Bread Line employees, from left, Hannah Hill, Chef Marisa Peña, Chef Matt Davis and Abby Waldorf stand in their downtown garden that helps feed people in Fairbanks.
PHOTO BY GRACE WILSON
Ruralite
July 2025 • Volume 72, No. 7
CEO Michael Shepard
SENIOR VP OF CONTENT Leon Espinoza
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Chasity Anderson, CCC
DEPUTY EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Noble Sprayberry
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Valeri Saldanha Rosa, Nina Todea
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCTION SR. MANAGER
Elizabeth Beatty
SENIOR PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR
Alyssa McDougle
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The Keepers Among Us
Some people see something worth sharing and simply can’t walk away. This month’s stories celebrate individuals who have become keepers of what matters to them.
Michael Calhoun saw nature trails that shaped his childhood and refused to let their significance go unrecognized. Through years of paperwork and advocacy, he secured National Recreation Trail designations for the Crown Zellerbach and Banks-Vernonia trails—not for personal gain, but because he understood these paths deserved their place on the map. “It highlights what’s unique in your own backyard,” he tells us, recognizing that sometimes the most precious things are hiding in plain sight.
Keith Lionetti and Paul Stiller took that same protective instinct and built something lasting with their disc golf courses. What started as personal passion evolved into spaces where others can discover the joy they find in the sport.
Dave LaBelle’s photography column reminds us that sometimes preservation is as simple as being present with our camera when relief
arrives—capturing those fleeting moments when heat gives way to coolness, when discomfort transforms into gratitude.
What strikes me about these stories is how naturally caring leads to sharing. Michael didn’t stop at enjoying his hometown trails—he worked to ensure others could discover them, too. Keith and Paul didn’t just play disc golf—they created spaces where the sport could flourish. None of these keepers are hoarding their treasures. They’re multiplying them.
As summer reaches its peak, I find myself wondering what I’m keeping safe for others. Is it a family recipe that deserves to be passed down? A local tradition that needs an advocate? A skill that could benefit someone once its shared? Sometimes the most meaningful work we do isn’t creating something new but ensuring something valuable doesn’t disappear.
The keepers in our communities understand preservation isn’t about freezing things in time—it’s about creating pathways for others to experience what we’ve found meaningful. They know the best way to honor what we love is to make sure it survives and thrives beyond us.
Until next time, Chasity Anderson Editorial Director
On the Map
One man’s mission highlights hidden gems Up Close, Page 10
Hitting the Chains
Disc golf’s popularity soars Spotlight, Page 12
Mindful Mixology
Guide to summer mocktails In the Kitchen, Page 16
GOLDEN VALLEY ELECTRIC
Cooperating to Empower Agricultural Development in Nenana
By Deb Hickok
In late May, Golden Valley Electric Association completed a new service line designed to provide electric power to the NenanaTotchaket Agriculture Project along 10.4 miles of roadway that lies 6 miles west of Nenana.
Five decades in the making, the 147,000-acre agricultural area is envisioned as a hub for farmers and ranchers in Interior Alaska.
The newly expanded service territory allows working farms, as well as those in the planning stages, to connect to the grid—a vital resource for growing larger-scale operations.
During Phase 1A in 2022, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Agriculture offered 27 land parcels for sale on 2,000 acres within the 35,000 acres set aside for the first phase.
“I think it’s really exciting for the future of Nenana and this area,” says Joshua “Josh” Verhagen, who was first elected as mayor of Nenana in 2018 and is now serving in his third term.
Josh says that five more parcels should be offered next summer. The sale of the Phase 1B subdivision may take place in a few years. Depending on soil quality, parcels are designated as either cropland suitable for agriculture or for animal husbandry.
Josh says plans for economic development in the Nenana area began in the 1960s with seismic studies connected with natural
gas and oil exploration. During the 1970s and ’80s, he says feasibility studies—examining potential from hog farms to pulp mills—stacked up.
The agriculture area was first proposed in the 1970s. From the beginning was the acknowledgement that its success would depend on infrastructure development. The city teamed up with state agencies—especially the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Transportation—as well as multiple local stakeholders, including the Nenana Native Association, the Toghotthele Corporation and Doyon.
Josh commends Gov. Mike Dunleavy for supporting the ag project.
“During COVID, we realized our backup emergency food supply was in Seattle,” Josh says. “The governor realized how vulnerable you may be in a natural disaster or other calamity.”
The agriculture project helps fill the food supply gap for residents in Interior Alaska.
With the completion of the 12-mile Totchaket Road in 2009 and the Nenana-Totchaket River Bridge in 2020, key elements for access to the land were in place.
“The bridge access was huge,” says Josh.
Crews worked to resurface, extend, and upgrade the road leading to the Nenana-Totchaket Agricultural Project. COURTESY OF BRICE INC.
Designing the Line
Critical to the success of the ag project was the installation of the electricity needed to power it up.
GVEA Engineering Technician Forrest Bowman oversaw the design and construction of the line extension. He says a lot of preliminary work occurred before any line was set.
Forrest provided cost estimates with three options for the power lines along the roadway as well as into the parcels. The alternative selected was to use three-phase power throughout the project. Three-phase is used in commercial settings to accommodate higher loads whereas single-phase is typically used in residential settings.
GVEA applied for the required permit to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to expand the co-op’s service territory. GVEA stated its petition was made “to support future sustainability, economic development and food security for Interior Alaska.”
With RCA approval also came state funding for the permitting and construction of line expansion overseen by GVEA.
Once approved for final construction design, Forrest sought approval from the city of Nenana for the location of the poles. He and Josh scouted the road together.
Josh says the municipality had some requests. Foremost was the desire to have the line redesigned to be set back from the road. His objectives were to be aesthetically more pleasing as well as make the road easier for snow removal.
While a contractor cleared the path, Forrest followed behind them for a month. During this period, he based himself in his nearby cabin which is accessible by snow machine. He once again designated the pole locations. This time marking each with an 8-inch spike and placing an anchor at the poles that would be at a dead end or a curve in the power line.
Forrest notes that installing the line also included an underground portion of the project where two pipes, each 6 inches in diameter and 1,360 feet in length, were pulled through under the Nenana River.
“In my 20 years that I have been at GVEA, we’ve done two other directional borings, but those were under the Chena River which would be only a couple of hundred feet,” Forrest says.
While the installation of the poles had to be completed by a May 30 deadline, the section in the wetlands stretch was finished by April 11 to ensure that it didn’t disturb migratory birds.
Forrest notes the project as a whole is the longest line extension in terms of distance that Golden Valley has done during his time with the co-op.
“This was a great accomplishment for Golden Valley to get something done that was so large and on time,” Forrest says.
“I really appreciate the planning and forethought that Forrest put into the design,” Josh says. “That really helped things to go smoothly. Installation of the poles went really well with no hiccups.”
“The Nenana-Totchaket Agricultural Project brings to Alaska the hope of additional food security from its own soil. This project is unique, as it will be planned using science to optimize sustainable production of food, fiber and fuel, while keeping Alaska’s land and water healthy and our soils productive. The project will continue to grow for generations and become a vital key to our agricultural industry and the state’s economy.”
– Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy in 2022
“I think that it’s quite scenic,” Josh says, describing the road as a greenbelt with forest on both sides.
“It gave the best mix of what he wanted, and I wanted,” Forrest says. “I do think they (the poles) are beautiful, but I am kind of biased.”
Josh says GVEA also modified the scope to include two more extensions off the main line. An additional extension provides power to the boat launch. Another goes to the camp where Doyon rents mobile units to those involved in project, such as private contractors and landowners.
“Both are a community long-term benefit,” says Josh.
“Working closely with Golden Valley on the design and them accommodating local and municipal input made a better product and made the project better for the community,” He says.
Putting in the Sweat Equity
Forrest had 10-hour workdays while commuting from Fairbanks to Nenana from November 2024 into January 2025. He methodically walked the length of the extension to denote the clearing tract for the utility poles. Working in temperatures from a high of 20 degrees to a low of minus 20, he marked the location of all 174 poles.
