Ruralite
UMATILLA ELECTRIC
OCTOBER 2024
Umatilla Electric Cooperative employees wear pink in October, raising funds and awareness during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. From left are Lynda Kennedy, Kai Arbogast, Kim Strebin and Kim Rill.
Ruralite
October 2024 • Volume 72, No. 10
CEO Michael Shepard
SENIOR VP OF CONTENT Leon Espinoza
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mike Teegarden, CCC
DEPUTY EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Noble Sprayberry
SENIOR EDITOR Jennifer Paton, CCC
ASSISTANT EDITORS Chasity Anderson, CCC; Victoria Hampton, CCC; David Herder, CCC
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Valeri Pearon, Nina Todea
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCTION SR. MANAGER
Elizabeth Beatty
SENIOR PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR
Alyssa McDougle
Ruralite (USPS 397-460) is published monthly for members for $5.43 per year, plus postage, by Pioneer Utility Resources Inc., 5625 NE Elam Young Pkwy. Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124—a not-for-profit Oregon cooperative corporation—to serve the communication needs of 46 consumer-owned electric utilities in Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Nevada and California. Preferred periodical postage paid at Hillsboro, Oregon, 97123 and additional mailing offices. © 2024 Pioneer Utility Resources. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
Postmaster: Send address changes to Ruralite, 5625 NE Elam Young Pkwy. Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124-6454
HOW TO CONTACT RURALITE
Subscription services:
Nonmember subscriptions $15 (U.S.) per year; $25 per year (foreign). Prepayment required. Allow 4-8 weeks for first issue. Be sure to identify which local edition you want to receive.
Address Changes:
Utility members, contact your local utility. Subscribers, call us at 503-357-2105 option 3 or email mailingdept@pioneer.coop.
Back issues:
Back issues and extra copies $3. Prepayment required. Supply is limited. Be sure to identify edition, month and year. Call first if ordering back issues to check availability.
To contact Ruralite: Ruralite magazine is published by Pioneer Utility Resources.
P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133-1306; 503-357-2105; email: info@pioneer.coop. For more information, visit www.pioneer.coop.
DISPLAY ADVERTISING INQUIRIES
American MainStreet Publications
611 S. Congress Ave., Ste. 504 Austin, TX 78704
800-626-1181 or 512-441-5200
The Power of Public Power
When I began working here at Ruralite magazine, I had no idea what a wonderful world I had fallen into. But it didn’t take me long to figure out that working in the public power/co-op utility world was a fabulous opportunity.
The people I have met and work to serve—those same people who bring power to your homes—are earnest, hardworking individuals who care deeply about the safety and success of their communities.
This month, through National Cooperative Month and National Public Power Week from Oct. 6-12, we celebrate these entities and their teams who brighten your day with electricity.
Pioneer Utility Resources, the company that publishes this magazine for your utility, is such a fan of the cooperative business model that we are a cooperative ourselves.
If you happen to visit your utility office this month, please take a moment to appreciate
the value it brings to your life. Affordable and reliable electricity is a foundational service that affects every corner of our days.
Our Spotlight feature this month highlights the Gorge Farmer Collective in the Columbia Gorge that sprung up after COVID-19 hampered growers in Washington and Oregon accustomed to selling directly to buyers at farmers markets and restaurants.
The savvy farmers formed a cooperative to leverage their sales opportunities and developed an online store allowing buyers to place orders and pick them up outdoors. The group has continued to evolve as COVID-19 has receded.
Our Up Close feature this month will challenge you with presidential trivia, just in time for our upcoming elections next month. Impress your friends with obscure knowledge about the highest office in the United States. And, of course, please make sure you vote.
Sincerely,
Mike Teegarden Editorial Director
For supplemental and interactive content, search @Ruralite on your favorite social media sites.
Presidential Trivia
How much do you know about past presidents? Up Close, Page 10
In the early 1930s, as electricity became a vital resource for modern living, rural communities across the United States found themselves left in the dark, both literally and figuratively. Farmers and ranchers in Umatilla County were no exception. October, celebrated as National Cooperative Month, is a reminder of how these communities took matters into their own hands.
Determined to bring light and power to their homes and businesses, a group of visionary locals banded together, forming the Umatilla Electric Cooperative in 1937. This cooperative spirit not only electrified the region but also transformed the lives of countless families, paving the way for progress and prosperity in rural Oregon.
