Ruralite, Clatskanie PUD, April 2024

Ruralite CLATSKANIE PUD

Celebrating a Storyteller

From left, Raymond Carver Writing Festival committee members Joseph Green, Deborah Steele Hazen, Maryanne

Hirning, Molly Poole, Brian Bogdonas and Rebecca Gilbert stand in front of the Raymond Carver mural in Clatskanie.

PHOTO BY SCOTT LAIRD

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-to-back 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

April 2024 • Volume 72, No. 4

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Pollinator Power

I like food, maybe a little too much sometimes.

About 35% of the food crops we eat depend on pollinators buzzing and flitting from one plant to the next.

In recent years, at the urging of my beekeeper friends, I have changed my gardening habits to be more bee-friendly. My yard is small, and I know this one act won’t change the world, but I feel good knowing I’m at least contributing to the pollinator ecosystem.

While bees are the most prolific pollinators, butterflies are important contributors. This month on Page 12, you can read about monarch butterflies, which are considered a vulnerable species.

Monarchs only lay their eggs in milkweed plants, which are becoming more scarce in the wild. I tried growing milkweed from seed last year, but my first attempt failed. But I’m stubborn and will try again using plant starts this time. Hopefully, I’ll have better luck. It would be

pretty exciting to have my own crop of monarch butterflies.

Check out our story for ways you can make your yard more pollinator friendly.

Our Up Close feature this month on Page 10 highlights Gwen Trice and her quest to bring to light a former logging community in Northeastern Oregon, where her father and grandfather lived in 1923. Maxville was one of the few places in Oregon where Black people and white people lived and worked together.

Gwen is working to cultivate a healing and educational environment at the site. She also is restoring a historic cabin on-site.

Finally, check out Before You Go on Page 30 to learn how Ruralite readers pitched in to help a school put on a successful Family Math night.

Sincerely,

Mike Teegarden Editorial Director

Meet the Logger’s Daughter

Gwen Trice preserves community through Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center Up Close, Page 10

Page 12

Celebrating a Storyteller

Raymond Carver Writing Festival set for May 17-18 honors the world-renowned writer

Story and

photos by Scott Laird

How does a small town celebrate its most famous native son, a short-story and poetry writer who grew up in Yakima, Washington, but always listed his birthplace as Clatskanie? A writer considered one of the most influential short story authors in American storytelling? A writer beloved around the rest of the world, but not so well known in his own home town?

One way is to plan and host a festival in his honor, which is what some members of the Clatskanie community have accomplished in organizing the Raymond Carver Writing Festival.

“Our goal has been to try educate the people of Clatskanie about who Raymond Carver was and why he’s important to celebrate, because he always was so proud of the fact that he was born here,” says Elsa Wooley, one of the event organizers. “He always put that he was born in Clatskanie, Oregon, in all of his bios.”

This year, the Raymond Carver Writing Festival is May 17 and 18. The festival includes writing workshops, a reception and keynote address, poetry competitions, readings, awards and other activities. Many events are held at the Clatskanie Cultural Center, but others take place across the community. The festival closes Saturday evening with a catered dinner, poetry and pie at Clatskanie Food Hub.

“That was always a thing with Raymond Carver’s writings—he loved pie,” Elsa says.

Raymond was best known for his eight books of short stories, but he also wrote seven books of poetry, multiple plays, a screenplay, essays and reviews. Ten films have been made from his works.

Through his minimalist, straightforward style, Raymond depicted the trials of navigating everyday life. His stories feature ordinary yet complex characters who were relatable in their struggles.

“Carver’s writing celebrates the wonders of resilience and perseverance in every

Members of the organizing committee, from left, Joseph Green, Deborah Steele Hazen, Maryanne Hirning, Molly Poole, Brian Bogdonas and Rebecca Gilbert gather in front of the Raymond Carver mural.

CLATSKANIE PUD

day life,” says Brian Bagdonas, another organizer of this year’s festival. “The characters within his stories are very familiar to many of us. We can imagine that these fictional characters can be ourselves, or our friends or members of our families. This familiarity allows us to willingly go along the often bumpy path that Carver’s fiction guides us along.”

Brian says reading Raymond’s stories can help people understand how others in our day-to-day lives choose to navigate setbacks, successes, mishaps and fortunes.

“We all have our own stories and unique ways of approaching our experiences, sometimes with grace and sometimes with folly,” he says. “You win some, you lose some. Carver shows us that it’s the perseverance between successes and failures that often presents the beauty in life that we’re searching for.”

Elsa has been the event’s chairperson for two years. This year, Brian, Rebecca Gilbert, and Joseph Green—all members of the festival planning committee—stepped up to provide leadership in organizing the event.

“I felt like the festival needed to be expanded, and I didn’t have anymore tricks in my bag,” Elsa says. “I was delighted because they will definitely take it to the next level. They have some great ideas, and I’m very excited that they took it over.”

Rebecca says the group is enthusiastic about writing and publishing.

“The revival of this festival is a great chance to build community support and increase accessibility of writing resources in the area,” she says.

The Raymond Carver Festival was originally organized by the Clatskanie Friends of the Library, who hosted it from 2003 to 2010. The library also installed the author’s memorial in the park across the street from the library and a plaque on the wall of the building at 161 Nehalem St., the former Clatskanie Hospital where Raymond was born in 1938.

The Clatskanie Arts Commission revived the festival in 2022 in conjunction with the large mural installation of Raymond that now decorates the side of the hospital.

The festival has quickly grown in

stature. Last year, Oregon’s poet laureate, Anis Mojgami, participated in the event.

While Raymond may not be well known in his hometown of Clatskanie, Elsa’s son, Nate Wooley, an experimental jazz trumpeter who performs around the world, says Raymond is renowned globally.

“When (Nate is) performing and introduces himself as being from Clatskanie, Oregon, people often shout out about that being where Raymond Carver was born,” Elsa says. “We may not be doing a good job of publicizing it, but the world knows about Raymond Carver. It’s kind of just magical how much he’s meant to the world.”

Deborah Steele Hazen, the former publisher of the Clatskanie Chief, met Raymond in person the first time he returned to Clatskanie for a book signing in 1984. After reporting on that visit, Deborah says interest in Raymond grew.

ABOVE: Clatskanie embraced its ties to the famous writer with a memorial installed by the Clatskanie Friends of the Library in 2003.

LEFT: Raymond Carver is best known for his minimalist style of short stories about ordinary people, but he also wrote poetry, plays, a screenplay, essays and reviews.

“Numerous people wanting information about (Raymond) and his connection to Clatskanie have contacted me and visited my office: an Italian professor of literature, a fan from Chicago, a French journalist, an Austrian national public radio broadcaster, writer/photographers for a Japanese magazine and a biographer from Wisconsin who called the brick building in downtown Clatskanie that was once Dr. Wooden’s hospital, a new ‘literary holy place,’” Deborah wrote about that day. “Clatskanie is known to lovers of literature all over the world because of its connection to Raymond Carver.”

Elsa expects more out-of-town attendees at this year’s festival.

“But in my heart, the goal is that a lot of people from Clatskanie will take part and see who Raymond Carver was,” she says. n

A full schedule of festival events is available at www.raymondcarverwritingfestival.com.

