Have a merry and bright holiday season
Orange County REMC’s
NOVEMBER 2024
Celebrating 40 years of
Bands of America gives Indiana high school performers opportunities to shine on a grand stage Pages 20-25
With WaterFurnace, the average Hoosier pays $58/mo. to provide heating, cooling and hot water for their home.
WaterFurnace homeowners across the country are reaping the benefits of geothermal heat pumps by utilizing the unlimited reservoir of stored solar energy underground. A WaterFurnace geothermal system taps into this free and renewable resource to provide savings of up to 70% on heating, cooling, and hot water—with a comfort you have to experience to believe. Right now you can save thousands on installation thanks to a 30% federal tax credit. Contact your local WaterFurnace dealer to learn more today!
Contact Your Local WaterFurnace Dealer
Delphi
Blue Fox Htg & Clg (765) 822-2200 bluefoxhvac.com
Farmersburg
Heady Htg & Clg (812) 696-2396
Flora Camflo Htg & Clg (574) 967-4200 camfloheatingandcooling.com
Fort Wayne Masters Htg & Clg, Inc. (866) 824-4328 mastersingeothermal.com
Greensburg
Wallpe Htg & Clg (812) 663-7252 wallpegeothermal.net
Indianapolis Masters Htg & Clg by Van Valer, Inc. (317) 881-9074 mastersingeothermal.com
Jasper Hulsman Refrigeration, Inc. (812) 634-1492 hulsmanrefrigeration.com
Laotto T&T Plbg, Htg, A/C & Geothermal (260) 200-4003 tt-ph.com
Lebanon Blue Fox Htg & Clg (765) 859-0880 bluefoxhvac.com
North Vernon Air One Htg & Clg, Inc. (888) 346-1790 aironehvac.com
Ossian Collier’s Comfort Services (260) 622-6622 collierscomfort.com
Warsaw Colliers Htg & Air Conditioning (574) 203-2492 trustcolliers.com
Waterloo Gibson’s Htg & Plbg, Inc. (888) 754-1668 gibsonsgeothermal.com
Westfield Precision Comfort Systems, Inc. (317) 867-2665 precisioncomfort.com
West Lafayette Blue Fox Htg & Clg (765) 252-0051 bluefoxhvac.com
from the editor
Strike up the band
This month’s feature story on Bands of America made me feel nostalgic. Although I was never in marching band (I was a show choir kid, but that’s a story for another column), many of my high school friends were. Each summer, the friends who were not in band would make the drive to DePauw University in Greencastle to watch one of their band camp showcases. I also fondly remember waking up early on crisp fall mornings to travel to competitions to support them throughout the season.
I always liked the sights and sounds of marching bands. The type-A person in me appreciates the organized, technical routines of everyone moving in their designated patterns. I also knew how much hard work they put into those routines. My friends practiced all summer to get them right. And all that practicing paid off. During my senior year, Edgewood High School made their return to the ISSMA State Finals at the RCA Dome and placed fifth. Edgewood has continued the tradition of State Finals appearances, now at Lucas Oil Stadium, even winning the Class C division in 2022 and 2023.
Marching band is also special to my family. My mother-in-law was in Indiana University’s Marching Hundred. My husband was in the drumline in high school, which I’m told is the coolest section to be in. Or maybe that’s the low brass section? My sister-in-law also participated in Drum Corps International (DCI) and met her husband there. I guess you could say that I might not have my three nephews without marching band.
Do you have any sentimental memories of marching band? I would love to hear them.
Britt Davis Editor bdavis@indianaec.org
On the menu: February: Submit your favorite recipes using Bisquick, deadline Dec. 1. If we publish your recipe on our food pages, we’ll send you a $10 gift card.
Giveaway: Enter to win an Oinking Acres tumbler and tote bag. Visit indianaconnection.org/talk-to-us/contests or send your contact information to the address below. The deadline to enter is Nov. 30.
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.
VOLUME 74 • NUMBER 5 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
Dr. Richard Leeper Vice President
Jamey Marcum Secretary/Treasurer
John Cassady CEO
EDITORIAL STAFF:
Britt Davis Editor
Holly Huffman Communication Support Specialist
Lauren Carman Communication Manager
Kiley Lipps Graphic Designer
Ashley Curry Production and Design Coordinator
Amber Knight Creative Manager
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ADVERTISING:
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Paid advertisements are not endorsements by any electric cooperative or this publication.
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No portion of Indiana Connection may be reproduced without permission of the editor.
Henry
These savory side dishes are a great addition to any holiday pitch-in
Bands of America gives high school performers opportunities to shine on a grand stage
Brownsburg’s Oinking Acres has rescued over 500 pot-bellied pigs (NOT IN ALL EDITIONS) 30
There are several options for getting a great, fresh Christmas tree (NOT IN ALL EDITIONS)
A member of Carmel High School’s Marching Greyhounds performs at the 2023 Bands of America Grand National Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Carmel came in second place, with Avon High School, also from Indiana, taking first.
www.myremc.coop www.myremc.coop/internet
CONTACT US
Office: 812-865-2229
Toll-Free: 888-337-5900
Bill Payments: 855-938-3393
orangecoremc@myremc.coop
OFFICE HOURS
7 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday-Friday
MAIN OFFICE
BUILDING 1
7133 N. State Road 337 Orleans, IN 47452
OPERATIONS/MATERIALS
BUILDINGS 2 AND 3
8390 N. State Road 37 Orleans, IN 47452
MAILING ADDRESS
P.O. Box 208, Orleans, IN 47452
TO REPORT SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS, PLEASE CALL 855-865-2229, (OPTION 1) DAY OR NIGHT. Have the phone number associated with your account ready when reporting outages. Please limit after-hours calls to emergencies and outage situations.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Daniel Houchin, District 1
Randy Roberts, District 2
Carl Anderson, District 3
Brett Busick, District 4
Ben Lindsey, District 5
Brian Hawkins, District 6
George Key, District 7
REMC SENIOR STAFF
Matthew C. Deaton, General Manager/CEO
Billy Chastain, Operations Manager
Hannah Carter, HR and Benefits Administrator
Braden Mitchell, Network Engineering Manager
Cade Powers, Engineering and Member Services Manager
Charlie Rollins, Fiber Construction Manager
Ashley Terrell, Office Manager
Misty Tincher, Accountant
MAY YOUR HOLIDAYS BE
Merry & Bright
As November kicks off, it’s hard to believe we’ll soon be gathering with family and friends to celebrate the holiday season. This festive time of year brings joy and warmth, but as the weather gets cooler and we spend more time indoors, the holidays can also bring increased energy use and a higher risk of electrical and fire hazards.