History of electric cooperatives
According to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, as late as the mid-1930s, nine out of 10 rural homes were without electric service. Farmers milked cows by hand in the dim light of a kerosene lantern and families relied on the wood range and washboard for cooking and cleaning.
The lack of electricity kept rural economies dependent entirely on agriculture, as factories and businesses preferred to locate in cities where power was easily accessible. Power companies ignored rural areas for years because “it wasn’t profitable for them to run lines and poles out where there weren’t a whole lot of people,” explained Steve Meyers, author of “When the Highline Comes”, a historical account of UEC history.
The first significant federal effort toward rural electrification came with the passage of the Tennessee Valley Authority Act in May 1933. This act authorized the TVA Board to construct transmission lines to serve “farms and small villages that are not otherwise supplied with electricity at reasonable rates.”
The idea of providing federal assistance for rural electrification gained momentum when Roosevelt took office in 1933. On May 11, 1935, Roosevelt signed Executive Order No. 7037, establishing the Rural Electrification Administration. A year later, the Rural Electrification Act was passed, launching the lending program that became the REA.
It quickly became evident to REA officials that established investor-owned utilities were not interested in using federal loan
Bringing Light to Rural Oregon: The Founding of Umatilla Electric Cooperative
By Andrew Cutler
funds to serve sparsely populated rural areas. However, loan applications from farmer-based cooperatives poured in, and the REA soon recognized that electric cooperatives would be the key to making rural electrification a reality.
In 1937, the REA drafted the Electric Cooperative Corporation Act, a model law that states could adopt to enable the formation and operation of not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives.
Organizing an idea
Once word reached the Hermiston area about the REA and its available loans, residents sprang into action.
“The first I heard about rural electrification, REA, was along in the spring of 1935,” Roy Penney recounted to Ruralite magazine in 1985 and Meyers shared in his book.
Penney went on to say that at a Grange meeting in Echo, the assistant county agent, W.A. Sawyer, stood up and shared what he knew about REA and how we could get electricity on the farms.
“Everyone was for it,” Penney recounted. “They appointed me chairman and I was to form a committee and try to get something started.”
Meyers said Penney was the right guy for the job. Penney, the principal of Stanfield Grade School since 1921 and a farmer since 1926, had given plenty of thought about organizing a rural electric cooperative.
“(Penney) was a principal at Stanfield, and he had a little farm outside of Hermiston that he inherited. At the same time in 1937 he was getting people in the community interested in forming a co-op under REA, he was organizing a Fourth of July celebration in Stanfield,” Meyers said. “He was going to have motorcycles crash into a flaming wall and pass through a burning canvas tunnel. This guy was a ball of energy. He wasn’t even going to be the beneficiary of an electric co-op. He lived in territory that was not going to be Umatilla Electric. He did it out of the goodness of helping the community.”
Penney recruited Enos Martin, a manager at the Hermiston Irrigation District, J.H. Reid, a banker and farmer in the area, and Hawley Bean, a farmer in the Echo area, to his committee.
“There are a lot of characters from the very early days, and they all have interesting stories,” Meyers said. “It was a
and Why Does It Matter?
National Co-op Month EVENT SCHEDULE
Oct. 10 Tollgate Crossing Store 62393 OR-204 in Weston
Oct. 17
Butte Park 1245 NW 7th St. in Hermiston
23
Each year in October, we celebrate National Cooperative Month with you, our members, as an opportunity to thank you for being a part of our cooperative.
Join us at one or all of our member appreciation events across our service territory for lunch, ice cream, member gi s and more. Fill out the form below and mail it in to be entered to win one of FOUR $100 bill credits and a grand prize of a $250 bill credit. Follow Umatilla Electric on Facebook and watch for your chance to win!
Bill credit winners will be announced on Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25 and 31. Complete the entry form on this page and mail it to the address below or drop it o at our modular location in Hermiston or at the Boardman o ce. You may also enter on our website. Members only need to enter the drawing once to be eligible to win bill credits throughout the month.
Presidential Trivia
Q: The presidential family’s household expenses, such as groceries, toiletries and dry cleaning, are paid for by the government. True or false?
A: False. The next time the media reports the president had sushi brought into the White House, you can rest easy. Those are not your tax dollars at work.
https://tinyurl.com/235p6639
Q: How many presidents were unmarried when they took the oath of office?
