Ruralite
MIDSTATE ELECTRIC
APRIL 2025
Sourdough
Becomes a Therapeutic Passion
Small gift turns La Pine woman into an avid baker Page 4
Britney Obenhous raises chickens for the eggs she uses in her baking. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRITNEY OBENHOUS
Ruralite
April 2025 • Volume 72, No. 4
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; Sable Riley, CCC
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Valeri Saldanha Rosa, Nina Todea
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCTION SR. MANAGER
Elizabeth Beatty
SENIOR PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR
Alyssa McDougle
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Connecting Through Action
Flipping through our April edition, I’m struck by the sheer amount of “doing” happening in our communities.
Our Easter Sunday dinner feature isn’t just about food—it’s a practical approach to creating a memorable meal without unnecessary fuss. These recipes are straightforward and delicious, which is why they deserve a spot on your table this month.
The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, now marking its 50th anniversary, demonstrates how practical skills can transform into community events with a real economic impact. What began as a teaching necessity has evolved into an annual celebration that brings $1.7 million to a smalltown’s economy. That’s not just tradition. That’s impressive community development.
Speaking of action, our “Beyond Barriers” feature highlights organizations tackling accessibility head-on. These aren’t just feel-good stories—they’re examples of problem-solving at its finest. When faced with the challenge of making outdoor recreation accessible, groups like Oregon Adaptive Sports and David’s Chair didn’t just talk about inclusion—they engineered solutions with tangible results. As David’s Chair
Founder Steve Furst puts it, they “fumbled through” and figured it out.
Even Dave LaBelle’s piece on rainbow photography offers practical advice: Keep your camera ready as storms clear, use interesting foregrounds and be prepared to capture fleeting moments.
What ties these stories together is action— people identifying gaps and taking steps to address them. From Jean Wells opening a quilt shop because her students lacked materials to Bill Greenwood developing accessible water entry points after hearing about someone struggling, our communities are full of doers.
As you read this month’s issue, I hope you are inspired not just to appreciate these stories but to look around your own community. Where are the gaps you might help fill? What practical skills could you share? Sometimes, the most meaningful contributions start with acknowledging we can do better and then asking, “What’s a solution?”
Do you know any stories of “doing” you think should be showcased on the pages of Ruralite? I’d love to learn more. Reach me at editor@pioneer.coop.
Until next time, Chasity Anderson Editorial Director
For supplemental and interactive content, search @Ruralite on your favorite social media sites.
A Big Show in a Small Town
The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show marks 50 years Up Close, Page 10
Beyond Barriers
Innovative organizations make the great outdoors accessible to all Spotlight, Page 12
Easter Sunday Dinner Menu
In The Kitchen, Page 16
Hunt 22 Before You Go 30 Utility Pages: 4-5, 8, 25, 28-29, 32
Sourdough
Becomes a Therapeutic Passion
Small gift turns La Pine woman into an avid baker
By Craig Reed
Britney Obenhaus admits she despised baking when she was younger. She has since done an about-face in her kitchen.
Now 35 years old, she specializes in baking a variety of sourdough breads, sourdough sweet breads, cinnamon rolls, muffins, bagels and baguettes.
Her newfound interest led Britney to establish Busy B’s Sourdough Micro Bakery and Homestead in February 2022. The business is based out of her Meadow Lane home northwest of La Pine.
“It’s been an incredible journey,” Britney says. “My family has supported me and my labor of love. It’s rooted me into my home.
It has become a form of therapy for me, working with my hands, being challenged by the sourdough.”
Britney credits her sister, Elizabeth Ribera, for getting her started with sourdough baking. After a December 2021 visit, Elizabeth—who enjoys baking—sent Britney home with a jar of sourdough starter with instructions.
“I thought, ‘I don’t have time for this,’” Britney says. “I enjoy cooking, not baking. But once I used the starter, it quickly became an obsession and then a passion.”
Britney struggles with gluten intolerance.
“That was one of the big factors in my sister sending starter home with me,” she says. “Commercial yeast upsets my
enjoy baked goods again and to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
“It’s not just a passion, but also a science for me,” she says. “I’ve learned the nutrition side of it and how sourdough is gut-healthy.”
When Elizabeth saw the loaves of sourdough bread Britney baked, she told her, “You could sell these loaves, they’re so beautiful. You need to start a bread business.”
Entrepreneur Britney Obenhous sells a variety of baked sourdough goods at vendor events. PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRITNEY OBENHAUS
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Britney keeps bees to use the honey in her products. Through her business, Busy B’s Sourdough Micro Bakery and Homestead, she sells honey, eggs, elderberry syrup and sourdough muffins.
Britney again followed her sister’s suggestion and established Busy B’s.
“It’s truly because of my sister and her little gift of sourdough starter that I’m where I’m at now,” Britney says. “It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”
She says sourdough has saved her, in a way.
“It has allowed me to be present with my children at home and has also sparked joy in my life,” Britney says. “It’s been a beautiful adventure and journey.”
Helping along the way has been Britney’s husband, Kyle Obenhaus, son Gavin, 14, daughter Emma Jean, 8, and son Colt, 6.
Kyle, a general contractor, built a booth for Britney to use at vendor events and a greenhouse for growing vegetables and herbs. Gavin helps with dishes and setting up and taking down the booth. Emma Jean helps care for the family’s chickens. Colt, like the other family members, is a taste tester of Britney’s sourdough creations.
Candy Carrington, a La Pine resident, has been buying Britney’s sourdough products for the past few years. Candy says she’s been a sourdough fan since first eating it about 50 years ago.
“I’ve tried many different sourdough breads in my lifetime, and I have to say Britney’s is the best,” Candy says. “The traditional loaf is my favorite. It’s got a golden, crispy outer crust with chewy texture on the inside. There’s all those
nooks and crannies that cradle the butter after it’s toasted. It’s so good.”
In addition to sourdough products, Britney has expanded her home business to include honey, eggs, jams, syrups, candles and soaps. Emma Jean helps make candles and soap.
Britney also keeps four beehives and is a self-described “crazy chicken lady” with 20 chickens.
A lifelong member of the La Pine community, Britney’s family roots reach back several generations in the area. Her great-grandparents, Loss and Marie Cagle, built the Wickiup Junction building in the mid-1900s and several buildings for small businesses in La Pine. Her grandfather, Harry Anson, was the La Pine fire chief for many years and was a lineworker with Midstate Electric Cooperative.
To support the La Pine community, Britney sources ingredients from other small local businesses. She trades bread for goat milk, using the milk both in her
kitchen and in making soap.
“Britney is a gift to our little community,” Candy says. “Her secret to making good sourdough is to make it with love.”
Britney sells her homemade goods through her Facebook page, at local fairs and festivals and at pop-up events at her home.
“I always encourage people to like and follow me on Facebook to see what I have available and where I’ll be selling,” she says. “The support of people has been an eyeopening experience. People want to shop direct and want to know what is in the products. I’m providing the best quality I can, and people are finding that important today.” n
For more information, visit the Busy B’s Facebook page or call 541-848-7166.
Making the Grade
What does it take to become a lineworker?
By Jen Calhoun
Taylor Hammack was wiring houses for a living around the time Hurricane Michael made landfall along the Florida Panhandle in 2018. The Category 5 hurricane flattened homes and businesses, destroyed infrastructure and left at least one town along the Gulf Coast in ruins.
The ordeal sparked something in Taylor as he drove to work one day.
“It was about three or four days after Michael hit, and I saw all these line crews on the side of the road getting the power back up,” he says. “Just seeing them do that after something catastrophic had happened—I thought, ‘That’s what I want to do.’ To me, it was a way to help people when they’re in need.”
