December 2018 Cooperative Connections

West River Electric December 2018 Vol. 19 No. 8

Cooperatives: Committed to Community Page 8

Investing in Our Communities Page 12

MANAGER’S NOTE

I can be seen driving down the road singing in the car!

Most People Are Good

The other day as I cruised down I-90, I heard the Luke Bryan hit “Most People Are Good”.

This song captures a different twist on my Thanksgiving column. Think about these lyrics: I believe most people are good And most mama’s oughta qualify for sainthood I believe most Friday nights look better under neon or stadium lights I believe you love who you love Ain’t nothing you should ever be ashamed of I believe this world ain’t half as bad as it looks I believe most people are good

Dick Johnson dick.johnson@westriver.coop

“most people are good, momma’s oughta qualify for sainthood and this world ain’t half as bad as it looks”.

I believe one thing for sure is ALL of our great team of employees are not only good, but great! They are the ones who understand the importance of service to our members and their dedication and strong work ethic to power you for a brighter future. It is so easy for all of us to take having reliable, low cost electric service for granted. You flip a switch and the electricity is there; 24-7. I am especially proud of their effort to cultivate a strong culture of safety so that they get home every night safely to their families to love who they love. They make sure when we go home to love who we love, that we practice safety at home too.

Most people are good and this world isn’t half as bad as it looks. We still live in one of the greatest countries on earth. We have plenty of gloom and doom; just look at all the press on the past election! Nationally, statewide, local, ballot initiatives, referendums; I could go on and on. However, we should be grateful we live in a country where we can vote for our leaders. I am grateful that we can chose to work together to try and solve these issues instead having some dictator or regime that spells out everything we do 10187800 every day.

Besides political issues; we have plenty of issues within our society; mass shootings, moral dilemmas, racial issues, murders, thefts, skyrocketing opioid and substance abuse. However, I still feel we are extremely blessed such that I truly believe most people are good.

Most people are good and this world isn’t half as bad as it looks. I think of our brave military and first responders who serve, or have served, in our armed forces in order for us to enjoy our freedoms. Our police, fire, EMS, and other first responders make sure we are safe each and every minute of the day. We are blessed we can enjoy our Friday nights under neon or stadium lights with the freedom and protection we have.

I am blessed that our non-profit cooperative continues to grow with new members, which is nothing we should be ashamed of. We have seen an increase in housing accounts along with the continued growth from our commercial sector. I am grateful we have been able to meet this growth head on and continue to work hard to make sure we are positioned to meet further growth.

I am grateful that I have such a great Board of Directors to work with. They have blessed us with their great vision and leadership as we move the cooperative forward. For as hard as they work for the cooperative on behalf of our member owners, they should qualify for sainthood too.

I especially give thanks to not only have my cooperative family and friends, but a wonderful wife and two daughters who “oughta qualify for sainthood” for always being there during the good days or bad. Maybe it is a quick text, phone call or email that brightens my day; I believe you love who you love.

From the Board of Directors, staff, and employees of West River Electric, our hope is that you step back this Thanksgiving season and look at: “most people are good, momma’s oughta qualify for sainthood and this world ain’t half as bad as it looks”.

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Cooperative Connections | December 2018

Belt used by the linemen in the field today

BELT & HOOKS Changed from the 1800’s to 2018! belt without ever being unattached to the pole.

Mike Letcher mike.letcher@westriver.coop

As discussed last month the number one piece of equipment for a lineman is his belt and hooks.

The belt and hooks have remained unchanged for the most part since the telegraph days of the late 1800’s. There were the occasional “improvements” in the design, but for the most part, they functioned the same as they did 100 years ago.

Sometime in the 90’s OSHA determined that the snap holding the scare strap to the D-rings on the belt could come unhooked in certain circumstances. This led to the design of a double locking snap. This 11047600 irritated the linemen of the time to no end because it meant an extra step when attaching the belt to the D-ring. After a few years of the new design, most linemen forgot about the simpler snap of the “good old days” and carried on as though nothing had changed.

In the early 2000’s some companies began to require 100% attachment, or the use of a secondary belt so the lineman could use his belt to climb and then place his secondary belt over an obstacle allowing him to reposition his primary

Here at West River our linemen were still allowed to “free climb” (climb without a strap attached to the pole) until OSHA once again revised the rules in 2015.

The new rule requires linemen to use a fall arrest system when climbing. This system consists of a 4 D-ring belt instead of the old two D-ring design as well as a double strap system that actually tightens around the pole in the event of a fall.

