Ruralite, Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative, August 2026

Ruralite OREGON TRAIL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

AUGUST 2026

Meet the Wild Bunch A new co-op program teaches children smart campfire habits to reduce wildfire occurrence Page 25

ALSO INSIDE >>

Eastern Oregon Names Its Future Page 4

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7/15/2026 11:46:45 AM

FROM THE PIONEER TEAM

Ruralite More Than Expected August 2026 • Volume 73, No. 8

CEO Michael Shepard SENIOR VP OF CONTENT Leon Espinoza EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Chasity Anderson, CCC DEPUTY EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Noble Sprayberry SENIOR EDITOR Jennifer Paton, CCC LEAD CONTENT EDITOR Victoria Hampton, CCC ASSISTANT EDITORS David Herder, CCC; Sable Riley, CCC; Nina Todea, CCC ASSOCIATE EDITOR Valeri Saldanha Rosa PUBLICATIONS PRODUCTION SR. MANAGER Elizabeth Beatty SENIOR PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR Alyssa McDougle

Ruralite (USPS 397-460) is published monthly for members for $5.73 per year, plus postage,

by Pioneer Utility Resources Inc., 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Suite 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124—a not-for-profit Oregon cooperative corporation—to serve the communication needs of 46 consumer-owned electric utilities in Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Nevada and California. Preferred periodical postage paid at Hillsboro, Oregon, 97123 and additional mailing offices. © 2026 Pioneer Utility Resources. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

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Subscribers, call us at 503-357-2105, option 3, or email mailingdept@pioneer.coop.

This month, I keep returning to a single word: impossible.

It’s the word that follows so many of the people in these pages—the word once spoken over them by someone in authority and the word they quietly spent years proving wrong.

Our Spotlight feature, “More Than Medals,” brings us to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota, where 3,000 athletes from all 50 states converged to compete. The stories behind the medals are staggering.

Kevin Short, of Puyallup, Washington, was 1 year old when a surgeon told his mother that her son would die—and if he survived, he would never graduate from high school or play sports.

In June, Kevin earned a gold medal in the 4x100meter relay and bronze in two individual events.

“I adapted and rose to the challenge,” he says.

Courtney Lynch, of Boise, Idaho, born at 1 pound, 7 ounces, was told she wouldn’t walk or talk. Today, she runs the 1,500-meter event.

After bringing home gold in shot put and silvers in mini-javelin and 100 meters, Idaho athlete Ben Cox says not to hesitate.

“Don’t let your disabilities hold you back,” says Ben, a Meridian resident. “You’ve got a will, and there’s a way, always.”

Garrett Utz, who was in Minnesota one week and Paris the next—officiating at the Unified Football World Cup—credits Special Olympics with giving him “the voice I have today.”

What’s remarkable to me is not the medals but the communities behind the athletes. Coaches, volunteers, fellow athletes—people who believed.

That spirit of welcoming people into something larger than themselves runs through our Up Close feature as well. The High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon, celebrates 10 years of Little Wonders Family Nights. This annual event pairs families from NeighborImpact’s Head Start program with museum staff, teachers and volunteers for an evening of dinner, wildlife encounters and hands-on discovery.

NeighborImpact’s Rachel Haakenson describes watching children confidently lead their parents from exhibit to exhibit, pausing to say, “I know this.” That moment of ownership— of feeling like they belong in a space—is exactly what the program is built for.

This month, I hope these stories prompt a question or two of your own. Who believed in you when the odds seemed stacked? Who might be waiting for you to return the favor?

Until next time, Chasity Anderson Editorial Director

Got a story idea?

We want to hear it.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone camera or visit tinyurl.com/SendStoryIdeas.

High Desert Museum Welcomes Young Visitors

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Up Close, Page 10

To contact Ruralite: Ruralite magazine is published by Pioneer Utility Resources, P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133-1306; 503-357-2105; email: info@pioneer.coop. For more information, visit pioneer.coop.

More Than Medals Competition builds Special Olympians’ confidence and fitness Spotlight, Page 12

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Reader Exchange 18 Great Picture Hunt 22

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Utility Pages: 4-5, 8, 25, 28-29, 32

26 30

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OREGON TRAIL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE A Touchstone Energy hot air balloon stands tethered outside Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative headquarters before the fifth annual Power Eastern Oregon Summit in Baker City.

Eastern Oregon Names Its Future Housing, water and power dominate the day’s discussion Story and photos by Shiraz Mukarram The balloon never left the ground. The wind on June 24 saw to that.

Before the doors opened and coffee was brewed, a Touchstone Energy hot air balloon stood tethered and inflated at Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative’s Baker City headquarters, bright against the Blue Mountains. The balloon stayed put all morning. A man in a white cowboy hat stood with his back to the building and looked up at it anyway.

That turned out to be the truer image of the fifth annual Power Eastern Oregon Summit than any balloon ride would have been. The day was about a vast, vibrant, working region looking up at something big and figuring out what to do with it from the ground.

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On this day, a large group came to OTEC headquarters for the kind of problem-solving that can only be done face to face. The theme was emerging technology. The most striking thing was not on any slide, however. It was the pattern in the room. Everyone—including a county commissioner, a hospital CEO, a farmer and an arts director—kept naming the same handful of needs without being asked to: Housing. Water. Power. A region was saying its future out loud, in one place, on one morning.

CEO Les Penning welcomed attendees by sharing OTEC’s origin story. OTEC was organized on 700 pennies and founded in 1988. Today, it serves more than 32,000 member-owners across 22 communities.

An upcoming acquisition, if approved, will extend the cooperative even farther.

But Les’ point wasn’t about growth in numbers. It was about how a cooperative grows the way a community does—by welcoming new neighbors, one at a time, while keeping the lights on.

Then the featured speakers started naming the work.

Sam Kem, a senior economic research analyst with the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp.—the entity that financed OTEC’s founding in 1988 and would also finance the proposed Idaho Power acquisition—addressed the room.

Sam said it’s not the stock market people must keep an eye on. The things to watch are the cost of production—the wholesale inflation that reaches a region before retail prices do—and the population.

“The challenge for rural areas is always the population, not having enough

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CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: OTEC CEO Les Penning presents a co-op and industry update during the summit. Sam Kem, senior economic research analyst with the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp., delivers an economic update. Artificial intelligence educator and innovation speaker Dan Chuparkoff discusses practical uses of emerging technology.

working-age people,” Sam said.

Watch the census, watch even the empty houses, and move early, she said. She also left a reason for hope. The technology economy used to be associated with Silicon Valley. Now it follows land and power, which is to say it can follow a place like Eastern Oregon.

Dan Chuparkoff, an artificial intelligence educator who has spent more than three decades at such companies as Google and Atlassian, took the afternoon to make the future feel usable instead of intimidating.

Start small, he said. Ask the AI tools for one new idea every Monday. Keep your own judgment in the loop, because the things AI is worst at are exactly the things a community leader is best at: solving the problem, making the call and imagining something that does not yet exist.

What should surprise people, Dan said, is the speed of advancement. The internet took 15 or 20 years to change how we work. AI will take about three. Dan calls himself an optimist. He said most of what people fear is not even possible, and most

of the opportunity is.

Attendees pushed Dan on the practical side of his comments. One question cut to what a working organization does about all this: Who is supposed to keep up, the chief executive or a team? How do you train people when what you teach them this spring could be stale by fall?

Most leaders do not have time to stay current, Dan said, so the move is not a

fixed curriculum that goes out of date in months. His advice was to give one curious person about half a day on Fridays to experiment with the tools and bring back what they learn. Let the training come from your own people, then spread it.

Between the headline talks, the room itself did the talking.

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PLUGGED IN

From Summer Camp to Career Hands-on programs teach students that science is all around them—not just in the classroom

By Jennifer Paton and Sable Riley What began in 1998 as a small summer science camp has grown into one of Umatilla Electric Cooperative’s signature youth education programs, introducing thousands of local fourth- and fifth-grade students to the science of water, electricity, renewable energy and the environment through hands-on learning experiences.

The camp, called Hydromania, has become a tradition for many families in UEC’s Eastern Oregon service territory, inspiring curiosity about science, technology, engineering and math fields while helping students better understand where their electricity comes from and the important role hydropower plays in the Pacific Northwest.

