Ruralite, Lassen Municipal Utility District, January 2025

Ruralite

The January sun sets over Emerson Lake at Diamond Mountain Golf Course. PHOTO BY THERESA PHILLPS

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Ruralite

January 2025 • Volume 72, No. 1

CEO Michael Shepard

SENIOR VP OF CONTENT Leon Espinoza

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Chasity Anderson, CCC

DEPUTY EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Noble Sprayberry

SENIOR EDITOR Jennifer Paton, CCC

ASSISTANT EDITORS Victoria Hampton, CCC; David Herder, CCC

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Valeri Pearon, Nina Todea

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCTION SR. MANAGER

Elizabeth Beatty

SENIOR PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR

Alyssa McDougle

Ruralite (USPS 397-460) is published monthly for members for $5.43 per year, plus postage, by Pioneer Utility Resources Inc., 5625 NE Elam Young Pkwy. Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124—a not-for-profit Oregon cooperative corporation—to serve the communication needs of 46 consumer-owned electric utilities in Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Nevada and California. Preferred periodical postage paid at Hillsboro, Oregon, 97123 and additional mailing offices. © 2025 Pioneer Utility Resources. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

Postmaster: Send address changes to Ruralite, 5625 NE Elam Young Pkwy. Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124-6454

HOW TO CONTACT RURALITE

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Address Changes:

Utility members, contact your local utility. Subscribers, call us at 503-357-2105 option 3 or email mailingdept@pioneer.coop.

Back issues:

Back issues and extra copies $3. Prepayment required. Supply is limited. Be sure to identify edition, month and year. Call first if ordering back issues to check availability.

To contact Ruralite: Ruralite magazine is published by Pioneer Utility Resources.

P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133-1306; 503-357-2105; email: info@pioneer.coop. For more information, visit www.pioneer.coop.

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Stories That Inspire Change

As the new year unfolds, it brings with it the promise of fresh starts and new opportunities. Many of us take this time to reflect on the past year and set resolutions for the months ahead.

Whether it’s pursuing personal growth, building stronger relationships or contributing to our communities, this annual reset reminds us change is always possible. I hope that in this season of renewal, you find the strength and courage to achieve your resolutions and embrace the potential for transformation in your own life.

Yet, alongside the optimism, we must also acknowledge the importance of facing life’s more difficult truths. Sometimes, the stories that break our hearts are the ones that teach us the most. They remind us of the resilience of the human spirit and the power of hope to overcome even the darkest of circumstances.

One such story is that of Jane, a survivor of human trafficking, whose journey exemplifies courage, determination and the profound impact of community support.

Jane’s story, as told by our very own awardwinning writer Victoria Hampton, is a sobering reminder that trafficking often doesn’t look like the stereotypes we might imagine. It’s not confined to far-off cities or shadowy strangers. It

can occur in the homes and neighborhoods we think we know best.

Despite the horrors she faced, Jane’s journey didn’t end in despair. Her eventual escape and recovery were made possible by the tireless efforts of local advocacy groups and community task forces that refused to let her story go unheard. Today, she works to support other survivors, channeling her experiences into advocacy and care. Her resilience and resolve serve as a beacon of hope for countless others who face similar struggles. Read more on Page 10.

As we step into this new year, let us take inspiration from Jane’s journey and the work of those who supported her. Consider how you might contribute to change in your own community. Whether it’s volunteering, donating time, supplies or money, or simply raising awareness, every effort matters. The new year is a time for hope, resolve and action. Together, we can create a world where every individual has the opportunity to rewrite their story and dream of brighter days ahead.

Thank you for the wonderful story ideas many of you submitted in the past month. I’m still following up on many of them. Have additional thoughts about a story we should share? Reach me at editor@pioneer.coop.

Happy New Year!

Chasity Anderson Editorial Director

For supplemental and interactive content, search @Ruralite on your favorite social media sites.

Giving a Voice to the Silent

Community task forces create first lines of defense against human trafficiking in rural communities

Spotlight, Page 10

It Tastes Better in a Bowl

In The Kitchen, Page 16

Lassen Municipal Utility District’s Year in Review

For nearly 40 years, we’ve been more than your communityowned electric utility—we’re your neighbors, friends and family, working by your side to provide an essential service to each community we serve.

Over the years, we have strived to keep you updated and informed on how your utility operates, our financial health and our goals. This year, we are looking back at 2024 to reflect on our successes and challenges while continuing to look forward to new opportunities. We’re excited to share our annual report, offering a window into how we’re working to power our community’s future.

Our mission goes beyond keeping the lights on; we are committed to providing reliable service at the most reasonable cost. We exist to serve you, our friends and neighbors, and we believe that you deserve nothing less than our absolute best.

As we reflect on our journey and take a look ahead, we know there will be challenges. Yet, those challenges come with opportunities. We can’t meet these challenges alone or realize opportunities without help from our industry partners. Organizations like the American Public Power Association, California Municipal Utility Association, Utah Associated Municipal Power Suppliers and Northwest Public Power Association lend expertise and insight. They also provide us with an extensive network of like-minded, community-owned utilities that have similar goals. We can pool our resources and advocate for collective communities. Our commitment to serving our community with integrity and transparency means we will keep you informed on how your utility is doing. Throughout the year, articles in Ruralite, on our website and on our Facebook page give you the information you need to stay informed on the issues that concern you most.

As always, if you’d like to voice your concerns or comment on how you think we are doing, I invite you to attend one of our monthly board meetings. Meetings are the fourth Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in our boardroom at 65 S. Roop St. in Uptown Susanville.

Nick Dominguez LMUD General Manager

Financial Health: Ensuring Rate Stability and Operational Excellence

I’m pleased to share an update on LMUD’s financial position and our ongoing commitment to rate stability. In fiscal year 2024, LMUD demonstrated exceptional financial stewardship of your utility resources. Our annual audit results were outstanding, with our auditors specifically commending our financial position, adherence to best practices and the professionalism of our accounting and finance staff.

I’m particularly proud to report that overall we performed 20% under our forecasted budget for FY2024. This achievement stems from two key factors: disciplined operational expense management and the advantage of abundant, low-cost hydroelectric power due to consecutive wet years. While the hydroelectric savings aren’t guaranteed moving forward, we’re proactively developing industryleading rate design methodologies to help us navigate power price fluctuations while minimizing the impact on our customers.

Throughout the year, we’ve maintained strong performance across all critical financial metrics, including days cash on hand, debt service ratio and capital requirements. This has enabled us to support major infrastructure investments, such as the Skedaddle Substation and the hardening of the Westwood transmission line, while maintaining rate stability.

Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, we’re implementing financial strategies to support our ongoing infrastructure rejuvenation. This includes optimizing our funding mix through government bonds, strategic debt funding and lines of credit. Our financial modeling and analysis ensure these decisions support system reliability while minimizing rate impacts.

What This Means for You

Our robust financial health directly translates to reliable service at stable rates. Through comprehensive financial planning and analysis, modern financial strategies and an unwavering focus on fiscal stability, we’re maximizing the efficiency of every dollar while maintaining the high-quality service you expect from LMUD. We remain committed to keeping your rates low while ensuring the long-term reliability of your utility services.

Kelli Thompson Accounting and Finance Manager

Giving Back to the Community We Serve

As a community-owned utility, our focus is on the people we serve. Through our Public Benefits program, 2.85% of our retail energy sales goes back to our community. These funds are earmarked specifically

for programs that benefit customers, including:

Rate assistance to those in need. Our Winter Energy Assistance Rate and Emergency Energy Assistance programs are designed to assist income-eligible customers with a helping hand when they need it most. This year, we budgeted $200,000 for WEAR and Emergency Energy Assistance. We expended $175,000, helping more than 300 households reduce their energy bills when use is at its highest. Commercial rebates. Reducing energy use can equal big savings for our business customers. In 2024, we spent $35,676 on energyefficiency projects that saved a total of 161,641 kilowatt-hours.

Residential rebates. We offer a suite of energy-efficiency rebates designed to encourage our customers to save energy and reduce their utility bills. This year, we distributed $70,978 in rebates and helped our customers save 117,089 kWh.

The total kilowatt-hours saved is equal to powering 30 average homes for a year.

In Your Community

Community outreach is essential to LMUD’s mission. Here are some of the ways we connected with our customers in 2024:

• High voltage safety demonstrations: More than 200 local schoolaged kids took part in the demonstrations, learning how electricity powers their lives and how to stay safe when using it.

• Youth sponsorship program: In 2024, LMUD gave $3,000 to local youth programs that enhance our community and foster engagement.

