OCEC January 2020 enchantment

enchantment The Voice of New Mexico’s Rural Electric Cooperatives

JANUARY 2020

Otero County Electric Cooperative

Commitment to safety Every day

Wishing You a N ew Y e a r Filled With New Hope, N ew J o y , a n d N e w B e g i n n in g s Gallup McKinley County Schools gmcs.org

505-721-1000

JANUARY 2020

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CONTENTS

04 We are enchantment 05 View from enchantment 06 Hale to the Stars 08 Your Electric Co-op 10 Energy Sense 12 Book Chat 14 The People's Tree

The U.S. Capitol tree is from the Land of Enchantment.

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15 Committment to Safety Every Day Why a coin means so much to electric co-ops and to their families.

19 Co-op Employee Receives National Safety Award

Her passion for safety is recognized by others in the electric industry.

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20 On the Menu 22 Be Counted: Census 2020

It's here. Every 10 years the census counts every person living in the U.S. 26 The Market Place 30 Youth Art

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19 On the Cover: Daniel Lopez, a journeyman from Springer Electric Cooperative in Springer, points to the Commitment to Zero Contact sign. Photo courtesy of Springer Electric Cooperative.

enchantment.coop • January 2020

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enchantment!

We live in the Land of Enchantment…

We are

Welcome to your new and improved enchantment.

Keep an eye out for your February issue for some history on the magazine you receive.

Phone 505-982-4671

Email enchantment@nmelectric.coop Facebook facebook.com/enchantmentnmreca Mail 614 Don Gaspar Avenue Santa Fe, NM 87505 Community Events events@nmelectric.coop Display Ads enchantmentads@nmelectric.coop Book Chat Inquiries enchantment@nmelectric.coop

enchantment

Take a photo of you or someone with the magazine and email it with a few words about the photo. Include your name, mailing address, and co-op name.

Take a photo of you holding YOUR MAGAZINE AND WIN!

One lucky member will win $20.

Submitting your photo(s) gives us permission to publish the photo(s) in enchantment, Facebook, and other media outlets.

monthly photo win ner

Email to: enchantment@nmelectric.coop

Congratulations to…

Carrie Escobedo who is reading the December 2019 enchantment.

Carrie writes: “Marley likes to see what Mom is reading." Carrie and Marley are co-op members of Central New Mexico Electric Cooperative.

They win $20!

Editor's Note: Looks like enchantment has a lil' fur friend reader.

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How to contact enchantment

January 2020 • enchantment.coop

enchantment

January 1, 2020 • Vol. 72, No. 01 USPS 175-880 • ISSN 0046-1946 Circulation 90,823 enchantment (ISSN 0046-1946) is published monthly by the New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association, 614 Don Gaspar Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87505. enchantment provides reliable, helpful information on rural living and energy use to electric cooperative members and customers.

Nearly 91,000 families and businesses receive enchantment Magazine as electric cooperative members. Non-member subscriptions are available at $12 per year or $18 for two years, payable to NMRECA. Allow four to eight weeks for delivery.

PERIODICAL POSTAGE paid at Santa Fe, NM 87501-9998 and additional mailing offices.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Postmaster please send address changes to 614 Don Gaspar Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87505-4428. Readers who receive the publication through their electric cooperative membership should report address changes to their local electric cooperative office.

THE NEW MEXICO RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION provides legislative and educational services to the cooperatives who are members of the Association that deliver electric power to New Mexico’s rural areas and small communities.

The mission of the New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association is to strengthen, support, unify, and represent Cooperative member interests at the local, state, and national levels.

Each cooperative has a representative on the association’s board of directors, which controls the editorial content and advertising policy of enchantment through its Publications Committee.

OFFICERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Charles Pinson, President, Central Valley Electric Co-op, Artesia Tim Morrow, Vice President, Springer Electric Co-op, Springer Duane Frost, Secretary-Treasurer, Central NM Electric Co-op, Mountainair BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chris Martinez, Columbus Electric Co-op, Deming Keith Gottlieb, Continental Divide Electric Co-op, Grants Lance R. Adkins, Farmers’ Electric Co-op, Clovis Robert Caudle, Lea County Electric Co-op, Lovington Robert Quintana, Mora-San Miguel Electric Co-op, Mora Thomas G. Rivas, Northern Río Arriba Electric Co-op, Chama Preston Stone, Otero County Electric Co-op, Cloudcroft Antonio Sanchez, Jr., Roosevelt County Electric Co-op, Portales George Biel, Sierra Electric Co-op, Elephant Butte Joseph Herrera, Socorro Electric Co-op, Socorro Travis Sullivan, Southwestern Electric Co-op, Clayton Wayne Connell, Tri-State G&T Association, Westminster, Colorado Charles G. Wagner, Western Farmers Electric Co-op, Oklahoma NEW MEXICO RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION 614 Don Gaspar Avenue Phone: 505-982-4671 Santa Fe, NM 87505 Fax: 505-982-0153 www.nmelectric.coop www.enchantment.coop Keven J. Groenewold, CEO, kgroenewold@nmelectric.coop Susan M. Espinoza, Editor. sespinoza@nmelectric.coop Tom Condit, Assistant Editor, tcondit@nmelectric.coop DISPLAY ADVERTISING: Rates available upon request. Co-op members and New Mexico display advertisers, email Shaylyn at enchantmentads@nmelectric.coop or call 505-252-2540. National representative: American MainStreet Publications, 800-626-1181.

Advertisements in enchantment are paid solicitations and are not endorsed by the publisher or the electric cooperatives that are members of the New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association. PRODUCT SATISFACTION AND DELIVERY RESPONSIBILITY LIE SOLELY WITH THE ADVERTISER. Copyright ©2020, New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Inc. Reproduction prohibited without written permission of the publisher.

view from enchantment I By Keven J. Groenewold, CEO New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association

Magical Energy Savings Box, Think Again

W

elcome to 2020! It’s that time of year to focus on keeping your electric bill manageable. A quick search of the internet reveals many great ways to save energy around your home.

Simple things, such as adding insulation or using energy-efficient light bulbs, are simple and relatively inexpensive ways to save small amounts of energy. The same search will also reveal “amazing” products that claim to cut up to a third of your energy bill—without you changing anything about your energy use habits. Claims like this sound too good to be true, and there is good reason for that. These claims almost always turn out to be exaggerations or downright lies.

An energy efficiency scam is generally easy for a person who works at an electric co-op to spot and identify. However, it isn’t so easy for most people. Scams generally center around misstatements of science or confusion over utility programs.

A popular scam is a little box that promises to save you energy.

The box is a device that supposedly saves energy without the consumer making any changes to behavior, turning anything off or adjusting the thermostat. The people who sell these boxes often claim outrageous energy savings—sometimes as much

as 30 percent or more. They often use terms, such as power conditioning, capacitors, and power factor, all of which are legitimate industry terms.

