Ruralite
BENTON REA
JUNE 2024
Homestead Revival
Red Mountain Trails unveils its new Homesteading Skills Studio—featuring a mural by renowned local artists Page 4
Teresa Owens owns Red Mountain Trails with her husband, Jeff.
PHOTO BY EMILY MCLAUGHLIN
FEELING REJUVENATED WITH CBD
Everyone feels the hurt as we age, but CBD can help you deal with it
By: Beth Giles
Life really does fly by. Before I knew it, my 60s had arrived, and with them came some new gifts from dear ol’ Mother Nature—frequent knee pain, stress, low energy and sleeplessness. Now, I’m a realist about these things, I knew I wasn’t going to be young and springy forever. But still, with “golden years” nearly on my doorstep, I couldn’t help but feel a little cheated. That is until I found my own secret weapon. Another gift from Mother Nature.
It began a few months back when I was complaining about my aches and pains to my marathon-running granddaughter, Jen. She casually mentioned how she uses CBD rub to help with her joint pain. She said that CBD gave her more focus and clarity throughout the day and that her lingering muscle and joint discomfort no longer bothered her. She even felt comfortable signing up for back-toback marathons two weekends in a row this year. That made even this self-proclaimed skeptic take notice.
But I still had some concerns. According to one study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 70% of CBD products didn’t contain the amount of CBD stated on their labels. And, as a consumer, that’s terrifying! If I was going to try CBD, I needed to trust the source through and through. My two-fold research process naturally led me to Zebra CBD. First, I started calling my family and friends. Call me old fashioned but I wanted to know if
there were people whom I trusted (more than anonymous testimonials) who’ve had success using CBD besides my granddaughter.
Secondly, I wanted cold hard facts. Diving deep into the world of CBD research and clinical studies, I came across Emily Gray M.D., a physician at the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) Medical School and medical advisor to Zebra CBD who is researching the effects of CBD. Dr. Gray wrote “early results with CBD have been promising and we have a lot of research underway now. I’ve had several patients using CBD with good success. It’s important that you know your source of CBD and how to use it properly.”
After hearing it from the doctor’s mouth, I returned to my research, asking more people and was amazed by the number of close friends and family who were already on the CBD train. Apparently, I was the only one without a clue! And funny enough, a couple of friends who commented were using the same brand as my granddaughter—Zebra CBD. There was no consensus as to why they were using CBD, but the top reasons given were for muscle & joint discomfort, mood support, sleep support, stress and headaches, as well as supporting overall health & wellness.
Eventually, even the most skeptical of the bunch can be won over. With a trusted CBD source in mind, I decided to give it a go.
When I viewed Zebra CBD’s selection online, I
was impressed by its array of products, including CBD oils called tinctures, topicals, chewable tablets, mints and gummies. After reading on their website that all their products are made with organically-grown hemp, I ordered... and it arrived within 2 days!
The first product I tried was the Rub. Now this stuff was strong. Immediately after rubbing it on my knee, the soothing effects kicked in. It had that familiar menthol cooling effect, which I personally find very relieving. And the best part is, after two weeks of using it, my knee pain no longer affected my daily mobility.
The Zebra Sleep Gummies, on the other hand, had a different but equally positive effect on my body. To take it, the instructions suggest chewing thoroughly. This was simple enough, and the taste was, well, lemony. After about 15 minutes, a sense of calm came over my body. It's hard to describe exactly; it's definitely not a "high" feeling. It's more like an overall sense of relaxation—and then I was out. Needless to say, I slept great and woke up refreshed. I haven’t slept like that in a long time.
While it hasn’t been a catch-all fix to every one of my health issues, it has eased the level and frequency of my aches. And it sure doesn’t seem like a coincidence how rejuvenated I feel. All-in-all, CBD is one of those things that you have to try for yourself. Although I was skeptical at first, I can safely say that I’m now a Zebra CBD fan and that I highly recommend their products. Also, I managed to speak with a Zebra CBD spokesperson willing to provide an exclusive. If you order this month, you’ll receive $10 off your first order by using promo code “RL10” at checkout. Plus, the company offers a 100% No-Hassle, Money-Back Guarantee. You can try it yourself and order Zebra CBD at ZebraCBD.com/CM or at 1-888-762-2699.
make something that people could see when they were coming down the road.”
Now, as guests approach Red Mountain Trails, they’re greeted by the new, vibrant mural adorning the exterior wall of the original homestead.
“We are thrilled to unveil this striking mural, which serves as a tribute to my family’s enduring legacy and our commitment to revitalizing this historic farm,” Teresa says. “It embodies the essence of Red Mountain and the values that have been cherished by our family for generations.”
