Ninestar Gets Into the Water and Sewer Business See Page 4

February-March 2016

v o l u m e 5 i s s u e 1

annual meeting NineStar’s 63rd annual event will include dinner, entertainment and the chance to vote for directors PAGEs 6-7 A natural scholarship opportunity NineStar Connect is looking for 15 talented students INSIDE Progression NineStar gets into the Water and sewer business

For more information please visit www.ninestarconnect.com and click on the tab for more information concerning water & sewer. SEE PAGE 4 NiNestar NeWs MaPPiNG coNNectioNs Free 2016 ned the ninestAr nerd your current ninestAr boArd oF directors

cAlendAr now Director District 1 AvAilAble!

ew this year, Ninestar, is offering the 2016 Ned the Nerd calendar to our customers. the calen- n dars are free and available at all four Ninestar local offices while supplies last. the calendar offers dArrell h. thomAs (A) stePhen vAil (b) special information on products and services as well as information on reserving our conference center for your event. however, what makes our calendar truly special is the artwork in the calendar was Director District 2 drawn by local elementary school artists from our community. each month is a different drawing with their take on what makes each month different. so cover story PAges 4-5 AnnuAl visit one of our local offices today and get your very NineStar Connect is embarking on an expansion in own calendar. remember supplies are limited. utility services. meeting

new AreA code coming PAge 8 beverly gArd (A) dAvid g. heller (b) Get ready to change the way you dial your local calls! On April 1, To ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers, NineStar will the new 463 area code is coming. be celebrating Director District 3 emPloyees honored PAge 9 its 63rd annual Two longtime NineStar Connect employees, who meeting and our emPloyees mAke the have a combined 76 years of service, were recently celebration at recognized by Indiana Electric Cooperatives at their diFFerence. here's A customer annual dinner. Greenfi eld- review For steve o'connor. Central High youth tour uPcoming PAge 11 School. NineStar will sponsor 2 students on the annual josePh PAxton Indiana Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, “steve did A greAt D.C. The 2016 Indiana Youth Tour is June 9-16. PAge 6 job! APPreciAted the service And looks Director District 4 ForwArd to being A NineStar Connection Director District 4 ninestAr customer Don Shaw (A) AgAin" EDITOR Kim Cronk (B) CONNECTION David Spencer Director District 5 Ronnie Mohr (A) - jAred m. BOARD OF Mark Evans (B) The NineStar Connection Volume 5 No. 1 ADDRESS: don shAw (A) kim cronk (b) is a publication of NineStar NineStar North Campus DIRECTORS Connect servicing retail Published Bi-monthly. 2331 E. CR 600N Director District 6 Greenfi eld, IN 46140 and residential customers. Postage Paid at Director District 1 Richard Walker (A) Nearly 15,000 families Greenfi eld, IN. NineStar South Campus Darrell H. Thomas (A) Philip M. Hayes (B) Customer service is at the tips of and businesses receive 2243 E. Main St. Stephen Vail (B) Director District 5 Director District 6 Director District 7 your fi ngers. NineStar Connect's this newspaper as part of POSTMASTER: Send Greenfi eld, IN 46140 Director District 7 tech support call center is open their membership. NineStar address changes to: provides news, Director District 2 James E. Cherry (A) around the clock. 317-326-help Connection 2243 E. Main St. PHONE: information and features Beverly Gard (A) James Gillett (B) ninestarconnect.com Greenfi eld, IN 46140 (317) 326-3131 about people, places and (765) 533-4303 David G. Heller (B) issues related to readers. Annual subscription price EMAIL: Director District 3 is $3; available to members dspencer@ NineStar Connection, Joseph Paxton story ideA? of NineStar Connect ninestarconnect.com USPS co-operative. www.ninestarconnect.com contact David Spencer at ronnie mohr (A) mArk evAns (b) richArd wAlker (A) PhiliP m. hAyes (b) jAmes e. cherry (A) jAmes gillett (b) [email protected]

