Ruralite, Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative, August 2024

BLACHLY-LANE

AUGUST 2024

Helping Hands

Larry Rhodes’ mission is to help rural villages in Uganda Page 4

Larry Rhodes attends a well dedication in Uganda, one of many projects he coordinated with nine Rotary clubs in Oregon’s Eugene and Springfield areas. PHOTO COURTESY OF LARRY RHODES

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.

Ruralite

August 2024 • Volume 72, No. 8

CEO Michael Shepard

SENIOR VP OF CONTENT Leon Espinoza

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mike Teegarden, CCC

DEPUTY EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Noble Sprayberry

SENIOR EDITOR Jennifer Paton, CCC

ASSISTANT EDITORS Chasity Anderson, CCC; Victoria Hampton, CCC; David Herder, CCC

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Valeri Pearon, Nina Todea

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCTION SR. MANAGER

Elizabeth Beatty

PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR

Alyssa McDougle

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Strong Flavor, Strong Muscles

This month, we feature two stories that are nothing alike and yet so similar.

Our Spotlight feature highlights the Guerra family and how it grew a business quite literally from the ground up.

Starting small in the 1970s, family members began growing peppers on 5 acres. They later expanded to 30 acres and produced thousands of pounds of peppers. They eventually developed seasonings from their crops and found even more success. The key to their success, says Lino Guerra, is caring for the roots of the plants and the roots of their family.

Now Lucas is giving back as a gym owner, passing on his knowledge to the next crop of strongmen.

Both stories are inspirational and demonstrate we can overcome the challenges life throws at us if we keep working hard.

Are you beating the summer heat?

As I write this, we are enduring our first stretch of triple-digit temperatures. I have no doubt this is just the start of our summer sizzle. Western forest fires are breaking out as well.

Our Up Close feature profiles Lucas Hatton and his path from high school and small-college football to winning America’s Strongest Man competition. He also started small and worked his way up the ladder, overcoming challenges before finding success.

While summer is a great time to spend time outdoors, please be careful. The U.S. Forest Service says 85% of forest fires are caused by humans. Careless use of power tools, campfires, cigarettes and fireworks can start fires that are devastating for affected families. Please, use common sense and help prevent forest fires.

Sincerely,

Mike Teegarden Editorial Director

America’s Strongest Man

Lucas Hatton found a new hobby during the pandemic—strongman competitions—at which he quickly became one of the world’s best Up Close, Page 10

The Spice of Life

The Legacy of Guerra’s Gourmet Seasonings

Page 12

Helping Hands

Larry Rhodes’ mission is to help rural villages in Uganda

By Craig Reed

After just one trip to Uganda, Larry Rhodes was hooked on helping rural villagers in the African country.

Since his first trip in 2006, Larry has traveled to the country about 30 times as a representative of the Rotary Club of Eugene Airport. Larry helps improve the educational, medical and water systems for villagers in the rural Tororo region of Eastern Uganda.

“I saw the same kind of values I was familiar with from my own upbringing, parents wanting their children to have better lives than they had,” Larry says. “Education is important, but the rural schools didn’t have textbooks or enough teachers. In some schools, kids were sitting under trees because they had no

classroom. The schools have enormous needs.

“On that first trip, I really did admire and appreciate the people in the villages,” he adds. “I recognized their challenges. If I could do something to help out, why wouldn’t I want to?”

Larry was not a Rotarian when he made that initial trip to Uganda. But as a retired associate professor and senior researcher at the University of Oregon, he had research and evaluation experience. When his wife, Mary Ann Rhodes, was president of the Rotary Club of Springfield, the organization expressed interest in a national service project in Africa. Larry made the trip after club members were unable to because of the time commitment.

On his first day in Uganda, Larry attended a meeting of the Rotary Club

of Tororo. He then traveled out to visit villages with a couple Tororo Rotarians.

“There is very little work in the villages so the people are subsistence farmers, living off what they can grow on their own small plots,” he says.

To help improve the lives of those villagers, Larry has been a leader in coordinating and recruiting help from the nine Rotary clubs in the Eugene and Springfield areas for Tororo projects. Village youth have received sponsorships, allowing them to attend high school and universities and return to their villages as medical technicians. There are now 15 who comprise the Rural Health Team, with members working from three licensed health clinics that were built in rural areas.

Rotary grants have paid for motoambulances, modified motorcycles

The community gathers for the Angololo Village medical clinic dedication. PHOTOS COURTESY OF LARRY RHODES

with a place for a patient to lay behind the driver. Grants have also bought ultrasound scanners and a van that a medical clinician and midwife use to travel to villages that have no clinic or doctors.

Larry says Eugene pharmacists and many Rotarians and community members have donated over-the-counter medicines worth thousands of dollars to the clinics, along with laptops, reading glasses and funds for medical equipment.

For problems that needed a quick fix, Larry helped create Anthill Alliance. The nonprofit organization collaborates with Rotary to raise funds for immediate use on smaller projects, such as fixing village well pumps or installing solar systems to power medical clinics.

In addition to the three medical clinics, the organization has built 12 classrooms in five villages. In partnership with Rotary, it has repaired or installed wells serving more than 30 communities.

Wilbroad Okun, the coordinator of the Rural Health Team, says the efforts of Rotarians coordinated by Larry has been life changing in remote villages.

“The work in these villages cannot be talked about without mentioning the selfless sacrifices of Larry Rhodes and his team of Rotarians and volunteers,” Wilbroad writes. “The upending support that Larry has provided to the Rural Health Team over the years has lifted

the lives of many people; has provided clean drinking water to many rural communities; saved many lives through health programs; provided food to many malnourished children; provided relief services and food to communities affected by floods and mudslides; provided mama kits to pregnant mothers for safe deliveries; mosquito nets for malaria prevention; and built health units in distant remote communities.

“Above all, Larry has been very helpful in our work developing our rural communities’ water, medical and health systems.”

Larry, now 76, has been the International Service Director for the Rotary Club of Eugene Airport for the past 18 years, but is stepping down from the position this summer. Melissa Bowers, who has made two trips to Uganda, is replacing Larry. She admits there are “gigantic, daunting shoes to fill.”

“I’ve seen Larry act as a facilitator in order to accomplish their goals,” she says. “He treats people with dignity and really listens to their problems and talks through

possible solutions with them so solutions can be found that will actually work for the villagers.”

Bart Ellis, president of the Rotary Club of Eugene Airport, describes the work Larry has done as amazing.

“He sees, he listens, he understands, then considers what can we do to help these folks,” Bart says. “He’s been involved in some fantastic projects. The villagers appreciate what has been done. Larry is very well-known. They respect him.”

Larry says he has loved helping the Ugandan villagers and has made deep relationships with many of them.

“I’ve enjoyed the challenges of just figuring out these projects, what is going to work, what is going to work in the future,” he says. “It’s all part of the challenge. That part I have personally found fun.” n

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Larry meets with his friend, Yokoyada, at Maundo Village in Uganda. Larry and his team install Rotary-funded wells in the Usuk District of Northern Uganda. Community members accompany Larry while working on a project that brought clean water to 10 communities in the Usuk area.

What could AI, VR and AR mean for electric utilities? &Learning Adapting

By Scott Flood

Unless you’ve just awakened from an especially long nap, you’ve probably been hearing plenty about artificial intelligence. It’s likely that much of what you’ve heard is exciting or terrifying. Movies and TV offer paradises in which technology frees us from daily drudgery—and frightening scenarios in which machines become our overlords.

Venkat Banunarayanan smiles when asked if popular media’s takes on AI are accurate.

“We’re at the stage of discovery with AI,” Venkat says.

“There’s a lot more buzz than reality at this point, and we have a long way to go.”

As the vice president for Integrated Grid Business & Technology Strategies for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Venkat spends some of his time exploring possible use cases with AI, augmented/virtual reality and other technologies, while considering how they might improve the way electric utilities serve their consumer-members.