Teresa dreams of expanding Red Mountain Trails into a vibrant community hub, hosting festivals and events that celebrate local artisans and agricultural practices. With initiatives such as the farmsteading festival scheduled for September, the property is poised to become a nexus of creativity and collaboration. n To see full list of offerings, visit www.redmountaintrails.com.
ABOVE: From left, Jeff and Teresa Owens, owners of Red Mountain Trails, and artists Allyson and Herb Leonhard pose at the unveiling of the Leonhard’s mural in May. RIGHT: Teresa renovated space at Red Mountain to accommodate classes for groups of 10 or more.
2023 Annual Meeting Minutes
86th Benton REA Annual Membership Meeting Saturday, July 15, at 12 p.m.
The 86th annual membership meeting of members of Benton Rural Electric Association was held at Prosser High School, pursuant to regular notice mailed July 1, 2023. Registration began at 8:30 a.m., July 15, 2023.
One hundred and thirty-two members participated in the meeting, with over 200 in attendance.
The business meeting was called to order at 12:00 p.m. by Vice President Mike Freepons. The meeting followed the format of the meeting agenda passed out to registrants.
The Columbia River Young Marines presented the American flag and led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Vice President Freepons called for final ballots for the trustee elections.
Vice President Freepons asked for a motion to adopt the Special Rules. A motion was accepted from the floor. The motion carried.
Vice President Freepons introduced Troy Berglund, Deputy General Manager and Vice President of Member Experience at Benton REA. Troy thanked all the volunteers who worked at the annual meeting. Troy also recognized all the vendors who donated prizes for the meeting and explained the prize drawing process.
Troy Berglund announced the 1st door prize.
Troy Berglund introduced all trustees and guests.
Troy Berglund announced the winners of the kids guessing game and safety poster contest.
Troy Berglund announced the 2nd door prize.
Secretary/Treasurer Catherine Russell announced the registration list for the meeting will be used as the attendance roll. Pursuant to the Benton REA Bylaws, the notice of the 86th Benton REA Annual Meeting was printed on the June issue of the Ruralite and official notification that the 2023 June Ruralite was placed into the mail on May 31, 2023.
Secretary/Treasurer Catherine Russell presented her Secretary/Treasurer video report.
Troy Berglund announced the winners of the tree certificate drawings.
Troy Berglund announced the 3rd door prize.
Vice President Freepons announced that a copy of the minutes of the 2022 annual meeting had been included in the registration folder and have been approved by the Benton REA Board of Trustees, but are subject to change by the membership. There were no suggested changes. The minutes were approved as presented.
Vice President Freepons presented President Evans video report.
Vice President Freepons called for Unfinished Business. No Unfinished Business was brought before the membership.
Vice President Freepons called for New Business. No New Business was brought before the membership.
Troy Berglund announced the 4th door prize.
Troy Berglund introduced recipients of the Benton REA $8,000 academic scholarships: Bryn Neal, Julianna Phillips, Aida Roy, Jared Sheehan, Aleah Wolfert.
Troy Berglund introduced recipients of the Benton REA $4,000 Trade & Technical scholarships: Joseph Hummer and Logan Shultz.
Troy Berglund introduced the Benton REA Youth Tour recipients: Madison Collin and Madry Nelson.
Secretary/Treasurer Catherine Russell explained there were three trustee districts up for election and introduced the candidates.
In District 4—West Richland and Surrounding Rural Areas—Trustee Ron Johnson was unopposed.
In District 5—Sunnyside Area—Trustee Tim Grow was unopposed.
In District 6—Mabton and Rimrock Areas—Trustee Scott Fisher was unopposed.
Russell explained that members within
those districts had two ways to vote. First, they could mail their ballot directly to Survey & Ballot Systems, the independent company Benton REA uses to conduct trustee elections. Members could also submit their ballots at the annual meeting to be added to the total voting results provided by Survey & Ballot Systems.
Trustee Russell appointed an election inspection committee, comprised of the last three members who won a vendor prize, to oversee counting of ballots received at the meeting and stated she would return to announce the results.
Troy Berglund announced the remaining five winners for $100 bill credits.
Troy Berglund presented the prerecorded annual report video.
Troy Berglund introduced Benton REA’s new CEO Ryan Redmond to say a few words and conduct the Q&A portion of the meeting.
Redmond introduced Trustee Russell to share the trustee election results. Russell read the results of the trustee election. The following individuals received the highest number of votes cast for their representative districts:
District 4—Johnson
District 5—Grow
District 6—Fisher
Troy Berglund announced the five $500 electric bill credits winners.
There being no further business to come before the meeting, the president asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. A motion was made from the floor to adjourn the 86th Benton REA annual meeting. The motion carried, and the meeting was adjourned at 1:25 p.m.