The sales pitch usually goes something like this: The device being sold will control alternating current, power factor, and reduce the cost of electric bills. It will condition your power and make appliances last longer. The device uses no power and has no moving parts. It will make the motors in your home run better. The sales material often claims that the utility doesn’t want you to know about the device. That last part is actually true—because it is a rip-off. Variations of the product have been sold to both residential and commercial customers.

There are several questions that you should ask a salesperson (or yourself!) when reading an ad for the next magical cure-all: • Does it violate the laws of science? Some products claim they are capable of “changing the molecular structure…to release never-before tapped power.” Changing the laws of science is no easy task. If the inventors truly can do this, the product will surely be sold at every store in the nation, and they will become very wealthy. They won’t be mailing out flyers or operating from a poorly designed website.

• Was the product tested by an independent group like a national lab or university? If the performance of the product was not tested and certified by a lab (UL tested) or other entity not connected to the company selling it, then be skeptical.

Call the third-party group and talk to them.

• Is it too good to be true? In today’s economic times, saving money is top of mind. We want something to be true so that we can save money, improve our lives, and feed our families. But wanting something to work doesn’t mean it will.

Sometimes energy scammers contact consumers directly, either by calling or stopping by and claiming they represent the local electric co-op. Never give anyone personal or financial information who claims to be an employee of the co-op without confirming their identity. If they call, ask for a call-back number, then verify their identity with your co-op.

If they stop by, ask the person for a valid employee ID. The key is to be skeptical and ask questions. Asking tough questions and being skeptical will not offend honest people.

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

enchantment.coop • January 2020

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hale to the stars I By Alan Hale

Prime Viewing of the Quadrantid Shower

O

ur neighboring planet, Venus, which began climbing out of the dusk about three months ago, dominates the evening skies for the first few months of 2020. During January, it gleams brilliantly in our western sky during the early hours of the night, not setting until one to two hours after the end of dusk.

On Sunday and Monday evenings, the 26th and 27th, the distant planet Neptune passes close to Venus—at least, in our line of sight, as the two worlds are at vastly different distances from us—and will be visible in the same field of view of a telescope.

The only other planet visible in our evening skies during January is Mercury, which can be seen low in the southwest during dusk at the very end of the month. The remaining visible planets are in the morning sky, with Mars—being located to the east of the prominent constellation Scorpius—rising two to three hours before the start of dawn.

Jupiter, which passed on the far side of the sun as seen from Earth just before the end of 2019, begins to emerge out of the dawn by the latter part of January.

Saturn is on the far side of the sun around that same time and begins its own emergence out of the dawn next month.

One of the strongest of the annual meteor showers is the Quadrantid shower, which peaks on Saturday morning, January 4. This can be a

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January 2020 • enchantment.coop

Vincent van Gogh’s painting “The Starry Night” from 1889. The crescent moon is in the upper-right, and Venus is at the lower left, just to the right of the cypress tree. The crescent moon will share the evening sky with Venus on the nights of Sunday and Monday, January 26 and 27, 2020. difficult shower to see, since it only lasts a few hours, and the weather is often less than cooperative. North America is in the prime viewing location of this year’s shower, and if the weather is decent, the Quadrantids may produce as many as 60 to 100 meteors per hour; they will appear to come from east of the Big Dipper’s “handle.”

New Mexico does not fare well with eclipses during 2020. Neither of the two solar eclipses are visible from here, and while there are four lunar eclipses throughout the year, these are all “penumbral” eclipses where the moon passes through the

outer part of the Earth’s shadow, and are quite underwhelming; indeed, they are often barely even noticeable.

The first of the four, which takes place on Friday, January 10, is visible from Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia, but not from New Mexico, and the same is true for the second one on Friday, June 5. We do get to see the eclipse on the evening of Saturday, July 4, but that is a small and weak one; the last one of the year, on Monday, November 30, is somewhat better and is also visible from New Mexico.

enchantment.coop • January 2020

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Otero County Electric Cooperative Three DIY Efficiency Projects to Tackle

Chief Executive Officer Mario Romero Cloudcroft Office 404 Burro Avenue • P.O. Box 227 Cloudcroft, N.M. 88317 575-682-2521 Carrizozo Office 507 12th St • P. O. Box 669 Carrizozo, N.M. 88301 575-648-2352 Alto Office 1135 Hwy. 48 • P.O. Box 1135 Alto, N.M. 88312 575-336-4550 Emergency and Outages 800-548-4660 Fax • 575-682-3109 Website • www.ocec-inc.com Office Hours 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (M-F) Board of Trustees President Charles Mulcock, SE District Vice President Matt Flotte, Central District Secretary Denny Burnett, SE District Treasurer Scott Shafer, NW District Russell Bell, SW District Bill Bird, NE District Marty Mills, Central District David Powers, NE District Tim Rabon, SW District Preston Stone, NW District Board Meeting The Board of Trustees meets the third Friday of the month at 9:00 a.m. at the Cooperative.

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A New Year brings new opportunities to save energy and money. You may think energy efficiency upgrades require a great deal of time and expense, but that’s not always the case.

If you’re interested in making your home more efficient but don’t want to break the bank, there are several DIY projects you can tackle to increase energy savings. Let’s take a look at three inexpensive efficiency upgrades that can help you save energy throughout the year.

1. Trim Dryer Vent

Level of difficulty: easy. Supplies needed: tin snips, gloves, measuring tape and masking tape. Estimated Cost: about $25 depending on the supplies you already have.

If your dryer vent hose is too long, your dryer is working harder than it has to, using more energy than necessary. The vent hose should be long enough for you to pull the dryer out a couple feet from the wall, but the shape of the hose should form a line—it should not have a lot of slack, with twists and curves. A shorter, unobstructed vent hose increases the efficiency of your dryer, dries clothing faster and reduces lint buildup, which can create potential fire hazards.

Simply measure, mark and trim the hose to the desired length, then reattach the hose to your dryer and exterior vent. If you’re unsure about the hose length, check out YouTube for a quick video tutorial.

2. Seal Air Leaks

Level of difficulty: moderate. Supplies needed: caulk and caulk gun, weather stripping, gloves, putty knife, paper towels.

Estimated Cost: $25 to $50 depending on the materials you purchase.

Sealing air leaks in your home can help you

January 2020 • enchantment.coop

save 10% to 20% on heating and cooling bills.

Apply caulk around windows, doors, electrical wiring, and plumbing to seal in conditioned air. You should also weather strip exterior doors, which can keep out drafts and help you control energy costs. Types of caulking and weather stripping materials vary, but ask your local hardware or home store for assistance if you’re unsure about the supplies you need. For more information, the Department of Energy provides step-by-step instructions for caulking and weather stripping: https://bit. ly/2Kesu6W

3. Insulate Attic Stairs Opening Level of difficulty: moderate. Supplies needed (if you build the box yourself): rigid foam board, faced blanket insulation, tape for foam board, measuring tape, utility knife, caulk and caulk gun, plywood.