As your local electric cooperative, our team at Orange County REMC cares about your wellbeing. This month, I’d like to share a few practical tips to help you stay safe and efficient during the holiday season.
SAFETY FIRST
My family truly enjoys decorating our home for the holidays. Before we deck the halls, I always check electrical cords and light strands to make sure they aren’t frayed or damaged. This gives us peace of mind, knowing our holiday lights are ready to safely brighten our home. I also double check the lights we use outside to make sure they’re rated for outdoor use.
Like many households, we also enjoy holiday-scented candles. While festive, candles can create fire hazards and should never be left unattended. One of the best and easiest ways to safeguard your home is to test smoke alarms often. I test mine on the first of each month, so it’s easy to remember. Testing smoke alarms only takes a few seconds and could save lives, so make it a habit.
‘TIS THE SEASON FOR SAVINGS
Spending more time indoors with a few more guests in the home can really impact home energy use. By taking a few small steps to save energy during the holiday season, you can lower your bills.
I like to remind my family members to mind the thermostat. Since heating and cooling makes up the majority of home energy consumption, the thermostat is one of the best places for savings. Lower it a few degrees, especially when you have family or friends stopping by. Good company brings additional warmth to your home.
Your family can also save energy by decorating with LED holiday lights. LEDs are the most energy efficient lighting options available, and they last much longer than traditional bulbs. There’s no denying one of the best parts of the holiday season is the food –– not just the meals but the time we spend together in the kitchen. There are many ways to save in the heart of your home, but one of the best approaches is to cook with smaller countertop appliances, such as air fryers, slow cookers and toaster ovens. These handy appliances consume a fraction of the energy used to heat the oven, creating the perfect recipe for mealtime and energy savings.
I hope you will implement some of these energy-saving and safety tips into your holiday plans. For additional advice, visit myremc.coop. We’re here to help you with safety and savings year-round.
From your friends at Orange County REMC and Orange County Fiber, we hope your holiday season is merry and bright.
MATTHEW DEATON General Manager/CEO
co-op news
Rate Schedule
How to compute your monthly electric bill:
Use this information to figure your bill for electric use in November and December. Rate Schedule for Standard Service
Standard Service Consumer Charge $36
HONORING ALL WHO SERVED
NOVEMBER - Example for 1200 kWh with Rate Increase Standard Service Consumer Charge ...... $36
NOVEMBER - Example for 1200 kWh on Time-of-Use with Rate Increase 300 kWh (On-Peak) and 900 kWh (Off-Peak)
BILLY CHASTAIN
Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards accepted.
Pay by phone at 833-890-7734. Visit myremc.coop for these services:
• Pay online
• Pre-pay your bill
• Sign up for recurring monthly payment
New employee
Ruby Chesnut joined the REMC team as a member service representative in October. Chesnut graduated this year from Paoli High School and her hobbies are drawing, baking, cooking, and cleaning. She enjoys spending time with her dog, friends and family and is looking forward to helping members as efficiently as possible in her new role with the co-op.
MICHAEL
ZEKE ALLSTOTT U.S. Marine Corps, 4 years
DAMION GADDIS
Marine Corps, 6 Years
2025 YOUTH PROGRAMS
Students, mark your calendar for these great summer opportunities: Sixth grade students can apply to attend Camp Kilowatt (formerly Touchstone Energy Camp) June 4-7. High School juniors can apply for an all expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., on the 2025 Youth Tour, June 15-22. Watch next month’s Indiana Connection for more information. Online applications will be available on our website next month.
SPEND A DAY AT
The Orange County REMC and Orange County Fiber offices will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday and to give our team members the opportunity to spend time with friends and family.
See the legislators in action.
Tour the Statehouse.
Pass your own legislation during a mock bill activity.
REQUIREMENTS: You must be available Jan. 28 and have reliable transportation to and from the Indiana Statehouse that day. The program is open to high school students. Please confirm with school administrators, but Page Day is considered an excused absence in most instances.
ANSWERING THE CALL
After Hurricane Helene hit the southeastern United States, Indiana’s electric cooperative crews traveled to Georgia to assist Cobb EMC in Marietta in restoring electric service, then moved on to work in the territory served by Jefferson Energy Cooperative in Wrens.
Jefferson Energy Cooperative faced catastrophic damage, with 100% of its members without power at one time. Indiana crews worked long hours alongside local lineworkers to rebuild the infrastructure and restore power.
Orange County REMC linemen Scott Strange and Amos Murphy were among approximately 40 linemen from 12 different Indiana electric cooperatives that assisted in the power restoration effort.
The hurricane knocked out electric service to an estimated 1.25 million co-op members.
Photos by Scott Strange
Scott Strange REMC Foreman Lineman
Amos Murphy REMC Lead Lineman
Regularly replace your furnace air filter and breathe easy
Many people don’t sweat their home’s heating and cooling system keeping them comfortable — until something goes wrong.
Fortunately, you can breathe easily by properly maintaining your system. This includes regularly replacing your furnace air filter, which can prevent your system from working harder than needed while minimizing energy waste.
As your furnace circulates the air through your home, it also picks up dust and dirt. An air filter is essentially a fine mesh screen; particles get caught in the filter as air passes through the screen. Without an air filter, all those particles would end up in the furnace and impede the air flow. That leads to an inefficient system, and those inefficiencies have a funny way of showing up on your energy bill.
You should check your furnace air filter at least once a month and replace it according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. During the winter or summer, your filter may need to be changed more frequently than in the spring or fall when the weather is milder, and the system is not working as often. A good rule of thumb is to replace them with the seasons.
Make sure you use the appropriately sized filter for your system. In the case of air filters, bigger isn’t necessarily better. It might seem logical that a 5-inchthick air filter would need to be changed less often than a filter that’s only 1 inch thick. But unless your furnace is designed for a thicker filter, its blower motor may not be up to the job. The strain caused by an oversized filter can even cause your blower motor to burn out. That’s going to cost you a lot more money than just replacing the 1-inch filter on a regular basis.
