Currents MOHAVE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
NOVEMBER 2023
AzG&T and MEC Supporting Reliable Energy for Rural Arizona at MEC’s 77th Annual Meeting. PHOTO BY STEFANIE SPENCER/TOPAZ PHOTOGRAPHY
Empowering Progress Highlights from Mohave Electric Cooperative’s Annual Meeting Page 4
ALSO INSIDE >>
MEC Awards Education Grant Page 8 Thank You MEC Members! Page 32
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FROM THE PIONEER TEAM
Currents November 2023 • Volume 58, No. 6 ANZA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Sherri Stafford
ARIZONA GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION COOPERATIVES DUNCAN VALLEY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Kassi Mortensen
ELECTRICAL DISTRICT NO. 2
Roselyn Bever
GRAND CANYON STATE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION
Hannah Capozzi
MOHAVE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Heather Foreman
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Mike Teegarden EDITOR
Victoria Hampton Currents (USPS 030-520) is published bimonthly for members for $1.71 a year, plus postage by Pioneer Utility Resources, 5625 NE Elam Young Pkwy. Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124—a not-forprofit Oregon cooperative corporation— to serve the communication needs of four consumer-owned electric utilities in Arizona and California. Preferred periodical postage paid at Hillsboro, Oregon 97123 and additional mailing offices. © 2023 Pioneer Utility Resources. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Postmaster: Send address changes to Currents, 5625 NE Elam Young Pkwy., Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. TO CONTACT CURRENTS
Mailing address: P.O. Box 1306 North Plains, OR 97133-1306 Email: info@pioneer.coop Subscription services: Nonmember subscriptions $8 (U.S.) per year. Prepayment required. Identify local edition desired.
Memories: Sweet and Sad
This month, we feature two stories with powerful memories spanning a spectrum of emotions. Our hallowed World War II, Korean and Vietnam veterans are disappearing. It is estimated that only 119,500 WWII veterans are still alive. Living Vietnam veterans total about 850,000. Since 2005, the Honor Flight organization has been working to ensure our older veterans have the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C., to see their war memorial and be treated like the heroes they are. The trip also affords them the chance to reconnect with fellow veterans and share stories with those who truly understand. For some, the journey is healing. Writer Craig Reed recently traveled on an Honor Flight mission from Oregon. His story about the trip begins on page 12. Craig wasn’t just following along on this trip; he was a guardian for 28-year Navy veteran LeRoy Johnson, of Terrebonne, Oregon. Craig was able to see Washington, D.C., through LeRoy’s eyes.
While privy to many war stories, most too salty to share, Craig heard one about when LeRoy had to go ashore to fix a plane in a war zone. With bullets zinging overhead, LeRoy was happy to return to his ship. LeRoy was more at home in D.C. while greeting a crowd of teenagers gathered to highfive the veterans and thank them for their service. A momentary bond was formed in that exchange between generations. If you know a WWII or Vietnam veteran who has not taken an Honor Flight trip, please encourage them to consider it. You can find information on the nearest chapter at honorflight.org. Our Up Close feature on page 10 might bring out the child in all of you. The historic Jantzen Beach Carousel that lived in Portland, Oregon, for years is now in The Dalles, Oregon, and is being restored to its former glory. More than 100 years old, the carousel holds memories for many families, including mine. It is one of the largest wooden carousels in North America and features four rows of 72 horses and two chariots. It won’t be long before calliope music is playing again. Mike Teegarden Editorial Director
Riding Again
Delivery Issues: Utility members should contact the local utility office listed on the back cover. Nonmembers should contact Pioneer Utility Resources at mailingdept@pioneer.coop.
Famous Jantzen Beach landmark is being restored in The Dalles, Oregon Up Close, Page 10
Extra copies: $3 each, prepayment required. Supply is limited. Identify edition, month and year. Reprint permission: Direct all requests to info@pioneer.coop.
A Mission of Honor
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Plugged In In the Kitchen
6 16
Photo Hunt Before You Go
22 30
Veterans share a trip of honor to our nation’s memorials Spotlight, Page 12 Utility Pages: 4-5, 8, 25, 32 NOVEMBER 2023
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MOHAVE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Emp wering
Pr gress
Highlights from MEC’s Annual Meeting By Christine Owens Mohave Electric Cooperative held its annual meeting on Thursday, September 21, at the Anderson Auto Group Fieldhouse. The annual event, as mandated by the Cooperative’s bylaws, provided an opportunity to discuss several items from the past year as well as looking forward to the future. The district and annual meetings were attended by 360 cooperative members collectively, as well as many special guests. Members entered the Fieldhouse, registered, received their complimentary meals, and visited informational tables for TWN Communications, Arizona Generation & Transmission Cooperatives (AzG&T) and Western Governors University Arizona (WGU) – MEC’s newest program supporting bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, business, IT, and healthcare with access to scholarship opportunities. Attendees also received a Ryobi, cordless, bucket-top misting fan kit and some lucky winners won great door prizes and power credits. MEC had tables staffed with MEC employees who provided information on the UAV Drone Program, SmartHub® app, Operation Cool Shade and the Outage Management System. Board President Joe Anderson introduced the nine, member-elected Directors that comprise Mohave Electric Cooperative’s Board of Directors, along with Russell Smolden, CEO of B3 Strategies; Patrick Ledger, CEO of AzG&T; Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association (GCSECA) CEO Dave Lock; CoBank, and River Fund. MEC also hosted three district meetings earlier in the week. Members in attendance recommended that Jose Solar (District 2) and Joe Anderson, Board President (District 3) continue representing members for a three-year term. Members in attendance at the District 1 meeting, held a quorum and voted in a new representative. “I’d like to take this time to thank Cynthia Christy, for serving as District 1 Board Director since 2013. We appreciate your many years of dedication and service to our members,” stated CEO Tyler Carlson. District 1’s new representative, Tracy Weisz has been a full-time resident of the area since 1994 and raised her family here. Weisz became office manager for a multi-million dollar developer and construction company in 1996. In 2004, she obtained her Arizona Real Estate license and is still active today. Tracy will serve a three-year term as Board Director District 1. MEC looks forward to having her represent our members. “I’d like to congratulate these three board members who, along with the rest of the board of directors, work tirelessly to help the cooperative. We are happy to have them continue in their roles. “If you haven’t made it out to MEC’s Annual Meeting, I encourage you to come out next year and hear what’s going on,” said CEO Tyler Carlson. n 4
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PHOTOS BY STEFANIE SPENCER/TOPAZ PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE NEST
PLUGGED IN
Smart Ways to Save
Use new technology to improve energy efficiency and lower electric bills By Franklin Thurlow Electricity is such a large part of our daily lives that we use it without thinking about it. Whether switching on a light to see better, plugging in our phones to charge, starting a load of laundry or turning on the TV to watch our favorite shows, we rarely realize how often we use electricity—until our electric bill arrives. It never feels good to pay for something you don’t remember using, but there are solutions to lower your electric bill. A common lament of homeowners is
their electric bills still seem high when they aren’t home actively using electricity. Remember, even when the house is empty, appliances still use electricity. “Heating and cooling are typically the highest energy use in a home. Thermostat settings are a good area to address, as that’s something people can easily control,” says Miranda Boutelle, chief operating officer at Efficiency Services Group. “The Department of Energy has recommendations for vacation settings that work well.” Installing a smart thermostat is one A smart thermostat paired with a smartphone app can help you manage the energy used to heat or cool your home, which can help you save energy and money. PIXABAY PHOTO BY KAROLINA GRABOWSKA
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way to get the most energy savings. The device takes the guesswork out of setting the thermostat by allowing users to enable vacation mode, which turns the thermostat up or down a few degrees while running the heat or air conditioner at regular intervals. Smart thermostats can be programmed to adjust throughout the day, making it an easy way to save energy when you’re away from home. If you have a manual thermostat, setting the temperature 5 degrees warmer in the summer or cooler in the winter than you normally do will have the same effect. “Essentially, you don’t want to heat the home or to cool the home more than necessary when you’re not there,” Miranda says. “You don’t need to heat or cool for comfort.” When talking with neighbors about electric bills, people are sometimes confused about why their bills are higher than those near them. Many factors contribute to the amount of energy used in individual homes. “A lot of people don’t know or pay attention to their energy use, especially if they have auto pay or equal pay billing,” Miranda says. “So they may think it’s lower than it is.” A neighbor isn’t necessarily the most reliable comparison. The number of people in the household, how often they’re