Estimated Cost: $50 to $100.

A properly insulated attic is one of the best ways to optimize energy savings and comfort in your home, but many homeowners don’t consider insulating the attic stairs, or the opening to your attic space. Even a well-insulated attic can leak air through the stair opening, but luckily, there’s an easy fix.

An insulated cover box can seal and insulate the attic stairs opening. You can build your own insulated cover box or purchase a pre-built box or kit from a local home improvement store like Home Depot or Lowe’s for about $60. If you decide to build your own, check out these step-by-step instructions from the Department of Energy: https://bit.ly/36YNCYQ. It should also be noted, if your attic opening is located in a garage that you do not heat and cool, this upgrade will not be as effective.

Saving energy doesn’t have to be hard. With a little time and effort, you can maximize energy savings and increase the comfort of your home.

Otero County Electric Cooperative

ENERGY SAVINGS WORD SEARCH Did you know there are many ways you can help save energy in your home?

Read the energy efficiency tips below and circle the bolded words in the puzzle.

• Turn off lights any time you leave a room.

• Keep the refrigerator door closed to save energy.

• Wash clothing in cold water to reduce the load on your water heater.

• Unplug items that consume electricity even when they’re not in use, like cell phone chargers and coffee makers. These are known as “phantom load” electronics.

• Take showers instead of baths – showers require less water use.

enchantment.coop • January 2020

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energy sense I By Patrick Keegan and Brad Thiessen

Start the New Year Right with Energy Savings

I

t’s always a plus to save money.

The following are some energysaving measures you can do right away and how you can plan for greater savings down the road.

1. Dial in savings.

Now: In most homes, the largest portion of the energy bill goes toward heating and cooling. Setting back your thermostat by 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours a day can save you up to 10 percent a year on heating and cooling. In the winter, you could aim for 56 F at night and when no one is at home, and 68 F when you’re up and around.

Later: Adjust your air conditioning settings next summer. If you have a manual thermostat and don’t always remember to adjust it, consider purchasing a smart thermostat, or at least one that’s programmable.

2. Set refrigerator and freezer temps for efficiency.

Now: Make sure your refrigerator and freezer aren’t set to a colder temperature than needed. The fridge should be at 38 F to 40 F and the freezer compartment should be 5 F. If you have a separate chest freezer, set it to 0 F. Later: Old refrigerators and freezers can use a lot of electricity.

If yours was made before 1993, you can save upwards of $65 a year with a new Energy Star model.

3. Maximize the heat you’ve got.

Now: Look around each room and

10 January 2020 • enchantment.coop

Setting back your thermostat by 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours a day can save you up to 10 percent a year on home heating and cooling. Photo Credit: Consumers Energy. make sure the vents and radiators aren’t blocked by furniture or other objects. If the floors feel cold even when the room is warm, put down area rugs for additional warmth.

Open curtains and blinds to let the sunshine in, and close them at night.

Later: Enlist the help of an energy auditor or HVAC specialist to test for duct leakage and ensure your whole system is balanced and running efficiently.

4. Make bright moves with lights.

Now: Always make sure lights are turned off when they’re not in use.

You can do this manually or employ one of many automated strategies. If you’re still using incandescent bulbs, you could switch the five most-used bulbs to LEDs and save about $75 per year. LEDs last much longer and use about one-fourth as much energy.

Later: Over time, plan to replace all your old incandescent bulbs,

and consider smart lighting options that can be programmed to turn off when a room is not in use.

5. Eliminate drafts.

Now: Look carefully around your home for signs of air leaks. If you have a gap under an exterior door, you can block it with a towel or better yet, install some weather stripping. Make sure windows are sealed with caulk, and you can also seal areas around plumbing and wiring penetrations.

Later: Have an energy auditor do a blower door test, which is the best to identify all air leaks.

Taking steps now should provide some quick energy savings. To save even more, you’ll need a plan that includes the “later” steps. An energy audit can help you determine a much better plan, and your electric co-op may be able to provide an audit or recommend a qualified local auditor.

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book chat I By Phaedra Greenwood Visit your local bookstores to buy books. Send your book for review to: Book Chat, 614 Don Gaspar Ave., Santa Fe, NM 87502

Cabeza de Vaca “I have been walking in the footsteps of this man for years now, thinking his thoughts, dreaming his dreams,” the author writes about Cabeza de Vaca. The historical timeline is 1490 to 1555. A report of de Vaca’s nine-year journey from Spain to Florida by ship, and inland, alone and naked, on foot, was published in 1542, “My obsession is/ has been/exploration of inner space/ the infinite imagination,” Rabbit writes, “Call down beauty all around you … Love at the heart of matter.” de Vaca travels with Estavanico, “an African, Moor,” a former slave, who introduces Afro-Cuban music to the Southwest. Rabbit rants: “I found the holes in nothing/with nothing beyond … I met myself there/ we embraced/became a luminous animal.” Genocide and Jesus, freedom and delirium. Warning: May catalyze a conscious transformation.

Diary of a Death Doula “The decline of the physical body, which is finite, doesn’t affect the spirit which is eternal and undergoes expansion at the end of life to take its place in universal consciousness,” Dimond says. She volunteers at a hospice center as a “death doula,” to offer emotional support to the dying with a calming, peaceful presence. She is a psychic and a medium; sometimes, she sees angels and the dying communicate with her telepathically. “Mediums are a link between dimensions—that is the nature of our gift,” she says. She understands death is an unfolding process as the spirit prepares to depart. “When the patient stops breathing, Dimond begins to count.

If he/she doesn’t start breathing again by 100, Dimond is certain the departure is complete. An articulate and informed read.

Goodbye, Monique John Nichols never knew his biological mother. Monique died of rheumatic heart disease when he was a toddler.

“During my childhood, Monique was whitewashed from my awareness by … my father’s grief and a jealous stepmother … who had difficulty accepting my French roots.” In this book, Nichols claims his half-French heritage and honors his lost mother by reconstructing her life and marriage through letters between his parents, journals and photos, and his families’ recollections. His father and mother were deeply in love. She was smart, beautiful, funny, talented, reliable, and devoted. In this revealing story of Nichols’ heritage, played out during the turmoil of WWII, he admits if it hadn’t been for his stepmother, he probably wouldn’t have become a writer. A soulful and heartwrenching farewell. Five stars.

By Peter Rabbit • Crescent Press

By Debra Dimond, Ph.D.

By John Nichols • Acequia Madre Press

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times of severe drought beside the Rio Puerco, which is now a ghost town.

In these layered multi-cultural stories he draws from his life experience to create folktales that both teach and amuse. Comprender why la gente gave up playing the slots at the casino to play bingo at church. Meet a man who is in prison for life because he shot his parents when they forbid him to go to

a party. Garcia wins over the inmates by agreeing to teach them cuss words in Latin. On a trip to Spain, Charlie Church falls in love and learns the difference between hasta luego and adios.