He also praises GVEA for overseeing the invitation to community members to collect firewood from the land clearing.
The Future Looks Fertile
Josh cites several factors that make the Nenana area superior for farming. While he points out that he is not a soil expert, Josh says that studies reveal deep layers of sand from glacial deposits that drain well and feature organic topsoil.
The period between the first soil studies in the ’80s and a more recent one in 2021 show a reduction of permafrost from 36% to 1% primarily due to extensive wildfires in the area. Josh says tree ash has contributed to the soil’s phosphorus content, an essential fertilizing nutrient used to support crop production.
In comparison to Delta Junction, an area in the Interior known for farming, Josh says that the Nenana locale has 30 more growing days—15 days on both sides of the growing season. Lower in elevation than Delta, the Nenana ag area is not as near to mountain ranges and is less windy and rocky.
Other positive factors include access to the Parks Highway and the Alaska Railroad, proximity to Fairbanks and the ability to barge out of Nenana.
GOLDEN VALLEY ELECTRIC
Josh singles out the Coffey family who began their Nenana venture as gardeners in 2011. They bought five parcels during the Phase 1A sale in 2022.
“They were the first movers on this ag project,” Josh says. “They set the stage for what is possible in the Nenana-Totchaket ag project.”
The family planted 4,000 stalks of corn in 2023 and now has 140,000 planted for this year, according to Josh. He says the Coffeys have contracts with area grocers and a distributor.
“So much of what makes this ag project, and any project in general, is good access and power,” Josh says. “It would be a challenge for any farmer to get 6 miles of power down a road and 5 miles of power into the parcel by themselves. It’s a great way to give the farmers a leg up and hit the ground running,” he adds.
Forrest enjoys his interactions with local farmers. “While I was doing the project and during Nenana Ag Days, I got to meet numerous people who were excited to get power so that their agricultural projects could grow and succeed,” he says.
The fifth annual Nenana Ag Expo was held on May 24.
“It was an awesome project,” Forrest says. “It was neat to see something that size get completed so quickly. The stars aligned, and everything that needed to mesh meshed.” n
R:
Engineering
Stakes mark the future path of power lines supporting the Nenana-Totchaket Agricultural Project. PHOTO COURTESY OF FORREST BOWMAN
L: Josh Verhagen, Mayor of Nenana. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSH VERHAGEN
Forrest Bowman, GVEA
Technician. PHOTO COURTESY OF FORREST BOWMAN
Fighting Hunger and Strengthening the Fairbanks Community One Meal at a Time
By Rachael Kvapil
GOLDEN VALLEY ELECTRIC
Bread Line, Inc. is dedicated to feeding people and affirming lives through antihunger programs in Fairbanks. When cuts in federal funding threatened the Community Meals summer food program at the Southside Community Farmers Market, Bread Line staffers were determined to find a way to make it happen anyway. Thanks to many donors and a Golden Valley Electric Association Good¢ents grant, the summer food program has almost reached its funding goal.
In a partnership with Calypso Farms and local growers from the Southside Market that launched in 2023, Bread Line provides free weekly dinners in one of Fairbanks’ most food-insecure neighborhoods. The meals are created by Bread Line Chef Liann Peryea and made with healthy, locally grown food. Anyone who visits the Southside Market on Tuesdays between now and September will sit at a community table and enjoy a free meal.
“When people come, they can sit at one of the long tables without judgment,” says the Bread Line Executive Director Hannah Hill. “By bringing people together, we are doing our part to build resilient neighborhoods that care about each other.”
In the past, the Southside Market Community Meals were funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Purchasing Agreement Program. This program paid local farmers to share their harvests with antihunger nonprofits and reimbursed Bread Line for the use of dishes and utilities. LFPA also reimbursed Southside Market farmers for produce distributed to food-insecure residents in the area, including the elderly and disabled. Prior to learning about federal funding cuts, Bread Line and its partners planned on expanding the summer food program, and many farmers had already bought seeds and allocated space for an increased harvest.
“We were already all committed to something that we worked hard to build,” Hannah says. “We were going to make it work no matter what.”
Hannah estimates that past summer meals have served around 300 individuals each week. This year, they aim to serve even more. The community meals program costs around $25,000. When Bread Line submitted its Good¢ents application, it already had 60% of that amount in community donations. GVEA granted $7,500, bringing Bread Line just shy of its overall program goal. Bread Line is still accepting donations for the remaining amount at breadlineak.org. Donors can click on the button at the top of the page and write in the comments to allocate their donation to the Southside Market Community Meals.
In addition to Community Meals, Bread Line also provides weekday meals at the Stone Soup Cafe soup kitchen, runs the Stone’s Throw culinary job training program, oversees the Stone Soup Community Garden and facilitates the Kid’s Cafe family volunteering program. Hannah says Bread Line’s antihunger programs have seen a 61% increase in community needs over the past five years. In 2022, Alaska’s food relief charity network saw a huge spike when rolling Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program backlogs prevented people from accessing their food stamps. That year, Bread Line served 47,000-plus meals through all its programs. Last year, it served 66,603, a 40% increase in two years.
“A safe and healthy community recognizes that even though we don’t look alike or live the same way, we all have common needs as human beings,” Hannah says. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a doctor or a janitor, both make critical contributions. By sitting at a family-style table with a meal, we have the opportunity to remove the silos that fracture a community.” n
Top: The brilliant Bread Line chefs! L–R: Liann Peryea, Matt Davis, and Marisa Peña. PHOTO BY GRACE WILSON
Bottom: Hannah Hill, Bread Line Inc. Executive Director, leads community meal efforts in Fairbanks. PHOTO BY GRACE WILSON
PHOTO BY BHOFACK2 GETTY IMAGES
GOLDEN VALLEY ELECTRIC
Together, We Make a Big Difference
BY GRACE WILSON
The Good¢ents Board of Trustees met on May 15 and awarded nine grants totaling $33,744.
All grants from the Good¢ents Foundation are awarded to nonprofit organizations within Golden Valley Electric Association’s service territory. Applications are reviewed quarterly in February, May, August and November by a volunteer board of trustees.
The next application deadline is July 31. Applications and more information about the program can be found at gvea.com/goodcents. Good¢ents is funded by the generous members of Golden Valley Electric Association. Since the program began in 2011, GVEA members have funded grants totaling $1,848,156.64.
Thank you to all of the members who voluntarily “round up” their monthly billing statement to the next dollar. The cents you contribute are greatly appreciated and make a difference within the communities GVEA serves.
Here’s a summary of the recent grants:
• Alaska Search and Rescue: $1,204 to buy a Starlink Mini and one year of service, providing critical internet access during missions in areas without cellular coverage. This enables real-time map updates, team tracking and reliable communication with Alaska State Troopers, improving coordination, safety and response efficiency.
• Bread Line, Inc: $7,500 to support free weekly Community Meals in Fairbanks’ most food-insecure neighborhood. In partnership with Calypso Farm and local growers, these summer dinners use fresh, local produce and are prepared by Bread Line chefs. Funding helps sustain the program after sudden federal cuts, ensuring continued nourishment for vulnerable residents and support for local farmers.
• Chena Goldstream Fire & Rescue: $1,700 to enhance training for volunteer responders through upgraded audiovisual equipment. This investment supports more effective, engaging instruction—improving emergency preparedness, safety awareness and the overall quality of service to the community.
• Fairbanks Montessori Association: $640 to buy sensory materials that support inclusive early-childhood education. These tools complement existing Montessori materials, helping meet the sensory needs of all students and enhancing engagement, independence and development in a nurturing, diverse classroom environment.
• Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers Charity: $2,850 to help cover the purchase of a new patrol K-9 for the Alaska State Troopers following the death of K-9 Lenox in Fairbanks. These funds will help replace and expand the K-9 unit, enhancing public safety and law enforcement capabilities in Fairbanks and surrounding areas.
• Friends of Creamer’s Field/Camp Habitat: $900 to support nature-based summer programming for more than 230 Fairbanks youths. Funding helps buy new tents, iPads and program supplies, and contributes to a scholarship fund—ensuring continued access to high-quality, place-based ecology education for children ages 4–11.