“Can AI do things better? Can it handle some of the tasks we have to do today? Can it make decisions for us? The answer to those and most other questions is the same: maybe,” he says.

Industry experts agree it’s impossible to guess where AI will be in another decade or two, but it’s currently not as powerful as the entertainment industry and media seem to think.

AI is being incorporated for specific tasks and activities, including automated solutions such as chatbots that are capable of answering common questions. AI has the potential to be paired with data analysis, such as retailers using data to better predict needs.

Despite what you may have heard, AI is incapable of thinking independently. The functionality greatly depends on programming, how the tool is trained to handle specific tasks and the level of data being fed into the system. AI revolves around learning and adapting to decision-making.

Because these new technologies interface with internal and external systems, Venkat stresses the importance of strong cybersecurity.

“We need to make sure hackers can’t influence systems,” he says. “When we consider advancements like AI, we need to ensure protection of personal,

critical infrastructure, proprietary and confidential data, too.”

Maintaining robust cyber hygiene is necessary to deploy any technology reliably and safely—AI is no different.

As electric utilities explore the possibilities of AI, they focus on underlying needs rather than the technology. Examining better ways to accomplish tasks and obtain desired results guide electric utilities as they consider AI tools for more efficient processes and approaches.

Despite all the hype, today’s AI is mostly used to make incremental improvements to existing products and services. That’s how electric utilities are likely to experience the growth of AI in the foreseeable future.

For example, the next generation of smart meters might incorporate AI tools that help homeowners better manage energy use. AI-based systems may also be used to improve management of the nation’s power grid, spotting potential problems before human operators can.

Weather forecasts are likely to become more accurate, pinpointing the areas most likely to experience damage so crews can be stationed there.

Another promising technology being explored is augmented reality, and some electric utilities are already testing it, particularly in educational and training opportunities.

For example, apprentice lineworkers can become comfortable with the equipment by working with the AR and VR versions before working with the real thing. Instead of watching a video or webinar, lineworkers can interact with what they’re doing. Safety training can simulate a hazardous situation, providing lineworkers the opportunity to prepare for the real thing.

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative began conducting VR training in September 2021. Training is offered to volunteer rural firefighters and the community as a way to raise public awareness on what to do if they encounter a downed power line.

“A main advantage is the ability to retain the information,” says Maaike Schotborgh, OTEC’s manager of safety and loss control.

“Traditional presentation methods have a retention rate of about 10% after four weeks, but VR training boasts a retention rate of 70% even after a year.”

In the future, OTEC wants to incorporate VR into its internal

AI Put Into Action

Electric utilities already use artificial intelligence and augmented reality for key tasks and activities.

Looking ahead, there is potential for AI and AR as helpful tools for improving grid reliability and the services they provide to consumer-members.

Services for Consumers

AI tools such as chatbots can enhance consumer interactions and provide a tailored experience based on energy use data.

Weather Forecasting

With the help of AI, weather forecasts will become more accurate, pinpointing areas to station utility crews.

Educational Opportunities

Through augmented reality, lineworkers can experience interactive, lifelike trainings, rather than watching a video or webinar.

trainings to help boost employee understanding and retention.

One day soon, a lineworker may look up at a failed transformer atop a power pole. Their safety glasses will recognize the type of transformer, its exact location and when it was installed before displaying a checklist of the equipment the lineworker needs, a guide to diagnosing common problems and 24-hour access to experts.

“The ability to use VR to learn in a ‘hands on’ environment, which is still controlled and safe, opens up a world of training possibilities,” Maaike says. “We think we are just starting to scratch the surface.”

Ultimately, the adoption of AI, VR, AR and other technologies share one goal for electric co-ops and public power utilities. From solving outages more quickly to allowing consumer-members greater control over their energy use to lowering the cost of service, tomorrow’s innovative technologies will continue to help electric utilities enhance the services they provide to communities. n

Blachly-Lane Electric Seeks Members’ Comments

Net metering service is available to Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative members who own and operate a net metering generating facility, such as solar generation.

In compliance with Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 757.300 and Blachly-Lane Policy 1425, Interconnection of Net Metered Facilities and Other Generation Projects, Blachly-Lane is seeking comments from its members on the cooperative’s net metering load limit.

Blachly-Lane has exceeded the minimum amount of net metering we are required to accept, and members have an opportunity to comment before the cooperative’s board considers if the net metering load limit should be changed. Increasing the limit will allow members to participate in future net metering projects if projects meet the program’s requirements.

Blachly-Lane’s current net metering policy states:

Blachly-Lane Policy 1425, IV. General Provisions

B. Net Metering Capacity

1. Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative may limit offering new Net Metering Service after the cumulative Net Metering Services

exceed one-half of one percent of its historic single-hour peak load has been reached. Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative will honor interconnection requests under this limit on a “first come, first served” basis.

2. Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative will make its determination to limit Net Metering Service in order to balance the interests of its members only.

How to Submit Comments

The member comment period is August 1 to September 30. Members may submit comments three ways:

1. Email blec@blec.coop with the subject line, “Member Net Metering Comment.”

2. In writing on the member comment area of a returned bill stub.

3. By mail to:

Blachly-Lane Electric Co-op Attention: Member Net Metering Comment 90680 Highway 99 N Eugene, OR 97402

ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY DAVID GN

AMERICA’S STRONGEST

Lucas Hatton found a new hobby during the pandemic—strongman competitions, where he quickly became one of the world’s best

By David Herder

With one event left at the 2023 America’s separated Lucas Hatton from a first-place finish was a set of 400-pound weights and

A native of Eatonville, Washington, competition before the final event: the stair climb. Competitors in the stair climb lift weights of 440, 485 and 530 pounds up a flight of four steps. A fourth-place finish in the same event cost him a victory at the prestigious Arnold Amateur Strongman Competition a few months earlier.

never considered being a strongman. He grew up playing football and track and field for Eatonville High School, in a small town a little more than an hour south of Seattle. He continued with both sports at Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, Washington. Lucas says teachers and coaches in high school and college noticed his passion for lifting weights and working hard and helped set him up for success.

“Those coaches that took that extra time—I don’t think they realize how impactful that was long term,” he says.

Lucas Hatton began competing in strongman competitions in 2020 and won the 2023 America’s Strongest competition. PHOTOS COURTESY OF LUCAS HATTON

STRONGEST MAN

After college, Lucas continued working out, focusing on powerlifting—a sport where the goal is to lift the heaviest weights possible. For work, he managed a company that provided security for local events, a job he’d started while in college.

When the pandemic hit, powerlifting competitions in his area were canceled. However, a local gym ran an outdoor strongman competition, and Lucas entered.

He won, and the victory qualified him for a national competition.

Once there, Lucas, who is 6 feet tall, was surprised at how much larger competitors were at nationals.

“The first guy I saw in the lobby was 6’5”, 400 pounds, and I thought I was in the wrong place,” Lucas says. “It was a big eye-opener for what the next level was like.”

He finished 35th that first year. After a year of training, he returned and finished fifth in 2021. The top three finishers at nationals earn pro cards and are eligible to compete in professional strongman competitions. Going pro became Lucas’ goal, but it would require a life change.

As Lucas transitioned into strongman, some of his friends bought a gym, Dungeon Strength RX in Auburn, Washington, between Eatonville and Seattle. After the fifth-place finish, Lucas quit his security job and began working

at the gym full time, helping to run the facility and coach young athletes. He has since become part-owner of Dungeon Strength RX and loves working with youngsters who have found powerlifting routines online and want to try it.

“It’s a blast, man,” Lucas says. “I would do that regardless of if I ever lifted in strongman again.”

Soon, Lucas began finishing on podiums. He came in second at the 2022 nationals, allowing him to turn pro.

