Clearwater Power

A Patchwork of Family and Heritage

Dorothy Rogers, right, and her daughter, Taffy Kettenburg, stand in front of Dorothy's barn that showcases a custom quilt square.

Local quilters start along a driving route. The idea was to Traditionally, they are painted onto a 4 celebrate their heritage, promote art and foot by 4 foot half sheet of plywood. She unofficial quilt trail in invite visitors to travel through the coun- used a pencil and straight edge to follow tryside to view the barn quilts. the pattern. Nez Perce County Quilt trails now exist in 48 states and “You have to get it symmetrical every- Canada, with more than 7,000 quilt where, so you have to use math,” she says. By Lori Mai squares represented on barns, homes and To save money, Taffy mixed her own garages. Many more, like Dorothy’s, are colors from red, blue, black and white Dorothy Rogers owns a picturesque barn not part of an organized tour, but she is acrylic paints. She used a painter’s tape along Highway 95 near Lapwai. Resting hoping one day it will be. that seals well to achieve crisp lines and in a pristine field dotted with daffodils, “We haven’t really caught on here,” worked the colors inward from the edge. the stately structure has long been an she says. “I think we’re missing the boat, At the same time, Taffy was making a arresting subject for artists and photogra- because it draws people.” different block for her own barn. Each phers, who have featured it on postcards Dorothy’s daughter, Taffy Kettenburg, took about two weeks to finish. and paintings of the area. painted the barn quilt square as a gift to “You can’t just paint them in a day, The barn is also a favorite of many her mother, who is a talented quilter. because the paints have to dry,” Taffy passersby, who often stop to snap their Inspired by a magazine article on the says. “You can’t tape something onto own shots. Dorothy, 97, would be subject, Taffy decided to create a star paint that’s not properly cured, or it will delighted if more travelers dropped by garnet­—Idaho’s state gem recognized on peel off, so it takes time.” for a photo, now that it sports a colorful the state quilt block pattern. Usually, peo- Taffy tweaked her artwork until she painted replica of the official Idaho state ple choose a design that is significant to was satisfied. Then, she applied a protec- quilt block. them, their family or their heritage. tive coating to help the painted boards Quilt blocks on barns are a grow- “Mom’s a quilting lady, she loves her withstand weather. ing trend nationwide. In 2001, Donna barn, and Idaho is a big part of her life, Once Dorothy’s quilt block was hung Sue Groves of Adams County, Ohio, so it was the perfect gift,” Taffy says. on the barn, Taffy says the biggest proposed creating a “sampler” of quilt With no previous art background, problem they encountered was pigeons squares that could be featured on barns Taffy researched how to make the block. roosting in the eaves, whose droppings

4 JUNE 2017 Left, Dorothy Rogers in her sewing room below one of her favorite quilts made of her mother-in-law's World War I-era fabric. A view of Dorothy's barn from the road. streaked the painting, causing it to appear stitching,” she says. “I started doing a lot pillows, pictures and apparel. Even discolored. To combat this dilemma, of embroidery by lamplight, because we though she has given away many as Taffy plans to build a metal “eyebrow” did not have electricity.” gifts, she jokes that her three children, above the square to catch the droppings During World War II, Dorothy mar- six grandchildren and four great-grand- so the deep colors are better visible from ried an army captain and later moved to children will have to fight over all of the a distance. Idaho, where her husband’s mother lived. many items she still has on hand. Usually, quilt trails are organized at the It was in Idaho that Dorothy developed Long ago, Dorothy’s sewing pursuits county level to limit the scope to a man- her love of quilting. eclipsed the space in her house, so she ageable day’s drive for tourists. Although “I went to the county fair in the moved her craft to the upper level of a Dorothy lives in Nez Perce County, Lewiston Orchards and saw this lady sit- former smokehouse behind her home. which currently does not have a desig- ting there hand quilting,” she says. “I got There, walls of shelves burst with a kalei- nated trail, Taffy lives in Idaho County, inspired.” doscope of fabric bolts. Every nook and which does. About 19 families partici- Dorothy loves to create her own quilt cranny holds bins full of colorful scraps. pate. A flyer listing the locations and a patterns and incorporate embroidered “You never run out of scraps,” she says. brief quilt square history is available at details to define her own unique style. “They just go on and on.” the Grangeville Visitor Center. “I don’t like to do things like everybody Dorothy still climbs the narrow flight While Dorothy hesitates spearhead- else,” she says. of stairs daily to immerse herself in a ing such an endeavor in her county, “it One of Dorothy’s favorite projects is project. wouldn’t take much effort at all for some- a wall hanging featuring sailboats made “What would I do without it?” she says body to document a quilt trail,” Taffy entirely from antique scraps found in her of her hobby. “It’s a challenge. I just like says. “There just needs to be a centralized mother-in-law’s attic. doing it. It’s a good way to spend your contact person, and if people have barn “I wanted to preserve those fabrics, time and not get into mischief.” quilts or want to make them, they can because they were World War I era,” she Dorothy’s passion is another reason call in and get added to the tour.” says. she wants to see the time-honored tra- Looking ahead, Dorothy would like Another cherished piece is a nine-patch dition of quilting showcased on barns, to have more painted quilt squares on log cabin-style quilt she designed herself and hopes the idea for an area quilt trail her barn representing other important and sewed with scraps from clothes she catches on as it has in other places. pieces of her history and lifelong love of made her children years ago. “I enjoy the colors and the artwork,” needlework. “She’s real particular,” Taffy says. “If she she says. “And it would be really fun if Born in 1919, Dorothy grew up on a makes one little error, she doesn’t blend it more people got on board.” n rural farm near Eureka, California. in. She rips it out and does it again.” “We didn’t have time to go to town Over the years, Dorothy has quilted, For more information about barn quilts, or the movies, so we stayed home and embroidered and counted-cross-stitched contact Taffy Kettenburg at (208) 839-2648, or worked, and in the evenings we did hundreds of bedspreads, wall hangings, [email protected].

