Ruralite
Redmond Senior Center board member Jo Anne Sutherland and Director of Operations Randy Graves have helped breathe new life into a once-struggling organization.
PHOTO BY BRENT TEN PAS
Ruralite
December 2024
• Volume 72, No. 12
CEO Michael Shepard
SENIOR VP OF CONTENT Leon Espinoza
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Chasity Anderson, CCC
DEPUTY EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Noble Sprayberry
SENIOR EDITOR Jennifer Paton, CCC
ASSISTANT EDITORS Victoria Hampton, CCC; David Herder, CCC
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Valeri Pearon, Nina Todea
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCTION SR. MANAGER
Elizabeth Beatty
SENIOR PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR
Alyssa McDougle
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Here’s to New Beginnings
With this issue, I step into the position of editorial director. I am incredibly grateful to Mike Teegarden for his help in preparing for this role and support during our transition.
I take the reins deeply mindful of the incredible leaders who came before me. They set the foundation with stories that challenged, enlightened and resonated deeply— stories that became touchstones for our readers and industry. I am humbled to follow in their footsteps and carry forward the legacy.
A recent note from reader Abigail Cowart brought me great joy. She thanks everyone who donated yarn to her project of making hats and scarves for the homeless. She’s made and distributed 100 hats and scarves so far. Want to find ways you can help fellow readers? Learn more on Page 18.
For supplemental and interactive content, search @Ruralite on your favorite social media sites.
Storytelling has always been more than just words on a page to me. It is an art, a powerful way of connecting across space and time. A wellcrafted story can shift perspectives, stir empathy and ignite dialogue that lingers long after the page is turned. Over the years, I have come to see how stories provide comfort, provoke thought, and, most importantly, help us understand ourselves and the world around us. I am committed to preserving that legacy.
I want to foster a space where storytelling continues to thrive and where writers are encouraged to take risks, dig deep and capture the essence of our communities and the stories they hold.
At the same time, beginning this role signifies a new beginning, a chance to explore fresh
directions and uncharted themes. I look forward to bringing my voice and vision to this new chapter, working alongside our talented team to keep the magazine relevant, thought-provoking and vibrant. Together, we will honor the past while pushing forward, blending tradition with innovation to craft stories that inspire and resonate for years to come.
What about you? Do you have ideas for stories we haven’t yet told? I’d love to learn more. Reach me at editor@pioneer.coop. Here’s to new beginnings, rich storytelling and the road ahead.
Chasity Anderson Editorial Director
Taking Stock
Breeding program preserves heritage livestock Up Close, Page 10
All in the Family
Cooperative Family Fund helps children after tragic loss Spotlight, Page 12
In The Kitchen, Page 16
Picture Hunt
older than 60 and determined eligible by a Council on Aging caseworker, RSC volunteer drivers scattered throughout the community to deliver healthy meals while allowing seniors to connect with someone from the outside world.
Under New Management
Hiring professional staff proved a turning point, breathing new life into an organization devoid of vision and stability. Having run through three managers in 18 months, the center found a new leader in Randy Graves, who pledged a fiveto seven-year commitment during the interview process.
No stranger to the nonprofit world, Randy primarily worked for Boys and Girls clubs in Portland and Lebanon. A visit to the yet-to-be-developed Eagle Crest in 1984 brought Randy and his wife, Vicki, to the area.
“My wife said, ‘If they’re really going to do all this (develop Eagle Crest), wouldn’t it be a great place to retire?’ Well, in 2021, my wife accepted early retirement. We sold our home, cars and furniture and bought a two-bedroom condo at Eagle Crest.”
After the move to Central Oregon, Randy fulfilled a commitment as executive director with a nonprofit in Vancouver, Washington, before working at various organizations in Redmond and landing in 2023 at Redmond Senior Center.
Upon being hired, Randy informed
the board of directors it would take approximately a year to stabilize things. His priority focused on developing personal relationships with everyone.
When asked which office he wanted, Randy said, “The one that faces the front door so I can see everybody that comes in. We’re going to greet every person within the first five seconds that they walk in the door.”
Randy immersed himself in the community outside the center’s doors, attending social organization meetings, visiting businesses and interfacing with local government officials, which has paid social and financial dividends.
“Right now, we probably have about four months’ worth of funding, whereas when I was first hired, we barely had two,” he says. “We are becoming more visible. A lot of it’s about your relationships with folks, and I’ve had numerous conversations with people who can help contribute.”
A critical component of Randy’s blueprint for success is hiring professional staff with diverse talents.
“I’ve expressed to them none of us is greater than the other,” he says. “We
Get Involved
Members enjoy live entertainment, beverages and appetizers during Redmond Senior Center Happy Hour.
all have talents, and if you stay in your lane, I’ll be able to expand the fund development side of things.
“They’re amazing. I mean, when I talk about them in the board meeting, I get choked up.”
