MIDSTATE ELECTRIC
Game of critical thinking offered at La Pine Middle School Page 4
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March 2024 • Volume 72, No. 3
CEO Michael Shepard
SENIOR VP OF CONTENT Leon Espinoza
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mike Teegarden, CCC
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I don’t know about you, but I am itching to get outside and get my hands dirty. As soon as the soil in my flower beds stops feeling like overly thickened pudding, I’m ready to purge the winter blahs—and the weeds that have sprouted.
I have a few new flower beds that will get my attention first. One area is a clean slate just waiting for inspiration and the right plants to transform it.
I’m a lazy gardener, favoring native perennials that require little care while providing vibrant color year after year. Over time, I want to fill in the open spaces with low-creeping plants that reduce the need for weeding. I’m not there yet, but this month’s gardening story gave me great ideas on ways to reach my goals while saving money. I haven’t grown plants indoors from seeds since my days in elementary school, but I’m excited to give it a try again.
When the weather is too cold to work my flower beds, my family loves to play board games. We have an overflowing game closet. I was pretty excited when I ran across a company in Pahrump, Nevada, which helps game developers take their ideas to the finish line. You can read about it on Page 10. Maybe one of you will design the next must-have board game.
As we continue celebrating Ruralite’s 70th year, please look at the Before You Go story on Page 30. From time to time this year, we will share nuggets from some of the first issues of Ruralite magazine. This month, we feature new product descriptions and household tips that ran in December 1954.
Sincerely,
Mike Teegarden Editorial Director
Innovator leads the way to a successful board game design business Up Close, Page 10
Members of the La Pine Middle School Chess Club listen and watch as chess strategies are discussed on the big screen. The club offers students another after-school activity and teaches patience and critical thinking.
By Craig Reed
The rook piece is moved vertically up the side of the chessboard. After a counter move, the bishop closes in diagonally. Another countermove doesn’t prevent the inevitable.
The queen is moved to a square near the opponent’s king, and the call is, “Checkmate.”
Game over!
Students in the La Pine Middle School Chess Club are learning to make moves like these while improving their knowledge of the game and subsequently, their skills to play it. The game involves moving pieces— pawns, knights, bishops, rooks, the king and the queen—on a checkered board.
Shane Sweet, an engineering supervisor at Midstate Electric Cooperative, is the instructor for the club, which he started at the school last spring.
On game day, the club attracts 12 to 18 students from the sixth, seventh and eighth grade classes. The club has 15 chess sets, accommodating up to 30 players.
“I like teaching, and I just love how complex the game of chess can be,” Shane says. “After your own first four moves, the game gets crazy really fast. After seven total moves, there are 3 billion possible solutions.”
The instructor sees how the game affects the young players.
“Chess teaches the kids patience and critical thinking,” Shane says. “The game increases their ability to focus, and it’s a positive change from the digital stuff they’re into.”
La Pine Middle School Principal Brian Barringer says the chess club provides an option for students who are looking for an activity outside of sports. He agrees the game engages kids in critical thinking.
“It’s a read-and-react game,” Brian says. “It puts you in situations to consider what solution—what strategy—is best. That’s a
great way to expand students’ thinking. The kids seem to enjoy the opportunity Shane is providing them.”
Shane’s son, Layne, is a 13-year-old seventh grade student at the school. He says he likes the game because there are so many possible moves. He’s been a consistent player since receiving a chess set as a gift 2½ years ago from his mother, Brandy.
He and Shane frequently oppose each other across a chess board.
“I’m able to think a few moves ahead,” Layne says.
Layne says he has beaten his dad 11 times out of about 100 games in the past few years.
“He beats me legitimately,” Shane says, admitting he shows Layne no mercy. “He’s keeping track of those wins.”
Shane learned to play chess at age 6. He was taught by his then-15-year-old cousin, Wade Anderson. After a few years of playing, a lack of opponents and the development of other interests slowly took him away from the chess board.
Shane picked the game back up during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I downloaded the chess app on my phone and played people all around the world,” he says. “I bought a couple chess books to read, and I started studying the game online.”
A couple of years ago while living and working in Burns, Shane started teaching chess to Layne, a fifth grader at the time. A chess club at Burns’ Slater Elementary School slowly developed. It followed a robotics class Shane taught at the school.
Layne soon became the best chess player at the elementary school.
After Shane accepted the engineering position at Midstate Electric in 2022, he was soon given the approval to start robotics and chess clubs at La Pine Middle School.
The chess club meets Wednesdays from
2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Shane shares 10 to 15 minutes of knowledge and instruction on the game, and the rest of the time is spent playing chess.
“It’s really satisfying to see the kids start to learn some of the game’s basic theory,” Shane says. “And then to have them tell me they went home and beat their parents is fun to hear.”
Layne is now the best chess player at the middle school, having advanced to that honor after a better player moved up to high school last fall.
“I just keep playing to get better,” says Layne, who sometimes helps Shane provide instructions during the club’s play.
Shane encourages the young players to challenge each other over the chessboard but to also play at their respective levels online at chess.com. The website tracks players’ successes, number of opponents and the different countries they’re from.
“It’s cool that chess is a global game,” Shane says. “Chess is played in every single country.” n
Women increasingly power electric utilities and each other
A generation ago, if a young woman expressed an interest in working in the energy industry, it’s possible her friends, family and even prospective supervisors would have steered her away. Keeping the lights on was traditionally seen as men’s work—aside from customer service or clerical roles, that is.
Yet today, women represent an increasing share of the electric cooperative workforce, and not just in traditional roles of the past. As you look around your public power utilities, you’ll find women in many roles—from lineworkers to engineers to
“When I came to work for Lassen in 2003, there were very few women in managerial or leadership roles in the industry,” says Theresa Phillips, public relations manager at Lassen Municipal Utility District. “We seemed to be working behind the scenes, with little recognition for our contributions.
“Fast forward to 2024, and the industry has embraced women in public power in every aspect.”
International Women’s Day is March 8. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate accomplishments of the many women transforming public power utilities and serving their local communities.
It’s hard to imagine a better career field for today’s young women who are interested in making their communities better places to live, work and play.
“The competition for talent and skill shortages has highlighted the need to expand recruitment strategies to get a more diverse range of candidates,” says Desiree Dunham, Workforce Programs manager for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. “The diverse experiences and perspectives of women contribute to more creative and effective problem-solving, which can be especially beneficial in navigating complex challenges and finding innovative solutions that cater to a broad range of consumer needs.”
NRECA reports that nearly 90 electric co-ops are headed by female CEOs. The association says the strengths women often bring to leadership—such as teamwork, problem-solving and communication—are important to the industry’s future.
Public power utilites across America are working to build
awareness among young women about the opportunities available to them. Some even host day camps for teens in which they get a behind-the-scenes look at what’s involved with delivering power.
Beyond the highly visible roles such as linework, participants learn how people in areas as diverse as information technology, finance and environmental compliance are vital to utility operations.
Students aren’t the only target of such efforts. Desiree points to the priority the industry places on supporting career development for women. Mentorship programs and networking opportunities create platforms through which women can connect and share their experiences.
“These positive shifts need to be continuously reinforced with targeted outreach efforts, career awareness campaigns and support systems to enhance the entry points and career progression for women,” Desiree says.