2 February-March 2016 NiNestar coNNectioN NiNestar coNNectioN February-March 2016 3 “Because I’ve cover story seen septic systems fail, I worry about them. NineStar officials stress that. I’ve lived hurts our ability to attract “We have just that no households or busi- quality growth from indi- continued nesses would be forced to hook in my house 20 viduals and businesses that “I would like to have good, drinkable water up to its systems. years. Do the are drawn to communities that being forward- The vast majority of the offer better amenities.” without worrying about having to get it roughly 2,700 properties in the math. Septic Mary Arthur, who, with her thinking as an proposed territory now depend husband, Brad, lives in the tested all the time.” on wells and septic systems for systems generally last 25 years…” Wildwood Estates neighbor- organization, water and sewage treatment. hood in Buck Creek Township, For NineStar, the expansion said NineStar’s influence seeing - Betty Silcox, whose well water recently tested positive for is a natural progression in – Bob Vowell, who has his septic system will be important. “Knowing the growth of utility services NineStar and their track opportunities coliform bacteria provided by the co-op, whose cleaned every two years record for all of these years to take the roots extend to an era when certainly gives us a better “If you trace our rural residents formed coop- comfort level,” Arthur said. strength of our eratives to establish basic “When there is an issue, we cooperative's services – such as electricity know we can call NineStar and cooperative history, the and telephone – that otherwise report concluded. telecommunications network, we will get a response. That model and the were out of reach. For NineStar Michael Burrow, NineStar’s which allows it to provide the isn't always the case with other core principle in members with aging wells and president and CEO, says the fastest-available Internet con- companies.” strength of septic systems, the new ser- availability of public water and nection speeds. Like Vowell and the Silcoxes, terms of where vices could be a godsend. sewer services are important “Availability of water and the Arthurs are NineStar human capital NineStar was “Because I’ve seen septic sys- to development – just as elec- sewer is the foundation to members who also depend on a tems fail, I worry about that,” tricity and telephone services economic growth,” Vail said. well and septic system. Having we have here founded is the said Bob Vowell, who has lived were a century ago, when the “Combine that with fiber- watched neighbors endure the in the Twin Oaks subdivi- cooperative’s forefathers joined optics, and we think that’s ordeal of repairing or replac- at NineStar ability to have sion in Maxwell for 20 years. to provide those vital utili- going to be a key to quality ing failing systems, they are A natural Vowell, who has his septic ties to rural Hancock County growth in some of our non- looking forward to the day that Connect a community- tank cleaned every couple of residents. Burrow likes to urban areas. We know growth public water and sewer service and looking based solution years, is watching the NineStar talk about “quality of place” is going to happen in Hancock becomes available. “There is a initiative with interest: “Do when discussing the move County, and so how can we sense that we are living on bor- for other to providing the math,” he said of his aging to so-called “wet” utilities: assist the management of that rowed time with our current critical services infrastructure. “Septic systems Dependable public water and growth?” septic system,” Mary Arthur opportunities generally last 25 years. I may sewer service, the thinking Not everyone supports aggres- said. “We won't know how long to serve our in areas be coming to the end of its life.” goes, improves property val- sive growth, of course, and it will last, and if something Vowell isn’t alone. According ues and residents’ quality of protecting the county’s rural catastrophic goes wrong, it members and that larger to a report by the Purdue life. It also helps government lifestyle is important. NineStar could be very costly.” Progression University Department of and developers better manage officials are keeping that in The Silcoxes have a sense of companies customers Agronomy, nearly a quarter growth and makes the com- mind. the potential economic toll of chose not to of Indiana’s 800,000 septic sys- munity more attractive for “Residential and business a problem well or septic sys- and create tems “are inadequate and have businesses that want to bring growth is going to happen and tem. Their well-water test was NineStar gets into the Water and sewer business serve because failed or are failing to protect good-paying jobs to the county, is inevitable no matter how a condition of approval for a value for the human and environmental Burrow said. badly some want to stop it,” new loan to refinance their of a lack of health.” Nearly a third of all Maxwell home. Without clean community at etty Silcox was The Silcoxes, who are NineStar NineStar Connect is embark- Steve Vail, chairman of Burrow said. “So, the question written by septic systems built from 1950 well water, that lower-interest Connect members, are among ing on an expansion in utility population NineStar’s board, said is whether we want to have surprised when the to 2001 required repairs, the loan would be in doubt. After large.” thousands of Hancock County services. The company, which NineStar wants to be a leader some influence over it and not David density. So, report noted, “typically within bleaching their system and cop- test results came residents who depend on their made history five years ago with in paving the way for qual- settle for patchwork develop- 12 years of construction.” ing with the odor coming from back on her well Hill own wells and septic systems for a ground-breaking merger of it’s very much ity growth in the age of high- ment brought by people who B Failing septic systems threaten speed data and ever-advancing don’t live in our community. their faucets for a time, they – Steve Vail, NineStar water. It had tasted fine and water and wastewater disposal. rural electric and telecommuni- nearby groundwater supplies, recently had the water retested. And, like an untold number of cations cooperatives, intends to in that spirit technology. NineStar already That doesn’t really help the Connect board was clear. Yet, the analysis including residential wells, the has an extensive fiber-optic local tax base and actually This time, the water was clean. them, the Silcoxes’ recent experi- offer water and sewer service to that NineStar chairman from the water-testing office at Hancock Regional ence illustrates problems that customers in unserved areas in Hospital was unmistakable: Her water contained can plague underground sys- its territory. In March, NineStar Connect is a bacteria called coliform, a microbe that often tems. From fixture-staining rust will present a map of a proposed to tell-tale puddles of raw sewage water and sewer territory to looking to offer accompanies other contaminants in groundwater. in the back yard, maintaining Hancock County officials. The water and So, the Silcoxes, who live on CR 500N in Maxwell, and repairing wells and septic territory, covering roughly “Yes, I would like to have access to water and took measures typical whenever homeowners systems can be expensive and 45,000 acres in north-central sewer services sewer services from a local company. I would discover problems with their well water: They time-consuming. These problems Hancock County, eventually also can threaten property val- could make it possible for homes in areas that poured bleach down the well head; stocked up on ues, not to mention the public’s and businesses within its bound- are unserved imagine having access to water and sewer will bottled water; and waited. health. aries to receive water and sewer Those are some of the reasons services if property owners want currently.” also increase the value of our property.” – Mary Arthur, who worries about her home’s aging system – Michael Burrow, NineStar Connect For more information please visit www.ninestarconnect.com and click on the tab for more information concerning water & sewer. president and CEO