Filling board vacancies was another priority. Randy rounded out the board and focused on candidates with diverse backgrounds to complement the board’s collective efforts.
“You want to add people who are visible in our community, and the board members we had when I was hired were all in,” he says. “I mean, they loved the senior center and didn’t want it to fail.”
And fail, it has not. The board, staff and volunteers are fulfilling Randy’s vision with their efforts. In September, staff planned and executed a two-day celebration of the organization’s 75th anniversary. More than 500 people attended, including local dignitaries who spoke to the center’s value and importance in the community. The event generated nearly $10,000—a significant improvement over bake sales held in years past.
The Redmond Senior Center’s future looks bright, with its leadership and professional staff focused on prioritizing community and volunteer engagement, fundraising, organization and fulfilling seniors’ wishes with multiple programs dedicated to health and well-being, social events, activities and providing meals—all served with a personal touch.
On any given weekday, visitors can find parking scarce and hear echoes of voices and music drifting from various rooms. Activities abound throughout the facility, and seniors gather to enjoy lunch and talk. All this suggests RSC’s doors will remain open for years to come. n
To join Redmond Senior Center as a member, visit www.redmonseniors.org/join-as-a-member.
To sponsor meals, visit www.redmondseniors.org/meal-sponsorship.
To learn more about RSC, visit www.redmondseniors.org, or call 541-548-6325.
Intelligent Insight Make informed decisions when buying smart appliances
By Scott Flood
Santa isn’t the only one who makes an appearance this month. As the year nears its end, retailers start trumpeting deep discounts on home appliances. That’s great if you’ve considered replacing some of your home’s tired appliances with one of today’s smart models. But before buying a smart appliance, take some time to learn what they offer—and think about what you really need.
Begin with an honest look at how you live, and consider the role your current appliances play in your daily routine. Would the capabilities of a smart appliance make your life easier? For example, if you frequently forget to start the laundry or your dishwasher, Wi-Fi-enabled appliances with remote start capabilities may save you time and trouble.
If you’re thinking about stepping up to a smart appliance because it has a cool feature you might use once a year, ask yourself if it’s worth the extra cost.
Next, think about any smart devices you already use in your home. Make sure they’re compatible with the smart appliance’s operating system, so you can get all the benefits you expect. For example, many of these appliances are engineered to work with familiar voice assistants, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple’s Siri. Incompatible systems might limit your ability to use the features most important to you.
Is your home’s infrastructure ready to handle the demands of a smart appliance? Depending on the model you choose, it might require anything from a basic internet connection to a home Wi-Fi network to provide the operation you expect.
Some smart appliances may require Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-Wave or other systems for connectivity. Others can receive software updates via Wi-Fi. Having
access to the right technology ensures your system functions correctly and can handle updates as they become available.
It’s always important to consider energy efficiency when buying a new appliance. Most smart appliances are designed to reduce energy consumption, with operating modes that deliver the performance you want while making more efficient use of energy.
Smart appliances that are Energy Starcertified meet or exceed federal energyefficiency standards, and some may use only half as much energy as standard appliances. Many let you schedule operations during times of the day when energy rates are lower. That’s particularly beneficial with high-energy appliances, including washing machines, dishwashers and clothes dryers.
Repairs to smart appliances can be expensive, so be sure to consider
Most smart appliances are designed to reduce energy consumption, with operating modes that deliver the performance you want while making more efficient use of energy. PHOTO COURTESY OF LG
choose heritage animals because they want to make a difference.
“None of us has a crystal ball to see what the future of agriculture is going to look like. This is about keeping these breeds around as a genetic reservoir,” she says, adding these animals are key to food security. “If we didn’t have this diversity, eventually, we would narrow our food system down to where it wasn’t sustainable. There would be no backup.”
That’s not lost on Denise.
“I do honestly, 100% believe that the cotton patch goose would have gone extinct if not for some of this work,” she says.
Efforts seem to be paying off. Since first establishing the Conservation Priority List 37 years ago, The Livestock Conservancy has yet to lose a breed to extinction. In fact, in the last dozen years, 12 breeds have graduated from the list, meaning those animal populations no longer need continual monitoring.
In 2024, two breeds—Southdown sheep and Hereford pigs— graduated from the list, and 15 breeds were reclassified within the list’s four tiers, most in a positive direction.
For farmers, educators and conservationists, the work of raising and promoting heritage breeds and their products is a labor of love. n
More information about these animals and the Conservation Priority List can be found at www. livestockconservancy.org.
FROM TOP: Denise Hanna’s herd of belted Galloway cattle are part of a program designed to preserve heritage breeds. Rex Studyvin raises several heritage breeds, including milking Devon cattle. Denise Frye has a flock of cotton patch geese. PHOTOS COURTESY OF DENISE HANNA, REX STUDYVIN AND DENISE FRYE
All in the Family Cooperative Family Fund helps children after a tragic loss
By Drew Woolley
Trent and Betsey Smith never actually danced together at the country two-step event where they met. But he saw her from across the room and decided to strike up a conversation once the music faded.