The new system also has a secondary belt for use when climbing over an obstacle so the lineman is never able to fall. The fall arrest system does require a slight change to climbing styles and is considerably more cumbersome than the old system. Most of the guys who climb on a regular basis have adapted quickly and the new guys coming out of lineman school have never used anything different.

I guess other than a few “Old Guys” who do not climb much anymore things will continue as usual and the old free climbing days will be nothing but a memory or a crazy story for the next generation of linemen.

December 2018 | Cooperative Connections

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SAFETY TIPS

Holiday Decorating Safety Tips

Providing power for countless generations.

While decorative lights and other electrical decorations add to the splendor of the season, they can increase the risks of fire and electrical injuries if not used safely.

Inspect electrical decorations for damage before use. Cracked or damaged sockets, loose or bare wires and loose connections may cause a serious shock or start a fire.

Do not overload electrical outlets.

Overloaded electrical outlets and faulty wires are a common cause of holiday fires.

Avoid overloading outlets and plug only one high-wattage into each outlet at a time.

Never connect more than three strings of incandescent lights. More than three strands may not only blow a fuse, but can also cause a fire.

Keep trees fresh by watering daily. Dry trees are a serious fire hazard.

Use battery-operated candles. Candles start almost half of home decoration fires (National Fire Protection Association).

Keep combustibles at least three feet from heat sources. A heat source that was too close to the decoration was a factor in half of home fires that began with decorations (NFPA).

Protect cords from damage. To avoid shock or fire hazards, cords should never be pinched by furniture, forced into small spaces such as doors and windows, placed under rugs, located near heat sources, or attached by nails or staples.

Check decorations for certification label.

Decorations not bearing a label from an independent testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Intertek (ETL) have not been tested for safety and could be hazardous.

Stay in the kitchen when something is cooking. Unattended cooking equipment is the leading cause of home cooking fires (NFPA).

Turn off, unplug and extinguish all decorations when going to sleep or leaving the house. Unattended candles are the cause of one in five home candle fires. Half of home fire deaths occur between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. (NFPA).

KIDS CORNER SAFETY POSTER

Source: esfi.org 4

Cooperative Connections | December 2018

“Do not use electronics when there are thunderstorms.”

Hope Wagner, 8 years old

Hope is the daughter of Bryan and Lynita Wagner, Wetonka, S.D. They are members of FEM Electric Association, Ipswich, S.D. Kids, send your drawing with an electrical safety tip to your local electric cooperative (address found on Page 3). If your poster is published, you’ll receive a prize. All entries must include your name, age, mailing address and the names of your parents. Colored drawings are encouraged.

RECIPES Recipe and photo courtesy mccormick.com/recipes

Holiday Favorites Holiday Streusel-topped Squash 1 butternut squash (2 to 2.5 lbs.) peeled, seeded and cut in 1/2-inch chunks, about 4-1/2 cups

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup water 1/2 tsp. salt 1/3 cup flour

Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with Lemon Crème

1/4 cup chopped pecans

3 cups flour

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 T. softened butter

2 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 cup sweetened dried cranberries

1 tsp. baking soda

1 cup crushed peppermint candies

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

Lemon Creme:

In an 11x7-inch microwavable dish, spread squash cubes. Add water and sprinkle with salt. Cover with plastic wrap, folding back one edge or corner 1/4-inch to vent steam. Microwave on high 5 minutes or until crisp tender. Meanwhile mix flour, brown sugar, pecans, butter and pumpkin pie spice together using a fork. Top squash with sweetened cranberries. Sprinkle streusel evenly over cranberries and squash. Bake at 350°F. uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until streusel is brown. Serves 8.

1/4 tsp. salt

1 (7 oz.) jar marshmallow creme

1-1/2 sticks butter, softened

1/2 stick butter, softened

Michelle Ommen, Mitchell, SD

For the Gingerbread Whoopie Pies, mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt in large bowl. Set aside. Beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add molasses, egg and vanilla; beat well. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed.

Press dough into a thick flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar to coat. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake at 350°F. 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies just begin to brown. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. Meanwhile, for the Lemon Creme, mix marshmallow creme, butter, cream cheese and lemon extract in medium bowl until well blended. To assemble whoopie pies, place about 1 T. filling on the flat side of 1 cookie. Top with a second cookie, pressing gently to spread the filling. Repeat with remaining cookies. Roll edge of cookies in crushed candy. Store whoopie pies between layers of wax paper in airtight container in refrigerator up to 5 days. Makes 30 servings.

