Wrea july2016

JULY 2016

VOL. 17 NO. 3

Wagons Ho!

Exploring Western Heritage

P8-9

Manager’s

column

National Legislative Update Summer is here! My favorite time of year! With summer comes my constant reminder to stay safe. We tend to get in a big hurry and cut corners to get everything done quickly.

I challenge you to step back and think about what you will be doing before you take each step!

Our line personnel complete Dick Johnson a “job CEO/General Manager briefing” before every job. The briefing goes over every step of the project and what hazards they will encounter so everyone is on the same page.

I suggest you do the same thing; do your own job briefing before you start a project or task. Even if you are by yourself, a quick mental picture of all the hazards will help you be safer!

Our voltage conversion in the town of Wall went very well. We had a couple of hiccups, but overall it was a huge success. A big thanks goes the Wall members for your patience when your power was off for an extended period.

A special thanks goes to the line personnel from all of West River that planned and worked the project. They worked early morning, weekend, and night hours to accommodate every member they could. Hats off to them for a great job!

I recently returned from our annual legislative conference in Washington DC. Each year our national trade association, NRECA, hosts a legislative conference in Washington DC the first part of May. The purpose of this conference is to provide directors and managers an update on the legislative activities in Congress. The highlight of the trip is our annual trek to Capitol Hill to visit with our South Dakota delegation. As having to plan a long time in advance, and as

luck would have it, Congress was not in session. We did get an opportunity to meet with their various staffers. It does disappoint me that they are not in session very often anymore. It is hard to conduct your business in Washington when you are only in session part of the year.

We personally presented 5 issues to our Congressional representatives that we felt had specific concerns towards coops.

We are fortunate in South Dakota as our delegation is supportive of electric coops. However we still need them to support our issues on a national level especially with their colleagues who know very little about coops.

The issues were as follows: • Extension of the geo-thermal tax credit past the current December 31, 2016 deadline.

• FEMA funding re-authorization.

• Pass legislation to support EPA’s current determination that coal ash residuals are not hazardous material.

• Federal land management practice changes to help utilities cross federal lands strengthening grid security along with vegetation management for power lines that cross these lands.

• Make cooperatives exempt under the FCC rules for pole attachments.

There was also a lot of discussion surrounding the current political climate in Washington, the Presidential race, and of course our favorite item, the Clean Power Plan. It is extremely important we attend to help engage our members of Congress. It is always interesting to attend, but I sure feel better when I land on South Dakota soil.

Remember to stay safe and think about that “job briefing” before you start your projects!

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Stop in either the Rapid City or Wall offices of West River Electric to become a registered voter.

Make your voice heard!

2 July 2 0 1 6 • cooperative connections

STOP IN AND REGISTER TO VOTE

Employee Biographies Turner Donahue - 2 Years I grew up in Rapid City, SD, where I attended school graduating from Stevens High School in 2011. After high school I attended Mitchell Vocational Technical School for Power Line Construction and Maintenance graduating in 2013.

I then went to work at Watts Electric in Lincoln, Nebraska. I saw that West River Electric had an opening, for an Apprentice Lineman and saw this as an opportunity to get back closer to home. I began work with the crews at WREA in January of 2014.

In my spare time I enjoy hunting, snowboarding and playing some golf.

I enjoy working with the employees of West River Electric and like the challenges that we face each day to keep power flowing to the member at the end of the line.

Lindsy Reagle - 2 Years I grew up on a ranch northeast of Philip and attended Plum Creek School and graduated from Philip High School in 1997. After graduation I attended Mitchell Technical and earned my degree in Culinary Arts followed by an internship at Ristorante de Mozart in Casola Valcenio, Italy. While there I got to do a lot of traveling and was able to visit several places that were on my bucket list including Venice and Monte Carlo, where I got to see Prince Albert on his way to a soccer tournament. After returning home I accepted a job as a private chef and nanny in Rapid City and spent several years being a part of their family.

I later moved on to become a Banquet Manager and owned/operated my own restaurant in Evanston, Wyoming. I met my husband Chad in college and after getting married we lived in Newcastle for several years. After a brief stint in Highmore we moved to Wall in 2009 and my husband started working at Golden West. Before I got my job at West River Electric I spent a couple years as a hired man for my dad and later the Dietary Manager at Philip Health Services.

I still enjoy going home to my parents and helping work cows, riding and even the occasional fencing job. My husband and I live north of Wall with our very spoiled dog. I have a sister in California and try to visit as often as possible, and enjoy spending time with my nieces and nephew. Last summer I trained and ran the Leading Ladies Marathon and have done several half marathons since. I love West River Electric, how well we are treated here as employees and the opportunity to work with the membership.

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Safety

Tips

Current

Issues

Air Conditioner and Fan Safety

Tell Congress to Extend the Geothermal Tax Credit Today

Hot weather brings increased use of air conditioners. Contact with electric current from air conditioners accounts for a significant number of electrocutions and electrical injuries each year.

ESFI recommends that you always contact a qualified, licensed electrician to perform any electrical work in your home, including the installation and services of air conditioning and other cooling equipment.