“He came up to me after the dance, and we talked,” Betsey says. “We ended up dating but never actually danced with each other until after we were engaged.”
The two were married just five months later and had five kids over the course of their 28-year marriage. Then, on Feb. 6, 2023, just more than a month into a new job as a delivery driver with Fall River Propane—a subsidiary of Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative, in Ashton, Idaho—Trent died on the job from a medical emergency. He was 51.
Several months later, Fall River reached out to Betsey about a new program called Cooperative Family Fund, which provides financial support for children 17 and younger of cooperative employees who have died. While the program had only been in place for a few months, Betsey’s youngest son, Coleman, was eligible for a $10,000 trust.
Fall River has carried on Trent’s legacy by helping Betsey and Coleman with one of his favorite traditions: raising 50
Trent and Betsey Smith, center, with their five children. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SMITH FAMILY
Tony Anderson and Anne Harvey serve on the board of the Cooperative Family Fund, which brings comfort to families of co-op workers who have died. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNE HARVEY
American flags along the side of the road each Memorial Day and Independence Day. With the cooperative’s help, they plan to keep Trent’s flags flying for years to come.
“I feel like I’m very blessed that he worked for them,” Betsey
says. “They didn’t have to be as good to us as they were, considering he had worked there for barely 30 days. The fact that they would put my son into this fund, that they would be willing to do that for him, meant a great deal to me.”
A Gift for the Future
For Cooperative Family Fund Board President Tony Anderson, providing support for each member of the cooperative family—no matter how long they have been part of it—is what Cooperative Family Fund is all about. The idea for the fund first came to Tony after a series of funerals for lineworkers across the country. He realized cooperative support often ends after the funerals.
“We’re really good at funerals in our business, but we don’t
If we care about our employees while they’re here at work, I don’t think that care evaporates when there is an untimely death.
— Bryan Case, Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative General Manager
do anything after,” he says. “We always talk about being a family in the co-op world, and I believe we’ve proven that over the years. But I felt this would make us a stronger family. And member services, engineers, accountants, managers—we’re all part of that family.”
Tony discussed the idea with other cooperative leaders and proposed it to the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp. in January 2022. While there are no statistics on how many electric co-op employees are lost annually, the goal is to
Trent started a tradition of flying flags for Memorial Day and Independence Day, which Fall River Electric Cooperative will continue. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SMITH FAMILY
Trent died after being on the job at Fall River Propane for only a month. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SMITH FAMILY
ABOVE and OPPOSITE PAGE: Pages from a memory book created for Luke Hackman’s family after he died in 2022.
continually raise funds so any child younger than 18 who loses a parent employed by an electric co-op would receive a $10,000 trust. That trust accrues interest until the first day of the month after the child’s 18th birthday. At that point, recipients can put the money toward whatever they choose.
“Every child is going to take a different path or has different needs,” says Anne Harvey, one of the CFF founding board members. “If college education is something for them, rather than saying this is for books, maybe they need help with housing. The skilled trades are so needed at distribution co-ops, so maybe they want to go that route, or this could give them a gap year. Each child is going to have a different need, and we just can’t wait to see how they use the fund.”
In addition to encouraging cooperative staff to remain engaged with each family, Cooperative Family Fund also helps the cooperative put together a memory book of its time with the employee to give to family members. The books are an important inclusion for Tony, who was 2 when his father died. Tony has only a single photo of the two of them together.
“I have very few stories of him, less than five probably,” he says. “The memory book was important to me because I knew the kids would appreciate it over time. When you lose somebody, the biggest thing you’re worried about is people forgetting them. And when you give that family a memory book, they feel like their loved one is not forgotten because the memories are captured in that book.”
Healing Together
For cooperatives mourning the loss of one of their own, offering meaningful support to families has been just as important as the money. Hollee McCormick, general manager of AllamakeeClayton Electric Cooperative based in Postville, Iowa, recalls her team putting together a memory book for Luke Hackman. A member of the co-op’s broadband department, Luke died in a car accident the same month the Cooperative Family Fund
was announced. His two children were the first to receive trusts through the program.
“We were all grieving the loss of Luke, and putting that book together kind of had a healing effect for all of us,” Hollee says. “I always tell Tony there was so little we could do for that family. Being able to talk to his wife and tell her that the nation of co-ops had put this program together and we would be able to help a little bit more was meaningful.”
Brad Janorschke, general manager of Homer Electric Association based in Homer, Alaska, was supportive of Cooperative Family Fund when it officially launched in December 2022. What he did not expect was that his utility would need to make use of the fund just days later, when lineworker Sam Clyde was killed in a car accident, leaving behind five children.