Staying a Step Ahead of Mother Nature

Electric utilities often rely on technology to manage vegetation

By Jennah Denney

Mother Nature tends to have a mind of her own. Utility power lines are vulnerable to damage from severe storms—particularly fallen trees and limbs, which can lead to power outages. About 50% of outages are caused by overgrown vegetation, which is why electric utilities regularly trim and maintain their local systems.

This starts with significant on-theground labor, including manual data collection, as workers assess the vegetation that needs to be cleared while walking below the infrastructure. Following the trim work, manual verification of its quality and completion is required.

This has been the standard approach for the past few decades. But as extreme weather events increase and digital tools improve, electric utilities are looking to innovative vegetation management methods to improve power reliability for consumers.

With the help of technology, utilities may be able to dispatch trimming crews at the ideal moment and location, preventing additional outages while enhancing productivity, cutting costs and providing better service.

Timely monitoring can help identify infrastructure susceptible to damage. Finding the right technology makes this process more efficient.

Each vegetation management tool has advantages.

Lidar—which stands for light detection and ranging—gives exact, 3D data about the shape of the surface around utility assets. Lidar is a popular way to scan portions of forests to determine the height of trees. The technology doesn’t generally assess plant health but can pair with highresolution multispectral satellite imagery to help define areas of need.

Satellites provide coverage 24 hours a day and can supply two kinds of images: a wide view of the area near utility assets

and a more detailed micro view. Satellite data can often be used in place of other monitoring methods.

With satellite technology, utilities can learn a lot about local vegetation, including:

• Health. Information gathered makes it possible to predict vegetation growth based on real conditions.

• Dryness. This information is valuable for determining the likelihood of a wildfire and how to protect utility infrastructure.

Satellites are always in orbit around the Earth, so data can be updated quickly, in real time. This makes it possible to respond swiftly and precisely.

Today, satellite images can have a spatial resolution to within 1.6 feet, making it easy to spot when vegetation grows in the rights-of-way near power lines and utility equipment.

Typically, satellites speed up the process of inspecting power lines because they provide information for making data-driven

Paired with satellite imagery, lidar technology—which stands for light detection and ranging—can collect detailed, beneficial data on large amounts of vegetation near power lines and other utility assets. PHOTO COURTESY OF SANGRE DE CRISTO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Think Ahead When Planting a Tree

By Scott Flood

“Why can’t they just leave my trees alone?”

Electric utilities are required to document that every piece of equipment and every foot of their power lines are a safe distance from trees and other vegetation. If a tree-trimming crew visited your home, it was likely because your trees were closer to power lines than the rules allow, and your electric utility is legally required to act.

Thinking about what’s above the ground is only part of tree-planting safety. Before you grab a shovel and start digging, contact 811 to make sure you won’t accidentally cut into any underground utility lines. The service sends people to your property to mark the approximate locations of utility lines. Because it can be challenging to pinpoint exact locations, use only hand tools when digging within a few feet of the markings.

decisions about vegetation management.

Electric utilities can also use fixed-wing aircraft and drones to monitor and control the growth of trees and plants near power lines. Drones fly close to equipment, take clear images and provide data to help show how close vegetation is to equipment and check the health of trees.

Many utilities use drones with cameras. When it comes to taking care of surrounding vegetation, drones are often used for detailed surveys rather than large-scale monitoring like satellites.

Once lidar or satellites—often together—have collected data on a large amount of vegetation near power lines, drones can be used to inspect a single area and do all the necessary checks.

Public power utilities place a high focus on vegetation management. It is the most crucial tool for reducing the likelihood of power outages. A thorough understanding of the vegetation’s past, present and projected future is essential for a successful approach to reducing these risks.

The growth of lidar, drone and satellite data presents an opportunity to close the loop with continual data-driven vegetation management intelligence and increase the power line system’s dependability and safety. In the end, all three technologies for managing vegetation serve different purposes, and electric utilities choose the options that work best for them. n

The last thing your utility wants to do is alter or remove a prized part of your landscaping. It would rather help you avoid conflict between electricity and greenery altogether. How? By reminding you to plant your new trees, shrubs or other vegetation where they won’t grow into power lines or other electric equipment. Whether you want to plant a tree, a decorative shrub or something else, it’s helpful to consider how it will grow during the next 20 or 30 years. Consider the eventual height and how wide the canopy of branches is likely to spread.

For example, even small trees and shrubs should be planted at least 20 feet from power lines. If you can’t plant that far away, make sure you choose a species that won’t top out at more than 15 feet high.

Trees that will be 40 feet high or less should be at least 25 feet from electricity. Larger trees should be at least 50 feet away.

Plant Trees Safely

Trees aren’t the only type of vegetation requiring thoughtful planting. If there’s a padmounted transformer in your yard, you might be tempted to hide it behind colorful flowers and neatly trimmed shrubs.

Unfortunately, if there’s a problem, crews need clear access to the transformer. That’s why it’s always a good idea to keep plantings at least 10 feet from the transformer’s doors and at least 4 feet from its sides. Otherwise, crews responding to a power problem may need to remove part of your landscaping.

Finally, if you notice your trees or other vegetation have grown dangerously close to power lines or equipment, don’t try to trim them on your own. Let your local electric utility know, or hire a professional arborist. Tree trimming is more dangerous than most people realize, and you don’t want to find yourself in an emergency room—or be the person who plunges your neighbors into the dark.

Drones can take clear images of electric infrastructure and provide data to monitor vegetation growth. PHOTO BY AMANDA JEAN FINNERTY

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have ideas, concerns, or suggestions for downtown Clatskanie? Then please join us April 12th-14th! As a community, let’s identify issues, capture ideas, and brainstorm solutions to revitalize downtown.

Kick-off Evening Event

Free to attend RSVP on Eventbrite

Clatskanie Food Hub / 80 NE Art Steele St / Food provided Learn more about this project, connect with others, and share your initial feedback for downtown at this fun kick-off event.

Morning Workshop + Lunch

Clatskanie Cultural Center / 75 S Nehalem St / Coffee & Lunch Provided

Let’s brainstorm! We will focus this meeting on gathering people's ideas, concerns, and ideas for downtown revitalization.

Community Volunteer Day

Copes Park / 75 S Nehalem St / Light Refreshments Provided All are welcomed to join us for an afternoon of service and connection as we clean up areas in Clatkskanie.

This project is made possible in part by a Travel Oregon grant the Clatskanie Chamber received. Questions? Email us at clatskaniechamber@gmail.com

Partners:

Clatskanie Foundation

Meet the Logger’s Daughter

Gwen Trice preserves community through Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center

Story by Chiara Profenna

In the mountains of Northeastern Oregon lie what remains of an abandoned timber town. Once the most populous community in Wallowa County, Maxville now comprises a single log cabin atop 96 acres of empty land. Its past—nearly lost to history—echoes through the efforts of Gwen Trice, the founder and executive director of Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center in Joseph, Oregon.

In the past decade, Gwen has transformed Maxville into more than just a historical site. She has created a space where the past comes alive, and the spirit of community thrives.

Revealing an Untold Story

Gwen’s journey to preserve Maxville’s history began in 2003 when she discovered her heritage in connection with the township.

“I found out my father and grandfather were in the group of the first African Americans that came out by boxcar from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, in 1923,” Gwen says.