Theresa sees a strong impact in the annual Women in Public Power Conference, a learning conference that provides developmental opportunities for women in five critical areas of success: knowing yourself, creating connections, managing communications, building confidence and strengthening resilience. It’s a room full of women supporting other women—from customer service representatives to general managers.
Theresa encourages others in the industry to attend as it’s a chance to network among other women.
Conferences are just one place to feel this camaraderie. NRECA’s Women in Power mentoring program for the electric co-op community provides support and resources to guide and empower women in their careers.
“Thanks to their Women in Power mentoring program, I have been able to network with several women across the country involved in the energy industry,” Duncan Valley Electric Cooperative CEO Kassi Mortenson says.
“(Through) the Women in Power mentoring program, I was matched with Charise Swanson, CEO of the New Mexico statewide organization, NMREC,” Kassi says. “Call it fate, but it could not have worked out more perfect. We were able to meet in person as DVEC is an associate member of the New Mexico group, and (we) have since developed a very beneficial mentor/mentee relationship.”
Nearly 20% of the nation’s co-op workforce is nearing retirement age during the next five years, which opens new opportunities in leadership roles at electric utilities across the country. Public power utilities pride themselves on offering stable jobs with opportunities for growth.
“Cooperatives are often recognized as ‘best place to work’ employers in their communities, offering competitive benefits, caring cultures and support for families,” Desiree says.
Strengthening inclusion and diversity is a commitment of public power utilites. Within this, women often advocate for fostering an environment where skills and expertise are valued among individuals.
“More and more women are becoming involved in the energy industry as utility leadership, boards of directors, lineworkers, engineers, etc.,” Kassi says. “Now it’s just a matter of everyone else getting used to it. Women in the energy industry are here to stay.” n
Most of us lead busy lives. We find ourselves multitasking, constantly checking phones and email to keep up with the demands of modern life. Thanks to technology, we can accomplish many tasks electronically and remotely to be more efficient. And with so many pressing obligations, we like to protect our “spare” time. Invitations to attend in-person meetings and gatherings are weighed carefully as we decide whether or not our time and effort to attend is beneficial. The answer to the question, “what’s in it for me?” must be compelling. You may think attending Midstate’s annual meeting would be easy to lump into the “no benefit to me” category. However, we ask you to think again.
Midstate Electric Cooperative exists to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy to its members (that’s you!). Equally important is our mission to enrich the lives of all members and to serve the long-term interests of our local communities. This is where you can help.
As a member of the community, you have a perspective that is valuable––and we invite you to share it with the co-op. At the annual meeting, co-op leaders will discuss priorities and challenges, and discuss the financial health and priorities for the coming years. The annual meeting is also the time to vote for new board members who will represent you––the members of the co-op. Board members are local consumers, just like you.
We are one of the few local organizations that is uniquely positioned to bring together all members of the community. It is worth noting that the health of the co-op and the well-being of the community are closely intertwined.
Perhaps you may feel that you have nothing to add to the discussion, so there is no need to attend the annual meeting. However, every energy bill you pay to the co-op helps ensure better service and reliability for the whole community. Your dollars are reinvested locally into improvements that impact the reliability and affordability of your energy, and Midstate wants to hear from you to better inform our decisions as we plan for the future.
If you’ve never attended our annual meeting, or if it’s been awhile, please stop by. Our co-op family looks forward to visiting with you! At the meeting, board election results for Districts 1, 2, & 8 will be announced. Please watch for your board election ballot in the mail and return your vote. The members who serve in these critical roles oversee the business of the Co-op and make policy and leadership decisions for your member-owned electric utility.
The annual meeting is also a great time to socialize with your neighbors and the people who keep your lights on. There will be a free resource fair, giveaways, safety demonstrations, raffle prizes and complementary tri-tip and chicken barbecue.
Please join us at the Midstate headquarters on Saturday, May 18th from 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. See you there!
Story and photos
by Chiara Profenna
Michael Spahitz’s Pahrump, Nevada, warehouse bursts with creative energy. The Board Game Design and Manufacturing headquarters sees plenty of imaginative and unique games within its walls.
Each year, novice and expert game designers bring their innovative ideas to Michael, where he pieces together the puzzle to produce a finished game.
Michael displays colorful custom board games on the headquarters’ showroom walls, highlighting only a fraction of the games he has helped create. Cardboard boxes house a diverse array of games, from trivia challenges to strategic games, stylized Monopoly boards and myriad other inventive concepts.
The game that started it all sits on the center shelf: Dogopoly (The Original Game of High Steaks & Bones).
Michael and his brother, Rob, grew up playing board games on rainy days in New York. One day, while the boys were playing Monopoly, their dog walked across the board.
“Normally, we were very particular about our games,” Rob says. “It’s like, ‘Don’t bother us while we’re playing.’ But we loved our dog so much … We just went over and hugged him, and somewhere right about then is when we got this inspiration of, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun if all of the Monopoly properties were named after dogs?’”
Not long after, Rob and Michael created the first iteration of Dogopoly by taping together sheets of paper and referencing a picture dictionary for dog breed names.
Their passion for board games followed them as they grew older, but they never forgot their first venture into game design.
“As we got older, we started creating our own games,” Michael says. “I
learned how to become a graphic artist and merged the two into offering a service for people online to come to me whether they need design services or just manufacturing services.”
Michael eventually established the design business on his own.
“What we offer is a service for others,” Michael says. “You have a game concept, and we take the concept and bring it to fruition, from the rough concept to a finished product, where we have it manufactured, and it can be sold in stores.”
Since 1997, the business has grown from offering only manufacturing services to including graphic design and selling game components on a separate website.
Michael has created hundreds of tabletop games, serving individuals and larger corporations from his warehouse in Pahrump. For about 15 years, the business
has operated out of this small town an hour outside of Las Vegas.
“When I moved to Pahrump, one of the pluses for us was the overhead,” Michael says. “We could actually have a building where we could do warehousing and order fulfillment.”
Looking through the rows of games Michael has helped create, it is apparent no two designs look alike. Vintage games are washed in sepia with old photographs on display while contemporary designs use eyecatching graphics and vibrant cartoon characters. According to Michael, he aims to keep singularity and longevity in mind when designing a game.
“One of the pluses of me being a game inventor and a graphic artist is that I’ve been through this,” Michael says. “When it comes to helping my customers, I can make a lot of suggestions and advise them on things they might want to consider.”
The global tabletop games market was estimated at $24.91 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $48.69 billion by 2028, according to market research company Arizton. Among the thousands of new games released yearly, Board Game Design and Manufacturing has contributed hundreds since its inception.
With hopes of eventually opening his own large-scale manufacturing building, Michael envisions expanding the company’s reach and impact. His business is a haven for emerging inventors.
As the CEO, owner, art director and webmaster, Michael prides himself on being able to offer services for anyone with a thoughtout concept. He advises aspiring game makers to play and test their games with as many people as possible and to choose a professional designer to create packaging that gives a great first impression.
“I enjoy doing this,” he says. “It’s a very rewarding job because one of the things that we’re doing is helping people to make their dreams come true.” n
Visit www.boardgamedesigns.com for more information on how to turn an idea into a board game.