Soon after, Taylor was hired as an apprentice lineworker at Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative, which put him through a four-year training program with Tennessee Valley Public Power Association. Today, Taylor is a journeyman lineworker.
Lineworkers install, maintain and repair power lines and
equipment on utility poles and underground electrical systems. It’s a tough but rewarding trade that usually requires three to four years of training to achieve rank as a fully qualified journey-level lineworker. A few other qualities are important, too, say lineworkers across the country.
Still on the Line
Since the first electric wire was strung, lineworkers have held an important role in modern America. When disaster strikes, they’re the ones who get the lights back on. They work along city streets, farmlands and wilderness.
The job can be difficult and sometimes dangerous, but the rewards are excellent, says Nick Hagen, a journeyman lineworker at Northern Lights Inc. in Idaho.
“I like the appreciation the community gives us, especially after we get the power back on after three days, four days or even 10 days,” he says. “It’s a fulfilling job.”
Extra high-voltage crews repair power lines from a barge. PHOTO COURTESY OF FLORIDA KEYS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Nick remembers pulling up near a house to repair power lines one Christmas Eve.
“They had been out of power for days,” he says. “Once I finished, I remember seeing their Christmas lights come back on. I thought that was pretty cool.”
The pay is good, too, he says. Nick was making ends meet as a valet at a hotel when he first learned about the trade. He wanted a better life for his family, and linework fit the bill. It also gave him a chance at retirement.
“Getting a good job with a retirement where you could actually enjoy your life after work? Nobody had ever really talked about that to me,” he says.
While compensation and benefits vary for lineworkers depending on location, experience and other factors, the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median pay in 2023 was $85,420 per year, or $41.07 per hour. However, those figures represent the middle of the pay range, and they don’t take into account overtime hours and additional jobs helping other utilities in the aftermath of storms—all of which can result in additional income.
How to Do It
Joining the trade means learning various—and oftentimes difficult—technical skill sets in and out of the classroom, all while maintaining a certain level of physical fitness, says David Bogue, a journeyman lineworker with Florida Keys Electric Cooperative.
Not only do lineworkers need to know how electrical systems work, they’re also required to learn numerous safety techniques. In addition, lineworkers climb utility poles wearing heavy toolbelts in all kinds of weather. The job requires working days and nights, depending on schedules and needs.
“Everybody’s story is a little bit different. Everyone gets into the trade in their own way.”
–EVAN PETERS, LINEWORKER AT BENTON REA IN WASHINGTON
“I would say becoming a journeyman is an attainable goal, but it’s a hard goal,” David says. “But, as someone once told me, I could throw a dart at a map and go get a job there. Also, the skills I’ve learned are not going to be replaced with AI anytime soon.”
Lineworkers can get their start by attending training schools, taking community college courses or working at a local utility in other capacities, such as a groundworker. Rudy Vega, a journeyman lineworker at FKEC, got his start doing right-of-way work with the cooperative 23 years ago.
“I had been working in a tree group there just under two years when the opportunity came up to be an apprentice lineman,” Rudy says. “They approached me and asked me if I was interested, and I said, ‘Definitely. I’ll give it my best.’”
Evan Peters, a lineworker at Washington’s Benton Rural Electric Association, was fighting wildfires when he first learned about the trade from a group of lineworkers.
When he expressed an interest in the job, one of the men suggested he attend a lineworker school. After graduating, he took a job at Benton REA.
“I like that it’s something new every day,” Evan says. “I like that I get to work outside with my hands, especially at a local utility. It can be really fulfilling.”
When it comes to joining up, however, Evan suggests those interested ask around before they jump in headfirst.
“I would tell them to reach out to local linemen,” he says. “Ask them how they did it. Everybody’s story is a little bit different. Everyone gets into the trade in their own way.” n
Want to Be a Lineworker?
Must-haves:
X Be 18 years of age.
X Hold a high school diploma or GED.
X Maintain a valid driver’s license.
X Able to work at heights and lift heavy equipment.
Getting started?
Every lineworker has a story about how they got started, and there are many pathways to taking the job. Here are a few ways to make it happen:
X Join an apprenticeship program at a local utility.
X Enroll in a lineworker school or training program.
X Start at a utility as a groundworker or other job.
Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative journeyman lineworker Taylor Hammack produces an electrical arc during an electric safety demonstration at Southport Elementary School. PHOTO COURTESY OF GULF COAST ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
We thank electrical lineworkers for their commitment to powering our local communities.
In the quiet hours before dawn breaks, while many of us are still nestled in our beds, lineworkers begin their day, often clad in flameresistant clothing, safety goggles, rubber gloves and thick, heavy boots. They are the individuals who epitomize dedication to service in its purest form. As we celebrate Lineworker Appreciation Day on April 18, this is an important moment to reflect on the essential role they play in our daily lives.
Amid towering utility poles and power lines, lineworkers exhibit a strength that goes far beyond the physical. Whether battling inclement weather, troubleshooting technical problems or navigating treacherous heights, lineworkers demonstrate resilience and a quiet determination to keep our lights on, our homes comfortable, and our communities connected.
Midstate Electric crews travel across our four-county service territory, building, maintaining and repairing parts of our local system. Their extraordinary skills ensure our homes remain connected to the grid, businesses stay operational, and emergency services remain accessible—a lifeline that connects us all.
In moments of crisis, when the lights go out and we find ourselves in the dark, lineworkers emerge as beacons of hope. Their swift response restores normalcy, offering reassurance in times of uncertainty. Whether repairing storm-ravaged power lines or ensuring continuity during emergencies, their unwavering commitment illuminates life when we need it most.
Midstate Electric lineworkers also answer the call beyond the boundaries of home. Our crews travel to fellow co-ops, near or far, when widespread outages occur and additional support is needed. Cooperation among cooperatives is one of our seven guiding principles, and no one embodies this core commitment better than lineworkers.
This month, as we celebrate the remarkable men and women who ensure reliable power, let’s recognize their unwavering dedication to the local communities they serve.
The next time you flip a switch, please take a moment to remember those who make it possible— lineworkers, who are wired for service and dedicated to illuminating life.
Midstate Annual Meeting of the Membership Saturday, May 17th!
PleasejoinusatMidstateElectric Cooperative’sheadquartersinLaPine forour73rdAnnualMeetingofthe Members.Thisisyouropportunity asamember-ownertoengageinthe businessofyourelectriccooperative.
Atthemeeting,you’llgetafirsthand lookatthestateoftheco-op,participate intheboardofdirectorselection, enjoylunchwithfellowmembers,ask questions,andevenwinprizesdonated byMECvendors!
Watchyourmailformoredetails, includingtheofficialmeetingnotice, informationonboardcandidatesfor Districts3,4&6,anda“QuickCheck” registrationcard—bringittothemeeting forachancetowinoneofseveral$100 billcreditdrawings!
Doorsopenat8:00a.m.andthebusiness sessionbeginsat9:00a.m.Welook forwardtoseeingyouonMay17!
A Big Show
The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show marks 50 years in a Small Town
Great ideas, those that stand the test of time, often arise from necessity. Such was certainly true for Jean Wells, who moved to Central Oregon in the ’70s to teach home economics, only to discover her students didn’t have access to the necessary materials.
Jean opened The Stitchin’ Post quilt shop in downtown Sisters to address this need, but took the opportunity a step further. She displayed about a dozen of her family’s quilts in the shop to showcase the centuries-old tradition of creating textile art.