Amy Baker has been UEC’s public relations representative since 2016 and coordinates the co-op’s youth programs.

“I believe Hydromania has been successful for nearly three decades because it is truly a community effort,” she says.

“Every year, local businesses, industries, educators, volunteers and UEC employees come together to create an experience that 6

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Students at Umatilla Electric Cooperative’s Hydromania camp put their scientific skills to the test by analyzing water samples and exploring water quality. PHOTO BY MATT ECKHARDT, UEC

simply wouldn’t be possible without their partnership.”

Amy says Hydromania gives students a chance to experience firsthand Eastern Oregon’s range of industries. Over the years, campers have taken flights from the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport with local volunteer pilots, toured food processing facilities, visited farms to learn about agriculture and irrigation, explored the science behind hydroelectric power, and spent time with UEC line crews and other energy professionals.

“These experiences help students see how science, technology, engineering and math are woven into the work happening throughout our communities every day,” Amy says. “The generosity of our community partners transforms the camp from a week of classroom activities into an unforgettable hands-on learning adventure.”

Amy says the most important lesson taught at Hydromania is that science isn’t confined to a classroom.

“Whether it’s generating electricity, growing crops, treating water, building infrastructure or solving complex engineering challenges, science, technology and

natural resources are deeply connected to the communities where these students live,” she says. “Throughout the week, campers experience firsthand how STEM concepts are applied by the people and industries that keep our region running.”

Along the way, students develop problem-solving skills, learn the value of collaboration and gain a deeper appreciation for the people whose work often happens behind the scenes.

“Perhaps most importantly, Hydromania encourages students to stay curious,” Amy says. “We want them to ask questions, explore new ideas and recognize that they have the ability to solve problems and make a difference. We hope campers leave with a greater understanding of their community and the confidence to imagine themselves as the next generation of scientists, engineers, innovators and community leaders.”

Across the state border in Prosser, Washington, the Tri-Cities STEM Career Academy introduces high school students—sophomores to seniors—to realworld STEM applications through engaging projects and challenges. The academy ADOBE STOCK ILLUSTRATION BY TRIPLEP STUDIO

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Electrician Ron Mitchell supervises students as they work together to build small hydropower systems at the Tri-Cities STEM Career Academy. PHOTO COURTESY OF BENTON REA

began four years ago as a weeklong education opportunity.

Ron Mitchell, electrical adviser at Benton Rural Electric Association, leads the program’s one-day generator dam project. Students work in teams to design and build small hydropower systems.

Using multimeters, they test their turbines under running water, competing to produce the highest electrical output while learning how small design changes can significantly affect performance.

Ron, a fourth-generation electrician, specializes in interior electrical wiring.

During the project, he consults with different groups, helps students, answers questions and gives tips.

“The value is in when they go out there into the real world, learning that you have to be able to problem-solve,” Ron says. “You want the kids to be able to think through the steps. The biggest thing they really get out of it is the collaboration and teamwork they get by working with their teammates.”

Ron acknowledges the impact of this program on the next generation of electric utility employees.

“It’s important that we get the new generations coming up exposed to our industry, and hopefully it can be exciting for them,” he says. “The utility industry is headed into the new technology sector, and we need those new forward-thinking minds to move into this industry to help move it into the future.” n

Isaac Madrid prepares his son, Beckham, to be lifted in the air in a bucket truck.

PHOTO BY WES MORGAN

Powering Educational Family Time

Take Your Child to Work Day had been a tradition at Wewahitchka, Floridabased Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative for many years. After a long hiatus, co-op staff was excited to bring back the event this year with a new format.

“We wanted to reimagine the experience so it would be more engaging, educational and memorable for both our employees and their children,” says Kristin Douglas, GCEC vice president of marketing and communications.

In years past, children typically spent the day accompanying their parents during their normal work duties.

“While they enjoyed seeing where their parents worked, we found they often became bored,” Kristin says. “We also tried offering planned activities, but because they took place while employees continued working, many of the children didn’t enjoy being separated from their parents.”

Director of Safety and Training Cole Barfield helped inspire the event’s return after his daughter repeatedly asked if she could come to work with him. That sparked conversations about how the utility could create an experience that allowed families to spend time together while also giving children a behind-the-scenes look at the cooperative.

The reimagined event included breakfast, a flag-raising ceremony, bucket truck rides, soft-track rides, a bore demonstration, the opportunity to operate a mini excavator, a pole-top rescue demonstration, a live-line safety demonstration, pizza, an ice cream truck and a souvenir for every child.

“Our goal was to help children better understand the important work their parents do, teach valuable electrical safety lessons and create lasting family memories,” Kristin says. “We hope the children walked away with a greater respect for electricity and an understanding that it should always be treated with care.”

Kristin says staff wanted participants to gain a new appreciation for the men and women who work behind the scenes to provide safe, reliable electric service.

“Whether restoring power after a storm, maintaining equipment or assisting members, every employee plays an important role in keeping the lights on,” she says.

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OREGON TRAIL

Eastern Oregon Names Its Future Continued from Page 5

Paul King, of Baker County Planning Department, named the bottleneck first.

The county’s biggest challenge, he said, is middle-income housing—the homes for people who already work here. His office rewrote development codes to make infill easier—duplexes and accessory dwelling units, density that keeps Baker’s character.

Commissioner Jake Seavert found one word to describe Union County.

“Housing,” he said. “That’s going to be the buzzword.”

Put it in place, he argued, and you stop losing employers whose workers have nowhere to live. He appreciates that OTEC is on the front line as that demand grows.

State Rep. Mark Owens, who farms near Crane and represents House District 60, brought up water. Eastern Oregon is a closed basin, a high desert that lives and dies on snowpack. The cost of producing a crop is up 5% to 10% by his estimate.

The answer Mark kept returning to was sustainability: Slow down the water, get more than one use out of it and end the boom-and-bust cycles the region already learned the hard way from timber. Reliable, competitively priced power runs straight through that math, he said, because it runs the irrigation that runs farms.

Jeremy Davis, president and CEO of Grande Ronde Hospital and Clinics in La Grande, made the human stakes plain.

Keeping care local means a patient has family at the bedside, and patients with their people close by tend to recover faster.

The hardest gap to close, Jeremy said, is recruiting providers in the specialties that let families stay home instead of driving hours for care. And power must be there.

“We can’t run the sophisticated equipment we have without knowing that we have reliable power,” Jeremy said.

The hospital plans for the worst and keeps backup ready. Day to day, though, Jeremy said he thanks OTEC and stops worrying.

The arts had a seat at the table, too.

Ginger Savage, executive director of Crossroads Carnegie Art Center in Baker 8

ABOVE: Power Eastern Oregon attendees connect outside OTEC headquarters before the summit’s opening sessions.

TOP: A small group exchanges ideas during a networking break.

City, made a case for culture.

“We are no longer an extra,” she said.

“We’re a necessity to day-to-day life.”

On a single First Friday, she noted, downtown Baker City can draw hundreds of people out to see a show, a connection a rural town cannot otherwise manufacture.

Tim Seydel, vice president for university advancement at Eastern Oregon University, discussed how the next generation learns— hands-on and in the field, where wildfire knowledge is part of the culture.

Morgan Olson, manager of the Kronospan plant in Island City, named the constant under everything: a trained workforce that shows up.

Add it up, and the morning made an argument for housing, water and power.

Attendees did not need a keynote to find

its theme—they walked in already carrying one. OTEC’s job was to build the room.

That is the cooperative difference, drawn small enough to see in one morning: A co-op sells electricity into Eastern Oregon, and it also gathers Eastern Oregon into a room where the region can work on what comes next. Nearly four decades later, the same partnership is funding the next chapter, and the next chapter sounded a lot like a region that knows what it needs.

The sixth annual Power Eastern Oregon Summit is already worth circling. If this year was the morning Eastern Oregon said its future out loud, next year is the one where we start building it. The balloon may or may not fly. The work will. We look forward to seeing our community leaders, before the coffee, ready to get started. n

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7/15/2026 11:51:50 AM

High Desert Museum We Little Wonders Family Night program celebrates 10th year

By Ginger Meurer The High Desert Museum has welcomed visitors to Bend, Oregon, for exhibitions, wildlife encounters and educational explorations since 1982. For the past 10 years, that invitation has extended to preschoolers who might not otherwise visit.