4 February-March 2016 n i n e s ta r c o nn e c t i o n n i n e s ta r c o nn e c t i o n February-March 2016 5 n i n e s t a r n e e d t o kn o w

Banking Center Manager at First farms with his brother, both sons vices, water technologies, air in five years and reducing debt Prevent Child Abuse in Hancock Merchants Bank in Pendleton and and a nephew. He is a current technologies, blue ocean strate- by $6.6 million is something I County. Phil currently serves is the Town of Markleville’s Clerk- director of NineStar Connect and gist consulting, water broker believe is truly something to on the NineStar Connect Treasurer. He has 15 years of bank- Land O Lakes Cooperatives and and business startup consult- be proud of in today’s world. It Executive, Finance and Business ing experience. He is a member sits on the board of the Hancock ing. Previously, she held the would be a privilege to set on Development Committees of the Markleville F & AM Lodge County Sheriff Merit Board and the CEO position with Wolverton such a board. and represents NineStar as a #629. Mark is a volunteer coach for Hancock County Drainage Board. Consulting & Associates which Director of Wabash Valley Power the Pendleton Youth Football and He also helped start, and volun- was active in 32 states. She Association (WVPA). He also meet & greet Basketball leagues. He also holds teers for, the Green Township Fire has had a diverse career and serves WVPA as vice president, series 6 & 63 licenses along with a Department. Ronnie has served has been connected to others chairman of the By-Law & Policy life & health license. Mark and in the US Army and is a Vietnam not only throughout Indiana Committee and is a member of District 7 Candidate his wife Laura have two children, Veteran. He has served as direc- but nationally as well. She the Risk Oversight Committee. District 7 Candidate Andrew (age 10) and Gabrielle (age tor of the Wabash Valley Power has been involved with the He formerly served as vice-chair- NineStar Plays Host to 63rd Annual Meeting 3). Association. He started farming Lions Club, Brownies and Girl man of NineStar Connect and back in 1963 with his parents on a Scouts and Pendleton Baseball previously served as chairman, SHELLY Candidate Statement: rented farm where they have grown League. A heart for humanity vice-chairman and secretary/ JAMES their farm and have given back to supplied free waste services treasurer of Hancock Telecom n April 1, 2016, at Greenfield-Central High School, NineStar will be celebrating I would like to continue as a director for a couple of reasons. With a the community. Ronnie and his for over 15 years to food banks and Chairman of Central KLEIMAN wife, Sarah, have three children, GILLETT its 63rd annual meeting and celebration. We hope you can join us that night background in banking and serv- throughout Indiana. Kaye Indiana Communications, Andy, Eric and Sarah and 10 grand- has also served on the board District 6 Candidate Inc. and member of the NTCA and partake in the festivities. Once again a delicious meal will be served, ing as a clerk-treasurer, I have an Background: understanding of business finan- children. as president and vice president Industry Committee which is Background: Shelly Kleiman has been a Jim Gillett is the incumbent scholarships announced and door prizes drawn. Doors will open at 5:00 cials along with budgets and how of the Noblesville Chamber of instrumental in coordinating cooperative member since director from Region 7. Currently O to manage those and oversee them. Candidate Statement: Commerce, Carmel Chamber federal regulatory and policy 2012. She graduated from New PM. The evening will include the business meeting along with director elections. Jim is serving as the Chairman I have served my local community I take as a privilege to have served of Commerce Park Board, Keep PHILIP guidance for over 500 rural Palestine High School and has of NineStar Central Indiana Profiles and candidate statements are included in this newsletter. In the following as the clerk-treasurer for over 12 on Central Indiana Power and America Beautiful Board in telecommunications companies also taken computer classes and Communications, Inc., and years now and enjoy and take pride then NineStar board of directors. I Anderson, vice president of across the United States. Phil is CPR certified. She is cur- weeks please be on the lookout for the official notice in the mail. National Association of Women HAYES and his wife, Pamela, have one the Chairman of the Business in representing my community as feel like I have an open mind and rently a homemaker and works and Economic Development a director since 2008. I am proud always try to put myself in the other in Construction, vice president son, Brandon, married to Becky on the family farm. Previously, Committee. Jim retired from Bell when I can say I represent NineStar person’s shoes. Always felt a good of Greater Anderson Business Background: and two granddaughters, Sydney she worked as a medical assis- System after 38 years of service. Connect whether I am acting on director’s first priority has been Club, board member of the Phil Hayes has been a coopera- & Aubrey. tant and office manager at During his employment with the behalf of the company or at a work to ask the right questions and not East Central Indiana Epilepsy tive member since 1976. He grad- Anderson Family Practice for Bell System, Jim designed, devel- Director Candidates gathering talking with members. so much give my opinion. Those Foundation, advisory board uated from Greenfield-Central Candidate Statement: 24 years. Shelly is trained in High School in 1965 and received oped and manufactured telephone I want to continue to be a voice for that know me would say “I am head member of the City of Anderson Recently, NineStar Connect office procedures including his Bachelor’s of Science in products. Jim has been a small our members and work hard to see strong.” Community, Business, Industry was nationally recognized maintaining patient confiden- and Pendleton Business Club Industrial Management from business owner of J.A. Gillett, dent of Green Township Fire the company continue to make deci- as an innovative pioneer in tiality and has various busi- and board member of South Purdue University in 1970. He is LLC since 2003. He specializes in Department, and currently is sions that will benefit our members deploying Gig capable broad- ness skills. She has held office Madison School Corporation. currently retired. His previous mechanical design, project man- a member and on the board currently and into the future. I band networks. In addition, three times with the Psi Iota Xi Seven Chamber of Commerce employment