Her students and local businesses loved the idea, which evolved into a quilt show that grew every year. This year, the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show celebrates its 50th anniversary. It’s considered to be the world’s largest outdoor quilt show—although organizers admit that’s a tough claim to prove. Around 1,000 quilts will be on display throughout the town July 12 as part of a show that includes children’s activities and special events.
“It’s organically grown over the years,” says Dawn Boyd, executive director of the nonprofit that runs the show.
The event attracts 10,000 visitors to the town of 3,000 residents. Even more remarkable is the tiny staff that produces the show. Dawn has help from a part-time staff member and a group of volunteers ranging from a few people throughout the year to about 300 on show day. The annual economic impact the quilt show has on Sisters is estimated at $1.7 million.
“It’s so much fun, and you meet so many people from everywhere,” Dawn says.
What the Show Entails
Hundreds of quilts—items from Jean’s personal collection and those belonging to quilting teachers and students worldwide— are installed early in the morning throughout downtown Sisters. Admission to view these masterpieces is free.
“They’re all over town, like three blocks by seven blocks,” Dawn says. “There’s also a city park we take over.”
Local firefighters get in on the act, hanging quilts on the side of The Stitchin’ Post building. Visitors and residents love to watch the proceedings.
Handmade pieces are displayed at the Teachers Pavilion during the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.
PHOTO BY SPENCER GILES
“It’s a highlight for some of our visitors,” Dawn says with a laugh. “They get a coffee, then they watch the firemen in action.”
This year, the quilts displayed on The Stitchin’ Post wall will be a log cabin pattern created by the shop’s employees. In addition to the quilts around town, children are invited and encouraged to make their own fabric-based crafts at the Kids Activity Center.
“It’s neat to show them how colors can go together,” Dawn says.
Quilters have a chance to use their talents to produce their own fabric postcards. The 19th annual Wish Upon A Card fundraiser challenges participants to create a 4-by-6-inch quilted art piece— called a postcard—using two fabrics designed by Giucy Giuce, a business run by designer Giuseppe Ribaudo. Contestants can create a similar postcard highlighting the 50th anniversary of the show. Winners receive quilt show goody bags.
Sales of both juried and nonjuried postcards help raise funds for an SOQS scholarship given to local high school graduates entering a collegiate fabric arts or design program.
“People love them,” Dawn says of the postcards.
Quilters can also compete for prizes in the Quilt Block Contest featuring the fabrics of sister quilter Kathy Deggendorfer’s Sisters Mountain Meadow collection. Each packet contains six fabric squares to build a finished 9.5-by-9.5-inch block. The first-place winner receives a cash prize, and honorable mentions are awarded additional fabrics.
For more information about the contests, visit soqs.org/contests.
Special Events
Jean offers Quilters Affair—quilting classes led by teachers from around the world—the week before the show. The list of classes, held at The Stitchin’ Post, is announced in December, and many visitors make plans immediately. Accommodations in Sisters fill up fast.
“It’s a huge event for them, coming from all over,” Dawn says.
On Friday, July 11, Jean and her daughter, Valori Wells, a quilter in her own right, discuss the show’s history at an event called “A Town Covered in Quilts” at Sisters High School.
On Sunday, award-winning Dallas quilter Karen K. Stone offers walking tours at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and a lecture at 10 a.m. at FivePine Lodge Conference Center. Karen’s quilts have nabbed awards in international competitions, and her Indian orange peel
quilt is now part of the Quilt National Collection at the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska. There is a cost to attend both events, but visitors are free to enjoy Karen’s quilts on display from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. along the creek at the conference center.
A raffle of a special 48-by-84-inch quilt raises more funds for the show. Valori designed a Sisters Scape pattern years ago, and Donna Rice and Jean reimagined the design in a piece they named “Sisters Scape Reimagined 2025: Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.”
The raffle quilt includes the iconic Three Sisters mountains, from which the town got its name, along with wildflowers, Ponderosa pine trees and Whychus Creek. June Jaeger recreated the design of the creek and its fish, while Donna, Jean, Jan Tetzlaff, Janet Roshak and Diane Jaquith pieced the remaining blocks and assembled the quilt. Annette Caldwell finished the quilt with machine quilting. Raffle tickets cost $5, and the winner is announced on show day.
50 Years Strong
As the show grew from its start in 1975, Jean created a nonprofit and handed over the reins, although she is still on the show’s board and is active in the annual event.
“She’s retired but still involved in everything,” Dawn says, adding the nonprofit show and its founder “are entwined like a bowl of spaghetti. We are separate but together.”
Like Jean, Dawn came to Sisters out of necessity. She and her family moved to coastal Oregon from Southern California but veered to Sisters after what Dawn calls a “midlife misdirection,” and a new college degree made her realize she longed for a career in event planning. The job of executive director emerged, and when she approached her husband about moving to Sisters, she learned it was his dream to live in Central Oregon.
Her mother, an active quilter, was pleased as well.
“I had quilted before,” Dawn says, but gave it up while raising a family. “Obviously, living here, I picked it back up.
“I didn’t have a choice,” she says with a laugh. n
For more information on the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, visit soqs.org.
A volunteer helps set up the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.
PHOTO BY SPENCER GILES
Quilts are exhibited on the outside of the Stitchin’ Post quilt shop in downtown Sisters, Oregon. PHOTO BY ANDREW PENNIMAN
Innovative organizations make the great outdoors accessible to all Beyond Barriers
By Ginger Meurer
Extending recreation and athletic opportunities to people of all abilities is the mission of adaptive sports and other organizations throughout the West. Accessible beaches, parks, trails, waterways and adaptive equipment allow participation for people who might otherwise be unable to enjoy these experiences. Here’s a small sampling of these inclusive efforts.
Oregon Adaptive Sports
Oregon Adaptive Sports offers professional outdoor experiences supported by more than 350 volunteers and 30 certified instructors, catering to participants of all ages and abilities. It also provides access to state-of-the-art adaptive equipment.
“We have a fleet of sit-skis, adaptive mountain bikes and adaptive cycles,” says Executive Director Pat Addabbo.
He says Oregon is an ideal setting for outdoor activities.
“It’s a great place to come test out different types of equipment and to enjoy the hundreds of miles of trails that we have access to here. It’s a just a great place to get out and ride a bike.”
Oregon Adaptive Sports taps adaptable transportation to make sure athletes can easily reach activity sites. Affordability is at the heart of all the nonprofit’s offerings.
“We have a robust scholarship program,” Pat says. “We never turn
anybody away for inability to pay.”
Through a sponsorship from Toyota, new athletes can participate in three free experiences. Additionally, the Kelly Brush Foundation sponsors one of Oregon Adaptive Sports’ most unique events: Turns & Berms, a three-day camp designed specifically for athletes with paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries. Campers ski Mount Bachelor in the mornings and mountain bike in crisp spring air near Bend in the afternoons.
Fundraisers help, too. The biggest is the First Chair Gala, named for a golden opportunity skiers cherish.
“As a skier, the term First Chair has a bit of a palpable sort of magic to it,” Pat says. “It’s the idea of getting on the chairlift early in the morning with a whole day of adventure laid out in front of you. First Chair kind of captures that spirit, and that’s something that we’re always working to bring to our community— that participation and sense of adventure.”
Go to oregonadaptivesports.org for more information.
Seattle Adaptive Sports
Nick Weiss first hit the basketball court in his wheelchair with Seattle Adaptive Sports at age 10. Today, he’s the nonprofit Paralympic sports organization’s operations manager.