If you’re unsure about when to change your air filters or what kind to use, we recommend you ask a professional. Make sure they’re North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certified, too — that way, you can rest assured you’re getting an expert opinion. You can also trust your local electric cooperative’s energy advisor to answer questions about your air filter, furnace, or any other system or device in your home.
by Brian Perry Energy Advisor Marshall County REMC
United States Postal Service Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation
1. Publication Title: Indiana Connection. 2. Publication Number: 07454651. 3. Filing Date 9/27/24. 4. Issue Frequency: Monthly. 5. Number of Issues Published Annually: 12. 6. Annual Subscription Price: $3.83. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: Indiana Electric Cooperatives, 11805 Pennsylvania Street, Hamilton County, IN 46032-4555. Contact Person: Britt Davis. Telephone: 317-260-1934. 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: Indiana Electric Cooperatives, 11805 Pennsylvania Street, Hamilton County, IN 46032-4555. 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Address of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Publisher: Indiana Electric Cooperatives, 11805 Pennsylvania Street, Hamilton County, IN 46032-4555. Editor: Britt Davis, Indiana Electric Cooperatives, 11805 Pennsylvania Street, Hamilton County, IN 46032-4555. Managing Editor: None. 10. Owner: Indiana Electric Cooperatives, 11805 Pennsylvania Street, Hamilton County, IN 46032-4555. 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None. 12. Tax Status (For completion by nonprofit organizations authorized to mail at nonprofit rates). The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes has not changed during preceding 12 months. 13. Publication Title: Indiana Connection. 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: Oct. 2024. 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: Electric co-op members in Indiana. a. Total Number of Copies (Net press run): Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 316,044. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 318,131. b. Paid Circulation (By Mail and Outside the Mail). 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(4) Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS (e.g. First-Class Mail): Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 0. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 0. c. Total Paid Distribution ((Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3), and (4)): Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 315,004. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 317,082. d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail). (1) Free or Nominal Rate OutsideCounty Copies included on PS Form 3541: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 161. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 163. (2) Free or Nominal Rate Copies In-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 0. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 0. (3) Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS (e.g. First-Class Mail): Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 0. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 0. (4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or other means): Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 0. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 0. e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3) and (4): Average No. Copies of Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 161. No. Copies of Single issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 163. f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e): Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 315,165. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 317,245. g. Copies not Distributed (See Instructions to Publishers #4 (page #3): Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 879. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 886. h. Total (Sum of 15f and g): Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 316,044. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 318,131. i. Percent Paid (15c divided by 15f times 100): Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 99.94%. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 99.94%. 16. Electronic Copy Circulation. A. Paid Electronic Copies: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 0. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 0.b. Total Paid Print Copies (Line 15c) + Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a): Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 315,004. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 317,082. c. Total Print Distribution (Line 15f) + Paid Electronic Copies (Line 16a): Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 315,165. No Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 317,245. d. Percent Paid (Both Print & Electronic Copies (16b divided by 16c X 100): Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 99.94%. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 99.94%. I certify that 50% of all my distributed copies (electronic and print) are paid above a nominal price. Publication of Statement of Ownership. If the publication is a general publication, publication of this statement is required. Will be printed in the November 2024 issue of this publication. 17. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager or Owner (Signed): Britt Davis, Editor. Date: 9/27/24
I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties).
Do you have a favorite Indiana pizza place?
Nominate your favorite restaurant for our Pizza of Indiana feature story in February.
Send submissions to Britt Davis at bdavis@ indianaec.org by Dec. 9.
MARKETPLACE
Order your 2025 CALENDAR TODAY!
SEND US A CHECK AND A NOTE WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. COPIES OF THE COOPERATIVE CALENDAR OF STUDENT ART ARE $7 EACH.
The price includes shipping and Indiana sales tax. Make the check payable to “Indiana Electric Cooperatives.” Send your order to Indiana Electric Cooperatives, 11805 Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, IN 46032.
Limited quantities of the 2025 Cooperative Calendar of Student Art are available at participating electric cooperative offices across the state.
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LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD
THE CULMINATION OF A FULFILLING CAREER
Thomas
When Gethin DuValle Thomas was 7 years old, he wrote a letter from his home in Northern Virginia to his grandmother, called “Susie” by the family, in Mobile, Alabama:
Dear Susie,
I can cook.
Love, Gethin
The letter and its envelope reside now in a silver frame in his home dining room, with a caption that includes “On the Occasion of Your Graduation” from the Culinary Institute of America in 1987, below another framed black and white photo of an adult Thomas with “Susie” beneath the sign for The Pearl Oyster Bar in Louisiana.
With a father who painted and a mother who sang opera, “I got a lot of support,” Thomas said as he sought further education in his craft and calling. After the Culinary Institute in New York, Thomas studied and worked for years in schools and Michelin-starred restaurants from London to Paris to Amsterdam and Switzerland.
“I’ve never really wanted to do anything else but cook,” Thomas said. He never really has, unless it’s teaching and mentoring others in places like the AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star-rated White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine, then as executive chef at Cummins, the engine manufacturer, or in his own Gethin Thomas Catering, on
his trajectory to where he is now as the owner of Henry Social Club in Columbus, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this month.
Nikki Sutton of Blackline Studio designed Henry Social Club with an intimate “dark and sexy” vibe. The restaurant has an open concept where guests can see into the kitchen, seating for 75 inside and 12 outdoors, and a “Clandestine Room” downstairs for private functions for about 20 guests.
It is a dinner-only, fine-dining restaurant highlighting American cuisine with farm-to-table ingredients provided by local growers. All dishes are crafted and baked in-house. Six times a year, Thomas said, the menu will feature a week of special focus: it might be seafood, Southern-themed cooking, or seasonal specialties.
Now 60, Thomas feels Henry Social Club is the culmination of a fulfilling career. “For me, cooking has always been about bringing people together,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what people’s politics are, religion, whatever, people talk over food. People always have stories about food.”
Veni Fields is a journalist and freelance writer from Virginia Beach.
HENRY SOCIAL CLUB
county feature
Wells County
In the late 19th century, Wells County joined the Trenton Gas Field oil boom, contributing to Indiana’s expanding oil and natural gas industry during the 1880s and early 1900s. The county’s seat, Bluffton, Indiana, also hosts one of the state’s oldest and largest street fairs, dating back to 1898.
BISON AND BEYOND
Each year, nearly 200,000 visitors come to Ouabache State Park in Bluffton to enjoy scenic hiking trails, Kunkel Lake’s beach, and more. According to the Indiana DNR, the park was once renowned as the “greatest wildlife laboratory in the United States” for raising pheasants, quail, raccoons, and rabbits. The park is home to a 100-foot fire tower, one of only 13 remaining in Indiana. For decades, fire watchers climbed the tower daily to monitor the horizon for forest fires. The park also features a 20-acre bison habitat, where visitors can see the national mammal while walking along the 1-mile gravel trail encircling the exhibit.