• Jr. Energy Auditor program: The program—a collaboration between LMUD and the Lassen County Office of Education— teaches fourth and fifth graders how to save money by becoming energy-wise.

• Pet Treats for Lights pet food drive: Working with the Lassen Humane Society, customers donated pet items for shelter pets and, in exchange, received a box of LED Christmas lights.

• Customer Appreciation Celebration: This year, 450 customers joined us for lunch, met with LMUD staff and learned more about how we are serving our community at the annual event.

• Public Power Week: LMUD partnered with Susanville Supermarket to bring our customers, staff and board members together for doughnuts and coffee to celebrate Public Power Week.

• Magical Country Christmas: Crews helped set up the community Christmas tree and installed holiday lights on Main Street.

• Blue Star Banners: Working with the Soaring Eagle Bluestar Moms, LMUD crews hung banners on utility poles lining Main Street to honor families and local service men and women.

• Westwood Back to School/Community Night: LMUD reached more than 80 families with program information and free LED bulbs and a chance to win a $25 LMUD energy gift card.

• Community Scholarship program: 2024 marked the 12th year of this program. This year, three students received a total of $3,000 toward their continuing education.

• Strategic Plan and Community Involvement presentation: LMUD staff reached out to several service clubs this year with a presentation that helped them gain a better understanding of how we serve our community.

Reliability You Can Count On

We strive for grid resiliency. Minimizing the number and length of outages is one of our strategic priorities and goals. Throughout the year, LMUD crews maintain and upgrade our system, ensuring it’s ready to serve our community. However, no matter how much time and effort we spend tending to our facilities, outages occur.

Most outages that occur are out of our control. Weather and human-caused events, such as a car hitting a utility pole, can wreak havoc on our system. When these types of outages affect our local system, crews respond as quickly and safely as possible to restore power. Outages out of our control, such as those caused by Pacific Gas and Electric’s equipment failure, are frustrating because the cause and the solution are out of our hands.

This is why we have invested significant time and money into the Skedaddle Substation project. The substation will connect us with the NV Energy’s Reno to Alturas transmission line. This line will shore up our connection to the grid, providing reliability and resilience as well as opening opportunities for a more diverse power supply. n

FROM LEFT: LMUD Customer Service Manager Christina Nystrom invites customers to learn more about LMUD’s programs and services at the Westwood Back to School Festival. LMUD lineworkers Raul Faustino and Sam Tucker and Public Relations Manager Theresa Phillips give a highvoltage safety demonstration at Westwood High School. Lineworker Matt Flores hangs the Blue Star Banners along Main Street in Susanville. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THERESA PHILLIPS

PLUGGED

Keep Your Keep Your Keep Your

Give your home an annual safety checkup to stay a step ahead of electrical fires

By David Herder

Being home can mean having a warm and cozy spot to rest while winter weather rages outdoors. However, your home can turn from toasty to toast in an instant if a fire breaks out.

Electrical failures and malfunctions were factors in more than 46,000 fires a year from 2015-2019, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Annually, those fires caused 390 deaths, 1,330 injuries and $1.5 billion in property damage.

The new year presents an opportunity to build new habits and safeguard your home. Give your home an electrical safety checkup to keep it how you like it—warm, safe and free of electrical fire hazards.

Cords

Cords and plugs are responsible for about 7% of deaths in home fires, despite only being involved in 1% of home fires, according to the NFPA. Extension cords are the most common cause of plug- or cord-related fires. Take these precautions with your cords:

• Check all cords for damage or fraying. These issues are fire and shock hazards.

• Don’t put weight on cords. Placing chairs or other heavy objects on cords can damage them.

• Only use extension cords temporarily. If you need electrical access in a different spot, consider contacting a licensed electrician to install new outlets.

• Plug large appliances directly into outlets, never into extension cords.

• Wires inside of walls can be dangerous as well. Check for loose wall receptacles, wires or lighting fixtures, and listen for popping or sizzling sounds behind walls.

Outlets

Many electrical hazards are caused by faults—abnormal electric currents. Left untreated, these can cause shock and fire hazards. Using arc-fault and ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets can save your life. Ground faults are where electricity has an abnormal path, creating a shock hazard. Make sure you have GFCI outlets anywhere that could become wet—including the bathroom, kitchen and any outdoor outlets.

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Arc faults often cause overheating in wires and electric equipment. Common culprits are pinched, damaged or overloaded wires. AFCI outlets shut off when they detect unwanted arcing. AFCIs are useful in all living areas.

Heating Equipment

Most electrical fire deaths occur in December and January, according to the United States Fire Administration. This is also the time of year when we use space heaters, wood stoves and other heating devices. Heating devices can become dangerous when used improperly. Keep these tips in mind when using heating devices:

• Keep anything that can burn at 3 feet away from heating equipment, such as furnaces, space heaters, fireplaces or wood stoves.

• Only use products as intended. Space heaters are not for drying clothes, and the cooking stove is not a heater.

• Ensure all fuel-burning heating equipment is vented to the outdoors, and keep all intake and output vents clean and clear of debris.

• If using a wood stove or fireplace, use a screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room.

• Never plug a space heater into an extension cord.

• Keep space heaters on level ground, away from areas where you may trip over it.

Generators

Many people use portable generators during outages. To properly use one:

• Let the generator run for a couple of minutes before plugging things in to prevent catastrophic surges. Similarly, plug things in one at a time, as each device requires a small surge to start up.

• Only plug generators in to your home’s transfer switch or into a heavy duty extension cord rated for the weather conditions. Never plug generators into wall outlets—this can endanger lineworkers by backfeeding electricity onto distribution lines.

• Keep generators at least 20 feet from your home to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. n

New Batteries, New Fire Hazards

Many new devices enter our homes during the holidays, and that means new batteries to charge. Lithium-ion batteries are efficient and effective at powering phones, toys, electric bikes and more, but they can be fire hazards.

Damaged lithium-ion batteries can rapidly overheat and ignite. Whatever you’re plugging in, safe charging can prolong your battery life and prevent fire danger.

X Stop using a battery if you notice any smell, change in color or shape, too much heat, leaking or odd noises.

X Plug battery chargers directly into a wall outlet.

X Don’t overload circuits. Batteries take in a lot of energy while charging. Make sure you don’t overload your home’s circuits by having too much plugged in at once.

X Charge in a flat, dry area, away from sunlight and doorways. Heat and water can create fire risks, and keeping batteries away from exits keeps emergency paths clear should a fire start.

X Always buy batteries from known, quality sellers.

X Stay near your batteries while they are charging.

Uncover Savings

With

a

DIY Energy Audit

By Miranda Boutelle

Q: How do I perform an energy audit on my home?

A: A home energy audit may sound daunting, but it can be as easy as creating a checklist of improvements based on what you see around your home.

Here’s what you need to find opportunities to save energy and money: a flashlight, dust mask, tape measure and cooking thermometer. I recommend taking notes.

First, check the heating and cooling equipment. Determine the age and efficiency of the equipment by looking up the model number on the nameplate. The average life span of HVAC equipment is 10 to 30 years, depending on the type of equipment and how well it’s maintained. If your equipment is older, it may be time to budget for an upgrade. Check the filter and replace it if needed.

Check the envelope of your home for drafts and air leakage. Feel around windows and trim for any drafts. Pay special attention to spots where different building materials come together. Look under sinks for gaps around pipes. Seal with weatherstripping, caulk or expanding foam as needed.

Replace incandescent or compact fluorescent bulbs with LEDs. LEDs use significantly less energy and last longer.

Check for leaking faucets and make sure aerators and showerheads are high-efficiency models in good condition. The gallons-per-minute ratings should be etched onto them. To reduce wasted energy from using more hot water than needed, aerators should be 0.5 to 1.5 GPM. Showerheads should be no more than 2 GPM.

While wearing a dust mask, make sure the attic is insulated. You may see enough from the access area using a cellphone with the flash on to take pictures. Use a tape measure to check the depth of the insulation. It should be a minimum of 12 inches deep. This can vary depending on the type of insulation and your geography.

Insulation can become compacted over time. Loose fill or blown-in insulation should be fluffy and evenly dispersed. Rolled batt insulation should fit tightly together without gaps.

Exterior walls should be insulated. If your home was built before the 1960s, the walls are probably not insulated. Homes from 1960-79 likely need more insulation. Sometimes, you can see wall insulation by removing an outlet cover or switch plate and using a flashlight to look for insulation inside the wall cavity.

Turn off the power at the electrical panel to avoid the risk of electric shock. Wall insulation can be blown in from the inside or outside of the home. However, this is a job for a professional.

Head to the basement or crawlspace next. Unfinished basements should have insulation on the rim joists, at minimum. This is the area between the top of the foundation and the underside of the home’s first-story floor.