“This is year 23 for me as far as playing wheelchair basketball,” Nick says. “This is the program that set me up to go play college ball. And for me, this is very full circle. I get to lead this organization, which has really impacted my life. I’m fully invested in this program and what we do.”
Originally managed by parents, the organization now sees athletes competing at elite levels. The goalball team just won a national championship, sled hockey is poised to launch a new youth team, and the power soccer program just received a grant to establish a competitive team.
The organization serves athletes ages 6 and older. But Nick hopes to reach families even earlier, perhaps even offering support and information to expectant parents whose child may
As athletes compete, Nick says they gain skills and make
“These are friendships that they’re going to have the rest of their lives,” he says. “And I say that from experience. I’m friends with the people I met when we all started playing when I was 10 years old.”
Learn more at seattleadaptivesports.org.
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, prioritizes adaptive recreation, from a giant accessible playground built at McEuen Park in 2013 to newly paved hiking trails. The city’s biggest project was inspired by a wheelchair user who described the struggle of accessing the water at Atlas Mill Park. She said when she wanted to swim, she had to
ABOVE: Competitors glide across the ice during a Seattle Adaptive Sports sled hockey game. PHOTO COURTESY OF SEATTLE ADAPTIVE SPORTS
OPPOSITE: Afternoons of accessible mountain biking are a highlight at Turns & Berms, an Oregon Adaptive Sports camp sponsored by the Kelly Bush Foundation. PHOTO COURTESY OF OREGON ADAPTIVE SPORTS
Adventures Without Limits leads a Clackamas River rafting trip. The Oregon-based adaptive and inclusive outfitter accommodates people of all abilities. PHOTO BY ELISE HAVERLAND
Families explore Oregon’s beaches using tank-like track chairs provided by David’s Chair. At top, adventurers enjoy Harris Beach in Brookings during a 2023 spring break excursion. Below, a family takes in the sights at Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City, Oregon, also in 2023. PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID'S CHAIR
wheel herself to the sand, throw herself out on the ground and crawl to the river’s edge.
“I said, ‘Well, we’ve got to do better than that,’” says Parks and Recreation Director Bill Greenwood.
He worked with an engineer and the Post Fallsbased Idaho Disability Action Center to develop an accessible swim entry point on the beach at Atlas Mill Park. Resembling a boat launch, the ramp allows wheelchair users to roll themselves into the water, secure their chairs and swim off on a flotation device. The same location also features an accessible kayak launch, dog park and picnic area.
For more information on the Idaho Disability Action Center, go to dacnw.org. Details on Atlas Mill Park are at cdaid.org/5883.
Edging Up to Water
Along the Oregon coast, communities offer accessible kayak launches and mobility mats known as Mobi-Mats—portable, durable pathways laid out seasonally to facilitate beach access. Some municipalities also loan out Mobi-Chairs, floating beach wheelchairs.
Lincoln City provides beach wheelchairs on a firstcome, first-served basis year-round. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the city rolls out mobility mats at multiple beach access points. To reserve a chair, go to explorelincolncity.com/wheelchair.
Visitors to San Diego will find accessible mats at Moonlight Beach and beach wheelchairs at Newport Beach.
Go to traveloregon.com/things-to-do/trip-ideas-accessible-travel for accessible travel ideas in Oregon. In San Diego, find details at sandiego.org.
Grand Canyon Exploration
The Grand Canyon’s South Rim offers barrier-free experiences. Departing daily from Williams, Arizona, the Grand Canyon Railway's trains feature accessible seating in coach and first class. The South Rim also offers several wheelchair-accessible viewpoints, paved scenic trails like the Rim Trail and shuttle buses equipped with lifts.
Learn more at thetrain.com/the-train and grandcanyontrust.org/ hikes/cpe-grand-canyon-rim-trail.
David’s Chair
When David Hartrick was diagnosed with ALS, the Oregon outdoorsman was determined to seize the time he had left. But how do you hunt, hike or fish when you can’t leave the pavement? The answer was an all-terrain track chair, essentially a one-person tank. Facing a $20,000 price tag that his insurance company wasn’t willing to cover, David turned to his buddy, Steve Furst.
“It was stumble and bumble and find our way,” Steve says.
“We raised money for the one chair, and we had some leftover, so we bought a youth chair, also.”
Steve credits David with the plan to share the chairs.
“It goes back to his insight and his vision,” Steve says. “He talked about giving the chair to somebody else. ‘You give it to somebody, and one person gets in the chair a few times a year, maybe. But, hey, what if we come up with a plan so anybody can use the chair?’ And then we just fumbled through the nonprofit stuff and put it together.”
On Jan. 11, 2018—only 11 months after his diagnosis—David died, leaving behind a growing legacy. With Steve as CEO, David’s Chair now manages 23 track chairs and three golf chairs available for free to people with mobility challenges.
Partner organizations and volunteers manage the chairs at fixed locations like beaches, golf courses and trails. Most of the chairs are at Oregon beaches, but reservable chairs are also available in the California Redwoods, at the Rosewood Nature Study Area in Reno and Ten Mile Ranch in Texas. Tow ’N Go chairs also allow users to enjoy independent outdoor adventures.
Steve sees familiar names come through the reservation system that serves just under 1,000 people annually.
“There’s about three or four that regularly will go up and down the coast enjoying it, and that’s awesome,” he says.
Learn more about the nonprofit or reserve chairs at davidschair.org.
Adventures Without Limits
All abilities and ages are served by the Oregon-based adaptive and inclusive outfitter Adventures Without Limits. The organization hosts private groups and community trips, and, in winter, it leads snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trips.
Participants with ambulatory challenges participate on sit-skis. Spring through fall, there are more outdoor activities.
“We raft, kayak, canoe, paddleboard, hike and camp—a little bit of rock climbing, as well,” Director of Outreach and Development Jennifer Wilde says.
Using adaptive equipment, patience and sometimes a bit of foam, duct tape and creativity, the organization ensures outdoor recreation is available to all.
“We want to share all these beautiful spaces and activities in Oregon with everyone and believe that nature should be accessible for everyone,” Jennifer says. “We’re always excited to connect new folks to the outdoors and come up with creative solutions to meet their individual needs to make it accessible for them in whatever way that means.”
“They can go hunting, camping, fishing, wherever they want to go for seven days at a time,” Steve says.
Additional Resources
Many organizations provide information on accessible locations and activities.
Visit Idaho offers an online accessibility tool packed with resources. Go to visitidaho.org/ things-to-do/accessible-activities for firsthand accounts of locations from Craters of the Moon National Monument to Shoshone Falls to College of Southern Idaho’s Centennial Observatory.
“We’ve realized that while we can make the outdoors more accommodating, it’s challenging for visitors to enjoy if we don’t provide the needed information when they are planning their trip,” says Andrea Rayburn, a Visit Idaho tourism specialist.
In addition to destination information, Visit Idaho highlights organizations working to help, like People Need People, a group that brings
Learn more at awloutdoors.org. n
in volunteers to help trail explorers by pulling and pushing them in all-terrain wheeled chairs through the hills. There’s also Boise Adaptive Snowsport Education, a 100% volunteer-staffed program offering adaptive ski lessons. Western Adaptive Veteran Education Snowsports provides adaptive equipment, ski and snowboard instruction, and therapeutic experiences for veterans.
Disabled Hikers, a Carlsborg, Washingtonbased nonprofit, offers resources, events and group hikes. Its website, disabledhikers.com, is packed with detailed trail guides to accessible destinations like Rialto Beach in Olympic National Park, Big Creek Nature Trail near Hoodsport, Washington, and entire regions like the guide to the Boise, Idaho, area.
