The Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative and Beacon Broadband teams get ready to welcome members to CCEC’s 85th birthday celebration in Coquille.
PHOTO BY KELSEY BOZEMAN
Ruralite
September 2024 • Volume 72, No. 9
CEO Michael Shepard
SENIOR VP OF CONTENT Leon Espinoza
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mike Teegarden, CCC
DEPUTY EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Noble Sprayberry
SENIOR EDITOR Jennifer Paton, CCC
ASSISTANT EDITORS Chasity Anderson, CCC; Victoria Hampton, CCC; David Herder, CCC
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Valeri Pearon, Nina Todea
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCTION SR. MANAGER
Elizabeth Beatty
SENIOR PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR
Alyssa McDougle
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Shining a Light on Rural Life
While I live in the suburbs now, I grew up on a country farm until I was about 12 years old. I understand what life away from common services and conveniences is like.
I had few neighbors as a child and even fewer with children my age. I spent a lot of my youth roaming our 50 acres with my dog, catching salamanders, feeding sheep and riding my bike. I became adept at entertaining myself.
Two stories this month highlight different aspects of rural living and the effort required to overcome obstacles.
Our Spotlight feature on Page 12 looks at how two rural high school athletes successfully raised their profiles to attract interest from college programs. Success wasn’t easy or instant. It took dedication and hard work to accomplish—something rural athletes know a lot about.
The Up Close feature on Page 10 takes us to
a small, remote Alaskan village, where harsh elements make having a solid home a matter of survival.
One organization designed a new energyefficient home that is expandable and adjusts as the foundation shifts due to temperature changes. So far, six of these homes have been built. The villagers who live in them save significant money on their heating bills thanks to the efficiencies of the new construction. They also are more comfortable and have room to process and store the fish and game they harvest to feed their families.
More homes are planned as funding becomes available.
Calendar Photo Contest
I want to thank the many readers who entered our calendar photo contest this year. As always, choosing the winners is a challenge. Congratulations to the winners. Visit ruralite.com/2025-calendar-winners to see the winning photos.
Mike Teegarden Editorial Director
For supplemental and interactive content, search @Ruralite on your favorite social media sites.
Better Homes for a Better Life
New energy-efficient design changing lives in small community Up Close, Page 10
Running Toward the Future
Rural athletes overcome hurdles to win scholarships Spotlight, Page 12 Plugged In 6 In the Kitchen 16
Hunt 22 Before You Go 30 Utility Pages: 4-5, 8, 25, 28-29, 32
The Cooperative Difference: 2023 Capital Credits Have Been Allocated to Members
Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative, Inc. is pleased to announce the allocation of 2023 margins of approximately $1 million to our members. Your 2023 allocation, as well as your cumulative, unpaid capital credit balance, is listed on your September billing statement.
The cumulative, unpaid capital credits of all CCEC members are referred to as members’ equity on CCEC’s financial statements, and there was more than $52 million dollars of members’ equity at December 31, 2023.
You, as a member, are an owner of CCEC, and the allocated margins, or capital credits, are just one of the many advantages of membership. Unlike investorowned utilities, CCEC provides electric service to our members at cost and any profits from providing
electric service are paid back to the members, and not paid to out of the area shareholders.
As a member, you are allocated a portion of the cooperative’s margins (revenue in excess of expenses) that CCEC has accumulated during the year. The amount allocated to you is in proportion with the amount of electricity you purchased from the cooperative. When financial conditions permit, and with approval of the Board of Directors, capital credits may be returned and paid back to you.
Notify CCEC of changes to your contact information, including your mailing address, to ensure future capital credit retirement checks are forwarded to the correct address.
For more information about capital credits or any other questions, contact CCEC at 541-332-3931. n
In years that CCEC earns positive margins, you are allocated your portion of the margins based on the amount of service used.
CCEC tracks how much energy you purchase from the co-op.
When you or your business establish service with CCEC, you become a member.
CCEC tracks the allocation in your account as you invest in the co-op.
Over time, your investment is used to fund capital needs such as construction, equipment, trucks and inventory.
Yearly, the CCEC Board of Directors evaluates the financial conditions of the co-op to determine if capital credits can be retired or refunded.
Your investment in CCEC is returned!
Capital Credit Allocations Explained
When you signed up to receive electricity from CCEC, you became a member of the cooperative. Other businesses and utilities return profits to investors and shareholders. Not us. CCEC is a member-owned not-for-profit cooperative, and we return margins, or profits, as capital credits to our members. Here are some of the frequently asked questions about capital credit allocations.
What is a cooperative?
A cooperative is a business that is owned and controlled by the members who use its services. Members share in the cost and benefits of operating the business.
What is a capital credit?
Members invest in CCEC when they buy power. Each year after all expenses have been paid, any remaining margins from providing electric service are allocated to members as capital credits in proportion to the member’s electric use. Capital credits can be referred to as members’ equity, and both terms are equivalent to retained earnings for a corporation.
Why doesn’t CCEC reduce rates instead of keeping capital credits as equity?
The board of directors has the responsibility to plan and maintain the long-term financial integrity of CCEC. This requires them to determine the most effective and least cost method for generating adequate operating and capital funds. Capital credits, retail rates and borrowing all provide that funding. The board of directors determines the right balance to provide stability from year to year. A reduction in rates might require more long-term loans, which would increase interest expense and reduce margins.
Why does it take so long to receive my capital credits?
Each year, the CCEC Board of Directors evaluates the financial conditions and the overall long-term financial stability of the co-op to determine if capital credits can be paid to members. The capital credits retained by CCEC are reinvested back into the cooperative to provide energy to the members, maintain and upgrade the electric plant and pay system operation costs. If there are insufficient funds for capital and operating expenses, the reliability and resiliency of the system may be negatively impacted. n
Even for a basic battery backup system, the upfront cost of a battery backup is more than a standby generator—in some cases, twice as much for comparable performance.
Like those in your mobile phones, batteries in these systems can degrade over time. In five to 10 years, they may need to be swapped out with new batteries, adding to the overall cost. Recharging battery backups with solar panels appeals to many homeowners, but the performance depends on the amount and angle of sunlight on your roof.
So, is a battery-powered backup system right for your home? The answer is different for every homeowner, but whether you’re considering a battery system or a traditional standby generator, start by calculating the amount of power you need to keep your home’s systems and conveniences operating efficiently. Once you know that,
you can determine which models are up to the task and calculate how long the device you’re considering can power your home.
If you have a family member whose health depends on devices such as a CPAP machine or supplemental oxygen, be sure to factor that into your decision.