A winner of the New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards. Five stars!

No More Bingo Comadre!

If you’ve ever thought of putting a coffin on layaway until they lay you away, you might not be surprised how this story ends. Garcia, an esteemed folklorist, historian, and poet, grew up in

12 January 2020 • enchantment.coop

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enchantment.coop • January 2020 13

Bringing Enchantment to the Nation…

The People's Tree

By Debb Johnson

T

he journey “to bring enchantment to the nation” with the Capitol Christmas tree began on November 11th with a whistle stop tour through many rural communities serviced by New Mexico rural electric co-ops.

The Capitol Christmas tree for 2019 is a 60-foot Blue Spruce harvested from the Carson National Forest in northern New Mexico with much fanfare in a televised tree cutting ceremony in Red River.

Differing from the National Christmas tree which is a live tree on the Ellipse, south of the White House and is lit in a lighting ceremony by the First Family, the Capitol tree, called “The People’s Tree,” is lit in a lighting ceremony by the Speaker of the House on the Capitol lawn. It is harvested from a different national forest chosen annually by the Capitol Architect. The chosen national forest, along with the state forest also supplies 70 smaller trees for government offices in Washington, D.C.

The lighting of the U.S. Capitol tree was held Wednesday, December 4, 2019, on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Wahsington, D.C. Photo by Denny Gainer, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

It is called The People’s Tree, because each year ornaments and tree skirts are made by volunteers from the state where the tree is harvested. Quilting Guilds around New

14 January 2020 • enchantment.coop

Mexico including the Southwest New Mexico Quilter’s Guild in Silver City, The Los Alamos Piecemakers Guild, and the New Mexico Quilter’s Guild in Albuquerque

made beautiful themed tree skirts. They are decorated with New Mexico symbolism, the Zia Sun symbol, Mimbres art, chile peppers, sandhill cranes, and of course Smokey Bear, a New Mexico native and mascot of our national forests. All are part of what makes New Mexico The Land of Enchantment.

A seven member crew of the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, composed primarily of local teens from Questa and Taos, spent the summer working on a variety of outdoor projects in the Carson National Forest’s Questa Ranger District with the Forest Service.

After trail work and erosion control projects, the crew kept busy decorating some of the 200 cross-section tree slices, called cookies, that had been pre-cut by another RMYC crew earlier in the season to decorate the People’s Tree. The Questa Farmer’s Market held ornament making workshops to contribute to the …continued on page 24

Commitment to safety every day

By Chris Eboch

David Balizan, Safety Coordinator/ Journeyman at Springer Electric Co-op in Springer, explains how injuries can happen.

“One windy afternoon in the fall of 2017, we received a call about a three-phase pole that was down. The pole broke about halfway up with only the phases holding it up, so it was still energized.”

They needed to de-energize the circuit, turning the power off, so they could make repairs. A lineman attempted to ground the line, which ensures the line is dead. He grounded the first two phases, the electrical wires on top of the pole. Trouble came with the third phase. The recloser, which is like a circuit breaker for high-voltage lines, had a malfunction. As the lineman made contact, he drew a big arc of electricity. It melted the metal strip to the ground and burned part of his hot stick, an insulated pole.

Fortunately, the lineman wore personal protective equipment and followed safety rules. “If he had not done this, it would have resulted in serious injury and possibly death,” Balizan says. “This is an example of why we follow the life-saving rules and don’t depend on equipment alone.”

enchantment.coop • January 2020 15

E

lectricity is everywhere. It turns on our lights. It runs our computers, TVs, and appliances. It can help keep us cool in warm weather and warm in cold weather.

It allows us to get work done and stay comfortable at home. Electricity is also dangerous…

It can cause electric shocks and death by electrocution. It can cause burns, fires, and even explosions. Electrical hazards cause more than 2,000 injuries and over 100 deaths among U.S. workers every year. Most of these injuries and deaths hit utility or construction workers. Electrical workers are at high risk for coming into contact with energized lines and equipment, especially the lineworkers who install, maintain, and repair electric power transmission systems.

Close calls Even knowing how dangerous electricity is, workers can get careless when they do something every day. “We’ve had some close calls involving linemen not following the Four Life-Saving Rules while

16 January 2020 • enchantment.coop

working on underground power lines,” says Mario A. Romero, General Manager/CEO of Otero County Electric Co-op in Cloudcroft.

“Fortunately, the cables were not energized at primary voltages and the injuries were minor.” Primary lines may have voltages of 13,800 volts or higher, versus the 120 to 240 volts in your home.

“If the cables were energized at primary voltages, minor shocks could have been major injuries, including electrical burns or possibly death by electrocution,” Romero adds. “One lineman was very emotional afterwards, realizing what could have happened. They generally were angry at themselves for making the mistake. Everyone, from the crew to management to the board, was concerned about broken safety rules, why that was happening, and the possible life-changing outcomes that could have resulted.”

Keep workers safe New Mexico electric co-ops are passionate about keeping workers safe. That’s why many have joined “Commitment to Zero Contacts,” a voluntary initiative that helps utility companies eliminate injuries caused by electricity. The program was developed by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and Federated Rural Electric

Insurance Exchange. Hundreds of electric co-ops nationwide have joined, including New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

“As electric co-ops, we are responsible for providing power to all our consumers, but we want to provide it in a way that all our employees are safe and get to go home at the end of the day,” says George Valdez, Systems Operations Manager at Mora-San Miguel Electric Co-op in Mora.

The program attempts to educate every employee and asks them to sign commitment forms. Valdez explains, “It is not only a commitment to yourself or to the co-op to be safe, but a commitment from all employees to their families and friends that they will work safe and come home to them.”

“For the co-op managers and boards to support this program says a lot about the safety culture in New Mexico,” says Trish Fenton of Roosevelt County Electric Co-op located in Portales. The program provides emergency information signs, guides that outline steps to help co-ops make improvements, and training videos.

Four life-saving rules A job planning app works on mobile devices. “The S.A.F.E. app gives employees a reminder to ‘Stop And Focus Everyday,’ even on small repetitious jobs,” says Charlie Ford, Staking Technician at Sierra Electric Co-op in Elephant Butte.

“To Springer Electric Co-op, it means the lineman will develop safer work habits,” says Balizan. “It slows down the lineman to really think and focus on the job and tasks

involved with the job.”

He notes the app focuses on four life-saving rules: 1. Use of personal protective equipment (such as safety glasses and insulating gloves) 2. Use of personal grounds 3. Use of proper insulating material 4. Proper use of clearance procedures In short, an electrical line isn’t considered safe until it is tested and grounded to make sure electricity can’t escape.

“The app is set up to send job briefings to upper management, so management is aware the app is being used as required,” Balizan adds.