As strongman turned from a hobby to a job, his progression came quicker. He finished second at the Arnold Amateur and North America’s Strongest Man. Those finishes helped bolster his reputation and earned him invitations to bigger and better events.

At the 2023 America’s Strongest Man, Lucas had just four steps and three weights on his way to his first strongman victory. His overall lead was large enough that he didn’t need a spectacular result to win the competition. But halfway through the stair climb, he realized he could win the event. With a push, he had the best stair climb time of any competitor.

“It was kind of just a cool redemption moment,” Lucas says. “I got a lot of seconds and thirds on the way up, and I think I learned a lot from those. It forced me to get a lot better at things. I didn’t win until I earned it.” n

What is Strongman?

Stongman competitions test competitors through various feats of strength. Competitions typically have five to eight events, each requiring competitors to lift something as heavy as possible, do something as quickly as possible or do something for as long as possible.  Every competition has a different event mix. At the 2023 America’s Strongest Man competition, won by Lucas Hatton, the events were:

X MAX AXLE PRESS: Similar to the clean and jerk you might see at the Olympics; competitors must lift the heaviest barbell possible above their heads.

X YOKE AND FARMER’S CARRY MEDLEY: In this medley, competitors must walk while carrying heavy weights two different ways. The yoke is a metal frame with a crossbar and weight added to the bottom, and is carried on the shoulders. In the farmer’s carry, competitors walk after picking up weights or dumbbells from the ground.

X UKRANIAN DEADLIFT: Competitors stand on a platform, and lift a handle connected to weights on the ground below. Competitors squat, grab the handle and lift the weight by standing up straight.

X DUMBBELL LADDER: As quickly as possible, competitors pick up a series of dumbbells one at a time, using both hands to get the weight to their shoulder, and then using one arm to hold it above their head.

X NATURAL STONES: As quickly as possible, competitors pick up rocks weighing between 280 and 366 pounds and place them on a chest-height platform.

X POWER STAIRS: As quickly as possible, competitors lift weights of 440, 485 and 530 pounds up a flight of four steps.

Lucas brought his family when competing in the Arnold Strongman Classic in the UK.

The Spice of Life: The Spice of Life: The Legacy of Guerra’s Gourmet Seasonings

By Chiara Profenna

On the outskirts of Sunnyside, Washington, it’s pepper harvest time.

From August to September, tens of thousands of peppers will be handpicked, sorted, dried and ground into powder for spice production. Running a farm is hard work, but help makes it possible.

Overlooking the beautiful Yakima Valley, the sprawling farm is run by Lino Guerra and his family. The farm has been passed down through generations and supports a flourishing seasoning business. However, Guerra’s Gourmet Seasonings, a natural spice line made with farm-grown peppers, is only one part of their story.

A Seed in the Ground

The Guerra family farm dates back to the 1970s, started by the father-son duo, Antonio and Lionel Guerra. At the same time, Lionel’s brother, Lino, was studying engineering at the University of Washington.

“My dad was a manager for a farmer here in the Yakima Valley,” Lino says. “And on his side business, he started doing a little bit of farm produce.”

With a 5-acre plot and the motivation to succeed, Antonio and Lionel began growing produce—tomatoes and peppers at first, then gradually expanding their offerings. They established Guerra’s Produce in 1978.

“We started mainly growing quite a bit of jalapenos, serranos, New Mexico chiles,” Lino says. “We had close to over 20 different varieties of chiles here, grown here in the Yakima Valley.”

Working as an engineer in lab research and development, Lino married his wife, Hilda, in 1982. He eventually joined his family on the farm to help with production. By 1986, he had taken over the family business, inspired by the love of cooking with seasoning. With Hilda and

two sons, Aaron and Chris, Lino began his life on the farm, slowly expanding the property into a 30-acre operation.

“I knew I had something here that nobody had in the Yakima Valley,” he says.

A Budding Family and Farm

By the 1990s, anyone in the vicinity could see that production was booming on the Guerra farm. Each acre produced between 7,000 and 10,000 pounds of peppers. After directing their focus on growing a wide variety of peppers, the Guerras began to strike deals with companies in Tacoma, selling the peppers picked and canned.

“And we had an abundance of peppers,” Lino says. “It was like, ‘What am I going to do with all this?’”

With a surplus of produce, Lino created a testing area on his farm to experiment with new recipes and uses for peppers.

“I started drying New Mexico chiles and a variety of different chiles— everything from Anaheim to Sandia peppers,” Lino says. “From there, we did a lot of dehydrating with the peppers, and I grinded the chiles up and blended the chiles with other spices and herbs to develop a nice seasoning. And that’s how everything started, right there.”

Their first recipe was Guerra’s Signature Seasoning. With a new product to share with the community, Lino decided to host a chile pepper festival on the farm. The event was an enormous success, featuring cooking and salsa demonstrations, children’s activities, tours of the farm and a celebration of Mexican culture, music and dancing.

“I noticed that everybody had an urge for seasoning,” Lino says. “There was no sugar, no MSG, gluten-free ... it just exploded.”

The Guerras ran the festival for another 13 years, eventually slowing down to prioritize family.

“We had to stop because my wife was involved in an accident, and at that same time, my dad got sick,” Lino says. “I had to slow down and sit back and start rethinking everything. My biggest thing is taking care of the family, and that’s what we did.”

With two more sons, Geraldo and Fabian, the Guerras had more than a full heart and home on the farm. They continued to broaden their business opportunities, trying their hand at running a cafe and a catering business while selling their seasoning at farmers markets throughout Washington.

A Flowering Business

By the time 2020 came around, the Guerras’ catering and seasoning businesses were flourishing.

“That’s when everything changed on us,” Lino says. “We just got into doing more producing for the seasonings and came out

The Guerra family gathers in spring to meticulously place each pepper plant on their 30 acres. PHOTOS COURTESY OF GUERRA’S GOURMET

with a new variety of the habanero seasoning and the rice seasoning. And that’s when we decided, ‘Hey listen, let’s start packaging this and getting it out to the public,’ and then we came out with the extra hot. Oh gosh, people were just loving it!”

Powering through the pandemic, the Guerras worked tirelessly to promote their seasoning line across the Pacific Northwest. As Lino’s sons pursued other careers, they found ways to support the family business wherever they were.

The Guerras partnered with other farms and businesses to develop new products, such as Fuego Cheese, a collaboration with Daniel’s Artisan, a Washington-based, small-batch cheese company.

According to Lino, farmers in the Yakima Valley support one another. And while the pandemic certainly posed its challenges, the Guerras were able to regroup and forge a new path that would propel their business into the future.

FROM TOP: The Guerras enjoy a meal at the family field table. Lino, Chris and Geraldo don chef coats, presenting Guerra’s Gourmet Catering—one of their culinary endeavors. Guerra’s Gourmet Signature Seasoning, the family’s original recipe, has been joined by rice seasoning, habanero sea salt and extra hot signature varieties in the past few years.

Lino and Hilda run their booth at the Pybus Public Market year-round in Wenatchee, Washington.

The Fruits of Labor

Today, Chris and Geraldo spend most of their time running the family business, while Aaron and Fabian help from Seattle when they can.

“We don’t do what my parents or my grandpa used to do anymore,” Chris says. “But we try to better what they started. We’re just trying to continue that tradition, work with people locally and continue to produce a more localized product.”

The work doesn’t come without its fair share of challenges. Ecological factors cause setbacks every season.

“This last year, we tried to plant 30,000 plants, but the grasshoppers ate all of our seed. We lost a lot,” Chris says. “There’s always something that comes up that makes it really hard.”

There’s also a fine balance between running the farm and attending farmers markets.

“It is a lot, but somehow we make it work,” Chris says. “At the same time, we’re visiting all these farmers markets, we’re also in the field pulling weeds, or we’re picking peppers and then we go into cooking for people sometimes. So, it’s a lot of stuff. It’s really hard, but I think that’s also the fun of it.”