Whether you choose a battery backup or a traditional standby generator, make sure it’s designed to protect your home and all your electronics from power surges and other issues that may damage your TVs, computers and other sensitive electronics. That way, you won’t have to worry about remaining without them long after an outage has ended. n
Battery backup systems, such as Tesla’s Powerwall, are high-capacity batteries that store a set amount of electricity that powers your home during an outage. PHOTO COURTESY OF TESLA
Financial Peace University: Free Virtual Course Coming This Fall
Achieve financial freedom with Coos-Curry Electric Charitable Foundation
The Coos-Curry Electric Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is excited to announce its latest fall program: Financial Peace University. This program is designed to help participants achieve financial freedom through practical tools and strategies for managing their finances effectively.
Financial Peace University will be online weekly for nine consecutive weeks starting this fall providing a flexible and interactive learning environment. Dates to be determined. Visit www.ccecf.org for more information.
Each session includes a virtual classroom discussion where participants can engage with other students, share experiences and learn from each other’s financial journeys. The program encourages a comfortable and open environment, where participants are welcome to share as much or as little about their financial situation as they wish.
The classes are free thanks to sponsorship by the Coos-Curry Electric Charitable Foundation.
Financial Peace University is beneficial for all age groups and can be tailored to fit different stages of life and varying financial situations. Whether you are just starting your career, planning for retirement or seeking to improve
your financial literacy, this program offers valuable insights and guidance for anyone who is interested in taking the course.
One anonymous participant from a previous session shared their success story:
“Thanks to Financial Peace University, I was able to completely eliminate my credit card debt,” the past participant says. “The steps in the program taught me how to budget effectively, prioritize my spending and save for the future. It was a life-changing experience that has given me financial security and peace of mind.”
The course covers a range of topics, including budgeting, saving, investing and retirement planning. Participants will learn how to create a personalized financial plan, reduce debt and make informed decisions about their financial future. The program’s holistic approach empowers individuals and families to take control of their finances and work toward their long-term goals. n
To sign up for Financial Peace University and take the first step toward financial freedom, visit www.ccecf.org or call 541-332-2034.
ADOBE
Better Homes for
New energy-efficient design changing lives in small community
By Molly Rettig
Alex Beans grew up on the Lower Yukon River, a network of southwest Alaska streams, ponds and coastal wetlands so vast it’s larger than Pennsylvania. His house, however, was small and crowded.
“We had 10-plus people in the house most of the time,” Alex says. “I slept on the couch for most of my childhood with my mom.”
In Mountain Village, Alaska—a Yup’ik community of roughly 700 people—more than a third of the families live with similar crowding. The same is true across more than 200 rural Alaska communities.
But size isn’t the only problem. Mainly built by federal agencies in the 1970s, these homes were not designed for the Arctic conditions—temperatures that reach 60 below and wind that can blow off roofs. The homes are cold, moldy and costly to heat.
Richard John Queenie lives in a house about the size of a single car. The foundation is so old and saggy that the walls are pulling away from the floor.
“The logs are disintegrating, just rotting away under there,” he says.
With no indoor plumbing and little insulation, Richard keeps two space heaters running nonstop in the winter.
“I go through more than 20 gallons of stove oil every two weeks, and another $322 for the electric heater over there,” he says.
That’s around $700 a month just for heat. While Richard has a good job working as a carpenter for the tribe, he can’t afford to build a new home—even the 24-by-26-foot house he’s thought of building himself.
It gets worse. Because of climate change, the region
is warming three times faster than the rest of the planet. The permafrost underlying Mountain Village is thawing and slumping in some places, freezing and heaving in others. Older homes elevated on posts—a strategy to avoid disrupting the permafrost—are tilting and shaking.
These housing issues, combined with the recent crash of the salmon fishery on the Yukon River, have prompted many to leave the region. That’s why Alex and the Asa’carsarmiut Tribe are building new efficient homes to withstand the harsh climate.
Through a partnership with the National Renewable Energy
for a Better Life
Laboratory’s Alaska Campus, in 2022 the tribe built five homes in Mountain Village. The homes get residents off floors and couches while keeping them on their traditional lands.
Another home is being built in 2024. Future homes may be added as funding becomes available.
The Yup’ik people have occupied the region for thousands of years and are experts of the land. They worked with NREL researchers to ensure new housing incorporated traditional wisdom with the latest science and technology.
Because the homes were funded to help people transition out of homelessness and stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, the original goal was to keep the homes small and build as many as possible. Community members wanted them to be energy efficient.
“The homes are very well-insulated,”
Alex says. “There’s just a small heater to heat the home, and on the extended versions, we have a woodstove. If we have the woodstove going, there should be almost no cost going to heating fuel.”
Residents also wanted room in the new homes to process and store subsistence foods. So, while the homes are small, NREL designers included extra-large foundations and decks, which also make it easier to add on to the living space over time.
“One of the key things we’ve learned from people who live in tiny houses is they’re great for a certain time and then you want them to be bigger,” NREL architect Aaron Cooke says. “We designed not a house but a house that could be expanded in three different ways. If you move into a small version of the home, which is about 380 square feet, you have the freedom to expand, whether it be an entryway, an arctic entryway or another bedroom.”
Local people not only helped design the homes, but they built them, too.
“Everything that was put into the homes created jobs out here and allowed our people to have actual job
experience and learn more about the new science we can put into homes that will benefit people in a cold climate,” Alex says.
The designs are a blueprint for future building, and the workforce training gives local people tools to address their housing shortage.
Aaron says two characteristics make foundation design difficult: The ground is frozen, but it is also thawing at an unpredictable rate.
“We had to design a foundation that could handle frozen soils and can also adjust as these soils change,” Aaron says.
Steel beams under the floors rest on adjustable jacks, which sit on treated wood footers. In January, Alex crawled under a home with a level, measured the beams and then used a steel bar to adjust the jacks and level the house.
Afterward, he ducked his head inside to see Agnes Brown, 78, who had recently moved into the house. Though it was below zero outside and dropping, Agnes was in a T-shirt.
“It’s nice and warm, and the fuel is so much lower than my old house, “she says. “I’m so grateful, very grateful.” n
Alex ice fishes with his children. The village residents live a subsistence lifestyle.
Alex Beans adjusts the foundation of a new home using a jack.
Agnes Brown lived in this 1970s house before her new home was built.
Running Toward
Rural athletes overcome hurdles to win scholarships
By David Herder
Dannika Goss has always wanted to play collegiate volleyball. Life put many challenges along her way to that goal. She honed her vision, reactions and other skills to fulfill her athletic potential. She also put in thousands of miles of drive time, traveling more than an hour from her rural home along the Oregon Coast in Tillamook to practice and play with her club volleyball team in Salem. She spent her high school years attending camps and tournaments where she was one of hundreds of athletes evaluated by college coaches.
Each year, thousands of studentathletes across the country pursue college scholarships. Ultimately, only 1 of every 50 is likely to reach that level, according to a 2021 study by Next College Student Athlete. That bar can be even tougher to clear for athletes like Dannika, who live in rural areas where getting the attention of major programs can be more difficult.