By George Weigel
Plant prices have risen sharply the past two years. So have costs of insecticides, fertilizers, deer repellents, mulch, tools and other accessories gardeners use to keep their green investments alive. Even bagged dirt is no longer dirt-cheap.
What’s a gardener on a tight budget to do? Fortunately, this is one pastime that lends itself well to belt-tightening strategies. Let’s dig into specifics.
You could pay full price at prime planting time like most gardeners, or you could pay half or less with some bargainsniffing strategies. Start by looking for markdowns on overstocked, out-of-bloom or past-prime plants. These are often perfectly healthy, just not attractive enough to fetch top dollar.
Four top savers: Perennials relegated to a bargain rack after they have finished blooming for the season; annuals and vegetables that are still viable but unsold after the spring rush; trees and shrubs that are misshapen markdowns but fixable via pruning and patience; and tulips, daffodils and other spring-blooming bulbs that are often 50% off when unsold but still plantable by the end of October.
Get on your favorite garden center’s loyalty program. Many offer discounts, coupons, rewards and special sales to regular customers. While you’re at it, let local garden center managers know you’re interested in plants they want to clear out. You might get a call before plants go on the clearance rack—and maybe even year-end freebies.
Bargains are sometimes possible through mail-order and online vendors, but expect the plants to be small and bare root—shipped
with weight-saving packing material around the roots instead of soil. Coddle them in a pot for a year to maximize success.
Plant bargains also can be found from unconventional sources, including plant societies, master gardeners, libraries, public gardens, farmers markets, schools and garden clubs—all of which often hold plant sale fundraisers using divisions from members’ yards, locally started seedlings and discounted greenhouse transplants.
You might also encounter plants at yard sales. These sometimes can be bargain-priced, dig-your-own gold mines. Just be careful you’re not buying someone else’s overly aggressive varieties.
Landscape companies are another overlooked plant resource. Landscapers routinely dig up healthy plants during renovations, simply because they have outgrown the space or a new homeowner doesn’t like them. They may let you salvage the vegetation instead of dumping it.
Wherever you buy plants, opt for less expensive, smaller sizes. Given patience and good growing conditions, a quart-sized perennial will end up at the same mature size as a gallon-sized one but at a significantly lower starting price.
Leaning small especially saves on trees, which can double in
Gardening can give a second life to all sorts of household junk, er, “resources.” Here are several items that can be retooled:
• Old shoes, baskets, backpacks, pocketbooks. Just about any worn-out item that can hold soil can morph into a plant container. Just be sure it has drainage holes.
• Vinyl blinds, plastic detergent bottles. Cut in strips with a point at one end and use as plant labels. Use a marker or wax pencil for writing.
• Dishes, glassware, vases, ceramics. Old, one-off and even cracked pieces can be crafted into garden ornaments.
• Newspaper, junk mail, office paper. All can be shredded and added to the compost pile.
• Empty milk jugs. Wash and reuse as plant protectors over young vegetable garden plants on cold nights. Or use the cut-off bottoms as seed-starting containers.
• Plastic soda bottles. Cut a vertical slit and wrap the bottles around young trees, shrubs and vines to protect them against rodent chewing.
• Margarine tubs, yogurt cups, egg cartons. Poke holes in the bottom and use them as seed-starting containers.
LEFT: Save money on plants by dividing perennials and planting from seeds.
RIGHT: Add a little humor and variety to your garden by repurposing old household items as plant containers.
• Plastic wrap. After food-bowl duty, save a few sheets to drape over seedstarting trays. It traps moisture like a mini greenhouse.
• Spray bottles. Rinse them well and use them to mist seed trays or tip cuttings. Or use them for spraying animal repellents.
• Used sandpaper. Staple strips of it to the tops of raised-bed boards or other wooden-bed edging to repel slugs, which detest crawling over scratchy surfaces.
• Old mailbox. Relocate it to the garden, where it can become a repository for markers, labels, string and all those other little things you forget in the garage.
• Old broomstick, left-over PVC pipe. Make a watering wand for reaching hanging baskets and window boxes by using metal hose clamps to secure your garden hose to them.
Even cheaper than buying greenhouse transplants on sale or starting seeds inside is direct seeding them outside.
Direct seeding is simply tamping seeds into loosened, moistened garden soil at the right time of year. Similar to how nature does most of its planting, direct seeding can cut a flower budget down to pennies on the dollar. Save your seeds each year instead of buying packets, and you can directly seed the following year at no cost. Seeds saved from heirloom or traditional open-pollinated plants work better than seeds from hybrid varieties, which often produce no or sterile seeds and variable offspring.
Many annual and perennial flowers start readily from seeds planted directly into the ground. Some of the easiest are marigolds, zinnias, cosmos, poppies, alyssum, cornflowers (bachelor’s buttons), larkspur, snapdragons, sweet peas, floss flowers (ageratum), flowering tobacco, gloriosa daisies, hollyhocks, nasturtiums, strawflowers and sunflowers.
Many vegetables also direct seed readily, including peas, lettuce, spinach, kale, beets, carrots, radishes, beans, cucumbers, squash, melons, okra and corn.
Three factors are key to success:
Timing. Some plants are sensitive to cold and shouldn’t be planted until the threat of frost is gone and the soil is sufficiently warm. Seed packets list the dates when it’s safe to plant different varieties.
Loose soil. The soil doesn’t need to be tilled or deeply dug, but seeds sprout much better when lightly tamped into the top quarter- to half-inch of soil loosened 4 to 6 inches deep. Tossing seeds on top of hard, compacted ground usually results in little to no germination.
Damp soil. The soil surface needs to be consistently damp until the seeds sprout. That might mean lightly watering once or twice daily on dry, sunny days.
Once seedlings are growing, the main job is thinning—if needed—and making sure weeds don’t out-compete the new seedlings.
Weeds and excess plants are easy to pull when they’re young. Better yet, snip them with scissors.
Be patient for sprouting to happen. While some seeds sprout in a matter of days, others may take two weeks or more. Sprouting also generally takes
Starting new plants from seeds yields way more plants to the dollar than transplants. Vegetables and annual flowers are fairly easy to start from seed inside in winter. Basic workshop lights with fluorescent tubes are sufficient for growing seedlings, which usually need only about six weeks of inside growth before being ready to plant outdoors.
Even less expensive is planting seeds directly in the ground outside, bypassing the need for such things as lights, pots and potting mix. See the sidebar for more on how to direct-seed plants.
A third plant budget-stretcher is mining your own plants for expansion. Most perennial flowers can be dug and divided into fist-sized pieces after several years of growth, giving you free plants to use elsewhere.
Clumps of spring bulbs can also be dug and divided after their foliage browns in spring. Some shrubs yield newbies if their suckers—roots that send up shoots—are dug and transplanted. Virginia sweetspire, summersweet, hydrangea, diervilla, kerria, lilac, bayberry, sweetshrub, sweetbox and forsythia are good sucker-transplant candidates.
Check with friends and neighbors to see if they would like to trade divisions, which can yield free new varieties for your yard. New shrubs, trees, roses and evergreens can be created by snipping 4- to 6-inch pieces off the tips of mother plants and sticking them into a moist potting mix. That induces roots to grow from the buried cut ends, giving you a new “baby” from the plant.
This works for many annual flowers and tropicals, too.