BANKER TO NATURALIST
Edward Bruce Williamson, born in Bluffton, became the president of his family’s bank, the Wells County Bank, in 1918. However, his true passion was studying insects, specifically Odonata — dragonflies and damselflies. Williamson was a leading Odonata expert, discovering new species and donating specimens to major museums. He embarked on extensive collecting trips from Indiana and the Midwest to Venezuela and Trinidad. He also served as curator of Odonata at the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology from 1916 until 1933. Additionally, Williamson was a botanist who bred award-winning irises. His nursery, Longfield Iris Farm, supported his family after their bank failed during the Great Depression.
FAMILY-FARMED FRESHNESS
Driven by her desire to balance her professional and family life, Amber Broxon established BroxonBerry, a certified naturally-grown farm in Markle, Indiana, in 2016. By 2021, her husband, Justin Broxon, joined her in managing the farm, where they cultivate leafy greens, roots, and herbs on less than half an acre. They provide fresh, nutritious produce to local restaurants, grocery stores, and farmers markets throughout Wells County. The Broxons are committed to soil health and grow their produce using a natural, no-till farming approach free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.
Indianapolis.
COUNTY FACTS
FOUNDED: 1837
NAMED FOR: William Wells, a frontiersman in the Northwest Indian Wars.
POPULATION: 28,180
COUNTY SEAT: Bluffton
INDIANA COUNTY NUMBER: 90
Bluffton
Markle
Nicole Thomas is a freelance writer from
Photo courtesy of Friends of Ouabache State Park
Public domain
Photo courtesy of BroxonBerry
HUNT WHAT’S in season
Hunting season brings outdoorsmen of all skill levels and experience into rural Indiana, often to unfamiliar areas. While most hunters follow safe hunting practices, Indiana’s electric cooperatives want to remind hunters to always be aware of their surroundings and watch out for electric power lines in the air and electrical equipment on the ground. “Skilled hunters understand the potential hazards of discharging a firearm and would never shoot blindly toward utility properties,” said Jon Elkins, vice president for safety, training, and compliance for Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “But there have been the rare occurrences over the years of accidental damage and intentional vandalism to some utility poles and hardware.”
Damage to electrical equipment from gunfire can be costly for both the utility and its customers, and potentially deadly if the damage sparks a fire or affects someone on life-support electrical equipment.
Indiana’s electric cooperatives encourage all hunters and gun owners to be aware of electrical equipment in their surroundings while enjoying the great outdoors.
HERE ARE THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:
• Avoid shooting near utilities. Never shoot in the direction of power lines, utility poles or substations. A stray bullet can cause damage to equipment. Sometimes the damage, such as to an insulator, isn’t noticed until it rains. Then it potentially can cause an outage or a fire.
• Know your environment. Familiarize yourself with the location of power lines and equipment on land where you shoot. Landowners are encouraged to remind those hunting on their property to be aware of power lines and other electrical equipment.
• Recognize the risks. Damage to the conductor can happen, possibly dropping a line from
its perch. If it’s dry and the electricity goes to ground, there is the possibility of electrocution and fire.
• Watch for hidden dangers. Be especially careful in wooded areas where power lines may not be as visible.
• Observe signage. Take notice of warning signs and keep clear of electrical equipment.
• Avoid using utility structures. Do not use utility poles or towers to support equipment used in your shooting activity or for supporting deer stands. Energized lines and equipment on the poles can conduct electricity to anyone who comes in contact with them, causing shock or electrocution.
“We want folks to enjoy the great outdoors and all rural Indiana has to offer,” said Elkins. “Electrical equipment is in even remote areas and is sometimes hard to see. Please, just be aware of what’s out there.”
A season FOR side dishes
These savory side dishes are a great addition to any holiday pitch-in
SWEET POTATOES WITH MAPLE HORSERADISH BUTTER
GREEN BEAN BUNDLES
HARVEST POTATOES
SWEET POTATOES WITH MAPLE HORSERADISH BUTTER
Nathaniel Sommer, Fort Wayne
2 lbs. sweet potatoes
(about 3 medium potatoes), peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
¼ cup of pure maple syrup
¼ cup of low-sodium chicken broth
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 Tbsp parsley
1 Tbsp of prepared horseradish
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
Preheat the oven to 400 F. Place the sweet potatoes in a 3-quart oven safe casserole dish in an even layer. Bring the maple syrup to a gentle boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Boil for 1 minute, then add the chicken broth. Let it come to a boil again, then cook for 1 minute more. Turn off the heat and whisk in the butter. Pour the mixture over the sweet potatoes and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover the dish with foil and roast until the potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes.
Remove the foil and continue to roast until the sauce is reduced to a glaze, about 10 to 15 minutes. Add the parsley and horseradish, then stir to coat the potatoes. Serve hot.
GREEN BEAN BUNDLES Yvonne Bertke, St. Meinrad
1 lb. fresh green beans, washed, dried and tipped. Leave the beans whole.
1 lb. regular cut bacon (Do not use thick-cut bacon.)
DRESSING:
2 Tbsp olive oil or melted butter
1 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
¼ tsp black pepper
½ tsp onion powder
Fresh chopped parsley for garnish
HARVEST POTATOES
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
1½ tsp salt
1 medium onion, diced
1 (32 oz.) package shredded hash browns, thawed
Preheat the oven to 400 F. Mix the dressing in a small bowl and let it set while preparing the bundles. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Lay 8 to 10 green beans onto the end of a strip of bacon. Roll the bacon tightly around the green beans about one and a half times and trim the excess bacon away. Lay the bundles seam-side down on the baking sheet, leaving plenty of space between each one. Drizzle the dressing over the beans, place the pan in the oven, and bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the bacon is browned crisp and the beans are tender. Makes four to six servings.
Donna Dettmer, Columbus
Blend the soup and sour cream. Add the cheddar cheese, salt and onion and mix well. Add the thawed hash browns. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread the potato mixture in the dish and bake at 350 F for 45 minutes.
NOTE: Plain yogurt can be used instead of sour cream.
Celebrating 40 years of EVOLUTION
BY BRIAN D. SMITH
Bands of America gives Indiana high school performers opportunities to shine on a grand stage
In 1984, Indianapolis opened a domed stadium and welcomed an NFL team. But the ex-Baltimore Colts weren’t the only out-of-state enterprise to find greener pastures in the Hoosier Dome’s (later called the RCA Dome) Astroturf. That November, the puffytopped pigskin palace gained another major event when Illinois-based Bands of America (BOA) staged its Grand
National Championships of high school marching band.