In addition, “It is something to remind each person to slow down and think about your personal safety along with the safety of the crew,” Fenton says.

The program also provides a variety of materials to act as constant reminders to workers to put safety first. “We have a Commitment to Zero Contact poster that all the employees signed in support of the program,” Fenton says. “It is displayed in the co-op lobby for our membership to view and know our top priority is worker safety.

Our co-op had the Commitment to Zero Contact stickers made for each vehicle. Just another reminder throughout the day to work safe and that the co-op supports you.”

Workers can also get wristbands and coins. Seeing these items reminds people to slow down, think logically, and follow all safety procedures.

The coin The coin is “a reminder you carry enchantment.coop • January 2020 17

with you to stay safe and not take shortcuts that may cause bodily harm or even death,” Ford says.

“I carry the coin to work every day and each time I put my hand in my pocket I think of safety,” Fenton says.

“It is a reminder to me to find different ways for the lineworkers to work safer and understand the safety process.”

Setting and following strict safety guidelines works. The number of electrical injuries and deaths varies from year to year, but it has been trending downward. “It has simplified the major risks of electrical contacts to the four simple rules, which are constantly in front of our crews using signs, stickers, and emblems,” Romero says.

“Through the program’s S.A.F.E. app, our crews are performing their job briefings electronically before each and every job, which are verified and reviewed by our safety officer and discussed with management at weekly staff meetings. While the results may be

anecdotal, our crews have not had any lost-time accidents in 2019,” he adds.

“As a co-op, safety has always been our number one priority,” Balizan says.

“We have just taken it a step further by committing to the Commitment to Zero Contacts program and using the S.A.F.E. app. I want to strongly emphasize this is a team effort, and as a co-op family we signed this commitment to look out for each other and follow the safety rules so we can go home to our loved ones.”

The focus on safety helps electric co-ops keep the power flowing by avoiding accidents that could cause outages. It also saves money by preventing injuries that could lead to lost work time and insurance claims. Of course, the most important benefit of the program is helping workers stay safe. They keep the lights on for co-op members everywhere, and we all want them to go home safely at the end of the day.

David Spradlin, CEO (far left, standing) and the linecrew of Springer Electric Cooperative, were awarded with a Commitment to Zero Contact plaque by Roy O’Day of Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives for their commitment to safety on the job.

18 January 2020 • enchantment.coop

Trish Fenton, Accounting/Engineering Data Analyst from Roosevelt County Electric Cooperative in Portales, receives the Claude Frazier Award in September for her contribution to promoting safety and health on the job. Roy O'Day, Director of Safety and Loss Control, is pictured to the right.

Trish Fenton receives a plaque from Safety Committee Chair Mario Romero, in November, for 20 years of service to the Safety Committee.

Co-op Employee Receives National Safety Award

E

lectricity is dangerous, and the people who work with electricity take special risks, from climbing tall poles to dealing with damaged wires. Therefore, electric co-ops need to have people working to promote safe behavior among all employees.

Trish Fenton of Roosevelt County Electric Cooperative was recently honored for her safety focus.

Fenton’s official title is Accounting/ Engineering Data Analyst, but she also has a passion for keeping her coworkers safe.

She has served on the New Mexico Rural Electric’s Self-Insurer's Fund Safety Committee since it began in 1999. This year, she received the Claude Frazier Award, which recognizes an electric co-op employee for their contribution to promoting safety and health on the job. When she found out about the award, “I was shocked and might have shed a tear or two,” Fenton

says. “Just to be recognized by other safety professionals is so special.”

“Trish has played a key role in the success of the Safety Program,” says Roy O’Day, Director of Safety and Loss Control. “The work she has done will go on making a difference in preventing injuries and saving lives.”

Fenton received the award at a ceremony during the annual conference of the National Utility Training and Safety Education Association (NUTSEA). Since the 1940s, the organization has focused on job training and safety education for rural electric employees. This helps employees avoid accidents, so they can keep the lights on for everyone and also go home safely to their families.

O’Day, who nominated Fenton for the award, noted her “outstanding performance in safety and health stewardship.” In his nomination, O’Day said, “As the result of Trish’s commitment and dedication to New Mexico’s Safety Program,

the New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperatives have a comprehensive safety and training program.” He also noted that Trish was instrumental in forming a partnership between New Mexico and the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives (OAEC) to combine resources for their safety and training needs.

“We have a strong safety program in New Mexico and great safety instructors from OAEC,” Fenton says. “I am proud to have been a part of the program and statewide safety committee.”

A focus on safety benefits us all.

NMRECA congratulates Trish Fenton for earning this award, and thanks her for her untiring efforts in promoting safety. “It is such an honor to be recognized for my work in safety,” she says. “I do a lot of other jobs, but safety is my passion. If even one person has benefited from something I have done, that makes my job worthwhile!”

enchantment.coop • January 2020 19

on the menu I By Sue Hutchison

Hooked on Tilapia

As the holiday season fades into warm memories, the new year may bring a magnitude of resolve to be more healthful, especially in meal choices. Has the season of comfort and joy disappeared? Perhaps not. January’s recipes deliver a dose of wholesome goodness. Chef Tom Histen, an Otero County Electric Co-op member, provides assistance with his recipe for Pan Seared Tilapia. Chef Histen is currently employed at Tina’s Café in Ruidoso. Tina Greene began her culinary journey through her interest in providing innovative and homemade treats more than a decade ago. Her breakfast burritos and tamales quickly morphed into Tina’s Café, a local favorite since 2011. The decadence of holiday snacking may be lingering and reminiscent; however, January is a new month. Time to turn a corner? Try these on for size.

Pan Seared Tilapia 2 Tbs. olive oil 1 (6-8 oz.) tilapia filet (or any white fish) ¼ cup flour Seasoned salt ½ cup white wine

½ cup chicken stock ¼ cup softened butter 1 Tb. minced garlic 1 tsp. dried basil 1 tsp. cracked pepper

1. In a hot skillet, warm olive oil.

2. Lightly coat both sides of rinsed tilapia with flour, place in skillet, and sprinkle with seasoned salt.

3. Sear on both sides, not allowing fish to brown.

4. Pour wine and chicken stock in skillet, allowing tilapia to soak in the flavors.

5. Remove tilapia from skillet and place in an oven-safe dish, place in 325 F oven to finish, reserving juices in skillet.

6. Prepare butter mix by combining butter, garlic, basil, and pepper.

7. Add enough of the butter mixture to skillet to incorporate into drippings, forming a sauce texture.

Reserve remainder of butter mixture for other uses.

