November 2023

C O N T E N T S

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Serving Savingsup

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Contact Us:

765-544-2600

Report an Outage: 800-284-3452

(USPS 171-360 Published Monthly)

Contributors:

Cathy Rhoades and David Toll

Publication Office:

2777 S. 840 W.

Manilla, IN 46150

Periodical Postage paid in Indianapolis, Indiana 46206

POSTMASTER:

Send address changes to:

ELECTRAWATT

P.O. Box 55, Manilla, IN 46150

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The holiday season is just around the corner and soon, festive music will flood the airwaves, sparkling lights and decorations will adorn homes and businesses, and good tidings will abound.

The holidays also bring a frenzy of decorating, cooking and family gatherings, and amid the hectic hustle and bustle, you may receive higher-than-usual-energy bills.

Keeping this in mind, we thought this month would be a good time to remind you of a few programs and efficiency tips to help lower your monthly energy use.

Tips to help you save.

Winter months typically bring some of the highest energy bills of the year. Making minor, low-cost improvements, like weatherstripping exterior doors and caulking around old, drafty windows can make a positive impact on energy bills.

Be festive without breaking the bank.

Most bring the Christmas decorations down from the attic faster than we can finish the Thanksgiving turkey. With holiday lights adorning our home for well over a month, make the switch to LEDs to save energy. LED holiday

lights use 88% less energy than incandescent holiday lights. To put that into perspective, the Department of Energy estimates that with standard holiday decorations, LED lights typically increase energy bills by about $5 to $7. But with incandescent lights, energy bills will typically increase by $33 or more. For homes that go above and beyond with incandescent holiday lighting (think Clark Griswold), energy bills could increase by as much as $350. Beyond energy savings, LEDs provide additional benefits, such as being shock-resistant, shatterproof and cool to the touch, making them safer for the home.

You can also lower energy use by conveniently managing holiday lighting. Smart light timers can help you save energy by connecting to a smart phone app or voice assistant to program lights to turn on and off at set times. If you don't use smart home technology, you can still save energy by using traditional timers.

Additional easy ways to save during the holiday season include turning off overhead lights and using your Christmas tree to illuminate your home. If you have a fireplace, remember to close the flue when you're not burning a fire to ensure heat doesn't escape through the

chimney.

Cook up energy savings in the kitchen.

If you plan to have family and friends over this holiday season, you can cook up energy savings by using small countertop appliances like microwaves, air fryers and slow cookers when possible, as they use much less energy than the stove-top or oven.

When using the oven, bake multiple dishes at once for maximum efficiency. After all, it takes as much energy to cook one dish as it does to cook several. Turn the oven off a few minutes before the recipe's end time and allow the residual heat to finish baking the dish. Once the food is done, leave the stove door ajar to allow the residual heat to warm the room. When using the stove top, match the pan size to the burner to maximize the stove top's efficiency.

We hope a few of these tips will be helpful as we approach the holiday season. Remember, we're here to answer any questions you have about managing energy use or your monthly bills. With a little planning upfront, you can find efficient ways to save on everything from holiday decor to your favorite soup recipes.

Concern Community for

Indiana's Electric Cooperatives (IEC) hosted the annual Community Day on October 13th. Working side-by-side, Indiana's electric cooperatives demonstrated one of the core Cooperative Principals: Concern for Community.

RushShelby Energy volunteered at the Walnut Ridge and Riverside Cemeteries in Carthage. 20 volunteers cleared fence rows, removed fencing, reset headstones and cut trees.

"While Concern for Community is one of the seven cooperative principles in which cooperatives adhere to, it is more than that. Our employees and directors live and participate within these communities. Our employees take care and satisfaction in being able to do more within the areas we serve. The people that live within these communities are our neighbors, friends and families, not just members our business. They are the people that we experience life with, " said Chris Chastain, President and CEO.

RushShelby Energy would like to thank all who volunteered and the teamwork that went into completing the projects and those that remained at the office. A big thank you to Kathy Gibson, Walnut Ridge Cemetery, Secretary/Treasurer, and the Walnut Friends Church for allowing us the use of their fellowship hall for lunch and sharing the history of Carthage.

One of the greatest gifts you can give is your time!

On the Cover

The bell that now sits in front of the Henry Henley Public Library use to hang in the bell tower on the third story of the Carthage School in 1896. In 1922 a storm destroyed the third floor of the school and the bell went into storage. When the new elementary school was built the bell was displayed outside. When the school closed the bell was moved to the library.