home, the appliances they run and the size of the house all factor into the amount of kilowatt-hours—a measurement of electricity—used each month. “Instead of comparing to your neighbor, I recommend comparing your energy use from the previous years or the previous months while considering changes in weather and lifestyle,” Miranda says. “Focus on the kilowatt-hours used rather than the cost, and that will help you understand your energy use.” Another area of confusion for homeowners occurs during the changing of seasons. Even without an adjustment to the thermostat, electricity use can go up. “Even if your thermostat stays at a constant temperature, the change in weather outside causes the heater or air conditioner to work harder to maintain your thermostat set point,” Miranda says. “So even if you don’t change a thing, it runs longer to keep things heated or cooled, using more energy.” Recommended thermostat settings are 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer. If this is uncomfortable, consider each degree you raise the thermostat in the summer and lower in the winter can save 3% or more on heating and cooling costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Coming in as the second-highest energy user in a typical home, your water heater is another great place to find savings. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends a setting of 120 degrees. Most water heaters also have a vacation mode, which helps save more when you are away. If you have any questions regarding your bill, don’t hesitate to contact your electric utility. “The spirit of public power utilities is to help their consumers as much as possible,” Miranda says. “So don’t feel hesitant about reaching out.” n
K OC ST E OB AD
U RO RT E D AN EX AL Y B GE IMA
Apps
to Help Save Energy There are many reasons people are interested in cutting back on energy consumption. Some are primarily motivated to save on their monthly energy bills, while others may be more concerned about reducing their carbon footprints. Regardless of your interest in using less energy, several smartphone apps can help. Smart thermostat apps. Yes, to use a smart thermostat app, you must purchase a smart thermostat. But heating and cooling make up a large portion of the average home’s energy consumption, so saving on heating and cooling can greatly impact bills. Smart thermostats and accompanying apps are handy and promote energy-efficient behavior—and these devices have become much more affordable. You can buy an Energy Star-certified smart thermostat for as low as $100, saving you 8% on annual heating and cooling costs, about $50 per year. The device will quickly pay for itself, and you’ll gain insight into better ways to heat and cool your home. Plus, controlling the thermostat from anywhere can equate to real savings. Energy cost calculators. If you want to reduce energy use at home, knowing your consumption is important. Energy cost calculators can help pinpoint your energy use with a few simple steps and identify areas to save. The concept is pretty simple: plug in the wattage of your various
appliances and how often you use them to see which are using the most energy. Most energy cost calculator apps are free and can be downloaded to any Apple or Android device. If you browse the app store, you’ll find multiple energy cost calculator apps, but most are similar in functionality. Read the apps’ reviews and download the one that best aligns with your energy-efficiency goals. JouleBug app. If you’re competitive and enjoy gamifying, the JouleBug app is right up your alley. JouleBug makes energy conservation simple and fun through personal tasks and badges earned within the app, group challenges you can tackle with friends and communities you can join to learn about local sustainability efforts. The JouleBug app is free and can be downloaded to Apple or Android devices, and it’s an easy tool to make saving energy fun. These are just a few apps that can help you find new energy-saving ways. Smart lightbulbs are typically paired with apps for convenient control of home lighting; smart plugs also come with apps to help you control how you power everyday devices and electronics. Whether you use an app or not, saving energy is always a smart idea that can help you save money on your monthly bills and reduce your carbon footprint. NOVEMBER 2023
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MOHAVE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
MEC Awards
SunWatts Education Grant to Local Educator
BULLHEAD CITY, AZ – Mohave Electric Cooperative (MEC) has awarded the 2023 Education Grant as a continuing show of support for renewable energy education. MEC is proud to support local educators’ efforts in going the extra mile by using innovative ideas to help local youth learn sustainable concepts. The SunWatts Education Grant program is part of MEC’s commitment to our community and is funded through REST (Renewable Energy Standard Tariff) program. Funds from the grant will be used to teach students about sustainability through curriculums designed and implemented by the grant winners. Educator Aubry Sterk of Bullhead City Middle School was the recipient of this year’s education grant. “I’m excited to teach our students the importance of renewable energy to the next generation of innovative thinkers, engineers, leaders, and professionals. I would like our students to compete at an international Space Settlement Design Competition focusing on using real-world, practical application of renewable energy resources. This grant will allow us to get ‘Horizon Renewable
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ABOVE: Mohave Electric Cooperative Energy Management Specialist, Courtney Nixon presents Aubry Sterk with $2,334.00 grant. PHOTO BY CHRISTINE OWENS/MEC
Energy Educational Sets’ for each of our 6th grade science classes to give all of our students the opportunity to strive for excellence. The ‘Horizon Renewable Energy Educational Set’ provides a complete understanding of how fuel cell technology interacts with renewable energy sources to create an entirely sustainable power grid. Countless experiments, so many scientific principles at work and plenty of space for creativity. Thank you MEC for this great opportunity,” said Sterk. Representatives from MEC delivered the check with congratulations to Sterk on September 27. Educators interested in applying for the grant in 2024 can look for the announcement on the website early next year. For other MEC education programs, including the $200 classroom grants, please see mohaveelectric.com. n
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Second
The Jantzen Beach Carousel’s A treasured ride has a colorful past and a vibrant future
The carousel was a fixture of the Jantzen Beach SuperCenter for 30 years. PHOTO COURTESY OF RESTORE OREGON
By Chiara Profenna
David and Kirsten Benko at the Jantzen Beach Carousel Community Celebration. PHOTO COURTESY OF SIMON BENKO
For more than 80 years, the Jantzen Beach Carousel delighted riders on Portland, Oregon’s Hayden Island, whirling them around on its colorful hand-carved horses. Countless Oregonians have fond memories of the carousel before it disappeared in 2012. It wasn’t until this year that the carousel resurfaced with a bright future, steering its reins into The Dalles, Oregon. 10
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The History of the Carousel The iconic carousel had been a part of Hayden Island since 1928, but its history stretches back even further. Built in 1921 by Charles Wallace Parker—nicknamed America’s amusement king for his involvement in the amusement business— the ride was designed for a pier in Venice, California. The carousel was a mechanical
marvel at the time, measuring 67 feet in diameter and boasting four rows of horses. After the original owner of the carousel, J.A. Ellis, went bankrupt in 1924, the carousel was repossessed and sold for $28,000 to Hayden Island Inc., a development company. The carousel was dismantled and moved nearly 1,000 miles north to become a featured ride at Jantzen Beach Amusement Park in Portland. It remained at the amusement park for 41 years until the park’s closure in 1970. Jantzen Beach SuperCenter was subsequently built, and the carousel was the only surviving remnant of the closed amusement park. It continued whirling riders around the mall for another 30 years. In 2012, the carousel took its last spin before the supercenter was demolished. The carousel was dismantled and put into storage—its fate left a mystery. Restore Oregon—a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of Oregon’s historical and cultural places—added
nd Act
UP CLOSE
One of the carousel horses on display at the National Neon Sign Museum. PHOTO BY CHIARA PROFENNA
When the carousel was dismantled, the horses were placed in storage for safekeeping. PHOTO COURTESY OF RESTORE OREGON
the carousel to the list of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places. The carousel did not reappear until 2017. When Kimco Realty Corp., a New York real estate investment firm, bought the Jantzen Beach Center for $131.8 million, the carousel was donated to Restore Oregon by the former owner, Edens Development, an East Coast-based large retail developer. Soon after, Restore Oregon launched a campaign to “Re-TURN the Jantzen Beach Carousel.” Seeking support from the community, Restore Oregon led the charge to give the carousel a new life. Restoration Plans at The National Neon Sign Museum While Restore Oregon began its search to find the carousel a new home, David and Kirsten Benko—founders of The National Neon Sign Museum in The Dalles—caught
Jantzen Beach Carousel at the factory in Leavenworth, Kansas. PHOTO
COURTESY OF C.W. PARKER ARCHIVES, BARBARA FAHS CHARLES COLLECTION
wind of the ambitious project and threw their hats into the ring. “We were both very excited about the project,” Kirsten says. “We just knew that this was a super amazing opportunity to do something cool in The Dalles.” The National Neon Sign Museum has lit up the town’s historic downtown business district since 2019. It highlights the history and artistry of neon signage in America starting in the 1800s. In September, the museum announced it was chosen to continue the restoration efforts and house the completed carousel. A fitting addition to the brightly hued and vintage-inspired museum, the carousel will be in a pavilion next door. David and Kirsten have experience with restoration, having restored the historic Elks building and numerous vintage signs. They hope to engage the community in the
Columbia River Gorge for the carousel’s restoration, turning it into a collaborative project. The first phase of restoration invites artists and craftspeople to join the project and restore some of the 82 horses that make up the herd. The search for contributors is open to people of any skill level. Visit jantzenbeachcarousel.org to learn more. “This idea that we’re bringing this new light—this new attraction to the community—is exciting for a lot of people,” says Simon Benko, a member of the carousel advisory committee at the museum. “I think it brings the community together.” According to David and Kirsten, with the community-centered approach, The Dalles will become a large part of the carousel’s new life and identity. In return, the carousel will bring a showstopping attraction to The Dalles that will become a part of its history. n NOVEMBER 2023