Use closed-cell spray foam or a combination of rigid foam and spray foam to insulate rim joists. Crawl spaces should have insulation on the underside of the floor between the floor joists. Insulation should be supported in contact with the floor with no air gaps. Water pipes and ductwork should also be insulated.

Lastly, check the temperature of your water by running it for three minutes at the faucet closest to your water heater. Then fill a cup and check the temperature with a cooking thermometer. The water should be 120 to 140 degrees. Reduce the temperature on your water heater to reduce energy waste and prevent scalding.

Once your home energy audit is finished, review your findings and prioritize energy-efficiency projects. For step-by-step instructions, visit www.energy.gov/save. n

This content was originally created by Efficiency Services Group LLC under contract with NRECA. NRECA retains ownership of this content. NRECA does not endorse Efficiency Services Group, its views herein expressed, nor any products or services it offers.

Miranda Boutelle has more than 20 years of experience helping people save energy. She has worked on energyefficiency projects from the Midwest to the West Coast. Today, Miranda is chief operating officer at Efficiency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energyefficiency company.

When inspecting your heating and cooling equipment, check the filter and replace it. A dirty furnace filter can cause your system to work harder than necessary. PHOTO BY MARK GILLILAND

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Giving a Voice to the Silent

Community task forces create first lines of defense against human trafficking in rural communities

By Victoria Hampton

As a child, Jane was an explorer. While the wind whipped through her brown hair and the sun beat down on her family’s rural central California ranch, Jane and her brothers created imaginary worlds. Goats and chickens acted as companions on their quests, and trees and forts built their magical realms.

Yet even the most elaborate games of make-believe only offered temporary escapes from the cruelties of Jane’s everyday life.

“I was about 6 years old when my cousin started to traffick me for drugs,” says Jane, now 33.

It was not a villain from a faraway city who stole Jane away from her family and forced her into a life of human trafficking. It was Jane’s cousin and grandfather who forced her into illicit acts for her family’s financial gain in the small town where she grew up.

“Looking back on it, it was a very slow process of isolating me and manipulating me and grooming me to the point where I thought that what I was doing was helping my family,” Jane says.

Jane’s experience is similar to millions of victims who are bought and sold for commercial sex and forced labor in the United States. Nonprofits and task forces throughout the Northwest are taking action against this crime to help victims and survivors as well as safeguard their communities. People like Jane are no longer alone in their fight for a better life.

In the Life

“Human trafficking is one of the fastestgrowing criminal enterprises in the world,” says Amanda Swanson, Oregon Department of Justice’s human trafficking response and intervention coordinator. “Before the pandemic, it had surpassed the gun trade and was projected to surpass the drug trade. Human trafficking, you really can break down to economics 101. If there is demand, somebody is going to supply.”

From her 16 years of experience working hundreds of human trafficking cases in Oregon, Amanda knows the crime is perpetrated by people who victims know, trust and sometimes love.

“The top two most common forms of trafficking are familial trafficking and romantic relationships,” Amanda says. “It’s the family. It’s a partner. It’s a boyfriend or girlfriend. It’s not the person who is going to jump out of the bushes. It’s possibly our neighbor or a family member.”

Familial trafficking is when a trafficker exploits a minor within their own family. Other traffickers exploit their partners or spouses. In both scenarios, perpetrators manipulate their victims and prey on their vulnerabilities. Traffickers offer safety, security and basic needs that may be lacking in someone’s life.

“Most of the time, there is a lot of stuff going on at home, whether it is abuse or neglect from their family,” Jane says. “They feel like they don’t have those basic, fundamental things we all need as humans, like love and acceptance.”

Using a process of force, fraud and coercion, traffickers build up individuals, making them dependent on their abusers. They use this control they’ve gained to force people into illicit acts. By the time this happens, victims have no way out.

“A lot of times people still think, ‘How could somebody get trapped into this?’”

Jeri MooMaw says. “The grooming process is similar to a cult leader. Over time, (traffickers) are cutting off any other avenue of needs fulfillment so (victims) become dependent on them.”

Jeri—a child sex trafficking survivor and executive director of Innovations Human Trafficking Collaborative—has worked with clients who live everywhere from gated communities to homeless encampments.

“When you’re being forced to do things that you don’t want to do—besides the physical pain that you go through—I think it is just a really difficult thing to cope with mentally. There was a point where my brain just kind of broke.”

JANE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVOR

Human trafficking affects victims from all age groups and walks of life.

Once a trafficker has effectively isolated their victim, they use tactics of fear, shame and helplessness to keep them in the life. For Jane—a child who did not know a lifestyle beyond the one she lived on her family’s isolated ranch—traffickers used fear as their tool to keep her compliant.

“They told me that people could read my mind, and I believed that,” Jane says. “My brothers would be hurt if I didn’t do what they would ask me to do.”

In communities, trafficking happens under the radar.

“Especially in rural communities, (trafficking) doesn’t always look like the way we think it would,” Jane says. “I

wasn’t standing on street corners. I lived at home with my family. Most of my trafficking happened in people’s homes.”

Jane’s abuse continued throughout her childhood while she went to school, played sports and attended church. She seemed like any other child, with a shy and obedient nature.

“One part of me was doing all this terrible stuff, and the other part of me was who I kind of presented to the world,” Jane says. “If you had looked at me, you wouldn’t think, ‘This person is being trafficked.’”

Jane was terrified of what might happen if she opened up to anyone about her abuse. Her cousin—the same one selling her for sex—introduced her to substance abuse to help cope with the

trauma and physical abuse inflicted by her buyers and to make her easier to control.

“When you’re being forced to do things that you don’t want to do—besides the physical pain that you go through—I think it is just a really difficult thing to cope with mentally,” Jane says. “There was a point where my brain just kind of broke. It’s incredibly difficult to process.”

She also started self-harming and attempted suicide multiple times. Jane was connected to a school counselor and saw a therapist. While she was too scared to speak her truth, no one recognized the signs of what was going on behind closed doors.

“Nobody ever asked me why,” Jane says. “I don’t understand why nobody saw the bigger picture.”

Jane overlooks Summer Lake in Oregon while wrapped in a blanket gifted to her by a friend who wanted to honor Jane’s heritage. After escaping familial trafficking, Jane takes small steps to reclaim pieces of her inherited identity while creating a better life for herself.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JANE

Communities for Change

To help mitigate this crime in local communities, county task forces are relying on what small towns do best: help one another. County task forces are community-based multidisciplinary teams with the training and skills to identify, respond to, and help victims and survivors of human trafficking.

Each task force is different but often includes employees from the local police department, domestic violence and housing assistance organizations, youth nonprofits, school districts and other county organizations with existing resources to support victims and survivors.

“Our goal is to have them in every county,” says Amanda, who is responsible for building Oregon’s response to sex and labor trafficking.

This effort starts with building awareness and understanding the root causes of trafficking and how it thrives in communities. From there, task forces find the best ways to support victims and survivors by pooling resources and educating their communities about human trafficking and where they can direct suspected victims for help or report a suspected incident.

“One of the goals of the task force is

to build this team of people who know what trafficking is and know how to respond to it so that when a victim or survivor is identified, they know what to do and the other agencies they can reach out to support the person,” says Ashley Johnson, Anti-Trafficking Alliance of Central Oregon task force coordinator and “at:project” coordinator.

If a victim is in a police station, entering foster care, contacting a domestic violence center or sitting in a school counselor’s office, the goal is for the professionals they’re encountering to know how to identify the signs of trafficking and connect them with what they need in the moment.

Starting with meeting basic needs— something to eat and a safe place to rest— may lead to counseling, housing and job support, or prosecution of their trafficker.

Community awareness and collaboration changed Jane’s life.

After escaping her traffickers in her early 20s, Jane eventually found her way to Central Oregon. Even through the trauma and abuse Jane experienced, she didn’t think of herself as a survivor.

“At this point, I still didn’t understand what trafficking was,” Jane says. “I didn’t know that was what had happened to me. I knew it was a lot of abuse and a lot of really

bad things that shouldn’t have happened.”

When she moved to Oregon, Jane was in an abusive relationship and struggling with her mental health. While working in a hospital, she suffered from a concussion after hitting her head on a piece of equipment. During her medical examination, the doctor found evidence of multiple concussions Jane had suffered from abuse inflicted by her traffickers and buyers.

Finally, someone asked Jane a question that took down all the walls she’d spent her lifetime building: Why did this happen to you?

“I just broke down and told him everything,” Jane says. “That was the first time I had really opened up about the things I had been through in my life. Up until that point, I was too scared. I told myself I was never going to tell anyone what had happened.”