Scaling back their pepper production and catering businesses has given them more breathing room. The brothers have focused on creating seasonings and recipes to accompany their products sold at farmers markets and regional retailers.

“Now that we’re not catering as much, we do get to spend more time together, which is definitely more enjoyable,” Chris says. “In the end, this is all better for us because we get to spend more time focusing on our product, and that is sustainable for all of us.”

Being able to spend more quality time together as a family has eased the changes and hardships over the years.

“As my dad would say, ‘You got to protect the root system and the base of the plant,’ just like us as a family,” Lino says. “You protect the people that are around you and help them out.” n

You can find Guerra’s Gourmet products year-round at the Ballard Farmers Market, Pybus Public Market and Hood River Farmers Market. A full list of retailers can be found online at guerras-gourmet.square.site.

Guerra’s Fresh Harvest Salsa Recipe

Medium Hot

1 small onion, diced 1/2 bunch cilantro, finely chopped

2 large limes

1 tablespoon Guerra’s Natural Seasoning

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 jalapeno*

1 serrano pepper*

1 Portugal pepper (remove seeds)

1 ancho pepper (remove seeds)

1 Anaheim pepper (remove seeds)

4 ripe tomatoes

In a medium-sized bowl, add the onion and cilantro. Squeeze the juice from both limes into the bowl and discard the fruit.

Add the seasoning and salt. Finely chop the remaining ingredients and add to the bowl. Stir all ingredients until well-mixed. Wait 10 minutes before serving. Serve with your favorite corn chips.

*Harvest Tip: Use all green peppers. As they ripen on the plant, you can also use the red ones.

Geraldo, Chris, Hilda and Lino Guerra all work full time on the family farm, managing the land, markets and seasoning production.

Throw a Party WITH COLD SUMMER DIPS

Caramelized Onion Dip

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

3 yellow onions, sliced

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Chives for garnish

Place oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. Add onions. Cook, stirring occasionally until onions are soft and translucent, about seven minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the translucent onions become brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Onions should be soft, semi-translucent and brown. They should not be crispy or have dark brown spots from contact with the pan.

With a mixer, beat together cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise on medium-high until smooth. Add Worcestershire sauce and salt. Stir to combine.

Add caramelized onion and incorporate with a spatula until evenly distributed. Chill for at least an hour. Garnish with chives.

Recipes by Gertrude Treadaway

ADOBE STOCK

PHOTO BY ALEX

BAYEV

Million-Dollar Dip

4 thick-cut bacon slices, chopped

71/2-ounce package chiveand-onion cream cheese, room temperature

1 cup mayonnaise

8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

¼ cup thinly sliced scallions

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, about eight minutes. Remove from heat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Stir together cream cheese and mayonnaise in a medium bowl until fully combined. Fold in bacon, cheddar cheese and scallions. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to three days.

Creamy Crab Dip

12 ounces fresh lump crabmeat, drained and picked clean of shells

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning

1/3 cup chopped scallions

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Chives, for garnish

Stir together first seven ingredients. Top with fresh chives. Chill for at least an hour before serving.

Cowboy Caviar Dip

2 cans black-eyed peas

1 can black beans

1 can corn

1 bell pepper red or green, finely diced

¼ cup red onion, finely diced

Vinaigrette

¼ cup olive oil

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons lime juice, freshly squeezed

2 tablespoons honey

2 to 4 jalapenos, seeded and finely diced

¼ cup cilantro, finely chopped

Ranch Corn Dip

1 ounce ranch seasoning

16 ounces sour cream

141/2-ounce can petite diced tomatoes, drained

15.25-ounce can whole kernel corn, drained

1/2 teaspoon cumin

¼ teaspoon paprika

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Salt and pepper, to taste

Rinse and thoroughly drain the black-eyed peas and black beans. In a large bowl, mix together the black-eyed peas, black beans, corn, bell pepper, red onion and jalapenos. Add the vinaigrette ingredients to a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend for five to 10 seconds or until emulsified. Pour the vinaigrette over the bean salad. Toss until well coated. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.

Just before serving, add chopped cilantro. Toss to combine.

4.25-ounce can diced green chilies, drained

10-ounce can original Rotel

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Mix all ingredients together. Chill for one hour before serving.

Creamy Cilantro Cucumber Dip

6 ounces plain Greek yogurt

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

¼ cup chopped cucumber

1 cup fresh cilantro leaves

2 to 3 stalks green onion

1 clove garlic

¼ teaspoon salt

Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Blend.

Garden Veggie Dip

11/2 cups sour cream

1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

¼ teaspoon dried dill

2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

2 tablespoons fresh chopped green onion, plus extra to taste

¼ cup finely grated carrot

¼ cup chopped broccoli florets, no stems

Combine all ingredients. Mix. Adjust seasoning to taste as needed.

Refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to blend.

Spicy Dill Dip

1 cup Greek yogurt

1 cup sour cream

1 large jalapeno

¼ of an English cucumber

2 tablespoons minced fresh dill or 1 to 2 teaspoons dried dill

1 tablespoon chopped green onion

1/2 tablespoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon salt

Combine Greek yogurt and sour cream in a medium bowl. Remove the jalapeno’s stem, then mince the jalapeno. Add to the bowl. Include all of the seeds for a spicy dip, half for a lightly zesty dip and no seeds for a mild dip.

Coarsely grate the English cucumber using a cheese grater. Wring out excess moisture in a paper towel, then mince with a knife. Add to the bowl.

Stir in dill, green onion, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder and salt.

Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least one hour.

READER EXCHANGE

Books/Magazines

Want to buy this book for my grandson: “Dalles Mountain Ranch Museum of Natural & Cultural Heritage of the East Columbia Gorge” by Darlene Highsmith Bleakney. Thank you for your help in finding this book.

Daryln Hansen

706 E. 14th St. The Dalles, OR. 97058 Pawhans@gmail.com

I have two paperbacks I would like to pass on to interested parties: “Genealogy of The Calvert Family (Cortland, New York branch)” by John B. Calvert, 1914, and C. Crossman Calvert, 1960; and “Pioneers of Molalla 1843-1900.”

Patt Moss P.O. Box 61155 Fairbanks, AK 99706

I am looking for one of my daughter’s favorite childhood books. It is “This Room is Mine” by Betty Ren Wright. I thank you in advance.

Jeanne Christie 4134 Filbert Meadows Way Springfield, OR 97478

I have a collection of Northwest Edition and Northwest Living Magazines from January 1984 through November/December 1990. I would like to pass them on to someone for cost of postage. Contact me, and we’ll make it work.

Pat Shira 111 Parson Lane Troy, MT 59935

Crafts/Hobbies

I’m looking for a Raggedy Ann doll pattern. Thank you.

Rosalyn Murphy

6557 Lucky Lane #802 Brookings OR 97415

Submitting Requests Is Free

Thanks to readers who have sent me jewelry before. If anyone has old jewelry or broken jewelry they do not want, I sure could use more. I am working on remaking and selling jewelry to benefit the Alturas Humane Society.

Carol S. Semenko 145 Chukar Lane Alturas, CA 96101 bunnyperson_8@yahoo.com

Looking for Hug Snug rayon seam binding, any color, for craft projects to make with my children. Any amount will be appreciated. Thank you very much.

Liz Burford 6111 Highway 57 Priest River, ID 83856

I am in search of any kind of Disney fabrics—any length or scraps. Also looking for birthday theme fabric, balloons, candles, cake, etc.—any length or scraps.

Anisa Troyer 35711 SE Kennel Road Albany, OR 97322

I am looking for green snuff can lids for a regalia outfit, jingle dress. Any donations would be appreciated.

Jessica Orr P.O. Box 939 Nespelem, WA 99155

My sister and I are making jewelry. We would appreciate unused beads or stones or any unwanted items. Thank you.

