KLICKITAT PUD MAY
PHOTO BY PHILLIP MCMILLEN
Leaders in FFA
Local FFA programs give students a chance to grow their leadership and problem-solving skills
Klickitat County is home to three thriving FFA programs: the Goldendale High School and Goldendale Middle School chapters, as well as the Columbia High School chapter in White Salmon. FFA empowers students through agricultural education, helping them develop leadership skills, improve problem-solving abilities, foster personal growth, and acquire the knowledge and tools necessary for a successful career.
Goldendale High School FFA
Josh and Randi Krieg are the agriscience educators at Goldendale High School and Goldendale Middle School. Agricultural education provides students with an in-depth understanding of the science, technology and business aspects of
plant and animal production, as well as management of natural resources.
The Kriegs are leaders in the classroom and the community. They are regular volunteers at the soup kitchen and everyone looks forward to their annual plant sale. The Kreigs have led the FFA program for 17 years, and the countless hours they devote to students and community projects and events stands out.
In March, Goldendale FFA partnered with the Goldendale and Centerville granges to celebrate National Ag Day. This community event provided a meal and offered hands-on activities such as butter making, meat cut identification, cheese tasting and more.
Goldendale FFA students have a tradition of performing well at state, in
some years advancing to nationals. GHS has two teams competing in the State FFA Convention at the Washington State University campus in early May. The agricultural sales team includes Emma Gorrod, BryLee Mulrony, Cheyenne Baunach and Harmony Casteel. The conduct of chapter meetings team includes Anna Hauge, Brynna Baumgarden, Hayden Sheridan, Jennasea Smith, Rian Blaine and Taryn Miller.
Columbia High School FFA
Emily Gerhig is the faculty mentor of the Columbia High School FFA chapter. She is an advocate for her students in and out of the classroom and has mentored youth through FFA for about 12 years. Emily helps students develop their interests in agriculture and instructs them in various categories that encourage preparation for their future careers.
The Columbia High School FFA chapter
LEFT: The White Salmon FFA agricultural issues team won first place in the district competition. From left are Molly Gehrig, Riley Eichner, Raina McAllister and Josie Dickey. RIGHT: The White Salmon FFA greenhands team includes, from left, Liam Fitzjarrald, Jaxson Anderson, Francisco Salazar, District 8 Officer Cole, Gigi Clark and Rubi Robles Guzman. PHOTOS COURTESY OF WHITE SALMON FFA
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4. Practice safe use of power strips. Avoid overloading electrical outlets with power strips that exceed the outlet’s capacity. High-energy devices, such as heaters, microwaves and hair dryers, should be distributed across multiple outlets. Overloading an outlet with “busy” power strips can lead to overheating and create a fire hazard, so be sure to check the power strip’s wattage rating before plugging in items.
5. Don’t mix water and electricity. It may seem obvious, but accidents involving water contact with electrical items happen. Always keep electrical appliances and devices away from water sources, such as sinks, bathtubs or swimming pools. Make sure your hands are dry before touching any electrical switches or appliances. Never handle electrical devices with wet hands. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters should be installed in areas where water and electricity are typically in proximity, including kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor outlets.
6. Hire a qualified electrician for major work. While DIY projects may seem like a tempting way to save money, working with electricity requires specialized knowledge of your home’s electrical system and national safety codes. Cutting corners can be a costly mistake beyond your wallet.
Recent data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports nearly 400 electrocutions in the United States each year, 14% of which are related to wiring hazards. A licensed electrician has the expertise to handle major electrical tasks, such as installing new wiring, upgrading your circuit breaker panel or troubleshooting electrical issues. When it comes to electricity, safety should always be your priority—leave the major jobs to the experts.
7. Educate family members. One of the best ways to ensure the safety of everyone in your household is to talk about electrical safety. Teach children not to play with electrical outlets or appliances, and ensure they understand the potential dangers of electricity. Create and practice a home fire escape plan that includes electrical safety precautions in the event of an emergency. Practicing electrical safety at home is essential for protecting your family, property and peace of mind. Remember, electrical safety isn’t just a one-time effort—it’s a year-round responsibility. Taking these steps can help ensure a safer, more secure home for you and your loved ones. n
Electrical Fire Do’s and Don’ts
Homeowners should always take precautions to mitigate the risk of electrical fires and other electrical hazards—but what happens if those precautions are still subject to human error?