If you are spending too much on annual flowers, save money by converting space to perennials. Limit those $6 annuals to pots, hanging baskets and window boxes. Perennials cost more upfront and don’t bloom as long as annuals, but the payback is usually three years or less.
Some annuals, such as ageratum, celosia and cosmos, are good at self-seeding, meaning they come up on their own each spring from seeds dropped by last year’s flowers. This is a way to fill beds without any new expense and only limited work, e.g., removing seedlings you don’t want or transplanting self-sprouted seedlings where you do want them.
Save on your potted plant budget by starting with fewer plants each season. With patience, pots of fewer premiumpriced potted annuals fill in eventually and cost less than tightly packed ones.
Another pot option is scavenging the yard for perennial flowers you can dig and divide to use in pots. The best are those with colorful foliage that add interest beyond the few weeks they flower, such as coral bells, hostas, golden sedges, variegated liriopes and ferns. Return the perennials to the
ground in the fall to overwinter and mine again next year.
A third pot money-saver is using double-duty plants. Most so-called houseplants—crotons, palms, snake plants, peace lilies, rubber plants, etc.—are tropical or subtropical species that do perfectly fine outside in northerly summers and inside over winter.
Consider using plants you bought as houseplants in summer pots, dressed up with coordinated annuals. Conversely, instead of discarding tropicals bought for summer pots at the end of the season, convert them into houseplants over winter.
The fastest way to save on gardening products is to cut out things you—and your plants—don’t need.
Some possibilities: wound dressings for pruned trees (not necessary and sometimes counter-productive); leaf shine (a soft, damp cloth with diluted soap cleans dusty houseplant leaves); compost activator (a few shovelfuls of finished compost or soil adds decomposition microbes); antitranspirant/antidesiccant sprays (somewhat helpful in transplanting, but research shows little to no cold-weather protection); moisture-holding gels for potted plants (research shows little to no water-saving benefit); landscape fabric (inhibits soil oxygen and traps moisture in poorly drained beds, plus weeds grow on top if you mulch over it), and tree fertilizer spikes (trees usually get the nutrients they need from soil, decomposing mulch and/or fertilizer on the surrounding lawn).
Next is reducing the amounts you use of products such as fertilizer.
Plants take up only the nutrients they need. Adding more doesn’t make them grow bigger or better and is a waste of money, not to mention potentially polluting.
If plants are growing well, there’s usually no need to add anything. If they’re not, a soil test reveals if lack of nutrition is a culprit—along
with exactly which nutrients are needed and in what amounts.
Extension offices and many garden centers offer inexpensive DIY soil-test kits to help you spend fertilizer dollars wisely.
Bug and disease sprays are another potential cost-saver. Some gardeners routinely use pesticides “just in case,” both wasting money and potentially killing beneficial insects that would have controlled pest bugs naturally—and at no charge.
Most bugs and diseases target only specific plants, and much of the damage is temporary or cosmetic anyway. Consider products only when plants are under threat from intolerable or potentially fatal damage—and when there are no better alternatives.
Sometimes, free or less expensive alternatives are available for other garden products. For example, an index finger stuck a few inches into the soil can give an accurate read on soil moisture versus investing in a soil moisture meter.
Expensive potting mix can be stretched by mixing your own from bulk ingredients or by refreshing last year’s saved mix with half-new mix, assuming last year’s mix wasn’t bug- or disease-ridden.
Many municipalities collect leaves in fall and offer the resulting free or low-cost compost to residents the following year, saving on bagged or bulk purchases. Tree companies often are willing to drop loads of chipped tree branches in home driveways, saving themselves hauling/dumping fees.
Even costly hardscaping materials such as bricks, stone, patio furniture, garden ornaments and fencing are sometimes available free or heavily discounted from neighbors advertising them through local social media channels.
Lots of household waste is fair game for repurposing in the garden, including storage tubs that morph into flower containers, cut-off soda bottles that serve as plant protectors, and butter tubs that become seedling pots. See the sidebar on page 13 for 20 household rejects that can serve new life in the garden. n
Coffee Coffee Cake
Crumb topping
½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon instant coffee powder
4 tablespoons butter, melted
Heat oven to 350 F.
Spray a 9-by-9-inch pan, and line with parchment. Spray the parchment as well.
For the crumb topping: In a medium bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, coffee powder and salt. Add the melted butter. Mix until it forms crumbs that you can clump together in your hand.
For the cake: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking
Cake
1¾ cups cake flour
¾ teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
soda, cinnamon and salt. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the coffee and sour cream until smooth.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until each is well-combined. Add the vanilla. Beat until the mixture is light and fluffy. Starting and ending with the dry
½ cup strong-brewed coffee
1⁄3 cup sour cream
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 extra-large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
ingredients, alternate adding the flour mixture and the coffee mixture to the stand mixer. Mix well after each addition. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Top with crumb topping, spreading it evenly. Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Remove the cake from the oven. Cool for 20 to 30 minutes before cutting and serving.
1 pound ground sausage
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1 cup water
¼ cup brewed coffee
Salt and pepper, to taste
Brown sausage in a cast-iron skillet. Add flour, and brown. Add milk and water. Simmer for desired thickness. Stir coffee into the mixture. If it’s too thick, add more milk. Season with salt and pepper. Serve over your favorite biscuits.
4 slices bacon, chopped
1 sweet onion, chopped
¼ cup vinegar-based barbecue sauce
Heat the oven to 350 F.
28-ounce can baked beans
¼ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
¼ cup brewed coffee
Cook the chopped bacon in a pot over medium heat until browned, about 10 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon, reserving the bacon grease in the pan. Drain the bacon on paper towels.
Add the chopped onion to the pot with the bacon grease. Cook for 15 minutes over medium-low heat or until caramelized. Remove the pot from the heat. Add the bacon back to the pot, as well as the remaining ingredients. Mix.
Pour the beans into a greased 8-by-8-inch baking dish. Bake for 2 hours. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Cupcakes
1 cup sugar
½ cup brewed coffee, cold
½ cup canola oil
2 extra-large eggs, room temperature
3 teaspoons cider vinegar
Frosting
3 tablespoons milk chocolate chips
3 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips
Heat oven to 350 F.
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1⁄3 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt
1⁄3 cup butter, softened
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons brewed coffee
½ cup chocolate sprinkles
In a large bowl, beat sugar, coffee, oil, eggs, vinegar and vanilla until well-blended. In a small bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Gradually beat into coffee mixture until blended.
Fill 12 paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.
To make frosting: In a large bowl, melt chips and butter in a microwave. Stir until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar and enough coffee to reach desired consistency. Pipe frosting onto cupcakes, and add sprinkles.
2 tablespoons coarse salt
2 tablespoons instant coffee
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon crushed coriander
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon cayenne, more or less to taste
Add all ingredients to a medium-sized bowl. Mix well. Once mixed, it can be used immediately. Store leftovers in an airtight glass container.
S’mores
1 cup whole milk
3 extra-large eggs, room temperature
2⁄3 cup sugar
1⁄3 cup baking cocoa
2 tablespoons strong-brewed coffee
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Heat oven to 325 F.