Across the nation, electric cooperatives and public power districts help our member-owners save energy and money by promoting the use of geothermal heat pumps. These super-efficient heat pumps can cut home heating and cooling bills by up to 70 percent. Many member-owners install geothermal units with assistance from the geothermal tax credit. The tax credit expires at the end of this year, jeopardizing the continued use of this energy efficient technology.

Co-ops and their members are asking Congress to extend the credit. Go to the Cooperative Action Network’s action.coop and ask your Member of Congress to extend this credit by supporting H.R. 5167.

The Cooperative Action Network is the advocacy hub for America’s electric cooperatives. It’s more important than ever to band together and promote common sense solutions to the problems facing our nation.

Join our growing grassroots army today and become part of our team of more than one million advocates around the nation. By signing up, you’ll maximize your voice as you hold elected officials accountable and promote the importance of electric cooperatives across the nation.

The Cooperative Action Network is the grassroots arm of the NRECA – the national service organization for more than 900 not-for-profit rural electric cooperatives that provide electricity to more than 42 million consumers across 47 states. Together, rural electric cooperatives serve 75 percent of the nation’s landmass and account for approximately 12 percent of total electricity sales in the United States.

Facts and Statistics • According to the CPSC, 15 percent of consumer-product related electrocutions are attributed to large appliances. These electrocutions occur most commonly while someone is attempting to service or repair the appliance.

• In 2006, an estimated 33,500 injuries were reported to hospital emergency rooms as involving air conditioners, fans, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air purifiers, and heat pumps. The leading types of injuries were laceration (14,890), contusion or abrasion (6,110) and strain or sprain (4,430).

• In 2006, air conditioning or related equipment was involved in an estimated 7,400 reported U.S. home structure fires, with associated losses of 270 civilian injuries and $200 million indirect property damage.

• In 2003 to 2006, the 7,000 reported home structure fires per year involving air conditioning and related equipment included 2,400 per year involving central and room air conditioners specifically and 3,700 per year involving fans.

• In 1995 to 2003 (excluding 1999, which was not reported), there were 11.5 electrocution deaths per year involving air conditioners and 4.3 electrocution deaths per year involving fans.

Cooling Equipment Safety Tips • Keep safety in mind when selecting cooling equipment for your home.

• Have a qualified, licensed electrician install and service any electrical equipment in your home.

• Have electric-powered equipment inspected and maintained regularly for safety.

• Make sure your equipment has the label showing that it is listed by a recognized testing laboratory.

Source: esfi.org 4 July 2016 • COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS

Kidsʼ Corner Safety Poster “Don’t play by wires.”

Alandra Kontz, 10 years old Alandra was 10 years old when she submitted this safety poster. She is the daughter of Kelly and Val Kontz, Pipestone, Minn. They are members of Sioux Valley Energy, Colman, 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, youʼll receive a prize. All entries must include your name, age, mailing address and the names of your parents. Colored drawings are encouraged.

Reader

Recipes

Delectable Desserts Anzac Biscuits 1 cup quick cooking oats 3/4 cup flaked coconut 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup sugar

Spiced Triple Berry Shortcakes 1/2 cup butter 1 T. golden syrup (honey works) 1 tsp. baking soda 2 T. boiling water

In a bowl, mix together oats, coconut, flour and sugar.

In a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter and syrup.

Dissolve soda in boiling water; add to melted butter and syrup. Add butter mixture to dry ingredients. Drop by teaspoonfuls on greased cookie sheets (or baking paper).

Bake at 350°F. for 18 to 20 minutes.

Clarice Roghair, Okaton

Apple Dumplings 1 apple, cored and cut into 8 pieces 1 (8 oz.) can crescent rolls Cinnamon

2/3 cup sugar 8 pats butter 1 cup Mountain Dew soft drink

Spiced Shortcakes: 1-1/2 cups reduced fat baking mix 3 T. sugar 3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp. ground ginger 6 T. fat free milk 2 cups thawed fat free whipped topping

For filling, mix berries and vanilla in large bowl. Mix sugar, cinnamon and ginger in small bowl. Sprinkle over berries; toss to coat well. Let stand 30 minutes to allow berries to release their juices, stirring occasionally. For the spiced shortcakes, mix baking mix, sugar, cinnamon and ginger in large bowl. Add milk; stir to form a soft dough. (If necessary, knead dough in bowl to incorporate dry ingredients.)

Drop dough by 6 spoonfuls onto sprayed baking sheet. Bake at 425°F. for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly on wire rack. To serve, split warm shortcakes. Place 1 shortcake bottom on each plate. Top each with 2/3 cup berry filling and 1/3 cup whipped topping. Cover with shortcake tops. Makes 6 servings.

Nutritional Facts Per Serving: Calories 266, Total Fat 2g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 280mg, Carbohydrates 58g, Dietary Fiber 4g, Protein 4g

Place 1 apple slice on widest end of crescent roll; roll up starting at wide end. Pinch and seal shut. Place in an 8x8-inch pan. Continue until all slices are used. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Top with a pat of butter on each.

Pour Mountain Dew over all. Bake at 350°F. for 45 minutes.