• The Folk School: $950 to expand affordable children’s programming, including a new day camp, boreal studies course and survival skills class. Funding supports the Pay What You Can model, making hands-on learning in arts and nature accessible to more Fairbanks-area children ages 7–12.
• Tri-Valley Volunteer Fire Department: $12,000 to buy a CombiTool, a battery-powered extrication device essential for motor vehicle accident rescues along the Parks Highway. This equipment will improve response times and rescue effectiveness in the department’s remote, rugged service area.
Calypso Farm founders partner with Bread Line to grow food and nourish the Fairbanks community. L–R: Tom Zimmer and Susan Willsrud.
PHOTO
By Vicki Hillhouse
One
man’s mission
highlights hidden gems
Five years ago, a colorful marker caught Michael Calhoun’s eye as he set out for a hike on an Oregon Coast trail. The sign identified the path as a National Recreation Trail. Curious about its meaning, he searched the designation online, learned about the program and immediately thought of two trails near his Vernonia community deserving of their own markers.
In 2023—after a lot of paperwork, meetings and Michael’s advocacy with various agencies—the Crown Zellerbach
Trail received the National Recreation Trail designation from the U.S. secretary of the interior. One year later, he helped secure the same designation for the BanksVernonia State Trail.
This summer, Michael intends to celebrate with a joint dedication ceremony for both places.
The national recognition stands to bring increased publicity to the trails, along with the prestige of being part of the National Trails System network. More than 1,300 trails strong, the network helps nature lovers discover new places
to explore. National Recreation Trail designations can also boost state and federal funding opportunities.
“It’s kind of like a credential,” Michael says.
For him, there’s a deeper significance—it highlights the story of the rural area where he was born, raised and learned just about everything he knows about nature.
“That’s what I think is so cool about this whole program,” he says. “It highlights what’s unique in your own backyard. There are hidden gems to be discovered and used.”
Crown Zellerbach Trail
Known locally as the CZ or Crown Z Trail, the Crown Zellerbach is a 22-mile trail connecting Scappoose and Vernonia through the wetlands of the Columbia River and the forested foothills of the state’s coastal range. It mostly follows the gentle grades of a logging railway that was ultimately widened for logging trucks.
The right of way is now property of Columbia County, which opened the trail to the public in 2014. The trail has nine trailheads, 23 interpretive kiosks and welcomes hikers, bicyclists and equestrians.
ADOBE
A rider treks horseback along the Crown Zellerbach Trail, which received a National Recreation Trail designation in 2023. PHOTO COURTESY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
A Lifelong Love of Nature
Michael’s appreciation for history and geography was instilled at a young age by his parents, Steve and Carol Calhoun. Inspired by the Back to the Land movement, the family focused on the simplicity and beauty of rural living. Their home was a log cabin next to Rock Creek, the source of the town’s drinking water.
A tiny Michael, ushered by his parents to gaze at the night sky, is said to have uttered his first sentence—something about the moon—on the banks of Vernonia Lake. The waterway, which was the town’s former mill pond, loops to the Banks-Vernonia State Trail where he learned to ride a bike and later trained for track and cross-country.
That’s also when he started honing some of his early leadership skills. As a high school student, Michael attended the Youth Energy Seminar Camp in California through West Oregon Electric Cooperative. After graduating, he went on to Western Oregon University, earning a communications degree.
He spent the rest of his 20s away from his hometown, completing an additional degree in environmental studies at the University of Oregon before returning home during the pandemic to focus on conservation and environmental activism.
“I think that’s common for a lot of people when they grow up in a rural area—they want to get out and see the world,” he says. “You get to experience things, but you also realize how special your hometown is.”
These days, he often trains on the trail for marathons, trekking across the 21-mile path’s 13 bridges. The trail follows the town’s 1920s-era railway line, which made it Oregon’s first Rails to Trails park.
“I still try to get out to it as much as I can,” Michael says. “What I like about it is it’s got its own beauty at different times of the year.”
Winter’s thick coats of moss give way to spring blossoms. Summer is his favorite— before the leaves turn, and while the lush canopy serves as a shield from the sun’s rays.
“I’m really proud of my hometown and what it’s done for me,” he says.
Prioritizing Preservation
Preserving the history and nature of Vernonia and the surrounding areas has become a passion. When the Greenman Field grandstands fell into disrepair, Michael joined the Grandstand Committee to save and revitalize the historic structure.
Between that and the trail designations, he’s just warming up.
Banks-Vernonia State Trail
The 21-mile paved rail-to-trail path connects Banks and Vernonia through the foothills of Oregon’s lush coastal mountain range.
Owned by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department since 1990, it includes an 8-footwide hiking and biking trail alongside a 4-foot-wide gravel trail to accommodate horses. It features 13 bridges and winds through Washington and Columbia counties.
The south end begins in Banks, surrounded by agricultural operations, heads through fields and riparian areas before reaching the thickly forested foothills of the coastal range. It ends in Vernonia surrounded by small farms and timberland.
Information from the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service.
“Anyone else who knows of a trail that’s special to them can seek out and try for certification, too,” he says. “The trail could be a few feet long or a couple hundred miles long.”
Michael says any trail that is unique or special—so every trail—could be designated.
“As long as you have an advocate who can apply.”
For information on the trail dedication ceremony, contact Michael Calhoun at mcalhoun11@mail.wou.edu or 503-704-7837.
National Recreation Trail Facts
X The National Recreation Trail program was created by the National Trails System Act of 1968.
X Trails must be approved through an application and review process before being designated by the secretary of the interior each June.
X As of 2024, there were 1,348 National Recreation Trails and National Water Trails.
X National Recreation Trails are in all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.
X The combined length of the trails is more than 30,000 miles.
X The shortest National Recreation Trail is the Forest City Trail in Tennessee, at just one-tenth of a mile.
X The longest trail is the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail, at 1,500 miles.
TOP LEFT: Michael Calhoun's advocacy for national trail designations could bring new visitors to local attractions. ABOVE: Among the highlights of the Vernonia-Banks Trail is the 733-foot-long, 80-foot-high Buxton Trestle, open to hikers and bicyclists. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MICHAEL CALHOUN
Hitting the Chains
On the first Saturday in August, sports enthusiasts around the country celebrate National Disc Golf Day. With more than 10,000 courses spread across the country, there are plenty of places to join in the fun.
Most disc golf courses are on public land in parks and forests, and everyone is welcome to try their hand at the game. Players launch a disc from a tee area and try to land it in a hanging basket “hole” in as few throws as possible. With trees, shrubs, ponds, rivers and even dramatic elevation variations along the way, this is no simple task.
“It’s pretty cheap to get into,” says Paul Stiller, founder of Caliber Disc Golf Course in Idaho. “A lot of places are free to play. You can pick up a disc for about $8, and you’re off and going and having fun in the park and getting exercise.”
Keith Lionetti, co-founder of Kayak Point Disc Golf Resort in Washington, says it’s all about accessibility.
“It’s fairly easy to pick up, and if not, we give lessons,” he says. “If you’ve thrown a Frisbee, you can play disc golf.”
For many players, the sport becomes a healthy addiction.
“You can get into it,” Keith says. “You can
Keith was reluctant to try the sport.
“I thought it was kind of weird at first,” he says. “I was—and am still—kind of an introvert.”
Finally, he thought, “You know what, I’m going to try this.”
A friend took him out to play a round, and Keith was hooked.
“I just fell in love with it,” he says. “It’s something cool to do to get out and walk around and try to throw a disk of plastic at shiny things.”
The History
Though some say similar games were played as early as the 1920s in Canada, the sport as it’s known today took flight in 1975, thanks to the father of disc golf, former Wham-O Vice President Ed Headrick.
Working in the toy business, Ed saw endless potential for flying discs. As a guest on "The Tonight Show” he introduced Johnny Carson to the Frisbee and played catch with Ed McMahon. He explained the toy was inspired by Princeton students who tossed around lids from the Frisbie Pie Company’s cookie jars.