Marsha Holeik 16637 William Foss Road La Pine, OR 97739

My mom needs greeting cards—new or used. She makes card bowls with them and gives them away locally. Thank you from Peggy S.

Millie Shelton 85460 Christmas Valley Hwy Silver Lake, OR 97638

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.

I am looking for buttons for a game to teach children. Each child needs 50 to 100 buttons. They need five different types: leather, wooden, ceramic, shell and so on. Each child learns to sew on a button and then shares with a friend. I also need one or two large buttons to create button buzzers. Thanks in advance for your help.

Donita Culberson

P.O. Box 108 Baker City, OR 97814

I’m looking for any used or new greeting cards and unwanted scrapbooking supplies to put together scrapbooking albums to decorate for my grandchildren with our family photos and to track family genealogy. I use buttons, iron emblems and cutouts to decorate the pages. If local to Burns, Oregon, I’m willing to pick it up. Your help is greatly appreciated as I make these treasures for my grandchildren.

Peggy Lee Mazziotti

315 W. Johnson St. Burns, OR 97720

Milestones

My dad turns 90 this month. A retired U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War era, he was a flight engineer and is one of the few remaining veterans of Underage Military Service (having enlisted at the age of 15). With the passing of his friends, my mom in 2016 and my bonus mom in 2023, he’s very lonely and spends many hours reading nonfiction. Since one of my dad’s daily highlights is “checking the mail,” I thought it would be wonderful if our community would help celebrate this milestone birthday and brighten his days with thoughtful cards throughout August. Once a trainer for Lockheed Martin Aircraft Service, he loves explaining details of old military aircraft and is volunteering at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. Send cards to Jim Padden, 714 E. McKinley St., Carlton, OR 97111. Thank you.

Liz Kennedy Banks, Oregon

My mom turns 88 this month. Your wishes would make her day. Our house was neighborhood central—kick the can, sharing our big garden, cookies on the back porch—and she was director of Summer “Girls Camp.” Send your wishes with your own stories to Celia Davidson, 900 N. Western Ave. #103, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

Colleen Ward Washington Thanks

I have received 400 cards from you wonderful readers. Such nice words. Thanks to each of you. It has been such fun to read them.

Margaret McLaughlin Pendelton, Oregon

The family of Peter Cladouhous offers sincere thanks to the nearly 300 Ruralite readers who thoughtfully sent cards and letters to Peter when he celebrated his 100th birthday last year. Opening stacks of mail every day for almost two weeks and deeply touched by your kindness, he enjoyed all those beautiful cards and creative letters more than you can imagine. Always one to organize, he put them in a special box marked “save.” After he passed away, family had the pleasure of reading each one and feeling the warmth of your birthday wishes. Peter spent his final weeks in hospice and passed peacefully from this world on March 19. You can learn more by reading his obituary at www.schniderfuneralhome.com/obituary/peter-cladouhos.

Cladouhous Family Grangeville, Idaho

You don’t often get email from oohletmysee1@gmail.com. Learn why this is important. I wish to thank everyone who responded to my request for old jewelry. It was an incredible amount of gifts from our community. I tried to send as many thank you notes as I could, but for those who may have been missed, thank you.

Holly Hill Port Orford, Oregon

We want to thank Ruralite readers for sending my mother, Betty, birthday cards in December. She received more than 350 beautiful cards, many handmade. What a gift.

Gail Harrower & Family Bend, Oregon

We would like to thank you all for the shipments of yarn we have received to help us with our knitting project. It is so wonderful to receive the yarn that is being used to make hats, scarves and baby blankets for young mothers in need. We could not have made this possible without your donations. God bless you all.

Deb Darr Falls City, Oregon

Heartfelt thanks to every person who was so kind to send a birthday card to my mom (who has Alzheimer’s). She received over 500 cards. Each day was amazing as the postal carrier brought handfuls of cards every single day. We put all of the cards in scrapbooks for her. She delights in turning each of the pages many times a day to see the hundreds of beautiful cards. Thank you so very much.

Kathleen Ahern St. Maries, Idaho

Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout Hike into the sky at

What Is It?

Hike to the top of a roughly 8,500foot-tall mountain to find the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout, built to provide panoramic views of Tahoe National Forest in Northeast California. The Sierra Buttes lookout was built in 1915.

What Is a Lookout?

Fires in 1910 burned more than 3 million acres of forest across the American West. In response, the U.S. Forest Service— which was created in 1906—began building fire lookouts. Forest Service rangers lived in the towers, scanning the horizon for smoke and reporting potential fires.

Difficult Hike

Reaching the fire lookout is a challenge. There are no amenities on the trail, and do not attempt it if you are afraid of heights. The hike is 5 miles round trip and includes 1,600 feet of elevation gain. To finally reach the lookout, visitors must climb 180 steep steps before they’re rewarded with sweeping views.

In the Area

Tahoe National Forest has plenty of things for visitors to do without climbing a mountain. Fishing and kayaking are common activities. Granite Chief Wilderness has granite cliffs and fir forests, and Placer Big Trees Grove is home to sequoias along a relatively easy half-mile trail.

More Information

The path to the lookout typically closes in November, when snow begins to fall. Look online for hike suggestions. To plan your trip to Tahoe, visit www.fs.usda.gov/ attmain/tahoe.

ADOBE STOCK

PHOTO BY MIKE LEE

e best walk-in tub just got better with breakthrough technology! Presenting the all new Safe Step Walk-In Tub featuring MicroSoothe. ® An air system so revolutionary, it oxygenates, softens and exfoliates skin, turning your bath into a spa-like experience. Constructed and built right here in America for safety and durability from the ground up, and with more standard features than any other tub.

✓ Heated seat providing warmth from beginning to end

✓ Carefully engineered hydro-massage jets strategically placed to target sore muscles and joints

✓ 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 You’ll agree – there just isn’t a better, more affordable walk-in tub on the market.

Seeing Light at Home

By Dave LaBelle

Recently, I challenged myself to see and photograph light as I found it entering our home, without any help or interference.

Determining not to move anything for better composition, I watched as morning and afternoon light crawled across tables, chairs, curtains and floors, illuminating things hidden in shadow: dusty furniture, hanging towels, baskets of fruit, our dog, even discarded toilet paper rolls on a window sill in the bathroom.

The temptation to move a towel, a napkin or a banana to create a better composition or add artificial fill light was great, but I resisted in the name of capturing only what I saw naturally.

Photographing the light and those things it touched was an exercise I faithfully maintained for 10 days, posting a picture every day on Facebook.

In the end, this modest exercise accomplished more than anticipated.

To begin, it slowed me down. I noticed a world I had ignored and saw details I had seldom paid attention to before, such as the carvings on a wooden sculpture, a nook for a phone, the glass doorknobs on my bedroom doors.

It helped me truly see light in a new light, as I watched color and intensity quickly change, and deep shadows

open and close again. Though I have always adored light from the time I opened my eyes, a new heightened awareness of its magical healing power and beauty washed over me.

More than once I breathed deeply and brushed away grateful tears. I was reminded that where there are shadows, there is light.

Lastly, the exercise offered me something to look forward to each morning, photography not assigned or driven by a deadline, something visually stimulating and soothing, like soft classical music.

What pleased me most was the response to the uncomplicated images after posting them online. Many friends and photographers whose work I greatly admire were encouraged to capture their own found images of light. n

Reader Challenge

Slow down and capture the beauty of natural light as it enters your home. Follow and study the light as it moves, illuminating and exposing. Watch how the morning light crawls through your house as you open your drapes and find things you often don’t notice. See if you can capture an image that celebrates the beautiful light.

Email your best image (just one, please) with caption information, including an explanation of how it affects you, to GPH@pur.coop. We may share submissions on our website and social media channels.

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.