“He was pretty much loved by everybody,” Brad says. “His picture is still in the hallway out of the office he worked at. His dad was a retired lineman for our utility, as well. It was fantastic that the fund was there. It really helped out the family, and now the cooperative contributes to it annually.”
While many participating co-ops donate through the board or give employees the chance to contribute from their paychecks, others have found ways to involve their communities. Flathead Electric Cooperative in Kalispell, Montana, held a cookie bake-off contest, and Beltrami Electric Cooperative in Bemidji, Minnesota, had a rummage sale. Proceeds from both events went to the fund.
Care That Continues
The fund has raised $1.2 million in its first two years and provided 78 trusts for the children of 37 employees across 20 states. Those numbers serve as a reminder of just how much the fund was needed, even to early supporters like Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative General Manager Bryan Case.
Oftentimes, co-ops are conscientious of the dangers of the job, Bryan says.
“But I don’t think we really understood the magnitude of workers who die for other reasons,” he says. “Maybe it’s cancer or a car wreck, and they leave children behind who are starting high school or elementary school. The need for that support is greater than I ever envisioned or anticipated.”
Cooperative Family Fund is looking for more ways to get co-op volunteers involved as the program grows. That might be enlisting more help putting together memory books or simply building a better network to alert fund leaders to families eligible for support.
“If we care about our employees while they’re here at work, I don’t think that care evaporates when there is an untimely death,” Bryan says. “This fund gives those underage children a little bit of a boost to get them on that next step, especially when there’s just one person at home now taking care of the whole family.”
That boost has been keenly felt by the Smith family, for whom money was tight even before Trent’s death. Whatever challenges they may face, it gives Betsey peace of mind to know Coleman will have a special gift from the cooperative family waiting for him on his 18th birthday.
“We didn’t really have college funds for our kids,” she says. “With five kids, we were just trying to keep the lights on most of the time. Setting aside extra money for things like that just didn’t happen. It’s very special and important to us that they’ve done that for us.” n
Luke Hackman died in a car accident and the Cooperative Family Fund provided trust money for his children. PHOTO COURTESY ALLAMAKEE-CLAYTON ELECTRIC
Overnight Breakfast Casserole
1 pound mild breakfast sausage
1 can crescent rolls
6 extra-large eggs, beaten
Heat oven to 350 F.
1 block cream cheese, cut into small cubes
2 cups shredded extra-sharp cheese
Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Brown sausage in skillet. Drain excess grease. Unroll crescent roll dough and press to cover the bottom of the baking dish. Top with sausage, then pour eggs over sausage. Spread cream cheese cubes evenly. Top with cheese. Bake for 30 minutes.
You can prepare the casserole the night before. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to bake.
Spinach and Gruyère Breakfast Strata
8 to 10 1/2-inch-thick slices
French or Italian bread
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided 2 large shallots, minced 10 ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 teaspoon salt
Pepper, to taste
1/2 cup white wine
11/2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese
6 extra-large eggs
13/4 cups half-and-half
Heat oven to 225 F. Arrange bread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake until dry and crisp, about 40 minutes, flipping slices halfway through baking. When cooled, spread one side of slices with 2 tablespoons butter. Set aside.
Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add shallots. Cook until softened and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add spinach, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until spinach is warmed through, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl. Set aside.
Add wine to the skillet. Increase heat to mediumhigh, and simmer until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside.
Grease an 8-inch square baking dish with the remaining butter. Arrange half of the bread slices, buttered side up, in a single layer in the dish. Sprinkle half of the spinach mixture and 1/2 cup Gruyère evenly over bread slices. Repeat layering with remaining bread slices, remaining spinach mixture and 1/2 cup Gruyère. Whisk eggs in a medium bowl until combined. Whisk in half-and-half, reduced wine and salt. Season with pepper. Pour mixture over bread layers. Wrap dish tightly in plastic wrap, pressing plastic flush to surface of strata. Weigh down strata with three 16-ounce cans to submerge ingredients. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
Heat oven to 325 F. Remove dish from refrigerator, and let it sit for 20 minutes. Remove weights and plastic. Sprinkle remaining cheese over top of strata. Bake until edges and center are barely puffed and edges have pulled away slightly from sides of dish, about 50 minutes. Cool on wire rack for 5 minutes before serving.
Cinnamon Muffins
Paper muffin liners or cooking spray
1 cup packed light brown sugar, divided
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
1 cup whole milk
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup canola oil
2 extra-large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Heat oven to 375 F. Line a standard 12-well muffin pan with paper liners, or coat the wells with cooking spray.
Place 1/4 packed cup of light brown sugar and 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Stir to combine, breaking up any lumps.
Place flour, baking powder, the remaining 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, salt and nutmeg in a large bowl. Whisk to combine.
Place milk, the remaining 3/4 packed cup light brown sugar, canola oil, eggs and vanilla extract in a medium bowl. Whisk until well combined and no lumps of sugar remain.
Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture. Stir until just incorporated and no dry spots remain.