Velma Schmitz, Bonesteel

Earthquake Cake 1 box German chocolate cake mix 3 eggs 1-1/3 cups water 1/2 cup oil 1 cup coconut 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Berry Filling: 2 cups sliced strawberries 1 cup blueberries 1 cup raspberries 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1/3 cup sugar 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened 1 stick butter, softened 2 cups powdered sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 1 pkg. chocolate chips Whipped topping

Pictured, Cooperative Connections

Rhubarb Cobbler 4 to 5 cups diced rhubarb 1-3/4 cups sugar, divided 1/8 tsp. plus pinch salt, divided 1 cup flour 1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup milk 1 T. cornstarch Pinch of salt 1 cup boiling water

Spread rhubarb in a 9x13-inch glass pan. Combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1/8 tsp. salt, flour, baking powder, butter and milk. Place over rhubarb. Mix together remaining sugar, cornstarch and pinch of salt. Sprinkle mixture over batter.

Pour boiling water over all. Bake at 375°F. for 1 hour.

Darlene Meyer, Florence

Lightly spray a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray. Put coconut and nuts in bottom of pan. Mix cake mix according to package directions. Spread batter over nuts and coconut.

In a bowl, mix cream cheese, butter, vanilla and powdered sugar until fluffy. Spread over batter. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Bake at 350°F. for 50 minutes. Cool. Serve with Cool Whip. When this comes out of the oven, it looks like it has exploded (it does not actually explode, so it won’t mess up your oven!). That’s why it’s called an Earthquake Cake. The cream cheese mixture sinks and the nuts and coconut rise.

Beat pudding with milk for 1 minute; let set 5 minutes.

Fold in Cool Whip and cookies. Spoon into crust; freeze.

Rowena Wipf, Doland

Debbie Hinman, Carter

Cookies and Cream Pie 1 pkg. white chocolate pudding 1-1/2 cups milk 8 oz. Cool Whip

1 cup chopped regular or Mint Oreos 1 graham cracker crust

Please send your favorite dessert, salad and garden produce recipes to your local electric cooperative (address found on Page 3).

Each recipe printed will be entered into a drawing for a prize in December 2016. All entries must include your name, mailing address, telephone number and cooperative name.

COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS • July 2016 5

Co-op news

Director Candidate Selection Guidelines

Characteristics To Consider When Becoming a Director Candidates must be members of the cooperative and reside in the district they are nominated from, be in good standing with the cooperative, and not be employed or financially interested in a competing enterprise or a major supplier of the cooperative.

Candidates shall not be related to any incumbent director, officer, or employee of the cooperative or spouse of said director officer or employee.

Candidates must be 18 years of age, and cannot have been convicted of a felony within the last 10 years.

Candidates may not have been an employee of West River Electric for less than 3 years from the date of the employees last day of employment.

Nominees should be available and willing to serve, if elected. In addition to meeting attendance, nominees should realize that there is a significant time commitment with regard to reviewing materials in preparation for board meetings and trainings.

It is expected that nominees will have a reasonable level of financial literacy, including the ability to review and understand financial statements, balance sheets, and income and cash flow statements.

Directors are expected to have some knowledge in the use of computers, email and the internet.

Nominees must be capable of exercising independent judgment and thinking. In addition, nominees must be capable of exercising a high level of discretion, since much of the material they will have access to is confidential in nature.

The position of a director is demanding and includes a number of responsibilities. Therefore, a director should be enthusiastic and capable of fulfilling these duties.

Directors should have the ability to read, comprehend, and organize information in order to stay informed of cooperative business. Directors should have adequate time to devote to this position.

A variety of perspectives, opinions and backgrounds of the directors is critical to the Board’s ability to perform its duties and various roles. WREA seeks candidates with a diversity of professional and personal experience, education and skills in order to enhance the overall composition of the Board.

Duty of Care & Loyalty Each Director must have the ability to discharge his or her duties in good faith in the manner the Director reasonably believes to be in the best interest of WREA and all of its members, 6 July 20 1 6

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cooperative connections

and with such care as an ordinarily prudent person would use under similar circumstances.

Each Director must also have the ability to act in good faith and in the best interest of WREA and all of its members, irrespective of the individual interests of the Director or other entities with which a Director is affiliated or sympathetic, or to which a Director owes his or her Board appointment.

Each Director should clearly disclose to WREA and other Directors any actual conflicts of interest or other matters that may constitute even the appearance of a conflict of interest.

A conflict of interest exists when a person’s private interest (financial or otherwise) interferes, or appears to interfere, with the interests of WREA. A written disclosure will be made on an annual basis.

A Director’s access to information about WREA is accompanied by a duty not to disclose information obtained by the Director in his or her capacity as such to any person (other than is necessary and appropriate in the performance of the Director’s duties) or to misuse such information for personal benefit or the benefit of others.

Compensation The WREA Bylaws provide that the Board of Directors may set a fixed sum to be paid to Directors for attendance at various meetings and functions. The Board may also authorize reimbursement for expenses actually incurred in attendance at Board meetings, or in conducting Board business, or the Board may grant a reasonable per diem allowance in lieu of detailed accounting for expenses.

Schedule of Meetings Regularly scheduled meetings of the Board are held each year 259301 as follows: • Every month, normally the 3rd Monday of each month, alternating between the Wall and Rapid City office and held during the day.