2⁄3 cup graham cracker crumbs
1⁄3 cup sugar
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1.55-ounce milk chocolate candy bar, broken into 12 pieces
In a small saucepan, heat milk until bubbles form around sides of pan. Remove from heat. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, cocoa and coffee until blended but not foamy. Slowly whisk in hot milk.
Place six 4-ounce broiler-safe ramekins in a baking pan large enough to hold them without touching. Pour egg mixture into ramekins. Place pan on oven rack. Add hot water to pan to within ½ inch of the top of the ramekins.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Centers will still be soft. Remove ramekins from water bath immediately to a wire rack. Cool for 10 minutes. Refrigerate until cold.
In a small bowl, mix butter and cracker crumbs. Set aside. To caramelize topping with a kitchen torch, sprinkle custards evenly with sugar. Hold torch flame about 2 inches above custard surface. Rotate it slowly until sugar is evenly caramelized. Sprinkle custards with crumb mixture, and top with marshmallows. Using the torch, heat marshmallows until browned. Top with chocolate pieces. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 hour.
To caramelize topping in a broiler, place ramekins on a baking sheet. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Heat broiler. Sprinkle custards evenly with sugar. Broil 3 to 4 inches from heat for 3 to 5 minutes or until sugar is caramelized. Sprinkle custards with crumb mixture. Top with marshmallows. Broil for 30 to 45 seconds or until marshmallows are browned. Top with chocolate pieces. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 hour.
Does anyone have an Annie’s Attic booklet called “Chemo Caps & Wraps,” number 871044? Thank you in advance. I am willing to purchase.
Betty Mercado
1820 E. 10th St.
The Dalles, OR 97058 bettym@centurylink.net
We are trying to locate my grandfather’s high school yearbook. He graduated in 1930 from The Dalles Oregon High School. If anyone has it and is willing to sell, please contact me. Thank you so much.
Kim Koester
220 Well St. Fairbanks, AK 99701 skmeb08@gmail.com
I have started a tablecloth using my odds and ends of number 10 crochet cotton. Sadly, I have reached the end of my colored cotton. I am asking members if they can send me their odds and ends of colored crochet cotton number 10. The brighter the colors, the better. I will pay for postage.
Patty Gassner
39981 Gisler Road Scio, OR 97374
My widowed mother turns 100 in March. She has lived in Delaware her whole life but traveled to many places in the United States and abroad—including France, her favorite country and ancestral home. She shared her travel stories with the elementary school students she taught for decades. She says she doesn’t want a birthday reception at her assisted living facility, as her dear friends are long gone. I know she would be surprised and delighted to receive greetings from afar to celebrate her milestone birthday. Send to Julia A. Coxe, 726 Loveville Road, Room A-40, Hockessin, DE 19707.
Donna C. McLean Redmond, Oregon
Thank you, readers. Your generosity in sending so many wonderful and lovely buttons has wowed me. I will be at work for months making “button flower” vases as fast as I can to give away. My button table is full, thanks to your kindness.
Shirley Lyons Veneta, Oregon
Thank you, Ruralite, for helping to make my 90th birthday so memorable. I received more than 350 cards from readers—from Alaska to Georgia. I wish I could personally thank each of you for your birthday wishes. It is amazing how many kind people took time to send greetings to a stranger. Thank you for your generosity, and yes, I had (at least one) margarita on my birthday. Thanks again.
Marian Kuchle Florence, Kentucky
A great big “thank you” to everyone who sent me a birthday card. From handmade or otherwise, I so appreciated each and every one of them. Not only did I enjoy reading all the wonderful comments, but I also got a lesson in geography. It truly was a very memorable 82nd birthday.
Ilse Pettey Baker City, Oregon
I would love to thank each and every one of you kind souls. The overwhelming response to my mother, Josephine’s, milestone was awesome. I helped her open and read each card. The personal messages, jokes and crafty gifts were so nice. My mother sends her love and thanks. She will be donating the cards to St. Jude’s and will keep the personally crafted ones for her scrapbook. I cannot thank you all enough. God bless.
Josephine Formica/Dawn Lund Rachel, Nevada
Have a safe St. Patrick’s Day!
Send your request—no attachments, please—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 you must include a postal address. Requests also must include the name and address of the electric utility that provides your magazine.
Deep in the Siskiyou Mountains that sit along the border between Oregon and California, Oregon Caves National Park and Preserves is home to lush forests and deep caves worn into the mountainside.
In 2014, 4,000 acres were designated as Oregon Caves National Preserve. The land had previously been part of a national forest. It encompasses the watershed that feeds the cave rivers and provides the park’s drinking water. The park and preserve are home to many hikes for those who prefer the wide outdoors to narrow caves. BACKGROUND ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY SHAUN HUNTER/WIRESTOCK. INSET PHOTO COURTESY OF NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE
Known as the Marble Halls of Oregon, the caves were formed from the lack of marble. Starting more than a million years ago, slightly acidic rainwater seeped into the ground and began dissolving the marble. The caves formed as the marble washed away. In 1909, President William Howard Taft established Oregon Caves National Monument.
The monument has a few popular cave tours open seasonally—often late March through September. Tours fill quickly, so consider booking in advance. The discovery tour is 90 minutes and limited to 12 people. Be aware it is a natural cave and, therefore, difficult to traverse. Children must be at least 42 inches tall. The tour goes through long passages with ceilings as low as 45 inches, and there are more than 500 stair steps.
Tours are offered Thursday through Monday during the season. The cost is $10 for those 16 and older, $7 for children and $5 for those with Interagency Senior or Access passes. Visit www.nps.gov/ orca to learn more about when the park is open and to determine if tours are right for you and your group. For more information, call 541-592-2100.
Theirs sold at auction for $226,000. Ours is JUST $29! Curious? Read on!
To art nouveau jewelers at the turn of the last century, nothing was more beautiful than the dragonfly. In the dragonfly’s long body and outstretched wings, jewelers found the perfect setting for valuable stones. ese jewelers’ dragonfly designs have become timeless statements of style; a dragonfly pendant designed by French jeweler René Lalique recently sold at auction for $226,000. Inspired by his stunning artistry, we’ve crafted our Dragonfly Nouvelle Collection, an elegant jewelry set for JUST $29!
True artisanship in Austrian crystal and yellow gold. is necklace and earring set features gorgeous multicolored enamel paired with Austrian crystals and a yellow gold finish. Ask any jeweler and they’ll tell you it takes true artisanship to properly blend the blues and purples found in this enamel. While art nouveau dragonflies are hard to come by, we’re helping to repopulate their numbers with this artfully stylized depiction of some of nature’s smallest wonders!
JUST $29!
Buy the pendant, get the earrings FREE. If Stauer were a normal company, we’d sell the necklace and earrings for $199 each, but because we engage the world’s best artisans and cut out the middlemen to sell directly to you, we’re offering the necklace for JUST $29! Even better: If you buy within the next few days, we’ll throw in the earrings for FREE! at’s a nearly $400 value for JUST $29!
Act fast! e first time we ran this jewelry in our catalog, it sold out in a matter of days. Get this collection now before this offer goes extinct!
Jewelry Speci cations:
• Enamel with Austrian crystal. Yellow gold finish
• Pendant: 1 ½" W x 1 ¼" H. Chain: 18" + 2", lobster clasp. Earrings: 1 ¼" L, french wire
Nouvelle
A. Necklace $199 $29* +
Save $170 B. Earrings $199 FREE with purchase of Dragonfly Nouvelle Necklace *Special price only for customers using the offer code.