Mike Freepons, Vice President
Catherine Russell, Secretary
Missy Jasso, Recording Secretary
“Now Jack can control the volume on his TV•Ears while I set the TV volume or mute it for complete quiet. Once again, he can understand every word and we can watch our favorite TV shows together.”
— Darlene & Jack B., CA
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Retired teacher doles out cookies and history lessons
old mixer died, saying, “You can’t have
Other friends bring her nuts to hand grind for her vanilla crescents or provide labor to help roll out savory treats like her famous pierogies or her poultry-filled
Pierogies can take days to make, and grinding nuts the old-fashioned way is challenging, though not as rough as when her father had to crack the nut shells first. It’s hard work, but Carole loves to please.
“I’m a frustrated pastry chef, what can I say? I should have gone to culinary school,”
Instead, the Pennsylvania native studied to be a teacher and taught second and third grades in Cleveland, Ohio, where she
It was Carole’s first-generation PolishAmerican family that encouraged her to teach. Her parents didn’t want her to do
“She’d buy a yard of material and make a dress. When that wore out, she’d take the zipper from that dress and sew it into the new one. She was very resourceful,”
Carole still uses her educator skills crafting quick history quizzes to share at the DMV, the post office and the grocery store.
“What’s my question today?” the gas station attendant asks her whenever she goes in.
Carole loves to make people laugh, too, especially when she issues invitations to join her “elite club.” The club has no meetings and charges no dues. It’s a farflung collection of people who own the fancy crochet toilet paper cozies she started making just before the pandemic.
Carole took a cozy to her cardiologist.
“All the nurses started laughing, and they all wanted them,” she says. “I brought a little levity to the health care industry.”
She went on to give them to everyone she met: her dentist, her lawyer, the doctor next door, even strangers in parking lots. We’ll never know if the red, white and blue toilet paper cozy Carole sent Donald Trump is sitting on the back of a golden toilet. But the
Pizzelle Italian Cookies
½ pound butter
½ pound Fleischmann's original margarine
1½ cups granulated sugar
6 eggs
3 teaspoons anise extract (or sambuca, an anise-flavored liqueur if anise prices keep going up)
2 teaspoons vanilla
5 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
You can add 1 teaspoon salt, but Carole doesn’t. Cream the butter, margarine and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time. Then add extracts. Sift dry ingredients, then add them to the wet. Cover the batter with foil and refrigerate overnight. Heat your pizzelle iron. Then drop one tablespoon batter on each side and cook for 30 seconds.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Carole MacDonald takes a break in her Pahrump, Nevada, kitchen to share a glamor portrait she had taken years ago. Carole loves to crochet and share her work, whether it be granny square blankets or toilet paper toppers. Carole’s pierogies are stuffed with potatoes and cheese or with onions and sauerkraut. It takes Carole two days to make her poultry pastry squares.
presidential seal gleams through the glass on a framed thank-you note for the “kind letter and humorous gift.”
Carole MacDonald’s oatmeal cookies are made using the recipe on the back of the butterscotch chip bag.
Carole guesses she’s made more than 200 toilet toppers, and they’re in at least 44 states and three countries. But she’s not slowing down. In 2021, she had her knee replaced and brought a stash of yarn to the hospital.
“It was a diversion,” she says. “I don’t want to think about the pain. So, I was making them and giving them away to the nurses in the hospital.”
Carole loves to laugh, but she also has a serious side that helped her lead her rural
homeowners organization for 20 years. There was no management company. Carole did it all from hand-delivering meeting notes and notices to all 250-plus houses to keeping distant landowners who hadn’t built yet responsible for lot upkeep. She fought for the homeowners, as well, heading “over the hump from Pahrump” to speak out against proposed legislation that may have weakened the organization. After a few years, state officials insisted she wasn’t qualified to do the job. So, Carole drove more than an hour each way to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to take classes and get her certification. She didn’t
hang up her hat until 2018 when she broke her back. In recovery after surgery, she resolved, “No more.”
Though she’s no longer the face of the HOA, Carole keeps cooking, crocheting, learning and, most of all, laughing.
A while back, Carole tripped over a cord, and 911 was called to check her out. The EMTs came with the gurney ready.
“I asked them, ‘Would you like to be a member of my elite club?’ And I said, ‘Pick whichever one you want.’”
“You don’t want to go to the hospital?” they asked.
“Nah, I’m OK,” she replied. n
the variety of routes and accommodations broaden choices, whether you’re traveling with children, as a couple, solo or with a group of friends.”
Amtrak is the only national passenger rail service in the United States. In 2023, it had more than 28 million passengers, according to the company’s annual report.
“We’re seeing a strong increase in people who choose to travel with us because of the convenience, the chance to see more of the country than flying and the simple novelty of being on a train,” Kimberly says.