This discovery shocked Gwen, who knew her father, Lafayette “Lucky” Trice, as a respected businessman in La Grande, Oregon. After the revelation, Gwen uprooted her life in Seattle to return to Eastern Oregon—where she was raised—to reconnect with her past.

“I realized having grown up in this space where Black history wasn’t told … we weren’t a part of the narrative,” Gwen says. “I ended up moving to Wallowa County, where this history resides, and just really took up the gauntlet, more for myself. I really wanted to find out about my history.”

Gwen took to Maxville’s neighboring towns in search of stories. She began collecting and preserving the personal accounts of elders. Her project became the Oregon Public Broadcasting documentary, “The Logger’s Daughter,” which explores the history of Maxville through interviews and collected artifacts.

Images from the center display some of the rich history of the town. This photo captures Greek and Black loggers working in Maxville.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MAXVILLE HERITAGE INTERPRETIVE CENTER

The documentary’s first Oregon viewing was at the senior center in Wallowa. There was an overwhelming turnout, surpassing the room’s capacity. Upon seeing the elders weeping in the front row, Gwen realized how important it was to tell the story of Maxville in its entirety.

“I knew that it was bigger than me coming back, writing on screenplays and doing my family history,” Gwen says. “It was a history of a community. I had no idea how much bigger it would get.”

100 Years of Maxville

Not many Oregonians have heard of Maxville. The town of about 400 people was founded in 1923 by the Bowman-Hicks Lumber Co., which recruited loggers from the South to work in the timber industry. Unlike most lumber towns, Black and white loggers worked side by side.

The segregated township was one of the only places in Oregon where Black families lived due to Oregon’s exclusionary laws at the time. Despite the laws and segregation practices, the town was known for breaking down the barriers of race. Gwen says community members relied on each other and coexisted peacefully.

“(Maxville) is a place where my family came because they got to make more money and had the hope of possibly coming out of a space that we were being hung from trees in the South,” she says.

For a decade, Maxville prospered as a major logging town. But in 1933, it fell victim to the Great Depression, and the land was quickly vacated. Many families moved to nearby Wallowa or La Grande. The history of the once-bustling community faded from memory during the next few decades.

One hundred years later, Maxville is reentering the Oregon landscape thanks to Gwen’s efforts and advocacy. With the help of Hancock Timber, Eastern Oregon University and Clatsop Community College, Gwen is restoring the authentic cabin that remains on the townsite. She hopes to establish the site as a visitors center and permanent exhibition of the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center.

Interpreting the History of Maxville

With her materials collected and the groundwork started, Gwen began to create the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center in 2008. Since then, she has worked tirelessly to cultivate an educational and healing environment.

“To tell this inclusive story—the good, the bad, the ugly—in a truthful and transparent way is extremely healing and helpful,” Gwen says. “And it’s difficult. Some days are better than others.”

Gwen says the center is a healing place for not just for Black people but also allies.

“We’re creating a trauma and healing program right now,” she says. “Trauma and healing in the environment and making the connection to a lot of us that have been marginalized in one way or another.”

The program is in the early stages of development. As Gwen expands the center, she hopes visitors see it as a sacred and bright place for everyone.

“We all have different needs,” Gwen says. “But I hope that it provides a bridge to whatever healing they may be looking for.” n Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center is at 103 N. Main St. in Joseph, Oregon.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Gwen stands proudly in front of a historic photo of the Black and white loggers from Maxville, where her father is pictured in the back row, fourth from the left. PHOTO BY CHIARA PROFENNA The interior of the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center features a curated collection of photographs from Maxville, artistic renderings of the town and personal artifacts from families, painting a vivid portrait of life in Maxville. The historic Maxville cabin is being restored to create a new expansion for the center. Since the project began, the site has been nominated for the National Register of Historic Places. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MAXVILLE HERITAGE INTERPRETIVE CENTER

Majestic M onarchs: Royalty Among

Pollinators

By Pamela A. Keene

When it comes to Western monarch butterflies, the statistics are alarming. Since the 1990s, their population has declined by 99%. But there’s good news for these vibrant butterflies that migrate from the Pacific Northwest to Southern California.

“Our census in 2023 showed a decline in the Western monarch population, but the decrease is not quite as severe as it was five years ago,” says Emma Pelton, senior conservation biologist with the Xerces Society, whose mission is to protect invertebrates and their habitats. “Our organization has been conducting annual monarch counts for the past 25 years, typically around Thanksgiving, and we have seen a steady decline.”

She attributes the reduction of the number of Western monarchs to loss of habitat from development, overuse of fertilizers and pesticides, and severe extremes in temperatures. Migrating north each spring from Southern California to their summer breeding grounds west of the Rocky Mountains, the butterflies seek shelter and adequate food for their larvae, which will become the next generation of adult monarchs.

“Places to feed, lay their eggs and protect themselves from predators are vanishing as native and natural habitats disappear,” Emma says. “It’s up to all of us to be aware of the monarchs’ dwindling population and to each do our part to help them survive and thrive.”

Monarchs rely on milkweed, laying their eggs on the underside of the leaves. Those eggs hatch into small, gray larvae, becoming the plump yellow, black and white caterpillars that feed on milkweed.

“Milkweed is the sole host plant for monarchs,” Emma says. “Once the eggs hatch into caterpillars, they can literally strip the plant of all its foliage, sometimes in less than a day. However, if the butterflies can’t find milkweed, they don’t have a place to lay their eggs. The caterpillars won’t hatch and morph into more adult monarchs.”

Butterflies join wasps, bees and birds as pollinators.

“If it weren’t for pollinators, humans would have a lot less variety in their diet because one of every three bites of goods we consume is the result of pollinators,” says Lora Morandin, associate director of Pollinator Partnership, based in San Francisco. “Monarchs are great ambassadors because they are colorful, showy and attract our attention. They’re also a gateway to learning about insects and other creatures that pollinate.”

Working globally, Pollinator Partnership manages North America’s annual Pollinator Week, slated for June 17-23, to raise awareness for all pollinators. A robust tool kit in multiple languages has been developed for Pollinator Week to be used by individuals, organizations and classrooms. The information can be found at pollinator.org.

“We can all help pollinators in some way,” Lora says. “The website offers extensive information that ranges from bee-friendly farming and gardening guidelines to responsible use of pesticides. We encourage the public to explore our website and adopt practices that will help pollinators, people and our planet.”

How You Can Help: Plant a Pollinator Garden

By Pamela A. Keene

From butterflies and bees to insects and birds, pollinators help feed the world. But they need human support to do their jobs.

“The best way to help pollinators is to plant a pollinator garden,” says Stephanie Hazen, a retired veterinarian and master gardener in Salem, Oregon. “That way, you’re helping provide pollinators a source of food, a place to nest and shelter from other predators.”

Stephanie says she started a new mission when she retired: focus on pollinators and native gardening, growing trees, shrubs, perennials and nonhybrid plants adapted to specific climates, soil conditions and environments.

“When you choose plants that are native to your area, you’ll be supporting the groups of insects, birds, bees and butterflies common where you live,” she says. “These creatures have four-season relationships with plants, and what better way to feed this symbiotic relationship than to include plants that naturally grow where you live? The pollinators will be attracted to them all year long.”

Stephanie recommends a mixture of plants that provide four-season interest to help pollinators.