By Dave LaBelle
Some people are fascinated with architecture or angels; I love trees.
A grand lone oak tree stands—as if on watch—at the side of a road not many miles from where I live. Each time passing it, I wondered its age and who planted it there. Finally, my curiosity got the best of me, and I had to know more.
I learned the man who planted it is gone. So are his
Renowned author, photographer and lecturer Dave LaBelle has captured special moments for more than half a century. For more of his writings, visit davidlabelle.com and bridgesandangels.wordpress.com.
children and his children’s children, but the old oak tree John Vorwald placed in the earth in 1895, as a marker for the northeast corner of the town that would become New Vienna, Iowa, still stands 128 years later. His great-grandson Kevin Vorwald still lives on the family property.
Kevin’s great-grandfather was the first mayor of the town when he planted the tree. Though New Vienna was founded in 1843, it wasn’t incorporated until some 50 years later, long after Iowa became a state in 1846. Kevin says his great-great-grandfather married a girl whose father bought the land from the government when James Polk was president. Polk’s name is on the deed.
Trees are living, breathing
gifts, and may possess greater memory and intelligence than we imagine. Research has revealed that like people, trees can have elaborate, far-reaching root systems that allow them to talk to each other.
Just like us humans, trees are connected and often members of large families.
I am reminded of the late Shel Silverstein’s powerful book, “The Giving Tree,” about the relationship between a boy and an apple tree. Every tree is a giving tree. Just as I imagine how lacking a world without birds would be, I think how sad our walk on Earth would be without trees. I have often said that next to a good mother, God’s greatest creation is a tree.
Had I not chosen photojournalism, I might have become an arborist. n
Your challenge is to choose a tree that speaks to you—one that you admire and maybe even feel a connection to. Research its species and origin. Was it indigenous or a species brought to your area, transplanted from another state or even another country? Does the tree have a story? And then set out to make a photograph that captures how you feel about the tree. Consider the angle, composition, light and lens, even the time of day or night that best reveals how you see this magnificent creation.
Email your best image (just one, please) with caption information, including an explanation of how it affects you, to GPH@pur.coop. We may share submissions on our website and social media channels.
Stay in the home and neighborhood you love with a Stiltz Homelift.
A Stiltz Homelift is a safe, attractive, & affordable alternative to stairlifts. It requires no special machine room, and no supporting walls.
A Stiltz Homelift can t just about anywhere in your house. It has a compact footprint, similar in size to a small armchair. A Stiltz Homelift plugs into a standard home electrical outlet, using less power than boiling a kettle.
Your Forever Home
Avoid the expense and distress of relocating, or the disruption of adapting your home for downstairs living. A Stiltz Homelift helps you live safely and independently in the home you love.
Some Stiltz customers need a Homelift immediately. But others want to “future-proof” their homes for when the stairs become a challenge.
Stiltz is a world leading Homelift manufacturer, so you’ll be in good hands. Your elevator will be installed and maintained by Stiltz trained professionals - who truly care about your freedom.
“I can’t imagine what we’d do without it. I wish we had installed our Stiltz Homelift several years ago!”
– Mr. James, Roanoke VA
$10,000 4-YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS
YEAR 1: $1,500 YEAR 2: $2,000 YEAR 3: $2,500 YEAR 4: $4,000
CONTINUING EDUCATION
ONE-TIME $2,500 SCHOLARSHIPS
L INEWORKER
$25,000 SCHOLARSHIP MEC WILL SEND THE SCHOOL $ 20,000 AND THE RECIPIENT MUST PUT FORWARD $5,000. MEC WILL REIMBURSE THE $5,000 ONCE SCHOOLING IS COMPLETE.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
PRIMARY RESIDENCY OF PARENT, G UARDIAN, OR APPLICANT IN MIDSTATE SERVICE TERRITORY
Reinforced custom-sized pond liners (39 cents/sqft). Hay covers, greenhouse covers, any width and length. Truck tarps and more. High puncture and tear strength. Best price guaranteed. Celebrating 42 years in business. www.btlliners.com. 541-447-0712. 0424
305-gallon Norwesco water storage tank, $285. Clean, used. Excellent condition. Black poly 4 ft. tall by 4 ft. diameter, 59 lbs. Elko, NV. 775-275-0746. 0324
1993 Charmac horse trailer, $2.5K OBO. 3 Apache salt/pellet feeders, $2K each OBO. Aluminum pickup box, new, $150. Large recliner/incliner, like new, $400. 2-piece fireplace hearth, nice, $100. 541-893-6292. No late calls.
4x5 round bales, Meadow Foxtail Orchard Grass. 4x4 Timothy, small square. nas@cpcinternet.com; 208-435-4637 or 208-435-4002. 1224
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. 0324
Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo blankets and rugs, baskets, beadwork, etc. Also, quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com. 0524
WC Collectibles. We buy comic books! Local to the Inland Northwest, willing to travel. WCCollectiblesCheney@gmail.com; 509-496-1835. 0724
More “Montello Remembered” novels available. I’m also liquidating my NV history collection. Many rare and hard-to-find books now available. pruitt2010@frontier.com; 775-753-3254. 0324
Quaint hardware store in Maupin, OR, for sale. Inventory and interior store recently updated and refreshed. See ad on Bizbuysell.com or email Maupincountrystore@gmail.com. $309K.
Looking to purchase small business in Northern Idaho. Call or send information on any opportunities. Can do a quick purchase. 559-269-5554; mike@rouchbuilders.com. 0324
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): May issue—March 29, 2024.
If submitting ad by mail, send appropriate payment with your name, address, email, phone number and the name of the electric utility that provides your magazine to: Marketplace, P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133. Make check or money order payable to Ruralite.
We accept credit card payments for ads submitted by email. Send ad to info@pioneer.coop.
Call 503-357-2105 to pay by credit card.
Advertisements are accepted in good faith. Pioneer Utility Resources is not liable for interactions between buyers and sellers.
8th annual Fiber Arts and Jewelry Exhibit at Art Center East in La Grande, OR. Feb. 2March 30, 2024. artcentereast.org. 0324
Annual Quilt and Needlework Show. April 5-6 in Pahrump, NV, at Bob Ruud Community Center. Presented by Shadow Mountain Quilters. Shadowmountainquilters.com. 0324
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. 888-211-1715; tbsmads@yahoo.com. 0424AR
Publisher for Kodiak Daily Mirror, a 5-day publication located in Kodiak, AK. Responsibilities include all aspects of efficiently operating a daily newspaper. The right candidate is expected to get involved in the community. If interested, contact Virginia Farmier, vfarmier@newsminer.com or 907-459-7511. 0324
Local commercial fisherman sells summer catch of preserved freshness by blast freezing at sea, gourmet canned tuna on internet. Sept.June. 100% guaranteed the best canned tuna you ever tasted. Original, jalapeno and garlic flavors available. Twofisherstuna.com. Call 206-799-1082 to place your order. 0324
Alaskan yellow cedar. Great for planter boxes, herb and flower beds, fencing or decks. Various sizes available. Pete, 541-206-0727. Lisa, 541-747-5025, ext. 21. 0624
Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. Joe, 541-815-8906 or highdesertmemorials@gmail.com; and www.highdesertmemorials.com.