• An annual meeting in October; normally the second Saturday.

• Annually a budget meeting in December.

Director’s will be appointed to various other committees of the Board and will be expected to attend those meetings.

In addition, there are annual meetings with SDREA and Rushmore that each director is asked to attend. Each director is also on a 3 year rotation to attend various associated organization’s annual meetings along with various director training.

These are necessary to be able to be an informed director.

Welcome to WREA

Employment Opportunities operations administrative asst - rapid city Tracea Ladner began work as a CSR for West River Electric in 1998. She was a Pricing Coordinator for Sooper Dooper from 1991-1998.

She has enjoyed the interaction with the membership and the opportunity to make life easier for them. The biggest changes she has seen at WREA are in Technology. Congratulations Tracea on your promotion.

customer service rep - rapid city Sallie Traver has joined the WREA team as a CSR in the Rapid office. She came to us from Faulkton, SD where she previously worked for FEM Electric and most recently worked as a Finance Officer for the town of Faulkton.

Sallie and her husband Jay have 2 two dogs, Andy and Charlie.

They enjoy the nice weather and work on crafts and woodworking together. Welcome Sallie!

summer intern - rapid city

summer intern - rapid city

summer intern - rapid city

Connor McNenny is from Sturgis, SD. He graduated from Sturgis High School in 2014 participating in Rodeo, Football, Golf and Track. He attended Powerline Construction and General Ed classes at Pratt Community College in Pratt Kansas. Connor enjoys rodeo and working on the ranch in his spare time.

Cameron Price is from Placerville, CA. He graduated from HS in 2010 and worked at a frozen yogurt and donut shop while training with the US Snowboard Team. He attended University of Nevada, Reno before going to Northwest Lineman College. He worked at Beatty Elec before coming to WREA. Enjoys snowboarding, hunting and fishing.

Hayden Thiry is from White Lake. He graduated from High School in 2015 where he participated in Football, Basketball, Wrestling, Baseball and Golf. He attended Mitchell Technical School for Powerline Construction & Maintenance. He enjoys being outdoors, hunting, at the lakes fishing and participating in water sports.

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Jacob Novotny is from Hot Springs. He graduated from Hot Springs HS in 2010 where he participated in Track and Swimming. He attended Lake Area Tech School for Diesel working for CAT. After a few years he went to Mitchell Technical School for Powerline Construction. He enjoys race cars, 4-wheeling, fishing and water sports.

Trace Scott is from Pierre. He graduated in 2015 from Pierre Riggs High School where he participated in Football and Wrestling. He then went on to attend Bismarck State College graduating in 2016 with a Lineworker Certificate. Trace enjoys hunting, golfing, fishing and scuba diving in his spare time.

summer intern - rapid city Shane Koster is from Armour. He graduated from Armour High School where he participated in football and basketball. He attended Mitchell Technical School for Powerline Construction & Maintenance. He was a summer intern in 2015 for WREA and worked auto body, concrete and carpentry. He enjoys snowmobilmg and riding his dirt bike.

summer intern - Wall

summer intern - Wall

cooperative connections • J ul y 2016 7

On the Trail, Time Slows Down and

History Comes Alive F

When Cowan and his wife, Loretta, started participating in wagon trains about 10 years ago, it took him a bit to recall all the steps involved in relying on horsepower.

“The skills I had learned as a boy took a while to remember,”said Cowan.

But those skills came back as did the realization that when on the ride, one is focused on the task at hand – caring for the horses, looking for obstacles and moving toward one’s destination at a speed that allows one to really observe and enjoy the surroundings.

For the Cowans, who are no strangers to rodeo and western life (Willie himself was a state high school saddle bronc champion in the mid-1950s), the wagon trains are a family affair. Their children and grandchildren also participate, either with one of the family’s various wagons or as outriders with the train.

PHotos by Colleen McCurrin

By Brenda Kleinjan

or a few days each summer, participants in area wagon trains slow it down a notch as they roll across the prairie, often times retracing portions of the state’s history.

Large wagon trains have been organized for the past several years, one in 2014 commemorated South Dakota’s 125th year of statehood, tracing a route from the former Territorial Capitol of Yankton, S.D., to the State Capitol in Pierre, S.D., during a 17-day ride.

Others have wound through the state connecting communities via horse- and oxen-drawn conveyances.

“It’s our heritage; if we don’t pass it on down, it will get lost,” said Willie Cowan of Pierre who has participated in several wagon trains and is an organizer of the upcoming one-day event planned for the Dakota Western Heritage Festival Sept. 16 in Fort Pierre.

8 July 2016 • COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS

“The most enjoyable part is the kids and observing what they get out of the experience,” said Willie.

As one rolls along the prairie behind the team of horses, Cowan says one ponders things.

“The first thing you wonder is how they got across the prairies with water.

They had to follow creeks and rivers,” noted Cowan.

“It gives you a greater appreciation for what those people went through,” said Loretta.

Willie says he has nothing to prove with his wagons and favors modern improvements over authenticity on his wagons.

“The ride on our big wagon is like a Cadillac, not bone jarring,” said Willie. Nylon ropes rather than leather are less likely to break and cause problems, rubber tires smooth out the ride compared to the jarring of wooden wheels.