This month marks the 40th anniversary of Indy’s first Grand Nationals — and aside from a twoyear stint at Michigan’s Pontiac Silverdome in 1987 and 1988, prompted by a scheduling snafu, this annual battle of the bands hasn’t left the city limits since.
But it has evolved, along with marching band itself in Indianapolis. Squads now perform beneath the retractable roof of the $720 million Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts since 2008. And thanks to the four-decade presence of covered stadiums, situated in the interstate-rich Crossroads of America, Indy now hosts a triad of
state, national, and international marching contests: the Indiana State School Music Association finals (for Hoosier high schools); the BOA Grand Nationals; and the DCI (Drum Corps International) World Championships for drum and bugle corps — all transpiring at Lucas.
The Grand Nationals, slated for November 14-16, add a $22 million
punch to the local economy, having more than doubled their guest list over the past four decades. Whereas the 1984 event involved 49 high school bands, BOA now accepts as many as 110, and perhaps more, as 113 bands from 20 states had registered this year at the last count. Their localities range from north to south and from sea to shining sea — including Minnesota, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Washington, and in past years, even Alaska and Hawaii.
Should anyone doubt the significance of marching band in Indianapolis, take notice of the giant black curtain that stretches behind the performing bands, evoking the look of a black box theater. “Lucas Oil is the only stadium in the country designed with marching activity in mind,” said Deborah Asbill, executive vice president of marketing and communications for BOA.
Not surprisingly, the Grand Nationals attract an elite assemblage of past and present state champions and finalists, along with previous years’ finalists and winners of the Grand National Traveling Trophy, BOA’s championship award with a white enameled eagle on top. The bird currently roosts on Hoosier soil following Avon High School’s fourth Grand Nationals title in 2023.
OPEN TO ANYONE
What’s more surprising are the qualifications for participating in America’s most prestigious high school marching contest. “There is the assumption that to be invited to the event, you have to be a state champion or a regional champion,” said Scott McCormick, president and CEO of the organization from 19842010 and the son of founder Larry
McCormick. “But by design, Grand Nationals were created to be open to anybody.”
It’s easy to understand the misimpression. The BOA website lists a couple dozen regionals and three super regionals between September and November, which sound like prerequisites for the big bash. But in fact, these stand-alone competitions have no bearing on the Grand Nationals.
The simple truth about BOA’s annual extravaganza? “It’s open to the first 110 bands that register,” said Asbill. That’s why the 2024 lineup features bands as disparate as Carmel, a six-time Grand Nationals champion with an enrollment above 5,000, and 128-student Shawe Memorial of Madison. This Catholic high school didn’t even have a marching band before the current director arrived. But since both schools signed up and paid their $975 entry fee on time, they will each get their 6 to 11 minutes on the performance field as guaranteed by the adjudication handbook. Bands are divided into four enrollment classes — A, AA, AAA, and AAAA — but as with Indiana’s old single-class high school basketball tournament, the best of all sizes advance to the finals.
The open-to-all registration policy has been in effect since the beginning when Larry McCormick created Marching Bands of America (MBA) in 1975 as a subsidiary of his band supplies company, McCormick Enterprises. “He was a music educator heavily involved in drum and bugle corps growing up,” said Scott McCormick.
continued on page 22
Avon High School Marching Black and Gold performs at the 2023 Bands of America Grand National Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Photo courtesy of Music for All/Tony McCracken)
“He’d been a troubled teen and credited drum corps with changing his life.”
His “give-back” was to organize a four-day marching band festival in June 1976. Located at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, it offered seminars and workshops for students and band directors, culminating in the first Marching Bands of America competition for high schools. A $4,000 prize awaited the winner, along with the opportunity to represent MBA and its sponsor in major parades and festivals.
“It was conceived to be a national championship,” said Asbill. “We wanted to draw outstanding bands from across the country. That was not happening anywhere.”
Given that just 20 marching bands took part that first year, an observer might question whether the first “national championship” lived up to its billing. But the founder was undeterred by the turnout and returned to Whitewater in 1977. This time, 25 bands performed for a crowd of 8,200 spectators, while the educational programs drew 7,000 attendees. And so it went — until 1980 when organizers had to confront a nagging reality.
For many high school marching bands, June was perhaps the worst month to compete in a national championship. Last year’s seniors had departed, next year’s freshmen hadn’t arrived, and returning band members hadn’t performed on a football field since the previous October. “Not a lot of bands marched in the summer,” said Scott McCormick. “It was evident we needed to move into fall.”
And move they did, all the way down to the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville,
Carmel High School performs at the 2023 Grand National Championship. (Photo courtesy of Music for All/Tony McCracken)
Florida, marching on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. Two dozen bands appeared in the first fall Grand Nationals, after which the event spent three years inside the East Tennessee State University Mini-Dome, attracting 39 to 46 schools each year.
Then Indy proposed a long-term union, and BOA said yes. So the Grand Nationals moved in, and their 1984 Hoosier Dome debut was one of several seismic shifts the organization would undergo. That same year, Marching Bands of America would cease to exist as a subsidiary of McCormick Enterprises and reincarnate as a new nonprofit named Bands of America Inc. Larry McCormick would sell his company to an employee and relinquish the helm of the marching band operation to his son Scott, who became the first president and CEO of the new
organization at the age of 23. “I didn’t want to see what he created go away,” said Scott McCormick, who acknowledged rookie mistakes but credited “good advisors and board members” with helping him keep BOA on track.
A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH
The point man for Grand Nationals recruitment was Matt Carter, now chief destination development officer for Visit Indy (formerly the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association). At the time, BOA was based in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg despite scheduling no events in that area. Carter quickly concluded that the organization was underappreciated in its existing location. “When I went up there to listen to them, I thought, ‘This is a diamond in the rough that Chicago doesn’t even know it needs to polish,’” he recalled.
Carter saw more than monetary benefit in bringing the Grand Nationals to Indy. Inspired by the book, “The Rise of the Creative Class” — which holds that creativity has replaced raw materials as the source of economic growth — he viewed the BOA championship as a conduit for the kind of young, creative people Indianapolis needs to attract. “Its primary benefit is they come here and bring talent from around the U.S. to our city every November,” he said. “The by-product is that we want them to come back and be a part of our community.”
As the 21st century unfolded, Carter and the city of Indianapolis returned for bigger game — Bands of America itself. They served up their 2003 pitch with a shot of sweetener: rent-free space at Union Station, where BOA headquarters remains to this day. Three years later, the organization reinvented itself again by merging
with Music For All Foundation, a music education advocacy group, and becoming a subsidiary of the new Music For All Inc., whose outreach efforts also encompass choir, concert band, and orchestra.