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A Mission o Veterans share a trip of honor at our nation’s memorials Story and photos by Craig Reed Six small private planes flew 12 veterans from Ohio to Washington, D.C., in 2005 to visit the recently completed World War II Memorial. Since that first trip and the establishment of the Honor Flight Network, the nonprofit organization has flown 300,000 veterans to the nation’s capital to visit the memorials built to commemorate their service and sacrifice. It’s an all-expenses-paid trip for the veterans. “We’re tremendously blessed to have a wonderful network of volunteers across the United States who are all committed to the success of this organization,” says Marion Watkins, chief of staff for the Honor Flight Network. “We’re all committed to our shared mission of honoring those men and women who have proudly worn our nation’s uniform.” Dane Prevatt, a Marine Corps veteran, has made eight Honor Flight trips, the first two as a support guardian for a veteran and the last six as president of Honor Flight of Central Oregon. “I’m very passionate about this program,” Dane says. “Being a veteran, I understand the struggle a lot of these guys have—some with major struggles— so any way we can help them, to put their demons in a box, to make those demons even more of a distant memory so they’re no longer shouldering a burden, is important. I get a lot out of delivering that for them. “If an Honor Flight trip starts the healing process, starts the conversation, gets the ball rolling for a veteran, then it’s a good thing.” Earl Morse, a retired Air Force captain and a physician assistant at a Veterans Affairs clinic in Springfield, Ohio, saw a need for the flights when he talked to patients who were World War II veterans. His passion and concern for veterans started with his father, a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, and his uncle, a Vietnam veteran. He asked the veterans if they were planning to see the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Most answered yes, but several months later, when he saw them again and asked if they had visited the memorial, their answer was no. Earl realized a trip wouldn’t happen for most of these veterans without support as travel became more challenging as they aged. He offered to fly two veterans to Washington, D.C., to see their memorial. After seeing the emotions of those two, Earl pitched the idea for more flights to a local airplane club. Eleven pilots volunteered to join Earl on another trip. The pilots paid for the trips and escorted the veterans around to the different memorials. Jeff Miller—a dry-cleaning company owner in North Carolina—was inspired by Earl’s effort to support veterans. Jeff, the son of a World War II 12
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n of Honor
SPOTLIGHT
Vietnam War veteran Donald Beckett honors his fallen brothers at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
NOVEMBER 2023
13
veteran and nephew of a B-24 bomber pilot who died in the war, is a charter member of the National World War II Memorial Foundation. “I have a real need to serve the ones who have served me—who have given me my opportunities—and that’s the drive,” Jeff says. Earl and Jeff worked together to establish Honor Flight, and gradually, 125 hubs formed. The hubs coordinate the trips, tours, volunteers and fundraising efforts, so there are no costs or travel concerns for the veterans. Earl and Jeff want veterans to have the opportunity to remember lost friends and 14
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TOP: The Honor Flight group at the World War II Memorial. ABOVE LEFT: Veterans Jerry Wilken, left, LeRoy Johnson, Dane Prevatt and Lee Houston visit at the United States Navy Memorial. Dane is the president of Honor Flight of Central Oregon. ABOVE RIGHT: Oregon Congressional Rep. Cliff Bentz presents a flag to LeRoy Johnson.
the chance to heal and share stories. Earl and Jeff were awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2008 for their extensive work in creating Honor Flight and making it a successful, memorable experience for veterans. Approximately 350 Honor Flight trips are now made annually, bringing about 25,000 veterans a year to the memorials. Despite being older, almost 1,000 World War II veterans made Honor Flight trips in 2022. Due to aging, the number of Korean
War veterans has also been dwindling in recent years. This year, most Honor Flight veterans served during the Vietnam War. Each veteran is paired with a guardian who provides support such as pushing wheelchairs, helping with luggage, offering a helping hand when needed and listening if veterans want to share any stories from their military service. “A guardian is a traveling companion who shares in the veteran’s experience,” Marion says. “It’s about the veterans, and oftentimes,
Volunteer Henry Lazzaro helps veteran Hal Darcey and guardian Rosalie McGaugh with a rubbing from the Vietnam War Memorial.
the veteran will share stories with the guardian that they haven’t shared with their family. The trip may bring stories to the surface, and the guardian is there to listen.” Jose Lopez, a 21-year Army veteran, made a recent Honor Flight trip as a guardian. “I want to help support our past veterans, to hopefully provide that closure that they missed,” Jose says, specifically noting the negative reception Vietnam veterans received on their return home. “I’m hoping to show those veterans that they are never forgotten. I really appreciate the Honor Flight program providing those veterans who didn’t get closure the opportunity to get it now.”
Marion says the Honor Flight trips typically include receptions in the airports the veterans travel through and announcements of their presence. In Washington, D.C., depending on time and weather, stops are scheduled at the Vietnam, Korean War, World War I, World War II, Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine memorials. They also visit the George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Martin Luther King memorials; Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; the National Archives Museum; and the U.S. Capitol. On their flights home, mail call on the airplanes provides veterans with letters and cards that thank them for their service, welcome them home and wish them well. A final celebration wraps up each trip. It usually features a lightsand-siren procession through town and a gathering of several hundred family, friends and well-wishers where the veterans are individually introduced. Marion says since the World War II and Korean War veterans have aged, Honor Flight trips are now focused on Vietnam veterans. “We honor and appreciate all of our veterans, of course, but for the Vietnam generation, this experience is hard to describe,” Marion says. “It hits them in a much deeper way because they didn’t get the ticker tape parade, the red carpet
rolled out for them. Fifty years later, for them to hear ‘Thank you for your service,’ impacts them in an important way. To repay that generation with an Honor Flight trip is important.” Dane says he has seen and heard many reactions to the trips by the veterans he has accompanied. “I’ve had people say, ‘I didn’t know I needed this, but I needed this, and now I can move on. I’ve paid my respect to those who didn’t come home,’ ” Dane says. “I’m extremely proud of what I’ve been able to do for veterans, but there are still men and women out there who have not made the trip and who have not been welcomed home properly. I hope they get the opportunity.” n
A nation where all of America’s veterans experience the honor, gratitude and community of support they deserve. —HONOR FLIGHT’S VISION
NOVEMBER 2023
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IN THE KITCHEN
Tasty Tex-Mex
COMFORT FOODS Salsa Verde Chicken and Poblano Enchiladas 1 teaspoon vegetable oil 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 poblano pepper, diced 16 ounces salsa verde 1/2 cup sour cream, plus more for serving 1/4 cup cilantro leaves and tender stems, chopped, plus more for serving
Recipes by Gertrude Treadaway PHOTO BY KATIE WILCOX
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2 cups shredded cooked chicken 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack or cotija cheese 6 6-inch corn tortillas, fried lightly in a skillet Salt and pepper, to taste
Heat oven to 350 F. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add diced poblano pepper, and saute until softened. Stir in the salsa. Cook until heated through, about 1 minute. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the sour cream and cilantro. Taste for seasoning. Adjust with salt, pepper or more sour cream if the sauce is too spicy. Set aside 1 cup of the sauce. Stir the chicken and half of the cheese into the sauce in the skillet. Grease a 2-quart baking dish. Spread a little of the reserved sauce on the bottom. Add about 1/3 cup of the chicken filling to the middle of each tortilla and roll into a cylinder. Repeat. Tightly line up tortillas, seam side down, in the dish. Spread the rest of the reserved sauce over the tortillas, and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Cover the dish with aluminum foil. Bake until heated through, about 15 minutes. Remove the foil. Bake 10 minutes longer, until the cheese is melted. Top with sour cream and cilantro.
Cilantro-Lime Rice Bowls Cilantro-lime rice
1 tablespoon avocado oil 11/4 cup basmati or jasmine rice 1 teaspoon minced garlic 2 cups water
1 teaspoon lime zest 1 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup lime juice 11/4 cup chopped cilantro
Bowls 1 cup black beans, cooked or canned; drained 1/2 cup corn, roasted, grilled or canned; drained 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or cubed
1/2 cup diced tomatoes 1 avocado, cubed 1/2 cup sour cream Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Lightly toast the rice in the oil over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan until it begins to brown. Add the garlic, water, lime zest and salt. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat, and cover. Let simmer for about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Add the lime juice and continue to cook with the lid on for another 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in the cilantro, and fluff the rice with a fork. Divide the rice, beans, corn, chicken, tomatoes, sour cream and avocado among four bowls. Garnish with cilantro.