JUNE 2017 5 Northern Wasco PUD

Better, Kinder Kennels Shelter strives to raise money to improve surroundings and increase likelihood of adoption

By Kathy Ursprung

Walk into the kennel at Home at Last Humane Society and the overwhelming impression is dark, noisy and caged. Chain-link fencing separates the ani- mals from one another and from visitors. The cages are clean and have bright touches, such as dog treat buckets, but those touches don’t relieve the overall drabness. “The kennel has not been changed at all since this was the old Wasco County pound,” says Shelter Manager Anita Clason. “When a dog walked in and probably didn’t walk out, I guess the area was sufficient.” Home at Last started operating the animal shelter for Wasco County in 2004. Last year, the county deeded the shelter A dog residing at Home at Last Humane Society enjoys some outdoor time at the play yard. property to Home at Last, opening the door for more extensive improvements. was the No. 1 thing on my list when I of that care. They would like to increase The county routinely euthanized ani- took the job.” fostering. mals that were not adopted. Since Home Anita, her staff, and the volunteer “It’s always better for an animal to be in at Last took over operations, animals board of directors are dreaming big. If a home,” Anita says. “But so many come almost never face euthanasia. they can raise enough money, they plan in on owner release and as strays. We Anita wants to make the place more to extend the kennel onto a concrete slab really need more room. There’s a waiting welcoming for people and more com- that now serves as a play yard. list now. That’s one of the reasons we want fortable for the animals they visit—and “We’ll have more kennels and more to expand the building.” hopefully adopt. Home at Last is launch- room to reposition the kennels so fewer Raising enough money for the project ing a capital campaign this month to raise dogs are facing each other,” Anita says. will allow installation of better kennels: money to redo and expand the kennel “We’ve also had so many litters of pup- adding more windows, and resurfacing area. pies that we would like to have a sepa- the floors and walls to make them easier “This is not the right environment to rate room to use as a maternity room, to clean. Now, the floors are concrete, house a dog you want to keep sociable and a separate area to section off when which means residual dampness after they and get ready for rehoming,” Anita says. we have to put animals on bite hold for are cleaned. Anita hopes to have the floors “An improved kennel will, in providing aggression.” elevated, with a concealed drainage sys- better care, help reduce aggressiveness Home at Last can have as many as 55 to tem, so they look better and stay fresher. between dogs, and ultimately result in 65 animals in its care at any one time. The “One of the things we want to do is be more sociable and adoptable dogs. This shelter depends on foster homes for part able to start school programs and have