Divide half the batter among the muffin wells, about 2 tablespoons of batter per well. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon sugar evenly over each muffin. Divide the remaining batter among the muffin wells. Sprinkle each muffin with the remaining cinnamon sugar, about 1 teaspoon per muffin.
Bake until the muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before removing the muffins from the pan.
Nutella Swirl Banana Bread
Cooking spray
8 tablespoons salted butter
3 medium bananas, very ripe
1 cup granulated sugar
2 extra-large eggs
1/4 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2/3 cup Nutella, divided
Heat oven to 350 F. Line a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, so it hangs off two sides to form a sling. Coat the pan and parchment with cooking spray.
Place 8 tablespoons butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high power in 10-second increments until melted. Mash bananas in a large bowl with a fork or potato masher until smooth. Add the butter, sugar, eggs, milk and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
Add flour, baking soda and salt. Stir with a rubber spatula until no dry spots remain.
Transfer half the batter to the prepared pan. Using a spoon, dollop 1/3 cup of Nutella onto the batter. Swirl Nutella into the batter with a table knife. Top with the remaining batter. Dollop the remaining 1/3 cup Nutella onto the batter. Swirl with a knife.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs attached, 55 to 65 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes in the pan, then flip the bread out of the pan onto a wire rack. Cool completely before slicing.
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See a range of environments and natural beauty in Washington at
Olympic National Park
What Is It?
Sprouting up along the Pacific Coast, Olympic National Park—and all of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula along the state’s west edge—offers grand natural beauty, with rivers and beaches, deep rain forests and soaring mountains. The region got its name in the late 1700s when an explorer saw the mountains and thought they, like the Greek Mount Olympus, were majestic enough to be home to gods.
One Peninsula, Many Ecosystems
Olympic National Park has 73 miles of coastline, with Ruby and Realto beaches being popular oceanfront stops. Further ashore, the Hoh Rain Forest has plenty of hiking trails and is home to One Square Inch of Silence, one of the quietest places in the country. Towering above it all are the Olympic Mountains, including the 7,980-foot-tall Mount Olympus.
Rise and Grind
The Olympic Mountains are relatively young, by geological standards. They are roughly 34 million years old, rising as the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate subducts below the North American plate along the Pacific Coast. While this process still occurs, pushing the mountain upward, the mountains are not growing, as environmental factors grind, weather and erode the range.
Casting a Large Rain Shadow
On the west side of the peninsula, closer to the Pacific Ocean where many rain clouds form, the Hoh Rain Forest receives almost 12 feet of precipitation each year, and Mount Olympus receives an average of 50 feet of snowfall annually. However, precipitation has a hard time crossing the range, creating a dark rain shadow. Sequim, a town on the east side of the peninsula, averages just 16.5 inches of rain a year.
More Information
Entering the national park requires a pass. A Standard Entrance Pass costs $30 for a vehicle, and includes entry for up to 15 passengers. To start planning your trip, call 360-565-3130 or go online and visit www.nps.gov/olym.
PHOTO BY BILL BACCUS/ NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
We’ve
Found the Most Beautiful Endangered Species
Theirs sold at auction for $226,000. Ours is JUST $29! Curious? Read on!
To art nouveau jewelers at the turn of the last century, nothing was more beautiful than the dragonfly. In the dragonfly’s long body and outstretched wings, jewelers found the perfect setting for valuable stones. ese jewelers’ dragonfly designs have become timeless statements of style; a dragonfly pendant designed by French jeweler René Lalique recently sold at auction for $226,000. Inspired by his stunning artistry, we’ve crafted our Dragonfly Nouvelle Collection, an elegant jewelry set for JUST $29!
True artisanship in Austrian crystal and yellow gold. is necklace and earring set features gorgeous multicolored enamel paired with Austrian crystals and a yellow gold finish. Ask any jeweler and they’ll tell you it takes true artisanship to properly blend the blues and purples found in this enamel. While art nouveau dragonflies are hard to come by, we’re helping to repopulate their numbers with this artfully stylized depiction of some of nature’s smallest wonders!
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Act fast! e first time we ran this jewelry in our catalog, it sold out in a matter of days. Get this collection now before this offer goes extinct!
Jewelry Speci cations:
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• Pendant: 1 ½" W x 1 ¼" H.
Chain: 18" + 2", lobster clasp. Earrings: 1 ¼" L, french wire
Nouvelle Collection
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B. Earrings $199 FREE with purchase of Dragonfly Nouvelle Necklace *Special price only for customers using the offer code.
Joy To THE World
By Dave LaBelle
Every year, I create a folder on my computer desktop titled “Best Of,” where I place copies of my favorite images from the year. If it has been a good year, sometimes I end up with as many as 25 images in the folder, but usually there are 10 to 12. This process allows me to do a quick scan of pictures published or those I might want to do more with.