Diner-Style Queso
2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/4 cup diced yellow onion ¼ cup jalapenos, seeded and finely diced 41/2-ounce can chopped green chiles, undrained 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 cup whole milk 2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 pound white American cheese, shredded 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, plus more for topping 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper Tortilla chips Guacamole Pico de gallo
Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add onion and jalapenos. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add green chiles and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 seconds. Whisk together milk, 1 cup water and cornstarch in a bowl until well combined. Add to chile mixture in the saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add cheese. Reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted, about 2 minutes. Stir in cilantro, cumin, salt and cayenne pepper. Transfer queso to a serving bowl, small slow cooker or chafing dish set over a flame. Sprinkle with cilantro. Serve queso warm with tortilla chips, guacamole and pico de gallo.
Double Bean Burritos
1 can refried beans 1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained 1½ cups cooked Mexican rice 1 cup salsa 1 small can diced green chiles
1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed 2 teaspoons cumin Dash of salt 1½ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided 12 10-inch flour tortillas
Heat oven to 400 F. In a large bowl, stir together the refried beans, black beans, rice, salsa, chilies, corn, cumin, salt and 1 cup cheese. Add more seasoning to taste if desired. Place the tortillas on a plate, and cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. One at a time, lay the tortillas flat. Place 1/3 cup of filling just below the center. Fold in the sides of the tortilla so they nearly touch, then bring up the bottom of the tortilla. Pull the contents tight, rolling the burrito from the bottom up and keeping the sides tucked. Lay the burritos side by side in a 9-by-13-inch pan. Sprinkle remaining cheese over the top. Bake for about 20 minutes until heated through and the cheese is melted and golden brown.
Taco Casserole
1 tablespoon canola oil 11/2 pounds ground beef 1 medium-size red onion, diced, divided 1 package taco seasoning 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
15-ounce can diced fireroasted tomatoes 9 8-inch corn tortillas 12 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 1/2 cup pico de gallo
Heat oven to 400°F. Heat oil in a large skillet over high. Add beef. Cook, stirring often until browned, about 6 minutes. Add half of the onion to the skillet. Cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add taco seasoning and 1/2 cup water to the skillet. Stir to coat the meat. Add beans and tomatoes, and reduce heat to medium. Simmer, stirring often, until slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Heat tortillas in a dry skillet over high heat, 15 seconds per side. Transfer to a plate, and cover with a towel to keep warm. Place three tortillas in an 8-inch square baking dish. Top with 2 cups of the beef mixture. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the cheese. Repeat layers two more times. Bake until cheese is melted, about 8 minutes. Remove from oven. Top with pico de gallo and remaining onion. N O V E M B E R 2023
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READER EXCHANGE Crafts/Hobbies I am looking for older leather carving and tooling stamps such as Tandy Craftool or Midas. They are used to mark patterns on leather. I can reimburse the cost to ship. Darryl Maas 3740 Jack Drive Missoula, MT 59803 darrmaas@hotmail.com
Looking for a large amount of animal bones and antlers for a public art project. Antlers, horns and bleached cattle skeletons preferred, but all (especially large) animal bones are welcome. Email for address or, if you’re in the area and you’ve got a big enough collection you’d like to pass on to be part of a visually stunning sculpture, we will travel to pick up. Dana and the Bone Tree P.O. Box 234 Doyle, CA 96109 DanaAlbany@juno.com
I would appreciate any unused buttons you may have. Plain and flat ones are great, but any shape, size and color works well. I am making “button flowers” from stacked buttons to put into small vases to give to shut-ins. Thank you! Shirley Lyons 87007 Green Ridge Drive Veneta, OR 97487
Is anyone interested in plastic lids and caps for craft projects? I have more than a gallon bag of them. Judy Olson 36545 Star Road Pleasant Hill, OR 97455 olsonjua@live.com
Milestones My mother, Becky, turns 80 this month. Raised in Wisconsin, she now lives in beautiful Prineville, Oregon. She enjoys sending massive amounts of cards to her family and friends, and she will get a kick out of receiving cards to celebrate this milestone birthday. Thank you in advance for sending warm messages to Becky Christman, 10601 SE Golden Eagle Drive, Prineville, OR 97754-7817. Sheelah Courteau Redmond, Oregon
Submitting Requests Is Free
My mom, Jean Bartholomew, turns 90 years old this month. She is active and healthy. She credits her longevity to volunteering for many years, helping others, tending to her flowers and eating chocolate. Jean has volunteered for the Roseburg VA Hospital for more than 18,000 hours in 55 years, and she volunteers at the Oakland Historic Museum and other community events. It would make her birthday special to get birthday cards or postcards in the mail. She drives to the post office daily to get her mail and would be excited to receive all the birthday wishes. Thank you so much. Please mail to Jean Bartholomew, P.O. Box 367 Oakland, OR 97462. Nancy Montgomery Oakland, Oregon
Music I am requesting any Yupik language gospel music. I remember growing up, there would be artists selling CDs of their Yupik gospel music. I have not seen any in the past few years. I would appreciate any Yupik gospel music you may have. Thank you in advance for any music sent. Karin Evans P.O. Box 9 Goodnews Bay, AK 99589-0009
Odds Looking for old Lego instructions to put kits together for the great-grandchildren. James Allen 1078 Central Blvd. Hayward, CA 94542
Thanks Thank you to all who spent the time to send me the peanut butter fudge recipes. I hope to find the one that comes the closest. Debra Kompkoff Valdez, Alaska
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Send your request—no attachments, please—to readerexchange@ruralite.org or mail to Reader Exchange, 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Suite 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Fill in the subject line with Reader Exchange. Acceptance, scheduling and editing are at the editor’s discretion. Single requests only, please. No duplicates. Submissions are handled on a first-come, first-served basis and as space allows. We cannot honor every request. Please affirm you have authorization from all appropriate parties before submitting. By submitting, you indemnify Reader Exchange, Pioneer Utility Resources Inc., its officers, directors, employees, utility clients and insurers from all legal liability incurred by the publication of information. We no longer accept pen pal requests. You may submit a pen pal request as a Marketplace ad. Marketplace pricing applies. When submitting a milestone request, please send it at least two months before the milestone. Phone numbers will not be published. Email addresses will be published if part of the ad, but you must include a postal address. Requests also must include the name and address of the electric utility that provides your magazine.
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N O V E M B E R 2023
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ADVENTURE AWAITS
Discover how people adapted to life in the desert at Arizona’s
Montezuma Castle National Monument
PHOTO BY PAMELA AU
Why Live in a Cliff?
What Is It? Built into a cliff face, Montezuma Castle National Monument is a series of dwellings created by the Sinagua people roughly 900 years ago as a way to survive in the desert of Arizona. The site’s name comes from misguided settlers who thought it was an Aztec site. 20
N O V E M B E R 2023
Who Were the Sinagua? The Sinagua people inhabited Central and Northern Arizona between 1,400 and 550 years ago. The name comes from the Spanish “sin agua” for “without water,” since they survived in arid climates. Especially after roughly 1050 A.D., they began building including pueblos and cliff dwellings.
The monument location has many benefits for surviving a unique climate. The cliff faces south, which keeps the dwellings warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It is also elevated, which positions it above the waters of nearby creeks that often flood and gives a good vantage point for viewing approaching visitors.
Before You Go Montezuma Castle was one of the United States’ first four national monuments, designated in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1933, roughly 50 rooms were restored. Until 1951, visitors could climb ladders to visit the structure, but that stopped due to degradation of the site.
More Information All visitors to the national monument must have a pass. Standard passes are $10, while annual and interagency passes are also available. For more information and to start planning your trip, call 928567-3322 or visit www.nps.gov/moca.
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The portable, folding, battery-powered chair that offers easy one-handed operation Remember when you were a child and got your first bicycle? I do. It gave me a sense of independence . . . I felt like I could go anywhere, and it was so much easier and more enjoyable than walking. Well, at my age, that bike wouldn’t do me much good. Fortunately, there’s a new invention that gives me the freedom and independence to go wherever I want . . . safely and easily. It’s called the Zoomer, and it’s changed my life.