For the Cowans’ daughter, Colleen McCurrin, the entire process of the wagon train builds a better understanding of western history.

“It’s part of the heritage; it’s how we got here.

The people who settled the area arrived in wagons of many shapes and doctor buggies – everyone hitched up a team to do their jobs,” said McCurrin.

The variety of wagons that show up for a wagon train ride bring that heritage to life, and help participants envision days gone by.

For Loretta, the wagon trains helped realize a

life-long dream.

“It was always a dream of mine to stand in the wagon ruts of the freight trains that ran from Fort Pierre to Deadwood,” said Loretta. In the Fort Pierre to Deadwood ride a few years back, she achieved that dream.

Her daughter is quick to expand on the comment.

“It’s a tangible thing – you can touch the history,” said Colleen.

And one connects.

“It takes a bit to getting away from needing to get from point A to point B in three hours; on the rides, you might have 10 days,” said McCurrin. “You have to gear down and change mentality.”

The Cowans note that another feature of wagon trains is the camaraderie amongst the participants.

“Everyone helps everybody. If your outfit breaks down, they’re all there to help,” said Willie.

In 2015, the Dakota Western Heritage Festival took participants through a buffalo farm near Fort Pierre and over to the Scotty Phillips Cemetery, named for the Scottish-born rancher and state politician who is credited as “the man who saved the buffalo.”

The 2016 train will take a different trek exploring history to the southwest of town.

The public is welcomed to attend the Dakota Western Heritage Festival. There are limited opportunities for individuals to ride with a wagon.

“It’s a tangible thing – you can touch the history.”

Above: The Fort Pierre Livestock cattle yard is visible in the background of this photo taken during the wagon train at the Dakota Western Heritage Festival. Opposite page: Willie Cowan of Pierre drives a wagon in a train in western South Dakota. Cover: A wagon and outriders make a crossing of a waterway during a wagon train in western South Dakota.

COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS • July 2016 9

Coming Together in 1908

Creighton was Founded W

Editor’s Note The people heard a great deal about the Homestead lands available in western South Dakota. So they headed west and settled the Creighton Community.

By Veronica Kusser

hat a beautiful day. I headed out early and picked up two lovely ladies in New Underwood who graciously agreed to spend the day with me. Alice Richter and Alma Crosbie went for a ride and shared the history of Creighton with me. I have worked for West River Electric for almost 22 years and never been to Creighton, unbelievable, I thought I had been everywhere in our service area.

Well it was very enlightening for me to find out that Creighton was not an actual town but instead a very active township that has a lot of history to share. To this day they are there for one another and are very proud of the community that was homesteaded by their ancestors beginning back in 1906.

To name a few the Schroeders, Hamanns, Hoffmans, Eisenbrauns, Babcocks, Huethers, Crouchs, Deakmans and O’Neills settled in the area.

In 1908 Henry Goetsch wrote to Washington and requested a post office, Creighton was the name that was chosen, after Creighton, Nebraska, where he and his family came from. The original post office was located 4 miles south at the Goetsch homestead, but was later moved up the road where it eventually became a country store and post office combined. That is where the adults gathered on Saturday evenings for storytelling, to catch up on the news and do their grocery shopping. Alice and Alma remember getting an ice cream cone and looking thru the glass at the candy counter. The proprietor was the one who

Hoffman Homestead on Creighton Road

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cooperative connections

Creighton Community Hall built in 1936

had to get the candy out, and they both remember having their noses pushed up against the glass and making fingerprint smears.

For those who had a mailbox at the end of the driveway, Uncle Otto Eisenbraun, who delivered mail for 41 years, would pick up the cream can at the mailbox, for a quarter, to take to the Wall Depot to be shipped out. The cream was shipped to Lakeville Creamery in Minnesota. Everyone’s cream can had their name imprinted on it so they always got their own can back. He would also bring groceries out to those that needed them for a stipend.

The first building we came across was the Creighton Community Hall which was established in 1936 when the Works Progress Administration saw there was a need in this area for a Hall. Together the Creighton Township and the Works Progress Administration built the hall in 1936. The hall continues to be used for anniversary celebrations, silent auctions, voting and fundraisers. Back in the day they used to have pie socials, plays, card parties and dances. The 4-H Clubs and Extension Clubs met there as well.

The ladies shared with me that Buddy Meredith and the KOTA Cowboys used to come and play for dances at the hall as well as Oscar Eisenbraun and family. Oscar played the button accordian and drums, brother Fred played the guitar, Alice could be found playing the banjo and Alma on the accordian and keyboard.

At the top of the knoll we came across Emmanuel Lutheran Church.

Pastor Garland from the Lutheran Church in Wall comes out each Sunday for services.

The original church was built a mile east and 1/2 mile north next to the cemetery in 1910. With the growth of the congregation it was realized the need for a larger church to serve the needs of the congregation. In 1957 ground was broken and the new church was built. The cemetery, shown below, is where the early settlers and ancestors of those were laid to rest.