Thanks to the local advocacy and awareness efforts by the county task force, the doctor knew where to direct Jane to get the help she needed. Jane was connected to at:project, a local nonprofit created by law enforcement and the district attorney’s office employees, service providers and agencies to support survivors of human trafficking in Central Oregon.

The at:project helped Jane gain her

LEFT: As a survivor of human trafficking, Jeri Moomaw founded Innovations Human Trafficking Collaborative to help victims and survivors access life-changing services. PHOTO COURTESY OF JERI MOOMAW RIGHT: From left, Oregon Department of Justice employees Kaitlyn Hardy and Amanda Swanson; Lizzie Martinez, Lincoln County Trafficking Intervention task force coordinator; and Shawna Gray, Siletz Tribal Gaming Commission executive director, host a human trafficking presentation at Chinook Winds Casino. PHOTO COURTESY OF LIZZIE MARTINEZ

“Getting connected with the at:project was probably the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

JANE

independence and a new outlook on life through therapy, housing assistance and the support of others who understood what she was going through and were there to support her every step of the way.

“Getting connected with the at:project was probably the best thing that has ever happened to me,” Jane says. “I had true, genuine, caring support for the first time in my life, and I feel like that was the turning point for me, and everything just got so much better.”

How You Can Help

As a former homeless youth in Lincoln County, Oregon, Lizzie Martinez has firsthand experience of the transformative nature of community support for people experiencing hardship. This inspired Lizzie to dedicate her career to giving back to her community. Lizzie is the Lincoln County Trafficking Intervention Task Force coordinator and works for Children’s Advocacy Center of Lincoln County.

“Just the strength and resilience that I have seen as I’ve walked alongside survivors makes it very motivating to advocate for them in the professional arena and be a voice where they so often don’t have one,” Lizzie says.

Protecting communities from these crimes goes back to where the exploitation of children and adults often starts: vulnerabilities. Lizzie understands everyone has a different capacity to help in their communities, yet there is power in every action taken to raise awareness and support existing programs that help the most vulnerable members of communities.

From small to large, there are ways residents can address vulnerabilities and help safeguard their communities:

• Listen to survivors’ stories at thelifestory.org.

• Donate to a food bank.

• Volunteer at a school as a tutor.

• Donate clothes to youth and adult organizations.

• Research and share internet safety training resources with families. The school district may have resources available.

• Support a domestic violence or housing assistance organization.

• Report any suspected incidents of human trafficking to police.

• Organize a trafficking awareness event, such as a film screening or guest speaker. Contact a county or state antitrafficking agency for training support.

• Volunteer with Court Appointed Special Advocates or a youth advocacy organization.

• Do not buy or encourage others to buy sex.

• Form a task force with programs and services that can support victims and survivors of human trafficking. It can start with a group of concerned community members meeting at someone’s house and expand from there, which is how the Anti-Trafficking Alliance of Central Oregon was formed.

“Being able to address those vulnerabilities makes such a big difference that people don’t even realize,” Amanda says.

A decade later, Jane is still an explorer, and her reality is a place she no longer has to escape from. She takes her lived experiences and helps victims and survivors as a supervisor at an antitrafficking organization in Central Oregon.

“Something that I’ve realized doing this kind of work is how many people have stories similar to mine,” Jane says.

Jane is working on a degree in social work and plans to apply to a master’s program to continue supporting others and be a voice for change.

“I feel like it is a way of taking some of my power back,” Jane says. “Everything that I am learning right now is helping me feel even more confident and capable in my ability to show up for other people.” n

Want to find out more? Listen to Jeri Moomaw, Innovations Human Trafficking Collaborative executive director, speak about holding perpetrators accountable at ruralite.com/giving-a-voice-to-the-silent.

Need Help?

Contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline

This 24-hour, confidential hotline connects victims and survivors of sex and labor trafficking with services and support to get help and stay safe.

If you need assistance, here’s how you can connect:

Call: 888-373-7888

Text: 233733 (BEFREE)

Chat: humantraffickinghotline.org/chat

If you suspect potential situations of sex and labor trafficking in your community, call the hotline or report it to your police department.

At

her request, Jane’s name was changed and her last name omitted to protect her privacy.

The Eyes of the Road Transportation employees take the wheel to stop human trafficking in its tracks

By Victoria Hampton

Jennifer Geisler knows that anyone who steps into one of her buses could be a human trafficking victim. As chief operations officer of Sunset Empire Transportation District in Astoria, Oregon, Jennifer and her team rely on their yearly training from TAT—formerly known as Truckers Against Trafficking—and open communication to keep their riders safe and get them the help they need.

In February 2023, Jennifer’s team quickly responded to a situation involving two girls who boarded a bus in Seaside to connect with a person they met online in Portland. Calls to the Seaside transit office came from the dad of one of the girls and local police. Transportation Support Specialist Stephanie Rodriguez reviewed camera footage and contacted Jennifer and supervisor Rick Yelton to confirm the girls were on board. Jennifer, Rick, bus driver Chuck Poellnitz and police worked together to bring the girls home.

Jennifer can’t help but think about what might have happened.

“This could very well have not been a happy ending had we not been able to get involved,” Jennifer says. “That’s why we continue to do training every year, to be able to help save our children and other young people as well as elderly and disabled who are just as much of a victim in this situation. It’s just watching out for each other.”

Jennifer credits TAT’s free training to raising her team’s awareness and ability to help riders in need.

Human trafficking is a crime in which people are bought and sold for forced labor or commercial sex. For more than a decade, TAT has worked alongside the transportation industry to bring awareness to this crime and empower drivers to report incidents they see on the road.

“It makes our drivers consciously aware of these situations, and they have the tools to call and question what’s happening,” Jennifer says.

Driving Change

Kylla Lanier couldn’t have imagined how her family’s life would change when she cracked open a book from her mom. She and her sisters were consumed by a world they didn’t know existed when they read David Batstone’s “Not for Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade and

How We Can Fight It.”

“I’ll be honest, we were just shocked,” Kylla says. “We didn’t realize slavery still existed.”

It was this awareness that drove the family to create TAT. What started as local advocacy in 2009 grew into a specialized training program focused on drivers who travel the 4.2 million miles of highways in the United States.

“Most truck drivers, if they knew what was going on, they’d do something about it,” Kylla says, TAT’s deputy director and senior director of external affairs.

Today, the organization offers free human trafficking awareness training for transportation employees—such as longhaul truckers, delivery drivers and public transit drivers—along with law enforcement, government agencies, private and public companies, and community members.

“The general population in the United States, they do not understand prostitution,” Kylla says. “Almost every person in prostitution is there against their will. This is a system of exploitation.”

The exploitation of girls, boys, women and men isn’t the sensationalized experience people see in movies, Kylla says. Victims are often trafficked by people they know who rely on psychological manipulation to

trick and threaten them into providing commercial sex or forced labor. It is a crime that happens everywhere.

“It’s happening in every community, whether people want to acknowledge it or not,” Kylla says. “It is important we are aware and make sure our community is safe. It is an everywhere problem, so it is an everyone solution.”

TAT’s free training includes industryfocused, documentary-style videos, corporate and community training resources, printable posters and wallet cards, and a mobile app. The training videos bring together survivors’ firsthand accounts and antitrafficking education.

Awareness on the Road

TAT’s survivor-driven education changed Oregon Department of Transportation’s Maureen McNeill’s perspective on her work eight years ago when she attended Kylla’s presentation at a law enforcement conference in Bend. During the presentation, a young human trafficking survivor shared some of her darkest moments and how she carries the weight of those experiences with her every day.

“I sat right across the table from her as she told her story, and it really stuck with me for a long time,” Maureen says. “I said to

TOP: Sunset Empire Transportation District’s employees are trained to identify signs of human trafficking. PHOTO COURTESY OF SUNSET

EMPIRE TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT RIGHT: Kylla Lanier gives a presentation on human trafficking awareness to 300 law enforcement officers at the 2022 Western States Information Network. PHOTO COURTESY OF TAT

myself, ‘I need to do something about this.’”

As the backbone of the country’s economy, Maureen knows each truck driver she meets may encounter human trafficking victims and perpetrators. Traffickers use the same extensive road network as truck drivers to transport their victims, including the rural stretch of I-84 Maureen manages from Umatilla to Baker City.

“They are the eyes of the road,” she says. “When they’re stopping in rest areas, truck stops and casino parking lots, they are likely to see something.”

When Maureen was promoted to Blue Mountain regional manager of commerce and compliance, she added human trafficking awareness to trainings she and her team present to trucking businesses and farming operations in Eastern Oregon. She has fliers and wallet cards at weigh stations

for her employees to hand out to drivers.