Through a partnership with NeighborImpact’s Head Start, a program offering free preschool and education and health services to local families, the museum puts on annual Little Wonders Family Nights. This year’s events were April 2 and 9.

Families from the Head Start programs in Bend, La Pine, Prineville, Redmond and Sisters are encouraged to register for the evening, where they join Head Start teachers, museum staff and volunteers for dinner, exhibit browsing and special hands-on activities.

But the best part is, all the families that register—whether they can attend or not—receive a free two-year family membership to the museum, a $310 value. This year’s Little Wonders Family Nights brought in 750 guests.

Museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw says she and her team are grateful for partners at NeighborImpact Head Start and all of the program’s sponsors.

“Together, we’ve helped create meaningful, shared experiences for families across Central Oregon, ensuring the museum is a place where every child can feel welcome and inspired by our exhibitions, wildlife and shared history,” she says.

NeighborImpact Head Start Director Kim Brown says the museum program is just as vital now as when it started.

“Ten years ago, we believed that every child—no matter their family’s circumstances—deserved to stand in front of a living eagle, touch a piece of obsidian and feel the wonder of discovery,” Kim says. “A decade later, Little Wonders has proven something bigger than we imagined. When community partners come together around our most vulnerable kids, the ripple effects last a lifetime. We are more hopeful than ever about what the next 10 years will bring.”

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Fun for the Whole Family Participating families expressed their appreciation for the program. Stefanie Lester and her children loved Little Wonders Night.

“This was my first year attending, and my kids were so excited to do it,” she says, adding that the animals impressed them the most. “The turtles, otters and snakes, for sure! My oldest got to hold a snakeskin. And, of course, they love the porcupine and bobcat.”

The science exhibits were impressive to others, including a trio of girls spotted skipping through the museum, chanting, “Volcanoes! Volcanoes! Volcanoes!” They were likely excited about “Under Pressure: A Volcanic Exploration,” a temporary exhibit on display through January 2027 that sheds light on the rumbling giants scattered across the planet.

NeighborImpact Director of Marketing and Communications Rachel Haakenson says part of the fun is seeing families taking in the exhibits together.

“One of the most exciting parts for children is running into their teachers and classmates in a completely different setting,” she says. “Seeing familiar faces at the High Desert Museum brings a sense of comfort and connection, but it also adds a new level of energy. Kids get to share discoveries together outside the classroom, and families often connect with each other in more relaxed, informal ways.”

Rachel loves seeing children recognize something they’ve learned in the classroom and then light up when they see it in real life, whether that’s an animal, a landscape feature or a cultural exhibit.

“There’s often a moment when they turn to a parent or teacher and say, ‘I know this,’ and then name it or tell them about it,” she says. “Those moments are powerful because they show learning sticking, and just as importantly, they show families getting to share in that excitement.”

Rachel also likes to see kids take ownership of the space.

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UP CLOSE

Welcomes Young Visitors Early Days The High Desert Museum was the vision of Donald Kerr, a young Portland naturalist who spent the ’70s rambling over the Cascade Mountain Range. He loved raptors from the time he was 12, when a teacher brought a live falcon to his classroom. He also raised a wolf pup as a science project.

Donald envisioned a place to “wildly excite and responsibly teach” visitors about the high desert. He shared this dream with anyone who would listen and was told repeatedly that the goal was out of reach. He remained dedicated and gradually won over supporters, including Mike Hollern, who was president of the Brooks-Scanlon timber company and later Brooks Resources.

That support resulted in the donation of 135 acres of ponderosa pine forest to the cause.

Donald’s tenacity paid off. He led the museum for 16 years and was instrumental in creating one of the first museums to merge indoor and outdoor wildlife exhibits into an interactive living history program. Over the years, new wings were added, new exhibits opened and visitor numbers grew.

In 1995, Donald was working with a great horned owl when the bird’s talon broke through his glove and scratched his skin.

The injury initially seemed minor, but it’s likely the origin of the viral encephalitis that left him unable to continue his work. A year after Donald had to step away from running the museum, the board set out to find a new director and raise funds for a lasting tribute, the Donald M. Kerr Birds of Prey Center, which opened in 2001.

Donald died in 2015. His wife, Cameron Kerr, a self-described lifelong volunteer, was honored at the 2022 High Desert Rendezvous, the museum’s biggest annual fundraiser.

This year’s High Desert Rendezvous is set for Aug. 22. Fundraising helps support museum operations, expansions and programs including Little Wonders. n FROM FAR LEFT: Volunteer Marge Trayser reads to a child during a Little Wonders Night at the High Desert Museum.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NEIGHBORIMPACT HEAD START Staff and volunteers distribute information to Head Start families.

PHOTO BY DARRIN UNDERWOOD Children explore “Under Pressure: A Volcanic Exploration” at the museum.

Little Wonders is made possible by the Papé Family Foundation, Ronald W. Naito MD Foundation, Latino Partnership Program, Columbia Bank Community Impact Fund, NewSun Energy and Meta, with support from the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and MDU Resources Foundation.

For more information, visit highdesertmuseum.org.

Little Wonders Night is always full of smiles and packed with fun.

High Desert Museum highdesertmuseum.org

GETTING THERE: The museum is just five minutes south of Bend, Oregon, or 10 minutes north of Sunriver on Highway 97.

ATTRACTIONS: Get close-up views of rescued native wildlife, including river otters, porcupines and birds of prey. Learn how to protect species in the high desert. Chat with costumed historic characters who share tales of life at the turn of the 20th century. Visit an authentic homestead and sawmill from 1904. Learn about Native American cultures and check out fun hands-on programs.

ADMISSION: Daily tickets are $24 for adults, $19 for seniors and college students and $13 for children.

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ADOBE STOCK ILLUSTRATION BY ASRIANTO

“For many families, this may be their first time visiting the museum, and, within minutes, children are confidently leading their parents from one exhibit to the next,” she says. “That sense of belonging is a big part of what makes the experience meaningful.”

The High Desert Museum isn’t just for kids. It attracts regional and national tourists and repeat local visitors of all ages. April’s programming demonstrated a great example of the range, with Little Wonders starting the month and Free Senior Day welcoming visitors ages 65 and older for a day of fun at the end of the month.

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Medals

Idahoan Ben Cox, center, holds hands with Daniel Williamson, of Massachusetts, and Jesse Marino, of Louisiana, as they celebrate their achievements at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota. PHOTO COURTESY OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS

More Than

Competition builds Special Olympians’ confidence and fitness

By Ginger Meurer The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games brought 3,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers and 75,000 fans from all 50 states to Minnesota. From June 20-26, athletes competed in track and field, basketball, bocce, bowling, cheerleading, cornhole, flag football, golf, gymnastics, pickleball, powerlifting, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball.

Special Olympics’ philosophy is focused on building inclusion, self-esteem and athleticism in people with intellectual disabilities.

Local Special Olympics programs around the country encourage athletes of 12

all ages and skill levels to strive to reach their maximum potential. While Special Olympics USA Games elevate the cause with a massive event every four years, Special Olympics offers state and regional competitions year-round.

Bringing Home the Gold Special Olympian Kevin Short, of Puyallup, Washington, came home from Minnesota with a gold medal for his performance in the 4x100-meter relay and bronze medals for the 200-meter and 50-meter races.

Kevin says he will never forget the thrill of hearing his name announced as one of only two men to represent Washington in track and field.

He says his coach encouraged everyone on the team to walk every day, set fitness goals and track their progress on an app.

“Kevin beat her and everybody else every day on his steps,” his mother, Gina, says.

As part of his training, Kevin walked his neighborhood and racked up an average of 40,000 to 50,000 steps a week. As he walked, people waved and called out to him.

“I was on the news a couple of times, and one of our games was televised on TV, and a lot of people saw that,” Kevin says.

“I’ll be out and hear people say, ‘Hi, Kevin!’

There are so many people who know me.”