A. 5
B. 3
C. 6
D. 4
A: C. Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Martin Van Buren were widowers when they took the oath of office. Andrew Jackson was married when he was elected but widowed by the time he was sworn in. Chester A. Arthur was a widower as vice president and remained so when he inherited the presidency after the death of President James Garfield. President Grover Cleveland was a bachelor when he took the oath of office for his first presidency but married during his first term in office. The American presidency has only seen one true bachelor, President James Buchanan. He never married, so his niece, Harriet Lane, served as his first lady.
https://tinyurl.com/2whjzdnz
Q: How many years is “four score and seven?”
A: 87 years. The iconic line “Four score and seven years ago,” from President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, refers to 1776. https://tinyurl.com/yc3hsv4v
Q: Under which president was the west wing constructed?
A: Theodore Roosevelt. Among other reasons, the White House—as it existed in 1901 when the Roosevelt family moved in—was not suited to hold both his rambunctious family of six children and the business of the nation. So, construction of the west wing began.
https://tinyurl.com/yu92ka49
Q: During which presidency did the term first lady become synonymous with the president’s spouse or attending female relative?
A: Grover Cleveland. Though varying terms to describe the president’s spouse have been used throughout history— including Mrs. President—it was during Grover Cleveland’s second term as president that his wife, Frances Folsom Cleveland, inspired the term we use today. https://tinyurl.com/597pmcsu
Q: How many presidents also served in Congress?
A: 26. Ten former presidents served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, nine served in the House, and seven served in the Senate. One president, John Quincy Adams, served in Congress after his presidency.
https://tinyurl.com/23fb7vrz
Q: Which item in this list is a fact about George Washington?
A. He had wooden teeth.
B. He did not grow hemp at Mount Vernon.
C. He chopped down a cherry tree.
D. He had no natural children.
A: D. All the children George Washington helped raise were from his wife, Martha’s, first marriage and other family members.
https://tinyurl.com/yeynk339
Q: Who was the last president born as a British subject?
A. William Henry Harrison
B. Millard Fillmore
C. Martin Van Buren
D. Zachary Taylor
A: A. William Henry Harrison, the ninth president of the United States, was the last president born under British rule and, unrelatedly, the first to die in office—after only one month’s service.
https://tinyurl.com/3wwtar66
Q: What were the country’s first two political parties?
A. Whigs and Democratic-Republicans
B. Democratic-Republicans and Federalists
C. National Republicans and Democrats
D. Democrats and Republicans
A: B. Is this question causing anyone else to start humming tunes from “Hamilton,” or is that just us?
https://tinyurl.com/sweuyfdy n
ADOBE STOCK ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALIAWINDI, SNAP2ART, NORDIC
FROM TOP: Mary Kleihege of The Little Seven Seven Ranch raises beef she sells through the co-op. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY KLEIHEGE Paul stocks an order at the collective warehouse. Evan Menzel of Killer Tomato tends to his crop.
Small farmers aren’t in competition with one another. We’re really on the same team.
—Kiara Kashuba, Gorge Farmer Collective executive director
The GFC has taken cooperation to another level, partnering with other organizations to serve a larger, more diverse group of neighbors in the region. It supplies local school districts with fresh fruits and vegetables, introducing students to a variety of produce they might not otherwise sample. The co-op participates in the Gorge Grown Food Network’s Veggie Rx. This fruit and vegetable prescription program addresses food insecurity and increases access to fresh produce. It also works with area food banks and local, regional and state programs that provide nutritious food to Gorge residents who need it.
Shared Vision, Shared Success
Co-op members aren’t just business owners; they are also co-workers. Everyone works at least one shift a month—from loading the delivery vehicles at the warehouse to helping at the pickup sites where customers receive their orders.
“It’s really wonderful to see all this synergy of people working together for our shared business,” Kiara says.
Mary Kleihege of The Little Seven Seven Ranch in Lyle, Washington, enjoys staffing the pickup site in the nearby town of White Salmon. It is one of nine such sites in the Gorge and Portland area. During her shifts, she ensures customers have everything they need and that everything runs smoothly.
“People are always happy with what they get and are so appreciative,” she says. “They know we are working to get them what they want.”
Mary and her husband, John, raise grass-fed Highland cattle, long-haired, long-horned creatures bred to roam in large pastures. The animals are particularly well-suited for the Gorge environment and produce high-quality beef known for its flavor and tenderness.
“The GFC gives us access to the market for the beef and connects us directly to consumers who are looking for something different—and we say something better—than you can get in the grocery store,” John says.