“Traffickers are on our highways, and they need to stop and use facilities,” Maureen says. “That’s where we’re going to spot them.”

Kylla hears stories of industry professionals across the country who have encountered suspected human trafficking and reported it to local police. Oftentimes, the people who step up to help in these situations never hear the outcome of their efforts. Yet, Kylla knows how much of a difference these actions make from the survivors she works with at TAT.

“When you see survivors thriving— these are creative, strong, smart people that deserve a chance at a better life,” Kylla says. n

Bring attention and advocacy to your community with TAT’s free human trafficking awareness resources at tatnonprofit.org.

TAT is dedicated to giving transportation employees the training they need to identify signs of human trafficking while on the road.

PHOTO BY MIKE TEEGARDEN

ABOVE: Clockwise from left, Stephanie Rodriguez, Rick Yelton, Chuck Poellnitz and Jennifer Geisler played a role in preventing two teenage girls from running away aboard a Sunset Empire bus. PHOTO BY MIKE TEEGARDEN

It Tastes Better IN A BOWL

Acai Bowl With Whole-Wheat Toast

1 100-milligram frozen acai smoothie pack

1 cup low-fat milk

1 medium frozen banana, sliced

1 cup fresh or frozen mixed berries

2 slices whole-wheat bread

Fresh blueberries

Granola

Coconut flakes

Under warm water, thaw frozen acai smoothie pack about 5 seconds. In a blender, combine acai, milk, banana and mixed berries. Blend until smooth.

Toast bread slices to desired doneness.

Pour acai mixture into bowl and garnish with blueberries, granola and coconut flakes before serving. Serve with toast.

Source: Culinary.net

Chicken and Grape Cauliflower Rice Bowl

Chicken

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon minced ginger

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

Zucchini

1 tablespoon olive oil

Cauliflower rice

1 pound thawed frozen riced cauliflower

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1/3 cup water

1 teaspoon turmeric

2 large garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons minced ginger

Salt, to taste

Pepper, to taste

1 pound (3 to 4 pieces) small boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

2 medium zucchini, trimmed and cut into 3/4-inch chunks

1 tablespoon ground cumin

15-ounce can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed well

1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Salt, to taste

Pepper, to taste

11/3 cups halved red grapes

To make the chicken: In a medium bowl, combine oil, garlic, ginger and cumin. Add turmeric, season lightly with salt and pepper, and whisk to blend. Lightly pound chicken pieces to even them out, then coat in oil-spice mixture. Let stand 20 to 30 minutes.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add chicken, smooth side down. Cook until golden brown underneath, about 4 minutes. Flip with spatula, and reduce heat to medium. Cook about 4 minutes until just cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate and tent with foil. Do not clean the pan.

To make the zucchini: In a medium skillet, heat oil on medium-high heat until hot. Add zucchini pieces. Cook, stirring often until crisp and tender, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat.

To make cauliflower rice: In a colander, drain cauliflower well. In same large skillet used for chicken, add oil, onion and water over medium heat. Cook, stirring until softened, about 3 minutes. Add turmeric, garlic, ginger and cumin. Cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add drained cauliflower and garbanzo beans. Cook until hot, about 5 minutes. Stir in cilantro. Season with salt and pepper.

Divide cauliflower rice among four large soup bowls. Slice chicken against the grain. Arrange on top of cauliflower rice along with grapes and cooked zucchini. Serve warm.

Source: California Table Grape Commission

Mixed Berry Smoothie Bowl

1/2 cup fresh raspberries

1/2 cup sliced fresh strawberries

¼ cup sliced banana

¼ cup pomegranate juice

3/4 cup dairy whipped topping

1/8 cup fresh blueberries

1 tablespoon raw pepitas

1 teaspoon honey

Set aside a few berries to place on top of finished smoothie. Add banana, remaining raspberries, strawberries and pomegranate juice to blender. Blend until smooth. Add whipped topping, and pulse until blended.

Pour smoothie into a bowl. Artfully arrange reserved berries, blueberries and pumpkin seeds on top. Drizzle with honey. Top with additional whipped topping, if desired.

Source: Ready Set Eat

Oatmeal Power Bowl With Peanut Butter Drizzle

1 banana, mashed

2 tablespoons chia seeds

1/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

2/3 cup dairy-free milk

1/3 cup water

1 tablespoon milled flaxseed

¼ cup natural creamy peanut butter, warmed

The night before, prepare oats by combining the banana, chia seeds, oats, cinnamon, dairy-free milk and water. Stir, cover, and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, scoop the mixture into a saucepan over mediumhigh heat. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue stirring frequently until mixture is thick and completely heated. Remove from heat. Stir in flax. Pour oats into bowl, and drizzle with melted peanut butter. Add toppings as desired.

Source: Ready Set Eat

Orange Shrimp Quinoa Bowls

1 cup orange juice

1 tablespoon hot sauce

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon soy sauce

4 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 tablespoon white miso

¼ cup butter

11/2 pounds shrimp, peeled, deveined and tails removed

¼ teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 cup mushrooms, sliced

1 cup quinoa, cooked

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 cucumber, sliced into half moons

5 green onions, sliced

1 avocado, sliced

1 teaspoon sesame seeds

2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

In a medium bowl, whisk orange juice, hot sauce, honey, soy sauce, vegetable oil, lime juice and miso until combined. Pour one-quarter of liquid into a separate bowl. Set aside. Add shrimp to the remaining mixture, and marinate 15 minutes.

Heat large skillet over medium heat with butter. Add shrimp, salt and pepper. Cook 2 minutes on each side until pink. Add mushrooms and cook until tender.

In two serving bowls, divide quinoa, bell pepper, cucumber, onions, avocado and shrimp. Sprinkle sesame seeds and cilantro over both bowls. Drizzle with reserved dressing.

Source: Culinary.net

READER EXCHANGE

Crafts/Hobbies

I would appreciate any scrapbook paper, metal dies, embossing folders, wax seals, glitter, embellishments, embossing ink. Anything that you don’t need anymore in your craft room, I’m willing to pay shipping if needed. Thank you very much.

A Zinni

260 E. Theater Lane Hermiston, OR 97838

Retired “hot rodder” would like old license plates to decorate wall of hobby shop. Will be happy to refund shipping cost. Thank you.

Marty Billich 3580 Parkridge Ave. Pahrump, NV 89048

I have been working on a California king size cover for bed. I would appreciate if anyone has white doilies they would be willing to share. Can be used. I have been working on the cover for 10 years. Thank you in advance.

Kathryn Geiszler 19024 Hwy 42 Myrtle Point, OR 97458

Milestones

Our family has adopted a spunky senior who is turning 92 in January. She still drives and brings a lot of joy to others. Adelia has experienced much loss and sorrow in her life, but she keeps smiling and is truly an inspiration. It would mean the world to her to receive birthday cards. Please address them to: Adelia Anderson, 3755 N. 4th St., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815. Thank you so much.

Karen Kastning Rathdrum, Idaho

My mom turns 100 in early February. She would love to receive greetings and words from the world outside my home. Please send cards to: 61590 Gosney Road, Bend, OR 97702. Thanks in advance.

Anita Elsey Bend, Oregon

Music

I am looking for the words to an old cowboy song that my dad loved. I don’t remember the name, but some of the words are, “I dreamed there would be a great roundup/where cowboys like doggies would stand/to be judged by the (Rider of Justice?)/who is (trained?) and who knows every brand/roll on, roll on, roll on little doggies, roll on.” I would love to have these words, if someone knows them.

Evalyn Finney 11815 N. Boyer Road Sandpoint, ID 83864-8870

Odds

I am a lover of hot tea, especially on a cold winter morning. I noticed my tea selection getting rather skimpy and thought it would be fun to ask readers if they might send me a tea bag of a brew that they enjoy. I would be happy to reciprocate. I would very much enjoy the variety. I double checked postage, and it would require one stamp. Thank you so very much.

Harriet Courts

6060 Teal Creek Road Dallas, OR 97338

I have a very nice casserole dish in my possession. It is a large stone one: 9x13. It was left in Antelope, Oregon, about six to eight months ago. If you have a missing dish, please call 541-489-3445 with the brand name. I will be happy to mail it to you.

Elizabeth Samul P.O. Box 37

Antelope, OR 97001

Recipes

Looking for a recipe for cornbread that was much more moist and sweeter than traditional cornbread. It’s baked in a 9x13 pan, has cheddar cheese, butter and creamed corn.