A shaft of morning light through a kitchen curtain temporarily reaches a wire basket of fruit my wife put there the night before. BY DAVE LABELLE

NIKON D810, 38mm lens ISO 100, f/4.5 at 1/200

“To you, it’s the perfect lift chair. To me, it’s the best sleep chair I’ve ever had.”

You can’t always lie down in bed and sleep. Heartburn, cardiac problems, hip or back aches – and dozens of other ailments and worries. Those are the nights you’d give anything for a comfortable chair to sleep in: one that reclines to exactly the right degree, raises your feet and legs just where you want them, supports your head and shoulders properly, and operates at the touch of a button.

Our Perfect Sleep Chair® does all that and more. More than a chair or recliner, it’s designed to provide total comfort. Choose your preferred heat and massage settings, for hours of soothing relaxation. Reading or watching TV? Our chair’s recline technology allows you to pause the chair in an infinite number of settings. And best of all, it features a powerful lift mechanism that tilts the entire chair forward, making it easy to stand. You’ll love the other benefits, too. It helps with correct spinal alignment and promotes back pressure relief, to prevent back and muscle pain. The overstuffed, oversized biscuit style back and unique seat design will cradle you in comfort. Generously filled, wide armrests provide enhanced arm support

— J. Fitzgerald, VA

when sitting or reclining. It even has a battery backup in case of a power outage.

White glove delivery included in shipping charge. Professionals will deliver the chair to the exact spot in your home where you want it, unpack it, inspect it, test it, position it, and even carry the packaging away! You get your choice of Luxurious and Lasting Miralux, Genuine Leather, stain and liquid repellent Duralux with the classic leather look, or plush MicroLux microfiber, all handcrafted in a variety of colors to fit any decor. Call now!

Pictured is Luxurious & Lasting Miralux™. Ask about our 5 Comfort Zone chair.

Now, THIS is a Knife!

EXCLUSIVE FREE

Inthe blockbuster film, when a strapping Australian crocodile hunter and a lovely American journalist were getting robbed at knife point by a couple of young thugs in New York, the tough Aussie pulls out his dagger and says “That’s not a knife, THIS is a knife!” Of course, the thugs scattered and he continued on to win the reporter’s heart.

Our Aussie friend would approve of our rendition of his “knife.”

Forged of high grade 420 surgical stainless steel, this knife is an impressive 16" from pommel to point. And, the blade is full tang, meaning it runs the entirety of the knife, even though part of it is under wraps in the natural bone and wood handle.

Secured in a tooled leather sheath, this is one impressive knife, with an equally impressive price.

This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here. We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers.

But we don’t stop there. While supplies last, we’ll include a pair of $99, 8x21 power compact binoculars, and a genuine leather sheath when you purchase the Down Under Bowie Knife

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price.

Limited Reserves. A deal like this won’t last long. We have only 1120 Down Under Bowie Knives for this ad only. Don’t let this beauty slip through your fingers at a price that won’t drag you under.

Stauer® 8x21

Compact Binoculars -a $99 valuewith purchase of Down Under Knife

BONUS! Call today and you’ll also receive this genuine leather sheath!

Insider Offer Code: DUK404-01 You must use the insider offer code to get our special price. Down Under Bowie Knife $249* Offer Code Price Only $99 + S&P Save $150

What Stauer Clients Are Saying About Our Knives

“This knife is beautiful!”

— J., La Crescent, MN



“The feel of this knife is unbelievable...this is an incredibly fine instrument.”

— H., Arvada, CO

*Discount is only for customers who use the offer code versus the listed original Stauer.com price.

California residents please call 1-800-333-2045 regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product.

• Etched stainless steel full tang blade ; 16” overall • Painted natural bone and wood handle • Brass hand guards, spacers & end cap • Includes genuine tooled leather sheath 14091 Southcross Drive W., Dept. DUK404-01 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com

Public Safety Power Shutoff Updates for Blachly-Lane Members

By Pam Spettel

Every year since our first Public Safety Power Shutoff in September 2020, Blachly-Lane continues to improve how we plan for and manage these unfortunate weather-related events. We focus first on safety—keeping our community and our system safe from wildfire—while maintaining a reliable power source to our members, if possible. Here are a few new changes that allow us to keep those focuses.

New Tools for Field Personnel

Field personnel are now equipped with specialized tools to measure local windspeed and humidity. This means they have real-time information specific to Blachly-Lane’s system, not just general weather reports for the region. This helps us make decisions with better accuracy during extreme weather events.

New Reclosers Installed

We have upgraded some reclosers throughout our system. Reclosers, like circuit breakers for our electrical lines, help limit the size of an outage during extreme weather, especially when our system is set to high sensitivity. This means fewer people will lose power if there is a problem.

Better Communication

It is important to stay informed during a PSPS. That’s why we’ve increased our presence on social media and AM/FM radio. We want to ensure you get the information you need quickly and easily, so we are finding new ways to reach you where you are.

Changes to Fire Zones

This year, the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration made changes to fire zones in our region, combining the western part of our system with the

central part. As a result, when there is a red flag warning, almost all our system will go into high-sensitivity mode at the same time. This helps us better predict and respond to fire risks to keep our communities safe.

Ongoing Improvements

We always look for ways to improve our system. We are seeking grants to convert parts of our system from overhead to underground lines. Underground lines are less likely to be damaged during extreme weather. We also aggressively remove danger trees and idle services and equipment. These efforts help make our system safer and more reliable.

Stay Informed and Stay Safe

We are committed to keeping you informed and safe during extreme weather events. Make sure to follow us on Facebook, bookmark our website and sign up for SmartHub to receive the latest updates during weather events.

Help Yourself and Your Community

Being prepared for a PSPS is the best thing you can do to weather one. Use Ready.gov for guidance to prepare for any sort of disaster and emergency. Ready.gov recommends 1 gallon of water per person per day, and enough storage foods that don’t need to be cooked to last at least a week.

Make sure you have battery backups for cellular devices and contingency plans for any livestock and pets, including fish tanks, to make sure they stay safe.

Most importantly, know your neighbors. In a PSPS event, it is likely that your neighbors may have something you need, and you have things they need, too. Partner with your neighbors to make sure you each have the necessary items available.

Thank you for being a member of our electric cooperative. Together, we can keep our community safe and resilient. n

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.

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

Two antique outboard motors, AMC/SeaKing, $80. Two antique windup phonographs, console/portable, $40. Two antique wood tool boxes with misc. tools, $20. 530-257-4029; frnpeng@gmail.com. 0824

WC Collectibles. We buy comic books! Local to the Inland Northwest, willing to travel. WCCollectiblesCheney@gmail.com; 509-496-1835. 1024

Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo blankets and rugs, baskets, beadwork, etc. Also, quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com. 1024

King Zephyr alto saxophone. Professional quality; single owner. Recently repadded. Pearl keys, silver rods. $1K. 541-422-7445. 0824

Automotive

1980 GMC pickup. Good condition, runs well. $20K. 509-531-6660. 0824

Rare 1960 Chevy pickup 4x4. Shortbed. Not running now. Text or call 661-713-3377. Leave message. $7K. 0824

1985 Cad. Eldo Biarritz. 110K miles. Garaged; like new. $19K. 530-708-2321.

Books, Magazines, Videos

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. 0824AR

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): October issue—August 30, 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.