Like many of the co-op’s owners, the Kleiheges are also customers.
“Everything that I can get from the co-op, we buy from them,” Mary says. “It’s the best food you can get. I don’t just know it’s local and it’s fresh; I know the producers. They care about the quality of everything and use best-growing practices.”
“These kinds of cooperatives make rural America strong,” John adds. “We are competing with the mega-corporations that are taking jobs away from rural America. We think that supporting the local community really matters, and the Gorge Farmer Collective is essential to building the community. It lets us keep our way of life and our lifestyle.” n
Food Hubs: Building Stronger Communities
Farmers markets, community-supported agriculture and fruit stands provide consumers access to fresh local produce and products. Food hubs are another increasingly popular model. A food hub serves as a central gathering place where local farmers bring fresh produce and products to be sorted, stored and distributed. It connects farmers with retail, wholesale and institutional buyers like restaurants, schools, grocery stores and hospitals to increase access to seasonal, locally-grown food.
One of the biggest benefits of a food hub is its support of local farmers. By providing a centralized market, food hubs help farmers sell their goods more efficiently and at fair prices. This support encourages farmers to continue producing high-quality, sustainable food, which benefits the local economy and environment. Working collaboratively also allows farmers to access larger markets they may not be able to approach independently.
Food hubs also play an important role in supplying diverse food sources to their communities and reducing dependence on large-scale, out-ofthe-area suppliers.
Two Pacific Northwest groups are good resources for those interested in learning more about this collaborative model, says Kiara Kashuba, the Gorge Farmer Collective executive director. The Oregon Food Hub Club, a program of The Oregon Community Food System Network, is a peer learning community of projects in primarily rural areas of the state. It includes nonprofit organizations, farmers, ranchers, fishermen, small food businesses and rural economic development agencies. Find out more at ocfsn.org. The Northwest Food Hub Network—nwfoodhubnetwork.com—is comprised of farmer‐owned cooperative food hubs and partner organizations, including more than 200 farmers and local food producers. It serves markets across Montana and Washington.
“Small farmers aren’t in competition with one another,” Kiara says. “We’re really on the same team.”
READER EXCHANGE
Books/Magazines
I am a senior looking for hardback books by Janice Holt Giles. I can pay media shipping and a small amount for each. Contact me at kingsvalley42@gmail.com with any offers. Thanks to all who sent me George MacDonald books. I was so blessed.
Helen Wilder
24751 Maxfield Creek Road Monmouth, OR 97361
Crafts/Hobbies
I would appreciate any broken jewelry, chains, beads or pearls you may no longer need.
Susan Bybee
16637 W.M. Foss Road La Pine, OR 97739
I rely on a wheelchair, and there are a lot of things I am no longer able to do, but my son comes and stays to help when he can. He and I take donations of denim pants to make quilts. We give the quilts to folks in need. I have asked readers before, and we received many responses. We have been so busy, we now have to ask again for more denim or other fabrics. Thank you.
Shirley and Matt Egbert 190 S. Crystal Drive Rupert, ID 83350
Retired couple would like to learn new languages. We are looking for Rosetta Stone in cassettes or CDs. Thank you.
Mr. and Mrs. Hendrix P.O. Box 299 Doyle, CA 96109 Chariotsofchoice@yahoo.com
I would like to get some wallpaper sample books or individual wallpaper samples for the grandchildrens’ school art project. Please do not fold them, as that will cause creases in the paper. Thank you very much in advance.
Bob Pagani P.O. Box 686 Pacific City, OR 97135
Milestones
Please help us celebrate our mother’s 90th birthday in October. She loves people and making special cards and writing letters. She would be beyond thrilled if everyone sent her birthday wishes. Thank you for your consideration. Please send cards to Wylene Vinall, 2942 W. Fairway View Circle, Tucson, AZ 85742.
Georganne Bryant Nehalem, Oregon
My son-in-law’s mother turns 100 years young early this month. I would very much appreciate her hearing from you with a card. She does jigsaw puzzles. Her name is Louise Taggart, and please send cards to: 8090 Fairview Road, Tillamook, OR 97141. Thank you in advance.
Darlene Walker Tillamook, Oregon
Please help us surprise our amazing mother for her 100th birthday this month. She has always been interested in other people and would love receiving cards or letters in the mail. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Send mail to Lorna Staveland at 24997 Sturtevant Drive, Veneta, OR 97487.