Coconut Macaroons 2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk 2 T. flour

2-1/2 cups flaked coconut 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 tsp. vanilla Combine sweetened condensed milk, flour and vanilla. Stir in coconut and chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls onto well-greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350°F. 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown.

Remove to wire racks to cool.

Maxine Smith, Owanka, SD

Honey Chew Candy 1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup chopped dates

1 cup honey

1 cup chopped walnuts

Cook butter and honey for 20 minutes, stirring constantly. Add dates and nuts; mix well. Put into an 8-inch buttered pan. Cool. Cut candy into bite-sized pieces; wrap each piece in waxed paper. Makes about 48 pieces.

Helen Gregory, Lemmon, SD

3/4 cup packed brown sugar 4 oz. (1/2 pkg.) cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup molasses 1 egg

1 tsp. lemon extract

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories 203, Total Fat 7g, Protein 2g, Cholesterol 28mg, Sodium 135mg, Protein 22g, Carbohydrates 33g Pictured, Cooperative Connections

Please send your favorite soup, brunch or seafood recipes to your local electric cooperative (address found on Page 3). Each recipe printed will be entered into a drawing for a prize in June 2019. All entries must include your name, mailing address, telephone number and cooperative name.

December 2018 | Cooperative Connections

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COOP NEWS

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE Deadline January 30, 2019 For the 28th Year, West River Electric is offering college scholarships to high school seniors’ graduating in May of 2019 as well as students currently in post-secondary education. This year we will once again be offering five scholarships. A $1,000 scholarship provided by Basin Electric Power Cooperative, our power generation cooperative, and four WREA $500 scholarships. All to be awarded to the students in April.

Applicants for the scholarships must be a member or dependent child of a West River Electric member and a U.S. citizen. They must be 11076000 planning to enroll or in attendance in a full-time graduate or undergraduate course of study at an accredited two-year or four-year College, university or vocational/technical school.

Scholarship recipients will be chosen by a selection committee based on academic record, potential to succeed, leadership and participation in school and community activities, honors, work experience, a statement of education and career goals, a written essay and an outside appraisal. Applications may be picked up at the cooperative offices, on-line at www.westriver.coop or at area high schools.

Completed applications and supporting documentation must be returned to West River Electric Association in Rapid City or Wall before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 30, 2019. Winners will be announced in April. For more information, or to request an application, go to our website at www.westriver.coop, stop by or call us at 393-1500 or 279-2135. Applications are also available at the local high schools.

HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS Are you interested in going to D.C.?

June 13-20, 2019 more than 1500 students will travel to Washington DC to participate in the Rural Electric Youth Tour. During this action-filled week, students learn what it is like to be involved in politics, community service, cooperative philosophy and rural electrification. You will have the opportunity to meet with your elected representative in the US House and Senate and discuss the process of government and the issues that we face today, while increasing your knowledge about the electric cooperative utilities.

The student will be selected and sponsored by West River Electric. South Dakota Rural Electric Association (SDREA) coordinates arrangements for all South Dakota students. Among the sites that 2351901 are toured are the National Cathedral, The White House, Washington Monument, U.S. Supreme Court, US Capitol, Ford’s Theatre, Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon, and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, The Smithsonian, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

All area high school juniors whose parents or guardians are a member of WREA are eligible to apply for the Youth Tour. The funding of the tour is provided by WREA, which includes the student’s transportation, room and board, and sightseeing events. Students will be required to provide their own personal spending money.

Each student is required to submit an essay, not to exceed 500 words on “What does it mean to be an American?” All essays must be typed and include a cover sheet to include the students name, parents name, address, phone number and school they attend. West River Electric must receive all essays before February 1, 2018. If you have questions please contact Veronica Kusser at 605-393-1500.

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Cooperative Connections | December 2018

SUE PETERS RECEIVED CCD Credentialed Cooperative Director Sue Peters, your Director for District 3, recently received her NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) certification.

In this time of many changes to our power industry, it is more important than ever for directors to understand their roles and responsibilities and to have the knowledge and skills to govern today’s cooperatives. NRECA’s Director Education program is specifically designed to address the learning needs of electric cooperative directors.

The Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) curriculum consists of these five courses designed to provide basic knowledge and skills required of cooperative directors.

Training courses offered address board governance, financial decision-making, strategic planning and current and emerging issues. The CCD certificate is earned by attending all five required courses and successfully completing a learning assessment for each. Sue has completed these five and has successfully completed the certification course.

JOHNSON RECEIVES THE WDT LEGACY PARTNER AWARD Dick Johnson, CEO/General Manager of West River Electric received the Legacy Partner Award during the Western Dakota Tech Foundation Legacy Gala on Oct. 25.