Recently, while looking through one of these folders from 2023, I was thinking about what I wanted to share this Christmas season— something joyful—and came across a photograph I made during a St. Patrick’s Day parade of a young man named Jake Wagner.
You might remember the name from a column I wrote about Special Olympics and giving of one’s time. Jake has Down syndrome. My heart leapt and my eyes watered as I revisited the first time I met this happy man.
Of the thousands I have photographed, few, if any, cause my heart to smile more than Jake.
Intelligent, loving and
caring, he embodies the pure, unpretentious joy I hunger to document and, more importantly, imitate. He is the greatest gift, the living Christmas card that brings me joy beyond description.
His mother, Betty, shared, “He is such a breath of fresh air. He is such a blessing. He has been making this world a better place since 1984.”
Holding his son’s hand, Jake’s father, Nick, agreed.
“He’s a very loving son,” he said. “He knows when you need a hug, too. He’s the best boy a father could have.”
When Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come to me, for such is the Kingdom of God,” I am confident he had Jake in mind. n
NIKON D810, 180mm lens ISO 400, f/4.5 at 1/500
Reader Challenge
This Christmas season, see if you can capture a picture that brings you joy. It can be of happy children or grandchildren squealing with delight as they unwrap presents or somebody whose presence just makes you smile.
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.
Jake Wagner makes the world a better place thanks to his unrestrained love and joy. PHOTO
BY DAVE LABELLE
What Stauer Clients Are Saying About Our Knives
“Outstanding knife of high quality and a great price. I now have a number of your great cutlery in my growing collection!”
— Robert F.,
WeSee the Forest Through the Trees
Richardson, TX
know you. You’re not interested in everyday, run-ofthe-mill, common cutlery. You want something with a story, a unique feature that you can brag about. We’ve got just the thing for you. Our Mighty Conifer Knife is a unique tool with a Damascus steel blade and a handle crafted from an enhanced and stabilized natural pinecone. While our competitors are charging hundreds for similar knives, we’re offering the Mighty Conifer for JUST $99! at’s what we call our Stauer Impossible Price.
Each pinecone — and therefore, each knife — has its own unique characteristics. And the back of the handle features hand tooling, a further demonstration of each piece’s individual nature.
e blade is nothing to scoff at either. Constructed of Damascus steel, a modern reworking of the legendary steel forged by ancient swordsmiths, this nearly 5-inch blade features 256 layers of steel that have been folded on top of each other to increase its durability. Our competitors are charging hundreds for boring, run-of-the-mill knives with no features worth bragging about. We’re asking JUST $99 for a knife unlike any you’ve seen before!
With its full-tang construction and high-quality genuine leather sheath, the Mighty Conifer Knife is the perfect blade for the
person who wants to stand out. CALL NOW! If you’re one of the first 700 587 callers for this ad, we’ll throw in a pair of Stauer 8x21 Compact Binoculars — a $99 value — ABSOLUTELY FREE! Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back!
EXCLUSIVE FREE
Stauer 8x21 Compact Binoculars a $99 value with your purchase
Knife Speci cations:
• 9 ½" overall length. Full-tang construction
• Damascus steel blade and natural pinecone handle
• Genuine leather sheath
Mighty Conifer Knife
$299 $99* + S&P Save $200
*You must use Insider Offer Code: MCK233-01 to get this price. California residents please call regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product.
1-800-333-2045
Your Insider Offer Code: MCK233-01
Comfort Foods Comfort Foods Cookbook
ADOBE STOCK
PHOTO BY NERUDOL
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
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, tjabaughman@yahoo.com or 503-310-3321. 0325
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. 0225
Three minature wood dollhouses. Multiple accessories and furnishings. $1.2K for all. 541-584-2710. Elkton, OR. 1224
25-piece Forest Service china collection. Plates, cups, bowls, serving platters, covered sugar bowl. $2.5K. 208-305-2868. 1224
Automotive
1985 Cadillac Eldorado. 110K miles. Like new. $20K. 530-233-5051. 1224
For sale: Subaru Impreza 1994. 132K miles, always kept in garage, bright red, very good condition. One owner, never an accident, $1.5K. 541-752-0522, Bill@Randallclan.net. Corvallis, OR. 1224
Books, Magazines and Videos
Holiday shopping? Idaho author Tova R. Cladouhos sells children’s books on Amazon or by email at tovarae@gmail.com. These books are perfect for elementaryaged children with 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.” 0125
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. 1224AR
Business Opportunities
Tremendous opportunity to own restaurant, bar, liquor store with pull tabs and lotto sales near Fairbanks, AK. Located near university, airport and musk ox farm. Ivory Jacks since 1975. Dick: 907-455-6666; cell 907-888-6668; dickells74@gmail.com. Website: ivoryjacksrestaurant.com. 1224
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): February issue—Dec. 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.
Advertisements are accepted in good faith. Pioneer Utility Resources is not liable for interactions between buyers and sellers.