Judy Hillman Eugene, Oregon
Recipes
I am looking for a recipe for pecan praline fudge. I have one, but each time I’ve used it, it failed. Can you help? Thank you in advance.
Pat Moss P.O. Box 6115 Fairbanks, AK 99706
Thanks
Thank all of you who responded to my request for Crown Royal bags to replace the ones a quilter had lost. The generosity from readers was unbelievable. I feel the friendships and am reminded there are so many caring people.
Cindy Fay Troy, Montana
Submitting Requests Is Free
Send your request—with no attachments—to readerexchange@ruralite.org or mail to Reader Exchange, 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Suite 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Fill in the subject line with Reader Exchange. Acceptance, scheduling and editing are at the editor’s discretion. Single requests only, please. No duplicates.
Submissions are handled on a first-come, first-served basis and as space allows. We cannot honor every request.
Please affirm you have authorization from all appropriate parties before submitting. By submitting, you indemnify Reader Exchange, Pioneer Utility Resources Inc., its officers, directors, employees, utility clients and insurers from all legal liability incurred by the publication of information.
We no longer accept pen pal requests. You may submit a pen pal request as a Marketplace ad. Marketplace pricing applies.
When submitting a milestone request, please send it at least two months before the milestone.
Phone numbers will not be published. Email addresses will be published if part of the ad, but the request must include a postal address.
Request must include the name and address of the electric utility that provides your magazine.
Meet the Beauty in the Beast
Discover this spectacular 6½-carat green treasure from Mount St. Helens!
For almost a hundred years it lay dormant. Silently building strength. At 10,000 feet high, it was truly a sleeping giant. Until May 18, 1980, when the beast awoke with violent force and revealed its greatest secret. Mount St. Helens erupted, sending up a 80,000-foot column of ash and smoke. From that chaos, something beautiful emerged… our spectacular Helenite Necklace
Helenite is produced from the heated volcanic rock of Mount St. Helens and the brilliant green creation has captured the eye of jewelry designers worldwide. Today you can wear this massive 6½-carat stunner for only $149!
Helenite Earrings -a $149 valuewith purchase of Helenite Necklace
Make your emeralds jealous. Our Helenite Necklace puts the green stone center stage, with a faceted pearcut set in .925 sterling silver finished in luxurious gold. The explosive origins of the stone are echoed in the flashes of light that radiate as the piece swings gracefully from its 18” luxurious gold-finished sterling silver chain. Today the volcano sits quiet, but this unique piece of American natural history continues to erupt with gorgeous green fire.
Your satisfaction is guaranteed. Bring home the Helenite Necklace and see for yourself. If you are not completely blown away by the rare beauty of this exceptional stone, simply return the necklace within 30 days for a full refund of your purchase price.
JEWELRY SPECS:
- 6 ½ ctw Helenite in gold-finished sterling silver setting - 18” gold-finished sterling silver chain
Limited to the first 2200 orders from this ad only
Helenite Necklace (6 ½ ctw) ...................... Only $149 +S&P
Helenite Stud Earrings (1 ctw) ............................. $149 +S&P
Helenite Set $298 Call-in price only $149 +S&P
(Set includes necklace and earrings)
Call now to take advantage of this extremely limited offer.
Promotional Code HNN158-03
Please mention this code when you call.
14091 Southcross Drive W., Dept. HNN158-03, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com
“My wife received more compliments on this stone on the first day she wore it than any other piece of jewelry I’ve ever given her.”
- J. from Orlando, FL Stauer Client
Necklace enlarged to show luxurious color.
Reader Challenge
Today’s word is “comfort.” Show me in a photograph what comfort looks and feels like. Think about what the word means to you, and then challenge yourself to make a photograph that communicates how you see or feel. Just as many find doing word puzzles stretches the mind and keeps the brain awake, you may discover that choosing a word to photograph might be an equally valuable exercise.
Email your best image (just one, please) with caption information, including an explanation of how it affects you, to GPH@pur.coop. We may share submissions on our website and social media channels.
Making Pictures From Words
By Dave LaBelle
Decades ago, magazines like Popular Photography offered monthly photo challenges. Often, abstract word prompts such as “red,” “love” or “happiness” were given. I never took the challenge, but now I wish I had.