Amtrak offers multiple options to travel short distances, such as from Washington, D.C., to New York, Chicago to Milwaukee and various locations in Southern California.
Leisure travelers opt for overnight travel on several longdistance trains. The configurations of accommodations can include several types of service. First class offers private rooms with chairs that convert to upper and lower berths, larger bedrooms, family suites and accessible bedrooms. Coach cars have extra legroom and dedicated luggage storage.
A white-tablecloth dining car features traditional chef-curated menus. Customers can visit a cafe car to buy more casual options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Passengers can also bring their own food, beverages and snacks. Basic Wi-Fi is offered, and passengers can travel with small pets or bring their bicycles.
The Auto Train offers daily service from Lorton, Virginia, to Sanford, Florida, and allows customers to travel with vehicles.
In the Northeast between Washington, D.C., New York and Boston, customers travel for work, vacation or day trips. However, as Amtrak’s routes fan out westward, the number of leisure travelers increases.
“You can board in New York and travel along the East Coast to Washington, D.C., to Florida and as far south to Miami,” Kimberly says. “Chicago is our hub for Western itineraries to Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Oakland/San Francisco; and Los Angeles with a variety of other destinations along the way in large cities and smaller towns alike.”
In addition to direct routes, spur lines fill in across the lower half of the country. The Amtrak USA Rail Pass includes hop on/off access for 10 segments over 30 days for a single fare.
“When you travel by train, you can be as busy or relaxed as you want,” Kimberly says. “You’ll have space to work, read, watch movies on your devices, have good old-fashioned face-toface conversations or just sit back and look out the window to enjoy the scenery.”
Rolling Down the River
The sight of a paddle-wheeler cruising down the Mississippi River conjures up romantic images of an earlier time in America’s history when waterways transported pioneers and settlers westward. Today, traveling by riverboat or small ship has been significantly modernized, yet the romance and adventure remain.
River cruises allow visitors to enjoy laid-back transportation with an itinerary of interesting stops.
“Cruising the Mississippi River, you can visit St. Louis to
ADOBE STOCK IMAGE BY MICHAEL URMANN
Whether you choose to travel by boat, train, plane or car, allow time for discovery stops to explore unexpected treasures along the way. Those off-the-beaten-path finds can be the highlights of your trip.
see the iconic Gateway Arch National Park, the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, and Forest Park and its many free attractions,” says Katie Blake, public relations specialist with Missouri Division of Tourism. “Smaller towns along the river reveal much of the country’s history and culture, especially because many of them were founded as the nation grew.”
Alexa Paolella, manager of public relations for American Cruise Lines, says people love the different twist on U.S. vacations that small ships offer.
Traveling the country’s waterways by riverboat opens a whole new experience that’s like a flashback in time,” she says. “No passport is required, and your hotel travels with you from port to port, so you unpack once. It’s a much more relaxed pace for discovery with more time to explore small river towns and picturesque shoreside villages, especially the places large cruise ships don’t go.”
American Cruise Lines’ fleet of 19 ships sail America’s coastlines and rivers. Accommodations vary from 90 to 180 passengers, depending on the vessel. Classic paddle-wheelers and modern riverboats navigate the Mississippi and Columbia rivers.
The company’s small cruise ships transport guests along both coasts, with itineraries in Alaska and Puget Sound and cruises exploring the New England coast all the way to the Florida Keys. It has also added national park tours to its offerings.
PHOTO BY VISITMO.COM
PHOTO BY SEEING SOUTHERN
PHOTO BY AMERICAN CRUISE LINES
Easy Summer Squash and Zucchini Bread
1/2 cup yellow squash, grated
1/2 cup zucchini, grated
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1/2 cup white granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 extra-large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
11/2 cups all-purpose flour
Heat oven to 350 F.
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped pecans and walnuts, plus extra for topping
Cinnamon and sugar for sprinkling
Combine yellow squash, zucchini, brown sugar, white sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla in a bowl. Mix well. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, allspice and cinnamon. Combine until mixed and all ingredients are wet. Fold in nuts.
Pour into a greased 9-by-5 loaf pan. Top with extra nuts, and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.
Let cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan.
Zucchini Pesto Pasta
1 pint cherry tomatoes
Olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 medium yellow squash or zucchini, or mix of both
Heat oven to 400 F.
16 ounces spaghetti
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup basil pesto
1/2 cup pasta cooking water
1 cup coarsely grated Parmesan cheese
Fill a large pot with salted water, and bring to a boil.
Toss tomatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread out in one layer on a baking sheet. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes. Wash zucchini. Cut off ends, then cut in half lengthwise. Slice into half-moon pieces.
Cook pasta until al dente. While it is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Use a pan that’s big enough to hold all the pasta when it’s cooked. When the oil is hot, add the minced garlic. Turn down the heat to medium. Saute until you can start to smell garlic, about one minute.