Faulty wiring, power surges or malfunctioning appliances can ignite flames in an instant. In those critical moments, knowing exactly what to do can mean the difference between safely containing an electrical fire and facing a devastating loss. Follow these guidelines if an electrical fire breaks out in your home:
Do cut the power: If a faulty appliance causes the fire, unplug it immediately. If you can’t reach the plug but have a safe path to your home’s breaker panel, turn off the electricity at the panel.
Do use a fire extinguisher: Not all fire extinguishers are created equal. Electrical fires should be extinguished with Class C fire extinguishers, which are specifically designed to address electrical fires. Fire extinguishers should only be used on small, contained fires. Electrical Safety Foundation International recommends homeowners buy a fire extinguisher large enough to effectively put out a small fire, but not so heavy that it is difficult to handle. In a pinch, small electrical fires can also be smothered with a fire blanket or baking soda.
Don’t use water: Although it may be your first instinct, water conducts electricity and can make the fire worse or cause electrocution.
Do evacuate immediately: If the fire spreads out of your control, get everyone out of the house and to safety, then call 911. Closing doors behind you can slow the spread of the fire.
To the Top!
Training Stages for Electric Lineworkers
Known for their strength and agility, lineworkers are dedicated to ensuring our communities have reliable power. Safety is always top priority on the job, which is why lineworkers spend thousands of hours training as they advance their skills.
Here’s a look at the career progression of a lineworker.
4.
Crew Leader
A crew leader is an advanced position that requires supervising lineworkers on job sites, coordinating with contractors and directing daily activities for crews.
3.
Journeyman Lineworker
Post-apprenticeship and with roughly 7,000+ hours of training under the belt, journeyman lineworkers are fully trained in their field. They repair, update and install overhead and underground power lines, as well as other electrical equipment.
2.
Apprentice Lineworker
Before reaching lineworker status, they are required to complete an apprenticeship. The apprenticeship combines hands-on training in the field with classroom learning. While in the apprenticeship, lineworkers earn competitive wages. They typically spend three years in their apprenticeship.
1.
Groundperson/Pre-apprentice
Many lineworkers begin their career as a groundperson, or pre-apprentice. They assist line crews with tools, keeping job sites safe and operating smaller equipment.
Regardless of stage, all lineworkers continue education and training throughout their career. Training and testing requirements vary from utility to utility.
Generational Wealth A future for generations to come
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Rainy-Day
Relics
Oregon Du Drops are perfect for reflecting on life
By Vicki Hillhouse
Inside a Rockaway Beach gallery off U.S. Highway 101, tiny water worlds dangle overhead. Delicate glass bulbs filled with Oregon rain and topped with brass temple bells hang like droplets suspended in time.
Artist James Stephen Du Bois— known to all simply as Du Bois— began making the bulbs for his own delight about 50 years ago. In 1999, after honing his creative process, he decided to fill them with Oregon rainwater and sell them as works of art. People occasionally asked if he had rain from a specific date. Soon, he was collecting and cataloging rain to customize his bulbs for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and memorials.
“It’s the closest thing to catching time in a bottle,” Du Bois says. Most rewarding are the emotional bonds that tie his Oregon
Du Drops with the people who buy them.
“We call that nonmonetary compensation,” he says. “There’s such reward from touching people’s lives.”
On days he and his wife, Cathleen “Cat” Freshwater-Du Bois—both in their 70s— contemplate retirement, this is what drives him to continue.
“I like the idea that I’m making something for someone I don’t even know is going to come in,” he says. “When they do come in, and they see it, and it’s meaningful to them, then I know I’m doing something important.”
A Drop of Inspiration
Oregon Du Drops date back to Du Bois’ 1970s college days at Indiana University. One early morning, he was walking in the woods when the rising sun illuminated a flowering bush blanketed in dew drop-covered spiderwebs.
“It was just the most interesting thing I’d ever seen,” Du Bois says. He stood captivated for the longest time, wanting to re-create
James Stephen Du Bois is the creator of Oregon Du Drops.
PHOTO BY WESLEY LA POINT
Oregon Du Drops is easy to spot with its bright red color off the Oregon Coast Highway in Rockaway Beach. A giant mobile of reflective drops outside the building is known for catching the eyes of travelers, who turn their vehicles around to see what’s inside. PHOTO BY VICKI HILLHOUSE
when the rainwater inside was collected.
gallon
water each month to fill the decorative bulbs, commemorating birthdays, anniversaries, deaths and other memorable dates.
the refraction and reflections. Once home, he dug out a spent light bulb, opened the metal with pliers, cleaned out the bulb and filled it with water.