As a teacher and photography director, I learned not all students or staff shared the same ability to give shape to abstract ideas or concepts. While most were proficient when asked to photograph an event, a person or an object,
many were unable to grasp nonlinear assignments requiring interpretation. One student even angrily confessed he had to seek mental help because I had asked the class to make two interpretive photographs: one of how they saw themselves and the other of how they felt others saw them. He said he didn’t know what he felt about himself, and it stressed him so severely he sought counseling.
Years ago, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I taught a multiweek photo class for inner-city youth. In one assignment, I asked the young students to
photograph something they loved or thought was beautiful and, in contrast, something they didn’t like or would like to change.
The dozen or so students came back with pictures of pets, family members, friends, parks and trees by the water. But they also shared photos of broken windows, graffiti on walls and trashy front yards. I was so impressed with their willingness to put in pictures what they felt was ugly and distasteful.
Interpretive photography— trying to illustrate an abstract concept or a word—requires
some introspection and a desire to share how you see and feel. Sometimes, it is a matter of setting aside your literal, documentary eyes and awakening your artistic, imaginative vision. Hopefully, those who view our photographs can see what we see and feel what we feel. n
Renowned author, photographer and lecturer Dave LaBelle has captured special moments for more than half a century. For more of his writings, visit davidlabelle.com and bridgesandangels.wordpress.com.
NIKON D810, 31mm lens ISO 1250, f/2.8 at 1/100
If I asked myself what photographs I have made lately that illustrate comfort, this unrehearsed scene of Maggie Kotz, lying near her dying husband, Vince, less than 24 hours before he died, would be at the top of my list. Though this is a spontaneous, documentary image, made as I stepped into the Kotzs’ bedroom to check on Vince, it also illustrates the word, “comfort.” PHOTO BY DAVE LABELLE
Introducing the lightest folding power chair in the world
The Journey Air Elite features the latest carbon fiber technology for the ultimate in portability and performance
Mobility issues affect over 1 in 5 Americans. These individuals, and their loved ones, know how decreased mobility can result in loss of independence, pain and falling hazards. They are often stuck at home, missing out on a variety of activities, in a vicious cycle that diminishes their quality of life. In the past, mobility devices like scooters and power chairs were too heavy and bulky to transport easily. Now, carbon fiber material invented for the aerospace program has been used to create the ultimate mobility device. It’s called the Journey Air Elite … and there’s nothing else like it on earth.
At only 26 pounds, the Journey Air Elite combines lightweight portability with world class performance. It’s simple to use joystick and powerful dual-motor drive system enables you to zip around quickly and safely. Its easy to maneuver, never tips, fits easily through doorways, and can go right up to a table or desk. Once you are done, just one pull on the seat handle folds it up. There’s a fold-down back to make it even easier to stow and store. It features flat-free tires and rear anti-tippers for added convenience and safety.
•
•
•
Just imagine how this chair can improve your life and make it easier for loved ones and caregivers to accompany you to activities and events you would have missed in the past. Don’t spend another day stuck at home. Call today, and a helpful, knowledgeable consultant will help you get a Journey Air Elite of your very own. Don’t wait – call now!
Folds flat in seconds
DR® Walk-Behind Leaf and Lawn Vacuum
• NEW PILOT XT Models fill paper leaf bags for curbside pickup
• Collects and mulches up to 50 lbs. per bag
• Includes onboard caddy for extra bags
Nothing Stops a DR® Field and Brush Mower
• Cut 3" thick brush and tall field grass with ease
• Up to 2X the power of the competition
• Commercial, Electric, Walkand Tow-Behind models available, including the NEW PRO MAX60T!
Please allow two to three weeks for
Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. For more info: Joe, highdesertmemorials@gmail.com, 541-815-8906; www.highdesertmemorials.com. 1124
Alaskan Yellow Cedar. Great for planter boxes, herb and flower beds, fencing or decks. Various sizes available. Pete, 541-206-0727. Lisa, 541-747-5025, ext. 21. 1224
If you have a large property in Oregon and can afford a fabulous, small-gauge, coal-fired RR locomotive, I’ll help you create your own private railroad. Contact me at malarkeywall@outlook.com. 1024
Pets, Supplies
Due to health reasons, 4-year-old friendly, registered male bloodhound needs rehoming. Kelly Cooper, 208-289-8524.
Real Estate
Buying or selling in Brookings, OR? Call Pat Piper at Century 21 Agate Realty first. Experience. Empathy. Education. Exceptional. 541-251-2152; patpiperbroker@gmail.com.