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

“My Heart” (artwork by Brenna Kimbro) and “Arboreality: Poetry Broadsides” (curated by Nick Neely). Through August 31. Art Center East, La Grande, OR. artcentereast.org. 0824

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. 888-211-1715; tbsmads@yahoo.com. 0824AR

Furniture, Appliances

Barely used bed. Serta CA king w/lifts. $1.5K. 530-708-2321. 0824

Help Wanted

The Cape Blanco Heritage Society needs volunteers at the Cape Blanco Lighthouse Greeting Center and Hughes House for summer 2024. Background checks are required. Free RV hookups are available to volunteers. heritage32@frontier.com; 541-332-0521. 0824

Minister for rural community of 600 people, plus outlying communities. Surprise Valley Community Church UCC. Cedarville, CA 96104. surprisechurch@frontiernet.net. 0824

Hobbies,

Gifts, Games

Selling United States postage stamp collection. Mint plate blocks and sheets dating back to the 1940s. Photo available. Bob, 541-786-6195 or brown.donna50@gmail.com. 1024

Media

Watch Channel 25 (Southern NV)—on the go— for free on your TV, phone, tablet, computer or ROKU. Visit www.kpvm.tv and stream live today. 775-727-9400. 0924

Miscellaneous

Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. For more info: www.highdesertmemorials.com; Joe, highdesertmemorials@gmail.com or 541-815-8906. 0824

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. 1224

Pets, Supplies

Border collies are the world’s smartest dog breed. Purebred puppies for therapy or service dogs, sports, herding or family companions. Excellent dispositions. Longhaired, various colors. Vet check, first vaccine and deworming. Raised in our home. $800. 541-979-5759; danita@centurylink.net. 0824

AKC-registered Airedales. Fort Sage Kennels, Patricia Sharp, P.O. Box 246, Doyle, CA 96109. 530-827-2271. 0924

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.

Wanted: a pure-bred female German shepherd puppy in Oregon. Ready after August 20. Call Shannon, 503-313-8029.

Maine Coon kittens for adoption. Grey and black colors male and females. kittensfind.net. 808222-1828; barloweemily852@gmail.com. 0824

Plants, Garden Supplies

Cactus for sale. Cold/winter hardy. Good for landscaping. Sunnyside/Mabton, WA, area. Local pickup only. 509-391-5546; marybarthlow@gmail.com. 0924

Real Estate

9.87 acres in Willard, WA. All harvestable timber. 100 ft. from Little White Salmon River. 17 miles north of Hood River, OR. $650K. 509-538-2187. 0824

15 off-grid acres. At 8,400ft. near Fort Garland, CO. Great view of CO’s fourth highest peak. On Person’s Road in Sangre de Cristo Ranches. Piñon trees, year-round access. $52.9K. 541-729-0374. 0924

Buying or selling in Brookings, OR? Call Pat Piper at Century 21 Agate Realty first. Experience. Empathy. Education. Exceptional. 541-251-2152; patpiperbroker@gmail.com. 1024

5-acre lots, $30K down and 5% interest. Recreational, beautiful view outside Cherry Creek, NV. Owner finance. Ray Bick, 775-5910420. 0824

$179.9K. Fully loaded, remote, AK property for sale. Log cabin, fully equipped with all living amenities, SeaArk river boat (less than 200 hrs), 5 acres, chain saw sawmill, tractor, DR mower, tool shed full of everything you will need and much more. River and trail access. Half hour boat ride up river from Nenana, AK, boat dock. Outside borough so no property taxes. Only serious buyers. 907-388-7080. 0824

Christmas Valley, OR. 40 acres with perimeter fence. 36x36 metal building, two carports, 370-ft. deep water well, storage container on chase. Taking only serious offers. 541-5365776. 0924

Let me help you buy or sell ranch, farm and recreation property in OR. Fourth-generation Oregonian, prior ranch owner. For sale: central OR, 2-acre parcel. $624K. John Gill, 541-4809161; johngill@landandwildlife.com. Land And Wildlife brokerage. 0824

Private 80-acre scenic setting in the timber, borders national forest, home, garage, barn, pond. $775K. Duke Warner Realty, 541-9872363; ddwr@ortelco.net. 0824

Off-grid homestead. Ideal for wind/solar power. NE Elko County, NV. Has equipment, quarters, shop. Year-round access. Water and power nearby. $35K. geopup58@gmail.com.

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.

Fun in OR. Eagle Crest timeshare. $1, that’s right. Biannual; Nov.-Dec. and Jan.-Feb. 541-480-7219. 0824

Recreational Vehicles

1999 Dutch Star 38’ RV. Diesel pusher. 3126B Catepillar engine. Freightliner chasis. One slide. Excellent condition. 95,000 miles. Many upgrades. Asking $25K. 530-616-0388. 0824

2016 Thor 4 Winds RV. 28ft; 39,000 miles. Ford E450 generator, large kitchen slide, great condition. $59K. Jerryrudloff@yahoo.com. 541-788-0231. 0824

Services

Dawn Till Dusk Masonry. Brick, block, stone and pavers. Small jobs and repairs welcome. Check out our website at dawntillduskconstructionmasonry.com. 541-388-7605; 541-410-6945. License #245760 bonded and insured. La Pine, OR. 0824

Timeshare victims? Call TimeShareBeGone, 800-214-4460. We will get your timeshare legally canceled. A-plus BBB, 5-star reviews, 16 years experience. 100% money back guarantee. 1024

We all want delicious, fresh, nourishing food to feed our families. We’ve got pastured pork corn/soy/GMO free. Delivery to your door or drop sites. Order at www.rural-roots-ranch.com or text Christy at 541-589-4674. 1224

Want to Buy

Wanted: 1967-’72 Buick Skylark, GS, Stage 1, GSX. Cars, parts or leads. Or any ’60s or ’70s vehicles. billybibbett@hotmail.com. 0824

Wanted: Early Corvette ’58-’62, any condition. Call or text Randy, 503-544-3807. 0824

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. 0824

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

Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo blankets and rugs, baskets, beadwork, etc. Also, quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com. 1024

Wanted: Old 501 Levi’s jeans and jackets with capital “E” on the red tag. Also Carhartts with red heart. Good prices. Text photos to 208-255-8030. 0824

Who Has the Power?

Operational and mission changes impact dams’ power output

Story and photos by Rural Montana Editor Ryan Hall

The four lower Snake River dams have long been an important source of power for the Pacific Northwest. But the amount of power they produce during the nine months each year that fish pass through the dams has been reduced, and that impacts electric cooperatives in the Northwest.

The lower Snake River dams are Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose and Lower Granite dams. Each one has six turbines. Combined, the four dams can produce enough electricity to power all of Montana and Wyoming, according to Paul Ocker, chief of operations and maintenance for the Walla Walla District of the Army Corps of Engineers, which

manages the dams.

Ocker said the mission of the dams has changed since they were built in the 1960s and ’70s.

“The main reason they were built was for navigation,” he said, noting hydropower was later added to the dams.

Staff at Lower Granite and Ice Harbor dams said all four dams were built with fish ladders for returning adult fish. Additional fish-passage measures for juvenile fish were added later.

In Ocker’s 24 years with the Corps of Engineers, he says has seen power take a backseat to fish considerations.

“The focus is even greater on fish than when I first got here,” he said. “For the Snake River dams, I think we are reaching the limit of what we can do.”

In 2022, the four lower Snake River dams produced 6.6 million megawatthours of power, or enough to provide electricity for about 600,000 homes. That’s a lot of power, but it’s a lot less than it used to be—and could still be.

“In the last 25 years, we are producing a lot less power than we used to,” Ocker said. “We are spilling a lot of water for fish migration—a lot more than we used to.”

He explained that in the past, each of the four dams on the lower Snake River typically ran five turbines. This spring, with low flows and a new court settlement and biological opinion dictating spillage, the dams typically ran one turbine, often at minimum generation.

“We don’t make a decision without considering fish,” said Brian Vorheis,

Brian Vorheis, operations project manager for Ice Harbor Dam, says the dam may never return to running all six of its turbines.

“In the last 25 years, we are producing a lot less power than we used to. We are spilling a lot of water for fish migration—a lot more than we used to.”

— PAUL OCKER, CHIEF OF OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FOR THE WALLA WALLA DISTRICT OF

operation project manager for Ice Harbor Dam.