Add the sliced zucchini. Season to taste with salt and fresh-ground black pepper. Cook until the zucchini is tender-crisp, about 5 minutes. Add the pesto to the cooked zucchini. Gently stir to combine. Add the roasted tomatoes. Add the drained cooked pasta to the zucchini/pesto/ tomato combination. Gently mix, adding pasta cooking water until the mixture is combined. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving.
Southern Squash Casserole
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
6 to 8 squash, sliced
1 large onion, thinly sliced 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 sleeve crushed buttery crackers
Heat oven to 350 F. Grease a casserole dish.
Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet over mediumhigh heat. Saute the squash and onion until soft. Remove from heat. Stir in the Parmesan, cheddar and sour cream. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
Scoop the mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle the cracker crumbs evenly over the top. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.
Marinated Zucchini and Summer Squash
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon minced garlic
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound zucchini (about 3 large), trimmed and sliced diagonally, about 1/2-inch thick
1 pound yellow crookneck squash (about 3 large), trimmed and sliced diagonally, about 1/2-inch thick
Whisk the vinegar, lemon juice and garlic in a large bowl to blend. Season with salt and pepper. Gradually whisk in the oil.
Spoon 3 tablespoons of the marinade into a small bowl. Cover and set aside.
Add the zucchini and yellow squash to the remaining marinade in the large bowl. Toss to coat.
Transfer the mixture to a 9-by-13 glass baking dish. Cover and marinate at room temperature for at least three hours, or cover and refrigerate for up to one day.
Prepare a grill for medium-high heat.
Grill the vegetables until they are crisp-tender and brown, turning occasionally, about 8 minutes.
Transfer the vegetables to a platter. Drizzle with the reserved marinade. Serve hot or at room temperature.
READER EXCHANGE
Crafts/Hobbies
Senior lady looking for marbles, beads, small trinkets, costume jewelry and small polished rocks for resin crafting. Thank you in advance.
Patti Gordon 180 Jacob Acres Lane Curtin, OR 97424
Looking for 21/2" strips of cotton fabric— different kinds of fabric from all over. Anything longer than 6 inches (21/2"x 6"). Thank you.
Becky Robison 6575 Seattle Ave. Bay City, OR 97107
I am looking for any Scrabble tiles you are willing to donate to do an art project for a close friend who is grieving the loss of her husband. This will be a tribute to her husband and their life together. Hopefully, it will be a way to help in her grieving process. Thank you for your help and your heart.
Debby Barich
31323 Woodsia Lane Eugene, OR 97405
Milestones
My friend, Margaret, turns 102 in June. I would love for her to receive cards to congratulate her on this amazing age. Please send to Margaret Brunner, Baron’s Residential Care, 5289 Loci St., San Diego, CA 92117.
Lynda Alberico Susanville, California
My mom turns 89 in June. She has Alzheimer’s and lives with family. Even though she can no longer correspond, she loves to receive mail. She enjoys pictures of animals. I know she would be thrilled to receive cards. Thank you in advance for your kindness and thoughtfulness. Please send to Shirley Rae, 4927 Genevieve Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90041.
Kathleen Ahern St. Maries, Idaho
My father celebrates his 100th birthday in June. He is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran and postal worker. One of his most meaningful memories is being selected for an Honor Flight. He enjoys people and loves to lend a listening ear to those in need. Quiet and reserved, he is our family historian. As many of his friends are no longer here to celebrate with him, please join in celebrating his milestone with a card. I know he will read each card and share the broadest and warmest of smiles. Send to Forrest Williams, 2140 Center St., Apt. 201, Ashland, OH 44805. Thank you.
Lea Ann Curry Pahrump, Nevada
Odds
I am in need of 60-watt incandescent light bulbs for a cat’s house. She uses the light bulbs in the winter to keep warm. LED light bulbs are great but do not generate heat to keep Ringo warm. Thank you in advance.
Donna Morelini
476-980 Jeffrey Lane Susanville, CA 96130
Submitting Requests Is Free
I bought the wrong ink for my Canon printer. It is unopened. 245 Black and 244 Color Fine cartridges to be donated to anyone with the correct Canon printer.
Mary Cooke
1503 Conklin Lane Cove, OR 97824
Recipes
Every Thanksgiving and Christmas, my mom would bake an egg-based Germanstyle dinner roll. The recipes I have found don’t have the golden color or flavor. If anyone knows about this type of roll and has a recipe, I would appreciate it.
Richard Firman P.O. Box 6 Likely, CA 96116
Thanks
In the June 2023 edition I requested help translating postcards written in Schweizerdeutsch. The response was overwhelming. There were 14 readers willing to help me. It’s a project still in progress, but I wanted to send my sincere thanks to all who responded.