4 JUNE 2017 kids come out and sit on floor pads and read to animals to help socialize them more,” Anita says. “New kennels will be much more comfortable for the dogs and nicer for people to go in. We have people who will not go into the main kennels now because they depress them so much. We depend on people visiting the dogs. It helps keep them socialized.” Home at Last has efforts in place to help the dogs become better socialized despite their drab environment. The Open Paws program encourages visitors to feed the dogs treats. “The main kennel can be barking crazy and I can go back and do Open Paws, and by the time I’m done they’re completely silent,” Anita says. “It just shows how a little bit of attention goes a long way.” New kennels will have solid surfaces two-thirds of the way up the sides of each Home at Last employees welcome visitors to the shelter. From left, Dannie Hollamon, Erika Justiz, Samantha enclosure, so the dogs won’t see each other Stilwell, Araya O’Neal, Bev LaGow and Geanna Ellison. from the side. This, too, will help calm the room. “If I can raise enough money, the doors will have clear glass so it is easier to view the animals, rather than looking at them through a cage,” Anita says. Removing that sense of being caged can improve the attitude of both the ani- mals and their visitors. “It’s scary to people,” Anita says. “It’s scary to the animals. And that’s what we’re trying to change.” While the kennels are the priority, Home at Last has plans for other projects: • Clean and repair the onsite yurt for use as a classroom. • Expand the can and bottle opera- tion, which is an important revenue source for the shelter. • Expand the play yard and divide Glass doors and bright colors make for friendlier interaction between animals and humans in this example it into areas for larger and smaller dogs, of a kennel suite similar to what Home at Last supporters envision for the animal shelter. adding an off-leash play park open to the Photo provided by Morgan Co. public, adjacent to the Riverfront Trail. “We operate on public support, adop- She praises the active board, volunteers “The animals that leave the shelter are a tion, and cans and bottles,” says Kathy and staff who keep the shelter operations higher quality pet because they’ve been in Norton, executive director and board chair going strong. a positive, nurturing environment.” n of Home at Last. “The shelter doesn’t exist Redoing the kennels creates a nicer For more information about Home at Last out there without the community, without environment and the opportunity for the Humane Society and its kennel campaign, go to the people of the region supporting us.” shelter to provide better pets, Kathy says. homeatlasths.org or call (541) 296-5189.

JUNE 2017 5 Consumers Power

99 West Rods and Customs owner Eric Henschel polishes a motorcycle gas tank in his shop, where he works on a variety of vehicles. Cars Shine With Attention to Detail 99 West Rods and Customs makes dreams come true for car owners By Craig Reed restoring or customizing a car, to plan The 99 West shop has improved the the process is all pretty cool. looks and operating abilities of cars of all There was plenty of automotive his- “To grab all the right components that ages, of older motorcycles and tractors, tory sitting on the shop floor: a 1939 meet and exceed customer expectations, and even some airplane parts. Chevrolet, a 1953 Dodge pickup, a 1954 and to provide customer satisfaction is “We’ve worked on quite a few high Chevy Bel-Air, a 1965 Porsche 911 and a something I’ve always enjoyed in dealing school cars that people had back then 1966 International Travelall. with their cars.” and never sold,” Eric says. “We’ve These vehicles and several others are Eric remembers painting an old, rusty restored cars, tweaking what is there, and being restored, customized or modern- tractor and the reaction of the owner we’ve made older cars more modern and ized at 99 West Customs. The business, when he saw it. drivable. These older cars take people located in the middle of agricultural “The guy was going ga ga over it like it back to their first car, a time they loved.” fields between Corvallis and Monmouth, was his first Corvette,” Eric says. “That’s That is actually the case with Eric. is owned and operated by Eric Henschel. c o o l .” Since age 16, he has been working on “It is a thrill to talk to the custom- The oldest car his shop brought “back cars. As a teenager, he could not afford ers and figure out what they want to do to life” was a 1926 Model T. He says to have anybody else make his car run with their projects,” Eric says. “To listen it was pretty rough looking before its or to customize it, so he learned to do it to their ideas, to get the ball rolling on transformation. himself. He still has his own high school