Ed is credited with refining the Frisbee for competitive play, inventing the target baskets still used today and installing the
The sport meant so much to Ed that after he died in 2002, his family carried out his wishes and had his ashes incorporated into a limited-edition press of 4,000 Discraft flying discs. Most of the discs were given to friends and family, but some were sold to benefit a nonprofit memorial museum.
Disc Golf Today
The sport Ed launched continues to grow with courses popping up all over the world.
The Pacific Northwest, West Coast and Intermountain West are home to some of the highest-rated courses on the planet. Paul’s course, Caliber Disc Golf Course, was ranked fifth in the world on the 2025 list by disc golfer app UDisc. It ranked in the top eight each of the last four years. The top three courses on the list are in Norway, Sweden and Finland, where Paul says the sport is revered.
“When I invest in my course it’s tens of thousands," he says. "When they invest it’s hundreds of thousands or millions."
Other regional courses to make the top 100 include BuckSnort in Pine, Colorado, which came in at 16. Beaver Ranch Disc Golf Course in Conifer, Colorado, ranked 20th; and Bear Mountain in Bailey, Colorado, at 32. One of Keith’s courses,
Players in the Overlode Open Disc Golf Tournament rest between rounds at Caliber and Motherlode Disc Golf Course in Sandpoint, Idaho. PHOTO COURTESY OF CALIBER DISC GOLF COURSE
Professional disc golfer Lykke Lorentzen, of Norway, attempts a putt on the blue course at Kayak PointDisc Golf Resort in Washington.
PHOTO BY BRANDON MCNEW
Low, Arizona, 73; Milo McIver (East) in Estacada, Oregon, 85; DeLaveaga Disc Golf Course in Santa Cruz, California, 88; Base Camp Adventure in Moab, Utah, 91; Whistler’s Bend in Roseburg, Oregon, 93; and Makoshika State Park-Buccaneer Flats in Glendive, Montana, 98.
Many of the highest ranked players in the world hail from the area, too. Women from the region breaking into the top 20 in the world include Ohh Scaggins, of Los Angeles, who is ranked No. 4; Ella Hansen, of Seattle, at fifth; Hanna Huynh, of Spokane, Washington, at 12th; and Jessica Weese, of Grass Valley, California at 20th.
On the men’s side, Anthony Barela, of Scottsdale, Arizona, is ranked No. 2. Anthony broke into the professional ranks as a 17-year-old playing alongside his idols in the Beaver State Fling. Richard Wysocki, also of Scottsdale, is ranked fourth; and Eagle McMahon, of Boulder, Colorado, is 16th.
Turning Pro
But can you make a living playing disc golf?
“This is what’s crazy,” Keith says. “Nowadays you can. There are players that that’s all they do, and they make a decent living.”
Paul says some are making big money.
“There’s guys who sign contracts for five years, $5 million; 10 years, $10 million, and that’s not even other sponsorships,” he says. “That’s just to throw discs for those companies. And then you get the shoes, and you get the clothes, and you go win the tournaments. It’s growing. Someday we’ll be as popular as bowling, and guys will be making $40,000 or $50,000 a win. But they’re working up into the $20,000 and $30,000 range, which is good compared to 10 years ago when it was $1,200.
“If you are a top player, and you can excel, there’s definitely a future for you,” Keith says. “The challenge is, that field is very competitive.”
To be competitive, Keith says core muscle building and practice are helpful.
“But you don’t need a lot of muscle tone,” he says. “Size isn't necessarily a factor,” he points out.
One of the best women in the world, he says, is maybe 5 feet tall and 100 pounds and able to outplay men who tower over her.
Keith says luck is part of the play, but only to a point.
“To be consistently good you’ve got to work at it or just be a natural,” he says. “Some people are just naturals. It’s incredible how the younger generations just keep getting better and better.” n
ABOVE: Professional disc golfer Maria Oliva, of Texas, makes a putt on hole one on the Blue Course at Kayak Point. RIGHT: Professional disc golfer Ezra Robinson, of Georgia, tees off on the sixth hole on the Gold Course at Kayak Point. PHOTOS BY ANDY JAYNES, KAYAK POINT PRO SHOP MANAGER
A Disc Golf Lover’s Dream Course owners tee up challenges for players
Kayak Point Disc Golf Resort in Stanwood, Washington, was a dream project years in the making. Co-founder Keith Lionetti ran a pro shop inside a public park for 15 years. As the sport grew, so did the number of visitors to the park.
“Every summer, the crowds kept getting bigger,” he says. He longed for a dedicated space “out in the middle of nowhere.”
“I had been bugging the parks department,” Keith says. "Just one property, one disc golf course, didn’t matter if it was nine holes, doesn’t have to be 18 holes, could have been three holes, 1 acre, didn’t matter. I just kept bugging them.”
The local tourism bureau pushed, too, hoping to draw visitors to the area. Keith was scoping out another property when the county approached him about Kayak Point.
The 300 acres Kayak Point operates on was bought in the early ’70s by the Recreational Conservation Organization out of Olympia, Washington, and turned over to Snohomish County Parks & Recreation with the stipulation the land be used for golf.
For years it was used for “ball golf,” as Keith calls it.
“You know I’m a total disc golf nerd if I call it ball golf, right?” he jokingly asks.
With the traditional golf course operators struggling and the land overgrown, the parks and rec department considered tearing down buildings on the property.
“But the reality is it can’t be used for anything other than golf,” Keith says. “We were sweating bullets thinking, ‘Do you consider disc golf golf?’ And they did.”
That was in 2020. Since then, Keith and his team, including co-owner Eric Edgerton, built the course into a destination that ranks 20th in the country with a restaurant, pro shop and education building. Kayak Point’s courses routinely occupy three of the top five spots on the udisc.com top course list for Washington.
Kayak Point offers a mix of challenging courses for players of all skill levels. The Purple Course, catered to true beginners, is built on the bones of an old putting course with natural obstacles, ponds and even a lazy river along the way. The 18 holes wrap around the clubhouse and are free to play.
“My kids play it and have played it since they were 5,” says Keith, whose children are now 11 and 17. “If you’re a top touring pro, you could try to get an ace on every hole. It’s still not easy.”
Tee times and passes are required to access the remaining courses. The Green Course caters to novice players, the Red Course and soon-to-be completed White Course are intermediate, the Blue Course is advanced, and the Gold Course is designed for professionals.
An Idyllic Course in Idaho
Idaho’s Caliber Disc Golf Course and founder Paul Stiller’s new 18-hole course, Motherlode Disc Golf Course, are unique in that they’re built on private land, which eliminates some of the risks of developing on loaned or leased land.
“You know the story of disc golf is you get some land, a bunch of guys get together, they build a course, and then the piece of land gets taken away either by the county or the city or the donor of the land,” Paul says. “So, the only way to really go for it is to own your own property and do it. I just turned myself loose and said, ‘OK, honey, this is the last cockamamie idea I’ll have, but it’s going to work.’”
And it did work if Caliber’s ranking as the fifth-best course in the world is any indication.
Paul says his wife and three children have been supportive, even though he literally never leaves work. Neither do they—the family lives there in a house he’s thinking of turning into a clubhouse.
“It has views looking at five or six disc golf holes,” Paul says. “So, when you have tournaments it’s pretty big fun.”
Getting the course open each spring is challenging with all the tree litter cleanup. After it’s open, Paul says maintaining it is easier. In fact, he even gets a chance to play a few rounds a week.
Growing up in Ohio, Paul played traditional golf. He picked up disc golf in 1986 and played in Alaska, Oregon and Idaho. He doesn’t see much of a rivalry between ball and disc golfers. He knows others who play both sports, but most people pick one.
“I know disc golfers who are like, ‘Nah, I’m never going to swing a club,’ and I know golfers who would never stoop so low as to throw a disc,” he says. “But we get a lot of converts because golf is tough.”
So is disc golf, Paul adds, but he’s having fun.