“I was getting the same effect that I saw in the dew drops,” he says.
He started making them for his home, displaying them in windows, and sometimes adding plant cuttings. The exploding roots, though, robbed the reflective aspect—one of the first lessons of making Du Drops. Over the decades, Du Bois learned how to prevent the invasion of microorganisms in the bulbs with isopropyl alcohol and how to seal the orbs with adhesive.
“I played with them myself, about 25 years, just enjoying them,” he says. “A lot of people said along the way, ‘You ought to be sharing these with people.’ I never saw myself as an artist. I was just interested in what I was seeing.”
In 1999, while living in Springfield, Oregon, he began selling his drops at a Saturday market in Eugene. That year, Eugene experienced a 90-day drought, and Du Bois ran out of rainwater. Determined never to go without a water supply again, he now uses a dehumidifier to pull moisture from the air, collecting a gallon a month.
He met Cat in 2001 when he had a booth at Rockaway Beach’s Wine, Cheese and All That Jazz Festival, where she belted out tunes throughout the afternoon as a performer.
Cat enjoyed the Du Drops and set out to buy one filled with Valentine’s Day rain. Short on funds, she and Du Bois agreed to put the bulb on layaway. When they went to shake on the deal, Cat was so taken with the bespectacled artist that she kissed him instead.
“We’ve been together ever since,” she says.
They married a year later and eventually moved to Rockaway Beach.
Making Memories
Most customers discover Oregon Du Drops by driving past the couple’s home gallery. A metal mobile outside holds the drops, and passing motorists turn their cars around to check it out. Inside,
beams of light from the windows and skylight bounce off mirrors in sparkling resplendence.
The simplest bulb takes about eight days to make. Du Bois juggles several at a time in different stages of production. An icicle version can take three weeks as he shapes the glass with fire. Each drop hangs from a different color of ribbon depending on the month it was made.
Du Bois adds test tubes inside some bulbs and fills them with birthstones. He’s filled requests, too, to add cremated ashes inside. For such orders, he lights a candle as he makes the Du Drop and plays the favorite music of the person who died.
Cat engraves each Du Drop with dates, names or special messages.
“I wanted her hand on every Du Drop,” Du Bois says.
Cat also runs the gallery and serves as the voice on the phone, taking orders.
Shelves in the downstairs “rain cellar” are lined with 1-liter bottles. Demand for specific days has been relatively random. A recent customer requested a Du Drop from his October 1999 birth date. To Du Bois’ delight, that date was the starting point of his library.
Du Bois diligently updates the water catalog on his Oregon Du Drops website. The earliest years of collection don’t include specific dates. But recent years break down each day water was collected and whether it was dew or rain. Some supplies have been used up, such as the last four months of 2020.
For the time being, Du Bois is committed to continuing the business in one-year increments. He plans to keep making bulbs for Oregon Du Drops until at least 2026. He entertains the idea of making YouTube tutorials so others can make their own when he’s unable to do it. For now, he continues to touch lives with his watery wonders.
“That’s one of the nicest parts of the job—connecting with people’s lives,” he says. n
Oregon Du Drops is located at 450 U.S. Highway 101, Rockaway Beach, and can be found online at oregondudrops.com.
ABOVE AND LEFT: Each drop made by Du Bois is suspended with ribbon corresponding to the month
He gathers a
of
PHOTO BY JAMES STEPHEN DU BOIS
“I didn’t realize anything was wrong until I had a seizure,” Aaron says.
Ultrarunner beats the odds Keeping Time
By Victoria Hampton
As a runner and musician, Aaron Reed’s life revolves around keeping time. From pace to beat, he follows a rhythm of performance as he traverses trails and takes the stage.
In December 2024, time took on new meaning when Aaron collapsed during a routine gym workout. Suddenly, he was hanging in the balance between life and death.
He was facing an unexpected challenge— time running out. Yet, mental and physical strength, along with divine intervention, prepared Aaron for the fight of his life.
Going the Distance
Aaron, 42, has loved running since middle school. When he moved to Oregon in 2004, he ran along the state’s scenic trails and found a path to the ultrarunning community.
“I was always really into long runs and as I got older, got into running ultras,” Aaron says.
Aaron continues taking on challenges at longer distances and finds new trails to explore while touring and performing with his brother, Phil. Known as The Brothers
Reed, the duo takes the stage at intimate venues from Washington to Arizona, combining storytelling with original lyrics.