For rural athletes like Dannika, winning a spot on a college roster takes more than just the talent and commitment to be a high-level athlete—it also takes a second job as a communicator and organizer, working just to be seen.
Club commitments
Dannika, a member of the Tillamook High School class of 2024, started playing volleyball in kindergarten. In fourth grade, she was excited because the players were now old enough to use a full-sized volleyball, and she joined the local club team, Tillamook Volleyball Club.
Club sports can be important to athletes’ development. School teams play in the fall, winter or spring, but club teams keep athletes in shape and improving throughout the year. Beyond gym and coaching access, clubs can also
switched to play with North Pacific Juniors, a club based in Salem, Oregon. That NPJ coaching staff included Haley Domeck, who is now the head coach at Linfield University, a Division III school in McMinnville, Oregon. While Haley coached the age group above Dannika’s at NPJ, she watched Dannika improve.
“She is one of the nicest human beings I have ever met in my entire life,” Haley says. “Coming from Tillamook to Salem was no small commitment on her end or her family’s end.”
Haley, who played volleyball at Hawaii Pacific University and graduated in 2015, says playing club sports is a great way to improve and get noticed.
“It’s not about what club you play for, it’s more so about getting touches on the volleyball,” she says.
These touches don’t necessarily have to come from club sports, but it’s important for athletes’ growth to be in the gym working on conditioning or finding other ways to play and improve.
When playing at the club level, an
I was just doing multiple things as much as I possibly could to get my name out there, because I am from a very small town here in Tillamook.
— Dannika Goss, college volleyball player
PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNIKA GOSS
Toward the Future
advantage beyond practice is traveling to large tournaments. In her role as Linfield coach, Haley often attends these tournaments to scout talent. While sports like track or swimming can recruit athletes based on their times, and some more dynamic sports like baseball can recruit pitchers based on measurables like pitch speed and ball rotation, volleyball is more difficult to measure and requires the eye test.
“One of my rules as a coach is I have to see somebody play live in order to make them an offer,” Haley says, “because there’s things that you pick up on in person that you don’t see on film.”
Club tournaments can be large. There can be 200 courts running with four teams
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MARK GILLILAND
Max Hannum, left, will play football at Montana State this fall. PHOTO COURTESY OF MAX HANNUM
per court and 12 athletes per team. With thousands of athletes competing at once, these tournaments help coaches maximize the number of players they can see.
“It’s quite a recruiting beast,” Haley says.
Not every sport has clubs helping athletes improve during the high school offseason, but most sports have camps and showcases that help recruits get seen by coaches. Max Hannum, a football player in the class of 2024 from Thompson Falls, Montana, took part in camps operated by college teams from around the state. Typically, he’d travel two to four hours each way.
knowledge and more drills he could use throughout the year to improve. The camps also let him get to know the coaches, and the coaches got to know him.
Persistence pays off
Max wasn’t only meeting coaches in person at the camps—he often reached out electronically, too. The internet helps make
sent him game film to review through a website called Hudl. Operating somewhat like a sports version of YouTube, Hudl is a website and app where teams and athletes post game film and highlights. While reviewing his team’s film, Max would highlight his best plays and edit his own highlight reel. He’d then share the highlights on Twitter or send them directly to coaches.
I felt like all the work I put in finally paid off.
Getting your name out there is the biggest thing.
— Max Hannum, football player from Thompson Falls, Montana
“I had to travel a lot for those camps,” he says. “Going to the camps is really the only extra football you can do around here.”
Max says these camps made a huge impact on his football career. Working with coaches, he took his techniques as a tight end and linebacker to a higher level. He says collegiate coaches had extra
the world smaller, and sharing highlight tapes allows rural athletes like Max and Dannika to be seen by coaches who don’t have the time to travel to see them play. This skill of sharing one’s story has helped many athletes find homes on college rosters.
“Getting your name out there is the biggest thing,” Max says.
During football season, Max’s coaches
“My approach was just to send my highlight films everywhere, trying to get in contact with as many coaches as I could,” he says.
While that shotgun approach could have lead to more rejections from coaches, that didn’t bother Max.
“It motivated me at the same time just to get better,” he says.
Dannika Goss, here with her family, will pursue a nursing degree while playing volleyball at Linfield University.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNIKA GOSS
Even as a coach whose email inbox can get stuffed with messages from recruits, Haley agrees that athletes should reach out to coaches they’d like to play for. If an athlete doesn’t hear back, they should be persistent.
“It’s not fun hearing no, but at least you know where you stand,” she says. “If you are, for lack of a better term, annoying, or if you’re persistent, we’re going to respond to you at some point. There’s lots of things going on.”
Fulfilling the dream
Dannika tried many methods to get recruited. She attended showcases at colleges and the one hosted by her club team. She also used an app called SportsRecruits, which connects recruits and coaches and lets athletes post videos and highlights for coaches to scout.
“I was just doing multiple things as much as I possibly could to get my name out there, because I am from a very small town here in Tillamook,” Dannika says.
Max’s moonlighting as a video editor helped keep him in contact with coaches. After narrowing the list down to fit with his academic pursuits—he intends to study construction management, with an eye on the energy industry—the staff he was in the heaviest conversation with was at Montana Technological University in Butte, Montana. This fall, when he was attending the school’s football camp, the Montana Tech coaches offered him a scholarship.
“I felt like all the work I put in finally paid off,” Max says. “I’ve always wanted to be a collegiate football player. That’s always been my dream. I grew up with a bunch of friends that had this same goal, and not a lot of them reached it.”
For Dannika, being recruited by multiple schools was fun but also stressful.
“I didn’t want to let any of the coaches down or anything, because I wasn’t fully committing yet,” she says.
Dannika signed on to play for Haley at Linfield University. Strong academics were a major factor. Dannika wants to be a pediatric nurse, and Linfield has a strong nursing program. A high point of her campus visit was talking with an anatomy and physiology professor and touring the school’s cadaver lab.
After a long effort trying to get noticed by schools, she will pursue her dreams both on and off the volleyball court. “I’m super excited to go there in the fall,” she says. n
Scoring a Scholarship
By Sara Patterson
1. Know your skill level—find camps, clinics and clubs—and NCAA or NAIA eligibility requirements found on their websites.
2. Compile an athletic resume with:
• Skills video
• Athletic stats
• Academic transcripts, ACT/SAT scores
• Extracurricular activities
3. Start emailing coaches.
• Include your athletic resume, especially your skills video.
• Subject line should include: name, current grade level, position and key stat. “Jane Doe, high school sophomore, pitcher, 90 mph fastball.”
• Individually craft each email, clearly stating why you’re interested in that program.