Looking for stud services for 2-year-old female borgi in late April-early May. Black-and-white borgi or miniature/small full-bred border collie preferred. Willing to pay a stud fee and travel if necessary. Suzi Smith, 775-233-7242 or suzicooksmith@outlook.com.
Mini-goldendoodle puppies. Excellent companion dogs. 3 males; ready for forever homes Feb. 14. 15-20 pounds full grown. Asking $1K OBO. solomonstephans@gmail.com or 541-332-7101. 0324
Lake front home Eagle Lake, CA. 3-bd, 2-ba, 2-car garage, fully furnished and stocked, move-in ready, docks, boat lift. $299K or trade? 775-771-5263 or bdl1962@gmail.com.
$600K interior Alaskan turnkey roadhouse and 2 dry cabins. Well-maintained on 5 acres with pond. 50 scenic miles south to Denali Park entrance. 907-460-9292. 0524
Let me help you buy or sell ranch, farm and recreation property in Oregon. Fourthgeneration Oregonian, ranch owner. For sale: Sisters, OR, 40 acres. $1.7M. John Gill, 541-480-9161 or johngill@landandwildlife.com. Land And Wildlife brokerage. 0324
23 acres east of Cottage Grove, OR. 8 acres flat pasture, 15 acres forested hillside. 2 cabins, well, tractor, shed, firefighting equipment. City water, electricity. Quiet, secluded, views. Photos on request. $450K. hannond@comcast.net. 0424
Canyon City home w/basement. 2-bd., 1-ba., fenced yard, circular driveway, garage w/ workshop. $240K. Duke Warner Realty, 541-987-2363 or ddwr@ortelco.net. 0324
Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area, Dallesport, WA. 1,608-sqft. mobile home for sale in park. $670 monthly rent. Excellent condition. Professional upgrades. Motivated seller. $109K. 503-396-1251. 0424
4 well-maintained 1,200-sqft. cedar homes with huge decks on year-round creek. 2.12 acres. Close to small town of Selma, OR. $875K. 541-597-2185. 0424
Off-grid homestead. Ideal for wind/solar power. NE Elko County, NV. Has equipment, quarters, shop. Year-round access. Water and power nearby. $35K. geopup58@gmail.com. 0324
Recreational Rentals
Wavecatcher: Oceanfront. Central Oregon coast. Summer $175/night mid-May to midOct.; $140/night mid-Oct. to mid-May. (plus cleaning/tax). Three rooms w/double beds. Pets welcome. Wavecatcherbeachrentals.com. Reservations: 541-740-2846. 0324AR
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. 0424
Recreational Vehicle
Hook up a steelhead at The Hook Up RV Park in Ahsahka, ID. Daily or longer rents available. 208-391-2919; hookuprvpark@gmail.com. 0324
Dawn Till Dusk Masonry. Brick, block, stone and pavers. Small jobs and repairs welcome. Check out our website at dawntillduskconstructionmasonry.com. 541-388-7605 or 541-410-6945. License No. 245760, bonded and insured. 0324
Quarkdesign. A small business for small business. Web and print design, advertising, collateral, web video and audio. Personal websites also. $40 per hour. quarkdesign.com. 0324
Call Pahrump Lock and Safe for all your residential, commercial and safe services. 24-hour emergency service in Pahrump, NV. 702-379-8441; Jim@pahrumplockandsafe.com. 0624
Wanted: Small, working oven element for a 1967-ish flair, double wall oven. 15 inches long, including 3-prong plug-in, 10.5 inches wide. 541-256-0990. 0524
Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo blankets and rugs, baskets, beadwork, etc. Also, quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com. 0524
Gold, silver, coins/currency, buy, sell. Collections wanted. Fair prices paid. 44 years in retail store. Baker City, OR. 800-556-2133; garrymclin@aol.com. 1024
Old carpenter tools, planes (wood/metal), levels, chisels, slicks, adzes, axes, hatchets, handsaws, old rulers, spoke shaves, wrenches, shipwright tools, old tool chests. 503-659-0009 or 971-666-0659. 0324
Need to buy one copy of “Morrow County History Book” in good condition, published in 1983. Hard cover, 9 inches by 11.5 inches, dark green color with gold agricultural design inset on front. Ione, OR. L8ucy5T@gmail.com; 541-422-7495. 0424
Wanted: early Corvette ’58-’62, any condition. Call/text Randy, 503-544-3807. 0824
By Dan Catchpole
On a cloudy Friday in early December, Jeremy Crahan stood inside a federal courthouse in Tacoma, Washington, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison for attacking two of Tacoma Power’s substations. His accomplice, Matthew Greenwood, was sentenced to a year confined to his home and three years of probation.
About 30,000 people lost power when the two men knocked out the substations on Christmas Day 2022.
“These defendants launched a scheme that left thousands of people in the cold and dark in the middle of winter, a scheme that was dangerous—for them and for the workers that had to make repairs to the high voltage equipment,” Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman said inside the U.S. District Court building.
Substations are critical nodes in the power grid, acting as the off-ramps of the grid’s highway system. Without exits, trucks and cars could still travel along the freeway, but drivers would have no way to deliver goods or get home. Distribution substations take the power from transmission lines—highvoltage lines that allow power to travel long distances—lower the voltage and deliver it to distribution lines that supply power to homes and businesses.
However, it is harder to have redundancy for substations toward the end of a utility’s service area, such as the two attacked by Jeremy and Matthew.
Because of their critical role in the energy grid, the country’s nearly 80,000 substations are the grid’s most vulnerable pieces. While only a small number of attacks have occurred, experts agree that the potential threat is very real.
One of the first substation attacks was in 2013, when a sniper shot at a facility in Coyote, California, near San Jose in the Santa Clara Valley. Energy grid officials rerouted power through other substation equipment, averting any major blackouts.
“Remote substations are harder to monitor (for an attack), but also, they serve fewer people,” Steve says.
That makes them critically important to power grid operation. If a substation goes out for any reason, thousands of people can be left in the dark.
“It’s fundamentally a reliability issue,” says Steve Wright, former head of the Bonneville Power Administration and general manager of Chelan County Public Utility District in Washington.
For that reason, utilities design substations to be resistant and grids to be resilient. Substations are made to endure extreme events, such as wildfires and ice storms.
The power grid is designed so a single substation going out shouldn’t put hundreds of thousands of customers in the dark. In cities and suburbs, that usually means being able to route power through other substations, just like if one freeway exit is closed, drivers can get off at another exit.
Electricity rates would skyrocket if every substation were designed to be impregnable from any event that could take it down. As with many spending decisions in the electric power industry, utilities try to strike a balance between affordability and reliability.
Steve says utilities weigh the probability of an event and the potential consequences. For example, a utility in Montana will design every substation to withstand cold temperatures, while a utility in Hawaii would not.
While the industry has decades of experience designing and operating substations in all types of weather, the idea of a person deliberately attacking a substation has only recently grabbed the industry’s attention. Federal authorities and the electric power industry are working closely to make the grid more resilient.