In 2008, Indianapolis gained a worldclass football stadium and marching band venue in Lucas Oil Stadium. By that time, another raiding party had already deployed to Addison, Illinois, luring Drum Corps International from the Windy City to the City of Indy. The DCI World Championships and their present-day $16 million economic impact came with it.
Known as “Marching Music’s Major League,” DCI differs from typical marching organizations in that it comprises of independent drum and bugle corps with names such as the Bluecoats, the Cavaliers, and the Boston Crusaders.
Originally inspired by military units during the post-World War I era, the modern drum corps consists of musicians 14 to 22 years old, none of whom carries a woodwind.
Although separate entities in the so-called marching arts, DCI and BOA have periodically collaborated over the years, notably at the 2023 Grand Nationals, when the Cavaliers’ percussion section gave a rousing exhibition during the semifinals.
LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE HOOSIERS
Last year’s Grand Nationals marked the second straight year that Avon and Carmel placed first and second. But the 2023 finish was a flip-flop of 2022 when Carmel claimed the crown over Avon.
continued on page 24
Avon High School’s drum majors and directors accept the Traveling Trophy as 2023 Grand National Champions. Avon is a four-time champion. (Photo courtesy of Music for All/Jolesch Enterprises)
The Marching Greyhounds now count six overall championships and Avon four — impressive totals, to be sure, but still shy of the seven wins achieved by all-time leader Marian Catholic. The Chicago-area high school practically owned the trophy during the last half of the 1980s, with four titles in five years, but it hasn’t bagged the eagle since 2000.
If state pride matters, strike up a chorus of “Back Home Again in Indiana” for the 11 times in the last 20 years that Hoosier bands have taken the title, including Lawrence Central in 2004. Only two other states boast multiple triumphs since 2003 — Texas and Oklahoma, each with four championships.
Still, Texas put five schools in the finals last year compared to Indiana’s four. And in fairness, few bands located halfway across the country
can afford to trek to Indy every year. The logistics of moving, lodging, and feeding a typical marching band of 100 to 300 members are so challenging that BOA has its own official travel provider, Music Travel Consultants of Indianapolis, to help schools handle such diverse tasks as booking charter flights, reserving rehearsal space, and arranging pre-finals meals. “Our origins are out of an understanding that travel is just uniquely different for bands, orchestras, and choirs because it requires so much movement of equipment,” said Bryan Munoz, assistant director of sales.
PROVIDING MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES
At Avon, success in the Grand Nationals serves as an unexpected recruiting tool, said performing arts secretary Cathy Klemmensen. “We
have had four students move here from out of state just for the band,” she said, recalling how one boy’s parents showed up on enrollment day and asked, “Is this the only Avon High School in Indiana?”
Yet Matt Harloff, the band director of the defending national champion, has more on his mind than the eagle trophy. “Competition drives us for sure, but it’s not the No. 1 thing,” said Harloff. “No matter what happens competitively, our goal is to provide incredible and memorable experiences for our kids.”
Senior clarinet player Maddie McCleary remembers jumping up and down and crying tears of joy at the announcement of Avon’s victory.
But she also spoke of making friends with band kids from Ohio and Texas after the awards ceremony —
A band member of Homestead High School from Fort Wayne, Indiana, performs a baritone sax solo. (Photo courtesy of Music for All/Tony McCracken)
an opportunity born of longstanding Grand Nationals tradition. Once the championship trophy and other awards have been presented, the stadium announcer instructs the hundreds of band members from the 12 finalist schools to “Break ranks!” — cease standing in formation and mingle with their competitors.
Apparently, you can be a winner without winning anything at Grand Nationals. Tiny Shawe Memorial High School doesn’t have a football team, so it doesn’t have a football field. Its 43 marching band members practice in a parking lot behind the adjacent elementary school.
“We don’t have a chance of winning,” said band director Bill Gordon, whose crew finished 10th out of 26 in Class A two years ago. “But it’s still their favorite competition to go to. Walking onto the field, they’re in awe that they get to play there.”
And the awe doesn’t soon fade. Senior snare drummer Brody Haggerty marveled at how the “audience stands stretched out farther than your field of vision,” and the crowd seemed five times as big as any he’d ever performed for — “and it probably was, too.”
He isn’t about to wait until he has kids and grandkids to recount his memories of playing in the national marching band championship. Sunday NFL contests provide opportunity enough.
“Whenever I see a Colts home game on TV, I say, ‘I was there.’”
For more information on the Bands of America scoring system and to view past Grand National Championships performances, go to indianaconnection.org.
A member of Indiana’s Fishers High School band performs at the 2023 Grand National Championships. (Photo courtesy of Music for All/Tony McCracken)
Two Round Rock High School band members give each other a fist bump. These students traveled over 1,000 miles from Texas to compete at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Photo courtesy of Music for All/Tony McCracken)
Doctor urges seniors to carry medical alert device
Seniors snap up new medical alert device that comes with no monthly bills
People don’t always do what their doctor says, but when seasoned veteran emergency room physician, Dr. Philip B. Howren, says every senior should have a medical alert device, you better listen up.
“Seniors are just one fall away from being put in a nursing home,” Dr. Howren said. “With a medical alert device, seniors are never alone. So it keeps them living independently in their own home. That’s why seniors and their family members are snapping up a sleek new medical alert device that comes with no monthly bills ever,” he said.
Many seniors refuse to wear old style help buttons because they make them look old. But even worse, those medical alert sys tems come with
monthly bills.
To solve these problems Universal Physicians, a U.S. company went to work to develop a new, modern, stateof-the-art medical alert device. It’s called “FastHelp™” and it instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever.
“This slick new little device is designed to look like the pagers doctors wear every day. Seniors love them because it actually makes them look important, not old,” Dr. Howren said.
FastHelp is expected to hit store shelves later this year. But special newspaper promotional giveaways are slated for seniors in select areas. ■
■ NO MONTHLY BILLS: “My wife had an old style help button that came with hefty bills every month and she was embarrassed to wear it because it made her look old,” said Frank McDonald, Canton, Ohio. “Now, we both have FastHelp™, the sleek new medical alert device that our grandkids say makes us look ‘cool’ not old,” he said. With FastHelp, seniors never have to worry about being alone and the best part is there are no monthly bills ever.