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My Zoomer is a delight to ride! It has increased my mobility in my apartment, my opportunities to enjoy the out-of-doors, and enabled me to visit the homes of my children for longer periods of time. The various speeds of it match my need for safety, it is easy to turn, and I am most pleased with the freedom of movement it gives me. Sincerely, A. Macon, Williamsburg, VA After just one trip around your home in the Zoomer, you’ll marvel at how easy it is to navigate. It is designed to maneuver in tight spaces like doorways, between furniture, and around corners. It can go over thresholds and works great on any kind of floor or carpet. It’s not bulky or cumbersome, so it can roll right up to a table or desk– there’s no need to transfer to a chair. Its sturdy yet lightweight aluminum frame makes it durable and comfortable. Its dual motors power it at up to 3.7 miles per hour and its automatic electromagnetic brakes stop on a dime. The rechargeable battery powers it for up to 8 miles on a single charge. Plus, its exclusive foldable design enables you to
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The Zoomer Chair is a personal electric vehicle and is not a medical device nor a wheelchair. It is not intended for medical purposes to provide mobility to persons restricted to a sitting position. It is not covered by Medicare nor Medicaid. © 2023 Journey Health & Lifestyle
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THE GREAT PICTURE HUNT
RIGHT: Kristi Johnson, daughter of Alfred Andrew Arnoldus, talks about how her father loved to act out stories as he read to his children. BELOW RIGHT: The obituary for Alfred that he wrote himself and the Thanksgiving column he kept folded in his wallet. PHOTOS BY DAVE LABELLE
A Humbling
Treasure Like seeds carried by birds to faraway places, our words travel, and we seldom know the impact they might have on another’s life. After her father’s death in September 2019, Kristi Johnson, from Hood River, Oregon, was sorting through her father’s belongings and found in his wallet a folded and worn column I had written about Thanksgiving published in 2012. You can read the column at ruralite.com/bestholiday. When Kristi wrote and told me this story and then sent me the obituary her daddy had written himself, I am not ashamed to admit tears flooded my eyes. No one deserves such an honor, I thought. To add to this already humbling honor, Kristi shared Renowned author, photographer and lecturer Dave LaBelle has captured special moments for more than half a century. For more of his writings, visit davidlabelle.com and bridgesandangels.wordpress.com.
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that she started a tradition of reading the column out loud when the family gathers each Thanksgiving Day. Through phone calls, letters and a visit last winter with Kristi and her husband, Vern, in the Hood River home her father built for them, I learned more about the man who followed this column and often talked with his daughter about what I had written. Alfred Andrew Arnoldus was an avid reader. “He loved books and could quote anybody, anything,” Kristi says. “He read Ruralite magazine regularly and often showed me your columns when we would go to visit. ‘Did you see this one?’ ‘Did you read this one?’ He never showed me the Thanksgiving one, until I found it. “He was the greatest storyteller. He read books to us kids in the wintertime. We would sit as a family, and he would read, and we didn’t want him to stop because he would act them out. He was very dramatic.” Alfred always wanted to be a
NIKON D800, 24-70mm lens ISO 280, f/3.2 at 1/250
dirt farmer. “His dream was to be a great big farmer,” Kristi says. He eventually bought his own place. “It wasn’t much of a farm at all,” she says. “It was the only thing my dad could afford and was considered trash, basically. It was swampy. But he tiled it out.” She remembers how the family lived in a machine shed while her dad built a house next door. “He carpentered in the winter then farmed in the summer because he didn’t have enough money for farming in the beginning.” In time, with the help of her two brothers, the farm became one of the biggest, if not the biggest, in the area. It saddens me that I missed the privilege of knowing Alfred, a man who never flew on an airplane and didn’t drink or smoke, built his own house and one for his daughter, fashioned a dream farm, had faith in God, loved words and had opinions he didn’t mind
sharing. I know I would have liked this farmer poet who could quote Shakespeare. But I am thankful we had a connection. My life continues to be enhanced by people I admire yet never met, many of whom walked this Earth centuries before I was born. n
Reader Challenge This month instead of making a photo, your assignment is to write a letter of thanks to someone who is important to you. Express to them how their actions or support helped you overcome some hurdle or propelled you to success.
MOHAVE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
National Night Out:
An MEC Tradition
PHOTOS BY COURTNEY NIXON/MEC
We Love our
Members! By Tara Haywood
In recognition of National Cooperative Month, MEC held Member Appreciation Thursdays throughout the month of October. Members were invited to drop by our office each week for snacks, refreshments—and a spin of our colorful prize wheel! Every spin was a winner, and—from kitchen essentials to electronics—members walked away with some great swag! Our friendly staff was on hand to chat with members about MEC’s many services, community projects and energy efficiency programs. Representatives from TWN Communications were also available on select days to answer questions about the continued expansion of Fiber Internet throughout the area. While we know that some of you only popped in for the cookies, we didn’t mind! (No judgement here—they really were fantastic!) We loved seeing familiar faces—and were thrilled to meet so many new members. The most rewarding aspect of our job is seeing our members smile! While the prize wheel and cookies might not be available every day, we are always available to answer your questions and concerns. We appreciate our members each and every day of the year. Thank you for participating in our annual tradition, but—most of all—thank you for being part of Mohave Electric Cooperative! n
For more than 20 years, Mohave Electric Cooperative has been proud to partner with the Bullhead City Police and Fire Departments for National Night Out (NNO). As mentioned on the official NNO website, National Night Out is an annual event that promotes policecommunity partnerships and encourages neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. Now in its’ 40th year, NNO is celebrated by millions in thousands of municipalities across the United States. While most of the country observes NNO on the second Tuesday of August, much of the desert Southwest holds off until October, when the climate is more hospitable. Located near the entrance to the event, MEC’s booth was in a prime location—especially for the youngest of attendees. While fresh baked cookies and bottled water were offered to all, children also received their choice of a complimentary football or soccer ball. (Tickets for some incredible raffle prizes were also distributed!) While the opportunity to get to know the selfless men and women who serve our community was incentive enough for many to come out, parents certainly appreciated the extra steps taken to make for an amazing night for the kiddos. Face-painting, shaved-ice, treats— and most of all, the chance to check out police vehicles, rescue boats and fire apparatus! Always heavily-attended, our local NNO is one that both residents and MEC employees look forward to each year. As with many other community gatherings, staff graciously volunteered their time. Setting the precedent was CEO Tyler Carlson, who could be found throughout the night engaging with attendees and even tossing a few footballs around! When asked about MEC’s involvement with such events, Carlson said, “We believe that Commitment to Community also means getting out to volunteer. You will see our staff at events throughout the area, donating their time. That’s the Cooperative difference. We live in the community, we are part of the community. We don’t have a CEO and Board of Directors that lives somewhere else. We are here.” Commitment to Community is one of Mohave Electric Cooperative’s seven principles, and clearly, that spirit of volunteerism begins at the top. n NOVEMBER 2023
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MARKETPLACE Agriculture
Reinforced custom-sized pond liners (39 cents/sqft). Hay covers, greenhouse covers, any width and length. Truck tarps and more. High puncture and tear strength. Best price guaranteed. Celebrating 42 years in business. www.btlliners.com. 541-447-0712. 0424 4x5 round bales, Meadow Foxtail Orchard Grass. 4x4 Timothy, small square. 208-435-4637 or 208-435-4002; nas@cpcinternet.com. 1223 20-acre hay field available for lease in Goldendale, WA. Good well, level land, fees negotiable. idle90683@mypacks.net. 1223 Antiques and Collectibles Buying doll cases, clothes 1930s and 1960s Vogue, Revlon, Alexander, Barbies. Any condition, fair prices paid. Gayle, 541-466-3115 or A3163@yahoo.com. 1223 Selling boxes of glassware. Fenton and other makers. Contact Sandy, 254-227-1937 or skfalsetto@gmail.com. 1123 Buying old American Indian artifacts, Navajo blankets and rugs, old baskets, beadwork, etc. Also, old paintings. Send photos or call: amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com; 760-409-3117. 1123 Automotive Classic 1966 Ford F-250 pickup, ex-U.S. Forest Service, for restoration, runs good, big 6-cylinder, HD rear end, BO. foulwaterbay@yahoo.com. 1123 1982 Ford Granada station wagon. 112K original miles. 3.3L, 6-cylinder engine. Needs a few things, but runs good. $5.5K firm. 541-508-6476; Beeve1943@gmail.com. 1123 1966 Dodge all-window van, converted to camper when new. Pop-up top w/glass windows. Engine poor, rusted rocker panels. Best offer. John, 907-378-8352. 1123 Books, Magazines, Videos Write it down! Your weight, what you ate, how you moved, blood pressures and more. Book also makes a great gift. 541-698-6028. www.therecordkeeper.us. 1223
Quick, Affordable: How to Place an Ad
Ads 25 words or fewer are $35 a month. An extended ad of up to 35 words is $50 a month. Contact information is included in the word count. Phone numbers and emails count as one word. Longer ads may be placed. Contact 503-357-2105 or info@pioneer.coop for pricing information. Ads are for customers of member co-ops, public utility districts and municipals only. Subscribers and nonmembers may inquire about pricing at 503-357-2105 or info@pioneer.coop. Ads must be direct and in first person, and are subject to approval and editing. Closing deadlines (in our office): January issue—November 30, 2023. If submitting ad by mail, send appropriate payment with your name, address, email, phone number and the name of the electric utility that provides your magazine to: Marketplace, P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133. Make check or money order payable to Ruralite. We accept credit card payments for ads submitted by email. Send ad to info@pioneer.coop.