4. Make campus visits and line up meetings with coaches. Keep sending updated stats.
5. Lock down your offer and negotiate your amount. If a program can’t budget for a huge athletic scholarship, don’t discount merit-based, academic or other types.
To help get noticed, Max sent his highlight tapes to any coach he was interested in playing for. PHOTO COURTESY OF MAX HANNUM
Savor the Sea WITH TASTY SHRIMP DISHES
Shrimp Scampi
Vegetable oil
1 tablespoon plus 11/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1 pound linguine
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
1/2 lemon, zest grated
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 lemon, thinly sliced in half-rounds
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Drizzle some oil in a large pot of boiling water. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and the linguine. Cook to al dente.
Meanwhile, in another large, heavy-bottomed pan, melt the butter and olive oil over mediumlow heat. Add the garlic. Saute for 1 minute. Add the shrimp, 11/2 teaspoons of salt and pepper. Saute, stirring often, until the shrimp turn pink, about 5 minutes.
Remove from the heat. Add the parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon slices and red pepper flakes. Toss to combine.
When the pasta is done, drain the cooked linguine and put it back in the pot. Immediately add the shrimp and sauce. Toss well and serve.
Recipes by Gertrude Treadaway
ADOBE STOCK
PHOTO BY CWP, LLC/STOCKSY
Shrimp and Grits
Shrimp
4 slices bacon, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
2 pounds jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced, light and dark green parts divided
1 stalk celery, finely diced
Grits
4 cups whole milk
¾ teaspoon salt
1 cup quick-cooking grits
1 small red bell pepper, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 7 minutes. Add the shrimp to the skillet, and sprinkle with the Cajun seasoning and salt. Increase the heat to mediumhigh. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp are mostly pink but not quite cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer the shrimp and bacon mixture to a bowl, and set aside. Place the skillet back on the heat. Do not wash it.
Melt the butter in the skillet. Add the light green scallions, celery, bell pepper and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften, about 4 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour, and mix until incorporated. Whisk in the chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until slightly thickened, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat. Set it aside while you make the grits. In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, bring the milk and salt to a boil. Whisking constantly, slowly pour the grits into the bubbling milk. Reduce the heat to low. Simmer, whisking often, until the grits become thick and creamy, about 5 minutes. Stir continuously to prevent sputtering.
Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the cheese. Taste. Adjust the salt, if necessary. Remove the pan from the heat. Cover with a lid to keep warm until ready to serve. Place the skillet with the vegetable/sauce mixture back on the stove. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Return the shrimp and bacon, along with any juices that collected in the bowl, to the skillet. Mix well. Cook, stirring frequently, until the shrimp are cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle dark green scallions over the shrimp.
Honey Garlic Shrimp
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
1 pound medium uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 teaspoons olive oil
Green onion, chopped
In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, garlic and ginger to make a marinade/sauce.
Place shrimp in a large sealable container or zipped-top bag. Pour half of the marinade on top. Shake or stir, then marinate the shrimp in the refrigerator for 15 minutes or up to 12 hours. Cover and refrigerate the remaining sauce.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place shrimp in the skillet. Discard used marinade.
Cook shrimp on one side until pink, about 45 seconds, then flip shrimp over. Pour in remaining marinade/sauce and cook it all until shrimp is cooked through, about 1-2 more minutes.
Serve shrimp with cooked marinade sauce. Garnish with green onions.
Thai Shrimp Curry With Jasmine Rice
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
1/3 cup thinly sliced scallions, white and green parts
2 cloves garlic, minced
21/2 tablespoons Thai green curry paste
14-ounce can coconut milk
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
2 pounds jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 tablespoons lime juice
Lime wedges for serving 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions. Cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 3 minutes.
Add the scallions, garlic and green curry paste. Cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes.
Add the coconut milk, water, fish sauce and sugar. Bring to a gentle boil. Add the shrimp. Cook, stirring frequently, until the shrimp are pink and just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes.
Stir in the lime juice, and sprinkle with the cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Serve with jasmine rice.
READER EXCHANGE
Books/Magazines
I am looking for a copy of the April 1978 Oregon Times magazine. I can find other issues but not this one. Thank you in advance.
Marlene McCormack P.O. Box 1472 Sisters, OR 97759
Please send Catherine Cookson books. I don’t have any more by her, and she is my favorite author.
Marsha Holeik
16637 William Foss Road La Pine, OR 97739
Crafts/Hobbies
Looking for jewelry—broken or otherwise, beads (no seed beads or children’s plastic) and macrame supplies to keep busy crafting to sell for my medical copays. I may not be able to send thank yous in the mail but will email if you include your information. Thank you for your consideration.
L. Thomas P.O. Box 421 Ocean Shores, WA 98569
Does anyone want new or used T-shirt hem remnants? They vary in size, color and wear. You pay for postage.
Elaine Fuchigami
8252 NW Oxbow Drive Corvallis, OR 97330-2835 lareifu@gmail.com
Milestones
My mom’s very good friend and next-door neighbor turns 86 years old in September. As a present to Trudi, my mom and I wish to have Ruralite readers surprise her with many cards to celebrate her special day. Trudi has been a helpful friend to my mom. They have known each other for 20 years and talk on the phone almost every day. Please help us give Trudi a deserving birthday present by sending your cards to Trudi Engen, P.O. Box 239, Pilot Rock, OR 97868. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Ron Kopp Condon, Oregon
My lovely mother turns 90 years old in early September. She has been a lifelong volunteer and still volunteers at the Fossil Museum two days a week through the summer. It would be great to surprise her with lots of birthday wishes! Please send wishes to Darlene Alexander, P.O. Box 141, Fossil, OR 97830.
Randi Fitch
Trout Lake, Washington
If you stopped by the Vida Cafe from 1979-94 my mom probably waited on you, cooked your meal or baked your piece of pie from scratch. Gracie “Leo” Brown enjoyed visiting with all the customers and would love to get a birthday card from you when she turns 90 years old at the end of September. Leo Bean moved to Finn Rock from Arkansas when she was 8 years old and attended McKenzie schools. After she married logger Sonny Brown, they moved to Vida to raise their family. Of course, she enjoys getting mail. Please send her birthday greeting to Gracie “Leo” Brown, Rawlin at River Bend, 3491 Game Farm Road, Unit 213, Springfield, OR 97477.
Wanda McClure
McKenzie Bridge, Oregon
Odds
I have been unable to find blades for my Fiskars 12" aluminum cut rail paper trimmer. I like it because I am blind in my right eye, and it’s easier to see lines. Please reach out if you can help. Thank you.
Jean Stewart
2657 Greyfox Drive
Sutherlin, OR 97479
Thanks
A few months ago, I asked for wooden thread spools for a friend who carves faces into them. The response was overwhelming. Ruralite readers sent more than 200 and they are still coming. He has all he can use for the rest of his life. Please, cease and desist. I can’t believe how many wooden spools are still in existence. Thank you for the response. You are the absolute best.