Jerilee Henderson Tillamook, Oregon
Have a safe summer!
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.
See rocks reach for the skies in Utah at
Bryce Canyon National Park
What Is It?
See a forest of hoodoos—tall shafts of rock—reach for the sky in Southern Utah at Bryce Canyon National Park. The spires and vistas are a great chance to take in the beauty of nature.
How Do Hoodoos Form?
First, at one point roughly 50 million years ago, the area was the low point of an ancient floodplain, where particles were deposited and bound together. Tectonic plates caused uplift as the North American plate was pushed upward by a subducted plate to the west. Then, rain, water and ice eroded much of the sediment, with the towers remaining.
What to Do
Be sure to see the Bryce Amphitheater. Most of the hoodoos are in the amphitheater. The main park road has a series of drivable scenic viewpoints, which also serve as trailheads for hikes. If you continue along the main park road, the next 15 miles are known as the Southern Scenic Drive. It shows more arches and other geologic formations and highlights the park’s large change in elevation—more than 1,000 feet.
The Grand Staircase
Bryce Canyon is toward the top of a series of geologic features known as the Grand Staircase. The staircase stretches more than 100 miles, starting at the Grand Canyon and working north up a series of cliffs. These features are useful to geologists because they expose roughly 600 million years of Earth’s rock layers largely undisturbed by glacier scouring or other events.
More Information
Visitors must purchase a pass to enter the park. It is $20 per person or $35 per standard vehicle, with other passes available. To start planning your trip, call 435-8345322 or go online to www.nps.gov/brca.
ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY LUCKY-PHOTO
2025
By Walt Amacher, Oregon—Tillamook PUD
Ruralite Calendar Photo Contest
It is time to share your favorite photos for a chance to appear in our 2025 Ruralite calendar.
Up to 13 winners will be selected and receive $100. Photos must be submitted by July 15, 2024.
The contest is open to recipients of Ruralite and Currents magazines. Each person may only submit up to two photos. Each photo submission must include:
• Photographer’s name, address and electric utility.
• A short description of what is shown.
• Photographer’s email address and phone number.
• Digital JPEG photos only. Photos must be horizontal or landscape format and at least 300 dpi at 11 inches wide by 9 inches tall. Vertical photos and files larger than 30 megabytes will not be accepted. Send submissions to calendar@ruralite.org. Put “2025 Calendar Photo Contest” in the subject line.
Winning Tips
• Use the highest resolution setting on your digital camera.
• Photograph beautiful places and wildlife.
• Capture scenes full of vivid color.
• Reflect the seasons.
• Focus on the beauty of your geography.
• Make us feel something (awe, joy).
Visit ruralite.com/2025contest for more information and an FAQ about entering the contest.
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 43 years in business. www.btlliners.com. 541-447-0712. 0425
4x5 round bales, meadow foxtail orchard grass. 4x4 Timothy, small square. 208-435-4637 or 208-435-4002; nas@cpcinternet.com. 1224
Antiques and Collectibles
Buying antiques and collectibles: advertising signs, porcelain signs, gas pumps, beer signs, antique toys, cast-iron coin banks, neon signs and more. Jason, 503-310-3321 or tjabaughman@yahoo.com. 0924
WC Collectibles. We buy comic books! Local to the Inland Northwest, willing to travel. WCCollectiblesCheney@gmail.com; 509-496-1835. 0724
1850 British sideboard in excellent condition. Will furnish photo and history. 360-376-2245. Leave message. 0624
Books, Magazines, Videos
Idaho author Tova R. Cladouhos offers children’s books on Amazon or email her at tovarae@gmail.com. These books are perfect for elementary-aged children; factual stories based on friendship, affection, protection and farm animal adventures. Tova loves barns, pastures, dogs, cats, sheep and ponds. Her books include, “The Nine Lives of Milo the Cat,” “Saving Lily,” “Little Molly” and “Little Molly’s Secret.” 0724
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. 0624AR
Business Opportunities
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. $275K. 0924
Community Events
5th Annual Ely Rock and Gem Swap is 10 a.m.4 p.m. June 21-22. Buy-sell-trade. Presented by the White Pine Public Museum, 2000 Aultman St., Ely, NV 89301. Entry fee: adults $7, children $4. Children’s activities and more. www.wpmuseum.org; 775-289-4710; wpmuseumnv@gmail.com. 0624
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): August issue—July 1, 2024.
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.