Elena Nightingale

907 D Ave.

LaGrande, OR 97850

Thanks

I want to send a huge thank you to all of the amazing people who sent beads, jewelry, other craft items and ideas for our Senior Respite Program. Your generosity is so appreciated and overwhelming.

Diane Whitley Eastsound, Washington

Thank you so very much to all who sent cards and gifts to my mom for her 92nd birthday. She was shocked but very delighted to get mail. Rural people are so awesome.

Laura Crowe Umpqua, Oregon

Submitting Requests Is Free

Send your request (no attachments) to readerexchange@ruralite.org or mail to Reader Exchange, 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Suite 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Fill in the subject line with Reader Exchange.

Acceptance, scheduling and editing are at the editor’s discretion. Single requests only, please. No duplicates. Submissions are handled firstcome, first-served as space allows. We cannot honor every request.

Please affirm you have authorization from all appropriate parties before submitting. By submitting, you indemnify Reader Exchange, Pioneer Utility Resources Inc., its officers, directors, employees, utility clients and insurers from all legal liability incurred by the publication of information.

We no longer accept pen pal requests. You may submit a pen pal request as a Marketplace ad (pricing applies).

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

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

See millions of years of history embedded in stone at Oregon’s

Sheep Rock

What Is It?

Jutting into the sky with its layers of rock and fossil, Sheep Rock in Eastern Oregon is home to millions of years of geologic history. One of three parts of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument and next to the beautiful Painted Hills, the area is great for history, hiking and marveling at landscapes.

Rock Records

The Sheep Rock Unit of the fossil beds is home to rocks up to 95 million years old, with plant and animal fossils from 7 to 33 million years ago. The unit houses the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center, where visitors can see a collection of fossils. The unit also includes seven hiking trails, ranging from a quarter mile to 3.25 miles round trip.

Two More Units

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument has two other units. One, the Painted Hills, is famous for its rolling hills with striking stripes in its rock. The colors—best viewed in the afternoon sun—are caused by variations in mineral levels. The third unit, Clarno, is home to pillars of rock formed by volcanic mudslides.

Take a Road Trip

When visiting the John Day Fossil Beds, consider making it a road trip along Oregon’s Journey Through Time Scenic Byway. The byway is nearly 290 miles long, taking visitors from the Columbia River south through the fossil beds, then east through the Blue Mountains before ending in Baker City.

More Information

The John Day Fossil Beds do not require a pass, unlike many National Parks Service sites. To start planning your trip, head online to www.nps.gov/joda or call 541-987-2333.

ADOBE STOCK

PHOTO BY DAVIDRH

NORTH AMERICA’S

#1 Selling Walk-In

The best walk-in tub just got better with breakthrough technology! Presenting the all new Safe Step Walk-In Tub featuring MicroSoothe. ® An air system so revolutionary, it oxygenates, softens and exfoliates skin, turning your bath into a spa-like experience. Constructed and built right here in America for safety and durability from the ground up, and with more standard features than any other tub.

✓ Heated seat providing warmth from beginning to end

✓ Carefully engineered hydro-massage jets strategically placed to target sore muscles and joints

✓ High-quality tub complete with a comprehensive lifetime warranty on the entire tub

✓ Top-of-the-line installation and service, all included at one low, affordable price You’ll agree – there just isn’t a better, more affordable walk-in tub on the market.

A New Year

By Dave LaBelle

As a newspaper photographer, there were always New Year’s Day photo assignments, such as taking pictures of the first baby of the year.

Like many holidays marked with some sort of celebration, New Year’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate

and bridgesandangels.wordpress.com.

NIKON D810, 180mm lens

ISO 800, f/3.2 at 1/320

As they age, one goal for many people is to keep moving. Gary

walks 15 minutes a day at a local fitness club before doing other strength-training activities. Gary says he has been working out the past five years because his chiropractor told him he needs to keep moving.

time, the beginning of a new calendar year. Most of us make resolutions we hope to keep. You know how it goes. After Jan. 1, gymnasiums are usually filled with eager folks ready to start fulfilling New Year’s health resolutions. The same gyms are half-filled by June.

But photographically, the new year might be a good time to follow a dream you have wanted to pursue.

Thanks to the help of several generous supporters, I plan to finally pursue a photographic dream I have had for many years. I call this dream A Visual Walk with Christ, and I plan to visually

interpret Biblical scenes.

So, whether you travel to the Big Apple to watch the ball drop at Times Square, position yourself in one of the towns or cities that color the

Reader Challenge

sky with fireworks, or begin a dream project, the calendar change is an opportunity to start the new year with fresh challenges, both personally and photographically. n

Try photographing resolutions in action, such as documenting someone beginning a new workout routine. Challenge yourself to make a photograph of yourself once a month. Photograph someone you love or admire throughout the year, similar to how we made a pencil mark on a doorframe for children to mark their growth. Pick a favorite spot to document over the four seasons. When my third child, Tucker, was born, I photographed him every day of his first year of life. I still draw from those images every year.

Email your best image (just one, please) 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.

Renowned author, photographer and lecturer Dave LaBelle has captured special moments for more than half a century. For more of his writings, visit davidlabelle.com

Kramer, 70,

PHOTO BY DAVE LABELLE

Sacred Stone of the Southwest is on the Brink of Extinction

Centuries ago, Persians, Tibetans and Mayans considered turquoise a gemstone of the heavens, believing the striking blue stones were sacred pieces of sky. Today, the rarest and most valuable turquoise is found in the American Southwest–– but the future of the blue beauty is unclear.

On a recent trip to Tucson, we spoke with fourth generation turquoise traders who explained that less than five percent of turquoise mined worldwide can be set into jewelry and only about twenty mines in the Southwest supply gem-quality turquoise. Once a thriving industry, many Southwest mines have run dry and are now closed.

We found a limited supply of turquoise from Arizona and purchased it for our Sedona Turquoise Collection . Inspired by the work of those ancient craftsmen and designed to showcase the exceptional blue stone, each stabilized vibrant cabochon features a unique, one-of-a-kind matrix surrounded in Bali metalwork. You could drop over $1,200 on a turquoise pendant, or you could secure 26 carats of genuine Arizona turquoise for just $99.

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you aren’t completely happy with your purchase, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price.

The supply of Arizona turquoise is limited, don’t miss your chance to own the Southwest’s brilliant blue treasure. Call today!

Jewelry Specifications:

• Arizona turquoise • Silver-finished settings

Sedona Turquoise Collection

A. Pendant (26 cts) $299 * $99 +s&p Save $200

B. 18" Bali Naga woven sterling silver chain $149 +s&p

C. 1 1/2" Earrings (10 ctw) $299 * $99 +s&p Save $200

Set

* $249 +s&p Save $498

**Complete set includes pendant, chain and earrings.

Code STC935-09

A.

B.

C.

Necklace enlarged to show luxurious color

Blades ofaFeather

As one of the largest purveyors of collectible knives in the country, you can trust Stauer to give you the best knife for your money.

Case in point: The Blades of a Feather Knife –– a remarkable hunting and adventure knife with an even more remarkable price. This is the kind of knife people flock to.

This stick tang knife boasts a stainless steel blade with a scalloped edge that gives it a distinct feathered appearance. This “feathered” edge is more than a striking aesthetic touch; it enhances the knife’s performance by creating air pockets in the spaces. These air pockets prevent shredding and allow for a cleaner, smoother cut. Consider it your edge up.

Recalling the days of the great American frontier, this knife’s artisan handle is crafted of natural bone, redwood and brown Pakkawood. It’s a great addition to your collection, and will prove a trusty companion for all your outdoor adventures from hunting and fishing to camping and hiking. It also makes one heck of a letter opener. Plus, by making the call today, you are guaranteed to receive a genuine leather sheath in the deal.

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price.

We invite you to join the hundreds of thousands of Stauer knife collectors who appreciate a fine blade along with a fine deal. We assure you, you’ll be in good company. Don’t let this beauty slip through your fingers. Call today!

Knife Speci cations:

Call today and you’ll also receive this genuine leather sheath!

• Stainless steel stick tang blade; 12” overall length

• Natural bone, redwood & brown Pakkawood handle

Blades of a Feather Knife $249 $49* + S&P Save $200 California residents please call 1-800-333-2045 regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product.

*Special price only for customers using the offer code.

1-800-333-2045

Your Insider Offer Code: BFK144-02

feel of this knife is unbelievable... this is an incredibly fine instrument.”

10 Do’s and Don’ts When Using Portable Generators

By Abby Berry

Storm season is upon us, which means greater potential for power outages. If you’re planning to use a portable generator in the event of an outage, Lassen Municipal Utility District reminds you to play it safe.