Rob Lustig, operation project manager at Lower Granite Dam, said that’s the case there as well.

“A lot of things we are doing differently are related to that biological opinion,” Lustig said. “Here, hydro is not king.”

For example, on May 23, Ice Harbor Dam spilled 69,000 cubic feet per second of water through its spillways. Think of each cubic foot as being about the size of a basketball. Just under 10,000 cfs of that water was used to generate what dam officials call “min-gen,” or minimum generation—about 75 megawatts. That means roughly seven times the amount of water being used for generation was spilled to aid juvenile fish migration.

A day earlier, Lower Granite had one turbine running at min-gen, producing 85 MW. Turbines at Ice Harbor can produce a maximum between 102 MW and 111 MW each, while Lower Granite turbines each produce up to 135 MW.

Normally this time of year, three to six turbines were running at up to max output, Lustig said.

“How much we generate right now is dictated by a settlement agreement that is overseen by the courts,” Ocker said. “It is the desire of the environmental groups and the plaintiffs to have all fish pass by a nonpowerhouse route.”

He said typically the fish survival rate through a turbine is about 90%, while it’s 98% through other passage routes, such as the spillway or when diverted around the turbines by fish screens.

Ocker noted the new turbines at Ice Harbor have a fish survival rate between 96% and 98%.

Before the settlement agreement, a biological opinion issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration dictated how much energy the dams could generate.

“We spilled excess water if there was not enough demand,” Ocker said. “Now

ABOVE: Crews prepare the housing for an upgraded turbine being installed at Ice Harbor Dam. The new, more fish-friendly, turbine is scheduled to go online in 2026. TOP: Lower Granite Dam has six turbines, but they rarely all run at the same time or at maximum capacity due to recent regulations to protect salmon.

we spill specifically for fish eight or nine months out of the year. As the Corps of Engineers, what we are required to do is balance what the people need and what the environment needs.”

Vorheis said that once Ice Harbor reaches the 10,000 cfs inflow it needs to run one turbine at min-gen, it must spill the next 110,000 cfs to meet the current operating plan under the settlement before it can generate more power. Vorheis said that without a mandated spill, 96,000 cfs would be enough to generate at maximum power. The plan requirements mean it now takes a river flow of 206,000 cfs to run all six turbines at maximum output.

“I don’t know if we will ever see all six lights on again,” Vorheis said, referring to the lights on the turbines that show they are running. “Four years ago, we were running all six units. Since spill kicked off

THE

ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS,

in April (2024), we’ve been running one unit at min-gen.”

Brad Sharp, chief of operations at Lower Granite Lock and Dam, said that since 2020, the total project generation has decreased between 20-25%, with most of that coming in the spring salmon run of April until mid-June.

That generation is variable based on snowpack each year, but the five-year averages show a trend. From 2015 to 2019, Lower Granite Dam produced an average of 307,930 megawatt-hours in April. From 2020-2024, the five-year average for April was 91,224 MWh. For May, the average dropped from 385,103 MWh to 202,691 MWh over the same time frames.

One key element that remains—even with the fish passage plan, biological opinions and court settlement—is that hydropower stands at the ready in case of a power emergency where demand outpaces supply.

“There’s still the availability component,” said Harold Wentworth, chief of operations for Ice Harbor. “That availability is still important to the reliability of the grid. If an emergency were to happen, we would deviate from the fish passage plan with appropriate coordination.”

He said if the Bonneville Power Administration called for more power— which happens if intermittent generators such as wind or solar stop producing— backup power must already be spinning.

“In this region, that is primarily hydropower,” Wentworth said.

Ice Harbor Dam can produce an additional 100 MW in two to three minutes and can be at full power within eight minutes, Wentworth said.

The same is true up and down the Snake River, including at Lower Granite Dam.

“In six minutes, we can go from not generating anything to powering a city the size of Portland,” Lustig said. n

Used with permission of Rural Montana magazine.

BEFORE YOU GO

Share the Beauty in Your Backyard

For Jeri Rector, a late-night bout of acid reflux turned out to be a blessing.

“I peered out my kitchen window and saw a gray bow crossing the sky,” she says. “As colors began to appear, I ran out into our backyard in my bare feet and asked God if he was giving me a sign to get ready, then quickly ran back in for my phone and took this picture.”

Jeri says the rare moonbow—or lunar rainbow—lasted only a few minutes.

To submit your photo, email a JPEG file to photos@pioneer.coop. Include “Before You Go” in the subject line. Please share a bit about what inspired you to make your photo. n

Moonbows are rare, occurring less than 10% as often as rainbows. Jeri captured this one in Parkdale, Oregon. PHOTO BY JERI

RECTOR

Paula Zanter-Stout shared this photo of a windmill on a particularly hazy morning at sunrise from her back porch, south of Moses Lake, Washington. The windmill has become a favorite subject of her photos. PHOTO BY PAULA ZANTER-STOUT

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Blachly-Lane

Electric Cooperative

90680 Highway 99 N. Eugene, OR 97402

541-688-8711

800-446-8418

blec@blec.coop www.blachlylane.coop

Our Mission: To make continuous and practical improvements in our quest to provide safe, reliable electric service to our community of members.

Board of Directors

District 1

Ernie Jacksch, Secretary/Treasurer

541-927-3466

District1Director@blec.coop

District 2

Kelly Harpole

541-729-0104

District2Director@blec.coop

District 3

Beverly Mattheisen, Chairwoman 541-998-3704

District3Director@blec.coop

District 4

Mary Ann Rhodes, Vice Chairwoman 541-998-2630

District4Director@blec.coop

District 5

Eric Imbler, Director 541-954-1949

District5Director@blec.coop

General Manager

Jeff Jones

jonesj@blachlylane.coop

OR-17

Alderwood Line Rebuild Project

Dear Member,

Our Alderwood line rebuild project along Lawrence Road will kick off in early August and is tentatively planned to wrap up by year’s end. Due to anticipated impacts, we are asking for patience from members and people traveling on Lawrence Road.

For the duration of the project, flaggers, line crews and large equipment will be in the roadway on Lawrence Road, generally Mondays through Fridays between 6 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Members and others who commute using Lawrence Road may want to consider alternate routes during these times, as traffic will be stopped periodically to allow safe work zones for everyone involved.

In addition, some outages will be necessary in the Lawerence Road area to safely complete this project. Blachly-Lane will contact members affected by service interruptions with at least a day’s notice. Contact us or log into SmartHub to ensure we have your preferred contact information.

The Alderwood line rebuild is a significant step up in reliability for Blachly-Lane. Once completed, the project will create a looped system that will reduce future planned outages and improve service for a significant percentage of Blachly-Lane’s members. We appreciate the community’s patience and support of our service improvement and safety efforts. They will be worth it in the end.

If you have questions about this project, call 541-688-8711 or email blec@blec.coop.

Lower Snake River Dams

This issue kicks off a four-part series of articles highlighting the Lower Snake River Dams, a topic of great interest to Blachly-Lane members. The articles will be on pages 28-29. The stories illustrate the value these dams bring to you and the Blachly-Lane community, and what we can do to ensure they remain the valuable resource our region needs.

Thank you for your continued support,

Jeff Jones General Manager

Board Actions May 2024

The board approved the following action items:

h The board elected director Beverly Mattheisen as chairwoman, director Mary Ann Rhodes as vicechairwoman and director Ernie Jacksch as board secretary/treasurer.

h A motion to invite employees to volunteer to attend the ORECA 2025 Guatamala Trip carried 5-0.

h A motion to ratify the April director expenses as presented carried 5-0.

h A motion to move the monthly board meeting times to 4 p.m. carried 5-0.

Monthly Policy Review

h A motion to table Policy 1405 Line Extensions and Policy 1410 Power Sales Agreements NLSL carried 5-0.