Call 503-357-2105 to pay by credit card. Advertisements are accepted in good faith. Pioneer Utility Resources is not liable for interactions between buyers and sellers.
Business Opportunities
Free Items
A great business opportunity in Boardman, OR. A small cafe you can use your imagination in. Frontage view of freeway, quick in and out access. A coffee espresso shop on property for extra income. $1.3M. For more information, contact Karen at 541-571-0636. 1123
Free materials—church, government uniting, suppressing “religious liberty,” enforcing National Sunday Law. Be informed. Need mailing address only. TBS, P.O. Box 374, Ellijay, GA 30540. tbsmads@yahoo.com; 888-211-1715.
Quaint hardware store in Maupin, OR, for sale. Inventory and interior store recently updated and refreshed. See ad on Bizbuysell.com or email Maupincountrystore@gmail.com. $309K. 0324 Community Events
Let’s light up your life with art! I create cheerful artwork celebrating the beauty and wonder of nature. Choose from colorful prints and cards, originals, block prints, gift wrap, custom artwork and fun gifts. www.PamelaSueArtandDesigns.com. 1223
Annual Handmade Holidays Makers Market at Art Center East in La Grande, OR. November 17-18. Local and regional artists and artisans. Artcentereast.org. 1123
Unique glass-beaded jewelry for all ages. I take custom orders. Great for Christmas gifts. I’m a teen-owned small business. Jewelrybydesign.org. 1123
Hobbies, Gifts, Games
Equipment/Tools
Miscellaneous
More “Montello Remembered” novels available. I’m also liquidating my NV history collection. Many rare and hard-to-find books now available. pruitt2010@frontier.com; 775-753-3254. 1223
New tracks for Deere & Hitachi mdls 120 and 135. 44 link ValuePart chains, 24” BERCO shoes. 10 years outside storage. $1.6K for one roll, $3K for the set, FOB Eugene. For details: Ted Brown, tedb@cscparts.com or 541-556-0517. 1123
Book restoration. Bibles, cookbooks, cherished family heirlooms. Beautiful work. We give renewed life, more durable than original, to last for generations. 775-537-7066; salacanstudio@gmail.com. 1123AR
Used commercial Stone mortar mixer 855 PM. Turns over OK. Needs new bearings and paddle rubbers replaced. $390 as is. Located in Lebanon, OR. Scott, 541-401-7056 or burlbrick@hotmail.com. 1123
Local commercial fisherman sells summer catch of preserved freshness by blast frozen at sea, gourmet canned tuna on internet. Sept.June. 100% guaranteed the best canned tuna you ever tasted. Original, jalapeno and garlic flavors available. Visit Twofisherstuna.com or call 206-799-1082 to place your order. 1223
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Alaskan yellow cedar. Great for planter boxes, herb and flower beds, fencing or decks. Various sizes available. Pete, 541-206-0727. Lisa, 541-747-5025, ext. 21. 1223
Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. For more info: Joe, 541-815-8906. www.highdesertmemorials.com and hdmemorials@bendbroadband.com. 1123 Pets, Supplies Bengal kittens available in brown, silver rosette coat markings. Royalbengalcat.com; myakcats@gmail.com; 907-803-1005. 1123 Purebreed European champion bloodline Maine coon kittens available. Email barloweemily852@gmail.com for current litter or future reserved litters. Call or text 808-222-1828. 1123 Saint bernard, German shepherd, and akita dogs up for rehoming. Saintbernardpups.com, Akitapuppy.org, akceuropeangermansherpherd.com. 907-803-1005; myakdogs@gmail.com. 1123 Quality border collie puppies, the world’s most intelligent dog. Lebanon, OR. Call or text 541-979-5759. 1123 Bordoodles are versatile, dedicated, loveable and shed very little. Males and females, $700 each. We offer a veteran discount. Adel, OR. 775-790-7509; rimrockdoodlesmp@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook @RimrockBordoodles to get to know these delightful dogs. 1123
$200,000 fully loaded remote Alaska property for sale. Log cabin with river boat (less than 200 hrs), 5 acres, sawmill, tractor, toolshed full of everything you would need and much more. River and trail access. Only serious buyers. 907-388-7080. 1123 4 well-maintained 1,200-sqft. cedar homes with huge decks on year-round creek. 2.12 acres. Close to small town of Selma, OR. $875K. 541-597-2185. 1123 Off-grid homestead. 20 acres; NE, NV. Water and power close by. Fully livable. With equipment and facilities. Year-round access. $35K. geopup58@gmail.com. 1123 21/2 acres of view property south of Prineville. Gently sloping to south, some trees, some open, quiet and private, adjacent parcel also for sale. Good wells in area, power available. $89K. Beeve1943@gmail.com; 541-508-6476. 1123 11.27 acres with 3,484 sqft., 3-bd, 2-ba house on Umpqua River just west of Elkton on Hwy 38. 32361 State Highway 38, Elkton, OR 97436.
Want to Buy Gold, silver, coins/currency, buy, sell. Collections wanted. Fair prices paid. 44 years in retail store. Baker City, OR. 800-556-2133; garrymclin@aol.com. 1024 Wanted: vintage wristwatches, pocket watches, watch collections, watchmakers’ estates, etc. 541-760-1050. Please leave a message if I don’t answer. Will travel. Thank you. 1123 Old carpenter tools, planes (wood/metal), levels, chisels, slicks, adzes, axes, hatchets, handsaws, old rulers, spoke shaves, wrenches, shipwright tools, old tool chests. 503-659-0009 or 971-666-0659. 1123
Follow us on Facebook! facebook.com/Ruralite
Border collie/McNab puppies. The best dog you will ever have. Males and females, $450 each. Colton, OR. 503-314-0145. 1123 Stud service for mini Australian shepherd. Photos available. Crescent Lake, OR. Liz Sanders, 360-901-1291. 1123 Real Estate For sale in Taos, NM. Listed on La Loma Plaza. Historical designated home on plaza. Courtyard, large backyard, fenced. Built 1760, charming two-bd, one-ba historic home. $650K. Call or text: 415-519-3474. 1123 $600K interior Alaskan turnkey roadhouse and 2 dry cabins. Well-maintained on 5 acres with pond. 50 scenic miles south to Denali Park entrance. 907-460-9292. 0524 Let me help you buy or sell ranch, farm & recreation property in Oregon. Fourthgeneration Oregonian, ranch owner. For sale: Sisters, OR, 40 acres $1.7M. John Gill, 541-480-9161 or johngill@landandwildlife.com. Land And Wildlife brokerage. 1123 Antlers Inn, Ukiah, OR. 14-bd, plus 3-bd owner/manager quarters, office, lobby and bonus room. MFG with 2 rental units, walk-in cooler, storage van, 3 extra lots. All for $250K. Call for further details. 541-560-2323. 1123 582 acres in Fox Valley. Views, fenced, annual hay crop, spring/fall grazing, 2 creeks, LOP tags. $582.5K Duke Warner Realty: 541-987-2363 or ddwr@ortelco.net. 1123
OregonRiverRealty.com. Listings complete with 360-degree inside virtual tour, outside drone shots and house layout plan. Highly trained real estate professionals who will coordinate your transaction and put more $$$money$$$ on your side of the table. Always free comparative market analysis. Call today: 541-480-0212, Willamette Valley; 541-389-2359, East of Cascades. 1123 Recreational Rentals Bend country cabin. Very clean and fully furnished cabin on private ranch. Close to recreation areas. Very nice. $95/night. 541-382-3050; bendcountrycabins@gmail.com. Services To landowners willing to act in the near-term to realize and protect the long-term ‘vision’ for their property, I can bring you four decades of my natural resource planning and project management experience to help. Northwestrurallandmanagement.com. 1123
Your ad could be here in January. See instructions on Page 26 for details.