Tacoma Power has stepped up security at its substations following the 2022 attacks, says Transmission and Distribution Manager Joe Wilson. Utilities are tight-lipped about security
measures, and Joe only spoke in general terms about Tacoma Power’s security measures.
Despite the increase in attacks, “I don’t think a lot of utilities have mitigated the risk on their transformers,” Joe says.
Larger utilities, such as Tacoma Power, have mobile resources that allow them—to varying degrees—to fill gaps in the grid, but smaller utilities just don’t have that equipment, Joe says.
“It’s harder to have resiliency at the edge of the grid (such as at rural utilities),” he says.
Several companies sell products to defend against attacks, such as bulletproof enclosures for transformers.
Following the attack on Tacoma Power’s substations, which were among its smallest ones, FBI special agents showed Joe documents seized from other cases that outlined how to attack the electrical grid.
“They looked professionally done,” Joe says. “We’re just going to have to get more serious about the security measures that we’re taking.” n
Everyone can play a role in substation safety. Substations are fenced off to keep people a safe distance from high-voltage equipment. Here are ways the public can play an active role in keeping the community safe and a local source of reliable power flowing.
X If you see something, say something. Keep local substations safe by reporting suspicious activity or anything that looks out of the ordinary to your utility. If you see someone inside who does not look like they belong there, contact your utility.
X Stay away from substations. Never go near a substation.
X Educate children about the dangers of electricity. Teach them to stay away from a substation and never climb its fence.
X If a personal item ends up inside the fence, contact your utility for help retrieving it. Kites, drones or other toys should not be played with near a substation.
X If a fire starts inside a substation, do not try to put out the fire yourself. Water and electricity don’t mix. Call 911 to report it.
As we continue celebrating 70 years publishing Ruralite magazine, let’s take a look back at a few snippets from a section of the publication called “For the Curious Ruralite” from the December 1954 edition. This was the first edition that carried the Northwest Ruralite masthead.
Low-Cost Water Purifier
A new water sterilizer for rural homes is moderately priced, says Elenite Products Inc. Ultra violet light kills the germs. The gadget is about the size of a table model TV set and sells for as little as $295 for the 100 gallon an hour size.
Apple Stops Spuds Sprouts
One apple stored in a sealed bag of spuds
will keep latter from sprouting, says Ohio State University Expert. Under such conditions, a ripe apple exudes ethylene gas which impedes sprouts.
Step Saver
Absent-minded drivers can now buy a buzzer designed to hook onto the gas gauge and the ignition under the dash. Buzzer buzzes when tank float drops to three-gallon level. “Gas-o-larm” is made by Talco Engineering Co. of Hamden, Conn. for $4.95.
New Fast Film
Eastman Kodak’s new “Tri-x” is supposed to be twice as fast as super double X. Said to cost no more.
43/4-inch Bacon
Wilson $ Co., meat packers are putting out short strip bacon cut to fit the frying pan. n
CHILD HUNGER CAN BE HARD TO RECOGNIZE. BECAUSE THE 1 IN 7 AMERICAN KIDS FACING IT CAN LOOK LIKE ANYONE. ESPECIALLY ME. I AM THE 13-YEAROLD BOY WHO GETS INTO FIGHTS AT SCHOOL, NOT BECAUSE I’M A BULLY, BUT BECAUSE I’M HUNGRY I AM THE 2-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO CRIES ALL NIGHT NOT BECAUSE I’M SICK, BUT BECAUSE I WENT TO BED WITHOUT ENOUGH TO EAT. I AM THE 9-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO HOPES A FRIEND INVITES ME TO A SLEEPOVER NOT FOR FUN, BUT JUST SO I CAN HAVE DINNER I AM THE 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO GOES FOR WALKS OVER LUNCH, SO MY FRIENDS WON’T KNOW I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO EAT. I WAS CREATED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FROM PHOTOS OF THE 11 MILLION KIDS STRUGGLING WITH HUNGER IN THIS COUNTRY. A FACE THAT CHALLENGES YOU TO SEE HUNGER IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT. I AM WHAT HUNGER LOOKS LIKE IN AMERICA LEARN MORE AT IAMHUNGERINAMERICA.ORG , ,
P.O. Box 127
La Pine, OR 97739
www.midstateelectric.coop
info@midstateelectric.coop
541-536-2126 • 800-722-7219
Departments
Member Service ....... Option 3
Engineering Option 4
Marketing Option 5
Operations ............ Option 6
After-Hours Outages and Emergencies:
541-536-2165 or 800-752-5935
OFFICE HOURS
Monday through Thursday
7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Closed Fridays and holidays
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Dick Luebke, Sunriver
Vice President
Ron Cass, La Pine
Secretary/Treasurer
Tanna King, Chemult
Daniel Jansen, Christmas Valley
Garry Journey, Crescent
Vic Russell, Fall River
Alan Parks, Fort Rock
Gil Ernst, Gilchrist
Bud Kendall, La Pine
The board meets the fourth Monday of each month at the co-op office.
STAFF
General Manager
James “Jim” Anderson
Engineering Manager
Tom Weller
CFO/Accounting Manager
Jami Steinhauer
Information Services Manager
J.D. Powers
HR and Communications Manager
Sina Streeter
Marketing Manager
Britni Davidson
Operations Manager
Brian Sharr
Attorney
Raymond Kindley
OR-23
During a four-day stretch from January 12-16, the Pacific Northwest experienced plunging temperatures that remained below freezing.
Despite this extreme weather, the Federal Columbia River Power System proved its resilience. Hydroelectric power successfully met the region’s record-breaking energy demand and overcame various challenges, ensuring continuous electricity for utility customers throughout the most severe cold snap witnessed in two decades.
The performance of the lower Snake River’s four hydroelectric dams during this cold snap highlighted their significance in preventing power outages and ensuring our region’s stability. The dams generated electricity in the morning and evening when electricity demand was highest, while wind production died down to nearly zero megawatts when the cold weather settled over the region.
Unlike solar and wind power, which are dependent on weather conditions, hydroelectric power is not subject to the same level of variability. Solar panels only generate electricity when the sun is shining, and wind turbines rely on consistent wind speeds. Hydroelectric facilities can operate consistently regardless of weather conditions. Reservoirs serve as energy storage systems, allowing excess electricity to be generated during periods of low demand and stored for use during peak demand periods.
This system helps balance the grid and ensures a reliable supply of electricity to consumers. The ability of the hydro system to flexibly ramp up during this extended cold weather was the reason we were not in the dark.
Current federal litigation regarding hydropower is putting our electricity at risk. A draft agreement could lead to the breaching of the dams and jeopardize our access to affordable and reliable electricity. If the draft agreement is finalized, energy costs will increase, the chances of rolling blackouts will skyrocket, and access to hydropower will disappear.
We need your help fighting this battle. You can join Voices of Cooperative Power, a network of electric co-op members working together to influence elected officials who make energy policy decisions that affect our co-ops and, by extension, our way of life.
Visit www.midstateelectric.coop/voicesforcooperativepower and voice your opposition to any efforts to undermine our incredible Northwest hydro system. The challenges we face today require collective action from our membership and beyond.
Jim Anderson CEO/General Manager
“Appreciate what you have, while you have it, or you’ll learn what it meant to you after you lose it.” —Frank Sonnenberg