Access California’s website, accessca.org,
is packed with detailed guides to accessible trails, parks, gardens, lodging and resources for adaptive equipment.
Folks looking for accessible lodging, transportation or location booking information internationally should visit accessiblego.com. Wheel the World also helps with bookings and lists accessible group tours, activities and equipment rentals.
The Administration for Community Living maintains a list of centers for independent living on its website, acl.gov. These organizations, found in every state, provide accessibility tools. One example is Ability 360. With Arizona offices in Phoenix, Gilbert, Pima County, Glendale and Pinal-Gila County, Ability 360 is a home for accessible sports, fitness and lifestyle transition education.
Sit-skis make Mount Bachelor accessible during an early-morning run at Turns & Berms.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OREGON ADAPTIVE SPORTS
Easter Sunday DINNER MENU
Garlic and Rosemary Grilled Lamb Chops
2 pounds thick-cut lamb rib chops
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
11/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Zest of 1 lemon
1/4 cup olive oil
Combine the garlic, rosemary, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, lemon zest and olive oil in a measuring cup.
Pour the marinade over the lamb chops, flipping them over to cover completely. Cover and marinate the chops in the refrigerator for at least one hour or up to as long as overnight.
Let the lamb chops come to room temperature before grilling.
Grill the lamb chops on medium heat for 7 to 10 minutes or until the internal temperature reads 135 F.
Allow the lamb chops to rest on a plate covered with aluminum foil for 5 minutes before serving.
Recipes by Gertrude Treadaway
PHOTO BY KATIE WILCOX
Simple Roasted Asparagus
2 pounds fresh asparagus
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Heat oven to 400 F.
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 lemons, cut in wedges
If the stalks of the asparagus are thick, peel the bottom half of each. Lay them in a single layer on a sheet pan spread with aluminum foil. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with pepper and salt.
Roast until tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and return to the oven for another minute. Serve with lemon wedges.
Duchess Potatoes
2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
Salt
1/4 cup heavy cream
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3 large egg yolks
Place potatoes in a medium to large pot, and cover with a few inches of cold water. Add a few teaspoons of salt to the water. Bring to a simmer. Cook until the potatoes are forktender, about 20 to 25 minutes.
While the potatoes are boiling, melt 2 tablespoons of butter, and set aside. You will use this butter to coat the potatoes right before they go into the oven.
Heat the oven to 425 F.
When the potatoes are cooked, drain in a colander. Put the potatoes back in the pot, and set over low heat. Allow them to release steam for a minute or two.
Add 2 tablespoons of butter, and mash the potatoes until the butter has been incorporated. Add the nutmeg, black pepper and heavy cream. Continue mashing the potatoes. Once everything is incorporated, add salt to taste. Add the egg yolks. Continue to mash until the mixture is smooth. Do not over-mash, or your potatoes will end up with a gluey consistency.
Put the mashed potatoes in a piping bag with a large star point. Pipe the potatoes onto a cookie sheet. Brush the swirled edges with melted butter so they brown nicely in the oven.
Bake until nicely browned, about 20 minutes. Serve hot from the oven.
Spinach Pomegranate Salad
Salad
10-ounce bag baby spinach leaves, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup walnut pieces
1/2 cup crumbled feta
Vinaigrette
1/4 cup aged balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 to 3 tablespoons honey
1/4 medium red onion, sliced thin
1/4 cup alfalfa sprouts
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 clove garlic, minced
Salt and pepper
Combine all vinaigrette ingredients. Shake well.
Place spinach in a salad bowl. Top with walnuts, feta, red onion, alfalfa sprouts and pomegranate seeds. Drizzle with vinaigrette.
Pistachio Pudding Cake Cake
1 package yellow cake mix
3.4-ounce package instant pistachio pudding mix
Icing
3.4-ounce package instant pistachio pudding mix
1 cup cold heavy whipping cream
3/4 cup cold whole milk
Heat oven to 350 F.
4 large eggs
1 cup club soda 1/2 cup canola oil
2 teaspoons confectioners’ sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts for garnish
In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, soda and oil. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes.
Pour into a greased and floured 10-inch fluted tube pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the frosting, beat the pudding mix, cream, milk, and confectioners’ sugar on high in a large bowl until stiff peaks form. Frost cake. Sprinkle with walnuts. Refrigerate until serving.
READER EXCHANGE
Books/Magazines
I am looking for booklets for beaded Christmas ornaments. Possibly called “Beaded Fantasies.” I am willing to purchase and refund postage. Thank you.
Betty Mercado 1820 E.10th St. The Dalles, OR 97058 bettym@centurylink.net
Crafts/Hobbies
My daughter, sister and I would like more unwanted jewelry. We are making jewelry for seniors.
Marsha Holeik
16637 William Foss Road LaPine, OR 97739
Looking for old-style 9-pound 100% cotton typing paper for my hobby. It is very thin and may be called onion skin or parchment paper. Any color of paper. Willing to pay postage. Thank you.
Robert Pierce
9715 Buckingham Drive Pasco, WA 99301 Rcpljp@aol.com
I am starting sewing lessons for young children. In need of small printed fabrics, lace, trims and buttons. Doll or stuffed animal patterns. Will pay postage. Thanks.
Jan Dwyer
19111 Buck Drive Bend, OR 97703
I have an 11-year-old dressage saddle that is not rideable anymore because of a compromised tree. The black leather is in excellent condition. If you are a leather artisan, there is a lot of beautiful, usable leather. Come to pick it up and it is yours.
S. Stelzer
P.O. Box 352
The Dalles, OR 97058
Happy Easter!
Milestones
My dad turns 90 in early spring. He is a cowboy at heart; you never see him without a cowboy hat on. He loves John Wayne and has watched all of his movies multiple times. He is an avid reader and had a large Louis L’amour collection. He loves old Ford trucks—the older, the better. He plants and maintains six large flower beds at home. He is easy-going and always has a smile on his face. He would love to hear from readers for this milestone. Please send to Don Whitehead, 590 NW 23rd St. #124, Redmond, OR, 97756.
Lori Blackburn Redmond, Oregon
Our mother, Myrtle, will be celebrating her 100th birthday in April. She was raised in Lonerock, Oregon until her older sister started high school in Condon. Myrtle completed school in Condon and married her sweetheart, Garland, right after her graduation. They raised five children. She spent many years tending to plants in their country home yard, vegetable garden and green house. Now she lives at Summit Springs Village in Condon and enjoys getting mail other than bills. Please send cards to Myrtle Potter at P.O. Box 116, Condon, OR 97823. Thank you.
Sharon Hamner Condon, Oregon
Submitting Requests Is Free
Music
Looking for intermediate to advanced sheet music or books for one or two violins, any style. I am willing to reimburse for shipping.
Ilya Perry
P.O. Box 404 Lyle, WA 98635
Thanks
My mom, Susan Monihan, had her 80th birthday in December, and she was so amazed at all the love she received from Ruralite readers! She received more than 200 cards and gifts. She is still reading your lovely notes. You really blessed her and made her birthday memorable.
Kristi Snyder
Trout Lake, Washintgon
Thank you to the readers who showered my father, Doug Nelson, with cards for his 98th birthday. I was able to be there for a couple days and see the joy on his face when my mom returned each day with a bag full of cards. Each card was carefully opened and read before saving the stamp and recording the town it was sent from. It brought so much happiness to their home. Thank you for showing him how much he matters.
Leslie Feltman Stanley, Idaho
Send your request—with no attachments—to readerexchange@ruralite.org or mail to Reader Exchange, 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Suite 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Fill in the subject line with Reader Exchange. Acceptance, scheduling and editing are at the editor’s discretion. Single requests only, please. No duplicates.