Barbara Cadwell
The Dalles, Oregon
Thank you to all the generous people who sent their beautiful fabric remnants for my granddaughter and I to use for our sewing projects. We were truly overwhelmed and will be able to continue with our sewing projects for many days to come.
Diane Sauer Sunriver, Oregon
Submitting Requests Is Free
Send your request—with 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 on a first-come, first-served basis and as space allows. We cannot honor every request.
Please affirm you have authorization from all appropriate parties before submitting. By submitting, you indemnify Reader Exchange, Pioneer Utility Resources Inc., its officers, directors, employees, utility clients and insurers from all legal liability incurred by the publication of information.
We no longer accept pen pal requests. You may submit a pen pal request as a Marketplace ad. Marketplace pricing applies.
When submitting a milestone request, please send it at least two months before the milestone.
Phone numbers will not be published. Email addresses will be published if part of the ad, but the request must include a postal address.
Request must include the name and address of the electric utility that provides your magazine.
The answer: Although tremendous strides have been made in
cost reductions have not been passed on to you. Until now...
If
See the effects of extreme temperatures in
Death Valley
What Is It?
Straddling the border of California and Nevada, Death Valley is one of the hottest and driest places on Earth. Unique geological features create the hot, dry climate, but life finds a way to thrive in the valley.
Why so Dry?
Rain shadows help prevent moisture from reaching Death Valley. When wet clouds over the Pacific Ocean travel east toward the valley, they must first pass over four mountain ranges. The clouds rise, making the moisture cool and condense, causing rain to fall. This successively happens, and an average of just 2 inches of rainfall a year lands on the valley.
Why so Hot?
Death Valley has low elevation— almost 300 feet below sea level— and is bowled in by mountains on all sides. When the desert floor heats up, the warm air rises but is trapped by the mountains and moves back to the valley floor. Despite this, winters in the valley can reach freezing temperatures, as the desert doesn’t retain heat as well as other biomes.
What to Do?
Death Valley can be great for a fall or winter road trip, when you won’t need to max out the air conditioner. Badwater Road is one of the most popular paths, takes about 90 minutes to drive and showcases the lowest point in the valley, as well as other viewpoints. Another popular spot is Zabriskie Point, a vista from which visitors can look over the badlands.
More Information
Death Valley is experiencing one of the hottest summers on record—it reached 127 F this July. Fall, winter and spring trips are much more popular. To start planning your trip, call 760-786-3200 or go online and visit www.nps.gov/deva.
ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY MENGCHAO
In the Autumn of My Life
By Dave LaBelle
I remember photographing an elderly man leaning on a hoe while working in his garden. Watching him through a telephoto lens, I was curious what he was thinking. I may have asked him, but I don’t remember. Later, as I looked at the photograph, I wondered what his life had been like.
What were his dreams or regrets?
Then a year or so later, I was assigned to photograph a philosopher who was in town to speak. He was staying at a luxurious inn. Arriving early, as is my habit, I noticed a man walking slowly down a tree-lined driveway, his hands behind his back. Unnoticed, I stopped and
made a few photographs before approaching him.
I asked him about his morning stroll.
“I take long walks alone,” he answered. “I ask intelligent questions and get intelligent answers.” Then he added, “But my best thoughts usually come to me when I am on the toilet and have nothing else to do.”
Fifty-five years later, I see myself in the posture of both aging men. Either image could be a self-portrait of sorts, of me contemplating life now.
I have often seen glimpses of myself in others, for good and bad. In a quiet, subtle way, I think I have photographed others to express what I was experiencing. In telling their story, I was telling my own. Someone once wrote and said they had watched my daily newspaper photos for years and felt they knew me. I hadn’t thought much about that before, but reasoned there was some truth in their observation. No doubt those who follow this column or read my blog can say with some accuracy, they know me. The subjects I choose, the personal things I share— they are doors into my life and heart. I feel the same about some authors or sports announcers.
There was a period in my young life when I felt alone and hopeless. I photographed
Reader Challenge
Make a picture that expresses where you are in your life’s journey. Maybe it is something that reveals what you believe or how you see yourself? Or perhaps, like me, it’s something or someone you aspire to be like. This is a tough assignment but one worth trying.
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.
many sad and lonely people, transients and those who had lost loved ones. I think I was crying in my camera, silently asking for help through my photographs.
I believe most of us ask ourselves why we are here on this earth and what plan or purpose we serve. Now, at 73, I have come to realize one of the talents my creator has blessed me with is the gift to give others a voice while serving as a mirror to show others themselves, especially their beauty and value. n
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.
NIKON F2, 300mm lens Tri-X film at ASA 400, f/4.5 at 1/250
This quiet moment captured on film reflects the thoughtful feelings of the photographer. PHOTO BY DAVE LABELLE
Praise for DiamondAura®
“So much sparkle and the play of light on DiamondAura® beats any diamond!” — D.D. from Columbus, OH
How to Win at Love
A classic tennis bracelet serves up over 10 carats of sparkle for a guaranteed win
It was the jewelry piece that made the world stop and take notice. In the middle of a long volley during the big American tennis tournament, the chic blonde athlete had to stop play because her delicate diamond bracelet had broken and she had to nd it. e tennis star recovered her beloved bracelet, but the world would never be the same.
From that moment on, the tennis bracelet has been on the lips and on the wrists of women in the know. Once called eternity bracelets, these bands of diamonds were known from then on as tennis bracelets, and remain the hot ticket item with jewelers.
with D Flawless diamonds from another company that costs $57,000!
Want to look like a million bucks without stressing over losing or damaging something that cost you a fortune? e Love Wins Tennis Bracelet is a simple strand of glittering gems in precious sterling that epitomizes elegance.
earrings with your purchase of the Love Wins Bracelet.
e rst time we o ered this bracelet, we sold out literally in minutes. It was our fastest selling product of 2021. It took six months to get it back in stock — Get yours before we run out! And there’s more... we will also include our Ultimate Diamond Alternative™ DiamondAura® stud earrings for FREE!
Jewelry Speci cations:
• 10 ¾ ctw of the Ultimate Diamond Alternative®, DiamondAura®
• Rhodium- nished .925 sterling silver settings
• Bracelet: Fits wrists to 7 ½". Earrings: 1 ctw with post backs
We’ve captured this timeless classic with over 10 total carats of DiamondAura®, our signature diamond alternative stone. is sparkling marvel rivals even the nest diamonds (D Flawless) with its transparent color and clarity, and both are so hard they can cut glass. Don’t believe me? e book “Jewelry and Gems – e Buying Guide,” praised the technique used in our diamond alternative DiamondAura®: “ e best diamond simulation to date, and even some jewelers have mistaken these stones for mined diamonds,” it raved. For comparison, we found a similarly designed 10 carat tennis bracelet
Love Wins Tennis Bracelet (10 ¾ ctw) $399 $39* + S&P
FREE stud earrings (1 ctw) with your purchase of the Love Wins Bracelet — a $99 value!