8. Return tilapia to skillet to incorporate flavors.

9. Plate tilapia, pouring remaining sauce on fish.

20 January 2020 • enchantment.coop

Italian Green Beans and Tomatoes 3 (14 oz.) cans green beans, drained ¼ cup minced onions Dry Italian seasoning 3 tomatoes, thickly sliced

Mozzarella cheese, whole and sliced to match number of tomato slices Grated Parmesan cheese

1. Prepare 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray, set aside.

2. In mixing bowl, combine green beans, onions, and Italian seasoning mix. Mix to coat.

3. Layer coated beans and sliced tomatoes topped with cheese slices in baking dish.

4. Sprinkle top with Parmesan cheese.

5. Cover with microwaveable wrap and microwave until hot, approximately 8 minutes.

6. Serve warm with additional Parmesan cheese to taste.

Strawberry Spinach Poppy Seed Salad 1�3 cup light mayonnaise ½ cup unsweetened orange juice 1 tsp. granulated sugar 1 tsp. poppy seeds 4 cups raw spinach, rinsed and patted dry 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced Pecans roasted or candied to taste 1. In small mixing bowl, whisk first 4 ingredients to form dressing. Set aside.

2. In wide serving bowl, place spinach.

3. Top with strawberries, and drizzle with dressing.

4. Sprinkle pecans and immediately serve.

enchantment.coop • January 2020 21

Be Counted:

CENSUS 2020

The U.S. Census Bureau is the federal government’s largest statistical agency dedicated to providing current facts and figures about America’s people, places, and economy.

The U.S. Constitution requires each decade a count—or a census—of America’s population be taken.

The census provides vital information for you and your community: ➤ It determines how many representatives each state gets in Congress and is used to redraw district boundaries. Redistricting counts are sent to the states by March 31, 2021. ➤ Communities rely on census statistics to plan for a variety of

22 January 2020 • enchantment.coop

resident needs including new roads, schools, and emergency services. ➤ Businesses use census data to determine where to open places to shop or eat.

Each year, the federal government distributes more than $675 billion to states and communities based on Census Bureau data.

In 2020, new technology will make it easier than ever to respond to the census. For the first time, you will be able to respond online,

by phone, or by mail. Federal law protects the confidentiality of all individual responses the Census Bureau collects.

U.S. Census Bureau Recruiting Temps Census takers will be hired to work in their communities and go doorto-door to collect responses from those who do not respond to the 2020 census online, by phone, or by mail. In certain remote areas, census takers are the only way people can respond to the 2020 census.

These positions offer competitive pay, flexible hours, paid training, and weekly paychecks. The selection process for census taker positions begins January 2020, with paid training occurring in March and April.

Actual counts of non-responding households throughout the nation begins in May and continues through early July.

Visit the 2020 census website, https://2020census.gov/en/jobs for listings of available census taker jobs and other job opportunities.

CENSUS 101:

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The 2020 Census is closer than you think!

Here’s a quick refresher of what it is and why it’s essential that everyone is counted.

Everyone counts.

The census counts every person living in the U.S. once, only once, and in the right place.

It’s in the constitution.

The U.S. Constitution mandates that everyone in the country be counted every 10 years. The first census was in 1790.

It’s about $675 billion.

The distribution of more than $675 billion in federal funds, grants and support to states, counties and communities are based on census data.

That money is spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs.

Your privacy is protected.

It’s against the law for the Census Bureau to publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you or your household.

By law, your responses cannot be used against you and can only be used to produce statistics.

It’s about redistricting.

After each decade’s census, state officials redraw the boundaries of the congressional and state legislative districts in their states to account for population shifts.

It’s about fair representation.

Every 10 years, the results of the census are used to reapportion the House of Representatives, determining how many seats each state gets.

Taking part is your civic duty.

Completing the census is mandatory: it’s a way to participate in our democracy and say “I COUNT!”

2020 will be easier than ever.

In 2020, you will be able to respond to the census online.

F I N D OU T HOW TO HE L P AT C E N S U S . G OV/ PA R T N E R S

enchantment.coop • January 2020 23

The People’s Tree…continued from page 14

10,000 needed ornaments for all the trees going to Washington, D.C. The people of New Mexico proudly supported the effort with their time and talent, to share enchantment with the nation.

Local businesses and companies donated equipment, manpower, and money to harvest and prepare the tree for its journey. The Wilbanks Trucking Service from Questa, with volunteer drivers in a custom painted Kenworth delivered the tree, making over 30 stops across the country. At these stops, community members met Smokey Bear and were invited to sign the banners on the sides of the trailer to show their support and have a part in the journey of the “People's Tree.”

Photos, clockwise: Members of the New Mexico Quilter’s Guild from Albuquerque show their quilted Capitol Tree skirt. Photo courtesy of the New Mexico Quilter’s Guild. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham speaks during the lighting of the U.S. Capitol Tree on Dcember 4, 2019, in Washington, D.C. Photo by Denny Gainer, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Members of the Southwest New Mexico Quilter’s Guild from Silver City hold their quilted Capitol Tree skirt. Photo courtesy of the Southwest New Mexico Quilter’s Guild.

On arrival in Washington, D.C., the Capitol Architects erected and decorated the tree with the handmade ornaments from the New Mexico volunteers.

The lighting ceremony on December

24 January 2020 • enchantment.coop

4th was attended by members of the House of Representatives, New Mexico delegates, and fourth-grader Asher Dean of Arroyo Seco, who won the Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest on why he loves New Mexico forests

and public lands. Asher shared the honor of lighting the tree with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The tree will be lit each night through January 1, 2020, continuing to bring, “Enchantment to the Nation.”

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Animals NEW MEXICO DRINKING WATER Storage Tanks, Heavy Duty Black Poly. Fittings customized to your needs NRCS and EQUIP approved. High Specific Gravity, Heavy Weight, Long Warranty, Algae Resistant, Black NRCS Water Tanks. Call 1-800-603-8272 or 575-682-2308.

MINIATURE DONKEYS: 3-YEAR OLD bred jenny, 3-year old jack, baby jenny (available for adoption December). Gentle, small. Call 575-799-3990, Portales, NM. RABBITS AT THE BUNNY FARM. All ages for sale. For pets, show, fancier, meat and fur. Can make custom-built cages in Jamestown.

Call Maddie and Gene at 505-9061291, leave voice message. All calls will be answered and returned.

GREAT PYRENEES: LIVESTOCK GUARDIAN Dogs. Date of birth07/31/19. Bred from awesome working dogs. Parents on site.

High Country Alpaca Ranch. Call 505-788-2260.

NOT ALL WATER TANKS Are Created Equal! Is Quality, Value and Longevity important to you?

Buy High Specific Gravity, Heavy Weight, Long Warranty, Superior Black NRCS tanks. Lowest prices only provide minimum standards, lower weights, and shorter warranties. Find out more! 575-430-1010.

HAPPY NEW YEAR Co-op Members!

26 January 2020 • enchantment.coop

AUGASON FARMS: LONG TERM emergency food. Augason has been the leader in survival food since 1972. 30-year shelf life, 3 to 55 pound cases, each having 540 servings, 48 cans. Over $800 value, $450. Call 575-403-5372 in Logan, NM.