Submissions are handled on a first-come, first-served basis and as space allows. We cannot honor every request.
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See giant geologic formations rise from the ground in Utah at
Canyonlands National Park
What Is It?
Thousands of years of geological history stacked atop each other are visible to all at Canyonlands National Park in Utah. The state’s largest national park at more than 330,000 acres, Canyonlands has four sections: Island in the Sky, Needles, The Maze and The Rivers. Split by the Green and Colorado rivers, all four sections are separate, and travel between them is difficult.
How It Formed
Much of the rock in Canyonlands National Park was once under water, carried in by rivers and tributaries. Over millions of years, movements in the Earth’s crust have raised the rock to more than 5,000 feet above sea level. The Green and Colorado rivers eroded the exposed rock, creating deep canyons.
Island in the Sky
With cliffs rising 1,000 feet above its surroundings, Island in the Sky is a tall mesa and the easiest part of Canyonlands to visit. The 34-mileround-trip scenic drive up the mesa has many beautiful viewpoints. Popular hikes for the whole family include the .6-mile hike to the Mesa Arch. In summer, rangers sometimes host nighttime stargazing events on the island.
The Needles
Striped sandstone spires rise out of the ground in the Needles district (pictured), which makes up the southeast corner of the park. The district is great for longer hikes, with more than 60 miles of interconnected trails. The Cave Spring Trail is popular for families, while the roughly 11-mile Chesler Park Loop is a popular, albeit strenuous, hike.
More Information
Directions into each district can be difficult, and satellite navigation can be misleading. The National Park Service suggests following a physical map. As with many national parks, Canyonlands requires a pass. To start planning your trip, visit www.nps. gov/cany or call 435-719-2313.
ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY KRZYSZTOF WIKTOR
Ever in Awe
Story and photo by Dave LaBelle
As a small child, I was spellbound by giant rainbows stretching across the valley near our home. The magnificent bands of glistening colors felt so close I could almost touch them, bathe in them. Believing there was a pot of gold buried where each end of the rainbow touched the earth, my siblings and I sometimes raced barefoot across the fields hoping to find the treasure before the magical bow disappeared.
I’m not sure at what age I outgrew the legend of hidden treasure. Perhaps it was the same time I began questioning the Easter Bunny?
Sadly, as I grew older and wiser, the awe I once had for those fading, magical colors also disappeared. As a teenager, rainbows no longer held the same allure.
But then, not long after my mother disappeared in floodwaters and our home was washed away by endless days and nights of torrential rains, I was reading in the book of Genesis how God set a bow in the sky after the great flood as a sign the Earth would never again be destroyed by water. As you can imagine, the story stirred my heart, and I have never viewed a rainbow the same since. And soon that mystery—that childhood wonder—even returned.
I believe rainbows will forever capture our imagination.
Whether you believe the Bible story or are simply touched by those colorful, curved ribbons of light stretching across the sky or magically appearing in the mist above a lake or river, there is something beautifully comforting and hopeful about seeing a rainbow appear.
Photographer, author and lecturer Dave LaBelle has captured special moments for more than half a century, sharing photo tips and life perspectives with readers. For more of his writings, visit davidlabelle.com and his blog at bridgesandangels.wordpress.com.
NIKON D810 70mm lens ISO: 125 f/5 at 1/640
Including an interesting foreground creates scale, depth and dimension. A vibrant rainbow can be the star of your photograph or an unexpected accent to complement an already colorful scene, such as pitcher Max Steffens, of Epworth, Iowa, competing in a semipro baseball tournament.
Reader Challenge
Keep your camera close and be ready as storms clear and rains cease. Often after a rainy day, clouds part before a sunset, and a rainbow alone can be a breathtaking sight.
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.
You may think you know what“priceless” means—usually, it just means “astronomically expensive.” But not at Stauer. Priceless means FREE.
Stauer is smashing luxury norms with our FREE 77-Carat Durango Howlite Necklace. at’s right—zero dollars.* is genuine howlite piece, valued at $299, is yours for FREE—just cover $24.95 for shipping and processing. Plus, we’ll send a $25 Discount Coupon, making shipping Better an Free! No tricks, no obligation—though resisting our luxury deals won’t be easy.
Why give away jewelry? Because once you see Stauer’s rare gemstones and vintage-inspired watches, we know you’ll fall in love. If not, keep your FREE necklace—no hard feelings.
Howlite, discovered in Nova Scotia, has been a gemologist’s secret, often compared to turquoise. Our Durango Collection channels classic Southwest jewelry, featuring blue-green beauty in oxidized silver settings. Get nearly 160 carats for just $79!
is deal won’t last—we only have 2,500 left. Call now to claim your FREE necklace and experience a new kind of priceless luxury!
Jewelry Speci cations:
• Enhanced howlite.
• Oxidized silver finish.
• Necklace: 23" + 2", lobster clasp.
• Earrings: 3" drop, French wire.
• Bracelet: 7", elastic.
Durango Collection— Call In Only
A. Necklace (77 ctw) $299 FREE* + S&P Save $299
B. Earrings (23 ctw) $199 $49* +
$79* + S&P
*Special price only for customers using the offer code.
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.
With more than 200 recipes, this cookbook from our 2007 contest offers options for potlucks, family reunions or picnics. As a bonus, additional pages feature previously unpublished barbecue recipes from a 2006 contest. The 8½-by-11-inch indexed book is $10 (includes postage).
Recipes submitted by Readers for the March 2007 Contest
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.
MARKETPLACE
Agriculture
4x5 round bales, Meadow foxtail orchard grass. 4x4 Timothy, small square. 208-4354637 or 208-435-4002; nas@cpcinternet.com. 1225
Reinforced custom-sized pond liners (39 cents/sqft). Hay covers, greenhouse covers, any width and length. Truck tarps and more. High puncture and tear strength. Best price guaranteed. Celebrating 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. 0925
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. 0625
WC Collectibles. We buy comic books! Local to Inland Northwest. Willing to travel. WCCollectiblesCheney@gmail.com; 509-496-1835. 0525
Automotive
1976 GMC half-ton pickup sitting for 20-plus years. Body good, runs when parked. Interior needs rehab. Reno, NV. $4.5K. Dale, 775-742-2989. 0425
Wanted: running board for 1928-29. AA express truck. 69 ¾” x 9 ½” with Ford script in middle. Allen Piquet, 541-571-4506; Piquetat1967@gmail.com. 0425
Health forces sale. Two-for-one: 1971 Ranchero and 1974 race car. Ranchero needs work; race car for parts. $1.75K. garyvavzycki@gmail.com. 0425
Books, Magazines, Videos
“The Bunny Book; What Would You Name a Book about Bunnies and God?” Bunnies learn about matches, separation, bullying, fear, death, God and more. 626-482-4955. 0425
Business Opportunities
Urgently needed: company that can raise up a foundation in Fairbanks, AK area. My house is sinking. John, alaskamoose@yahoo.com and 812-896-9951; or leave a voice message at 812-967-3220. 0425
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): June issue—April 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.
Advertisements are accepted in good faith. Pioneer Utility Resources is not liable for interactions between buyers and sellers.
