses is constantly working with our local economic development organizations within our members’ territory,” Pipkin said. “Our local economic development organizations are contacting us regularly, asking for advice on how to tackle some of the issues they face on a daily basis.”

Those issues range from financing to site development and learning how to take advantage of things like the USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program.

One such approval out of that program is a health clinic in Connorsville, just outside of Whitewater Valley REMC territory but located where it will benefit its members.

“We have a good knowledge of what’s going on in the entirety of Hoosier Energy territory, and we try to work together as much as possible,” Pipkin said.

Wabash Valley Power news

SPRING CLEAN YOUR A/C Plan now to keep your home cool this summer Some people tackle spring cleaning

Many battery-powered thermostats,

by decluttering and scrubbing their

including some Wi-Fi thermostats,

home — while missing the most

have an indicator to let you know

vital equipment saving them from a

when the battery levels are low.

sweltering summer.

Many people welcome the season’s

Check and change your air filter. Your heating and

warmer weather with a thorough

cooling system features an air filter

spring cleaning of their home. This

to help keep dust, allergens, and

frequently includes focusing on

other particles from infiltrating your

sprucing up living spaces — or

system and entering your home. The

Schedule an HVAC tune-up with a contractor. This is the ideal

getting to that long to-do list, such

changing seasons can be a good

way to prepare for the summer.

as cleaning out a garage or attic.

time to check your filter and replace

A qualified HVAC contractor will

Yet this can also be the perfect time

it as needed.

tune up your system and make

to clean up your heating and cooling

any needed repairs to ensure it’s

while preparing your system for

Lightly spray off any debris that may have collected on your outdoor unit. Over the

the extensive demand needed to

winter, dirt, yard debris, and other

keep you cool in the summer. Add

your heating and cooling system’s

gunk may have accumulated on your

these tasks to your spring cleaning

efficiency and lifespan. Proper

outdoor air conditioner unit or air

checklist to prepare your air

planning can also address any

source heat pump. You can check

conditioner for warmer weather.

issues that could cause more

the system and lightly rinse off any

damage or even system failure.

Check the batteries in your thermostat. The changing

collected dirt and yard debris as

Contact your local electric

needed. Be sure to use a light

cooperative’s energy advisor

seasons can be the perfect time

spray; a jet or hard pressure

for other tips and advice on

to check the battery levels and

can potentially damage the air

supporting your home’s heating

see if they need replacement.

conditioner or heat pump.

and cooling system.

system from the winter’s gauntlet

28 MAY 2025

prepared for the summer.

Proper maintenance can maximize

A COMMITMENT TO CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY

Indiana eats

Rosie’s Place creates local connections with homemade brunch fare in three Indianapolis locations If ingredients like flour, butter, and

two additional locations in Zionsville in

sugar and phrases like “ooey gooey”

2015 and Carmel in 2018.

can combine to create a pocket-sized trademark, Rosie’s Place, in three northside Indianapolis locations, may have crafted a perfect recipe.

When owners Debbi and Michael Bourgerie moved to the area from St. Louis and decided to open a breakfast, brunch, and lunch restaurant and bakery in Noblesville in 2010, they named it after Debbi’s grandmother, whose commitment to family and good quality food was their inspiration.

“Everything we serve is homemade and fresh, all our soups, sandwiches, and other items,” Ferguson said.

“The breads and rolls are made in the bakeries in our restaurants.”

Each Rosie’s Place offers a slight variation in menu and décor, but the Bourgerie’s commitment to creativity and community are their top priorities, said Ferguson. “One of the best things is when you have regulars who come in, and you know them by name.”

The Bourgeries have also formed

tomato, bacon, two poached eggs, avocado, and hollandaise.”

The restaurants offer hot and cold brunch beverages, including craft beers, espressos, mocktails, and a special cocktail — a blackberry lime mimosa — with champagne, fresh blackberry pureé, and homemade, lime-infused simple syrup garnished with a lime wheel.

Debbi brought a St. Louis staple with

relationships with local farmers for

The lunch menus include soups,

her, Gooey Butter Cake. However,

many of their products.

chili, salads, fruits, and sandwiches

she wanted something a little more portable, and the Ooey Gooey Butter Cookie was born, along with iterations including peanut butter, chocolate chips, and even pistachios.

In addition to gluten-free and children’s options among its traditional breakfast and brunch fare, Rosie’s Place offers brown sugar oatmeal pancakes, a daily quiche, breakfast

with unique twists like a salmon BLT, a three-cheese grilled cheese, and a turkey artichoke melt. The “Black Goat” is a customer favorite with roast turkey, whipped goat cheese, blackberry preserves, and baby

According to Carolyn Ferguson, a

tacos, burritos and quesadillas, a

long-time employee, it wasn’t just the

pork tenderloin benny, and “Eggs

cookies that led to immediate fandom

Blackstone,” described as “cornbread,

Rosie’s Place offers catering, carry-

among visitors and the ability to open

split and grilled, topped with roasted

out, and shipping for its cookies, which

spinach on multi-grain bread.

are also sold in several area stores.

Veni Fields is a journalist and freelance writer from Virginia Beach.