With proper use and maintenance, portable generators can provide great convenience during an outage. However, when generators are used incorrectly, they can be extremely hazardous. In a 2022 report, the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated 85 U.S. consumers die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by gasoline-powered portable generators.

Here are 10 do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when using portable generators:

• Do install backup carbon monoxide alarms.

• Do keep children and pets away from portable generators at all times.

• Do position generators at least 25 feet outside the home and away from doors, windows and vents that can allow carbon monoxide to enter the home.

• Do ensure your generator is properly grounded. Use a portable ground-fault circuit interrupter to prevent electric

shock injuries.

• Do use three-pronged extension cords rated to handle the load of the generator. Inspect extension cords for cuts, frays or other damage before use.

• Don’t operate a generator inside your home or an enclosed or partially enclosed space. Generators produce high levels of carbon monoxide, which can be deadly.

• Don’t open windows or doors while the generator is running.

• Don’t rely on generators as a full-time source of power. They should only be used temporarily or in emergency situations to power essential equipment or appliances.

• Don’t overload generators. They should only be used to power essential equipment. Make sure your generator can handle the load of the items you plan to power.

• Don’t connect generators directly to household wiring unless you have an appropriate transfer switch installed. If a generator is connected to a home’s wiring without a transfer switch, power can backfeed along power lines and electrocute utility lineworkers making repairs. While generators provide convenience during power outages, they can quickly become hazardous—even deadly—if improperly operated. Before you operate a portable generator, thoroughly read the owner’s manual for important safety information and tips. n

Position portable generators at least 25 feet outside the home and away from doors, windows and vents that can allow carbon monoxide to enter the home.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HONDA

MARKETPLACE

Agriculture

4x5 round bales, Meadow Foxtail Orchard Grass. 4x4 Timothy, small square. nas@cpcinternet.com; 208-435-4637 or 208-435-4002. 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 43 years in business. www.btlliners.com. 541-447-0712. 0425

Antiques and Collectibles

Buying antiques and collectibles: advertising signs, porcelain signs, gas pumps, beer signs, antique toys, cast-iron coin banks, neon signs and more. Jason, 503-310-3321 or tjabaughman@yahoo.com. 0325

Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo blankets and rugs, baskets, beadwork, etc. Also, quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com. 0225

Automotive

1997 Eddie Bauer Expedition. 4x4 exceptional condition. New aluminum wheels and tires. 113K miles. No disappointments, leave a message. 541-661-1140.

Books, Magazines and Videos

Not just for Christmas. Idaho author Tova R. Cladouhos sells children’s books on Amazon or by email at tovarae@gmail.com. These books are perfect for elementary-aged children with factual stories based on friendship, affection, protection and farm animal adventures. Tova loves barns, pastures, dogs, cats, sheep and ponds. Her books include, “The Nine Lives of Milo the Cat,” “Saving Lily,” “Little Molly” and “Little Molly’s Secret.” 0125

Business Opportunities

For sale: quaint hardware store in Maupin, OR. Inventory and interior store recently updated and refreshed. See ad on Bizbuysell.com or email Maupincountrystore@gmail.com. $229,999. 0125

For sale: successful Northeast Oregon Drive-In Diner, Union, OR. Owner wishes to retire after 28 years. RMLS #24493530. Walt BrookshireBroker, Oregon Trail Realty, 541-805-8689. $185K. 0125

Community Events

9th Annual Fiber Arts & Jewelry Exhibit. Feb. 7 - March 29, 2025. Art Center East in LaGrande, OR. Submission deadline: Feb. 1, 2025. artcentereast.org. 0125

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): March issue—Jan. 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.

Equipment and Tools

Fireproof combination lock safe, $300. DR multi trimmer, $300. Kubota tow rototilla, $1.75K. Land pride 4-ft mower, $800. Ted, 458-910-3727. 0225

Free Items

Free materials—church, government uniting, suppressing “religious liberty,” enforcing National Sunday Law. Be informed. Need mailing address only. TBS, P.O. Box 374, Ellijay, GA 30540. tbsmads@yahoo.com; 888-211-1715. 0125AR

Miscellaneous

Foster parents needed to care for teen youth in Wasco and Hood River counties. Agency provides on-call support, training, $2.1K/youth monthly reimbursement, 2 days off/month. Fosterinfo@nextdoorinc.org, 541-308-2207.

Quadra-Fire Santa Fe pellet stove 700-1,000 sqft. Used 2 seasons, cabin, small house, man cave. $1.8K. Starchaser987@yahoo.com; 541-419-7477. 0125

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

Local commercial fisherman sells summer catch of preserved freshness by blast freezing at sea, gourmet canned tuna on internet. Sept.June. 100% guaranteed the best canned tuna you ever tasted. Original, jalapeno and garlic flavors available. To order: twofisherstuna.com or 206-799-1082. 0225

Pets and Supplies

Male husky. 4 years old. Very gentle. Great with children. 541-875-4172. 0125

Real Estate

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. 0125

Beautiful custom home on 15 acres w/ stunning panoramic mountain and valley views. Garage, barn. $599K. Duke Warner Realty, 541-987-2363, ddwr@ortelco.net. 0125

20 acres located east of Montello, NV. Fully livable. Year-round access. Power and water nearby. Comes with equipment and facilities. $35K. geopup58@gmail.com. 0125

3 beautiful 1.01-acre lots in Pahrump, NV, awesome mountain view in nice area. No HOA. $30K each or two for $55K. Easy access to offroading. Horses okay. Also 10-acre lot with water rights and underground utilities. pkcfitness@hotmail.com. 775-209-2830. 0125

Recreational Rentals

Bed and Birds; a guesthouse. Wet meadows, range, forest, dark sky. Beds for 9. Lakeview, OR. Explore or ride? Near ski hill. Reasonable. 541-219-2044. 0125

Bend country cabin. Very clean and fully furnished cabin on private ranch. Close to recreation areas. Very nice. $95/night. 541-382-3050; bendcountrycabins@gmail.com.

Wavecatcher: oceanfront cottage. Central Oregon coast. $175/night (plus cleaning/tax).

Open April through Oct. Holds up to 6-plus kids and pets. Wavecatcherbeachrentals.com. Reservations: 541-740-2846. 0125

Recreational Vehicles

Thor Ace model 27.2, 2017 motor home. Excellent condition. 14K miles, 2 slides. Sleeps 6, 2 TVs, always covered. $60K. debutler1947@icloud.com; 541-953-0295. 0225

24ft Sunseeker RV Mercedes. Diesel, 8-ft. slide out with 4-person dinette, sleeps 6. 60K miles, 2016. $48.5K. Ted, 458-910-3727. 0225

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. 0225

Historic Windows & Restoration: windows, storm sashes, screen doors for residential buildings. historicwindowsllc.com. 541-714-3460. License #252960. Serving Corvallis, Albany, Eugene, Salem, Portland and surrounding areas. 0125

Swaps and Trades

Private horse ranch in Sisters, OR, offers a spot for your RV living in trade for light horse feeding and cleaning. TK, 541-504-1234. 0125

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.

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 blankets and rugs, baskets, beadwork, etc. Also, quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com. 0225

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. 0225

Buying quality concert posters and handbills from the 1960s and ‘70s. Cash paid for desired items. Eric, 541-520-2794 or ericwedmondson@yahoo.com. 0125

Child Who Stutters Cannot

What Causes High Bills?

Energy experts offer tips to use less at home and save on electric bills

By Victoria Hampton

If you’re like most people, at some point you’ve probably looked at a monthly bill and thought to yourself, “There’s no way I spent that much.”

Whenever we’re faced with a high bill, it’s common to search for who or what we can hold accountable for the unforeseen expense. When it comes to your electricity bill, energy experts use these opportunities to shine a light on how consumers can use less energy to lower future bills.

“It is human nature to assume there is something wrong,” says Travis Hardy, energy management supervisor at Northern Wasco County PUD, based in The Dalles, Oregon. “It tends to be a lack of awareness about how and when energy is consumed in a home.”

Each household’s energy use is different. Understanding how electricity is

consumed around your house is the first step to conserving energy and saving on your power bills.

Energy Use Misconceptions

Heating and cooling account for the highest energy use in a home. One common misconception utility employees hear is that people are keeping their thermostat

temperature the same, yet their bill is still increasing.

“If it is colder outside, your heating system is working harder to keep your house at the same temperature,” says Krista Bouchey, manager of communications at Orcas Power & Light Cooperative, based in Eastsound, Washington.

An easy way to start conserving energy is to adjust your thermostat when you are away from home and at night when you have blankets to keep you warm. Consider adjusting your thermostat 5 to 10 degrees and assessing the comfort of your home at the new temperature.