was with Naval Air agement and product development. of directors for Farm Bureau appreciate the confidence the mem- we are a leader in providing philanthropic sorority, has held memberships. Owner of 10 Warfare Center as a Program The Gillett’s have been Central Incorporated and NineStar bers have shown toward myself and integrated automated meter office at her church and has diverse businesses from pro- Manager, Ground Based Indiana Power/Ninestar members Connect. Joe and his wife, those board members alike. infrastructure, time-of-use worked on numerous fundrais- pane, four waste businesses, Systems for 23 years. He also since 1976. Jim and Pam have lived Patty, have a daughter, Michelle electric rates, community solar ers for the school over the years. demolition, beauty salons, air & worked 14 years with Raytheon in Brandywine Township for 40 Hasty, and a son, Joe P. Paxton, and numerous related services. Shelly and her husband, Greg, water technology, salvage, engi- Technical Services, LLC where years. They enjoy spending time and four grandchildren. These accomplishments are have been married for 42 years he was a Business Manager with their kids and three grand- neering and acquisition corpo- a direct result of a customer and have two children, Nicholas in Manufacturing & Depot children. Jim served with the US rations. Kaye and her husband focused Board of Directors and and Natalie. Candidate Statement: Operations. He has attended Army and is a Vietnam veteran. District 3 Candidate District 5 Candidate Thomas live in Markleville and management staff dedicated to Over the past 10 years, I have Board Leadership Training As a veteran, Jim is involved have three grown children; continuous improvement. We had the privilege to represent District 5 Candidate conducted by NTCA-the Rural with Society of the 1st Infantry Candidate Statement: Farrah, Danielle and Jason. have many challenges, includ- the co-operative members of Broadband Association, Indiana Division, Veteran of Foreign Wars I am first of all interested in ing the Federal Clean Power JOSEPH District 3. I take great pride in MARK Candidate Statement: Electric Cooperatives (IEC), and the American Legion. learning new ways to conserve Plan, Universal Service/Access representing my community National Association of Rural energy. I think that it is very My diverse background in reforms and constant technologi- as a director. In my tenure, KAYE important to maintain utilities Electric Cooperatives (NRECA) organizations, business, and cal innovation. NineStar’s stra- Candidate Statement: I have seen two outstanding EVANS and Wabash Valley Power & for our community economi- PAXTON boards would be a benefit for tegic focus on six pillars (People, I hope to continue to oversee cally. I’m interested in helping co-operatives merge into one District 5 Candidate NineStar Connect in strategic Association & ACES Power WOLVERTON Customers, Growth, Service/ the deployment of fiber-optic con- our community in any way nationally recognized organiza- Background: Marketing Association. Phil is Background: planning, organizational vision/ Product Reliability, Financial nectivity (GigE Broadband) and Joe Paxton has been a coop- tion. NineStar’s future is bright Mark Evans has been a coop- a member of the Willow Branch possible. I believe in insuring goals, sustainable policies, mar- Stability and Community) has other utility infrastructure for erative member since 1974. because of the employees, but erative member since 2000. Background: United Methodist Church the diversity and competition keting/brand and loyal team been key to our success. But we homes and businesses. I would also because of the unique rela- He has his Bachelor’s degree RONNIE Kaye Wolverton has been a coop- with other utility companies. Paxton attended Greenfield- player responsibilities. The 48 where he is also chairperson erative member since 1991. She cannot stand still. I believe my also like to see NineStar continue I’m interested in the future of Central High School and tionship among directors and from Ball State University in years of supporting communi- of Pastor Parish & Finance graduated from Pendleton Heights business and critical thinking to advance economic development communication and energy attended Purdue Agriculture member-owners of the co-oper- Business Administration. He ties throughout Indiana in gov- committees, vice-chair of MOHR High School in 1967 and Apex skills as a Director not only con- and growth in our communi- and where it will take us in the Short Course in 1972. He is ative. Looking forward, there also attended Mid-America ernment, industry, community their Administrative Board, Cosmetology in 1968 which she tributed to previous successes, ties while being sensitive of the future. I also think that 50% of a self-employed farmer and will be some challenges with our College of Funeral Service and education among gifts, ser- auditor and Sunday school Background: focused on cosmetology, interior but are equally applicable to the monetary cost to our members. all the NineStar customers are owner of Paxton Enterprises. highly regulated environment, where he obtained an vices and time have input to the teacher. He is a member of Ronnie Mohr has been a coop- design and business. She is challenges ahead. I am proud of I want to continue working with women, and being able to give In addition to farming and but with my years of education Associate’s Degree in Allied NineStar board. Participate in the Prospect Lodge #714 F & erative member since 1968. He currently the CEO with Alliance what we have accomplished and other Ninestar directors to make my opinion for the female cus- managing 2,400 acres, Joe is a and experience as a director, I Science in Funeral Service. supporting the chief executive AM, life member of Purdue graduated from Hancock Central which provides services for mar- I welcome the opportunity to NineStar Connect an efficient tomers will be an asset. member and past trustee of the am confident this co-operative Mark has over 14 years of Michael Burrow, capital invest- Alumni Association, member and Purdue Agricultural Short keting, environmental consulting, continue representing the mem- cooperative, and to serve our cus- Eden United Methodist Church, will continue moving forward as experience in the financial of the Greenfield Kiwanis ment of over $44 million in fiber bers of NineStar Connect. tomers, membership and employ- industry. He is currently the Course. Ronnie is a farmer and mediator, acquisition, waste ser- former member and past presi- a leader in the industry. optic and electrical distribution Club and former treasurer of ees with exceptional service.