Kevin appreciates the opportunities Special Olympics provides.

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SPOTLIGHT “It’s a chance for me to be able to get out and be myself and be with my friends and have a good time,” he says.

Gina is delighted her son has achieved so much more than doctors predicted.

When Kevin was 1, his pediatrician noticed something was off and sent him to a neurologist. The doctor discovered a tumor and scheduled emergency surgery.

“The neurosurgeon came in to see us that night and told us, ‘Your son has a horrible tumor, and he will die from this.

If he lives through this, he won’t graduate from high school, he won’t play sports, and you will probably outlive him,’ ” Gina says.

“I remember looking at this little baby in the hospital bed—the baby who to me was a healthy, happy baby just a few short hours ago—and thinking, ‘Is this the last time I’m going to see him?’”

After surgery, chemotherapy and a second craniotomy, the site appeared to be clear of cancer. But three months later, the tumor was back.

“Kevin had seven and a half weeks, five days a week, of full brain and spine radiation,” Gina says. “At the end of the treatment, I asked one of his doctors what I should expect. She looked at me and said, ‘I haven’t had a child survive the total

amount of treatment that Kevin has had, so I can’t tell you what to expect.’ Kevin is a miracle.”

Despite hearing loss and learning challenges, Kevin graduated from high school.

“It was rough,” Kevin says. “They made the predictions saying, ‘You’ll never do this, you’ll never do that, you’ll never be able to hold a job,’ all these different predictions. And I ended up coming out and showing everybody that I can do everything. I adapted and rose to the challenge, and I’ve met so many people along the way.”

“He’s an athlete now,” Gina says. “And he’s a gold medalist.”

Kevin vows to “continue to be positive and live every day like it’s my last. And take every opportunity that comes my way.”

Personal Bests Boise, Idaho, Special Olympian Courtney Lynch was also given a grim prognosis as an infant.

“I was 1 pound, 7 ounces, and I had to stay in the hospital for 72 days,” Courtney says. “The doctors told my parents, ‘She won’t walk or talk.’ ” Today, Courtney can talk. And she

Idaho teammates Courtney Lynch and Ben Cox show off their medals at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. PHOTO COURTESY OF BEN COX

History of Special Olympics

Special Olympics was founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Eunice’s sister, Rosemary, had intellectual disabilities, but she grew up playing sports right alongside her eight siblings, including future U.S. President John F. Kennedy.

Eunice and Rosemary swam, sailed, skied and played football together. But in the late ’50s and ’60s, there were few resources for people like Rosemary.

Eunice became an athlete in college and saw how sports united people from all walks of life. She wanted that for her sister and others like her. So, in 1962, Eunice invited young people with intellectual disabilities to a summer day camp she hosted in her suburban Washington, D.C., backyard.

The goal at Camp Shriver was to explore skills through physical activity. While the family pushed for legislation to increase services for people with intellectual disabilities, Camp Shriver grew. Through the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation, Eunice advanced the goal of establishing year-round activities, not just a single summer camp.

In 1965, she called for a nationwide physical fitness program to include a national tournament of athletic contests starting at the local level. In July 1968, the first International Special Olympics Games were held in Chicago.

Today, Special Olympics puts on more than 100,000 games and competitions every year featuring more than 30 sports.

The organization serves more than 4 million athletes with the help of 1 million coaches and volunteers in more than 200 accredited programs.

Athletes are selected for the USA Games through a process managed by individual state organizations. Typically, athletes first qualify by winning a gold medal in their sport at a state game. Once the state gets its quota of athletes it can take to the national competition, local committees use a random draw to see who gets to fill those spots. Selection announcements are made well in advance of the national and international competitions, giving athletes a year or even two years to prepare.

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doesn’t just walk, she runs. At the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle, she ran shorter distances—competing in sprints like the 50-meter dash. She had so much fun at the competition, she decided to train for longer distances.

“I was like, ‘Hey, I want a challenge because I love going for challenges and overcoming them and surprising people and myself on what can I accomplish next,’ ” Courtney says. “At that point, I was like, ‘Hey, I want to try long-distance running,’ and after that I worked really hard, and it took years, but I worked my butt off, and now I’m competing in the 1,500-meter.”

In Minnesota this year, Courtney finished fourth in the 800 meters, sixth in the 1,500 meters and seventh in the 200 meters. But where she placed isn’t what’s important to her. She tracks her performance in personal records.

“When I found out that I was running those distances, I got emotional because there’s people who believed in me, and I needed to believe in myself,” she says.

Courtney says her parents are beyond proud of her.

“They’re blown away,” she says. “There’s stuff they didn’t think that I would ever do, like run a mile. And I’m just blowing them away.”

‘There’s a Way, Always’ When Ben Cox packed his bags in Minnesota to return home to Meridian, Idaho, he had to make room for his medals, including a gold in shot put and two silver medals in mini javelin and the 100 meters.

“It was great,” Ben says. “It was a very cool experience.”

Ben loves the throwing events that take advantage of strength he says he’s had since he was a child. He was surprised to take a silver in his one running event, saying he’s not really a runner.

“But once I get going, I can go pretty well,” he says.

Ben’s advice to others considering competing in the Special Olympics is to go for it.

“Don’t let your disabilities hold you back,” he says. “You’ve got a will, and there’s a way, always.”

Finding Their Voices Bend, Oregon, golfer Felicity Woods was one of 65 athletes from Oregon who competed in Minnesota. Felicity started swimming and bowling with Special Olympics in high school. But she was most excited about golf—not just because she shares a last name with one of the sport’s most famous players, but because she loves it all, the competition and challenges.

Felicity earned a gold medal at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.

“It just feels like that I’m part of this inclusive group,” she says. “I feel involved and like I’m just out there being very well supported by coaches and volunteers. I’m so grateful to be a Special Olympics athlete.”

Even athletes who don’t qualify for the national-level games love competing in Special Olympics and say the community and the competition make their lives better.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: The Special Olympics Washington 4x100-meter relay team members “bite” their gold medals in this photo taken with Coach Breanna Gentry at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. PHOTO BY BREANNA GENTRY Bend, Oregon, golfer Felicity Woods earns a gold medal at the games. PHOTO COURTESY OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS Washington Special Olympians, from left, Sawyer Wiggins, Abigail McLean, Kevin Short and Maya Frink celebrate their firstplace finishes. PHOTO COURTESY OF GINA SHORT

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Megan Gains, of Washington, says competing keeps her healthy and active.

“Special Olympics has helped me overcome social anxiety and make friends,” she says.

Issaquah, Washington, athlete Garrett Utz was at the 2026 USA Games, not as an athlete but as an official. If Garrett’s soccer team qualifies and is selected—like when his team won bronze in the 2018 USA Games—he plays. But when he’s not kicking the ball, he’s blowing a whistle.

Right after the USA Games, Garrett had a little more than a week at home before flying out to officiate at the Unified Football World Cup 2026 in Paris.

“I had enough time to do laundry and repack,” he says. “Being an official, there’s so much I have to bring. I’m looking at my suitcase duffel full to the brim with all my referee jerseys, shorts, shoes, badges, whistles, cards, referee flags—which the Minnesota-St. Paul, TSA thought were selfie sticks at 4:30 in the morning. They’re too fat to be selfie sticks.”

Despite the challenges of traveling, Garrett loves officiating. During downtime, he gets to play tourist. While in Paris, he visited the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre.

Garrett enthusiastically recommends Special Olympics to anyone considering getting involved.

“A million percent yes,” he says. “I would say without Special Olympics, I would not have found the voice that I have today. I wouldn’t have the support group that I have and all the friends that I have made through Special Olympics Washington and all the people who work at Special Olympics International and all the people that I’ve met. If there’s anyone—wife, uncle, aunt, brother, sister, son, daughter—who has an intellectual disability, or IDD as we call it, they need to join Special Olympics. Join the movement!” n Visit 2026specialolympicsusagames.org to view event results from the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.

Idahoan Courtney Lynch, left, races Lucy Haughland, of Minnesota, in the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. PHOTO COURTESY OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Get Involved

To qualify for the Special Olympics, athletes need to be at least 8 years old and diagnosed by a medical professional or agency as having an intellectual disability, cognitive delay, or closely related developmental disability with functional limitations in learning and adaptive skills.