NOVEMBER 2023
27
Reliable Energy Plan Is the Pathway to the Future Arizona Electric Power Cooperative develops battery energy storage— the first phase of its Reliable Energy Plan
By Geoff Oldfather As the nation’s electric power industry transitions from fossil fuels to sources of renewable energy, a not-for-profit generation and transmission cooperative in southern Arizona leads the way with a transition plan that maintains reliability with a mix of new gas turbine generation, renewable energy sources and industrial-scale battery storage. Arizona Electric Power Cooperative’s (AEPCO) Reliable Energy Plan is a comprehensive mix of new power resources that help the co-op make the move to incorporate more renewable energy sources over time in a responsible way, according to Chris Jimenez, AEPCO director of energy services and project development. “The key element of the Reliable Energy Plan is a power
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N O V E M B E R 2023
The addition of the battery energy storage systems (BESS) to existing utility scale solar is the first phase of Arizona Electric Power Cooperative’s (AEPCO) Reliable Energy Plan. PHOTO COURTESY OF POWIN
portfolio driven by diversity, which includes flexible natural gas generation, solar and batteries,” Chris says. “Our first phase is to assist our members by adding battery energy storage systems (BESS) to existing solar facilities. We do this first, through economies of scale, by collectively procuring 35 megawatts
ARIZONA G&T COOPERATIVES
“
The key element of the Reliable Energy Plan is a portfolio driven by diverse power resources, which includes the addition of battery energy storage systems to existing solar facilities.
”
– Chris Jimenez, AEPCO director of energy services and project development of batteries, and second through distribution reliability, by distributing the battery units to different sites across our members’ service territories.” Battery storage sites will be near substations owned and operated by Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, Trico Electric Cooperative and Mohave Electric Cooperative. Karis Nelson, senior project manager at AEPCO, says the battery units use the latest technology to maintain key elements of electric power distribution to end-use consumers. “The Centipede modular energy-storage system design consists of thermal management technology and other stateof-the art features to enhance safety and performance,” she says. “When completed, this project will provide much-needed flexibility, local voltage support, transmission and distribution infrastructure deferment, and greatly support emergency reliability.” The Reliable Energy Plan will incorporate more renewable energy into AEPCO’s portfolio through state-of-the-art battery energy storage systems to move solar generated power to the early evening when it is needed most, Karis explains. “For our member co-ops, it gives them operational flexibility to respond to system interruptions and outages, which will improve reliability,” she says. “We’re very excited to move ourselves in to a new era of renewable energy.” As the generation and transmission co-op began planning for the project and talking to landowners and members who live near the sites of future construction, the co-op received overwhelming support, says Teresa Murphy, land services administrator for AEPCO. “We always want to be a good neighbor to our adjoining parcel owners, and we always want to work with local entities to maintain a good relationship throughout the project,” Teresa says. “AEPCO worked hard with property owners and entities to ensure they were aware of what we are doing and why. Everyone we talked to about this project was very supportive.
Incorporating Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) into AEPCO’s energy portfolio provides its member co-ops and their memberconsumers with enhanced reliability and operational flexibility as more solar and other renewable energy sources are added. PHOTOS BY STEFANIE SPENCER
They understand the need for power and especially power from renewable sources. This project is very exciting because we’re working on groundbreaking technology while making the best use of this land.” All involved agree the Reliable Energy Plan is the pathway to the future, and the addition of BESS to existing utility scale solar is the first phase of that plan. n
NOVEMBER 2023
29
Management and Circulation
The average number of copies of each issue during the preceding 12 months are:Required by 39 USC 3685 AverageFiled No. Copies Issue During on Preceding Months withEachthe USPS - 125-23 a. Total No. Copies (net press run) ...................................................... 8, 7 Currents (publication number 030-520) is published bimonthly at 5625 NE b. Paid Circulation Elam(1)Outside Young Parkway, Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Six issues are published7 County....................................................................... annually with a subscription price of $ . paid by utility members in (2) In-County ..................................................................................... -0their electric bills. (3)Sales Through Dealers................................................................... 4 7 The name and complete mailing address of the publisher is: Pioneer Other Classes ................................................................................-0Utility(4)Resources, 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. c. Total The Paid nameCirculation and complete mailing address of the editor is Mike Teegarden, of 15b(1) throughSte. 15b(4)) .................................................. 8 5625(Sum NE Elam Young Parkway, 100 Hillsboro, OR 97124. d. Free or Nominal The owner is Pioneer Rate UtilityDistribution Resources (PUR).There are no known (1) Outside County .............................................................................-0bondholders or other security holders. (2) In-County ......................................................................................-0PUR is a nonprofit organization mailing under DMM Section 423.12. Its purpose, function and nonprofit status for federal income tax purposes has (3) Other Classes .................................................................................-0not changed in thethepreceding 12 months. Is writing your annual holiday letter a chore? Do you worry it (4) Outside Mail ........................................................................... -0The Free average number ofRate copies of each issue during the preceding e. Total or Nominal Distribution lacks a certain flair? Try these tips for writing a letter your family 12 months are:15d(1) through 15d(4)) ....................................................... -0(Sum of will look forward to reading. Average No. Copies(Sum EachofIssue During 12 Months f.Total Distribution 15c and 15e)Preceding ......................................... 8 1. Start with a catchy opening. Grab the attention of your a.g.Copies Total No.NotCopies (net press run) ...................................................... 8, 77 Distributed ....................................................................... b.h. Paid reader from the beginning. You can use an interesting anecdote, a TotalCirculation (Sum of 15f and 15g) ........................................................... 8 8 (1)Outside 7 100% i. Percent Paid County....................................................................... (15c divided by 15f times 100) ..................................... surprising fact or a funny incident that happened during the year. In-County ..................................................................................... No.(2) Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date -02. Share your highlights. People are interested in your life and (3)Sales Through(net Dealers................................................................... a.Total No. Copies press run) ........................................................4 78 7 what you’ve been up to. Share highlights of your year, such as a (4) Other Classes ................................................................................-0b. Paid Circulation c. Total Paid Circulation of Ownership, promotion at work, a new hobby or a fun vacation youStatement took. (1)Outside County....................................................................... 8 7 (Sum of 15b(1)..................................................................................... through 15b(4)) .................................................. 8 -0(2) In-County 3. Use pictures. A picture is worth a thousand words, so use Management and Circulation d.(3)Sales Free orThrough Nominal Dealers................................................................... Rate Distribution 480 them to your advantage. Give your readers a glimpse into your lifeby 39 USC 3685 (1) County................................................................................-0.............................................................................-0Required (4)Outside Other Classes (2) In-County ......................................................................................-0with funny or poignant images. c. Total Paid Circulation Filed with the USPS on - 5-23 (3) Other Classes .................................................................................-04. Be honest and authentic. Don’t try to paint a picture(Sum of 15b(1) through 15b(4)) ................................................... 8 7 Currents (publication number 030-520) is published bimonthly at 5625 NE (4) Outside the Mail Rate ........................................................................... -0d. Free or Nominal Distribution perfect life if that’s not the case. Be honest andElam authentic about the Young Parkway, Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Six issues are published e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (1) Outside County .............................................................................-0with a subscription price of $ . paid by utility members in challenges you faced during the year and howannually you overcame them, (Sum of 15d(1)......................................................................................-0through 15d(4)) ....................................................... -0(2) In-County their electric bills. f.Total(3)Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e) ......................................... 8 but don’t over share. Other Classes .................................................................................-0The name and complete mailing address of the publisher is: Pioneer g.Copies Not Distributed 7 -05. Keep it short and sweet. While you want toResources, share your (4) Outside the Mail....................................................................... ........................................................................... Utility 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. h. Total (Sum of 15f and 15g) ........................................................... 8 8 name and complete Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution highlights, be mindful of not making your letterThe too long. Focusmailing address of the editor is Mike Teegarden, i.e.Percent (15c divided by 15d(4)) 15f times........................................................ 100) ..................................... 100% -05625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Ste. 100 Hillsboro, OR 97124. (SumPaid of 15d(1) through on the most important highlights of the year. The owner is Pioneer Utility Resources (PUR).There are no known No. Copies of Single(Sum Issueof Published to Filing Date Distribution 15c and 15e)Nearest .......................................... 8 7 f.Total bondholders or other security 6. Grammar matters. Make sure you address the names on holders. a.Total Copies (net press........................................................................ run) ........................................................ 8 700 g.CopiesNo.Not Distributed nonprofit organization mailing under DMM Section 423.12. Its b.h. Paid TotalCirculation (Sum of 15f and 15g) ............................................................ 8 7 your envelope correctly. Plurals get tricky, so herePUR areis aexamples: purpose, function and nonprofit status for federal income tax purposes has (1)Outside 8 100% 7 i. Percent Paid County....................................................................... (15c divided by 15f times 100) ...................................... If the recipients’ last name is Smith, your card should say The not changed in the preceding 12 months. (2) In-County ..................................................................................... -0Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months average of copies of each issue during the preceding Smiths. If the last name is Jones, your card shouldThesay Thenumber Joneses. (3)Sales Through Dealers................................................................... 