6 February-March 2016 n i n e s ta r c o nn e c t i o n n i n e s ta r c o nn e c t i o n February-March 2016 7 cover story Area Code Overlay Approved for the Indiana 317 Area 2016 TOU Holidays NineStar Employees Recognized at Annual o ensure a continuing supply assigned to the new 463 area code. of telephone numbers, the Calls that are currently local will What will The following will be the continue to be local, even though T new 463 area code will be TOU Holidays for 2016: Indiana Electric Cooperatives Dinner added to the area served by 317. 10-digit dialing will be required. remain the same? • Your telephone number, January 1, May 30, July This is known as an area code including current area code, 4, September 5, November overlay. Get ready to change the When will will not change 24, November 25, way you dial your local calls! the change begin? • The price of a call, cover- December 23, December 26, January 2 Effective March 19, 2016, you age area, or other rates and What is an should begin using the new dial- services will not change due These days have been ing procedures whenever you to overlay configured as Holidays in area code overlay? place a call from the 317 area • What is a local call now the MDM for both RES & An overlay is the addition of code. If you forget and dial just will remain a local call RES30 TOU rates. another area code (463) to the seven digits, your call will still be regardless of the number of same geographic region as an completed. digits dialed existing area code (317). An over- Beginning Sept. 17, 2016, you • You will still have to dial lay does not require customers to must use the new dialing proce- 1 + area code + telephone change their existing area code. dures, as described above for all number (11-digit dialing) to Ninestar calls. After this date, if you do not place a long distance call use the new dialing procedures, within the 317-463 Area Code Who will be affected? • You can still dial just The 317 area code generally cov- your calls will not be completed Providing three digits to reach 911 ers the region of Indianapolis and and a recording will instruct you • If 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711, most of its suburbs. The new 463 to hang up and dial again. or 811 are currently avail- area code will serve the same geo- Beginning Oct. 17, 2016, new Fifteen $1,000 able in your community, you graphic area currently served by telephone lines or services may be will still dial these codes the existing 317 area code. assigned numbers using the new 463 area code. with just three digits Scholarships What will be the s of February 1, 2016, What will you Who may you the student’s principal new dialing procedure? need to do? contact with A residence must be with To complete local calls, the new and security systems, gates, speed systems must be programed to use said student’s parent or legal dialing procedure requires call- In addition to changing your dialers, call forwarding settings, 10-digit dialing. Many systems questions? guardian who is a member or ers to dial the 10-digit telephone dialing procedures, all services, voicemail services, etc. You may operate on 10-digit dialing by If you have any questions customer of NineStar Connect wo longtime NineStar Connect Debbie Roberts career at Hancock number (area code + the 7-digit automatic dialing equipment, or also want to check your website, default but some older equipment regarding information pro- employees Debbie Roberts County REMC began in 1970 after or its subsidiary NineStar telephone number). This means other types of equipment that are business stationary, printed may still use 7-digits. Please con- vided in this notice, please and Jeff Conley were recently she graduated from Greenfield- Communications. T all calls in the 317 area code that programmed with the 7-digit num- checks, contact information, pet tact your medical alert or security call NineStar Connect at recognized by Indiana Electric Central High School on Friday, The student must be a are correctly dialed with seven ber will need to be reprogrammed ID tags, or advertising materials provider if you don’t know wheth- 317-326-3131 or access the Cooperatives at their annual din- May 28th, and then the following 2015/2016 school year graduat- digits will need to be dialed using to use the new dialing procedures. to ensure the code is included. er your equipment needs to be following websites for more ner. Both, who have a combined Monday, she arrived in the billing the 10-digit telephone number. Some examples are life safety Important safety and security reprogrammed to accommodate information: www.ninestar- ing student. 