*Special price only for customers using the offer code.
Your Offer Code: LWB296-02
TO ORDER BY MAIL: Submit payment with cookbook title, your name, address and number of cookbooks wanted to:
This book of more than 220 recipes from our 2005 contest has garden fresh and warm winter meals sure to appeal to every taste. Recipes include Lucious Pumpkin Soup, Nacogdoches Pheasant Stew and Smoked Salmon Chowder. The 8½-by-11-inch spiral-bound, indexed book is $8 (includes postage).
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.
Curry Transfer & Recycling Shares Recycling Tips
When you think about recycling, you should consider the big picture: reduce, reuse and recycle. When we recycle, we take materials that would be thrown away as trash and instead allow them to be turned into new products.
Recycling is important for so many reasons. According to the America Recycles Day website, there are several ways that recycling has a positive benefit on our everyday life:
• It saves energy and resources. By recycling items, such as newspaper, cardboard and aluminum cans, we use fewer natural resources, including trees, water and minerals.
• It reduces greenhouse gases. Recycling helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution by using fewer natural resources and less energy.
• It preserves the environment. Recycling helps reduce the amount of solid waste sent to landfills, conserves natural resources and prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials. This helps preserve our natural ecosystem and wildlife.
• It creates jobs. Recycling creates a variety of jobs, from curbside collection crews to sorters.
• It gives garbage new life. By recycling used items, you help create something new.
Recycling in Curry County
Here are some tips to prepare your items for recycling:
• Keep it clean. Rinse all containers out to keep recycle materials free from food contamination.
• Keep it loose. Do not bag your recyclables.
• When in doubt, leave it out. To keep the recycling stream free from contamination, a good rule of thumb is: When in doubt, leave it out.
Recycling Collection Basics
In Curry County, Curry Transfer & Recycling offers curbside recycling to all city and urban growth residential customers. This includes a 64-gallon recycle cart and 18-gallon glass bin.
They accept plastic jugs and bottles No. 1 and No. 2 that are rinsed out, newspapers, flattened cardboard, cereal/cracker boxes (no plastic liners), magazines, catalogs, scrap paper, egg cartons, aluminum cans (rinsed out), steel cans, clean foil and aluminum trays. These items are placed directly into your recycle cart.
In your glass bin, you may place rinsed food or beverage glass bottles or jars in any color.
Due to a robotic arm used to empty your recycle cart, there are a few key things to keep in mind:
• Do not bag your recyclables. Toss them directly into the cart.
• Make sure recycles are level when the cart is full, allowing the lid to close.
• Have your cart out the night before or by 6 a.m. every other week on your scheduled pickup day. Make sure the lid opens up toward the street.
• Do not wedge items in the cart. Make sure everything inside the cart can fall freely when the cart is emptied.
• Keep the cart 3 to 4 feet from other carts, 10 feet away from trees and power lines and at least 5 feet away from cars.
Waste Prevention
Waste prevention is an upstream activity that involves reducing waste through changes in the design, purchase and use of materials. In its simplest form, waste prevention means using less stuff.
Waste prevention “has potential environmental benefits. It typically reduces environmental impacts throughout all stages of the life cycle of materials, including resource extraction, manufacturing, transportation and end-of-life management, such as recycling or disposal.
For households and businesses, waste prevention can also typically save more money than recycling or composting. n
MARKETPLACE
Agriculture
4x5 round bales, Meadow Foxtail Orchard Grass. 4x4 Timothy, small square. 208-435-4637 or 208-435-4002; nas@cpcinternet.com. 1224
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.
2024 grass hay. 50 to 60 small square bales. Very good quality. 24760 Hwy. 101 South, Cloverdale. Call 503-812-2313 or 503-812-6539.
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
Antique country store items. 1910-60. Tins, light-up signs, clocks, Coca-Cola, drugstore, soda fountain, barber items, beer sign and much more. Cash. Gregory, 208-301-4246. 0924
WC Collectibles. We buy comic books! Local to the Inland Northwest, willing to travel. WCCollectiblesCheney@gmail.com; 509-496-1835. 1024
Collection of ID license plates from 1920-40. 23 plates, 14 dates. Can text photo, $400 for all. 509-254-1947.
Mantle, Mays, Aaron, Koufax, etc. If interested in buying 1957-73 vintage baseball cards, let’s talk. Jim, 530-283-2826 or 530-394-8668.
Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo blankets and rugs, baskets, beadwork, etc. Also, quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com. 1024
Automotive
Rare 1960 Chevy pickup 4x4. Shortbed. Not running now. Text or call 661-713-3377. Leave message. $7K. 0824
Storage space for any RV, vehicle, boat and trailer. 24/7 security and access. Any size, $100 a month. Text Mark for call back, 714-949-6913. 0924
Books, Magazines, Videos
Book restoration. Bibles, cookbooks, cherished family heirlooms. Beautiful work. We give renewed life, more durable than original, to last for generations. 775-537-7066; salacanstudio@gmail.com. 0924AR
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): November issue—Sept. 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.
Business Opportunities
A great business opportunity in Boardman, OR. A small cafe you can use your imagination in. Frontage view of freeway, quick in and out access. A coffee shop on property for extra income. $1.1M. For more information, call Karen at 541-571-0636. 1024
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. $259K. 0924
Community Events
“Start the Story at the End,” Sept. 6-Oct.26 and “Journeys & Convergence,” Sept. 6-28. Art Center East, La Grande, OR. artcentereast.org. 0924
Equipment/Tools
DR multi trimmer, $350. Kubota rototiller. Only 25 hours use. $1,150. 11 push-pull control cables $40-$90 each. FOB Eugene, OR. Ted, 458-910-3727. 1024
Farm Equipment
1965 Ford 3000 Tractor with auger/utility crane, rotary cutter, brush hog and box spreader. Runs. Original operator’s manuals. $4K, OBO. Cottage Grove, OR. 541-942-6837. 0924
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. 0924AR
Help Wanted
The Cape Blanco Heritage Society needs volunteers at the Cape Blanco Lighthouse Greeting Center and Hughes House for 2024 and 2025. Background checks are required. Free RV hookups are available to volunteers. heritage32@frontier.com; 541-332-0521. 1024
Hobbies, Gifts, Games
Selling United States postage stamp collection. Mint plate blocks and sheets dating back to the 1940s. Photo available. Bob, 541-786-6195 or brown.donna50@gmail.com.