ROSIE’S PLACE rosiesplace.net Three locations: • 1111 W. Main St., Unit 100, Carmel • 10 S. Main St., Zionsville • 68 N. 9th St., Noblesville

MAY 2025

29

outdoors

Mushroom hunting leads to other discoveries Some of my best memories go back to the warm spring days I spent with my mother in the woods. The youngest of three children, I loved those grand expeditions as we headed out the backdoor into a leafy stand of poplar, beech, and oak. Late April and early May meant leaving our quiet house in midmornings carrying sandwiches wrapped in waxed paper, my jeans patched, my “Red Ball Jets” doubleknotted, and a battered canteen of cold water over my shoulder.

found big yellow morels, bread sacks of them, as they poked up through the leaf litter below a carpet of Mayapples in a flatland that tumbled toward rich farm fields.

My mother loved the woods and wanted me to love them too, but at that time of year, it was more than lessons in appreciation for nature or a bit of exercise she had in mind — we were there to hunt mushrooms. The sun on my arms, the fresh air, the brilliant color of redbud and dogwood blooms, the rich aromas of last year’s leaves, and the new spring’s soil were mere bonuses.

Now, it’s my grandsons who hunt with me, and not unlike my childhood days, we walk out the backdoor of our house into a woodland, this one of black cherry, sugar maple, and sycamore. It is a place for adventures, one of steep hills and deep ravines, with a shallow pond and reedy marsh teeming with skunk cabbage, horsetails, and dragonflies.

But, most of all, I remember the tiny and often sunburned tulip morels that I pinched off at the ground by the dozens in a scrubby meadow that stretched out for an acre or more near my family’s small peach and apple orchard. It was there that I was first left to search alone.

For someone so keen on finding mushrooms, even now, I have never acquired a taste for them. Whether they be the black morels that appear first in the month-long season or the “goosenecks” that come along after, the highly-prized white and yellow morels that spring up next, or the smaller “tulips” that hide as the Dutchman’s Breeches and wood anemones take over the forest floor, I have always found my joy from the finding rather than the eating.

I use a walking stick now, useful for pointing and turning leaves and making paths through stands of blackberry and wild rose thorns. To be sure, we find mushrooms, and over these past few springs — as they’ve grown taller and I’ve grown slower — we’ve found even more. Not just the wild ginger near the clearing where the old power line ran, the box turtles living in the glade near the abandoned railroad bed, or the warblers and robins that scatter in our chattering wake.

In those days, I usually found the firmer gray-blacks along one particular wash, the fiddlehead ferns there a foot tall by the time I scrabbled along its banks. Every second or third year we

We have grown closer as we walk the woods, and hopefully, they will remember the green spring days of their childhoods as I have remembered mine.

30 MAY 2025

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

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THIS

MEMORY-RESTORING SENSATION: The memory-saving oil in this Antarctic squid restores decades of lost brain power starting in just 24 hours. all-time high. I’ve always had trouble concentrating, and now I think I know why,” raves Bernice J. “The difference that Omega Rejuvenol makes couldn’t be more noticeable.”

And 70-year-old Mark K. says, “My focus and memory are back to age-30 levels.”

These are just a handful of the thousands of reviews Dr. Sears regularly receives thanks to his breakthrough memory formula, Omega Rejuvenol.

Dr. Sears says, “Find a quality DHA supplement that doesn’t come from a farmed source. That will protect your brain cells and the functions they serve well into old age.”

Dr. Sears and his team worked tirelessly for over 2 years developing a unique brain-boosting formula called Omega Rejuvenol.

It’s made from the most powerful source of DHA in the ocean, squid and krill — two species that cannot be farmed.

According to Dr. Sears, these are the purest and most potent sources of DHA in the world, because they haven’t been tampered with.

“Omega Rejuvenol is sourced from the most sustainable fishery in Antarctica. You won’t find this oil in any stores.”

WHERE TO FIND OMEGA REJUVENOL To secure bottles of this brainbooster, buyers should contact the Sears Health Hotline at 1-888-3588160. “It takes time to manufacture these bottles,” says Dr. Sears.

“The Hotline allows us to ship the product directly to customers who need it most.”

Dr. Sears feels so strongly about this product, he is offering a 100%, money-back guarantee on every order. “Send back any used or unused bottles within 90 days and I’ll rush you a refund,” says Dr. Sears.

The Hotline is taking orders for the next 48 hours. After that, the phone number may be shut down to allow for inventory restocking.

Call 1-888-358-8160 to secure your limited supply of Omega Rejuvenol.

Readers of this publication immediately qualify for a steep discount, but supplies are limited. To take advantage of this great offer use Promo Code ICOM525 when you call.

MORE IMPRESSIVE RESULTS Already, the formula has sold more than 850,000 bottles. And for a good reason, too. Satisfied customers can’t stop raving about the memory-boosting benefits of quality-sourced DHA oil.

“The first time I took it, I was amazed. The brain fog I struggled with for years was gone within 24 hours. The next day, I woke up with the energy and mental clarity of a new man,” says Owen R. “I remember what it was like before I started taking Omega Rejuvenol… the lack of focus… the dull moods… the slippery memory… but now my mind is as clear as it’s ever been,” says Estelle H. “My mood and focus are at an

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36 FEBRUARY 2019