A little further North we came to the N. Creighton School, where Alice, Alma, brother Fred and sisters Lorraine and Anna attended school thru the 8th grade. A country school, many of us can only imagine the fun they had at recess and the pranks they played on the teacher. They remember 18 kids and 1 teacher in grades 1 thru 8. There was no kindergarten at the time, so parents were responsible to teach their little ones to count to ten, say the ABC’s and tie their shoes.

Alice and N Creighton School Alma shared many stories.

They played softball - girls against the boys and as they recall the girls always won! Not sure how the boys remember it. They remember playing Annie-I-Over that was played over the outhouse; yes it had more than one purpose.

Now about the outhouse and the real purpose. I think it was a contest who could take the longest to get out there and back, the trip out was quick, but coming back took a little longer.

There was a grove of trees off in a distance where they remember having school picnics. In the winter they would go off sledding during recess time. It was quite a distance to the grove, and they both remembered dilly dallying along and pretending Emmanuel Lutheran Church built in 1957

Alma Crosbie & Alice Richter

they didn’t hear the school bell when the teacher rang. With both of them enjoying singing, they told me about a teacher, Marjorie Pascoe Tennyson, who really involved music in the learning experience. They certainly admired her. They also recall the Christmas programs which of course involved a lot of music. Santa Claus always made a grand entrance by pounding on the door, bringing with him bags of peanuts, hard candy and an apple or orange. They looked forward to his arrival each year.

The YCL (Young Citizens League) were each assigned a task to keep the school clean and tidy. They would carry coal in from the storage shed, clean the chalk board, dust the classroom, clean erasers, take out the trash - all a responsibility to be proud of.

S Creighton School As we continued our drive past the S Creighton School, where another group of students attended, we came across the WPA (Workers Progress Administration) dam by the cemetery. This was a community water hole used for livestock and wildlife and served as a fishing pond to gather at in the summer time.

What a beautiful drive down roads I had never experienced, the sun was shining, and the spring rains left the area so lush and pretty. I can only imagine what the settlers in 1908 thought when they came across these beautiful South Dakota prairies. Thank you Alice and Alma, it was a day that won’t be quickly forgotten!

The Creighton Cemetery

cooperative connections • J ul y 2016 11

Innovation Could Put Coal Use in a Whole New Light

S

ince coal generated more than half the

By Paul Wesslund

nation’s electricity as recently as 10 years ago, that share has fallen to one-third as of last year. The decline of coal generation will continue as new environmental rules are set in place and prices for natural gas remain relatively low.

So it’s curtains for coal, right? Not so fast.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan still calls for more than one-fifth of our electricity to come from coal by its 2030 target date.

Even President Obama’s Energy Secretary sees a future for coal.

“We are talking about a progressively lowercarbon future, but we have not abandoned coal as part of that future,” Secretary Ernest Moniz told the Lexington (Kentucky) Herald-Leader in April. “Coal can play a major role in a low-carbon economy.”

A role for coal is important, says Daniel Walsh, senior program manager for generation, environment and carbon at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). Citing the huge coal supply in the U.S., Walsh sees coal as a key

12 July 2016 • COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS

to energy security. “We need to use this valuable resource we have in this country.”

Achieving that brighter future for coal could depend on huge improvements to a technology called carbon capture.

Carbon capture seeks to solve a top environmental complaint about coal, which is that burning it releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that has been linked to climate change. Grabbing the carbon dioxide before it leaves the power plant would keep it out of the atmosphere.

Carbon capture is still a developing technology, with 15 test plants in the world and seven more coming online by 2017, according to an international industry group. One of the main holdups to that development is that the technology is expensive to build and operate. Really expensive.

Running carbon capture equipment at a power plant uses about one-third of the electricity produced by that power plant.

As daunting and inefficient as that sounds, Moniz cites $6 billion spent on carbon capture research by the Department of Energy as proof of his

optimism. NRECA’s Walsh believes in the power of researchers to make carbon capture costs competitive.

“We will continue to see innovation,” says Walsh. “We’re going to be successful.”

One reason for that sunny outlook comes from a 35-year trend of finding cleaner and more efficient ways to burn coal. Since 1970, electric utilities in the U.S. have reduced pollution regulated by the federal Clean Air Act by more than 60 percent.

Techniques have ranged from washing coal with water, to burning it at lower temperatures to release less harmful chemicals, to large and expensive flue gas desulfurization equipment, also called scrubbers.

Over the decades, those technologies improved, says Kirk Johnson, NRECA senior vice president for government relations. He says those improvements can be a model for carbon capture.

“We didn’t start out with scrubbers that achieved a better-than 90 percent reduction in sulfur dioxide removal, but we ultimately got there,” says Johnson.

“The future has got to be in continued research.”

Electric co-ops launched a drive to that success with the April ground breaking for the Integrated Test Center in Wyoming. Operation is scheduled for summer 2017. The state of Wyoming is funding $15 million of the center, which will be built at the site of the existing Dry Fork Station, a coal plant owned by Basin Electric Cooperative, a regional co-op based in North Dakota. Another $5 million of support will come from another regional co-op, Denver-based Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, and $1 million from NRECA. The test center aims to advance carbon capture research by focusing on a looming question about the technology – once you capture the carbon dioxide, what do you do with it? The test center focus will be on a new area of carbon capture work that is even changing the name of the technology.