“I never knew I was going to be doing this 10 years ago,” he says. “But I couldn’t see it any other way now. You know how sometimes you get a curveball, and you just have to go with it.” n
The ultimate guide to summer mocktails Mindful
Mixology
By Anne Braly
Alcohol-free beverages don’t have to be boring. They can be so flavorful you may rethink your idea of the afternoon cocktail—you may not even catch that the alcohol is a no-show.
TIKI COOLER
Ice cubes
6-ounce can pineapple juice
6 ounces coconut milk
3 limes, juiced
2 tablespoons almondflavored syrup
1 cup club soda, or as needed
4 pinches ground nutmeg
4 lime wheels
4 sprigs fresh mint
Whether it’s due to the rise of the mindfulness movements like Dry January and Sober September, not to mention alcohol-free happy hours, consumers are demanding more thoughtful
Place a few ice cubes in a pitcher. Add pineapple juice, coconut milk, lime juice and almond-flavored syrup. Stir until chilled.
Strain mixture and pour it into four glasses. Top each glass with club soda.
Dust each mocktail with nutmeg. Garnish with a lime wheel and a sprig of mint.
beverages year-round.
So go ahead, take the plunge and have a mocktail party this summer. Here are some recipes that offer a cooling change for alcohol-free summer sipping.
STRAWBERRY REFRESHER
4 cups strawberries, sliced 1 cup white sugar
8 cups cold water, divided
5 cups ice for serving, or as needed
1 lime, cut into 8 wedges
8 fresh mint sprigs
Mix strawberries, sugar and one cup cold water in a medium bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator for 4 hours.
Pour chilled strawberry mixture into a blender. Blend on high until smooth. Pour through a wire mesh strainer set over a large bowl; discard pulp and seeds. Stir remaining 7 cups cold water into strawberry juice until it is well combined.
Fill eight glasses with ice. Pour strawberry mixture over ice. Garnish each serving with lime wedges and mint leaves.
STRAWBERRY REFRESHER
GINGER CHAMPAGNE
GINGER CHAMPAGNE
2 2-liter bottles ginger ale or cranberry ginger ale, chilled, divided 46-ounce can pineapple juice, chilled 64-ounce bottle white grape juice, chilled
To make ice ring:
Fill a ring-shaped cake pan halfway with ginger ale. Freeze until partially frozen.
VIRGIN MARGARITA
1/4 cup lime juice
cup orange juice
cup simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, cooked on the stovetop until the sugar dissolves)
1 tablespoon agave syrup, optional
Ice cubes
Salt, for rimming the glass, preferably kosher or sea salt
Lime wedges, for garnish
Club soda or lemon-lime soda, to top off the drink
Begin by rimming the glass. Take a lime wedge and rub it
At this stage, you can place edible flowers or pieces of fruit around the ring. Fill pan to top with ginger ale and freeze until solid. Place in punch bowl just before serving.
In a large punch bowl, combine one bottle ginger ale, pineapple juice and white grape juice, add ice ring to punch bowl, and let guests serve themselves.
ALCOHOL-FREE MINT JULEP
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
2 cups crushed ice ½ cup prepared lemonade
Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish
Combine water, sugar and one tablespoon of chopped mint in a small saucepan. Cook and
ISLAND ICED TEA
stir until the mixture boils and sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat. Set aside to cool for about an hour, then strain out mint leaves. Fill two cold cups or frozen goblets with crushed ice. Pour half of the lemonade into each glass, and top with a splash of cooled sugar syrup. Garnish each with a mint sprig, and add a straw for sipping.
around the rim of the glass. Dip the rim into a plate of salt to coat it. Add ice.
Fill a shaker or mixing glass with ice cubes. Add the lime juice, orange juice, simple syrup and agave syrup to the shaker. Shake well to combine the ingredients.
Strain the mixture into the salt-rimmed glass filled with ice cubes. Top off the drink with club soda or lemon-lime soda to add a bit of fizz. Give the drink a gentle stir to mix everything. Garnish the glass with a lime wedge.
3 black tea bags
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 medium red apple, thinly sliced
2 cups apple cider
Mint sprigs, for garnish
In a small pot over high heat, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Pour boiling water into a large heatproof pitcher or jar. Add tea bags and maple syrup, and stir to combine. Let steep for 3 to 5 minutes,
depending on how strong you like your tea.
Remove and discard tea bags. Let tea cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold for 4 hours or up to 12.
When ready to serve, add apple slices and cider to pitcher, and stir to combine. Pour into individual tea glasses, making sure at least one apple slice gets into each glass. Garnish with a sprig of mint.
G2G, DAVID,
ALCOHOLFREE MINT JULEP
ISLAND
VIRGIN
Crafts/Hobbies
I’m recently retired and getting back into making jewelry from junk. I’d love to work with any unmatched earrings, broken chains and unwanted jewelry. Thank you.
Lori Arola 82162 Red Bluff Road Seaside, OR 97138
I would love your unwanted sewing material. I want to make shirts for my son.
Rosalie Ferry
109 Raven Lane Careywood, ID 83809
My mom is looking for all greeting cards to make her card bowls. New or used.
Millie Shelton
85460 Christmas Valley Highway Silver Lake, OR 97638
I work with children with special needs. We are looking for kid-friendly charms to put on bookmarks. We’re also looking for all colors of glass beads to make fairy garden stakes. Unable to return postage.
Jodie McVay 9900 8th Place Bay City, OR 97107
Milestones
My mom turns 99 this month. She grew up in Michigan, where she and her mother moved from the city to a farm during the Depression. Mom met our dad during World War II by way of a hometown campaign to write letters to soldiers. Growing up, we had a garden and apple orchard. Mom canned and froze everything. Dad died in 1997. In 2018, she came to Montana to live with me, and we moved to Troy just a year ago. She still reads constantly—a book every few days. She’s lost a lot of friends over the years and would be delighted to get birthday wishes. I keep telling her about the great bunch of people who reach out to each other in the Reader Exchange. Please send cards and notes to Lois Bottomley, P.O. Box 719, Troy, MT 59935.
Elaina Graham Troy, Montana
My beloved father turns 95 this month. His days are often filled with reading his mail, a favorite pastime. He would be thrilled to receive birthday cards. He was born in Missouri to sharecroppers—the fifth of eight children. In the 1930s, the family left for California. His father found work on a chicken farm, and for the first time, he remembers having enough to eat. He left school early, enlisted in the Air Force and obtained his high school diploma. After his service, he found work with Western Electric, a subsidiary of AT&T, where he worked until his retirement, obtaining a district manager position. He is a gentle soul. Chuck Moore, 2065 Manor View Circle NW, Salem, OR 97304.
Denise Bartlow College Place, Washington
My mom turns 99 this month. She recently moved into independent living, and it has been a huge adjustment for her to live in what she sometimes calls “institutional” living. One of her favorite places to visit was the Graeagle/Blairsden area. She and my dad came to visit friends, vacation and golf at the local courses. I purchased a home there in 2005 just before my dad’s passing, and she has come often to savor the beauty and people in this area. Please send any cards you can to Dolores Johnson, Oakmont Gardens, 301 White Oak Drive, Apt. 162, Santa Rosa, CA 95409. Thank you.
Cheri Johnson Portola, California
My dear friend, Eileen, turns 100 this month. She was born during a thunderstorm in Missoula, Montana. She was raised in Montana in a large family. She married at age 20, and they were married for nearly 70 years. She has three children, and they’re the apple of her eye. Eileen often recalls the music of her youth, remembering words to many old songs. Her love for music is still alive. She loves to sing, dance, and visit with friends and family. Please send cards to Eileen Creswell: in care of Helen Pringle, 20 N. Wahanna Road, Seaside, OR 97138.
Philip McFadden Vernonia, Oregon
My mom turns 92 this month. She has Alzheimer’s and recently moved into assisted living. She has always been independent. Leaving her home and no longer being able to drive has been a hard adjustment. Receiving birthday wishes from readers would bring her joy. Please send to Dandy Borges, Brookdale Retirement Community, 1942 SW Canyon Drive, Redmond OR 97756.