During a tour stop in Arizona, Aaron discovered the Cocodona 250, a 250-mile ultramarathon from Black Canyon City to Flagstaff through some of state’s most scenic landscape.
In May 2024, seven months before he collapsed in the gym, Aaron found himself relying on his mental strength to push his body through the challenge. He was 80 miles in when he sensed something was wrong. By mile 161, he suffered a stress fracture in his leg.
“I had to make the decision,” Aaron says. “I am going to finish. The only way I won’t is if I am taken out of the race.”
At mile 161 of the Cocodona 250, Aaron Reed suffered a stress fracture in his leg. His mental fitness and stamina pushed him on to the finish line. PHOTOS COURTESY OF AARON REED
Pistachio Fluff (Watergate Salad)
1/2 cup maraschino cherries
2 31/2-ounce packages instant pistachio pudding mix
24 ounces whipped topping
20-ounce can crushed pineapple, undrained
2 cups chopped walnuts
1 pound mini marshmallows
Chop the cherries into quarters, but reserve a few whole cherries.
Combine pudding mix with whipped topping and pineapple. Add walnuts, chopped cherries and marshmallows. Combine well.
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Garnish with whole cherries on top before serving.
Almond Cheesecake
Crust
11/4 cups crushed vanilla wafers (about 40 wafers)
1/4 cup sugar
Filling
4 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
11/4 cups sugar
Topping
2 cups sour cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Heat oven to 350 F.
3/4 cup finely chopped almonds
1/3 cup salted butter, melted
4 extra-large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 cup toasted sliced almonds
In a bowl, combine the wafer crumbs, sugar and almonds. Stir in the butter, and mix well. Press into the bottom of a greased 10-inch springform pan. Set aside.
To make the filling, beat cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl until smooth. Add eggs. Beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in extracts. Pour into crust. Place on a baking sheet.
Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until center is almost set. Remove from the oven. Let stand for 5 minutes, but leave the oven on.
To make the topping, combine the sour cream, sugar and vanilla. Spoon the mixture around the edge of cheesecake. Carefully spread over filling. Bake 5 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around the edge of the pan to loosen. Cool for 1 hour before refrigerating overnight.
Just before serving, sprinkle with almonds. Remove side of pan. Refrigerate leftovers.
Lemon Mousse
2/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Dash of salt
3 extra-large egg yolks
2/3 cup whole milk
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1 cup heavy whipping cream, plus more for topping
Lemon slices
In a small saucepan, mix sugar, cornstarch and salt. Whisk in egg yolks and milk until smooth. Whisk in lemon juice until blended. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until thickened slightly, about 2 minutes longer. Stir in lemon zest.
Transfer mixture to a bowl. Cover and refrigerate until cold.
Once cold, beat whipping cream in a small bowl on high speed until soft peaks form. Fold into lemon mixture. Spoon into serving dishes. Top with additional whipped cream and lemon slices.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
2 cups crushed pretzels
3/4 cup butter, melted
Filling
2 cups whipped topping
1 cup sugar
Topping
2 3-ounce packages
strawberry gelatin
2 cups boiling water
Heat oven to 350 F.
3 tablespoons sugar
8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
2 16-ounce packages frozen sweetened sliced strawberries, thawed
Additional whipped topping and pretzels
In a bowl, combine the pretzels, butter and sugar. Press into an ungreased 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
To make the filling, beat whipped topping, sugar and cream cheese in a small bowl until smooth. Spread over pretzel crust. Refrigerate until chilled.
To make the topping, dissolve gelatin in boiling water in a large bowl. Stir in sweetened strawberries. Refrigerate until partially set. Carefully spoon over filling. Refrigerate until firm, about 4 to 6 hours. Cut into squares. Serve with additional whipped topping and pretzels.
READER EXCHANGE
Crafts/Hobbies
My wife, Stephanie, is an avid gardener. She has only been doing it for a couple of years now, but she has more than 300 dahlia plants and rows of wildflowers and vegetables. She would love it if you would send her pictures of your garden or flowers and give each other hints/tips. She has spent every month for the past 15 years responding to this magazine and writing birthday wishes, recipes, etc. It really fills her bucket. It would be great if she could receive the same. Thanks.