For sale: quaint hardware store in Maupin, OR. Inventory and interior store updated and refreshed. See ad on Bizbuysell.com or email Maupincountrystore@gmail.com. $239,999.
Turnkey cafe, pizza, bakery in the picturesque town of Cedarville, CA. Newly renovated, fully equipped commercial kitchen, cozy dining and bar room, potential mini brewpub. Priced for quick sale, $225K. Shelia, 530-569-0529. 1224
Community Events
“The Big” Annual Open Exhibit Dec. 6-Feb. 1 at Art Center East in La Grande, OR. Local and regional artists. artcentereast.org. 1224
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. 1224AR
Help Wanted
The Cape Blanco Heritage Society needs volunteers at the Cape Blanco Lighthouse Greeting Center and Hughes House for 2025. Background checks are required. Free RV hookups are available to volunteers. heritage32@frontier.com; 541-332-0521. 1224
Hobbies, Gifts, Games
Santa letters and cheerful artwork for gift giving and holidays, made in AK. We ship high-quality gifts and custom artwork, including letter bundles, totes, jewelry, prints, cards, relief prints, tiles. GV12 saves 10%. www.PamelaSueArtandDesigns.com. 1224
Miscellaneous
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. To order: twofisherstuna.com or 206-799-1082. 0225
Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. For more info: Joe, 541-815-8906 or highdesertmemorials@gmail. com; www.highdesertmemorials.com. 1224
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 and Supplies
Husky, male. 4 years old. Very gentle. Great with children. 541-875-4172. 0125
Investing in Community
Central Electric Cooperative and its employees continually invest in the community while ensuring the safe delivery of clean, reliable and affordable energy to co-op members
By Courtney Cobb
One of the seven principles guiding the cooperative and its employees is Concern for Community. The men and women who work to keep the power on also help those in need, give time to worthy causes and educate the community about power safety.
Some of the organizations and causes CEC and its employees support include:
• Youth education and sports programs
• Childhood health and development
• Veterans outreach and associations
• Hospice
• Chamber and Rotary
• United Way
• Opportunity Foundation
• Economic development
• The Salvation Army
• Regional food banks
CEC remains dedicated to helping equip local youth to make a difference in the future. This summer, board members and employees participated in auctions for the Jefferson County, Crook County and Deschutes County 4-H and FFA programs. CEC purchased hogs, sheep and goats, totaling approximately $24,000, which went to local 4-H and FFA participants.
Atticus Lau, a senior at Realms High School in Bend, received an all-expense-paid trip for the National Rural Electric Cooperative’s annual Washington, D.C., Youth Tour. He and 15
other students from Oregon and California explored the nation’s capital, visiting famous landmarks, museums and more.
“I definitely appreciate our nation’s history more because there has been a lot of sacrifice by a lot of people, and I especially appreciate this because lots of the rights and privileges I enjoy— along with countless others—are owed to them,” Atticus says.
Whether giving students the chance to visit the past or invest in the future, CEC understands the importance of education. The co-op provided $4,500 this year for the Central Oregon Community College Foundation scholarship.
CEC’s Project Helping Hand provides bill payment assistance to members who demonstrate need. The program allows members to round up their bills or donate to help cooperative members in need. This year proved especially difficult for some members adversely impacted by the economy and inflation.
In October, the cooperative’s customer and energy services employees pitched in to help local nonprofit The Ronald McDonald House. The team helped with yard maintenance, prepping meals, organizing and stocking the storeroom, assembling gift bags and cleaning.
The cooperative takes pride in promoting safety around electricity in our communities. At the Deschutes County Fair, CEC lineworkers demonstrated potential hazards from downed power lines, what people should and should not do around electricity, and how to work safely around electrical equipment.
CEC employees also gave back to the community in other ways, including volunteering with local nonprofits and donating goods to local food banks and shelters. n
Holiday Hankies
In Ruralite magazine’s July 2024 Reader Exchange, Kathy Heitkemper asked for Christmas-themed hankies for an art project. The photo at right, made with 35 hankies, is the result of her talent combined with our readers’ generosity.
Seventeen readers sent 53 hankies, though not all were Christmas-themed.
“I have been holding on to these way too long,” wrote a reader from Aguanga, California. “I am sending them in their original boxes ... they were my aunt’s. She lived in St. Paul, Minn.”
A cousin of Kathy’s husband read the request and sent two hankies, adding a special family tie to her tree.
“I just so much appreciate all those who contributed to this long-lasting Christmas project,” Kathy says. n
Help Us Help Your Neighbors
#SleevesUp to donate blood for your community
At Pioneer Utility Resources, the publisher of Ruralite magazine, we are always working to put the right letters together to tell a story. The American Red Cross story can’t be told without three letters: A, B and O. They represent the main blood types. When those important letters are missing from blood bank shelves, lives are at stake.