Equipment GREAT OFFER ON SOLAR Submersible Shallow/Deep well pumps! ‘NRCS’ approved with 2-year warranty on selected pumps with affordable, easy installation!

For a custom quote, email us at: sales@solarsubmersiblewellpumps.com, or call 505-429-3093, 24/7 service.

Order online at our website: www.solarsubmersiblewellpumps.com DRINKING WATER STORAGE TANKS, Heavy Duty Black Poly, proven algae resistant. 125 to 11,000 gallons, NRCS and EQUIP approved. Please give us a chance to serve you! MasterCard or Visa accepted. Call 575-682-2308 or 1-800-603-8272.

WANTED: SMALL NO-TILL DRILL and possibly matching tractor.

Contact Tom at 575-653-4272.

SOLAR WATER PUMPS at an affordable price. NRCS compliant.

Contact solutions4u@yucca.net or call 575-742-8050. Visit website: www.solutions4u.info OVERHEAD FEED BINS. 1 to 4 compartment, 12 to 48 tons. Any size free standing cattle guards, no footing needed. Contact Emery Welding in Clayton, New Mexico at 575-374-2320 or 575-207-7402 or by email: eweld98@yahoo.com

WOOD CHIPPER FOR SALE. Paid $2,249, asking $1,900. Will chip 5-1/2 diameter, minimum 20 HP tractor, PTO driven. Call 505-3065001 cell or 505-873-4522 home.

Great Finds COFFINS, CASKETS & URNS. Individually handcrafted of solid wood. SIMPLE. Natural. Unique.

Quality Craftsmanship. Go to www.theoldpinebox.com or call 505-286-9410 for FREE funeral information. Proudly serving New Mexico since 2004.

BUYING OLD STUFF: GAS Pumps and parts 1960’s or earlier, advertising signs, neon clocks, old car parts in original boxes, motor oil cans, license plate collections, Route 66 items, old metal road signs, odd and weird stuff.

Fair prices paid. Have pickup, will travel. Gas Guy in Embudo, 505-852-2995.

FOR SALE: SHOW SADDLE, Circle Y, beautiful, hand-tooled genuine leather, sterling conchos, spurs and saddle rack, $850; Set of 6 Robert Caples famous lithographs-Indian portraits, Nevada’s most prominent artist, will sell set for $500 or $100 each; The rare woven baby buggy and antique baby-doll, good condition but needs minor repair, $300; Original water color and oil painting by George Dick (his famous ducks) and Kincaid’s Walking Rain, both beautifully framed, $350 each.

Call 575-746-9655.

WANTED: VW VOLKSWAGEN Bus or Pickup 1967 or older, any condition, to restore or for parts but will consider any other older VW. Or any bus parts. Call or text 575-544-5999.

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On behalf of everyone at Williams Windmill, we want to thank all our customers for their patronage and look forward to serving the Southwest for many more years to come!

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WANTED: NEW MEXICO MOTORCYCLE License Plates, 1912-1959. Paying $100-$500 each.

Also buying some New Mexico car plates 1900-1923. Visit NMplates. com for history and 4,100 photographs of NM plates. Bill Johnston, Box 1, Organ, NM 88052-0001.

Email: Bill@NMplates.com or telephone 575-382-7804.

THANK YOU FOR ADVERTISING in enchantment. Your business is appreciated. Questions? Email: enchantment@nmelectric.coop RAILROAD ITEMS WANTED: Kerosene Lanterns, Brass locks, keys, badges, uniforms, bells, December • enchantment.coop whistles, and pre-1950 employee timetables. Always seeking items from any early New Mexico railroad, especially D&RG, C&S, EP&NE, EP&SW, AT&SF, SP or Rock Island. Call Randy Dunson at 575-760-3341 or 575-356-6919.

FOR SALE-DOWNSIZING: 3 PIECE Thomasville king-size bedroom set; Antique 4’6” Basset furniture bedroom set-3 piece; Marble top antique dressing table; antique side board; glass cabinet and other items. Call Tony at 575-437-7763 for pricing.

LOOKING TO SELL YOUR RV? We will sell your RV for a reasonable rate.

Kay’s RV specializes in consignments for 5th Wheels, Travel Trailers & Motorhomes. Because we are a consignment-focused lot, we don’t have our own inventory competing with the sale of your unit. Kay’s RV, Moriarty NM. 505-220-5796, www.kaysrv.com HEADSTONES (I.E. CEMETERY MONUMENTS) is our business.

Over 1,000 designs. An eternal memory of a loved one. TAOS MOUNTAIN HERITAGE. Email: taos_mt_heritage@msn.com or call 575-770-2507. Website: www.taosmountainheritage.com

Real Estate 2 MOUNTAIN CABINS, 25+ acres at 8000 feet, Wildhorse Ranch Subdivision, Pie Town, NM. Well on stream with 5000 storage tank and fire hydrant. New Mexico Hunting unit 13. Contact Dave, ddh1972ff@gmail.com for a DVD with pictures.

SOCORRO,11.3 ORGANIC IRRIGATED ACRES, all water rights, on Rio Grande, mountain views, new levy, parks, open space, 2 homes.

Can split property for 2 irrigated acres and home! Call for more options or take all. Text for pictures. Owner, 505-550-3123.

CONCHAS, 00 BOAT DOCK Drive.

Vacant land just over 1/2 acre.

Water accessible. $35,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, Broker NMREL 17843, 575760-5461, www.bigmesarealty.com enchantment.coop • January 2020 27

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QUEMADO, NM. 3 BEDROOM, 2 bath Karsten home with 2 porches, great well, fenced pastures & multiple storage buildings.

Situated on 13.3 acres in Indian Springs with spectacular mountain views. $269,900. Hitching Post Land Co., 575-773-4200. DW Broker NMREL #14470. website: www.swproperties.com FOR SALE IN WINSTON, NM. 2 acres with 2 cabins on one acre and one acre with electric power, well, ready to build. View of valley and mountains and near town. Priced at $65,000. Call 505-737-2933.

CONCHAS, 000 BOAT DOCK Drive. Vacant land just over 1/2 acre. Water accessible. $32,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, Broker NMREL 17843, 575760-5461, www.bigmesarealty.com

28 January 2020 • enchantment.coop

CONCHAS, 0000 BOAT DOCK Drive. Vacant land just over 1/2 acre. Water accessible. $32,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, Broker NMREL 17843, 575760-5461, www.bigmesarealty.com CONCHAS, 107 CAMP CIRCLE. 2 bedroom, 1 bath mobile home on .68 acres. Community water. $39,500. Big Mesa Realty, 575-4562000. Paul Stout, Broker NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461, website: www.bigmesarealty.com WANTED! FAMILY FARMS AND Ranches to list and sell. Broker has over 45 years of experience working on a family farm in New Mexico and has been an owner and operator since 1988. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, Broker NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461, Visit website: www.bigmesarealty.com

CONCHAS, TBD 1, 2 AND 3 Big Mesa Avenue. PRICE REDUCED. Water accessible lots. TBD 1 is 4.4206 acres, $60,000. TBD 2 is 1.231 acres, $20,000 and TBD 3 is 0.908 acres, $20,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, Broker NMREL 17843, 575-7605461, www.bigmesarealty.com CONCHAS, 631 CONCHAS DRIVE. PRICE REDUCED. 3 bedroom, 2 bath manufactured home on 1.02 acres (3 lots).