Vicki Johnson College Place, Washington
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 first-come, 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.
Spirituality
“I never expected it to be so beautiful that it takes your breath away.”
— Kaya C., on Stauer Opals
In a quaint village, nestled between rolling hills, lived a young woman with a deep appreciation for gemstones. Her grandmother gifted her a delicate cross pendant adorned with opals. The opals shimmered with a mesmerizing play of colors, reflecting hues of blues, greens, and fiery oranges. Her grandmother shared the legend of the opals, believed to bring hope, purity, and luck to those who wore them.
Using this story as inspiration, Stauer brings you the Opal Spirit Cross Pendant. With over 2 total carats of Kyocera lab-created opals set in .925 sterling silver encased in yellow gold, this pendant is a radiant celebration of beauty and craftsmanship. Each opal captivates with a kaleidoscopic dance of fiery oranges blending into oceanic blues, streaked with flashes of vibrant green that seem to come alive with every movement. The shimmering opals are skillfully arranged to create an enchanting, otherworldly glow, embodying the spirit of hope and harmony.
This breathtaking combination of color and craftsmanship is available as a limited availability of only
930 pieces, making it a rare and treasured addition to your jewelry collection. Plus, when you order today, you’ll receive the gold-finished sterling silver chain—a $69 value—absolutely free! Don’t miss your chance to own this exclusive tribute to timeless elegance and meaningful symbolism.
Necklace Specifications:
• 2 1/2 ctw. Kyocera lab opals and DiamondAura® accents
• Yellow gold-finished .925 sterling silver setting
• 18" gold-clad .925 sterling silver chain
Walk into forests and history in Alaska at
Sitka National Historical Park
What Is It?
At Sitka National Historical Park, forests, coastal waters and the Indian River all provide biologically rich environments. The 113-acre park in Southeast Alaska is a great place to learn about nature and the area’s deep cultural history—including through a collection of totem poles from Indigenous communities around Southeast Alaska.
History
This is Alaska’s oldest federally designated park. It was named a national monument in 1910 to honor the Battle of 1804, the last major armed conflict between invading Russian traders and the Sitka Tlingit people. Today, National Park Service rangers lead a variety of walks exploring different aspects of the area’s history, including this battle.
Culture
The park’s visitor center offers exhibits and videos detailing traditional Tlingit life and culture. Many artifacts are on display year-round. In the summer, artists demonstrate traditional craftwork from local Tlingit or Haida culture—such as carving, weaving, beading or metalwork Also, the park is home to a Russian Bishop’s house built in 1842 and is one of the last surviving Russian colonial buildings in North America.
Explore
During summer, visitors can see salmon returning up the Indian River to spawn, with one of the best viewing spots from the Arched Bridge. For those looking to see the Sitka spruce and hemlock in the park’s forest, an easy, entry-level hike is the 1.6-mile Totem Trail.
More Information
During summer, the park is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To start planning your visit, head online to www.nps.gov/sitk or call 907-747-0110.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Generational Wealth
American Gold Reserve is releasing Government issued $5 Gold American Eagles completely free of dealer mark-up for only $369 each. These beautiful $5 Gold American Eagles are a perfect way to enter the gold market. They are set for immediate public release and will sell out fast. GENERATIONAL WEALTH is of paramount significance as it represents a beacon of financial stability. It serves as a tangible testament to the hard work, diligence, and financial acumen of previous generations, offering a solid foundation upon which future generations can build their dreams and aspirations.
Gold offers financial cover during geopolitical uncertainty.
NIKON D810, 180mm lens ISO f/6.3200, at 1/25
Relief From the Heat Reader Challenge
By Dave LaBelle
Most places on Earth get hot—some more than others.
California’s Death Valley is often one of the hottest spots on the planet. States like Arizona and Florida are great places to winter away from the ice, snow and frigid subzero temperatures, but they can be toasty and sometimes suffocating in the summer. As a newspaper photographer, coming up with good weather-related photographs was often challenging, but it’s a challenge I always enjoyed.
I remember an especially hot, bonedry summer working in Kansas when a reporter made a black-and-white photograph of shadowy fingers reaching across a hot, dusty country gravel road. The picture title exclaimed, “Cool as ice.” Several colleagues got quite a laugh about the caption, and one reporter even tacked it to a bulletin board, underlining the title in red.
As always, we looked for creative ways to express the heat.
Last summer, while visiting my home state of California, record-breaking heat swept across its Southern communities. While visiting with dear friends as I worked on a story, I joined them for a dip into the cold waters of a small stream moving through their property. After cooling off myself, I watched as one young man wiggled behind a small curtain of water. Since I had brought a camera, I immediately climbed out of the water and made several images of Nick Rainwater.
I knew that to capture the sensation of the moving water, I needed to slow the shutter speed, which I did. Usually, I shoot at 100 ISO, but the small waterfall was in shadow, so I bumped it up to ISO 200.
Just knowing a little about your camera and what it can do can make a difference in capturing a photograph that expresses what you see and feel. n
There are many ways to express temperature extremes. People bundle up in parkas with faces barely showing or sit on front porches as they fan beads of sweat dripping down their faces. What if you were assigned to make a photograph that communicated extreme temperatures. What would you do? Where would you look?
See if you can capture a photograph that shows people or animals seeing relief from the heat.
Email your best image—just one— with caption information, including an explanation of how it affects you, to gph@pioneer.coop. We may share submissions on our website and social media channels.
Photographer, author and lecturer Dave LaBelle has captured special moments for more than half a century, sharing photo tips and life perspectives with readers. For more of his writings, visit davidlabelle.com and his blog at bridgesandangels.wordpress.com.
• Rate schedule is based on your current age and is guaranteed for the life of the policy.
• Monthly rates as low as $3.49.
• Coverage is also available for your spouse and other family members.
• Benefits will NEVER be canceled or reduced for the life of the policy if premiums are paid on time.
Policy Form #SRTCV/SRTCV R13 or R17, or #SRTCV90MA in MA
• Rates are based on your children’s or grandchildren’s present age and never increase for any reason.
• Monthly rates as low as $2.17.
• Benefits will NEVER be reduced or canceled if premiums are paid on time.
• Give your children a financial head start right now. Your policy builds CASH VALUE for your family’s needs.
Policy Form #GWL2001 or GWLA001
Seafood
Seafood Cookbook
Barbecue Halibut Oriental, Easy Salmon Quiche, Crab Enchiladas, Dilled Salmon Fettucine, Clam Chowder and Salmon Oyster Dip are among the recipes featured in this cookbook from our 1993 contest. The 8½-by-11-inch indexed book is $8 (includes postage).
TO ORDER BY MAIL:
Submit payment with cookbook title, your name, address and number of cookbooks wanted to:
Ruralite Cookbooks
P.O. Box 1306
North Plains, OR 97133
TO PAY BY PHONE: Call 503-357-2105 for credit card payments with Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.
TO ORDER ONLINE: Visit www.ruralite.com.
Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.
Recipes Submitted by Ruralite Readers for the May 1993 Contest
By Rachael Kvapil
Change was in the air when Gabby Manley applied for the member services representative position at Golden Valley Electric Association in 2022. She had been working at a local credit union and studying accounting when she realized she wanted a new professional path. Now, two years later, Gabby is happily helping GVEA members and months away from earning her associate’s degree in applied business from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
“I liked accounting, but I wanted to study something with a broader focus,” Gabby says.
Gabby loves helping people. Her role at GVEA provides plenty of opportunities to do so. Every day, she says members come into the lobby, email or call to make payments, ask questions about their accounts, or make arrangements for disconnections and reconnections when they change residences. Over the years, she has cross-trained in the billing and credit departments, giving her a greater ability to assist customers.
“I’m a talkative person,” Gabby says. “I love interacting with people, and in this position, I feel I’m truly able to make a positive impact.”
Gabby says there are times when members come to her with difficult situations. She remembers a member who once came in because the power from her residence had been inadvertently disconnected and put into someone else’s name. Gabby was able to discover an address error made by another member and resolve the situation. She says the member was so appreciative that when Gabby returned from lunch, she found flowers on her desk.
