P.O. Box 339, Beloit, KS 67420 www.rollinghills.coop

ROLLING HILLSROLLING HILLS ELECTRIC ELECTRICCOOPERATIVE COOPERATIVE NEWS Rolling Hills Employees Recognized for Years of Service Electric Co-op, Inc. Rolling Hills’ annual Christmas dinner was held on Nov. 24, 2020, at the Beloit office. Directors Board of Trustees and employees celebrated employees’ longevity with the co-op and awards were presented. Bob Fredrickson, President Ellsworth – District 1 Paul Wilson, Vice-President Burr Oak – District 2 Justin Trost, Secretary Concordia – District 3 John George, Treasurer Lebanon – District 2 Eric Andersen, Trustee Jamestown – District 3 Michelle Brokes, Trustee Wilson – District 1 Mike Brzon, Trustee Courtland – District 3 Corey Dlabal, Trustee Wilson – District 1 David Dubbert, Trustee Beloit – District 2 Tom Marr, Trustee Scott Splichal, journeyman lineman, has Jerry Roesti (left), foreman, celebrates 20 years of Formoso – District 2 been with Rolling Hills for 20 years. service with Manager Doug Jackson. Staff Douglas Jackson General Manager Contact Us There is no such thing as 100% safe ice. 3075B U.S. Hwy. 24 P.O. Box 339 Beloit, KS 67420 You can’t judge the strength of ice by its age, 785-534-1601 or 800-530-5572 thickness, air temperature or its appearance.

Like us on Facebook Strength is based on all these factors, plus:  On Facebook, the depth of water under the ice, search for  size of the water body, “Rolling  water chemistry and currents, Hills Electric  the distribution of the Cooperative, load on the ice, and Inc.” and like our page for  local climatic conditions. continued updates, energy Trent Webb, journeyman lineman, e ciency tips, cooperative news displays his certifi cate for 10 years Brought to you by the and outage updates. of service. electric cooperatives of .

JANUARY 2021 KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING 16A NEWS FROM ROLLING HILLS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Winter Weather Rolling Hills Hires Kraus and Mellies LOREN KRAUS joined the Rolling Hills Electric family in Can Bring Power October 2020, filling the IT specialist position that had been vacant for several months. His previous job was with Citizens Lines Down Medical Center in Colby. Kraus was raised in the WaKeeney area. He and his wife, Stay Where You Are Vonna, have two children, five grandchildren and another on the way. He is active in his church, enjoys college sports, You’ve just been in an accident playing a little pickup game of basketball when he gets the involving a downed power line. Your opportunity, and woodworking projects. Loren Kraus first instinct might be to get out and CATIE MELLIES has recently joined the Rolling Hills Electric run, but that could cost you your family taking on the member services position. She comes life. In most cases, the safest place to to us from Central Valley Ag, a local agricultural coopera- be is inside your vehicle. Wait until tive within the area and has nine-plus years of cooperative electric utility workers de-energize knowledge and experience. the power. If your car is on fire or She grew up in the Clay Center/Wakefield area and you see smoke, escape as safely as has lived in the Beloit area for the past nine years. She possible by jumping out without graduated from Kansas State University (Go Cats!) with a touching the vehicle and hopping degree in agribusiness. away with both feet together as She and her husband, Nic, have two boys (Trey, 5, and Catie Mellies far as you can. Warn others not to Walker, 1 ½), and a dog, Bella. Mellies is an avid crafter in her approach the scene. spare time and also enjoys time spent boating on Waconda You Should Know: lake, fishing and spending time with family.  Downed power lines are extremely dangerous and even deadly.  Electric current can travel through the ground and anything touching Time to Ditch Your Old Space Heater? the ground.  Stray voltage spreads like ripples If you can’t remember when you purchased according to the NFPA, including upholstered on a pond. your space heater, it might be time to replace furniture, clothing, mattresses or bedding.  If you step from one “ripple” it. Just as the flip phones of yesteryear have Safe Electricity and Rolling Hills Electric (voltage) to another, you could be progressed into today’s modern cellphone, recommend these space heater safety tips: electrocuted. portable space heaters have come a long way  Read all instructions and only use  Downed lines could be hiding too. Most of today’s models have built-in as recommended. under standing water, ice or debris. safety features, such as non-exposed coils and  Do not leave a space heater unattended. sensors that detect overheating or touch, as  Plug it directly into an outlet; most power well as an automatic shut-o feature in case it strips and extension cords are not equipped gets tipped over. to handle the energy spikes caused by a Regardless of whether your space heater space heater cycling on and o. is fresh out of the box or several years old,  Unplug any other item from the outlet you it should be used safely. Most home heating are using; also try to use a dedicated circuit fire deaths (86%) involve using one, according to avoid overload. to the National Fire Protection Association  Keep children and pets away from (NFPA). In fact, heating equipment is the space heaters. second-leading cause of U.S. home fires, right  Turn them o before you leave the room behind cooking. or go to sleep. Along with using a unit that is in good  Do not use a heater in disrepair or with a working order, be sure to keep clothing, pa- frayed cord or damaged plug. pers, rugs and other flammable items at least  Place them on flat, level surfaces and never 3 feet away from a space heater. More than place on furniture, counters or carpet, half of the heating-related home fires start which can overheat. when items are too close to the heat source, Visit SafeElectricity.org for more safety tips.