The Exceptional Legacy Partner award honors a forward-thinking individual and business dedicated to promoting the ethics and values needed to preserve Western Dakota Tech, the Foundation and the community they serve.

Johnson’s motto is to “Do the right thing...always”, which is now written into Western Dakota Tech’s Foundation Core Values under: Integrity We are fiscally responsible, transparent, and accountable. We operate according to the highest ethical standards. We “Do the Right Thing, Always.”

West River Electric is proud to support Western Dakota Tech in paving the way for the students to a brighter future.

December 2018 | Cooperative Connections

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COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY

WREA employees gathered for a Day of Service in the town of New Underwood, S.D. The cover photo features one of the projects the group undertook: painting the community’s fire hydrants.

COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY Electric Co-ops Active Locally Brenda Kleinjan editor@sdrea.coop

Across South Dakota and western Minnesota, the region’s electric cooperatives – and their employees and members – can be found not only providing reliable, affordable energy to thousands, but also rolling up their sleeves and helping to improve their local communities.

This fall, West River Electric Association in Wall undertook a Day of Caring project that saw dozens of co-op employees on the streets of New Underwood, a western South Dakota town with a population of about 660.

Working with local community leaders, the co-op identified a variety of projects they could assist with. Crews helped remove trees, paint fire hydrants, fences, a walking bridge and prepare a wall for a future mural. As they worked, community members joined in the effort.

At Colman, S.D., on a Saturday in September, co-op employees and members gathered in the 8

Cooperative Connections | December 2018

Sioux Valley Energy Customer Electrical Technician Dana Foster sands a board as part of the co-op’s Sleep in Heavenly Peace bed build project.

COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY

Investing in Youth: Scholarships Each year, electric cooperatives in South Dakota and western Minnesota, offer more than $100,000 in scholarships to students – usually children and dependents of co-op members – to further their educations.

Cam Wal Electric’s Scott Artz conducts a safety demonstration for Selby, S.D.-area youth.

Sioux Valley Energy parking lot east of town along S.D. Highway 34 to construct beds for the Sleep in Heavenly Peace organization. Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a volunteer organization that builds, assembles and delivers bunk beds to children and families in need.

During the Sioux Valley Energy build, 20 beds were constructed, which is 10 percent of the Brookings chapter’s goal of 200 beds built in 2018. The Brookings Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace is one of 69 in the country.

Co-op employees have also assisted with clean-up projects in Sioux Falls and also at an abandoned rural cemetery near Dell Rapids, S.D. These examples are in addition to the on-going local community commitment cooperatives throughout the state have.

Throughout the year, electric cooperatives can be found working to educate area youth on the importance of energy efficiency and safety around power lines.

And, heading into the holiday season, co-op crews can be seen in various towns hanging municipal holiday decorations in towns like Bison in northwestern South Dakota and other communities in the state.

East River Electric’s Jennifer Gross demonstrates how much electricity a student is creating by pedaling a bicycle.

For nearly 30 years, Basin Electric Power Cooperative has partnered with its member cooperatives to offer more than 180 scholarships in the amount of $1,000 for each school year. This program is for dependent children of member cooperative employees, member cooperative consumers and children of Basin Electric employees. Thirty-one of those scholarships go to students in South Dakota and western Minnesota.

Basin Electric offers scholarships for dependent children of employees of Basin Electric and its subsidiaries who are in college or will be entering college in the fall. Five scholarships are designated for qualified applicants who plan to attend a certified vocational or technical school, and five are designated for qualified applicants who plan to achieve an engineering degree. Up to two awards are designated for students majoring in information services and telecommunications. Basin Electric also offers 20 $1,000 scholarships to children of member cooperative employees. A handful of these scholarships are awarded to South Dakota and western Minnesota students each year.

Many local cooperatives also offer additional scholarships.

One co-op uses monies from their Operation Round Up® program to fund more than $10,000 in scholarships. Other co-ops offer scholarships in conjunction with other programs such as the Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives Scholar of the Week program.

And, some co-ops offer scholarships to students seeking a specific career path, such as becoming a line worker.

For more than 20 years, the South Dakota Rural Electric Line Superintendents Association, which is made up of those in charge of cooperative operations managers, have awarded scholarships to students pursing a career as a line worker, particularly those attending Mitchell Technical Institute in Mitchell, S.D. Students selected to represent their co-op on the annual Rural Electric Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., are eligible to apply for a $10,000 scholarship and four $1,000 scholarships once they are a sophomore in college through the Glen English Foundation.