RIGHT: Ben Cox, right, races against Shaun Perez of Rhode Island at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. PHOTO

COURTESY OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS

ABOVE: Garrett Utz holds up a medal he was given for officiating Special Olympics soccer in Paris.

LEFT: Garrett, left, walks with another official at the 2026 Unified Football World Cup in Paris.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GARRETT UTZ

Even if you don’t qualify as an athlete, there are plenty of ways to join the cause. You can: X Join through Unified Sports. Several team sports combine Special Olympics athletes with peers without intellectual disabilities to encourage inclusion.

X Join as a coach. Special Olympics provides training for individuals who meet the requirements and volunteer their time.

X Become a volunteer. Volunteers are needed year-round, and commitments can vary from a single day to as long as you’re willing.

X Help as a Global or Champion Ambassador. Current and former professional and college athletes, Olympians and even musicians and actors who are passionate about using their platform to advance inclusion and champion Special Olympics’ mission are always needed.

To get involved, visit specialolympics.org.

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IN THE KITCHEN

Effortlessly Sweet NO-BAKE SUMMER DESSERTS HIT THE SPOT

Lemon Blueberry Trifle

3 cups fresh blueberries, divided 2 15.75-ounce cans lemon pie filling 2 cups lemon yogurt

Recipes by Gertrude Treadaway ADOBE STOCK AI IMAGE

BY WORLD OF AI

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1 prepared angel food cake, 8 to 10 ounces, cut into 1-inch cubes 8 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed

Set aside 1/4 cup blueberries for garnish.

In a large bowl, combine pie filling and yogurt.

In a 31/2-quart serving or trifle bowl, layer a third of the cake cubes, lemon mixture and blueberries. Repeat layers twice, then top with whipped topping. Cover.

Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Garnish with reserved blueberries before serving.

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Five-Minute Fruit Mousse 81/2 ounces (about 21/4 cups) frozen fruit 2 tablespoons sugar

1 large egg white Fresh berries and whipped cream for serving

Add frozen fruit to the bowl of a food processor. Process to a rough puree, about 1 minute. Add the sugar, and pulse briefly to combine.

Add the egg white to the food processor. Process until smooth and fluffy and the mixture has lightened in color and doubled or tripled in volume, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Spoon the mousse into glasses. Top or layer with fresh berries and whipped cream. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours. The mousse has little sugar and won’t hold for longer than that.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cup Pie

10 peanut butter cups, 8-ounce package cream chopped cheese, softened 1 chocolate cookie pie crust 1 cup peanut butter 11/2 cups heavy whipping 1 cup powdered sugar cream 16-ounce container frozen whipped topping, thawed 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Use a mixer to beat cream cheese until smooth. Add peanut butter and powdered sugar, and mix well. Carefully fold in whipped topping and stir in chopped peanut butter cups, reserving a few for the topping.

Pour mixture into pie crust. Freeze overnight.

When ready to serve, beat cream and powdered sugar together in a large bowl until stiff peaks form. Top pie with whipped cream and reserved chopped peanut butter cups before serving.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/3 cup powdered sugar 8-ounce container frozen whipped topping, thawed

1 premade graham cracker crust 6 ounces fresh strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced 1/4 cup strawberry jam or jelly, melted and cooled

In a large bowl, use a mixer to beat cream cheese until smooth. Add lemon juice and powdered sugar, and mix to combine. Gradually add whipped topping. Mix to combine, being cautious not to overmix. Spread mixture into prepared crust.

Add strawberries to a medium bowl. Pour cooled but still liquid strawberry jam or jelly over strawberries, and toss them to coat. Add strawberries to the top of the pie.

Refrigerate for at least four hours to allow pie to set.

Serve chilled. Store tightly covered in refrigerator for up to five days.

Banana Pudding Icebox Cake

Rocky Road Rice Krispies Treats

Line an 81/2-by-41/2-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving a fair amount of overhang on all sides.

Add malted milk powder and salt to a bowl. Add a splash of cream, and whisk. Continue this process until you’ve added all the cream. Whip cream until stiff peaks form.

Add a single layer of wafers to the bottom of the loaf pan.

Top with a layer of whipped cream. Add a single layer of bananas, then top with a layer of whipped cream. Repeat this until you’ve used all the cream, making sure to end with a layer of cream.

Fold the overhanging plastic over the cake. If it doesn’t completely cover the surface, add more plastic wrap.

Refrigerate for at least 12 hours or up to 36.

In a microwave on low power, melt one package of marshmallows in oil. Stir until smooth. Stir in cereal, graham crackers, 1 cup almonds and 1 cup chocolate chunks.

Using waxed paper or a lightly greased spatula, press mixture into a lightly greased 9-by-13-inch baking pan.

Cool to room temperature.

Melt one package chocolate chunks in microwave. Spread over the top of the pan of treats. Sprinkle with remaining marshmallows, almonds and chocolate chunks.

Cut into bars before serving.

2/3 cup malted milk powder 1 pinch kosher salt 2 cups heavy cream 7 ounces vanilla wafers

4 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced about the same thickness as the wafers

11/4 cups salted, roasted 2 10-ounce packages almonds, chopped and miniature marshmallows, divided divided 2 11½-ounce packages 3 tablespoons canola oil semisweet chocolate 5 cups Rice Krispies chunks, divided 5 whole graham crackers, crumbled

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READER EXCHANGE Crafts/Hobbies

Odds

My sister, Bonnie, is 78 and has a disability. She started putting doll parts together and making unusual dolls. She ran out of parts. Her last one had a fish head. Please send any unwanted doll parts to Bonnie Speer, P.O. Box 235, Johannesburg, CA 93528-0235.

I am hoping to reach anyone who has any pictures, history or information on the old Shoestring School off upper Scotts Valley Road in Yoncalla. The only information I’ve been able to locate is the historical marker across from our driveway. In the historical schools listing pictures, etc., the historical marker is listed, “no pictures available.” My husband’s family has owned the property since the early ’60s, and he purchased it from them. What little was left of a piece of the structure succumbed to the elements over time.

If you have anything or know anyone who may have information, please contact me. It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Margie Mejica Susanville, California

ISO donations of used bottles of perfume and cologne for a project. Bottles needed from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Any condition.

Empty or half-full bottles, bottles with missing caps and bottles with broken spray mechanisms are all OK. Thank you.

Sheri Chitwood P.O. Box 988 Tillamook, OR 97141

I run a monthly club for creating zines (small, do-it-yourself magazines) at Columbia Gorge Community College. At Zine Club, we use a variety of supplies, but stickers and rubber stamps are the most popular. I’m always on the lookout for more, and if you have extras lying around, I would love to put them with our zine supplies so folks can use them for crafting. Thanks, Danny.

Zine Club at CGCC Library 400 E. Scenic Drive The Dalles, OR 97058

The Pistol River Friendship Club needs material donations.

We use donated fabric—preferably 100% cotton—to handcraft items such as potholders and aprons. These creations are sold to support our community through scholarships for local students and other community projects. Your donation helps us keep giving back. If you’d like to contribute fabric or supplies, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We can provide a phone number for more information or for drop-off.

PRFC Volunteers 24252 Carpenterville Road Gold Beach, OR 97444 pistolriverfriendship@gmail.com

Milestones My dad, Jim Rider, will be 100 years young this month. Funny, sweet and the very best man I’ve ever known. With so many interests, he still takes time to show interest in others. He is helpful and generous to a fault. Though his flying days are long gone, golfing set aside and the Priest Lake fishing trips have turned into admiring the view from our little piece of heaven, there is still a lot of laughter and stories to tell. Having outlived most of his friends and some family, I know he would appreciate any birthday wishes that came his way. Please send them to Jim Rider c/o Joni Cassell, P.O. Box 190, Chattaroy, WA 99003.

Joni Cassell Chattaroy, Washington

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Ange Norris 6939 Scotts Valley Road Yoncalla, OR 97499 outbackange86@gmail.com

Thanks Thank you to the many contributors who sent photography for my legacy project. I received hundreds of photos to work with, and as I look at them, I thank each participant and say aloud “You are my family now.” From the panoramic mail trucks from the 1920s to the amazing portraits, they are all priceless in black and white.