With the recent hurricanes in Florida adding to the need for blood nationwide, we encourage each of you to consider donating blood by rolling up your sleeves and visiting a local Red Cross donation center before Dec. 25. Your gift of blood can save more than one life.
Visit https://rcblood.org/3zJ1rxU or scan the QR code to the right to sign up to help us reach our goal. Fill in the missing blood types so patients can receive the lifesaving care they need. Make and keep an appointment to give blood to the American Red Cross. n
https://rcblood.org/3zJ1rxU
Soup, Stews and Chowders
Get more than 220 recipes in a perfect-bound 8½-by-11-inch indexed book for $10, postage included.
BY MAIL: Send payment and number of cookbooks wanted, along with your name and address, to Ruralite Cookbooks, P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133. BY PHONE: with Visa, MasterCard, Discover card or American Express.
Best Breads Cookbook
This 8½-by-11-inch indexed cookbook features yeast breads, quick breads, scones and specialty breads for $10 (includes postage).
TO ORDER BY MAIL: Submit payment with cookbook title, your name, address and number of cookbooks wanted to: Ruralite Cookbooks P.O. Box 1306 North Plains, OR 97133
TO PAY BY PHONE: Call 503-357-2105 for credit card payments with Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.
TO ORDER ONLINE: Visit www.ruralite.com. Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.
Central Issues
Central Electric Cooperative DIRECTORS
Chairman Kip Light, Madras
Vice Chairman Kelly McFarlane, Powell Butte
Secretary/Treasurer Kenneth H. Miltenberger, Alfalfa
Mark Christie, Sisters
Beverly Clarno, Redmond
Boyd Keeton, Tumalo
Sam McKenzie, Prineville
Dan Steelhammer, Bend
Tom Strand, Terrebonne
Attorney Thomas M. Grim
Cable Huston LLP, Portland STAFF
President & CEO
Brad Wilson
Vice President of Finance & Accounting
Shane Morgan
Vice President of Operations & Engineering
Kevin Rohde
Vice President of Information Services
Phillip Franklin
Vice President of Member & Public Relations
Brent ten Pas
Vice President of Customer & Energy Services
Ryan Davies
24-HOUR PHONE NUMBERS:
Call 541-548-2144 or toll-free 800-924-8736.
Mission Statement
The aim of Central Electric Co-op is to make electric energy available to its members at the lowest cost consistent with sound economy and good management.
The board meets the third Thursday of each month at the CEC office, 2098 NW Sixth St., Redmond, OR. www.cec.coop
OR-12
Rate Redesign Enters Final Phase
Central Electric Cooperative’s fifth and final phase of its gradual rate redesign is effective Jan. 1. On February bills, residential members will see a $4.40 increase in their facilities’ charges, while the energy charge remains unchanged. Other rate classes are affected differently.
The rate redesign, which sought to address an imbalance in the rate structure dating back to the co-op’s early existence, was implemented in phases every odd year beginning in 2017.
The utility industry historically blended all costs into a customer’s energy use, lumping a utility’s fixed expenses, such as operations, inventory, maintenance, repair and administration overhead, with the kilowatt-hour charge.
This approach created an inaccurate perception among members that the co-op’s services were defined solely by how much electricity they used. While a utility’s expense to buy energy for its members fluctuates based on weather and the energy markets, its fixed costs remain constant.
Over time, the practice proved untenable. CEC began to address the issue in 1978, adding a customer charge—later named the facilities charge—to stabilize revenues, starting with gradual increases. The facilities charges did not keep pace as CEC’s fixed costs significantly exceeded revenues, putting the co-op’s rates out of balance.
In 2016, CEC created a rate design advisory committee, comprised of volunteer co-op members representing all customer classes, to devise a solution to balance energy and facilities charges equitably.
The board of directors adopted its recommendation, bringing more fairness and balance among the different rates, with members paying for their energy use and
equitable share in operating the utility.
In Phases I through IV, residential members saw a minimal decrease in their kilowatt-hour energy charge to offset the slight increase in their monthly facilities charge. The ongoing inflationary pressures on electrical equipment driving up the costs for CEC’s strategic investment initiative and the rising costs of power have made implementing a minimal rate decrease financially unfeasible.
For years, the co-op has successfully kept its residential rates low—well below Oregon and the nation’s averages—while prices for residential electricity, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, have jumped 25% nationwide from June 2021 through June 2024. There is every indication the upward trend will continue.
Bonneville Power Administration—the supplier of nearly all CEC’s wholesale electricity—has signaled an approximate 19% increase in power costs for the upcoming three-year rate period from Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2028. As a result, CEC will likely need to make rate changes later next year and in the subsequent years to absorb BPA’s cost increases.
CEC will continue to navigate these oncoming currents and keep members informed of ongoing developments while effectively managing costs within its control without compromising the safety and reliability of the electricity it delivers.
To learn more, visit www.cec.coop/ customer-service/rate-schedules.
President and CEO Brad Wilson