English was the former CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

December 2018 | Cooperative Connections

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ANNUAL MEETING.

West River Electric Employee Group, October 2018.

2018 ANNUAL MEETING “Powering You For a Brighter Future!”

Veronica Kusser veronica.kusser@westriver.coop

West River Electric Association held our 79th Annual Meeting on Saturday, October 13, 2018 at the Wall Community Center in Wall, SD. Regan Simons, daughter of Sanden and Elaine Simons started the meeting by singing the National Anthem as all stood to salute the flag.

The Wall Gymnastics Booster Club received $250 from Operation Round-Up.

President Andy Moon stated “Powering You for a Brighter Future!” We power your future each and every day with electricity, while providing many other services along with a commitment to the community.

He shared with the members that “One of the core principles of cooperative membership is capital credits.”

Capital credits in a non-profit cooperative are what is left each year when our revenue exceeds our expenses of providing electricity to you. We retain those capital credits each year to operate our business and handle plant growth instead of borrowing all of our funds.

This will be the second year the Board has approved the retirement of $1 million dollars in capital credits.

We will be applying half the total to older years, and spreading the remaining $500,000 to the years of 19912017. We feel it is extremely important to show the power of cooperative membership to all of our members past and present.

President Moon shared that in 2017 and 2018, we raised the base charge by $2.25 per month. This was a part of our 5-year rate strategy to slowly raise the base charge to collect more of our fixed costs up front for poles, wires and substations. The last year of the 5-year plan 10

Cooperative Connections | December 2018

will be in 2019. We do not expect any increases in the per kilowatt-hour charge next year as it is a key goal of ours to keep our rates steady. With the energy efficiency measures our members are using it is a concern as the average kilowatt hour per member continues to decline and growth is what will help us keep our rates in check.

We reviewed the current bylaws, which are a directive from the membership on how our cooperative is to operate. We had a committee of three directors and three members at large who met several times throughout the year and reviewed and made recommendations, which were presented at the meeting and approved by the membership. The new bylaws can be found on our

We had a good crowd in attendance at the 2018 Annual Meeting

website at www.westriver.coop.

CEO Dick Johnson shared with the members that we worked an entire year safely and got each and every employee home at night to their families. Our safety committee here at the coop worked hard to continue a strong safety culture with our employees.

Dick mentioned the loss of three former employees who passed away over the past year, Thor Sautter, CEO and manager for 20 years, Darwin Hook, Office Manager for 30 plus years and Bill Greiner, Journeyman Lineman for many years.

He gave an update on the 2017 financials of WREA. He shared that total revenues from sales were $36.7 million with total operating expenses of $35.8 million leaving an operating margin of just shy of 1 million. With other non-operating income, expenses and capital credit allocations from our various cooperative organizations, our total margins for the year were $2.4 million compared to $3.6 million last year.

Dick shared with the members an update on a couple of large projects we completed or are just completing. We replaced several miles of line around the Wall area to provide a more reliable and heavier 4313600 feed into the Wall area. We started and completed a re-build of the Box Elder Substation to increase the capacity of the sub along with giving us more room around the sub. We rebuilt 20 miles of lines in the Enning area, installing heavier construction with shorter spans and T2 conductor as well as moving them closer to the main road making it easier for patrolling the lines in outage situations.

He added that the board recently approved a $30 million loan to Rural Utilities Services for 4 years of our future construction work plan. He updated the members on becoming NERC compliant for three switches in our Rushmore substation. He shared a quick update with the members on Basin Electric and where they stand with DGC. He gave a brief update on a solar survey that we will have the results of soon.

In closing his report, CEO Johnson, thanked the board for

their support to the members and employees throughout this past year.

Kyle Schell, a fourth generation rancher on his family’s farm from here at Wasta, shared with us his experience about a trip to India. India is one of the largest trading partners of the US. Kyle was invited, along with his South Dakota Ag Leadership Class, to take a 2-week trip to experience and learn of the agriculture of India. He shared with the members photos and experiences that are far different from what we experience out on the ranches or farms of South Dakota.

Operation Round-Up presentations were awarded to the Wall Gymnastics Booster for $250.00 and the Wall Rodeo Booster Club received $500.00.

The following employees reached milestones in their employment with West River Electric and were publicly recognized for their years of service. Betty Haerer, Tracea Ladner & Sam Lockhart - 20 Years, Alicia Fortune, Christine Ritter and Robert Raker - 10 Years, Stacy Cihak, Adam Daigle, and Eric Emery - 5 Years each. We also had two directors who reached milestones with years of service; we recognized Howard Knuppe with 30 years and Jamie Lewis with 5 years.