Turnkey cafe, pizza, bakery in the picturesque town of Cedarville, CA. Newly renovated, fully equipped commercial kitchen, cozy dining and bar room, potential mini brew pub. Priced for quick sale, $225K. Shelia, 530-569-0529. 0425
Community Events
Eastern Oregon University student art exhibit, plus work by artist Genevieve Gaudreau Thompson. April 4-26. Art Center East in La Grande, OR. artcentereast.org. 0425
Equipment/Tools
Farmi JL 300 logging winch, small woodlands, $1K. 13 push-pull control cables, $50 each. 60 16-inch nylatron and steel sheaves, 1/2-inch rope, $50 each. 4-ft. tow-behinds, Land Pride mower, $800. Kubota rototiller, near new, $1.5K. Ted, 458-910-3727. 0625
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. 0625AR
Help Wanted
The Wheat Land Communities’ Fair in Ritzville, WA, is seeking a reliable and responsible summer groundskeeper/camp host. Responsibilities include mowing, watering, general maintenance, overseeing the campground and other duties as needed. Would ideally be on-site May through midSeptember. Full hook up provided. Contact Dan at skamaniadan@gmail.com or mail a letter of interest to, P.O. Box 14, Ritzville, WA 99169. 0425
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. 0625
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. 0525
Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. For more info: Joe, highdesertmemorials@gmail.com or 541-815-8906; www.highdesertmemorials.com. 0425
Pets
Fort Sage Kennels, closing. AKC-registered Airedales. Females, 1 year old. Males 2 to 3 years old. 530-827-2271 or 530-249-7896. 0425
Real Estate
320 acres east of Adel, OR. Borders Hart Mountain views, Steens Mountain and Beaty Butte. Landowner tags, very rural. $263K. For maps: thejugglingman3@gmail.com; 541-659-1573. 0425
$180K. 160 acres, proven gold claims. 131 miles north of Fairbanks, AK. 50-yard-per-hour shaker plant. Complete water system. Text, 907-223-3036. 0525
John Day, OR. Palm Harbor energy efficient 3-bd., 2-ba. home on 1.99 acres. 50-gpm well, heat pump. $389K with mower, $386K without. 541-633-3614; steve@crestviewcable.com.
Granite, OR. 3 city lots, 3/4 acre each, one has an off-grid cabin. Year-round activities: hunting, fishing, hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, 4x4, etc. $200K for all 3. 541-519-9077; billpathanley@gmail.com. 0525
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, 541-4809161; johngill@landandwildlife.com. Land And Wildlife brokerage. 0425
82 acres with Doug Fir (planted 2008) and permitted rock quarry. Approx. 27 miles north of Roseburg, near I-5 exit 50. $2.1M. Lee Real Estate: john@northwestfarmbroker.com; 503-245-9090. 0525
20 acres in northeast NV. Comes with real and personal property. Year-round access. Ideal off-grid homestead. Water, power close by. $35K. geopup58@gmail.com. 0425
Looking to purchase small-to medium-size cattle ranch in Northeast CA, Southern OR, Western NV. Have cows, capital, ability to finance. Will consider seller finance and life estate. Brushpopper65@gmail.com. 0425
Awesome view of the Nestucca River, still in tidewater, across from a great fishing hole. Newer, glassed in Trex deck overlooking the river. 2 bd., 2½ ba. home with knotty pine interior. 2-car garage, plenty of room for kayaks and a short walk to a beautiful beach. $549K. steelheadsteven@gmail.com; 503-680-9799. 0425
Great live/work opportunity in Dayville. See to appreciate the endless possibilities within this 2-story building. $325K. Duke Warner Realty, 541-987-2363; ddwr@ortelco.net. 0425
Pahrump, NV, city 1/4 acre lots. Good for off grid or investment. $100/mo for 10 years. Walmart and food stores close by. garyvavzycki@gmail.com. 0425
Recreational Rentals
Bed and Birds; a guesthouse. Wet meadows, range, forest, dark sky. Sleeps 9. Lakeview, OR. Explore or ride? Near ski hill. Reasonable. 541-219-2044. 0425
Bend country cabin. Very clean and fully furnished cabin on private ranch. Close to recreation areas. Very nice. $95/night. 541382-3050; bendcountrycabins@gmail.com. 0525
Wavecatcher: oceanfront cottage. Central OR coast. $175/night (plus cleaning/tax). Open April through Oct. Holds up to 6-plus. Children and pets. Wavecatcherbeachrentals.com. Reservations: 541-740-2846. 0425
Enjoy your ideal Maui getaway. This updated two-bd., 2-ba. condo sleeps 4 and features a charming “surf shack” design. Just half a block from a beautiful beach, it’s perfect for morning strolls and sunsets. Plus, you’re steps away from shops and restaurants at Azeka Plaza. www.cbislandvacations.com/vrp/ unit/Kihei_Garden_Estates_G204-643-15. 0425
Recreational Vehicles
2015 Momentum 380ToyHauler. Garage 9.7 x 7.9 ft. Sleeps 6, center island, pantry, fireplace, 3 slides, Onan generator. Excellent condition. Photos available. $55K. 406-827-0618; shoffland54@gmail.com. 0525
1964 Airstream Land Yacht trailer. 22-ft. Body good, interior needs total rehab. Towable. Reno, NV. $5.5K. Dale, 775-742-2989. 0425
Services
Dawn Till Dusk Masonry. Brick, block, stone and pavers. Small jobs and repairs welcome. dawntillduskconstructionmasonry.com. 541388-7605; 541-410-6945. License #245760 bonded and insured. La Pine, OR. 0525
All types of roofing and repairs, family business since 1956 where integrity prevails. Dave, 541-852-2816. Josh, 541-255-6031. 0425
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. 0425
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. 0625
1963 Corvette car; split window coupe. Some repairs okay. Numbers need not match. Grampa Don, 541-232-3748. 0425
Eatonville United Methodist Church A Spiritual Base Camp On The Way To Paradise. Mashell Avenue North P.O. Box 205 Eatonville, WA 98328 360-832-4021 Home: 360-832-4562 Pastor Bernard Preston Ritchea Cell: 361-330-9666
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Debunking myths about Columbia Basin hydropower
By NewsData Staff
Hydroelectric dams in the Northwest provide some of the cleanest and most reliable electricity in the country. There’s a lot to know about this time-tested technology that has powered homes and businesses for generations.
Most of the power Northwest electric cooperatives and public power utilities buy from Bonneville Power Administration comes from hydroelectric dams.
“[Hydropower] is the foundation of our affordable energy resources,” says Clark Mather, executive director of Northwest RiverPartners, a nonprofit representing Northwest community-owned electric utilities.
Eight dams in the lower Snake and Columbia rivers—especially the four lower Snake River dams—have been the subject of much debate in recent years.
Let’s explore the myths and facts surrounding these power generation systems.
Hydropower dams in the lower Snake and Columbia rivers are aging and will soon require major investments to maintain.
The lower Snake and Columbia river dams receive consistent maintenance and investment like any other piece of infrastructure, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Northwestern Division, which operates locks, dams and hydropower facilities along the Columbia River.
“The main components of these structures have held up extremely well,” says Tom Conning, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Northwestern Division public affairs specialist. “However, other items— controls, turbines, etc.—wear out over time, just like parts for a car. We are constantly making improvements that help us balance the various needs that each dam supports.”
Another misconception, he says, is that dams have 50-year lifespans. Dams last far longer than 50 years because they are continually maintained and updated.
The four lower Snake River dams provide some of the lowest cost electricity generation in the federal system, Bonneville Power Administration Senior Spokesperson Doug Johnson says. While major investments in these four dams eventually will be needed, the timing and priority are influenced by asset condition and risk. Current forecasts identify major equipment replacement in
the mid-to-late 2030s, BPA says.
Most hydroelectric power generated in the Northwest is sold to California.