“It was a very sweet gesture,” Gabby says.
Gabriella Manley: Dedicated to Providing Members with
Quality Support and Service
Although born in Pennsylvania, Gabby has lived most of her life in Alaska. Shortly after she was born, her family moved to Eagle River and later to Fairbanks. She is the younger middle child of five siblings and enjoys spending time with the ones who still live in the Interior. In her free time, she enjoys yoga and spin classes. Among her future goals, Gabby says she would like to travel out of the country. She says her older brother has traveled to several places, and there are a couple of places that she would like to visit, either with friends or her siblings.
In addition to family time, Gabby is also active in the community. Recently, she volunteered with Meals on Wheels, delivering premade meals to those who are unable to prepare food for themselves. Gabby participated through GVEA’s volunteer program, which grants employees up to eight hours annually to support community causes. Since 2021, GVEA has maintained a biweekly Meals on Wheels route, powered by employee volunteer hours.
“You can tell how grateful they are, not only for the meal but also to be able to interact with us,” Gabby says. “Some elderly people seem isolated or lonely, especially during our harsh winters. Similarly to the food bank, this service is a vital resource for many, and I am happy to have had first-hand experience helping out.”
Gabby remains dedicated to her position at GVEA and helping customers with their service needs. She has learned to wear many hats as her role continues to expand, and though multitasking can be challenging, she tackles things one step at a time. Much like her educational path, she says her position is a mix of broad concepts and details that keeps things interesting. n
PHOTO BY GRACE WILSON
MARKETPLACE
Agriculture
4x5 round bales, Meadow Foxtail Orchard Grass. 4x4 Timothy, small square. 208-435-4637 or 208-435-4002; nas@cpcinternet.com. 1225
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 44 years in business. www.btlliners.com. 541-447-0712. 0426
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. 0925
Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo jewelry, blankets, rugs. CA/AZ baskets and beadwork. Quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com.
Automotive
Rare 1960 Chevy pickup 4x4. Shortbed. Not running now. Text or call 661-713-3377. Leave message. $7K. 0725
1957 T-bird e-code. Salmon color hardtop convertible fully restored matching factory numbers. Full history with pictures; original bill of sale. $37.9K. 541-519-0409. Momsbroke2@hotmail.com. $37.9K. 0725
Chevy truck ’57. 3/4 Truck-3600-235-6 cylinder. 4 SPTR, NAPCO 4WD. 4:57 GRS. 97” LB. 8-lug, 265-75-R16-10ply-LR-E. BF Goodrich tires, drivable. LIC + regular, needs to be finished. $20K, cash. 702-701-4834. 0725
1992 Datsun 2040Z. Mileage is 49,520. Manual. $15K, OBO. Leave message, 541-298-5687.
66 Fairlane 500. $2.7K. 1959 Ford 671; like new. $2K. 208-507-1211. 0725.
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. 0725
Community Events
New Exhibits: “I Have Some Ideas” (Sarah Wynn), “A Remix of Whimsy” (Heather Tomlinson and Kimberly Baum) on July 11. Art Center East, La Grande, OR. artcentereast.org. 0725
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): September issue—July 30, 2025.
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.
Miscellaneous
3 cemetery plots, Salt Creek Cemetery near Dallas, OR. $800 each. Open to offers on all. Message, 503-457-8084. 0825
Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. For more info: Joe, 541-815-8906 or highdesertmemorials.com; highdesertmemorials@gmail.com. 0725
Spiral staircase. 63x63” hole. $2K, OBO. All ready to dismantle in Bay City. Also selling 30 cases of wine bottles; $2.50 each. 775-385-4261. 0725
Pets
Fort Sage Kennels closing. AKC-registered Airedales. Females, 1 year old. Males, 2-3 years old. 530-827-2271, 530-249-7896. 0725
Plants
Cactus for sale. Cold/winter hardy. Good for landscaping. Sunnyside/Mabton, WA, area. Local pickup only. 509-391-5546; marybarthlow@gmail.com. 0725
For sale: approx. 100 30-year-old black walnut trees in Eltopia, WA. 509-531-5899; janitorialex@yahoo.com. 0825
Real Estate
Dale store. Live/work in a recreational enthusiast’s location, store, fuel, post office, home, game cooler. $325K. Duke Warner Realty: 541-987-2363, ddwr@ortelco.net. 0725
320 acres east of Adel, OR. Borders Hart Mountain views, Steens Mountain and Beaty Butte. Landowner tags, very rural. $179K. Due to injury quick sale. For maps: 541-659-1573; thejugglingman3@gmail.com. 0725
39 acres in Beaver, OR. Stunning mountain-top view, creek, springs, wildlife, hunting, fishing, privacy. 3-bd, 2-ba home. 40x40’ barn. $595K. 503-664-3144. 0725
27 acres forested with pasture. Approved hilltop view building site; adjacent historic Unity Covered Bridge in Lowell, OR. Well, power, 2 sheds. $650K. 206-356-0391; jjmichelson@comcast.net. 0725
20-acre homestead. Northeast NV. Trailers, equipment, tools included. Power nearby, shallow aquifer. Year-round access. $35K. geopup58@gmail.com. 0725
4 adjoining 1/2-acre lots in DRRHS Unit 9. Near Sunriver and Mt. Bachelor. Bend, OR. $75K each. geseibel@juno.com. 0725
Let me help you buy or sell ranch, farm and recreation property in OR. Fourth-generation Oregonian, prior ranch owner. For sale: Klamath Marsh, OR. 173.65 acres. $2.5M. Guest Ranch Overlay. John Gill, 541-480-9161; johngill@landandwildlife.com. Land And Wildlife brokerage. 0725
Recreational Rentals
Oceanfront cottage on the spectacular Central OR Coast. Stunning views, sandy beach. Scoters, spindrift and seals. 2 bd and loft, all w/double beds. Rates and reservations: wavecatcherbeachrentals.com; 541-740-2846, relax@WaveCatcherbeachrentals.com. 0725
Enjoy your ideal Maui getaway. This updated 2-bd, 2-ba condo sleeps 4 and features a charming surf shack design. Just half a block from a beautiful beach, it’s perfect for morning strolls and sunsets. Plus, you’re steps away from shops and restaurants at Azeka Plaza. tinyurl.com/MauiGetaway. 0725
Mi Casa NW: Nehalem River day access $25/ day and camping $100/night. Experience the river, creeks, hiking trails, fishing, wildlife, etc. Boat ramp BYO canoe, kayak, boat and stargaze all on 35 acres, just 25 minutes from Seaside and 45 minutes from Portland. 5 tent camping sites along the Nehalem River; private, exclusive, secure. 971-489-3960. 0725
$275/night VRBO vacation rental. Only 1/8 of a mile from Lake Coeur d’Alene, ID. t.vrbo.io/EgtTnZc7HSb. 0725
Resorts, Camps, Tours, Lodges
Cruises: Alaska, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Panama Canal, Hawaii and more. River cruises, safari, resorts. UdoU Travel LLC: udoutravelllc.com; 541-256-0100, cindygreenup@gmail.com. 1125
Services
Dawn Till Dusk Masonry. Brick, block, stone and pavers. Small jobs and repairs welcome. dawntillduskconstructionmasonry.com; 541-388-7605, 541-410-6945. License #245760 bonded and insured. La Pine, OR. 0825
Blue Mountain Defensible Space LLC wildfire fuel reduction: clearing brush, thinning trees, animal habitat enhancement. Expert service. Grant money available OR, WA, ID. Bluemountainbrush@gmail.com, 509-399-3473; Bluemountainbrush.com. 0126
Apologies to anyone who couldn’t use the $5 off code mentioned in June’s classifieds for their purchase at Azure Standard. My mistake, please email seekingserenity7531@gmail.com and I’ll get that out to you. Sorry again. 0725
Situations Wanted
Senior male with large dog looking to rent, small apartment, mobile home or fifthwheel in the country. Will consider buying. Willamette Valley preferred. Richard, 541-444-1255. 0725
71-year-old country girl needs a man in her life. Avid gardener, cook, artist. Pretty. 5 ft 9 in. 132 pounds. Well-toned. Likes beer, sometimes smokes cigarettes. Mail me a note at P.O. Box 2623, Brookings, OR 97415 or text me at 707-951-1882. 0725
Want to Buy
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, 971-666-0659. 0725
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. 1025
Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo jewelry, blankets, rugs. CA/AZ baskets and beadwork. Quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com. 1025
Looking for an apple cider press for my farm; preferably oak, grinder on top. 206-948-0617. Will come to get it in WA, OR, ID. 0725
Cash paid for old gas station and oil company signs, pumps, globes, metal oil cans. Good condition. Discreet cash settlement. Clifton Jones, collector. 512-413-4459. 1225
Western-styletreelesssaddlebymakerBill Houston.Othermakersconsidered.BakerCity, OR.541-350-7546,jimcarnahan51@gmail.com.