Three incumbent directors were re-elected for a 3-year term, Howard Knuppe for District 1 from the New Underwood area, Stan Anders from Union Center for District 2 and Andy Moon from Creighton from District 3.

This was the third year we have offered scholarships to students currently enrolled in furthering their education or high school seniors ready to enroll who were in attendance at the Annual Meeting. Once again, the board felt it was a great opportunity to touch the lives of our young people by offering six $500 scholarships. The students in attendance receiving scholarships for the 2019-2020 school year were, Haley Anderson, Meghan Patterson, Jade Hertel, Raiden Crawford, Kyla Sawvell and Jacob Bielmaier.

President Moon thanked the members for the patronage over this past year and attending our annual meeting “Powering You for a Brighter Future” because we are Member owned Member controlled!

December 2018 | Cooperative Connections

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INVESTING IN COMMUNITY

Success in Community Investment by Cooperatives REED Fund Powers Local Communities REED FUND QUICK FACTS: • Incorporated in 1997 • Loans issued – 323 • Total funds loaned – $84.3 million • Total employment by REED borrowers – 8,900 • Total project investment $666 million • Real estate financed – 2.1 million square feet – 2017 REED Fund Annual Report The Rural Electric Economic Development, Inc. (REED) Fund provides business and community project financing in partnership with commercial and other economic development lenders to leverage private investment and make a difference in the region it serves. Established in 1996 and governed by 25 electric cooperatives, REED assists projects that promote growth and contribute to job, business and wealth creation, as well as improve the infrastructure, community facilities/services and economic base of rural areas.

Nearly 83 percent of REED’s lending goes to communities with populations of less than 5,000 people and the majority of the projects have local ownership.

Community Success Stories Community facilities and services are necessary for quality of life and sustainable development. REED Fund provides a 12

More than 25 fire departments, such as the Wolsey Fire Protection District in Wolsey, S.D., have been recipients of REED Fund investments. wide range of financing for community projects. Loan applicants include, but are not limited to, civic and philanthropic organizations, educational institutions, local governments and special purpose districts. Success stories illustrate the broad spectrum of different types of projects the fund has assisted, including education, public safety, emergency services, recreation, arts, community infrastructure, facilities and equipment.

Health Care Success Stories Health Care Financing has been an important sector for the REED Fund.

Whether it is a medical clinic, hospital, long term care facility or emergency services, REED fund recognizes the importance of access to quality care.

Financing can be for buildings or equipment. These projects may be

Cooperative Connections | December 2018

Ag-based projects also benefitted from REED Fund investments.

The expansion of Clark, S.D.-based Dakota Butcher to two Watertown locations was financed in part by a REED Fund loan through Codington-Clark Electric Cooperative as well as South Dakota Department of Agriculture financing.

Investing to build a stronger region, REED partners with numerous financial institutions, regional loan funds and government programs to develop financing packages that help create and expand businesses and employment opportunities, sustain and expand health care and education, as well as develop and support community facilities, services, infrastructure and rental housing.

eligible to seek zero percent financing through a USDA program available through the local cooperative..

Business Success Stories REED Fund’s business loans support business growth and development and contribute to employment and business ownership opportunities.

The loans benefit retail, service, tourism, manufacturing, and technology sectors. REED also finances nonprofit development organizations for activities such as industrial parks, leasehold facilities. Financing to nonprofit development corporations receive a reduced interest rate.

Agri Business Success Stories To recognize agriculture’s impact on the region’s economic base, REED makes loans to support projects that add value to local agriculture production through innovation, improved services, further processing, or marketing. Loans are not made for traditional production agriculture.

Housing Success Stories

Loans that support housing development are also available. To quality the project needs evidence of broad base of community support and must be able to show need for additional housing and/or infrastructure to support development. REED does not finance home loans to owner occupants.

For more information on the REED Fund, contact a participating cooperative or visit http://www.reedfund.coop/reed

Who REED Has Helped 48 Retail and service businesses 37 Office facilities or industrial buildings for lease (all to non-profit owners 31 Health care facilities (clinics, hospitals, nursing care centers) 25 Fire protection projects (trucks and buildings) 22 Community Infrastructure projects (water, wastewater, Main Street) 24 Manufacturing firms (plant and/or equipment) 18 Ag processing businesses (nine producer-owned) – $156 million capital investment 22 Education (schools, distance learning, technology), including four childcare centers 19 Tourism-related businesses 20 Grain handling/agronomy firms (15 are cooperatives) – $126 million capital investment 12 Ag retail/service businesses 14 Recreation and arts facilities, non-profit, including community centers 11 Partner regional and local loan funds 11 Multi-family housing projects (three site development, three elderly housing, five multi-family)

December 2018 | Cooperative Connections

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COOP NEWS

Do You Have A Heat Meter?