NJ Bittick Susanville, California

Submitting Requests Is Free

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

Acceptance, scheduling and editing are at the editor’s discretion. Single requests only, please. No duplicates. If replying to a reader submission, please only send what is requested.

Submissions are handled first-come, first-served as space allows. We cannot honor every request.

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

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

When submitting a milestone request, please send it at least two months before the milestone.

Phone numbers are not published. Email addresses are if they are part of the ad, but you must include a postal address.

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

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Spirituality

Meets Artistry

“I never expected it to be so beautiful that it takes your breath away.”

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— Kaya C., on Stauer Opals

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n a quaint village, nestled between rolling hills, lived a young woman with a deep appreciation for gemstones. Her grandmother gifted her a delicate cross pendant adorned with opals. The opals shimmered with a mesmerizing play of colors, reflecting hues of blues, greens, and fiery oranges. Her grandmother shared the legend of the opals, believed to bring hope, purity, and luck to those who wore them.

Using this story as inspiration, Stauer brings you the Opal Spirit Cross Pendant. With over 2 total carats of Kyocera lab-created opals set in .925 sterling silver encased in yellow gold, this pendant is a radiant celebration of beauty and craftsmanship. Each opal captivates with a kaleidoscopic dance of fiery oranges blending into oceanic blues, streaked with flashes of vibrant green that seem to come alive with every movement. The shimmering opals are skillfully arranged to create an enchanting, otherworldly glow, embodying the spirit of hope and harmony.

This breathtaking combination of color and craftsmanship is available as a limited availability of only

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7/15/2026 11:53:41 AM

ADVENTURE AWAITS

Watch the waves from one of the Lower 48 states’ farthest reaches at Washington’s

Cape Flattery

Why Flattery?

What Is It? Travel through the peaks and forests of Olympic National Park to reach Cape Flattery, the northwestern tip of the contiguous United States.

Watch the Pacific Ocean crash into the cliffs and caves. On clear days, you may even see Canadian mountains in the distance.

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The cape was given its English name

by Capt. James Cook in 1778. While exploring the area, the British explorer thought he would find a bay there.

When he did not, he journaled that the cape “flattered (him) with the hopes of finding a harbor.” People already lived in the area when Cook visited—and they still do. The cape is in the Makah Reservation, and visitors need to buy a Makah Recreation Permit.

ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY KHOMLYAK

What You’ll See After driving along the Olympic Peninsula, visitors need to take an easy 0.75-mile hike to reach the cape’s viewpoints. The hike is largely an earthen trail, with handrails in some sloping sections.

The trail has three main viewpoints, offering views into the caves along the shore and out toward Tatoosh Island and its lighthouse.

More Nearby After visiting the cape, travel down the west side of the Olympic Peninsula and visit the Hoh Rain Forest, which receives almost 12 feet of precipitation each year. The forest is known for its Sitka spruce, red cedar, bigleaf maple and Douglas fir. Travel farther to see Mount Olympus and other peaks in the Olympic Mountains.

More Information For details about Cape Flattery, the Makah Reservation and necessary permits, visit makah.com.

For more on offerings in Olympic National Park, call 360-565-3130 or go to nps.gov/olym.

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Now, THIS is a Knife!

This 16" full tang stainless steel blade is not for the faint of heart —now ONLY $99!

I

n the blockbuster film, when a strapping Australian crocodile hunter and a lovely American journalist were getting robbed at knife point by a couple of young thugs in New York, the tough Aussie pulls out his dagger and says “That’s not a knife, THIS is a knife!” Of course, the thugs scattered and he continued on to win the reporter’s heart.

Our Aussie friend would approve of our rendition of his “knife.”

Forged of high grade 420 surgical stainless steel, this knife is an impressive 16" from pommel to point. And, the blade is full tang, meaning it runs the entirety of the knife, even though part of it is under wraps in the natural bone and wood handle.

Secured in a tooled leather sheath, this is one impressive knife, with an equally impressive price.

This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here.

We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers.

But we don’t stop there. While supplies last, we’ll include a pair of $99, Stauer pocket binoculars, and a genuine leather sheath FREE when you purchase the Down Under Bowie Knife.

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California residents please call 1-800-333-2045 regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product.

• Etched stainless steel full tang blade ; 16” overall • Painted natural bone and wood handle • Brass hand guards, spacers & end cap • Includes genuine tooled leather sheath

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THE GREAT PICTURE HUNT NIKON D700 180mm lens ISO: 200 f/5.6 at 1/1000

Bound By Love Story and photo by Dave LaBelle Relationships can be complicated, especially among siblings.

While some siblings are inseparable—through shared rooms, vehicles or clothing—others never bond or they drift apart as they grow.

The second of Charles and Jeanetta LaBelle’s children, I have four siblings—two brothers and two sisters—and each relationship is different, changing and evolving through the years.

While every relationship is unique because no two humans are exactly alike, relationships can grow richer with age when we value them and are willing to nourish them.

Sometimes the distance of living in different states or countries makes it tough to maintain close relationships. My youngest sister and brother have stayed in California, while my older sister, middle brother and I have lived in other states for much of our lives. It has been at least 10 years since we’ve been together.

At other times, differing religious or political beliefs and lifestyles become excuses not to nourish sibling relationships.

However, as the years race past and we realize we have less time on this earth, sibling relationships may become more precious. Forgiveness replaces anger, love replaces tolerance, and the sibling who might have been annoying or even harmful becomes a treasured friend.

Throughout my journalistic career, I have witnessed—usually at funerals—siblings come together as strangers, often wishing they had made a better effort to know a brother or sister. n 22

While on assignment, I noticed the tender relationship shared by these two brothers, which stirred me to examine the relationships with my own siblings and ask, “What kind of brother am I?”

Reader Challenge This can be a self-portrait of you and your sibling, or it can be a photograph of other siblings together. Maybe even twins? I have a friend, a twin, who also married a twin. Her husband and brother-in-law are close friends and are about as much alike as two individuals can be. Ironically, both recently underwent similar knee surgeries on the same leg.

If you feel uncomfortable asking to photograph a sibling, blame it on me.

Tell them this is an important assignment from a photography teacher, and you need a photo for posterity. You can also use this assignment as an excuse to meet with a sibling. In years to come, family members may be thankful you did.

Email your best image—just one—with caption information, including an explanation of how it affects you, to gph@pioneer.coop. We may share submissions on our website and social media channels.

Photographer, author and lecturer Dave LaBelle has captured special moments for more than half a century, sharing photo tips and life perspectives with readers. For more of his writing, visit davidlabelle.com and his blog at bridgesandangels.wordpress.com.

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Barbecue Halibut Oriental, Crab Enchiladas, Easy Salmon Quiche, Dilled Salmon Fettuccine, Clam Chowder and Salmon Oyster Dip are among the recipes featured in this book from our 1993 contest.

The 8½-by-11-inch indexed book is $8 (plus $3 shipping for any size order).

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.

ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY ZI3000

Seafood Cookbook

TO ORDER ONLINE: Visit www.ruralite.com.

Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.

Perfect for Potlucks

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With more than 200 recipes, this cookbook offers many options for potlucks, family reunions or picnics planned this summer! An added bonus in the back are the recipes from a previous barbecue recipe contest. “Perfect for a Potluck” is an 8½-by-11-inch indexed cookbook for only $10, plus $3 shipping for any size order.

To order by mail: Submit proper payment with your name, address and the number of cookbooks wanted to Ruralite Cookbooks, P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133.

To order by phone: Call 503-357-2105 to pay with Visa, MasterCard, Discover card or American Express.

To order online: Visit www.ruralite.com.

Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.

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Got a Story Idea?

We Want to Hear It.

Ruralite is a magazine about the people, places and moments that make the region home, and nobody knows those stories better than you. Whether it’s a hidden gem in your community, a local hero worth celebrating or an organization doing great work in your area—we’re listening.

Scan the QR code or visit the link to submit your story idea. Our editors read every submission.

Thanks for reading.

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Scan the QR code with your smartphone camera or visit tinyurl.com/SendStoryIdeas.

ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY MDURSON

7/21/2026 11:08:54 PM

OREGON TRAIL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Ember Hare and her friends introduce children to wildfire safety through a new program called WILD. ILLUSTRATION

BY ANA RANKOVIC

Meet the Wild Bunch A new co-op program teaches kids smart campfire habits to help prevent wildfires

by Shiraz Mukarram An 8-year-old child holding a long match kneels by a fire ring at an Eastern Oregon campsite. A parent tends to tasks nearby, and the air smells like warm pine. If Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative has done its job, a line from a song is playing in that child’s head: “This land is precious, so let’s protect it from fire.”

That song is the front edge of a new OTEC program built for the youngest people at any campsite.

In June, OTEC launched WILD—short for Wildfire Information Learning and Development. The timing coincided with the start of summer vacation and fire season across Baker, Grant, Harney and Union counties. The program’s guides are three friends: Blaze the Bear, who never met a s’more he didn’t like; Cooke the Cougar, who fishes and keeps the water bucket close; and Ember Hare, who sings, plays banjo, takes photos on the trail and cannot stand to see anyone start a wildfire. Together, they are the Wild Bunch.

For years, wildfire prevention has been aimed at adults. WILD

turns the message around and hands it to the third-grader.

“The goal was to reach kids in a way their parents could join in easily,” says OTEC Marketing Coordinator Paige Witham, who built the program. “Summer is full of fun that can turn dangerous when one wrong step is taken, and there is real value in giving kids a chance to work alongside their older siblings and parents to prevent wildfires.”

That is the theory of WILD. Eight-year-olds are not too young to learn the rules. They are the ones who remind everyone else.

Ask any parent who has been corrected on seatbelt use from a young backseat passenger, and they will tell you a child who learns a rule enforces it with passion.

WILD reaches kids four ways at once, because a child does not learn just one way. Teachers have a name for it—the VARK model.

The idea is that learning lands deeper when it arrives by more than one path: something to see, something to hear, something to read and something to do with your hands. WILD was built to hit all four.

First, there is a song. Paige, who has a background in music, wrote and recorded “The WILDfire Song.” It is built like a “Schoolhouse Rock” number, in the hope the words lodge in a child’s head and don’t leave.

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MARKETPLACE Agriculture

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 45 years in business. btlliners.com; 541-447-0712.

0427 Antiques and Collectibles Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo jewelry, blankets, rugs. CA/AZ baskets and beadwork. Quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117; send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com.

0826 WC Collectibles. We buy comic books.

Local to Inland Northwest. Willing to travel.

WCCollectiblesCheney@gmail.com; 509-496-1835. 0926 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. 0926 Old baseball cards. Pay in cash, via PayPal or Venmo. Will pay for shipping to Sutherlin, OR. budandvicky@msn.com. Call or text, 541-430-6900.

Automotive 2013 60th anniversary BB Corvette.

Roadster, completely original. 1966 Corvette coupe, BB. Both for $150K. Carl, 509-420-6200. 0826 Boats 18-ft. handmade cedar canoe. Photos available. $2K, firm. Excellent condition.

Contact Jim, jimdeArrieTa@gmail.com or 775-721-0390. 1026 1946 Old Town OTCA 18-ft. wood and canvas canoe. Fully restored. Oars included. $2.5K, OBO. 541-366-9755. 0826 Books, Magazines, Videos Book restoration. Bibles, cookbooks, cherished family heirlooms. Beautiful work. We give renewed life, more durable than original, to last for generations. 775-537-7066; salacanstudio@gmail.com. 0826 Community Events Annual membership print “Cosmic Tilt” by Megan Hurley available. Join as a member at artcentereast.org or at Art Center East in La Grande, OR. 0826

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Quick, Affordable: How to Place an Ad

Ads 25 words or fewer are $35 a month. An 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.

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): October issue—Aug. 31 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 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.

Education Long Creek Virtual Learning Acellus Academy.

Free in OR, online, accredited, K-12 education.

Contact Long Creek School for information and to sign up. longcreekschool.com; 541-508-9164.

1226 Home and Hearth Need an Elna Supermatic two-tone dark green and cream sewing machine for my seamstress girlfriend. Her heart is set on this model and color. smokeidaho@protonmail.com. 0826 Wondering if someone in the Tri-Cities, WA, area with walking foot or longarm would free-motion or follow stencil for a tight stipple design on 40x18” cotton with sandwiched batting. Reply with estimate. gafjm1058@yahoo.com. 0826 Miscellaneous Attention, landowners. Grants available now.

Wildland fire fuel reduction service. Steep ground, remote, rocky, small lot, big acreage … no problem. Blue Mountain Defensible Space LLC. Bluemountainbrush@gmail.com or 509-399-3473; bluemountainbrush.com.

1126 Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. For more info: Joe, highdesertmemorials@gmail.com or 541-815-8906; highdesertmemorials.com.

0826

Vintage white powder-coated cast-iron bathtub with decorative lion paw gold-plated feet. 60x30”. Gently sloped back, curved rim.

Excellent condition. $1.5K. 541-646-1073. 0926 Pets Havanese puppies in Rainier, OR. Hypoallergenic, great for all ages. Raised by our family as quality pets for you. www.happeninhavanese.com; Rebecca, 503-728-6241. 0926 Pools/Spas Stay warm and healthy this winter. Custom outdoor saunas built and delivered to you from La Grande, OR. saunahublg.com; 541-805-1318. 0826 2010 Artesian Swim Spa for sale. 7x4’. Been inside all the time; excellent condition. $5K. 541-954-3884. 0826 Real Estate Let me help you buy or sell ranch, farm & recreation property in OR. Fourth-generation Oregonian, prior ranch owner. For sale: Deschutes Canyon mountain views, 118 acres, riverfront. $11.9M. John Gill, 541-480-9161 or johngill@landandwildlife.com. Land and Wildlife brokerage. 0826 Commercial opportunity located in John Day. Currently operating as a car wash, detail and tire shop. $250K. 4 Rivers Realty, Inc., 541-987-2363 or ddwr@ortelco.net. 0826

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CUP approved March 21, 2025. Nonfarm dwelling. ODOT driveway approach construction application permit #100223.

Fremont Highway 31, photos. Silver Lake rural fire protection district. Surveyed, photographs, 4.47 acres, tax lot 19487. Backs BLM. 503-366-4424.

Local cash buyer for all real estate and homes.

Any condition or situation. No agents, no repairs, no waiting. Ready with serious offers.

AJ, 509-530-1182. 1126 Snowbird special. Own instead of renting. ¼-acre developed level lot with paved frontage in established subdivision that borders BLM in Salome, AZ. All utilities ready for RV hookup. $55K. Call or text, 541-806-5419. 0826

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Pine coffins, made-to-measure in the USA. Live the cowboy way … leave the cowboy way. oldwestcoffins.com. 530-640-1940. 0826 Want to Buy

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Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo jewelry, blankets, rugs. CA/AZ baskets and beadwork. Quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117; send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com.

0826

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Private 20-acre retreat with mature timber, a custom 2019 home, guest quarters, garage, orchard and view. Price reduced to $990K. Bordering timberland, this OR Coast property offers comfort, privacy and country living. Call 541-961-1889. 0826

FEEL SAFE ON EVERY LEVEL

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1-800-801-6378

* With purchase of a new Safe Step Stairlift. Not applicable with any previous stairlift purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must present offer at time of purchase.

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RIGHT: Character bios introduce WILD’s concepts and friends.

ILLUSTRATION BY PAIGE WITHAM

BELOW: A YouTube video leads viewers in song. ILLUSTRATION

BY PIONEER UTILITY RESOURCES

Meet the Wild Bunch Continued from Page 25

After each line, kids shout the part they remember most: “Chains that drag, oh no. A fire at bedtime, out cold. Matches, never.”

The song was pilot-tested at a summer camp and in a classroom, where dozens of children caught the tune in one sitting.

Second is the story. “The Wild Bunch and Their Camping Adventure” follows Blaze, Cooke and Ember on their summer trip, and every illustrated page hides a real fire safety habit inside the fun. The characters walk around their truck before they leave to make sure nothing drags and sparks on the road. They pack the water bucket, the shovel and the fire extinguisher. They build their fire in a ring.