76 years of service, were in atten- department to begin her employ- The same dialing procedure systems, PBX’s, fax machines, equipment, such as medical alert the upcoming change to 10-digit connect.com or http://iurc. The student must have a seven dance and honored for their contri- ment. Over that period of time will apply to telephone numbers Internet dial-up machines, alarm devices, and alarm and security dialing. in.gov (7) semester minimum cumula- butions to the electric industry. it is estimated that Roberts has tive grade point average of 2.75 First, Jeff Conley took the stage processed at least 4,568,940 state- on a 4.00 scale or its equivalent, with thirteen other members of ments and has no plans of stopping at the time of application. the Indiana delegation that trav- anytime soon. Debbie accepted Application forms must be eled to Guatemala in April 2015 her award and was later congratu- fficiency, by definition, is a electricity at peak times. To put Since its introduction, Power Residential Incentives: submitted to Kim Gerard at to bring electricity to a small lated by Congressman Todd Young. good thing. We know that it more practically, when one Moves has tallied over $10 mil- NineStar Connect, 2243 E. Main remote village in the mountains Debbie was all smiles about the eve- • Air source heat pump NineStar the cheapest kilowatt-hours member becomes more vigilant lion and 216,146 megawatt-hours Street, Greenfield, Indiana by of Guatemala. The trip was ning and had this to say about her E • Ground source heat pump we supply to electric coopera- about turning off lights, he or in total power supply savings, made possible through a partner- time with NineStar, “I am pleased • Heat pump water heater 3:00 pm on March 4, 2016. tive members are the ones saved she may save enough for a fancy and the program provides $4.97 ship between the National Rural that I have been part of this wonder- • LED’s Application forms are through the Power Moves pro- coffee. But when ten house- in value for every dollar we put Electric Cooperative Association’s ful company with good people for 45 Helps You • New Construction available at all local High gram. The cost of new power holds turn off unneeded lights, into it. 2016 begins our sixth School guidance offices, at (NRECA) International Foundation years and that I am still here,” she plants, and the fuel to run them, stop running half-loads of year offering the Power Moves Business Incentives: HYPERLINK "http://www. and the Indiana State Association said. “I really do love my job!” Save With can be kept at bay by reducing laundry. Or reduce space heater program to electric cooperative • Lighting ninestarconnect.com" www. to provide safe, reliable and afford- President and CEO Mike Burrow the kilowatt-hours members use use, they save enough energy to members like you and there • HVAC ninestarconnect.com under able electricity to developing noted that “dedicated employees through energy-efficiency and power an 11th house without us are plenty of ways you can earn • Process VFD’s countries and to build local insti- like Jeff and Debbie are what “Community” tab, or may be demand-response programs, having to build a power plant to rebates while saving money all • NEW! Compressed air tutional capacity – including the makes NineStar great and it is Power picked up at NineStar Connect whose goal is to curtail use of supply it. year long. • Custom incentive training of personnel - to own and what sets our company apart from business offices in manage them. Conley even had our competition. I hope I have the Greenfield, Maxwell, Want more info? Visit PowerMoves.com for program details and requirements or call Darrin Couch of NineStar at 317-326-3131. the opportunity to address those in pleasure of continuing to work Moves McCordsville or Knightstown. attendance and referred to the trip with these two individuals well For more information call Kim as “an experience of a lifetime.” into the future.” Gerard at (317) 323-2105.