Fun, family community event. 100+ vendors, food trucks, music entertainment, children’s activities, rhubarb pies, adult beverages. Free event. www.lapineseniorcenter.org, info@lapineseniorcenter.org. June 15-16. 0624
Summerfest at White Sulphur Springs Ranch. An outdoor festival of food and music 3-7:30 p.m. June 30, at historic White Sulphur Springs Ranch Site in Clio, CA, 2200 Highway 89. www.WhiteSulphurSpringsRanch.com; 530-836-2530. 0624
Free Items
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. 0824AR
Media
Watch local TV on the go for free on your TV, phone, tablet, computer or Roku. 775-727-9400. Visit www.kpvm.tv and stream live today.
Miscellaneous
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. 0624
Local commercial fisherman sells summer catch of preserved freshness by blast freezing at sea, gourmet canned tuna on internet. Sept.June. 100% guaranteed the best canned tuna you ever tasted. Original, jalapeno and garlic flavors available. Twofisherstuna.com. Call 206-799-1082 to place your order. 0624
Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. For more info: Joe, highdesertmemorials@gmail.com or 541-815-8906; www.highdesertmemorials.com.
Pets, Supplies
Alaskan husky. Male, 4 years old. Neutered; has all his shots. Good with children. Great disposition. Doesn’t bark. 541-875-4172. 0624
Idaho shag (border collie x Airedale). The best dog you will ever have. Farm/ranch dog. Males and females. $450 each. Colton, OR. 971-804-1706. 0724
AKC-registered Airedales. Fort Sage Kennels, Patricia Sharp, P.O. Box 246, Doyle, CA 96109; 530-827-2271. 0924
Your ad could be here in August. See instructions above for details.
Meet Your 2024 Trustee Candidates
Mail-in ballots due July 10 for districts seven and eight
Ted Wallace, District 7, Unopposed West Richland, Bird Hill and Paradise South
Ted Wallace has been a Benton REA member since 2015 and resides in West Richland. He works in the Hanford area as a nuclear safety and criticality safety engineer. Previously, Ted spent 23 years in the semiconductor industry as a process engineer, pilot line manager, and researcher.
Ted’s family moved to Brazil during his sophomore year of high school, where he graduated from Escola Americana in Sao Paulo. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of New Mexico, followed by graduate studies in nuclear physics at Arizona State University.
Ted, his wife, Marlo, and daughters EJ and Lilly, enjoy hiking, biking and crafts, and are active in their local church. Ted spends his spare time as a hobby machinist, welder, and repairer of all things broken. His interests include shooting sports, riding his old motorcycle, and training their two family dogs. He is an active member in the local remote-control aircraft club and belongs to several professional engineering organizations. He was appointed in 2024 to the city of West Richland’s salary commission.
Benton REA Trustees selected Ted to fill an unexpired board term in April 2023. He completed the NRECA coursework to become a Credentialed Cooperative Director in May 2023.
Catherine Russell, District 8, Incumbent West Richland, West Lattin Area
Catherine Russell prides herself on being active in the community and feels privileged to represent Benton REA members as a trustee.
Catherine believes in being of service to her community and enjoys doing volunteer work. She is willing and able to continue dedicating the time needed to represent members’ interest at Benton REA.
Dedicating time to study and keep current on issues facing the electric industry has positioned Catherine to better serve her district. She has earned the Credentialed Cooperative Director certification and Board Leadership Certification. Catherine earned a Bachelor of Arts in social science from Washington State University Tri-Cities. Before retirement, she worked as a payroll supervisor.
Catherine and her husband, Kevin, first moved to the Tri-Cities in 1982 and settled in West Richland in 1994. In her spare time, Catherine enjoys traveling, sewing, and gardening.
Bill Shibley, District 8, Challenger West Richland, West Lattin Area
Bill Shibley has been a Benton REA member since 1994 when he and his family moved to West Richland. He has worked for cooperatives throughout his career at both Farm Credit and CHS. He has extensive knowledge in management, finance, and natural resource.
After graduating with a degree in agricultural and resource economics, Bill went to work for John Deere with stints in Colorado, California and Montana. He longed to get closer to home and went to work for Northwest Farm Credit Services, eventually coming to the Tri-Cities in 1994. While working for NWFCS he completed his MBA and went on to become a regional VP, supervising offices throughout the Columbia Basin in Washington and Oregon. He left NWFCS to work as the general manager of CHS-Connell Grain and then managed Harvest Fresh Produce. He returned to agricultural banking and now works for Wheatland Bank in Pasco.
Bill has been active in the area serving as president of both the Pasco Chamber of Commerce and the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce. He was a 4-H club leader for 10+ years and currently serves on the Market Stock Committee for the Benton Franklin County Fair. Bill is chair of the Washington Wine Industry Foundation Board.
Bill and his wife, Kim, raised four kids who all graduated from the Richland School District. Their youngest child was selected for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Tour in Washington, D.C., in 2019, which opened his eyes to the wonderful public power system we have in the Pacific Northwest. Seeing its impact, Bill now wants to give back to the Benton REA by serving as a trustee.