Joe Randall
24753 Vaughn Road Veneta, OR 97487
I worked with a lovely lady named Jamie from Hermiston, Oregon, this corn harvest. During the season, she slipped and fell onto an extremely fast conveyor belt while unloading corn from a truck’s hopper and experienced severe injuries. She has not been able to work or do many of her favorite activities in recent months. Shopping for vintage marbles and paperweights at antique stores and yard sales is her favorite thing to do, but that's been a challenge lately since she doesn’t have the income she used to. She hasn’t been able to make any of her epoxy river charcuterie boards, cutting boards or river tables. She does very beautiful work. I wanted to see if any readers could donate vintage marbles and paperweights to her during this time. Please send to Jamie, P.O. Box 547, Irrigon, OR 97844 Anonymous friend of Jamie Hermiston, Oregon
My grandson and I just finished building a “marble run” which takes up half of the workshop. We only have a handful of marbles and need more. Instead of going to the store to buy some I thought I would try here first. Who has some marbles laying around? They can be “boulders” and “steelies.” Thank you very much.
K. Johnson 55271 Suba Road Coquille, OR 97423
Milestones
My mother-in-law will be 96 this month. She lives in a care home and would love to receive birthday wishes. Please mail to Lillian McClimans, Silver Spring Personal Care Home, 125 State Road #4, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050. Thank you.
Pamela McClimans
Lebanon, Oregon
Our mom, Jo, turns 93 this month. She grew up in Bellingham, WA. She was the lead in “You Can’t Take It With You” in high school and was Worthy Advisor in Rainbow Girls. She moved with our dad during his Navy years, and settled in Southeastern Washington to raise a family. Dad paved roads all over Montana, Idaho and Oregon. Mom made a home for us wherever his work took us. Dad is gone, after 70 years of marriage. Mom enjoys doing crosswords, Sudokus, texting her grandchilden, and watching old episodes of “Matlock,” “ The Andy Griffith Show” and “The Lawrence Welk Show.” She is an avid follower of Gonzaga basketball. Please consider sending “Jo” a birthday card. Thank you. Send to Jo c/o Karen Walton, 2644 Harris Ave., Richland, WA 99354.
Karen Walton Richland, Washington
Submitting Requests Is Free
Our mom will be 97 this month. She is a wonderful mom and a very strong lady. She has been adjusting to assisted living in Oregon. She lived in Yuma for about 20 years on her own. She loves mail. She has had quite a diverse life. Rancher, logger, commercial fisherman, miner, and wife, mother, grandma, great-grandma and great-great-grandma. She loved to travel and play games. Please send to Grande Ronde Retirement, Verna Oliver, 1809 Gekeler Lane #104, LaGrande, OR 97850.
Susan Mascal Baker City, Oregon
My mom turns 89 years old this month. Although a strong woman of faith, the last 21/2 years have been a roller coaster. She went into assisted living, and my mom and dad celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Sadly, Dad died two months later. Two great-grandchildren died; two others were born healthy. A granddaughter married and Mom’s dearest sister died. Mom loves to receive mail and would be delighted to hear from people across the country. Please send to Phyllis Crist, 1651 NE 108th Ave., Portland, OR 97220.
Debbie Larson Vernonia, Oregon
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.
Ruralite Calendar Photo Contest 2026
It is time to share your favorite photos for a chance to appear in our 2026 Ruralite calendar. Up to 13 winners will be selected and receive $100. Photos must be submitted by June 30, 2025. The contest is open to recipients of Ruralite and Currents magazines. Each person may only submit up to two photos. Each submission must include:
• Photographer’s name, address and electric utility.
• A short description of what is shown.
• Photographer’s email address and phone number.
• JPEG file photos only. Photos must be horizontal or landscape format and at least 300 dpi at 11 inches wide by 9 inches tall. Vertical photos and files larger than 30 MB will not be accepted. Enter today by visiting tinyurl.com/ruralitecalendar or use the provided QR code on this page.
Winning Tips
• Use the highest resolution setting on your camera.
• Photograph beautiful places and wildlife.
• Capture scenes full of vivid color.
• Reflect the seasons.
• Make us feel something—awe, joy, etc.
For more information, visit ruralite.com/2026contest.
BY
ARLEN RICKE, OREGON— COOS-CURRY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Photographing New Life
By Dave LaBelle
I must have been 10 or 11 years old the day my mother drove 10 miles, took me out of my junior high class and rushed me home so I could watch my cat have kittens. Recognizing education comes in many packages, she figured me witnessing a cat giving birth was as valuable as what I might miss in the classroom that day. I didn’t have a camera yet, or I am sure I would have photographed the educational event. However, in the decades following, I photographed numerous animal and human births. Watching new life enter our world never gets old.