Most of BPA’s power is sold to Pacific Northwest utilities, Doug says. BPA has designated more than 6,900 megawatts of federal generation to the approximately 140 consumer-owned utilities in the Northwest that it is statutorily obligated to serve. When BPA has surplus electricity, it must first offer it to other utilities in the Pacific Northwest.
BPA sells surplus generation to California and other parts of the Western Interconnection, the electric grid that covers 11 Western states, two Canadian provinces and a portion of Baja California, Mexico.
Buying power from and selling power to California is mutually beneficial, Clark says. It enables states to rely on each other in times of extreme demand—such as during heat waves or cold spells—that could otherwise cause energy shortages.
The system of locks on the Columbia and Snake rivers is only important to wheat farmers, who could use railroads or trucks instead.
It’s true the Columbia and Snake rivers are the largest wheat export gateways in the United States. But the 360-mile inland navigation system through locks at eight dams from Portland, Oregon, to Lewiston, Idaho, is vital to many businesses in the region and is an efficient form of transport.
Last year, barges moved more than
7.3 million tons of cargo through the rivers’ lock system, says Pacific Northwest Waterways Association Executive Director Neil Maunu.
In addition to wheat, barges move renewable diesel, logs, wood chips, finished paper products, corn, soy, gravel, wind energy components, salmon, scrap steel, jet fuel, gasoline, containers, solid waste and other goods.
The average four-barge tow—one boat pushing four barges—can haul more than 14,000 tons of wheat. The same job would require 538 semi-trucks. In 2020, it would have taken 42,160 rail cars or 162,153 semi-trucks to move the cargo that was barged on the Snake River alone.
Barge transportation is a relatively low source of greenhouse gas emissions per mile-ton of freight compared to using trucks or trains, according to a 2020 environmental impact statement on Columbia River System operations. Without using barges, transportation-related emissions for wheat would increase by up to 53%.
The Columbia and Snake River dams block salmon from migrating upstream and downstream.
Each individual federal dam within the Columbia and lower Snake River system has effective upstream and downstream fish passage systems, Tom says.
Since the dams were built, the agency has significantly improved downstream migration for juvenile fish, often by spilling water—and young salmon—over the tops of the dams.
Adult passage, meanwhile, is quite high. The U.S. Army Corps built the four lower Columbia and the four lower Snake
River dams with fish ladders to help salmon and steelhead safely and effectively migrate upstream.
Improvements continue to be made, including keeping water in the fish ladders cool and enhancing juvenile fish passage.
In 2024, almost 1.8 million adult salmon and steelhead passed Bonneville Dam—the first Columbia River dam encountered in their upstream migration. This is the highest total return in nine years, and the fourth highest since the dam was built in 1938.
After passing Bonneville Dam, some fish are caught by anglers, eaten by predators or travel into tributaries. Many others continue their journeys upstream.
In 2024, more than 530,000 salmon and steelhead passed nine dams on the mainstem Columbia River, and more than 209,000 passed eight dams to reach tributaries, spawning areas or hatcheries where they produce offspring for future generations.
The lower Snake River dams can be replaced by wind and solar power without significant costs to energy consumers.
Hydropower is an alwaysavailable energy source. Replacing all of the generation with other renewable energy sources would raise costs and lower reliability.
Wind and solar energy are intermittent sources of generation. They don’t produce power when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining. On top of the cost of building new wind and solar generation to replace existing power sources is the cost of additional backup generation.
Benton County PUD General Manager
Rick Dunn, who writes about the clean energy transition on Substack, says wind and solar generation rely on large amounts of minerals, such as copper. Large-scale mining activities are needed to support the growth in wind and solar, he says.
Energy and Environmental Economics, an energy consulting firm, found that replacing the four lower Snake River dams with a combination of wind, solar, battery storage and one emerging technology— such as longer lasting batteries—would increase BPA’s wholesale power rates 8% to 18%, or $100 to $230 a year per enduse ratepayer. If the energy produced by the dams was replaced with energy from just wind, solar and battery storage, the increase would be 34% to 65%, or $450 to $850 a year per end-use ratepayer.
Replacement resources—if they include one new technology—could cost $11.2 billion to $19.6 billion. Those costs increase to between $42 billion and $77 billion if no new combustion generation resources are used.
Hydropower generation is a major benefit to people who live in the Northwest. Dams bring many other benefits to the region, including flood control, irrigation water, river transportation and recreation.
By understanding the facts, energy consumers remain informed about the systems in place to maintain, improve and protect the region’s renewable and reliable energy resources. n
Founded in 1982, NewsData provides a common frame of reference for thousands of energy professionals, keeping them well-informed on Western energy policy, markets, resources and other topics essential to their work.
Moment of Reprieve
On a hot July day, Wren Zielinski took her turkey, Mr. T, to the Linn County Fair in Albany, Oregon. Wren raised the turkey from a tiny 1-day-old poult in the spring until he was a full-grown tom ready for the summer fair.
As the two enjoyed the cool breeze from nearby fans, Wren’s mom, Katie, took a photo of them.
“I’m not sure what she was thinking at that moment or what Mr. T was thinking either, but they seemed so content,” Katie says. 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
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While waiting in a pen, Wren Zielinski and her turkey, Mr. T, cool off in front of fans at the Linn County Fair. PHOTO BY KATIE ZIELINSKI
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Electrical Safety Around Power Lines: Awareness and Calling 811 Saves Lives
Electricity powers our daily lives but can be extremely dangerous if safety precautions are ignored. Power lines—both overhead and underground—pose serious risks to homeowners, construction workers, farmers and utility personnel. Whether you’re doing yard work, operating heavy machinery or planning an excavation, staying aware of power lines and following safety protocols is essential. Here’s what you need to know:
Overhead Power Line Hazards
Overhead power lines, often mistaken for harmless cables, carry thousands of volts of electricity. Contact with these lines—or even getting too close to them—can result in severe burns, electrocution or even death. Electricity can arc through the air and jump several feet to strike a person or object. This danger looms during seemingly routine activities such as moving ladders, trimming trees or operating heavy construction equipment.
Accidents often occur with contact to power lines from tools or equipment, such as cranes and dump trucks lifting materials, or farm machinery, such as grain augers and irrigation systems, operating near high-voltage lines. Tree branches or fallen limbs touching wires can also become energized and hazardous. The best way to prevent this is to always look up and stay aware of your surroundings.
Maintain a distance of at least 10 feet from power lines, and keep even farther away from high-voltage transmission lines. Never touch or try to move a downed line—always assume it’s live. If a power line falls on your vehicle, remain inside and call 911, only exiting if there’s an immediate threat, such as a fire.
Underground Power Line Hazards
Underground power lines present a different but equally serious hazard. Because they are hidden from view, many people overlook the dangers. Accidentally striking a buried electrical line can cause power outages, electrocutions, severe injuries, explosions or even fatalities. This is why it is crucial to call 811 before starting any digging project.
Whether you plan to install a fence, plant a tree or excavate for a construction project, dialing 811 connects you to a local utility locating service that marks underground lines for free. Failure to follow this step can have serious consequences:
• Damaging power lines, causing service outages for an entire neighborhood.
• Hitting a gas line, potentially causing explosions or fires.
• Coming into contact with buried electrical cables, resulting in injuries or fatalities.
Always call at least two to three business days before starting any excavation work to ensure a safe digging environment. Taking these precautions can save lives. Staying aware and respecting the power of electricity is everyone’s responsibility.
CEO/General Manager Jim Anderson
“Stay aware, stay alive, look up, call 811, and respect the power of electricity.”