Henry Henley Public Library

Henry Henley, one of the founders of Carthage, moved by a desire to benefit the people of the community, gave $1,000 to establish a free library. For some time, a room in the Carthage Bank building was used, but the demand for more books and more room led to an effort to supply both. As a result, the present building was built at a cost of $6,500. The Henry Henley Public Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. For hours of operation and more information visit henryhenley.lib.in.us.

Source: ingenweb.org

Walnut Ridge Friends Church

Walnut Ridge Friends Meeting House is a historic Quaker Meeting House. Completion of the church was made in 1866. The brick used being fired on an adjoining farm at a cost of $1,871.83, considered a high price in those days.

The inside was arranged according to the custom day, the house divided in the center, one side for men and one side for women. Worship was an impressive silent service until some members, moved by the Holy Spirit, arose to speak to the gathering although very brief. later hymns and prayer were added.

Source: Tri-County Banner

Blazing Star

Around 1888 or 1889, there came to Carthage a stocky figure clad in fringed buckskin with long black locks of hair reaching his shoulders. He had just delivered a lecture in Knightstown and came to Carthage to repeat it. This was Ke-ki-o-Kah or Blazing Star.

Blazing Star was a member of the Cheyenne Indian tribe. He liked Carthage and its residents and returned making Carthage his headquarters for about three years.

He was very fond of children. Most were a little frightened of Star. Upon sensing their fears, he bought trinkets for the children and soon had a young following.

Blazing Star died on February 2, 1893, at 32, from pneumonia. He was buried in Riverview Cemetary in Carthage. Source: The Knightstown Banner

Youth Opportunities

Youth are the future of our cooperative, so we want to make sure they understand the value of being part of a cooperative. We offer some unique opportunities to teach youth in our territory about these values through the Youth Tour, Camp Kilowatt and the Cooperative Calendar of Student Art Contest.

Camp Kilowatt - June 5-8, 2024 - Online applications open December 4, 2023

A fun and unique camp experience for students in sixth grade. The camp takes place in early June and gives kids a chance to learn about energy while making new friends and enjoying activities and games. This three-day camp includes horseback riding, electric cooperative education, rock climbing, swimming and much more.

Youth Tour to Washington D.C. - June 16-23, 2024 - Online applications open December 4, 2023

More than 1,500 high school juniors from all across America take part in the Youth Tour experience each year. Chosen students will go to Washington D.C., where they will meet U.S. Representatives and Senators. This unique trip will give students the opportunity to watch history come alive while exploring the museums, memorials and monuments with other students from Indiana. They will also meet student leaders from nearly every state and hear dynamic leaders on Youth Day. Bottom line, attendees will make friendships that will last a lifetime and be part of a group that has more than 50,000 alumni in every walk of life, including U.S. Senators and CEOs.

Cooperative Calendar of Student Art Contest - Deadline to enter March 22, 2024

Indiana K-12 students are invited to enter the Cooperative Calendar of Student Art Contest for a chance to illustrate an award-winning wall calendar. Each year, 13 first-place winners and honorable mention winners will have their artwork featured in the calendar - and will receive cash prizes. Winners will have their artwork displayed at the Indiana Electric Cooperatives (IEC) Annual Meeting.

If you have any questions, please call Cathy Rhoades at 765-544-2938.

Quick Links

Employee Milestone

October Employee of the Month

Dave Sheehan, Serviceman, was awarded Employee of the Month for October. Dave has been with RushShelby Energy for 32 years. He was nominated for going above and and beyond for the members, his patience and his willingness to help his coworkers. Congratulations Dave! Well Deserved!

Tom Sharritts, Right-of-Way Foreman, is celebrating 20 years at RushShelby Energy. RSE appreciates your hard work and dedication to our membership.

Schmidt Graduates

MariBeth Schmidt graduated from HEATS MSR on October 27th. Congratulations.

To ensure you receive your rebate, all paperwork for HVACs, water heaters, electric lawn equipment and HVAC tune-ups must be returned to our office no later than December 15, 2023.

2024 Planners, pocket calendars and Farmer's Almanacs will be available in our office beginning November 20.

Holiday Closings

Thanksgiving November 23-24

Christmas December 25-26

Fall is finally here! The leaves are changing, the weather is cooler and holidays are just around the corner. But Fall also brings greater risks of home fires and electrical hazards.

Read the safety tips below, then find and circle the bolded words in the puzzle.

Adults should always stay in the kitchen while cooking.

Smoke alarms should be tested monthly to ensure they're working properly.

Batteries should be replaced every year or right away if the alarm starts to chirp.

Candles should never be left burning when someone isn't in the room.

Keep flammable items away from the stove toaster and other cooking appliances