8 February-March 2016 n i n e s ta r c o nn e c t i o n n i n e s ta r c o nn e c t i o n February-March 2016 9 i n t h e n e w s N i n e s t a r n e e d t o kn o w T o u c h s t o n e Electric cooperative to sponsor students to D.C.

ineStar Connect will CEO Mike Burrow said. “It’s sponsor 2 students on the a great trip and a wonderful N annual Indiana Electric chance to see the sights, make Cooperative Youth Tour to new friends and learn how Washington, D.C. The 2016 everyone, even young people, Indiana Youth Tour is June 9-16. can make a difference in the Students entering their senior political process.” year in 2016 are eligible to Applications for Youth Tour attend and are selected by are available by contacting NineStar to sponsor their local cooperative to par- Christa Riggs at NineStar ticipate in the weeklong trip. Connect, 317-323-2132 or criggs@ Indiana will send a delegation of ninestarconnect.com. You students at Camp approximately 85 students from can also download and print throughout the state. The stu- the application by going to ineStar Connect “This is a great way dents are selected by the local www.ninestarconnect.com. plans to sponsor for students to learn electric cooperatives to travel to Applications are due by Monday, Luther King, Jr., and Franklin D. by the National Rural Electric have an opportunity to meet with NineStar Film Crew Honored at Pacers Game N two students at about the role of the Washington and convene with Feb. 29, 2016. Roosevelt Memorials, take a night Cooperative Association, dur- Indiana’s congressional delegation. the annual Touchstone electric cooperative in more than 1,600 students from Students participating in the cruise on the Potomac River, and ing which they will share their For more information about Energy Camp. The their community. On up to 46 states. trip will visit the Gettysburg much more. thoughts and opinions on a variety the 2016 Indiana Electric f you have watched Channel 9 for professional sports broadcasting, event with Fox Sports. He was also camp will be held top of that, they get to “NineStar Connect is pleased Battlefield, Arlington National The Indiana Youth Tour of timely issues. The youth rally Cooperative Youth Tour to even a short period of time, you are NineStar reached out to our partner honored by the Pacers during the June 8-11, 2016, at experience all the fun to provide this opportunity for Cemetery, the Smithsonian muse- students will also partici- will prepare the students for a day Washington, D.C., contact I sure to have caught one of the many - Fox Sports, to set up a very special evening by presenting the game ball Camp Tecumseh in of camp,” said David our local youth,” President & ums, tour the Jefferson, Martin pate in a youth rally hosted on Capitol Hill, where they will Christa Riggs at 317-323-2132. high school games the NineStar Film opportunity. On February 10th the before the tip to the officials. When Brookston, Ind. Spencer, Director of Crew has recorded. While these local students were invited to the Indiana asked about the special evening and Students entering sev- Marketing. broadcasts look as professional as Pacers vs Charlotte Hornets game the opportunities the students had, enth grade in 2016 are The Touchstone those you would see in Indianapolis, at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse. They Painter responded by saying “I was eligible to attend and Energy Camp program NineStar’s events, are actually pro- arrived several hours early and were amazed how everything we are doing are selected by their was developed by a duced using students from Greenfield- treated to a tour of the production with these students is the exact same local cooperative to par- committee of electric f r o m t h e p r e s i d e n t Central High School. In all, it takes a areas, had a chance to speak with way Fox Sports does things just on a ticipate in the three-day cooperative employees crew of about twelve people to produce play by play man Chris Denari, while smaller scale.” Painter added “we are program. The students’ from Indiana. The a broadcast. In the past year, these interacting and watching the Fox very appreciative of the Pacers and agenda combines tra- camp is funded in part students have produced over 50 sport- sports crew in action. The group was Fox Sports to provide this opportunity ditional outdoor camp by Indiana’s electric ing events equaling over 147 hours of even treated to watch the game from for the students, you never know in activities with environ- cooperatives, Hoosier Standing on the shoulders of giants broadcast time. Their effort and dedi- the Fox Sports suite. a few years one of our kids may be mental education, elec- Energy, Wabash Valley cation is beyond reproach. John Painter, Manager of Video doing this on a professional level and trical safety practices Power, Indiana Electric panies decided that there wasn’t do today if you had to maintain about those founders’ efforts To thank them for their efforts, as Services at NineStar, works with we will have helped in some small and cooperative busi- Cooperatives and other ately, I’ve been thinking an NineStar is once again finding enough money to be made to an electric generator and keep is that they established utility well as to educate these students on the group and helped organize the way with inspiring them.” ness education. industry partners. awful lot about the individu- a community-based solution by L als who were the founders of make a return on their invest- it running to power everything services that truly elevated their beginning the process of build- this cooperative utility. Wonder- ments, then it was up to them that uses electricity in your lives that today have become so ing the infrastructure to offer ing what went through those to come up with a home. Or would commonplace and necessary we the additional utility services of men and women’s minds back in community-based President & ceo you want to live in would choose to live and work water and sewer to unserved por- 1895 when they strung telephone solution for their a home that did not elsewhere if those same services tions of our community. wires between those first homes needs. have air condition- were not available. Those men The heart of your cooperative in McCordsville or in 1935 when I think we take a ing in the summer and women quite simply laid beats true. Over the last few they gathered to create a coopera- lot for granted - the and was heated by the foundation for the quality of years it has established itself as Paperless tive that two years later would set simple flip of a coal or wood-burn- place we now call home. a nationally-recognized smart its first pole and deliver electric- switch for lights; ing stoves that you Today large areas served by utility focused on delivering ity to farms that had only seen refrigeration, needed to constantly NineStar are finding they are fiber optic connectivity with Billing the light from kerosene lanterns. air conditioning Michael tend during the being left behind again - though other utility infrastructure The common thread that bound and central heat; winter? And when not by power or communications for homes and businesses that BIG congratulations to burrow January’s winner, Krystal both of these humble beginnings broadband inter- we think about but instead by lack of investment drive economic development and A Hinton, who won an Ama- was the audacity to believe that net connections how connected our in water and sewer. As we look to growth for our communities. zon Fire HD8 Tablet for enrolling people who lived in rural areas just to name a few. modern communica- the future of our community and And as a community owned and in Paperless Billing. You could deserved to have access to mod- How different our lives might tions are, try to consider living make infrastructure investments based cooperative, we continue be a winner too! Just call our ern conveniences the same as be if it wasn’t for the thoughtful in a place where the only way that will last for decades, we need to believe that no matter where office or sign up online for Paper- those who lived in the cities and determination and willingness you could communicate with to be mindful not only of our you choose to live or work, you less Billing today. Drawings are towns. Our cooperative found- to work together that defined the someone more than a few miles present needs but also the needs should have access to the best at the end of every month. ers recognized that the people in efforts of NineStar’s founders. away was by a letter sent in the of those that will come after us. essential utility services that are their rural communities where Imagine for a moment your US Mail. It is with that same spirit of the needed for you and your commu- being left behind. If larger com- willingness to live where you What strikes me as I think founders of our cooperative that nity to thrive.