Let me help you buy or sell ranch, farm and recreation property in OR. Fourth-generation Oregonian, prior ranch owner. For sale: Sisters, OR. 40 acres. Price reduced. $1.55M. John Gill, johngill@landandwildlife.com or 541-480-9161. Land And Wildlife brokerage.
Beautiful, serene setting with views located in Seneca! Approximately 2.5 acres; home, garage, metal pole barn, gated entry. $489K. Duke Warner Realty, ddwr@ortelco.net or 541-987-2363. 1024
First home with 3 decks and second home with 2 decks, carport with 40-ft. container, 2 sheds, tack building, mature shade and fruit trees on fenced 2.5 acres. White and Silver Peak Mountains. $425K. 775-966-9009.
Last chance to get an undeveloped buildable lot (8,000 sqft.) in Sportsman’s Park (Wasco County, Tygh Valley, Oregon). Sewer to property line, water on property, power available. National forest on backside. 7 miles to Wamic. $86.6K. Eric, 971-370-0220. 1024
Become an instant Nevadan. Wells: fully equipped, nonoperating, bar/grill, 479 6th St., $395K. 3/2 home, 1355 Lake Ave., $230K. 160 acres with water rights and structures, $160k. Goldfield: ruins of Catholic Church, $65k. Pahrump: resort membership $1.8K. kisciniello@yahoo.com; 775-550-2263. 1024
20 acres unimproved land N.E. NV. Yearround access. Ideal for solar-/wind-powered homestead. Travel trailers, CONEX, tractor and other equipment included. $35K. geopup58@gmail.com. 1024
Bed and Birds; a guesthouse. Very private. Wet meadows, range, forest, dark sky, lakeview. Explore or ride? Near ski hill. Reasonable. 541-947-5435. 1024
Recreational Rentals
Bend country cabin. Very clean and fully furnished cabin on private ranch. Close to recreation areas. Very nice. $95/night. 541-382-3050; bendcountrycabins@gmail.com.
Services
Dawn Till Dusk Masonry. Brick, block, stone and pavers. Small jobs and repairs welcome. Check out our website at dawntillduskconstructionmasonry.com. 541-388-7605; 541-410-6945. License #245760 bonded and insured. La Pine, OR. 1124
Timeshare victims? Call TimeShareBeGone, 800-214-4460. We will get your timeshare legally canceled. A+ BBB, 5-Star reviews, 16 years experience. 100% money back guarantee. 1024
We all want delicious, fresh, nourishing food to feed our families. We’ve got pastured pork corn/soy/GMO free. Delivery to your door or drop sites. Order at www.rural-roots-ranch.com or text Christy at 541-589-4674. 1224
Swaps/Trade
Will trade full roof replacement 40-year limited lifetime Malarkey shingle for class B RV. Certified master installation. Will travel, OR/WA. Rick, 503-544-2716.
Want to Buy
Wanted: 1967-’72 Buick Skylark, GS, Stage 1, GSX. Cars, parts or leads. Or any ’60s or ’70s vehicles. billybibbett@hotmail.com. 1124
Old carpenter tools, planes (wood/metal), levels, chisels, slicks, adzes, axes, hatchets, handsaws, old rulers, spoke shaves, wrenches, shipwright tools, old tool chests. 503-659-0009 or 971-666-0659. 1024
Gold, silver, coins/currency, buy, sell. Collections wanted. Fair prices paid. 44 years in retail store. Baker City, OR. 800-556-2133; garrymclin@aol.com. 1024
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. 1024
The Power of Smart Home Technologies
Smart home technologies are revolutionizing modern living by automating everyday tasks and helping homeowners save energy. From smart bulbs and plugs to advanced thermostats and security systems, these cost-effective devices offer convenience, energy efficiency, and enhanced control over your home environment—all through a smartphone or voice commands.
Smart home technologies are transforming how we live, making our homes more comfortable, convenient and energy efficient than ever before.
Smart home technologies are devices that communicate with each other to automate everyday tasks and functions around the home, like heating and cooling, lighting and security. In addition to convenience, smart technologies enable consumers to manage and monitor their energy consumption through device scheduling and control.
With just a tap on your phone or a voice command to your virtual assistant (like Alexa or Siri), you can conveniently control many aspects of your home environment. If you’re new to the smart tech world, there are several cost-effective devices you can try as you explore ways to make your home smarter.