Media
Watch Channel 25 (Southern NV)—on the go— for free on your TV, phone, tablet, computer or ROKU. Visit www.kpvm.tv and stream live today. 775-727-9400. 0924
Your ad could be here in November. See instructions above for details.
Miscellaneous
Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. For more info: Joe, highdesertmemorials@gmail.com, 541-815-8906; www.highdesertmemorials.com. 1124
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 call 206-799-1082. 1124
Alaskan Yellow Cedar. Great for planter boxes, herb and flower beds, fencing or decks. Various sizes available. Pete, 541-206-0727. Lisa, 541-747-5025, ext. 21. 1224
Pets, Supplies
AKC-registered Irish wolfhounds. Crane, OR. Morning Star Acres, www.morningstaracre.com. Barb, 541-589-2923.
Husky, male. 4 years old. Very gentle. Great with kids. Burntwood, OR. 541-875-4172.
AKC-registered Airedales. Fort Sage Kennels, Patricia Sharp, P.O. Box 246, Doyle, CA 96109. 530-827-2271. 0924
Plants, Garden Supplies
Cactus for sale. Cold/winter hardy. Good for landscaping. Sunnyside/Mabton, WA, area. Local pickup only. 509-391-5546; marybarthlow@gmail.com. 0924
Real Estate
15 off-grid acres at 8,400 ft. near Fort Garland, CO. Great view of CO’s fourth-highest peak. On Person’s Road in Sangre de Cristo Ranches. Piñon trees, year-round access. $52.9K. 541-729-0374. 0924
Buying or selling in Brookings, OR? Call Pat Piper at Century 21 Agate Realty first. Experience. Empathy. Education. Exceptional. 541-251-2152; patpiperbroker@gmail.com. 1024
Christmas Valley, OR. 40 acres with perimeter fence. 36x36 metal building, two carports, 370-ft. deep water well, storage container on chase. Only taking serious offers. 541-536-5776. 0924
Let me help you buy or sell ranch, farm and recreation property in OR. Fourthgeneration Oregonian, prior ranch owner. For sale: Sisters, OR. 40 acres. Price reduced. $1.55M. John Gill, 541-480-9161; johngill@ landandwildlife.com. Land and Wildlife brokerage. 0924
5-acre lots, $30K down and 5% interest. Recreational, beautiful view outside Cherry Creek, NV. Owner finance. Ray Bick, 775-591-0420. 0924
Beautiful custom home on 15 acres w/ stunning panoramic mountain and valley views. Garage, barn. $615K. Duke Warner Realty, 541-987-2363, ddwr@ortelco.net. 0924
9956 Beach Drive, Birkenfeld, OR. Looking for a perfect getaway spot, or ever dreamed of living in the woods? Come see this adorable home at Fishhawk Lake. Tucked in the trees, you can relax by the firepit, swing in the hammock or wander to the lake for kayaking. Very open floor plan with primary bedroom and bathroom on the main level. Loft is a nonconforming second bedroom or maybe use as an office. Good storage, including the exterior shed. A quick jaunt to the community rec center, pickleball courts and more. So much to love and see here. Listed at $275K / ML#24220670 Listed by Lea Chitwood, Re/Max Power Pros. 503-730-4554/leachitwood@remax.net.
Irrigon, OR. 3-bd, 2-ba manufactured home on permanent foundation. Huge shop and garage stick-built, unattached. One full city block property. $400K/OBO. 541-922-9675. 0924
2-bd, 2-ba older home in Ely, NV, close to downtown businesses and events, all city utilities, many upgrades, detached garage on ¼-acre lot. 702-493-7581.
First home with 3 decks and second home with 2 decks, carport with 40-ft container, 2 sheds, tack building, mature shade and fruit trees on fenced 2.5 acres. White and Silver Peak mountains. $425K. 775-966-9009.
Recreational Rentals
Bend country cabin. Very clean and fully furnished cabin on private ranch. Close to recreation areas. Very nice. $95/night. 541-382-3050; bendcountrycabins@gmail.com.
Recreational Vehicles
Seeking an able-bodied, cheerful, retired individual or couple to help register guests and do fix-its around our small community motel and campground in exchange for apartment accommodations. Building community and ministry through hospitality here at Vantage Riverstone, Vantage, WA. Additional involvement opportunities via RV tenancy at affordable monthly rates. 509-8562800; Vantagedesk@gmail.com. RV rentals, as well as housing available.
Services
Dawn Till Dusk Masonry. Brick, block, stone and pavers. Small jobs and repairs welcome. Check out our website at dawntillduskconstructionmasonry.com. 541-388-7605; 541-410-6945. License #245760 bonded and insured. LaPine, OR. 0824
Timeshare victims? Call TimeShareBeGone, 800-214-4460. We will get your timeshare legally canceled. A+ BBB, five-star reviews, 16 years experience. 100% money-back guarantee.
We all want delicious, fresh, nourishing food to feed our families. We’ve got pastured pork, corn/soy/GMO-free. Delivery to your door or drop sites. Order at www.rural-roots-ranch.com or text Christy at 541-589-4674. 1224
Situations Wanted
Seeking an able-bodied, cheerful, retired individual or couple to help register guests and do fix-its around our small community motel and campground in exchange for apartment accommodations. Building community and ministry through hospitality here at Vantage Riverstone, Vantage, WA. Additional involvement opportunities via RV tenancy at affordable monthly rates. 509-856-2800; Vantagedesk@gmail.com.
Want to Buy
Wanted: 1967-72 Buick Skylark, GS, Stage 1, GSX. Cars, parts or leads. Or any ’60s or ’70s vehicles. billybibbett@hotmail.com. 1124
Old carpenter tools, planes (wood/metal), levels, chisels, slicks, adzes, axes, hatchets, handsaws, old rulers, spoke shaves, wrenches, shipwright tools, old tool chests. 503-659-0009 or 971-666-0659. 0824
Gold, silver, coins/currency, buy, sell. Collections wanted. Fair prices paid. 44 years in retail store. Baker City, OR. 800-556-2133; garrymclin@aol.com. 1024
Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo blankets and rugs, baskets, beadwork, etc. Also, quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com. 1024
Wanted: Old 501 Levi’s jeans, jackets w/capital “E” on the red tag. Also, Carhartts with red heart. Good prices. Text photos to 208-255-8030.
Private party looking for muscle car, V8, 2-door, manual transmission preferred. As original as possible, good condition. Willing to pay up for nice car. 1961-62 Chev (348/409), 1964-65 GTO, 1966-67 Nova, 1965-66 Chevelle, 1968-70 Charger/ Cuda. 1962-67 Corvette, 1969 Camaro. Call or text, 503-799-3835.