Seniors born before 1961 get new medical alert device with no monthly bills ever
It’s just what seniors have been waiting for; a sleek new medical alert device with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills that instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help with just the push of a button for a one-time $149 price tag that’s a real steal after today’s instant rebate
The phone lines are ringing off the hook.
That’s because for seniors born before 1961, it’s a deal too good to pass up.
Starting at precisely 8:30am this morning the Pre-Store Release begins for the sleek new medical alert device that comes with the exclusive FastHelp™ One-Touch E 911 Button that instantly connects you to unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever.
“It’s not like old style monitored help buttons that make you talk to a call center and only work when you’re at home and come with hefty bills every month. FastHelp comes with state-of-the-art cellular embedded technology. That means it works at home or anywhere, anytime cell service is available whether you’re out water-
(Continued on next page)
■ FLYING OUT THE DOOR: Trucks are being loaded with the new medical alert devices called FastHelp. They are now being delivered to lucky seniors who call the National Rebate Center Hotline at 1-800-330-4294 DEPT. HELP8359 today. Everyone is calling to get FastHelp, the sleek new medical alert device because it instantly connects you to unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever.
ing the garden, driving in a car, at church or even hundreds of miles away on a tour or at a casino. You are never alone. With just a single push of the One-Touch E Button you instantly get connected to free unlimited help nationwide with no monthly bills ever,” said Jack Lawrence, Executive Director of Product Development for U.S. based Universal Physicians.
“We’ve never seen anything like it. Consumers absolutely love the sleek new modern design and most of all, the instant rebate that practically pays for it and no monthly bills ever,” Lawrence said.
FastHelp is the sleek new medical alert device with the best of combinations: a quality, high-tech engineered device that’s also an extremely great value because there are no monthly bills ever.
Better still, it comes with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever – which makes FastHelp a great choice for seniors, students and professionals because it connects to one of the largest nationwide networks everywhere cell service is available for free.
And here’s the best part. All those who already have an old style monitored medical alert button can immediately eliminate those monthly bills, which is why Universal Physicians is widely advertising this announcement nationwide.
“So if you’ve ever felt a medical alert device was too complicated or expensive, you’ll want to get FastHelp, the sleek new medical alert device with no monthly bills,” said Lawrence.
The medical alert device slugfest was dominated by two main combatants who both offer old style monitored help buttons that come with a hefty bill every month. But now Universal Physicians, the U.S. based heavyweight, just delivered a knockout blow sending the top rated contenders to the mat with the unveiling of FastHelp. It’s the sleek new cellular embedded medical alert
device that cuts out the middleman by instantly connecting you directly to highly trained 911 operators all across the U.S. There’s absolutely nothing to hook-up or install. You don’t need a land line and you don’t need a cell phone. Everything is done for you.
“FastHelp is a state of the art medical alert device designed to make you look important, not old. Old style monitored help but-
tons you wear around your neck, or require expensive base station equipment or a landline are the equivalent of a horse and buggy,” Lawrence says. “It’s just outdated.”
Millions of seniors fall every year and spend hours lying on the floor helpless and all alone with no help.
But seniors who fall and get immediate help are much more likely to avoid
HOW TO GET IT:
IF BORN BEFORE 1961:
IF BORN AFTER
getting sent to a nursing home and get to STAY living in their own home independently.
Yet millions of seniors are still risking their safety by not having a medical alert device. That’s because seniors just can’t afford to pay the monthly bills that come with old style medical alert devices.
That’s why seniors born before 1961 are rushing to
cash in the whopping $150 instant rebate before the 45 day deadline ends. So there’s no need to wait for FastHelp to hit store shelves later this year because seniors born before 1961 can get it now just by using the $150 instant rebate coupon printed in today’s newspaper before the 45 day deadline ends. If lines are busy keep trying, all calls will be answered. ■
Use the rebate coupon below and call this Toll-Free Hotline: 1-800-330-4294 DEPT. HELP8359
1961: You cannot use the rebate coupon below and must pay $299 Call: 1-800-330-9423 DEPT. HELP8359
THE BOTTOM LINE: You don’t need to shop around. We’ve done all the leg work, this deal is too good to pass up. FastHelp with the instant rebate is a real steal at just $149 and shipping and there are no monthly bills ever.
PROS: It’s the sleek new medical alert device that comes with the exclusive FastHelp One-Touch E 911 Button that instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts or deposits. It connects you to the vast available network of cellular towers for free and saves seniors a ton of money because there are no monthly bills ever making this deal irresistible. Plus it’s the only medical alert device that makes seniors look important, not old.
CONS: Consumers can’t get FastHelp in stores until later this year. That’s why it’s so important for seniors born before 1961 to call the National Rebate Center Hotline within the next 45 days. For those who miss that deadline, the sleek little medical alert device will set you back over $300 bucks.
FastHelp
Hoosier Energy news
Hoosier Energy Events Manager Trina Pardue talks with Jim Aelick of Rudd Equipment during Electrify Indiana 2024.
Electrify Indiana 2024
Special event brings together cooperative stakeholders to promote beneficial electrification
Electrify Indiana 2024, presented by Hoosier Energy, Wabash Valley Power Alliance, and Indiana Electric Cooperatives, took the Westin Hotel in Indianapolis by storm on Aug. 26.
Over 300 people, representing 120 companies, 48 sponsors, and 44 tradeshow booths, attended the event designed to promote beneficial electrification. There was something for everyone.
The day featured nine sessions in total, including options for three different tracks — residential,
transportation, and utility/commercial and industrial (C&I) — that could be mixed and matched.
The event started with an unusual confluence in the Utility Leader Roundtable, which featured Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA), Wabash Valley Power Alliance, AES Indiana, NIPSCO, CenterPoint Energy, and Hoosier Energy’s CEO and President Donna Walker. Indiana Electric Cooperatives CEO John Cassady moderated the panel, which discussed topics affecting the industry, including megaloads.
“When we were looking at load growth expectations in the long-range resource plan, it was very different than what we’re seeing now,” Walker said. “We were thinking about what electrical vehicles would look like, but we didn’t see megaloads on the horizon… What’s changed is this new, unexpected change of megaloads that’s jumped up in the last 12 months. If those come to fruition, it could anywhere from double to quadruple the size of our system, which takes a totally new way of approaching that.”
Things snowballed from there as National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Jennah Denney provided an overview of the changed and unchanged perspectives of electrification before everyone split off for their chosen track during the two morning sessions.
With five networking breaks, plus breakfast and lunch, there was plenty of time to talk about what attendees saw and heard in addition to interacting with the vendors on hand.