West River Electric Christmas Open House Friday, December 14, 2018 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Rapid City & Wall Offices

Stop in for a cup of coffee or apple cider and a cookie. Register for a chance to win a $75.00 bill credit for members and a $30.00 Bam card for anyone under age 12. You must be present to register between December 1-21.

For all of you who pay on-line, there will be an opportunity for you to win a $75.00 bill credit as well. Pay on-line or by phone, toll-free at (855) 730-8712 and we will draw from the list of those who paid between December 1-21.

All drawings will take place at 4:00 p.m. on December 21, 2018.

If you have a heat meter, you started getting heat credit with your September reading.

Be sure the breaker to the heat meter is on so you receive the maximum benefit of the electric heat rate for the heat season.

We ask that you leave the breakers on to these meters year round. Without power, the automated meter reading system cannot detect trouble with the meter or get readings.

If you have any questions regarding this, please call us at 393-1500 or at 279-2135.

If you have electric heat, but do not have a heat meter, contact Member Services at 393-1500 to find out how to start saving money.

Energy Saving Tips from West River Electric Old man winter is just around the corner. A few tips for helping prepare your home for those cold days that are lurking. These tips are said to be simple and inexpensive.

Plug the leaks by sealing them with caulk and weatherstripping. This will keep more warm air inside when the cold is trying to sneak in. You can find the leaks around windows and doorframes, around recessed lighting, pipes, vents and electrical outlets on the outside walls of your home.

Clean out the gutters. Clogged gutter drains can form ice dams, which cause water to back up and seep into the house.

After trees have shed most of their leaves, take a few minutes to clear your gutters that will help the melting snow to run freely.

Check your furnace. It is a good idea to have your furnace serviced annually, even if it seems to be in good working order.

The time for an oops is not the middle of winter on the coldest day of the year, a weekend or the night before Christmas. To keep your furnace operating efficiently plan to change the furnace filter regularly so your heating system will operate in the most efficient manner possible.

What about your windows. If you have drafty windows, consider replacing them before the weather gets too cold. There are inexpensive window insulator kits, which will provide 14

Cooperative Connections | December 2018

temporary coverage through the coldest months. Storm windows can replace the window screens, allowing for an extra layer of protection against old man winter seeping in through the cracks and crevices.

Don’t forget the plumbing. Be sure to turn off the water at the shut-off valve for any outdoor faucets. Drain your outdoor hoses and store them inside (your shed or garage) for the winter. If you have uninsulated pipes passing thru unheated spaces such as a crawl space, attic or exterior walls, they have the potential to burst in subfreezing weather. They can be wrapped with premolded foam rubber sleeves or heat tape to keep your pipes from freezing.

Christmas lighting tips. Decking the halls doesn’t have to take a toll on your energy bill. Light up your holidays with LED light strands. They are 70 percent more efficient and last 10 times longer than the age-old standard bulbs. So make your Holidays Merry & Bright with LED lights.

To find more energy saving tips and tricks go to www. togetherwesave.com where you will find the Home Efficiency Analysis Tool which offers quick tips and fixes, all designed around your living space to help cut down on energy use and costs.

NEWS BRIEFS

West River Electric will be closed

November 22-23 for Thanksgiving and

December 24-25 for Christmas. If you have an outage or other emergency, please call 279-2135 or 393-1500.

(USPS No. 675-840)

Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month

Our Mission: West River Electric Association, Inc. shall strive to continually improve customer service and satisfaction by providing safe, reliable, efficient and reasonably priced electricity and services, while leading in the development of our community for the well being of our members.

Heading out of town for the holidays? Remember to unplug electronics that draw a phantom energy load. Some gadgets, like TVs, gaming consoles, chargers and DVD players use energy when plugged into an outlet––even when they’re not in use. Source: energy.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Board President: Andy Moon

Did you change your phone number or email It is important to keep your information updated with West River Electric.

We would like to be able to keep you updated on planned outages or other important information that may affect your service. Contact us at 279-2135 or 393-1500 to make changes to your information.

Locate Your Account Number If you locate your account number anywhere in this issue of the West River Electric Cooperative Connections you will be a winner.

There will be five account numbers placed randomly throughout the Connections. If you spot your account number and notify our office before the 10th of the next month, you will receive a $10 credit on your next bill.