“Pollinators need more than just blossoms in the spring, summer and fall to thrive,” she says. “Perennials, such as evening primrose, goldenrod and yarrow, are excellent choices. Once they bloom, the spent foliage and the hollow flower stems can become shelter for insects.”

Stephanie also suggests planting milkweed for Western monarchs.

“These beautiful butterflies rely on milkweed as their only host plant,” she says. “They lay their eggs on milkweed, and when the larvae hatch, they will feed on the leaves as they grow into caterpillars.”

A perennial garden should provide shelter and a shallow water source as well. Sources for native plants include local nurseries, local plant sales and various states’ Native Plant Societies. Some states’ Soil and Water Conservation Districts hold native plant sales as well. Each state’s Cooperative Extension Service, managed through land-grant universities, offers detailed pamphlets, plant lists and how-to publications that are free to read online or download.

“Anyone can add pollinator attractors to their landscapes, even if you live in an apartment or a condominium,” Stephanie says. “All it takes is a planter with a few flowering plants, and you’re all set.”

Pollinators in the Classroom

pollinator gardens at the school.

“In 2021, we began the garden program with two second grade classes, and the project has grown to six gardens maintained by three second grade and three fourth grade classes,” Julia says. “Each of the classes has time devoted to insects, and the gardens are filled with red ladybugs, praying mantis, earwigs and green lacewings, which feed on harmful bugs, such as aphids. Butterflies flit in and out and feed on the nectar of native plants.”

This year, Oregon State University graduate student Ashley Hall has joined the team as an intern for her environmental sciences thesis, focused on monarchs, including developing curriculum.

“Last September, Ashley was able to secure caterpillars for the students to raise and release after they morphed into butterflies,” Julia says. “Ashley also received a Bright Ideas grant from CoosCurry Electric Cooperative that was used to purchase educational supplies, butterfly enclosures, bug boxes and magnifying glasses.”

Community support also comes from Brookings Oregon Monarch Advocates, with master gardener volunteers as leaders.

Across the country, students participate in school gardening activities, growing fruits and vegetables, and studying the importance of pollinators.

In Brookings, Oregon, an original school garden from the early 2000s at Kalmiopsis Elementary School sees new life as a teaching tool. With a group of dedicated teachers, students and volunteers, students learn about where their food comes from and the vital roles of insects and other pollinators in feeding humans.

“Teaching youngsters about cultivating plants from an early age can help instill a love of gardening that will last them their whole lives,” says Julia Bott, who provides staff support for school programs through the Master Gardeners of Oregon State Extension.

Julia worked with volunteers and teachers to revive the

“The pollinator garden has become a focal point of our school and an educational complement to growing fruits, vegetables and flowers here,” Julia says. “At first, when some of the students saw a bug, they’d scream and take off running. Now, they’re learning about the benefits of insects and appreciate them more.”

Across North America, the profile of monarch butterflies and other pollinators is rising through environmental organizations, conservation groups and initiatives such as National Pollinator Week each June and the November Western Monarch Count.

“Helping preserve our pollinator habitats and protect these vital insects can be everyone’s mission,” Lora says. “Whether you volunteer for a community project, plant more natives in your landscape or put several perennials in a container on your deck or porch, you’re doing your part. Every little bit helps.” n

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A monarch caterpillar lives its entire life on milkweed. A tagged monarch visits its host plant, showy milkweed. PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE HAZEN A monarch butterfly emerges from its chrysalis. PHOTO BY PIXABAY

Protecting Pollinators

Sends a Message

By Pamela A. Keene

Think about the possibilities. Electric utilities manage miles of transmission lines across the areas they serve. What if the land within those rights-of-way could create better food sources, shelter and protection for pollinators?

That’s exactly what the Bonneville Power Administration has done in Portland, Oregon’s Forest Park—one of the largest urban parks in the country—through a multiyear collaboration with Portland Parks and Recreation and Metro, a regional planning agency. By improving the land beneath power line rights-of-way in the 5,200acre park, about 67 acres of habitat now provide better nesting sites, shelter and food sources for pollinators.

Begun in 2016, the Forest Park project has increased pollinators along the rights-of-way while reducing the company’s maintenance costs. The initiative speaks to sustainability, environmental stewardship and community involvement.

“Pollinators are crucial to the environment and to the very food we eat,” says Nancy Wittpenn, BPA environmental protection specialist and a leader in BPA’s Pollinator Workgroup. “However, many people are not aware of the benefits butterflies, beetles, bees and other pollinators provide, so we wanted to involve our employees in education and activities to learn more.”

In 2018, the agency created its first Pollinator Workgroup.

“The Pollinator Workgroup formalized what some BPA staff had already been working on,” Nancy says. “Today, our Pollinator Workgroup has 20 or so members who plan events and activities for employees during National Pollinator Week, create educational opportunities and design hands-on projects to protect and support pollinators.”

Activities have included installing temporary mason bee houses at BPA facilities, promoting the weeklong National Pollinator Week each June and sponsoring speakers to educate BPA staff about the importance and benefits of pollinators.

Projects have included a monarch butterfly mapping program, native plant selection and advice for landscape design at BPA facilities, creating pollinator-friendly management best practices used by several groups within BPA, and partnerships to replicate the Forest Park model in other BPA rights-of-way.

In 2023, BPA received national recognition for its work in Forest Park through the Pollinator Electric Power Award from the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign. Nancy received the 2021

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The Bonneville Power Administration created a workgroup to organize and plan pollinator events. BPA's Nancy Wittpenn is an award-winning leader of BPA’s Pollinator Workgroup. Pollinators at work ensure our plants continue to flourish. PHOTOS COURTESY OF BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION, AMBER BARNES AND POLLINATOR PARTNERSHIP

Power Delivery and Utilization Technology Transfer Award for her contributions to a documentary about pollinators. The Electric Power Research Institute produced the documentary as part of its Powerin-Pollinators initiative.

What has driven BPA’s commitment to pollinators?

“Our agency is in a very unique position to support pollinators while continuing to be effective environmental stewards,” Nancy says.

“BPA’s leadership and employees have made a commitment to pollinator survival, and this commitment has become an important part of our sustainability culture.

“We’re working within the organization, but many of our individual employees and their families are supporting pollinators in their own home landscapes and communities. It’s not only a win-win for BPA and the environment, but for the communities we serve, our customers and stakeholders, our employees and their families.”

Eggstraordinary EATS

Poached Egg Tostadas With Avocado-Tomatillo Salsa

Nonstick cooking spray

4 6-inch corn tortillas

4 cups water

Salsa

1 medium avocado, diced

1 medium Anaheim or poblano pepper, seeds and ribs discarded, diced

1 medium tomatillo, papery husk discarded, washed and diced

1/2 medium tomato, diced

1 tablespoon white vinegar

4 large eggs

1/4 cup diced red onion

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 medium garlic clove, minced

1/8 teaspoon salt

Heat oven to 400 F. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil. Lightly spray foil with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange tortillas in a single layer on foil. Lightly spray tortillas with nonstick cooking spray. Using a fork, pierce tortillas to prevent them from filling with air. Bake for 5 to 6 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Transfer to serving plates.

In a large skillet over high heat, bring water and vinegar to a boil.