Another of the day’s hot topics was electric vehicles. In addition to speakers on the subject, Electrify Indiana 2024 included an EV Showcase with everything from a sporty Ford Mustang to a bucket truck to digging equipment and more lined up in front of the hotel, providing a welcome distraction between sessions.
The co-op partners look forward to another Electrify Indiana in 2026.
GET FRESH WITH YOUR
Christmas tree
Buying a Christmas tree is on the holiday to-do list of many of us. There are several ways to get “O Tannenbaum” in the house. Some people shop at a tree lot like a church, a nursery, a garden center, or a tree farm. Some may wander their woods for a perfect specimen. Here are some options for getting a great looking tree this year.
CHOOSE-AND-CUT TREES
The freshest tree will come from a farm. These trees grow in the ground and are attached to their roots. The National Christmas Tree Foundation reported that 30.8% of shoppers went to a tree farm to cut their tree in 2022.
Make it an adventure. Load the family in the car and head to a cut-your-own Christmas tree farm in Indiana. Walk the farm and select the tree that suits you. Either you or a staffer will cut the tree close to ground level. You can’t get any fresher than cutting your own.
Find choose-and-cut tree farms at christmastreefarms.net/u-cut/ indiana-in
FRESH CUT TREES
According to the National Christmas Tree Foundation's research, between 16% and 19% buy their cut trees at garden centers, nurseries, non-profits like a church, chain stores, and retail lots. Here are a few tips for selecting as fresh of a cut tree as possible.
• At the tree lot or garden center, pick up a tree you like and test it for freshness. Lift and gently drop the tree to the ground. If a lot of needles fall from the tree, keep looking.
• Take a branch of the cut tree, gently bend a few needles back, and draw your hand down the needles. If a bunch of needles break off, the tree is not fresh.
• Give the cut tree a good once over to ensure there aren’t any insect hitchhikers, such as the egg sack of a praying mantis.
• Ask the retailer to make a new cut on the tree you select. Make another straight cut at home if you can’t get the tree in water within a few hours. The cut enables the tree to take up water, which helps it stay fresh.
• Tree lots usually wrap the cut tree in netting, which protects it from the ride home. At home, remove the netting and place the tree in a bucket of water. Be careful when discarding the netting. Birds and other animals can get caught in the weave.
Find cut tree farms at indianachristmastrees.com/ tree-farms
LIVE TREES
A live tree serves as a holiday memory in your landscape. Live trees grow in nursery pots, ready to take home and plant in a good space.
Dig the planting hole now if you’re contemplating planting a live tree. Store the soil from the hole so it doesn’t freeze, and cover the hole with plywood or something similar so pets and people don’t fall in.
Keep the live tree indoors for about two days then transplant to the landscape. If kept indoors for too long, it will go out of dormancy and not be prepared for outdoor temperatures. Return the soil to the planting hole. After planting, water the tree well and add mulch. Take a photo of the kids standing by the tree to show the scale. Make it a fun project and do it every year.
Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp, who writes and speaks about gardening, blogs at hoosiergardener.com
Will This Strange Antarctic Squid Solve America’s Memory Crisis?
New Deep Sea Discovery Proven to Be The #1 Natural Enhancer of Memory and Focus
Half a mile beneath the icy waters off the coast of Argentina lives one of the most remarkable creatures in the world.
Fully grown, they’re less than 2 feet long and weigh under 10 pounds…
But despite their small size, this strange little squid can have a bigger positive impact on your brain health than any other species on the planet.
They are the single richest source of a vital “brain food” that 250 million Americans are starving for, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal.
It’s a safe, natural compound called DHA – one of the building blocks of your brain. It helps children grow their brains significantly bigger during development. And in adults, it protects brain cells from dying as they get older.
Because DHA is so important, lacking enough of it is not only dangerous to your overall health but could be directly related to your brain shrinking with age.
With more than 16 million Americans suffering from ageassociated cognitive impairment, it’s clear to a top US doctor that’s where the problem lies.
Regenerative medicine specialist Dr. Al Sears, says thankfully, “there’s still hope for seniors. Getting more of this vital brain food can make a life changing difference for your mental clarity, focus, and memory.”
Dr. Sears, a highly-acclaimed, board-certified doctor— who has published more than 500 studies and written 4 bestselling books — says we should be able to get enough DHA in our diets… but we don’t anymore.
“For thousands of years, fish were a great natural source of DHA. But due to industrial fish farming practices, the fish we eat and the fish oils you see at the store are no longer as nutrient-dense as they once were,” he explains.
DHA is backed by hundreds of studies for supporting razor sharp focus, extraordinary mental clarity, and a lightning quick memory… especially in seniors.
So, if you’re struggling with
focus, mental clarity, or memory as you get older…
Dr. Sears recommends a different approach.
THE SECRET TO A LASTING MEMORY
Research has shown that our paleo ancestors were able to grow bigger and smarter brains by eating foods rich in one ingredient — DHA.
“Our hippocampus thrives off DHA and grows because of it,” explains Dr. Sears. “Without DHA, our brains would shrink, and our memories would quickly fade.”
A groundbreaking study from the University of Alberta confirmed this. Animals given a diet rich in DHA saw a 29% boost in their hippocampus — the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory. As a result, these animals became smarter.
Another study on more than 1,500 seniors found that those whose brains were deficient in DHA had significantly smaller brains — a characteristic of accelerated aging and weakened memory.
PEOPLE’S BRAINS ARE SHRINKING AND THEY DON’T EVEN KNOW IT
Dr. Sears uncovered that sometime during the 1990s, fish farmers stopped giving their animals a natural, DHA-rich diet and began feeding them a diet that was 70% vegetarian.
“It became expensive for farmers to feed fish what they’d eat in the wild,” explains Dr. Sears. “But in order to produce DHA, fish need to eat a natural, marine diet, like the one they’d eat in the wild.”
“Since fish farmers are depriving these animals of their natural diet, DHA is almost nonexistent in the oils they produce.”
“And since more than 80% of fish oil comes from farms, it’s no wonder the country is experiencing a memory crisis. Most people’s brains are shrinking and they don’t even know it.”
So, what can people do to improve their memory and brain function in the most effective way possible?
MEMORY-RESTORING SENSATION: The memory-saving oil in this Antarctic squid restores decades of lost brain power starting in just 24 hours.
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.”
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
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
WHERE TO FIND OMEGA REJUVENOL
To secure bottles of this brainbooster, buyers should contact the Sears Health Hotline at 1-800-9665680. “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 1-800-966-5680 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 ICOM1124 when you call.