BEFORE YOU GO
The First Ruralite Recipe
June is the month for cool, luscious desserts that can be prepared at your leisure and kept in the refrigerator until time to serve them. Here is a dessert that is simple to prepare, elegant to look at and wonderful to eat.
Chocolate Refrigerator Cake
4 ounces sweet milk chocolate
¼ cup hot water
1⁄ 8 teaspoon salt
4 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 egg whites
½ cup powdered sugar
1 cup cream, whipped
2 dozen ladyfingers or a sponge cake
Melt chocolate with hot water and salt in double boiler. When well-blended, beat in
AI-GENERATED
ILLUSTRATION BY GEMINI
egg yolks and cook and stir over hot water for 4 or 5 minutes or until egg yolks are set. Remove from heat and chill slightly.
Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry, then beat in the powdered sugar. Fold into the chocolate mixture. If desired, reserve
1/4 cup of cream before whipping for the garnish. Whip the cream until stiff and fold into the chocolate mixture. Arrange the ladyfingers on the bottom and sides of a spring form mold. Pour in part of the chocolate mixture. Chill for several hours or overnight. Serves 8 to 10.
If using the sponge cake, cut away the center of the sponge cake leaving a shell about ¾-inch thick. Layer the cake that has been removed from the center and the chocolate mixture into the sponge cake shell and chill.
The extra whipped cream is used for a garnish topped with shaved milk chocolate. n
Editors note: As Ruralite magazine celebrates 70 years, we bring you the first recipe published in our magazine in June 1954. We hope you enjoy this walk down memory lane.
Now you can finally have all of the soothing benefits of a relaxing warm bath, or enjoy a convenient refreshing shower while seated or standing with Safe Step Walk-In Tub’s FREE Shower Package!
✓ First walk-in tub available with a customizable shower
✓ Fixed rainfall shower head is adjustable for your height and pivots to offer a seated shower option
✓ High-quality tub complete with a comprehensive lifetime warranty on the entire tub
✓ Top-of-the-line installation and service, all included at one low, affordable price
Now you can have the best of both worlds–there isn’t a better, more aff ordable walk-in tub!
Prosser Office
402 7th St.
Prosser, WA 99350
509-786-2913
Mailing Address:
Report an Outage:
Contact the Office:
Website:
Board of Trustees
West Richland Office
6095 W. Van Giesen St. West Richland, WA 99353
509-786-2913
P.O. Box 1150
Prosser, WA 99350
509-786-2913
509-786-2913 www.BentonREA.org
Bob Evans, President, District 3
Mike Freepons, Vice President, District 2
Catherine Russell, Secretary/Treasurer, District 8
Dan Plung, District 1
Vacant Position, District 4
Tim Grow, District 5
Scott Fisher, District 6
Ted Wallace, District 7
Board Meetings, Agendas & Minutes
The board of trustees meet the last Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. unless otherwise scheduled.
The board agenda for the upcoming meeting is available to members upon request no earlier than six days prior to the board meeting. Minutes of prior board meetings are available to members upon request. To request board agendas or minutes, visit a Benton REA office, call 509-781-6719 or email priorityrequests@bentonrea.org.
Management Staff
Ryan J. Redmond, CEO
Troy L. Berglund, Deputy General Manager and VP of Member Experience
Steve Catlow, VP of Finance
Andrew Gould, VP of Engineering and Operations
Justin Waldron, VP of Human Resources
Congratulations to the 2024 Scholarship Recipients
I would like to personally congratulate the Benton REA academic and trade and technology scholarship recipients announced on pages 6 and 7.
Each of the seven students submitted transcripts, portfolios of their community involvement and a written essay. Second to their academic achievements, their involvement in this community stood out. I am impressed with their commitment to groups such as FFA, 4-H, National Honor Society, student government, League of Women’s Voters, Buddy Club, and participation in sports and church activities.
Benton REA is providing scholarships to 18 students enrolled in a college, university, or trade or technical school. Youth programs such as scholarships and Youth Tour are important to enrich the lives and help the growth of young people in our community. A good education can provide stability, the chance to learn about different viewpoints and opinions and improve confidence as people move through their lives.
Scholarships are paid for using Benton REA’s education fund. The fund comprises unclaimed ownership credits and member donations of ownership credits. Thank you for your generous and thoughtful contributions to this program. Like other special programs we offer, they are not possible without the support of our membership.
Once again, congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients: Ryan Evans, Klara Hulick, Sydney O’Niel, Hans Joseph Rasmussen, Macey Stephens, Brody Weets and Maeve Weets. We are excited to see your educational goals and dreams come true.
Ryan J. Redmond, CEO