Once water is boiling, reduce heat and simmer. Break egg into a cup, then carefully slip egg into simmering water. Repeat with remaining eggs, avoiding eggs touching in water. Simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, or until egg whites are completely set and yolks are beginning to set but aren’t hard. Using a slotted spoon, remove the eggs to a plate.

To make the salsa: In a medium bowl, gently stir together avocado, pepper, tomatillo, tomato, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, garlic and salt. Spoon onto the tostadas, then top each tostada with an egg.

Recipe and photo source: American Heart Association

Herbed Spanish Omelet

1 pound potatoes, peeled and diced or shredded

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup diced red onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 large whole eggs, lightly beaten

2 egg whites, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives

Salt, to taste

Fresh parsley sprigs, for garnish

Place potatoes in a large pan. Cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook, uncovered, for 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover. Let stand for about 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Drain well.

Heat oil in a deep, 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add potatoes and cook for 5 minutes.

Combine whole eggs and egg whites. Stir in parsley, basil and chives. Season with salt, to taste. Pour mixture over potatoes in the hot skillet. Reduce heat and cook, uncovered, for about 10 minutes or until the bottom of the omelet is golden.

If desired, brown the top under a broiler. Garnish with fresh parsley sprigs.

Source: culinary.net

Breakfast Burrito

2 teaspoons canola oil

1 small red onion, diced

1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Salt, to taste

Pepper, to taste

4 eggs

4 egg whites

1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese

Nonstick cooking spray

4 flour tortillas

1/4 cup sour cream

1/4 cup salsa

1 large tomato, seeded and diced

1 avocado, sliced Hot sauce

In a large skillet, heat canola oil over medium heat. Add red onion and red bell pepper. Cook for 8 minutes. Add black beans and red pepper flakes. Cook for 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer to dish. In a medium bowl, whisk eggs and egg whites. Stir in cheese until combined. Heat a large skillet over low heat. Add egg mixture and scramble for 3 minutes or until cooked through.

Spread sour cream over the tortilla. Spread salsa over sour cream. Spoon 1/4 bean mixture over salsa. Spoon 1/4 scrambled eggs over the bean mixture. Top with diced tomatoes and avocado. Drizzle with hot sauce, if desired. Roll up burrito. Repeat three times with the remaining ingredients.

Source: culinary.net

Poblano Frittata

4 large eggs

1/4 cup fat-free milk

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1 teaspoon olive oil

2 medium poblano peppers, seeds and ribs discarded, chopped

2 cups frozen corn, thawed

2 medium green onions, chopped

1/4 cup finely shredded cotija cheese or crumbled queso fresco

1 medium tomato, chopped

1/4 cup fat-free sour cream

In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, milk and cilantro. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat the bottom of the skillet. Cook poblano peppers for 3 minutes or until browning on edges, stirring frequently. Stir in corn and green onion. Reduce heat to mediumlow. Carefully pour in egg mixture. Cook, covered, for 10 minutes, or until the mixture is just set on the edges and still soft in the center. Avoid overcooking. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with cheese. Cut into eight wedges. Top with tomatoes and sour cream.

Source: American Heart Association

Sweet Potato Hash With Eggs

2 teaspoons canola oil

1/2 medium onion, chopped

4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1/2 medium red or green bell pepper, chopped

2/3 cup fat-free, low-sodium vegetable broth

2 teaspoons minced garlic

2 teaspoons smoked paprika

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled

1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper

1/8 teaspoon salt

4 large eggs

Hot pepper sauce

Heat oil in an electric pressure cooker set on saute. Cook onion for 3 minutes or until soft, stirring frequently. Turn off the pressure cooker.

Stir in potatoes, bell pepper, broth, garlic, paprika, cumin, thyme, pepper and salt. Secure lid. Cook on high pressure for 3 minutes. Quickly release pressure. Turn off the pressure cooker.

Remove the pressure cooker lid. Crack one egg into a small bowl. Using the back of a spoon, make a small well in potatoes. Slip the egg into the well. Repeat with the remaining eggs, making separate wells for each egg. Secure the lid with the pressure vent open. Saute for 2 minutes. Let stand on the keep-warm setting for 2 minutes or until eggs are cooked to desired consistency.

Serve hash sprinkled with a dash of hot pepper sauce.

Source: American Heart Association

Books/Magazines

Looking to discover if anyone has old Robert Howard authored books (Conan and/or King Kull) for sale at a reasonable price. I will pay to ship. Thanks.

Mike Goodpaster

270 Old Stage Road Goldendale, WA 98620

Crafts/Hobbies

Senior citizen seeks to rekindle childhood love affair with stamps. I am looking for stamp collections: 1950s or earlier, U.S. or foreign, loose or in albums, and old envelopes and postcards with stamps, etc. Thank you.

Norman Allen P.O. Box 70 Janesville, CA 96114 woodsmit@psln.com

Hello! I live 50 miles from town, and I’m looking for buttons, especially old buttons. If you (or any family members) have any, I’d appreciate them deeply. Thank you very much.

Ana Howard 61380 Highway 129 Anatone, WA 99401

Looking for all things loom, yarns of any sorts. Plastic pegged looms, storage bags. Thank you in advance.

Tanya Dronoff

P.O. Box 270693 Susanville, CA 96127

Milestones

My aunt, Adrian Lisker, turns 100 this month. She worked at the Lower Westchester Y in Mount Vernon, New York, for more than 30 years. She helped several thousands of people with child care and other programs. She helped raise me as a child to be a kind and loving person and to help people in need. Please send her birthday cards to 312 Clairmont Ave., Mount Vernon, NY 10552. Thank you for helping my aunt celebrate this monumental event in her life.

Seth Goldstein Cannon Beach, Oregon

My Aunt Margaret will have her 90th birthday this month. I believe she would thoroughly enjoy and be very surprised to receive cards celebrating this milestone birthday. It would make her day very special. Thank you in advance for your consideration and generosity. Please send cards to Margaret McLaughlin, 401 NW Johns Lane, Pendleton, OR 97801.

Ron Kopp

Condon, Oregon

Odds

As the owner of the former Ochoco Grange Hall (#741) in Prineville, Oregon, I would dearly love to hear from anyone willing to share their personal experiences, knowledge and memories of this beautiful and historic property. It would be fun to learn more about the history of the property from people who have experienced it firsthand. Please include a phone number and/or email address. Thank you.

Rose Cribbs

P.O. Box 175 Wallowa, OR 97885

Thanks

Irene Wolters, of Osburn, Idaho, turned 100 on October 31. Throughout October, she received more than 472 birthday cards. Irene expressed to me how much the cards meant to her and how happy they made her the whole month long. You just never realize what an impact you can make on someone’s life by just showing kindness and that they are not forgotten. Thank you so very much for the love and remembrance of my precious friend. May God bless you all.

Marilyn Burch Priest River, Idaho

Thank you so very much for all the wonderful buttons I received in the mail. It was such a surprise. I am still needing large red and orange buttons to make my daughter the octopus for her graduation.

Kim Koester Fairbanks, Alaska

I’m overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness shown by readers over the past six weeks in recognition of my 100th birthday. I not only received beautiful birthday cards, but also notification from agencies for contributions throughout the entire Western United States, as well as from New York City, Alaska and Hawaii. Many writers shared their life stories, and I read them as if I was catching up with a lifelong friend. Thank you ever so much for making my 100th birthday a true once-in-a-lifetime event.