I like to think I’m a positive guy who usually doesn’t allow the hard things in life to get me down and to embrace the biblical admonition of focusing on things that are good and lovely. However, sometimes I can slip into dark moods. After all, a person can take only so much lying, cheating, posturing, stealing and killing. Watching animals in person or online, especially parents caring for their newborns, helps push away those poisons. I was in a melancholy mood this past week, troubled too deeply about the state of our country, until a video of a baby elephant snuggling humans tickled me. It felt good to laugh. And then I watched rare footage shot from the mouth of a mountain lion den as a mother played with her kittens. Finally, I became engrossed with a livestream of bald eagles hatching eggs at California’s Big Bear Lake.
Reader Challenge
This is the time of year a lot of creatures give birth. Explore to see if you can find a spot to observe new life entering the world. This might be a nest near a lake or in a backyard tree. Perhaps you know where there’s an active fox den or a large hole in a tree where raccoons or squirrels have chosen to bring their young into the world.
Without disturbing, see if you can capture new life and the behavior as the offspring ventures into the world. I can’t wait to see what you find.
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.
I was again reminded how amazing our natural world is.
Just as a slow walk in nature calms my spirit and reminds me of the awe-inspiring creation we inhabit, watching baby animals enter the world and witnessing the care of their parents lifts my spirit. n
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.
NIKON D800
Simplify Life With Budget Billing
Spring is a great time to enroll in budget billing. A consistent monthly utility bill supports a stable personal budget by avoiding seasonal fluctuations.
Consumption varies season to season, and usage spikes cause billing increases. This can be frustrating for customers on fixed incomes or tight budgets. Klickitat PUD offers a budget plan to ease that frustration and provide consistent monthly bills. The monthly budget is based on your prior 12-month average use.
Enrollment is easy. Customers need to have a zero balance to enroll in the budget plan. Once enrolled in the budget plan, you need to pay the monthly budget amount consistently. Overpayments cause fluctuations in monthly budget amounts, and missing a payment may result in removal from the budget program.
The PUD recalculates your budget payment each May, with the new budget billing beginning in June. With the recalculation of the budget amount, one of the following will occur:
• If you paid for more than you use, the credit will reduce your new budget amount.
• If you used more energy than you paid for while on the budget plan, your new budget payment will increase to recover the shortage.
If you would like to know what your actual account balance is compared to your budget balance, the “Information Only- Account Balance” line on your bill reflects the amount that becomes due if you disconnect your service or choose to get off the budget plan. This line is an important indicator to help gauge whether your budget amount is in line with your use. n
New & Existing Customer Programs
X AMI metering provides consistent reads and avoids account balance fluctuation. Customers no longer need to submit monthly reads. NEW
X AMI metering provides customers flexibility to select a due date that best aligns with their budgets—hugely beneficial for fixed income customers. NEW
X Autopay pairs well with budget billing and ensures late fees and penalties are avoided.
X Electronic billing (email) avoids timing delays associated with traditional delivery methods.
X SmartHub is a customer tool available 24/7 for customer account management. This includes enrolling in the budget plan, enrolling in autopay and viewing usage details.
Drinking Water Week
Klickitat PUD reminds the public of the importance of water conservation during Drinking Water Week, May 4-10. It is essential to avoid waste through conservation practices to protect our precious source of water.
Whether you need it to cool off after a workout or warm up in a hot bath, your tap water is there when you need it. It is used to produce your morning coffee, the clothes you wear and the fruits and veggies you like to snack on.
Your water utility works hard around the clock to ensure high-quality drinking water
is there when you need it on demand. To learn about your water’s journey from source to tap, contact your local water provider. Visit https://www.awwa.org/ communications-and-outreach/drinkingwater-week/#celebrate to learn more. This message is brought to you by the American Water Works Association. n
KPUD’s Water-Wastewater team is, from left, Superintendent Brandon Walter, Operator Mike Krause, Operator Eric Cecil, Operator Joseph Randall, Operator Dakota Whitner, Support Assistant Ocean Barrett and Coordinator Sharon Blodget. Not pictured: Crew Lead Noah Halm.
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Enjoy complete sightseeing with more visits, extra features, and local guides. Caravan includes all activities listed in the tour itinerary. Caravan does not sell any optional activities which can add hundreds of dollars to your tour price. Your free time is scheduled in great settings where there is no need to buy additional expensive activities.
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