One of the best and most inexpensive places to start is with a smart bulb or plug. Smart LED bulbs allow you to control home lighting remotely through a smartphone app or voice commands. You can set schedules to automatically turn lights off or on, which can help you save energy and boost home security.
Smart plugs are another inexpensive way to give electronics and small appliances the smart home treatment. Smart plugs allow you to set schedules and remotely control power to lamps, small appliances and electronics, minimizing standby energy consumption and maximizing convenience. For example, you can sync the timing of your bedside lamp, alarm, speakers and coffee maker to turn on at the same time each morning.
If Alexa or Siri is already part of your household, you can build on your existing “tech ecosystem” by adding a smart hub, like
Amazon Echo or Apple HomePod. Voice assistants that are synced to smart devices like bulbs and plugs provide additional options for device management and allow family members to interact with the various devices through voice control rather than individual apps.
Home heating and cooling account for a significant portion of energy use, so one of the best investments you can make in smart tech is a smart thermostat. While traditional programmable thermostats can be set to your schedule and preferences, a smart thermostat takes this one step further by learning and adjusting to your routine and building a schedule around it.
Smart security systems are popular options for homeowners looking for advanced security solutions that incorporate cameras, sensors and cloud-based video recordings. As with other smart technologies, smart security systems provide convenient, flexible ways to monitor homes (and businesses), giving you peace of mind even when you’re away.
If you’re considering smart tech for your home, start by defining your goals. Is saving energy your top priority, or are you aiming to improve home security? Smart home technologies provide great convenience––but remember, they are internetconnected devices. That means you’ll need a stable Wi-Fi connection to ensure devices are working properly, and you’ll need strong passwords for your router and individual devices.
Whether you’re looking to automate every aspect of your home or simply want to try a device or two, smart technologies have the power to transform your living space into a home where comfort and convenience reign supreme.
Youare a man of the wilderness. The only plan you have is to walk up that mountain until you feel like stopping. You tell your friends that it’s nothing personal, but this weekend belongs to you.
How to Be Cut Off From Civilization
You’ve come prepared with your River Canyon Bowie Knife sheathed at your side. This hand-forged, unique knife comes shaving sharp with a perfectly fitted hand-tooled sheath. The broad stainless steel blade shines in harmony with the stunning striped horn, wood and bone handle. When you feel the heft of the knife in your hand, you know that you’re ready for whatever nature throws at you.
This knife boasts a full tang blade, meaning the blade doesn’t stop at the handle, it runs the full length of the knife. According to Gear Patrol, a full tang blade is key, saying “A full tang lends structural strength to the knife, allowing for better leverage ...think one long steel beam versus two.”
With our limited edition River Canyon Bowie Knife you’re getting the best in 21st-century construction with a classic look inspired by legendary American pioneers. What you won’t get is the trumped up price tag. We know a thing or two about the hunt–– like how to seek out and capture an outstanding, collector’s-quality knife that won’t cut into your bank account.
Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the sale price. But we believe that once you wrap your fingers around the River Canyon’s you’ll be ready to carve your own niche into the wild frontier. When it’s you against
BONUS! Call today and you’ll also receive this genuine leather sheath!
This quintessential knife can be yours to use out in the field or to display as the art piece it truly is. But don’t wait. A knife of this caliber typically cost hundreds. Priced at an amazing $49, we can’t guarantee this knife will stick around for long. So call today!
What customers are saying about Stauer knives...
“First off, the shipping was fast and the quality is beyond what I paid for the knife. Overall I am a satisfied customer!”
— D., Houston, Texas
14091 Southcross Drive W., Dept. RCK492-01
Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com
Directors
Bryan Wolfe, President
Jeff Wenholz, Vice President
Steve Platt, Secretary-Treasurer
Lee Docken
Phil Hamm
John Otis
Tom Pitzer
Management
Robert Echenrode, General Manager / CEO
Robert Cromwell, Vice President Power Supply
Josh Lankford, Vice President Engineering & Operations
Lisa McMeen, Vice President Administration Our Mission
National Co-op Month
Oct. 10
Tollgate Crossing Store 62393 OR-204 in Weston
Oct. 17
Oct. 23
Butte Park 1245 NW 7th St. in Hermiston
Boardman Marina Park West Marine Dr. in Boardman
Each year in October, we celebrate National Cooperative Month with you, our members, as an opportunity to thank you for being a part of our cooperative.