Lorraine Martin Corvallis, Oregon

Happy Earth Day!

Submitting Requests Is Free

Send your request (no attachments) 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 firstcome, first-served 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 (pricing applies).

When submitting a milestone request, please send it at least two months before the milestone. Phone numbers are not published. Email addresses are if they are part of the ad, but you must include a postal address.

Requests must include the name and address of the electric utility that provides your magazine.

Better Way to hearTV®

“Now Jack can control the volume on his TV•Ears while I set the TV volume or mute it for complete quiet. Once again, he can understand every word and we can watch our favorite TV shows together.”

— Darlene & Jack B., CA

Doctor recommended TV•Ears has helped millions of people with hearing loss enjoy their favorite television shows, movies and streaming content without disturbing others.

The Voice Clarifying Technology® reduces background noise and clarifies hard to hear television dialog making voices and words understandable. 120db of volume makes TV•Ears the most powerful television listening system on the market!

Quiet TV mode lets others mute the television or set the volume to their preferred level while you listen as loud as you want on the headset.

Look up at cliffs and waterfalls in California at

Yosemite National Park

What Is It?

Home to huge waterfalls and cliff faces, Yosemite National Park is one of the country’s most visited national parks. Almost all of the California park’s 747,956 acres are classified as wilderness.

Water Falls

Yosemite is home to many waterfalls. Many of the falls flow heaviest in the spring—specifically May or June. Yosemite Falls is one of the largest falls, with a descent of almost a halfmile over three stages. Horsetail Fall, pictured, typically flows December through April, but can look as if it turns to lava when it catches the light of February sunsets.

Ground Rises

Many cliffs are interesting even without a waterfall. El Capitan is a rock face that rises 3,000 feet over Yosemite Valley. It is a favorite spot for rock climbers. Half Dome is even taller, reaching 5,000 feet above the valley. Half Dome is a batholith—an extrusion from Earth’s crust— visible from most of the eastern half of the Valley.

History

Yosemite was America’s third national park, designated by Congress in 1880. The Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias were protected earlier, in 1864, by President Abraham Lincoln. This protection set aside the lands for public use, resort and recreation, and was the first place the United States preserved for such goals.

More Information

Yosemite National Park is heavily visited, and some days require reservations to visit. Plan ahead to see if you need a reservation for your trip. To start planning, visit www.nps.gov/yose or call 209-372-020.

ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY PERRY GALLAGHER/ WIRESTOCK

Our Invisible Heroes

By Dave LaBelle

They scrub and vacuum our floors, clean our desks and windows and toilets. But we don’t really see them, even when we watch them working.

These are the invisible heros.

I recently learned that 87-year-old Shirley Vorwald was still washing dishes and cleaning at a nearby elementary school, as she had also done

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.

the past 48 years.

When I asked about Shirley from those who knew her well, all agreed she was a tireless worker and charitable giver. But they warned she would never let me do a story on her because “she is an introvert and is not likely to talk with you.”

They were wrong, at least about talking to me.

Shirley was cordial and talkative, and even invited me into her small home, showing me every detail—living room, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, even the smaller-than-standard oven in which she bakes hundreds of pies each year. Besides holding down at least two jobs most of her life, she loves to bake pies for people.

In fact, some only know her as the pie lady.

Never married, she says with no bitterness, “My dad didn’t believe in marriage. He didn’t want to lose his help on the farm.”

Shirley is the last of nine children. Her brother, Jerry, died recently at age 92. The day before Christmas, she baked him a birthday cake he never got to eat.

“He was in bed. He could see it but he couldn’t eat it,” she shares.

She is content. Working has been and is her life since growing up on a farm. At a time in life when most count the days to retirement, Shirley just wants to keep working. n

Reader Challenge

Find an unseen hero in your community and shine a light on them. Explain to them that you see and appreciate them for what they do. You might have to persuade them since these invisible people can be shy. Honest, caring persistence can crumble those walls of distrust. Ask if you can interview them and do a portrait or even a short story about them. It is often easier to get shy people to talk than agree to be photographed, so talk first before asking about pictures.

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.

LEFT: NIKON D800, 50mm lens ISO 2000, f/9 at 1/60

ABOVE: NIKON D800, 31mm lens ISO 2000, f/3.5 at 1/250

Shirley Vorwald is dedicated to her work at a local elementary school, even after 48 years of cleaning. PHOTOS BY DAVE LABELLE

Budget Payment Plan

To help our customers budget their electrical cost each month, Clatskanie PUD is proud to offer the “Budget Payment Plan” to qualified residential and small commercial businesses. When you sign up for the Budget Payment Plan you pay the same amount each month, all year around.

The amount is based on your usage over the previous 12 months and is averaged out over the period (May—April) into 12 equal payments. This program does not reduce your bills, it just makes the highs and lows that come during the different seasons level out into an equal monthly payment.

The budget bills go through a “True-Up” process each April, and customers either pay the difference in what is owed for

usage above what was budgeted or receive a credit if they have paid more than their usage. The true-up amount must be paid in full to remain on the budget program. New budget amounts for the next budget year will begin in May.

To qualify for the Budget Payment Plan: CPUD customers need to have lived at the same address in our service territory for at least 12 months, and must have a zero account balance. Current Budget Plan Customers will automatically be enrolled with a new budget plan starting this May.

If you have any questions or would like to sign up for the Budget Payment Plan, please contact one of our helpful Customer Service Representatives at 503-728-2163.

MARKETPLACE

Agriculture

Reinforced custom-sized pond liners (39 cents/sqft). Hay covers, greenhouse covers, any width and length. Truck tarps and more. High puncture and tear strength. Best price guaranteed. Celebrating 42 years in business. www.btlliners.com. 541-447-0712. 0424

4x5 round bales, Meadow Foxtail Orchard Grass. 4x4 Timothy, small square. 208-435-4637 or 208-435-4002; nas@cpcinternet.com. 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

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. 0524

WC Collectibles. We buy comic books! Local to the Inland Northwest, willing to travel. WCCollectiblesCheney@gmail.com; 509-496-1835. 0724

Boats

9-ft. fishcat pontoon boat. Anchor system, frame, motor mount, mesh cargo deck, oars, force fins, pumps, new condition. $600, cash. 541-963-8160. La Grande, OR. 0424

Books, Magazines, Videos

More “Montello Remembered” novels available. I’m also liquidating my NV history collection. Many rare and hard-to-find books now available. pruitt2010@frontier.com; 775-753-3254. 0524

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. 0424AR

Business Opportunities

Glass-blowing supplies and equipment. Includes: regulators, torch and multiple torch tips in various sizes, small oxygen tank. Bill, 406-827-7291 or shirbill@blackfoot.net. 0424

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

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): June issue—April 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.

Call 503-357-2105 to pay by credit card.

Advertisements are accepted in good faith. Pioneer Utility Resources is not liable for interactions between buyers and sellers.