10 February-March 2016 n i n e s ta r c o nn e c t i o n n i n e s ta r c o nn e c t i o n February-March 2016 11 n i n e s t a r n e w s 2016 Scholarship Program Providing Fifteen $1,000 Scholarships

Power Moves Rebate Program

t. Vernon Community School Corporation was recently awarded an energy efficiency M improvement rebate from NineStar Connect. The Power Moves Rebate Program offers rebates to NineStar Connect electric members for qualify- ing energy efficiency projects. The Power Moves • As of February 1, 2016, the student’s principle residence Program is offered in cooperation with NineStar must be with said student’s parent or legal guardian who Connect’s generation and transmission provider Wabash Valley Power Association. is a member or customer in good standing with NineStar. Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation received $47,990 for upgrading the light fixtures at • The student must be a 2015/2016 graduating High School the middle school building with a combination of Student. high efficiency LED and fluorescent light fixtures. • The student must have a seven (7) semester minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale or s u d o k u its equivalent, at the time of application. Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each • Application forms must be submitted to NineStar’s South row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will Campus by 3:00pm on March 4, 2016. appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. See ninestarconnect.com Facebook page for last edition's solution. Application forms are available at ninestarconnect.com under Community and at all local High School guidance ofﬁ ces or may be picked up at any NineStar business ofﬁ ce.

NineStar North Campus NineStar South Campus 2331 East 600 North 2243 East Main Street Greenﬁ eld, IN 46140 Greenﬁ eld, IN 46140

NineStar McCordsville Ofﬁ ce NineStar Knightstown Ofﬁ ce 6045 West Broadway 37 East Main Street McCordsville, IN 46055 Knightstown, IN 46148

For more information call Kim Gerard at (317) 323-2105

12 February-March 2016 n i n e s ta r c o nn e c t i o n