Detached garage/shop, front and rear covered decks. Community water. $134,900. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, Broker NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461, www.bigmesarealty.com CUERVO, 0 MESITA PASS Road.

148.13 acres in Mesita Ranch Subdivision. Beautiful mesa views, perfect for homesite and or livestock. $85,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, Broker NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461, www.bigmesarealty.com FENCE LAKE, 295 PINE Hill Road.

2 bedroom, 3 bath home on just over 60 acres, well, outbuildings, corrals, abundant wildlife, scenic views. $295,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, Broker NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461, www.bigmesarealty.com

SAN ANTONIO, NM. 0 Zanja Road.

4.66 acres irrigated farmland in Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District with water rights. Produces alfalfa and grass hay crops. Utilities nearby. $69,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, Broker NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461, website: www.bigmesarealty.com TUCUMCARI, 1601 8TH STREET. 3 bedroom, 1 bath home with attached carport on 50x142 foot lot. Opportunity for starter home or rental property. $47,500. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, Broker NMREL 17843, 575760-5461, www.bigmesarealty.com ELEPHANT BUTTE, 208 PINTO Trail. 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with large front porch, shop, carport, pine trees, just over 1 acre. RV hookups. Recent flooring upgrades. $198,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, Broker NMREL 17843, 575-7605461, www.bigmesarealty.com GRADY, 3000 MARSHALL. 3 bedroom, 2 bath, two-story home, horse corrals and outbuildings.

Village water. $59,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, Broker NMREL 17843, 575-7605461, www.bigmesarealty.com To Place a Classified Ad 1. Visit www.enchantment.coop/classifieds and complete form. You will be contacted with price and to pay by credit card (5% processing fee).

2. Or, complete form and select category.

3. Write ad on another sheet of paper.

4. Price: $20 up to first 40 words per ad, per category, per month. After 40 words, each word is 50 cents. Add $5 for small graphics such as cattle brands. Phone numbers, emails and websites count as one word.

To Send and Pay Your Classified Ad 1. Mail ad and payment (Payable to NMRECA) NMRECA • enchantment 614 Don Gaspar Avenue Santa Fe, NM 87505

CLOVIS, 209 PLAZA. Price Reduced, Motivated Seller. 3 bedroom, 1 bath, refurbished with new appliances, HVAC system and flooring. $89,900. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, Broker, NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461, www.bigmesarealty.com SUMNER LAKE, 0 AND 00 River Ranches Road (at intersection with State Road 203). Two lots just over 20 acres each, scenic views just west of lake. $18,900 PER LOT. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, Broker NMREL 17843, 575760-5461, www.bigmesarealty.com SUMNER LAKE, TBD STATE Road 203. Lot in River Ranches Estate, highway frontage just over 20 acres. Scenic views just west of lake. $25,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, Broker NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461, www.bigmesarealty.com PIE TOWN, 142 WEBB Ranch Road. Lot in Wild Horse Ranch Subdivision. Just over 20 acres with well and electricity. Small cabin and horse corral, pen. $75,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, Broker NMREL 17843, 575760-5461, www.bigmesarealty.com Deadline 1. Due the 9th, one month prior.

Ex: Ads due February 9 for the March issue.

Good to Know 1. Only members of New Mexico electric cooperatives may place ads.

2. We reserve the right to reject any ad.

4. Advertisements in enchantment are paid solicitations and are not endorsed by the publisher or the electric cooperatives of New Mexico.

5. PRODUCT SATISFACTION AND DELIVERY RESPONSIBILITY LIE SOLELY WITH THE ADVERTISER. Questions 1. Call 505-982-4671 or 2. Email enchantment@nmelectric.coop

RIBERA, 340 CR B41E, 32.674 acres with 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with custom accents, haybarn, two detached garages. Just over 20 of those acres are in alfalfa and grass hay production. Pecos River frontage. Scenic views and close to I-25. $695,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, Broker NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461, www.bigmesarealty.com

Vehicles 1934 FORD, 3 WINDOW take off parts, no front fendors. 2-Model T pickup beds. 1- complete 1936 Ford pickup bed. 1-1961 Basket Case Corvette, has clear title. Call 575758-4078 in Taos, New Mexico, for more information. Please call after 6:00 p.m.

FOR SALE: 1968 FORD 100, short bed, Original, clean body, needs restoring. Minor dents, minor rust. $1,500 as is. Call Archie at 505-852-2581.

WE SPEND JANUARY 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives…not looking for flaws, but for potential. ~Ellen Goodman

Name:________________________ ___________________________ Address:_______________________ ___________________________ City:_________________________ State:_________ ZIP:_____________ Phone:________________________ Cooperative:____________________ Select Category Below

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enchantment.coop • January 2020 29

youth art

Youth Artist Choice Congratulations to the Winners!

Silas Lucas • Age 5 Central New Mexico Electric Cooperative

Coy Ward • Age 8 Roosevelt County Electric Cooperative

Brooklynn Keene • Age 10 Continental Divide Electric Cooperative

Hudson Gleaton • Age 7 Farmers' Electric Cooperative

Paul Montano • Age 12 Central New Mexico Electric Cooperative

Chloe Poncho • Age 8 Continental Divide Electric Cooperative

February's Topic: Mindful Science. Draw what you would see in a science lab: test tubes, microscopes, thermometers, charts.

March's Topic: Big Bird Day Big Bird has a birthday, so draw a colorful Big Bird.

Send Your Drawing By mail: Youth Editor 614 Don Gaspar Avenue Santa Fe, NM 87505 By email: enchantment@nmelectric.coop Deadline: Submit by the 9th, one month prior to publication.

Hooray! You Get Paid: $15 Have a Youth Art Topic?

Email or mail to the addresses above, or call 505-982-4671.

5 items to include on the

back of your drawing, otherwise YOU ARE DISQUALIFIED: 1. Name 2. Age 3. Mailing Address 4. Phone 5. Electric Co-op

*Accepted artwork up to age 13.

DON'T FORGET THE 5 ITEMS!

30 January 2020 • enchantment.coop

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enchantment.coop • January 2020 31

At Tri-State

Our cooperative approach to a clean grid starts now.

Learn how we’re transforming with our Responsible Energy Plan. www.tristate.coop/responsibleenergyplan