Community Events

June 21 and 22: 5th annual Ely Rock and Gem Swap. Buy-sell-trade. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Presented by White Pine Public Museum, 2000 Aultman St., Ely, NV 89301. Entry fee: adults $7, children $4. Children’s activities and more. www.wpmuseum.org; 775-289-4710, wpmuseumnv@gmail.com. 0624

Annual Eastern Oregon University student art exhibit, plus work by artist Theresa Henderson. April 5-27, 2024. Art Center East in La Grande, OR. Artcentereast.org. 0424

Farm Equipment

Needed for AK homestead: Ford 601/2000, MF 35/135. 2 or 4WD, gas or diesel, live PTO, loader, power steering, ROPS or cab, wheel weights, ½ track kit. Ready for work haying airstrip/ski strip, snow removal. 8N needs help. 907-322-5846. Lower 48 OK. 0524

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.

Media

Watch local TV—on the go—for free on your TV, phone, tablet, computer or Roku. Visit www. kpvm.tv and stream live today! 775-727-9400.

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. Twofisherstuna.com. Call 206-799-1082 to place your order. 0624

Alaskan Yellow Cedar. Great for planter boxes, herb and flower beds, fencing or decks. Various sizes available. Pete, 541-206-0727. Lisa, 541-747-5025, ext. 21. 0624

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

Your ad could be here in June. See the opposite page for details.

Pets, Supplies

Purebred golden retriever puppies available in April. Parents are AKC registered, redcolored, short-haired, athletic, gentle, loving and superb companion animals. 541-390-3417. Sisters, OR. 0424

Choose your hunting companion now. Retriever puppies are half-lab/half-golden retriever. 541-620- 8039 or 541-620-8639. 0424

AKC/UKC health-tested rat terrier puppies. Chocolate and chocolate tri-colors. 1 female. 4 males. Ready now. Approximately 20 lbs. Litterbox trained. Kennel trained. House training in progress. Super smart. Even temperaments, on and off switch. 218-220-0699; Skinnersteadfamily@gmail.com. 0424

Looking for stud services for 2-year-old female borgi in late April-early May. Black and white borgi or miniature/small full-bred border collie preferred. Willing to pay a stud fee and travel if necessary. Suzi Smith, 775-233-7242 or suzicooksmith@outlook.com. 0424

Real Estate

40 acres in Christmas Valley, OR. Water well, metal barn 36’x36’, two open carports, one container. Send offers to 52485 Sunrise Blvd., La Pine, OR 97739. 0524

Lakefront home Eagle Lake, CA. 3-bd, 2-ba, 2-car garage, fully furnished and stocked, move-in ready, docks, boat lift. $299K or trade? 775-771-5263; bdl1962@gmail.com.

2-acre level lot with view. Well and power on-site with a nice mix of trees. On a paved road just minutes from Thompson Falls, MT, and the Clark Fork River. $195K. 406-923-8221.

$600K interior Alaskan turnkey roadhouse and 2 dry cabins. Well-maintained on 5 acres with pond. 50 scenic miles south to Denali Park entrance. 907-460-9292. 0524

Let me help you buy or sell ranch, farm and recreation property in Oregon. Fourthgeneration Oregonian. For sale Sisters, OR, 40 acres. Price reduced to $1,595,000. John Gill, 541-480-9161 or johngill@landandwildlife.com. Land And Wildlife brokerage. 0424

23 acres east of Cottage Grove, OR. 8 acres flat pasture, 15 acres forested hillside. 2 cabins, well, tractor, shed, firefighting equipment. City water, electricity. Quiet, secluded, views. Photos on request. $450K. hannond@comcast.net. 0424

Dayville Cafe. Be your own boss, located in the John Day Valley. $275K. Duke Warner Realty, 541-987-2363 or ddwr@ortelco.net. 0424

Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area, Dallesport, WA. 1,608-sqft. mobile home for sale in park. $670 monthly rent. Excellent condition. Professional upgrades. Motivated seller. $109K. 503-396-1251. 0424

4 well-maintained 1,200-sqft. cedar homes with huge decks on year-round creek. 2.12 acres. Close to small town of Selma, OR. $875K. 541-597-2185. 0424

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. 0424

Recreational Rentals

Wavecatcher: oceanfront cottage. Central Oregon coast. Summer $175/night midMay to mid-Oct.; $140/night mid-Oct. to mid-May (plus cleaning/tax). Three bedrooms w/double beds. Pets welcome. Wavecatcherbeachrentals.com. Reservations: 541-740-2846. 0624AR

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.

Vacation rental: Syringa, ID, rustic 2-bd. furnished frame cabin. Near rivers, mountains, wilderness. www.airbnb.com/rooms/356491; glenscott.swearingen@gmail.com.

Recreational Vehicle

Selling 2023 Forest River Salem FSX 17-ft. travel trailer 170SS with slideout. Like new, many functions never used. Call for more info/ price. 509-521-5074. 0424

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 or 541-410-6945. License #245760, bonded and insured. LaPine, OR.

Call Pahrump Lock and Safe for all your residential, commercial and safe services. 24-hour emergency service in Pahrump, NV. 702-379-8441; Jim@pahrumplockandsafe.com.

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. 0724

Want to Buy

Old postage stamp albums. 253-307-1881; brashearsj@hotmail.com. Please send photos and contact info. 0524

Wanted: Small, working oven element for a 1967-ish flair, double wall oven. 15 inches long, including 3-prong plug-in, 10.5 inches wide. 541-256-0990. 0524

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. 0524

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

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. 0424

Need to buy one copy of “Morrow County History Book” in good condition, published in 1983. Hard cover, 9x11 1/4”, dark green with gold agricultural design inset on front. Ione, OR. 541-422-7495; L8ucy5T@gmail.com.

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

Protecting Electric Substations

Utilities face new challenges safeguarding local power grids from attacks

By Dan Catchpole

On a cloudy Friday in early December, Jeremy Crahan stood inside a federal courthouse in Tacoma, Washington, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison for attacking two of Tacoma Power’s substations. His accomplice, Matthew Greenwood, was sentenced to a year confined to his home and three years of probation.

About 30,000 people lost power when the two men knocked out the substations on Christmas Day 2022.

“These defendants launched a scheme that left thousands of people in the cold and dark in the middle of winter, a scheme that was dangerous—for them and for the workers that had to make repairs to the high voltage equipment,” Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M.Gorman said inside the U.S. District Court building.

Substations are critical nodes in the power grid, acting as the off-ramps of the grid’s highway system. Without exits, trucks and cars could still travel along the freeway, but drivers would have no way to deliver goods or get home. Distribution substations take the power from transmission lines—highvoltage lines that allow power to travel long distances—lower the voltage and deliver it to distribution lines that supply power to homes and businesses.

However, it is harder to have redundancy for substations toward the end of a utility’s service area, such as the two attacked by Jeremy and Matthew.

Because of their critical role in the energy grid, the country’s nearly 80,000 substations are the grid’s most vulnerable pieces. While only a small number of attacks have occurred, experts agree that the potential threat is very real.

One of the first substation attacks was in 2013, when a sniper shot at a facility in Coyote, California, near San Jose in the Santa Clara Valley. Energy grid officials rerouted power through other substation equipment, averting any major blackouts.

“Remote substations are harder to monitor (for an attack), but also, they serve fewer people,” Steve says.

That makes them critically important to power grid operation. If a substation goes out for any reason, thousands of people can be left in the dark.