West River Electric Office Hours Rapid City Office

Wall Office

3250 E Hwy 44, Rapid City, SD Monday-Friday 7:00 am-5:00 pm 605-393-1500

1200 W 4th Ave, Wall, SD Monday-Friday 7:00 am-5:00 pm 605-279-2135

A night depository is available at both offices for your convenience.

December 2018

Board of Directors Stan Anders – Vice President Jamie Lewis – Secretary Larry Eisenbraun – Treasurer Jerry Hammerquist Howard Knuppe Marcia Arneson Chuck Sloan Sue Peters CEO and General Manager: Dick Johnson – dick.johnson@westriver.coop Editor Veronica Kusser – veronica.kusser@westriver.coop WEST RIVER ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS is the monthly publication for the members of West River Electric Association. Members subscribe to Cooperative Connections as part of their electric cooperative membership for $6 a year.

West River Electric Cooperative Connections purpose is to provide reliable, helpful information to electric cooperative members on matters pertaining to rural electrification and better living. Nonmember subscriptions are available for $12 per year. Periodicals Postage paid at Wall, S.D., and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to West River Electric Cooperative Connections, PO Box 412 , Wall, SD 57790-0412.

Other correspondence to: West River Electric Cooperative Connections, PO Box 3486, Rapid City, SD 57709; telephone (605)393-1500, Exts. 6519, 6517, 6531 or 6522; fax (605)3930275; e-mail veronica.kusser@westriver.coop.

December 2018 | Cooperative Connections

15

DATELINE

November 22-23

West River Electric will be closed for Thanksgiving, Call 605-279-2135 or 605-393-1500 in case of an outage or other emergency

1880 Train Holiday Express, Hill City, SD, 605-574-2222

November 24

Holiday Celebration & Winter Marketing, Main Street Square, Rapid City, SD, 605-716-7979

November 24

December 1: Christmas Parade, 5:30 p.m., Downtown, Custer, SD, 605-673-2244

December 13

January 15-17

21st Annual Festival of Lights Parade, Rapid City, SD, festivaloflightsrc.wordpress.com

December 1

West River Electric Open House will be held at the Wall and Rapid City offices, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., stop by for a cup of coffee and a cookie

February 8-10

December 18

State Wrestling Tournaments, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City, SD, 605-394-4111

March 15-16

March 7-9

March 29-30

Rapid City Garden Club’s 57th Annual Wreath Sale, Canyon Lake Activity Center, Canyon Lake Senior Center, Rapid City, SD, 605-343-0710

December 1

Country Christmas Craft Fair, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Central Meade County Community Center, Union Center, SD, 605-985-5422 or email peaches@gwtc.net

December 2

Christmas Craft Fair, New Underwood Community Center, New Underwood, SD

December 4

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City, SD, 605-394-4111

December 5

Pancake Supper, 5 to 7 p.m., Wall Drug Store, Wall, SD, 605-279-2665

December 14

Oakridge Boys, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City, SD, 605-394-4111

December 24-25

West River Electric will be closed for Christmas, Call 605-279-2135 or 605-393-1500 in case of an outage or other emergency

December 31

Downtown Countdown, Main Street Square, Rapid City, SD, 605-716-7979

December 31-January 1

West River Electric will be closing at noon on Dec. 31 and closed all day Jan. 1 for New Year’s, Call 605-279-2135 or 605-393-1500 in case of an outage or other emergency.

2019 South Dakota Governor’s Conference on Tourism, Pierre, SD

March 14-16

Parade of Lights, Wall, SD, 605-279-2658

Black Hills Sports Show, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City, SD, 605-394-4111

February 22-23

SD State Class B Girls Basketball Tournament, Huron Arena, Huron, SD

March 14-16

SD State Class A Girls Basketball Tournament, Premier Center, Sioux Falls, SD

March 14-16

SD State Class AA Girls Basketball Tournament, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City, SD

March 14-16

SD State Class A Boys Basketball Tournament, Premier Center, Sioux Falls, SD

SD State Class AA Boys Basketball Tournament, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City, SD

March 14-16

SD State Class B Boys Basketball Tournament, Barnett Center, Aberdeen, SD 28 Below Fatbike Race, Lead, SD, 605-584-3435 Annual Schmeckfest, Freeman, SD, 605-925-4237

To have your event listed on this page, send complete information, including date, event, place and contact to your local electric cooperative.

Include your name, address and daytime telephone number.

Information must be submitted at least eight weeks prior to your event. Please call ahead to confirm date, time and location of event.

Photo courtesy: Kathy Bradeen

November 23-24, Dec. 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23