For years the process has been referred to as CCS – for Carbon Capture and Storage (or Sequestration). Geologists looked for underground formations where the carbon dioxide could be stored safely and permanently. An evolving terminology refers to CCU, for Carbon Capture and Utilization, or CCR, for Carbon Capture and Recycling.

The idea is that one way to make carbon capture more cost-effective would be to find commercial or other uses for the carbon dioxide that produces a better return on investment than burying it underground. Researchers at the test center will be able to use carbon dioxide from the Dry Fork Station to run tests. Among the first researchers, the test center will host teams competing for part of $20 million

in XPRIZEs on ways to use carbon dioxide (CO2) at power plants. The XPRIZE Foundation supports innovation in several areas, and its recent call for entries reads, “Do you have what it takes to turn CO2 emissions into valuable products?”

CAPTURING CARBON Researchers around the world are studying ways to capture carbon from coal-fired power plants to keep the greenhouse gas from entering the atmosphere. There are 15 test plants around the world that remove flue gas to test the technology for removing the greenhouse gas.

There’s reason to believe that lofty challenge might succeed at the test center, says NRECA Communications Manager John Pulley. He describes the plans as bringing researchers in to develop their ideas in the “real-world” setting of a power plant.

“Once you have a facility like this in place that will allow people to test their great ideas, the sky’s the limit,” he says. “People might look at coal in an entirely new light.”

Paul Wesslund writes on cooperative issues for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives.

COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS • July 2016 13

Co-op news

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Nominations Made for WREA

Board of Director On Wednesday, May 25, 2016 the Nominating Committee, appointed

by West River Electric Association Board of Directors, met to make nominations for the Board of Director vacancies that will occur at this years annual meeting.

According to West River Electric bylaws, the Nominating Committee must nominate at least one candidate for each vacancy, but may nominate more than one candidate for each vacancy if it chooses to do so.

District No. 1: Consisting of the area served by the Cooperative in Pennington County, South Dakota, West of the Cheyenne River - Jamie Lewis District No. 2: Consisting of the area served by the Cooperative in Meade and Ziebach Counties, South Dakota - Marcia Arneson District No. 3: Consisting of the area served by the Cooperative East of the Cheyenne River - Juston Eisenbraun, Dan Hauk and Terry Peters West River Electric bylaws do not allow nominations to be made from the floor during the annual meeting. However, bylaws do provide for additional nominations to be made by the membership by petition. Petitions for making nominations to the West River Electric Board of Directors may be picked up at any of our offices in Wall, Rapid City or Enning. See page 6 for Director Candidate guidelines. Nominating by petition must be made not less than 40 days, before the annual meeting by August 26, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. before the annual meeting; must be signed by at least 3020200 15 members; and members may sign only one petition.

If you have any questions about the nominating or petition process, please call the Wall office at 279-2135.

West RiveR electRic Office hOuRs Rapid city Office 3250 e. hWy 44, Rapid city, sd MOnday-fRiday 7:00 aM tO 5:00 pM 605-393-1500 Wall Office 1200 W. 4th ave, Wall, sd MOnday-fRiday 7:00 aM tO 5:00 pM 605-279-2135 14 July 2 0 1 6

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cooperative connections

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

Service & Billing Questions: Contact 605-279-2135 or 605393-1500 during office hours. You can e-mail us at info@westriver.coop on questions concerning your account.

After Hours Power Restoration: Contact 605-279-2135 in the Wall or Enning areas and 605-393-1500 in the Rapid City area.

3436500

Fill out and send to: West River Electric Assoc.

Cooperative Connections, PO Box 3486, Rapid City, SD 57709 Or drop it in with your payment.

Sign up for: Operation Roundup Budget Billing Pay By Bank Automatic Credit Card Payment I am interested in more information on: Marathon Water Heater Radiant Cove Heat Meco Grills Special Electric Heat Rate Geothermal & Air-to-Air Heat Pumps Rebates Radiant Floor Heating Demand Response Unit Generlink Be sure to include your name and address if you mail this coupon or E mail: veronica.kusser@westriver. coop

Call Before You Dig! stats April 2015 Number of Meters: 16,375 KWH 20,334,399 April 2016 Number of Meters: 16,661 KWH 21,318,735

Co-op news

Application Deadline July 8, 2016 We invite all of our members to participate in a memberto-member contribution option that’s quick, inexpensive and unites the entire membership to help each other. Operation Round-Up is designed for ease and maximum benefits for the program. Members volunteering for the Round-Up option agree to have their monthly bill rounded up to the nearest dollar with the extra pennies going to the program.

The average donation will amount to approximately $6 during the course of a year. Imagine, if 50% of West River Electric’s nearly 13,000 members signed up for Round Up, the fund would have $39,000 to be used to help local charities and civic organizations. Your last bill of the year will show your total contribution for tax purposes. Your voluntary participation will help someone else.

Round-Up is voluntary! Just fill out the form below and return it with your next bill payment to your local office or drop it in the mail.