480 (Electronic) 12 months are: is no If it is Church, your card should say The Churches. There (4)Electronic Other Classes ................................................................................-0a.Paid Copies ........................................................................ 2, 88 Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months c.b.Total Paid Circulation scenario that uses an apostrophe to make the name plural. n Paid Print Copies and Paid Electronic Copies a. Total No. Copies (net press run) ...................................................... 8, 7 Total (Sum through 15b(4)) ................................................... 8 50 7 8 (Sumofof15b(1) 15c and 16a) ................................................................... b. Paid Circulation d.c. Free orPrint Nominal Rate Distribution Total Distribution and Paid Electronic Copies (1)Outside County....................................................................... 7 (1) Outside .............................................................................-0(Sum of 15fCounty and 16a) ................................................................... 50 8 (2) In-County ..................................................................................... -0(2) In-County ......................................................................................-0Paid (Print and Electronic) (16b divided by 16c times 100)...100% (3)Sales Through Dealers................................................................... 4 7 d. Percent (3) Other Classes .................................................................................-0(4) Other Classes ................................................................................-0- No.(4) Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date -0Outside the Mail ........................................................................... Annual Required Postal Statement c. Total Paid Circulation e.(Electronic) Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution a.Paid Electronic ....................................................................... (Sum of 15b(1) through 15b(4)) .................................................. 8 (Sum of 15d(1)Copies through 15d(4)) ........................................................ -0b. TotalDistribution Paid Print Copies Copies d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Statement of Ownership, (Sum ofand 15cPaid and Electronic 15e) .......................................... 8 7 f.Total (SumNotof Distributed 15c and 16a) ................................................................... 00 0 (1) Outside County .............................................................................-0- g.Copies ........................................................................ Management and Circulation and............................................................ Paid Electronic Copies (2) In-County ......................................................................................-0- h.c. Total Total Print (Sum Distribution of 15f and 15g) 8 7 Required by 39 USC 3685 (SumPaid of 15f 16a) by ................................................................... (3) Other Classes .................................................................................-0- i. Percent (15cand divided 15f times 100) ...................................... 100% 0 Filed with the USPS on - 5-23 (4) Outside the Mail ........................................................................... -0- d. Percent Paid (Print and Electronic) (16b divided by 16c times 100)...100% Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Currents (publication number 030-520) is published bimonthly at 5625 NE I certify the statements made by me are correct and complete. Elam Young Parkway, Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Six issues are published (Sum of 15d(1) through 15d(4)) ....................................................... -0- (Electronic) Mike Teegarden, Editor ........................................................................ 2, 88 a.Paid Electronic Copies annually with a subscription price of $ . paid by utility members in f.Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e) ......................................... 8 their electric bills. g.Copies Not Distributed ....................................................................... 7 b. Total Paid Print Copies and Paid Electronic Copies The name and complete mailing address of the publisher is: Pioneer (Sum of 15c and 16a) ................................................................... 50 8 h. Total (Sum of 15f and 15g) ........................................................... 8 8 Utility Resources, 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. c. Total Print Distribution and Paid Electronic Copies i. Percent Paid (15c divided by 15f times 100) ..................................... 100% The name and complete mailing address of the editor is Mike Teegarden, (Sum of 15f and 16a) ................................................................... 50 8 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Ste. 100 Hillsboro, OR 97124. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date d. Percent Paid (Print and Electronic) (16b divided by 16c times 100)...100% The owner is Pioneer Utility Resources (PUR). There are no known a.Total No. Copies (net press run) ........................................................ 8 7 bondholders or other security holders. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date b. Paid Circulation PUR is a nonprofit organization mailing under DMM Section 423.12. Its purpose, function and nonprofit status for federal income tax purposes has (1)Outside County....................................................................... 8 087 (Electronic) not changed in the preceding 12 months. (2) In-County ..................................................................................... -0- a.Paid Electronic Copies ....................................................................... The average number of copies of each issue during the preceding (3)Sales Through Dealers................................................................... 480 b. Total Paid Print Copies and Paid Electronic Copies 12 months are: (Sum of 15c and 16a) ................................................................... 0 (4) Other Classes ................................................................................-0Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months c. Total Print Distribution and Paid Electronic Copies c. Total Paid Circulation a. Total No. Copies (net press run) ...................................................... 8, 7 (Sum of 15f and 16a) ................................................................... 0 (Sum of 15b(1) through 15b(4)) ................................................... 8 7 b. Paid Circulation d. Percent Paid (Print and Electronic) (16b divided by 16c times 100)...100% d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (1)Outside County....................................................................... 7 (1) Outside County .............................................................................-0- I certify the statements made by me are correct and complete. (2) In-County ..................................................................................... -0(3)Sales Through Dealers ................................................................... 4 7 (2) In-County ......................................................................................-0- Mike Teegarden, Editor (4) Other Classes ................................................................................-0(3) Other Classes .................................................................................-0c. Total Paid Circulation (4) Outside the Mail ........................................................................... -0(Sum of 15b(1) through 15b(4)) .................................................. 8 e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (Sum of 15d(1) through 15d(4)) ........................................................ -0(1) Outside County .............................................................................-0Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e) .......................................... 8 7 f.Total (2) In-County ...................................................................................... -030 N O V E M B E R 2023 g.Copies Not Distributed ........................................................................ 00 (3) Other Classes .................................................................................-0h. Total (Sum of 15f and 15g) ............................................................ 8 7 (4) Outside the Mail ........................................................................... -0e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution i. Percent Paid (15c divided by 15f times 100) ...................................... 100% (Sum of 15d(1) through 15d(4)) ....................................................... -0Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months f.Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e) ......................................... 8 (Electronic)
BEFORE YOU GO
Write The Perfect Holiday Letter
ADOBE STOCK BY SEAN LOCKE
w
AZ-146 Postmaster: Send address changes to Currents, 5625 NE Elam Young Pkwy. Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124 P.O. Box 22530 Bullhead City, AZ 86439 Member Services: 928-763-1100 Outage Reporting: Toll free 844-632-2667 or text “outage” to 55050 from the phone number linked to your MEC account. mohaveelectric.com
Mohave Electric Cooperative Board of Directors President Joe Anderson Vice President Deborah Johnson Secretary Toni Barbaro Treasurer Rich Tempelman Michael Bartelt Tracy Weisz John Nelssen Kevin Nestrick Jose “Joe” Solar
CEO
Tyler Carlson
A Message from the CEO
Thank You MEC Members! We received overwhelming support from MEC members on the Reliability for Rural Arizona project, and we cannot thank you enough. MEC’s main generation and transmission provider, Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO) is also a not-for-profit cooperative formed by AZ co-ops including MEC. Together we share a generation facility called Apache Station down in Cochise County. We’ve joined forces in an effort to install two additional flexible, natural gas units at Apache and two new units here in MEC’s service territory. These units will increase reliability here locally, support our renewable energy solar Tyler Carlson facilities, keep member rates low, and provide additional support during unplanned outages. As you recall, July was HOT – MEC surpassed our peak load providing the highest amount of electricity in our 77-year history. We have a growing population in Bullhead City and the surrounding areas, and each household is using more and more electricity, which means MEC needs to provide more and more electricity. These units will generate more electricity to meet member loads now and in the future. As you know, solar only works when the sun is shining, and the sun doesn’t shine at night. These units can provide electricity to us at nighttime or during weather events when our solar and renewable energy systems aren’t operating. Being a member-owned, not-for-profit, MEC makes every effort to keep our rates low. In fact, we have the lowest overall electricity costs among all the cooperatives in the state. One of the ways we keep costs low is to look at power costs among all sources of energy and buy or generate that source to keep rates low. These units will allow AEPCO to generate more energy, including generation in MEC’s service territory that we can purchase from AEPCO. And MEC can avoid buying expensive energy on the market. Also, these two units will help provide power within MEC’s network, which would allow us to potentially power emergency locations such as key city and county centers and hospitals in a massive outage. As you can see, there are multiple benefits to MEC - reliability; affordability; outage support. This is a multiple step project, and we appreciate and thank you, Members, for helping us start step #1. We look forward to sharing more updates with you in the future and more ways that you can participate. Thank you again.
What’s Happening
MEC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER & EMPLOYER
32
N O V E M B E R 2023
h November 10 – Office Closed for Veteran’s Day
h November 23 & 24 – Office Closed for Thanksgiving
h November 11 – Join MEC at Veteran’s Parade
h December 1 – Join MEC at Boombox Parade
h November 18 – Operation Cool Shade Bullhead City Pickup
h December 25 – Office Closed for Christmas
h November 20 – Operation Cool Shade Kingman Pickup
h January 1 - Office Closed for New Year’s Day