16B KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING JANUARY 2021 WATT’S HAPPENING Updates from The Time Has Come the Operations Where do I of the situation. None of us want to be start? I began without electricity but we are at the Department my career with mercy of Mother Nature. Smoky Hill Electric In July of 2016, the office personnel Rolling Hills Elec- in Ellsworth in from Mankato, Belleville and Ellsworth tric has been for- March 1999. I all relocated to the new corporate office tunate so far this started out as a in Beloit. It was almost like going to winter with no customer service work for a new employer. I kind of knew ice storms, heavy Linnea Beebe representative at the employees from the other offices snow or muddy the front desk but not really. Today, I feel that I have roads in our calculating electricity bills, accepting worked with some of them forever. I service territories. payments and new service or service continue to have members and friends The moisture Marc Martin, transfers. That position also included ask if I am tired of the commute from would be appreci- Operations Manager working in the RadioShack store, Ellsworth to Beloit. Honestly, it hasn’t ated though. activating bag cellphones for Kansas been that bad. We’ve been blessed with Our crews continue pole replace- Cellular then . How many of you decent weather all but a few times. The ments on the Bellaire substation remember the bag phones? I had the scenery is beautiful and who can com- system. In addition, we are replacing pleasure of installing a few of those in plain about that! our load control system over the winter the Ellsworth Farmers Co-op equipment. This will be my final centerspread in and early spring. This system will be in Smoky Hill also provided satellite TV, later the Kansas Country Living magazine as place by the end of May. DirecTV and internet service. As time my retirement date is Jan. 5, 2021. I have Maintenance within the City of passed, Alltel and DirecTV decided to enjoyed visiting with many of you over Kanopolis continues in preparation to move the business to larger communities. the phone, in person, by text, email make system upgrades at the Kanopolis RadioShack was experiencing financial or Facebook. I am looking forward to substation and the city system. difficulties competing with online retirement although I will miss working If there are planned outages, Rolling businesses, such as Amazon. for an awesome cooperative with Hills will attempt to contact you by In January 2008, I filled the open dedicated employees and a board phone. If your primary contact number position in member services. I began who want nothing but the best for has changed, please call 785-534-1601 training for this position during the the members. I want to thank the or 800-530-5572 to verify or update November 2007 ice storm. None of us management, board, and employees for a contact number. Rolling Hills also will forget that for a very long time. their friendship and support over the uses Facebook to notify members of Some residences were without elec- past nearly 22 years. planned or unplanned outages. tricity for nearly two weeks. Approxi- Catie Mellies will be filling the There have been questions about mately 90 linemen, including mutual position of member services. She has whether to report an outage or to aid crews from , more than nine years of cooperative let the system alert Rolling Hills. We and elsewhere arrived at the Ellsworth knowledge and will do an outstanding strongly encourage all outages be shop every morning by 7 to grab a sack job. She and I have been working reported in the event you are an iso- lunch then head to their designated closely since she joined the Rolling lated outage. Your neighbor may have location. I do not want to jinx Rolling Hills family. I look forward to following power, but for some reason, you have Hills Electric, but I did happen to men- her and Rolling Hills Electric in future no power. We want to get your outage tion a few times that I didn’t want to centerspreads of the Kansas Country restored while the crew is in the area. see another ice storm before I retire. Living magazine. We also encourage you to register Everyone worked together and most of In closing, I wish each of you a safe, your account on SmartHub. You can our members were very understanding healthy, and Happy New Year 2021! verify if Rolling Hills is experiencing an outage affecting you and when service Congratulations, Linnea! Rolling Hills wishes you the is restored, but please report your out- age. If you should have any questions best in your retirement. Thank you for your dedication or concerns at all, call this office. Your to the cooperative family the last 22 years. call is always welcome.

JANUARY 2021 KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING 16C NEWS FROM ROLLING HILLS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

2021 ENERGY EFFICIENCY CALENDAR There are so many ways you can save energy! Saving energy helps reduce your family’s monthly bills — and it helps our environment. Change your energy use habits by following the monthly tips below. Keep this calendar on your refrigerator to remind family members to be energy effi cient throughout the year.

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL

Take short showers Instead of turning Turn off lights when Ask an adult to help instead of baths. up the heat, put on you leave a room. you plant a tree to an extra layer of shade your home in clothing or stay cozy the summer. under a blanket.

MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST

Decorate your Turn off ceiling fans Dry heavy linens Ask an adult to backyard or porch when you leave outside on a help you schedule a with solar-powered the room. clothesline instead reminder to change lights. of using the dryer. the HVAC fi lter every 60-90 days.

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER

Turn off running Unplug energy Remind family Decorate your home water while brushing vampires, like members to use cold with energy-saving your teeth. chargers, gaming water when washing LED holiday lights. consoles and cable/ clothes. satellite boxes.

16D KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING JANUARY 2021