Operation Round-Up will be accepting applications for funding; the deadline to apply is July 8, 2016. Anyone interested in applying for funds, please stop by to pick up an application at the Wall or Rapid City Office, call Wall 279-2135 or Rapid City at 393-1500 or go online to westriver.coop. To sign up to donate to Operation Round-up fill out the form below and return with your payment. ___ Yes I want to participate in Operation Round Up ___ Please send me more information Name ____________________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________ City _____________________________________________________ State ________________ Zip_________ Phone ___________________ Acct # ________________ I would like to donate an additional amount over and above the normal roundup amount of $________per month, please apply this to my bill each month.

Please return with your bill or fill out and mail to: West River Electric, PO Box 412, Wall, SD 57790.

enerGY tip You probably don’t think about your water heater often – but when the time comes to replace it, it’s important to know your options. Electric water heaters are environmentally friendly, easy to install and emerging as a building block of the future electric grid.

Locate Your Account Number If you locate your account number

anywhere in this issue of the 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 next month, you will receive a $10.00 credit on your next bill.

(USPS No. 675-840)

Our Mission

To inform you about your cooperative and its efforts to serve your energy needs; about how to use electricity safely and efficiently; and about the people who define and enhance the quality of life in communities served by electric co-ops.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer

President Andy Moon, Creighton, S.D. Vice President Stan Anders, Union Center, S.D. Secretary Bill Bielmaier, Wall, S.D. Treasurer Larry Eisenbraun, Wall, S.D. Directors Howard Knuppe, New Underwood, S.D. Marcia Arneson, Rapid City, S.D. Jamie Lewis, Rapid City, S.D. Jerry Hammerquist, Caputa, S.D. Chuck Sloan, Piedmont, S.D. CEO/General Manager Dick Johnson Editor Veronica Kusser 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 $6.00 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 $12.00 per year. Periodicals Postage aid 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)393-0275; e-mail veronica.kusser@westriver. coop.

Call before you dig: All underground cable location requests for the entire state of South Dakota are made through the South Dakota One-Call System. The number is toll free, 1-800781-7474 (dial 811 instate).

You are required to provide this one-call center with information regarding the location where you will be digging, along with a description of the type of work you will be doing. You are required to give at least a 48-hour notice before you dig. The one-call center will then notify all utilities with underground facilities in the area where you will be digging.

cooperative connections • J ul y 2016 15

Regional Dateline May 27-August 13 Artists of the Black Hills 11th Annual Exhibition, Dahl Arts Center, Rapid City, SD 605-394-4101

June 25 Wall 4H Rodeo, Wall, SD 605-279-2665 June 27 Movie Under the Stars: “Minions,” Main Street Square Rapid City, SD, 605-716-7979 June 27 Post 22 Baseball “Back to the Future” Reception & Auction Rushmore Plaza Civic Center LaCroix Hall, Rapid City, SD 605-394-4115 June 29 Black Hills Veterans Job Fair James Kjerstad Events Center Central States Fair Grounds Rapid City, SD, 605-737-6011 June 30 Summer Nights on Seventh The Synthetics, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Rapid City, SD July 4 West River Electric will be closed in observance of Independence Day, in case of an emergency call 605-393-1500 in the Rapid City area and 605-279-2135 in the Wall and Enning area

June 24-25 South Dakota Senior Games Mitchell, SD, Barb Pierkowski at 605-995-8048 Photo CoURtESY oF hoWARD BICh

June 23 Boston 40th Anniversary Tour Ice Arena, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City, SD 605-394-4115

Events of Special Note

July 23 James Taylor & His All-Star Band, Ice Arena, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Rapid City, SD, 605-394-4115

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.

July 7 Summer Nights on Seventh Dirty Word, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Rapid City, SD July 7-9 Wall SDRA Rodeo, Wall, SD 605-279-2665 July 7-9 109th Annual Wall Celebration Wall, SD, 605-279-2665 July 8 Deadline for Operation Round Up® Applications, West River Electric Assn, Wall, Rapid City and Enning, SD, 605-393-1500 or 605-279-2135 July 14 Summer Nights on Seventh October Road, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Rapid City, SD July 14-16 Black Hills Corvette Classic Spearfish, SD, 605-759-4530

July 14, 21, 28 Wall Play Days Rodeo, Wall, SD 605-279-2665 July 15 Hills Alive, Main Street Square Rapid City, SD, 605-342-6822 July 15 Annual Ag Picnic, Mt Rushmore Angus Ranch, 605-343-1744 July 16-17 Hills Alive, Memorial Park Rapid City, SD, 605-342-6822 July 21 Summer Nights on Seventh Ryan Chrys & The Rough Cuts 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Rapid City, SD August 4 Wall Play Days Rodeo, Wall, SD 605-279-2665 August 16-18 Dakotafest, Schlaffman Farm Mitchell, SD, 651-768-2194

September 5 West River Electric will be closed in observance of Labor Day, in case of an emergency call 605-393-1500 in the Rapid City area and 605-279-2135 in the Wall and Enning area September 8 West River Electric Appreciation Day, Enning Office, Rapid City, SD 605-393-1500 September 11 Tim Hawkins, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Fine Arts Theatre Rapid City, SD, 605-394-4115 September 23 West River Electric Appreciation Day, Rapid City Office, Rapid City, SD 605-393-1500 October 8 West River Electric Annual Meeting, Community Center Wall, SD, 605-279-2135