Eatonville United Methodist Church A Spiritual Base Camp On The Way To Paradise. Mashell Avenue North P.O. Box 205 Eatonville, WA 98328 360-832-4021
Home: 360-832-4562 Pastor Bernard Preston Ritchea Cell: 361-330-9666
Facebook: Eatonville United Methodist Church of Washington OPEN HEARTS OPEN MINDS OPEN DOORS OPEN TABLE WORSHIP SERVICE BEGINS AT 10:30 a.m.
The Importance of Access to HighSpeed Internet in Education
By Gayle Goldstone, Executive Advisor and Instructor at Santa Rosa Junior College
As an online educator, there were many elements of teaching courses which were simply not possible with slow and inconsistent internet connections.
I had been very excited about getting Beacon Broadband’s internet service. When I first heard about it, I knew it would be a “game-changer” for how I could deliver my curriculum to my online college students. I teach in two departments: Business Management and Entrepreneurship.
Living in a not-so-remote area of Curry County, providers were still not willing to provide access. As a result, the only choice was satellite connectivity. I tried one company, then another; unfortunately, both were inadequate to download large student files, and not stable enough for Zoom meetings. I was able to do limited research, but the time taken away from my coursework was substantial: Everything took so long!
In June, my Beacon service was activated. I was immediately able to:
• Access teaching materials and large files, with ease,
• Download large files to review students’ work,
• Hold Zoom classes (which I was completely unable to do before, because a 10-second “freeze” might as well be five minutes),
• Watch instructional videos, screen them for quality and content, and choose to include them in my curriculum.
All those enhanced capabilities add greater opportunities for me to make content available to my students, and I am far more efficient and adventurous in looking for deliverables – giving me the gift of time and motivation!
Switch to Beacon Broadband Today!
I know that I am giving my students more knowledge by providing diverse offerings and giving them multiple access modes: Links, graphics, videos, and meetings… I have far more freedom to expand what is offered to them.
Which brings me to the most important recipients of high-speed internet: Students. With faster internet speeds, students can download their assignments, work on them and then upload them quickly. They can confer with me and with their classmates via Zoom. They can also access resources, and diverse resources, to learn the subject matter in depth.
I encourage my entrepreneurial students to research, research, research! It is a skill which is essential for their success. Critical thinking skills
are a very important part of education: To gather multiple perspectives and broaden outlooks. The more accessible information is, the greater the likelihood that the quality of education will rise, and the development of decision-making skills will occur.
On a personal note, I was previously unable to accept teaching assignments which involved downloading massive files which were part of some business courses. That is no longer the case, and I have already been offered additional assignments.
“I have always been an avid user of technology and now I am no longer limited by internet speeds and the inconvenience of slow information access.
I am extremely happy with all aspects of Beacon Broadband.”
BEFORE YOU GO
Share the Beauty in Your Backyard
City cat, meet country fawn.
When Kim Kauzlarich and her family moved from Portland to White Salmon, Washington, it was an adjustment for the whole family. But Ragnar the cat might have had to endure the biggest change given the wildlife visiting their backyard.
“Both deer and the cat seem to enjoy peacefully watching each other,” Kim says. “Fawns are especially curious about Ragnar and want to play, but being the busy guy that he is, he only has time for a quick meet and greet before moving on with his day.”
To submit your photo, email a JPEG file to photos@pioneer.coop. Include “Before You Go” in the subject line. Please share a bit about what inspired you to make your photo. n
Casseroles for Cooler Weather
Vegetable Casserole, Pork Tamale Casserole and breakfast casseroles are just a few of the 179 mouth-watering recipes available in Ruralite’s Casseroles booklet. Price is $8, shipping included.
To order by mail, submit with proper payment, cookbook title, your name, address and number of cookbooks wanted to Ruralite Cookbooks, P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133.
To pay with Visa, MasterCard, Discover card or American Express, call 503-357-2105.
To order online, visit www. ruralite.com.
Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.
Ragnar meets his new neighbor in White Salmon. PHOTO BY KIM KAUZLARICH
Board of Directors
President
Jim Kolen, Gold Beach
Vice President
Cheryl L. McMahan, Southern At-Large
Secretary/Treasurer
John G. Herzog, Brookings/Harbor
Georgia A. Cockerham, Brookings/Harbor
Daniel Loshbaugh, Northern At-Large
Peter C. Radabaugh, Bandon/Coquille
Daryl C. Robison, Port Orford/Langlois
Attorney—Tyler Pepple
Staff
General Manager/CEO
Brent Bischoff
Corporate Services/CFO
Paul Keeler
Engineering Manager
Matt Mjelde
Chief Technology Officer
Dan Springer
Marketing and Member
Services Manager
Keith Buchhalter
Operations Manager
Scott Adams
Human Resources Director
Breanne Valliere
Office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Closed Fridays.
541-332-3931
After-Hours Outage Number
866-352-9044
Call Before You Dig 811
www.ccec.coop
OR-13
The Ubiquitous Influence of Electricity
Electricity is so much a part of modern life that we call it “the power.” When a problem happens on the electric grid causing the power lines to be deenergized, we say “the power is out.” We depend on electricity so much that sometimes I think maybe the power should be capitalized like a proper noun.
What changes in your life when the power is out? Probably not much if it’s out for only a few minutes. Your cell phone likely still works, so you call the co-op to report the outage and then check your social media to burn the few minutes of interruption. What if the outage goes on for a couple of hours? Now it is downright inconvenient as you realize you had forgotten to charge your cell phone last night and the battery is low.
Maybe you are in the middle of your morning routine of brewing coffee, taking a shower, fixing breakfast or getting children ready for school. Life goes on, so now you think about plan B. Your rhythm will be off the rest of the day. But, if you were asleep, on the golf course or out fishing, you wouldn’t even notice. Since you follow CCEC on social media, you look for an update and learn that the substation transformer serving your area just failed, and it will take CCEC crews two days to install the mobile substation transformer before the power can be restored.
This goes well beyond inconvenience. Hopefully, you can contact a friend who still has power and camp out with them. Fortunately, power is on in town, so you have access to the essentials. Worst case, you put your life on hold and just hunker down at home. You start to worry about your freezer, full of the fall harvest. You are concerned about your elderly neighbor who you know depends on an oxygen machine.
The probability is low, but what will you do if the big Cascadia earthquake happens and the Bonneville Power Administration’s transmission lines that serve the entire southern coast are on the ground? Power won’t be restored for weeks or longer. No gas stations. No restaurants. Grocery store shelves empty quickly for those who can pay with cash. Maybe roads and bridges are damaged and impassable. Even those of us with backup generators will be without fuel in a few days.
Electricity has a ubiquitous—everywhere at the same time—influence in our lives. Sometimes, I need to think about life without it to realize the value I receive each month when I pay my electricity bill. Keeping the power on is what we do at Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative, and we know it is serious business!
Brent Bischoff General Manager and CEO brent.bischoff@cooscurryelectric.com
Brent Bischoff