GVEA Board of Director Election Certified
In June, election judges from Golden Valley Electric Association’s Member Advisory Committee counted ballots and certified the election results for the District 6 director. John Sloan was elected to the District 6 seat.
In order for an election to be valid, GVEA’s bylaws require a minimum of 10% of the total district membership to vote in director elections. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes for the district is declared as elected. A total of 374 members in District 6 voted, which is 18.3% of the district membership.
District 6 Director Election
There were two candidates on the ballot for District 6: Fred Sheen (incumbent) and John Sloan.
• John Sloan received the most votes between the two candidates.
• John Sloan: 191 votes / 51.07%
• Fred Sheen: 183 votes / 48.93%
• Consistent with GVEA’s bylaws, John received the most votes and is elected.
Congratulations to John! He was seated to the GVEA Board of Directors at the June 24 board meeting.
District 5 Update
District 5 was also up for election this year. In District 5, only one candidate, Bradley Swope, ran for the seat. Consistent with GVEA bylaws, because Bradley was unopposed and to avoid the cost of an election when only one candidate is running, the board of directors voted to appoint Bradley to the District 5 seat for the upcoming term at its March 25 meeting. Bradley replaces current District 5 Director Chris Bunch effective at the June 24 board meeting.
GVEA extends our sincere appreciation to all candidates. We recognize the commitment required to run for a seat on the board of directors and we thank them for their willingness to serve our members.
Thank you to members in District 6 who took the time to vote for your GVEA director. Voting for your director is an important part of being a member of a cooperative.
Next year, GVEA Board of Director seats for Districts 1, 2 and 3, currently held by David Messier, Tom DeLong and Rick Solie, will be up for election. For more information about GVEA’s board of directors, visit gvea.com/about-us/board-of-directors/meet-your-board-of-directors.
John Sloan PHOTOS BY PORTRAITS STUDIO
Bradley Swope
What is an Equity Management Plan and Why Does It Matter to GVEA Members?
At Golden Valley Electric Association, we are proud to be a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative. That means when you pay your electric bill, you’re not just a customer—you’re also an owner. Because we are a cooperative, we don’t have shareholders expecting profits. Instead, we aim to operate at cost, which is why any extra money we make—called margins—gets reinvested in the system and is eventually returned to members as capital credits.
One of the ways we protect your ownership interest is through careful financial planning. A key part of that is our Equity Management Plan. But what exactly is an Equity Management Plan, and why is it important?
In simple terms, an Equity Management Plan is a long-term financial roadmap. It serves as a tool for GVEA to ensure we are financially healthy and capable of maintaining affordable rates while balancing:
• Equity: the portion of assets that are owned by members and GVEA rather than financed through debt;
• Debt: borrowed money that is still owed on assets to GVEA’s lenders; and
• Cash balances: the amount of cash we expect to need on hand to pay utility expenses timely.
The Equity Management Plan ensures GVEA can meet its financial and regulatory requirements and pay its bills. It also aids in deciding how and when to return capital credits to members. To update this plan, GVEA worked with NewGen Strategies & Solutions, an independent consulting firm that specializes in helping utilities make sustainable financial decisions. The Equity Management Plan sets targets for important financial ratios like times interest earned ratio and debt service coverage. These ratios are required by lenders and the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to help demonstrate that GVEA is financially sound, which in turn helps keep borrowing costs low—saving money for everyone.
The plan also outlines goals for equity. By managing equity wisely, we ensure long-term stability while continuing to offer affordable rates. Think of it like a household budget: We want to save enough for emergencies, maintain upkeep on the house, avoid taking on too much debt and return any surplus to family members when the time is right.
The plan has been carefully reviewed by GVEA staff and our Board Finance, Audit and Rate Committee. It will now go to the full board of directors for consideration. The results of this Equity Management Plan will aid in supporting GVEA’s overall rate case efforts currently underway.
By following this plan, GVEA can continue fulfilling its mission to safely deliver reliable electricity, quality service and innovative energy solutions at fair prices—supporting the economic, environmental and social well-being of Interior Alaska. n
PHOTO BY PRATHANCHORRUANGSAK
BEFORE YOU GO
Crisp Morning Capture
Hunting season isn’t just a time to bag game. Many hunters find comfort in being in the middle of nature on a cool, crisp morning.
“This photo here says it all,” Shanteil Hotchkiss says of a 2024 photo taken on a hunting trip.
To submit your photo, email a JPEG to photos@pioneer.coop. Include “Before You Go” in the subject line and share a bit about what inspired you to make your photo. n
Shanteil Hotchkiss takes in the beauty all around while settling into nature during hunting season. PHOTO BY SHANTEIL HOTCHKISS
Classic Cookout Recipes
Discover all 13 of our Recipe Contest cookbooks. Each is 8½-by-11” with index. Prices shown include postage and tax.
Please allow two - three weeks for delivery; include your email address if you would like a shipping confirmation.
ORDER BY MAIL: Submit payment with cookbook title, your name, address and number of cookbooks wanted to: Ruralite Cookbooks
P.O. Box 1306 North Plains, OR 97133 PAY BY PHONE: Call 503-357-2105 for credit card payments with Visa, MasterCard, Discover or AMEX.
ORDER ONLINE: Visit www.ruralite.com and find Store.
Luscious Desserts Cookbook: $10; Best Breads Cookbook: $10
Owned By Those We Serve
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tom DeLong, Chair, District 2
Bradley Swope, Vice-Chair, District 5
David Messier, Treasurer, District 1
Gary Newman, Secretary, District 4
Krista Zappone, District 7
John Sloan, District 6
Rick Solie, District 3
Corporate Headquarters
758 Illinois St. P.O. Box 71249 Fairbanks, AK 99707-1249
907-452-1151
1-800-770-GVEA (4832) Fax 907-458-6365
Delta Junction Office 1681 Richardson Highway Delta Junction, AK 99737
907-452-1151
1-800-770-GVEA (4832) Fax 907-895-5472
Report Outages:
907-452-1151
1-800-770-GVEA (4832)
Select: Option 1, Option 1
View Outage Map: gvea.com/outages
www.gvea.com
AK-37
Have a Voice in Your Co-op:
Help Shape GVEA’s Future
Want to make a difference in your community and stay informed about how your electric co-op works? Golden Valley Electric Association’s Member Advisory Committee is accepting applications.
By serving on the MAC, you’ll:
• Stay informed about co-op operations and initiatives.
• Represent your district and share your community’s perspective.
• Play an active role in shaping the direction of YOUR co-op.
Here’s what to know:
• MAC includes members from each of GVEA’s 7 districts
• Members serve three-year terms beginning in September.
• Meetings are held monthly (typically the second Wednesday) and last about 90 minutes.
• Members receive $60 per meeting, plus mileage reimbursement.
• MAC members may also serve on special committees (e.g. bylaws, elections, annual meeting).
All GVEA members in good standing are eligible to apply (excluding current employees) Applications are open through July 31
Ready to step up and represent your community?
Learn more and apply at gvea.com/about-us/member-advisory-committee-mac.