Facts stick to a story better than they stick to a lecture, and this story ends with the one that matters most.

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The third method of learning is by doing. The WILD activity book turns the song and story into mazes, puzzles and a campfire to color. Each activity carries a safety tip a young reader solves on the way through: Keep the campfire 15 feet from the tent. Never leave a fire alone. Keep water close. There is a page for children to draw their own forest friend and write their own safety tip to send to OTEC to be featured.

When the Wild Bunch puts out a fire, they drown it, stir it and feel it. They pour water until it is soaking wet, then stir the ashes with a shovel to reach the hot spots. They hold a hand close to check for heat. If the ashes are still warm, they do it again. Ember’s mother says it the way a kid will remember it: If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave.

The timing of the program’s release was not a coincidence, and this summer made the point for OTEC. On June 19, the Oregon Department of Forestry raised the fire danger level to high across its Northeast Oregon District, covering Union and Baker counties and parts of Grant, with public-use restrictions on roughly 2 million protected acres. Days later, the National Weather Service in Pendleton posted a red-flag warning.

Anyone who lived through the summer of 2024 remembers why those words matter. Oregon wildfires burned close to 2 million acres that year—about three times the 10-year average.

The Durkee Fire alone ran to 294,000 acres through Baker County and across OTEC lines.

Most wildfires are preventable, and that is worth teaching a child. The National Interagency Fire Center puts the share of wildfires caused by people at about 88% nationally, averaged over the decade through 2023. On Oregon’s protected lands, the Oregon Department of Forestry counts about 74% as

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OREGON TRAIL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

LEFT: Cooke the Cougar rounds out the trio of friends.

BELOW: A one-page sheet gives potential partners a quick overview of the program’s purpose, value and process.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ANA RANKOVIC

human-caused from 2013 through 2022.

WILD does not end with the activity book. Throughout the summer, OTEC is rolling out camping guides for each county— made with local chambers of commerce—that map every campsite with its amenities and hookups and a QR code to current fire restrictions for that spot. The restrictions change through the seasons—sometimes week to week—and a code scanned at the trailhead tells families what is allowed that day. The guides are free, in print and online versions. The first one welcomes families to Union County.

The program raises the stakes for older children. Sixth through ninth graders are invited to design their own wildfire-prevention campaigns and enter them as a competitive category at local county fairs.

The idea is a ripple: The third grader learns the song this year.

The teenager who outgrew Ember Hare builds the next campaign and becomes the example younger kids watch. Teachers and youth leaders can request a stack of materials to bring WILD into a classroom or a club.

There is one more book program worth knowing about.

Through the OTEC Member Foundation, the co-op is a local partner for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which is a permanent statewide program. The state of Oregon covers half the costs of the books and mailing, and partners like OTEC and Dollywood Foundation cover the remaining costs. Any child in Baker, Grant, Harney or Union counties can take part at no cost.

After an adult signs up a child, a free book arrives in the mail every month from birth to age 5. That’s close to 60 books by the time the child starts kindergarten. Just as WILD puts a wildfire book in a camper’s hands, Imagination Library puts a book in a

child’s hands every month for five years.

The match still gets struck at the campsite. The difference WILD is after is small and stubborn. This time the 8-year-old looks up first, and there is a song in her head telling her what to do next. n Learn more about WILD and watch the video at otec.coop/wild.

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BEFORE YOU GO

Right Place, Right Time

Michael Liebling heard a thunderclap and was able to click the button on his camera just as more lightning flashed across the sky in Pleasant Hill, Oregon.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL LIEBLING

To submit your photo, email a JPEG to photos@pioneer.coop.

Include “Before You Go” in the subject line and share a bit about what inspired you to make your photo.

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7/24/2026 12:45:23 PM

Summer-Ready Salad Cookbook Ready for a fresh take on the summer salad? This cookbook offers reader-recommended options for your table. Try the Breakfast Salad, Hot Chicken Salad, Snicker Salad and much more. More than 250 recipes are in an 8½-by-11-inch indexed book for only $8 (plus $3 shipping for any size order).

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.

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District Offices 4005 23rd St. P.O. Box 226 Baker City, OR 97814 541-523-3616 567 W. Pierce St. Burns, OR 97720 541-573-2666 400 Patterson Bridge Road P.O. Box 575 John Day, OR 97845 541-575-0161 2408 Cove Ave. La Grande, OR 97850 541-963-3155 otec.coop communications@otec.coop

Report Outages at 866-430-4265 Facebook.com/OTECoop

Follow Us on Instagram otec_coop

Follow us at x.com/OTECoop (@OTECoop)

Board Members President G. “Austin” Bingaman, Union County Vice President Gary Miller, Grant County Secretary-Treasurer Cory Miller, Union County Aletha Bonebrake, Baker County Robert Cargill, Harney County Charlene Chase, Baker County Jeff D. Clark, Union County Seth Musgrove, Union County Wayne Overton, Baker County Les Penning, CEO Ron Williams, Attorney

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Three Words: Housing, Water, Power August in Eastern Oregon means combines in the hay fields, county fairs in full swing and the smell of smoke never far from anyone’s mind. It is the season when this country shows you both its abundance and its risk in the same afternoon.

In June, neighbors and leaders from across the region gathered at our Baker City headquarters for the fifth annual Power Eastern Oregon Summit. Sam Kem of the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp. laid out the economic road ahead, and AI educator Dan Chuparkoff made new tools feel usable. Look him up at danchuparkoff.com. The room did not agree on everything. It rallied around three words: housing, water, power. Find the full story beginning on Page 4.

What struck me most was how plainly people said the hard things. Jake Seavert, Union County commissioner, called housing the buzzword of the decade. The state’s own count says Oregon needs roughly 490,000 new homes over 20 years.

Ginger Savage of the Crossroads Carnegie Art Center said the arts are no longer an extra, they are a necessity.

State Representative Mark Owens, who farms near Crane, talked about snowpack and water the way only someone working the land can.

By mid-March, Oregon’s snowpack sat at 29% of normal, the second lowest on record. Power planners say the Northwest could need nearly twice as much electricity by 2046.

These are not abstractions in Salem. They land at the end of your power line, in Baker City and La Grande and John Day and Burns.

That is the work in front of us. Earlier this year, OTEC and Idaho Power announced together that we intend to bring Idaho Power’s Oregon service territory into the cooperative. It is the same path our founders walked in 1988, when they bought out the investor-owned utility and made this a member-owned co-op.

Nearly four decades later, the same partnership is funding the next chapter. We will keep you posted here in Ruralite and at

otec.coop/IdahoPower.

But August asks something of us right now. As I write this, the Oregon Department of Forestry has raised fire danger to extreme across our region, and three lightning fires are burning in our counties: the Anthony Fire in the Elkhorns north of Baker City, and the Salmon and Olive Butte fires near Greenhorn and Granite. Together they have burned nearly 7,000 acres, which will likely be more by the time this hits your mailbox.

We all remember what lightning did in 2024, when the Durkee Fire burned nearly 300,000 acres through Baker County. Lightning we cannot prevent. Most fires we can. Nearly nine out of 10 wildfires nationally are started by people, and on Oregon-protected land that figure is roughly three in four. Of the people-started fires with a known cause, escaped debris burns account for about 29%, arson about 21%, equipment use about 11% and campfires about 5%. For all the worry about power lines, utility equipment causes about 3% of wildfires nationally.

If you were raised in fire country, you already know what the season asks. You have drowned a campfire, felt for heat and taught your kids to do the same. OTEC team member Paige Witham built WILD, the other feature in this issue, to make those lessons easier to pass along. Ember Hare and her cast of characters cover everything from drowning a campfire the right way to hitching a trailer so chains do not drag and spark.

New families get a place to start. The rest of us get a hand with teaching what we already do.

The cooperative model has done this work for nearly a century. We keep the lines up, we keep the rates competitive, and we look after the people who call this place home.

So, take an hour this weekend, before the fair and before the harvest, to walk your property and clear what would burn. We are doing this work together, the way Eastern Oregon always has.

Les Penning, CEO

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