“Anytime you can turn your heat down or your air conditioning up, you are saving energy,” Mark Gosvener, senior vice president at Hillsboro, Oregon-based Efficiency Services Group.

Another common area of confusion is comparing a current bill with a past month’s bill. Many utilities have energyuse data available through online payment portals. Consumers can view and track their monthly, daily and hourly energy use.

“We encourage people to look at their usage and then compare what you used last month to this month,” Krista says. “If you’re seeing your energy usage has gone way up, you can start turning your thermostat down or finding other ways to reduce the usage.”

Knowing when you use the most energy at home is the first step to uncovering new ways you can use less energy year-round.

“Consider the existing environmental conditions on the outside throughout the year and how they directly impact the energy decisions inside the home,” Travis says.

How to Use Less Energy at Home

Once you’ve adjusted your thermostat, use these tips to improve your home’s energy efficiency and boost your conservation habits throughout the year.

Seal air leaks. Caulking and weatherstripping are used to seal gaps around windows, doors and pipes.

“I had a door that had a little space, and you could feel the cold air coming in,” Krista says. “Look around your house and find those spots where you can feel cold air.”

Plastic coverings or heavy curtains help

keep cold air out, especially with singlepane windows that offer less insulation from the outside air.

If you have a fireplace, be sure you close the damper after every use. Consider using a chimney balloon to keep warm air from escaping through the chimney and cold air from entering the home.

Change the filter. Dirty furnace filters restrict air flow in your home and make your heating system work harder. Check the filter every month, and change it at least every three months.

“Dirty furnace filters can really make your bill jump high,” Mark says. “You have to be able to move air. Anything that restricts air flow is bad.”

Check registers. Make sure all registers in your home are open and not covered by furniture. Restricted air flow makes your heating system work harder and your home feel colder.

Use less hot water. The water heater is the second-highest energy consuming system in your home. Use less hot water by washing clothes in cold water and taking showers instead of baths.

Layer up. Before adjusting the thermostat, put on a sweater, a pair of socks and slippers, or curl up with a blanket. This may be enough to make you comfortable without using more energy.

Energy-Efficiency Upgrades

Once you have air-sealed your home and made positive changes to your energy habits, start planning for upgrades to use less energy.

Add insulation. Insulation protects your home from the outside elements and improves your home’s comfort year-round. Start by adding insulation to your attic and floors. The amount of insulation varies depending on where you live and how much insulation is currently in your home.

Mark recommends insulating before upgrading your heating and cooling system.

“If your home is fully insulated, you’ll likely be able to purchase a smaller size heating and cooling system,” Mark says. “This will save you money in purchase costs upfront and lower operating costs in the long run.”

Replace the HVAC system. Upgrading

to an efficient HVAC system can result in your biggest energy savings. If your system is more than 15 years old or needs expensive repairs, it may be more cost effective to replace it, Travis says.

Some of the best options on the market are heat pumps, which can heat and cool your home. Air-source heat pumps can reduce your electricity use by 50% compared to furnaces and baseboard heaters, according to the Department of Energy.

Heat pumps are available in ducted models, known as air-source heat pumps, and ductless models, called mini-split heat pumps.

Seal ductwork. If you have a forced-air heating and cooling system, ducts supply conditioned air throughout your home. Seal all leaks, holes and poorly connected ducts.

“You need to make sure air is getting from the furnace to your registers,” Travis says.

Install a smart thermostat. These thermostats automatically change the temperature to match your routine throughout the day and can be controlled remotely on your smartphone.

Replace the water heater. Along with being two to three times more energy efficient than conventional electric water heaters, heat pump water heaters have several automated settings, including highefficiency eco mode and advanced vacation mode settings.

“Taking advantage of these smart devices that will help you save energy is so important, and costs for those are going down quite a bit,” Travis says.

Need Help? Contact Your Utility

If you receive a bill that is more than you can pay, ask your utility about available assistance programs, payment plans and billing options.

For home upgrade projects, utilities can connect you with rebates, tax credits and incentives. Options may be available for HVAC equipment, windows, doors, washers and dryers, and smart thermostats. Some utilities also offer low- and no-interest loans for home-efficiency upgrades.

“When you aren’t working in the utility industry, you aren’t aware of all the good things and all the money that is out there to help you,” Travis says. n

BEFORE YOU GO

For the Love of Cooking

After recently moving to San Juan Island with her German shepherd, Tanja, Erna Heckele has taken to teaching her four grandchildren how to cook and bake mostly simple and easy old German meals.

“What a blessing, they have their own plum trees,” Erna says. “I’m trying to teach each of (them), on an individual basis, the art of German cooking.”

Last week, she and her youngest grandson made “apfelkuecherl” (apple fritters) from their own apple tree.

To submit your photo, email a JPEG file to photos@pioneer.coop. Include “Before You Go” in the subject line. Please share a bit about what inspired you to make your photo. n

Erna’s youngest granddaughter, Kora Pearl, joins her in making “zwetschgenknoedel,” which is German for plum dumplings. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERNA HECKELE

Best Breads Cookbook

This 8½-by-11-inch indexed cookbook features yeast breads, quick breads, scones and specialty breads for $10 (includes postage).

TO ORDER BY MAIL:

Submit payment with cookbook title, your name, address and number of cookbooks wanted to:

Ruralite Cookbooks

P.O. Box 1306

North Plains, OR 97133

TO PAY BY PHONE:

Call 503-357-2105 for credit card payments with Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.

TO ORDER ONLINE: Visit www.ruralite.com. Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.

Warm Up With Chili

Whether you prefer your chili hot beyond belief or mild, with beans and/or meat, this booklet from our 2002 contest is for you. Recipes include stories from entrants. As a bonus, get slowcooker recipes from our 2000 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.

ADOBE STOCK IMAGE BY YULIA FURMAN

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65 S. Roop St.

Susanville, CA 96130

Phone: 530-257-4174

Fax: 530-257-2558

www.lmud.org

Board of directors

Daren Hagata, President

Fred Nagel, Vice President

David Ernaga, Treasurer

H.W. “Bud” Bowden

Jess Urionaguena

staff

General Manager

Nick Dominguez, MBA

Electric Operations Manager

Cort Cortez

Administrative Services Manager

Karen Rollings

Public Relations Manager

Theresa Phillips

Accounting and Finance Manager

Kelli Thompson, MBA

Customer Service Manager

Christina M. Nystrom

IT Manager

Thomas Plummer

In case of an outage: If your electricity is off for more than a few minutes, call 530-257-4174. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Outside of normal business hours, calls are monitored by our answering service and forwarded to the appropriate LMUD personnel.

The board meets at 5:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month.

CA-106

Introducing Lassen MUD's New General Manager, Nick Dominguez

There are more than 50 community-owned utilities like Lassen Municipal Utility District serving California residents. These organizations all have one thing in common: they put the needs of those they serve first in all they do. I believe that being served by a community-owned electric utility is an incredible asset to our communities, one that many California residents do not have the opportunity to experience. So, it is my immense honor to be named the district's general manager by the Lassen MUD board of directors.

I am truly humbled to step into this role. My journey with LMUD began in early 2013, and during my time here, I've had the privilege of serving in several capacities, including IT manager and business manager. My various roles and interactions with each department within LMUD have provided me with a deep understanding of how the district operates, its strengths and the areas where we can improve. As we continue to pursue transformative changes and uphold our founding vision from 1986—providing safe, reliable, and reasonably priced power to our customers —I am privileged to serve alongside the dedicated LMUD team. Our board and staff’s unwavering commitment to our communities is truly inspiring, and I am honored to lead this exceptional team.

I invite you to read our annual report on pages 4 and 5 of this issue of the Lassen Ruralite. This new report highlights our achievements from the past year and outlines our goals and plans for the future. As a community-owned utility, you have a strong and powerful voice in shaping our direction. By staying informed and engaged, you can help guide decisions and policies that prioritize the well-being of our community.

This year, we will be undertaking a comprehensive customer survey. We will reach out to you with a series of important questions to better understand how we can serve you more effectively. If you are asked to complete the survey, I strongly encourage your participation.

As we enter our 37th year of service, we look forward to many exciting developments, including some significant milestones on the district’s largest and most ambitious reliability improvement project, the Skedaddle Substation\NVE interconnection. In addition, we are continuing to explore new energy resource opportunities with industry partners while also building upon local partnerships within our communities. These initiatives will help us maintain our role as an integral part of the lives of those we serve.

The LMUD team and I are honored to serve you and our community. We wish you all a happy and prosperous new year.

Nick Dominguez General Manager