“It’s fundamentally a reliability issue,” says Steve Wright, former head of the Bonneville Power Administration and general manager of Chelan County Public Utility District in Washington. For that reason, utilities design substations to be resistant and grids to be resilient. Substations are made to endure extreme events, such as wildfires and ice storms.

The power grid is designed so a single substation going out shouldn’t put hundreds of thousands of customers in the dark. In cities and suburbs, that usually means being able to route power through other substations, just like if one freeway exit is closed, drivers can get off at another exit.

Electricity rates would skyrocket if every substation were designed to be impregnable from any event that could take it down. As with many spending decisions in the electric power industry, utilities try to strike a balance between affordability and reliability.

Steve says utilities weigh the probability of an event and the potential consequences. For example, a utility in Montana will design every substation to withstand cold temperatures, while a utility in Hawaii would not.

While the industry has decades of experience designing and operating substations in all types of weather, the idea of a person deliberately attacking a substation has only recently grabbed the industry’s attention. Federal authorities and the electric power industry are working closely to make the grid more resilient.

Tacoma Power has stepped up security at its substations following the 2022 attacks, says Transmission and Distribution Manager Joe Wilson. Utilities are tight-lipped about security

measures, and Joe only spoke in general terms about Tacoma Power’s security measures.

Despite the increase in attacks, “I don’t think a lot of utilities have mitigated the risk on their transformers,” Joe says.

Larger utilities, such as Tacoma Power, have mobile resources that allow them—to varying degrees—to fill gaps in the grid, but smaller utilities just don’t have that equipment, Joe says.

“It’s harder to have resiliency at the edge of the grid (such as at rural utilities),” he says.

Several companies sell products to defend against attacks, such as bulletproof enclosures for transformers.

Following the attack on Tacoma Power’s substations, which were among its smallest ones, FBI special agents showed Joe documents seized from other cases that outlined how to attack the electrical grid.

“They looked professionally done,” Joe says. “We’re just going to have to get more serious about the security measures that we’re taking.” n

Substation Safety Tips

Everyone can play a role in substation safety. Substations are fenced off to keep people a safe distance from high-voltage equipment. Here are ways the public can play an active role in keeping the community safe and a local source of reliable power flowing.

X If you see something, say something. Keep local substations safe by reporting suspicious activity or anything that looks out of the ordinary to your utility. If you see someone inside who does not look like they belong there, contact your utility.

X Stay away from substations. Never go near a substation.

X Educate children about the dangers of electricity. Teach them to stay away from a substation and never climb its fence.

X If a personal item ends up inside the fence, contact your utility for help retrieving it. Kites, drones or other toys should not be played with near a substation.

X If a fire starts inside a substation, do not try to put out the fire yourself. Water and electricity don’t mix. Call 911 to report it.

ADOBE STOCK PHOTOS BY ALPEGOR AND 2DMOLIER

BEFORE YOU GO

Ruralite Readers Come Through

North Powder Charter School in North Powder, Oregon, is grateful to the generous Ruralite readers who sent decks of cards and dice to the school for Family Math Night in March. The request was published in a Reader Exchange ad in January.

The school received more than 400 decks of cards and 450 dice from across the United States, including places as far as New York City and Anchorage, Alaska. NPCS staff loved reading the personal notes enclosed with many of the packages.

The donations were used to make math game bags consisting of two decks of cards and a pair of dice. Students from preschool through sixth grade were invited with their families to enjoy a night of fun math games, dinner and bingo. Thirty-two families— more than 50 students—attended.

The math games build number identification skills and fluency with

addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Students took home their math game bags with directions for each game so they can continue to play with their families. n

• Powers up hills with ease

• Powered dumping

• Converts to a flatbed

• Chip and shred with power to spare

• Bigger engines that chew up the competition

• Built USA tough for smooth, reliable

Second grade teacher Dana Marlia plays salute with students and parents during Family Math Night at North Powder Charter School. PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTH POWDER CHARTER SCHOOL

495 E. Columbia River Highway PO BOX 216

Clatskanie, Oregon 97016

503-728-2163 Office www.clatskaniepud.com

Office hours: 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday

Closed Friday through Sunday

Please call to report outages 503-728-2163

Automated Secure Payment Center 1-844-262-2431

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Merle Gillespie, President

Stephen D. Petersen, Vice President

Jeannie Mustola, Secretary

Bob Wiggins, Treasurer

Don Hooper, Director

GENERAL MANAGER/CEO

Marc Farmer

CPUD $10 Bill Credit Drawing Account # 15170006

If this is your account number, please call the office to claim your prize. Congratulations!

Community Calendar

April 4: Clatskanie Chamber Meeting Evening Mixer 6 pm Wauna Credit Union

April 6: Clatskanie Bulky Waste Cleanup Day City Park 8 am to Noon

April 11: Rainier Chamber Meeting See the Rainier Chamber Facebook page

April 12-14: Clatskanie Downtown Destination Project Community Workshop

April 23: Clatskanie PUD Board Workshop & Meeting Workshop at 5:30 p.m. and Board Meeting at 6:00 p.m. (This will serve as the April & May Board Meetings)

A recent article in the Oregonian “5 takeaways: Why are Oregon power rates going up so fast?” reported on the large rate increases by the three largest electric utilities in Oregon PGE, Pacific Power, and Idaho Power which serves customers in Eastern Oregon. If the latest requested rate increase is approved by Oregon Public Utilities Commission, customers will have experienced a 40% rate increase from PGE since January 2022, a 50% increase from Pacific Power since January 2023, and a 27% increase from Idaho Power.

The question posed is why such dramatic rate increases are needed by these three utilities? The five reasons given include: weather and winter storm events, climate change, clean energy pressures, energy efficiency measures, and regulatory woes.

So why is Clatskanie PUD different from these utilities and not experiencing the huge rate increases? All utilities are dealing with rate pressures from inflation, supply chain issues, increasing cost of goods and services, costs of winter storm events, and regulatory changes. Where we differ is we do not have to implement costly clean energy measures because our power is already 97% carbon free. Depending on where we purchase the additional 3%, we can and have reached 100% carbon free power.

The biggest driver of the large rate increases for the investor-owned utilities is the huge investments they are having to make to meet the clean energy mandates of the state and federal governments. While the intent of the goals to reduce carbon is important, they do come at a tremendous cost that must be paid by someone. Unfortunately, it is placed on the backs of their customers. Not only is there the cost of building and maintaining clean energy resources like wind and solar, but there are also the costs of building and maintaining new transmission lines to bring the power to load. Additionally, they must purchase what we call “firm power” for the times that the wind is not blowing, and the sun is not shining so that their customers maintain power without brown or black outs. All of this comes at an extremely high price.

One of the solutions going forward will require us to rethink our view of nuclear power as a carbon free resource. What makes this easier was this new type of nuclear was researched and developed right here at Oregon State University. It is not the old Three Mile Island or Chernobyl type of nuclear plant. They have developed a Small Modular Reactor that is self-contained, easily scalable to meet growing power demands, uses less space and water, and can be placed right next to loads greatly reducing the need to build new transmission lines. I have been watching and studying this new power plant technology and have been impressed with the results. There are two additional designs being evaluated that are promising as well. By learning from past lessons and trials, we can build a safer and more efficient future for power.

Marc Farmer, General Manager/CEO