4 JUNE 2017 “When Eric first saw the car, he told me I was morally obligated to restore it,” Norm adds. “It quickly became apparent Eric was more concerned about a quality restoration than running a business. His focus was on building the car correctly, and having fun doing it.” Tom Turnbull of Independence says when he “has gotten in over my head, they’ve rescued me.” Tom has a 1954 Chevrolet pickup that is being restored. “I’m a pretty handy guy, but when it takes me two or three times to get it right, I just let them do it right on their first time,” Tom says. “I have a good relationship going with these guys, and sometimes that is hard to find. When we Above, Eric Wavra checks on the engine of a Chevy truck in the shop. Left, James Palamaris specializes get done with this pickup, it’ll look new. in fabricating parts. I plan on driving it frequently around t ow n .” back to school to learn another profes- Mike Monroe of Philomath has a 1965 sion. I considered several, ‘What about Porsche in the 99 West shop. James fabri- this, what about that,’ but I decided to cated some panels for the car. make this my profession.” “He made those from scratch,” Mike Now at 53 years old, his commute is says. “Not many places do metal fabrica- about 200 feet from his house. Helping tion like they do. I’m very impressed with Eric in the shop are Angelo Palamaris, their work.” who reassembles parts and does body To be able to pay even more atten- work, and his son, James Palamaris, who tion to detail, in the last year 99 West is a fabricator. Eric’s specialties are body upgraded its overhead lighting through work and painting. a Consumers Power rebate program. “Angelo and James have a love for Thirty-three 8-foot lights were replaced vehicle, a 1956 Studebaker pickup. this,” Eric says. “They follow through and by 12 T5 lighting fixtures. After graduating from South Albany make sure the job is done right.” “It is so much brighter, lighting up High School in Albany in 1981, Eric Mary Barcellos works part time, keep- 3,000 square feet,” Eric says. “That’s a attended Linn-Benton Community ing the office organized and running huge thing for us as we continue to work College in Albany, focusing on the auto smoothly, and ordering parts. on these cars.” body and collision program. Eric Wavra helps out with engine While Eric enjoys the work on the But his career headed in a different rebuilds and wiring projects. older cars in the shop, he credits his wife, direction. He worked for Oregon Freeze Eric Henschel is open to customers Kari, for keeping him on track with the Dry Foods for 14 years and then was a being involved in the work on their vehi- bookwork that needs to be done for a chemical technician at Hewlett Packard cles. If other specialists are needed, they home business. Kari is an accountant at for the next 14 years. come to the shop to work on that project. Oregon State University so her experi- When HP downsized and offered early Norm Pawlowski of Corvallis had metal ence is put to good use. volunteer retirement packages in 2005, restoration, body work and paint done on Eric says the guys in the shop feel Eric took the deal. his 1968 GS convertible at 99 West. some silent ownership in a car when it is “I had always wanted to do this,” he “That car, if I take it to (car) shows, it finished and heads off down the road. says of the car business. “I had continued wins awards,” Norm says. “It was featured “I tell customers all the time, the car to work on cars during those years. I had in a national magazine. Those (99 West) ends up being ours, so care for it,” Eric the shop space and I didn’t want to go guys pay attention to detail for sure. says. n

JUNE 2017 5 StraightTalk® Images License Policy

NRECA voting members (“Members”) have the right to use, distribute, reproduce, publish, and publicly display in any media whatsoever (“Use”) any graphic contained in the Straight Talk library (“Graphics”) for the purpose of promoting their business. Members are permitted to modify Graphics for the purpose of incorporating their respective names and logos within a Graphic. Members are also permitted to resize or alter the layout of a Graphic to t the dimen- sional needs of a particular publication; however, Members shall neither crop nor edit the Graphics as to substantially change or modify the original design.

Members are not permitted to Use only portions of a Graphic. Members also may not sub-li- cense, sell, lease, or rent Graphics to third parties. Members must include any attribution or source language if any is contained in the original le.

If you have a questions pertaining to this Policy, please contact Abby Berry at [email protected] or 571-319-6231.

Umatilla Electric You have the power with Smart Home Technologies Questions on new energy eciency products and how to install them in your home? Visit 3 Energy.gov/energysaver. 1 2

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1 SMART HUB/BRIDGE the house; or for those who simply want to If you are looking to make your home smarten their home. Smart blinds allow you smart without having to hire a company to schedule your blinds to open and close to install an interconnected system, then during certain times of day – a bonus if you an internet-connected smart hub is the are trying to be energy efficient – or control first thing you’ll need. A smart hub will them via an app. allow you to control all your smart devic- es from one app by acting as a middle 4 SMART LOCKS man that facilitates communications Smart locks allow you and anyone else you between all your smart home devices. wish to enter your home with ease. Some smart locks let you open your doors with 2 SMART LIGHTING your cell phone. Some let you see who is Like most items in a smart home, smart coming and going while you are out of the lighting can be controlled with a few house. Some even allow you to assign swipes of a smart phone app. But smart security privileges to certain people. lighting is more than just convenient. Smart light bulbs are more energy 5 SMART THERMOSTAT efficient than standard incandescent A smart thermostat is a great way to keep bulbs. Some bulbs use GPS on your phone your home smart and energy efficient. Many to determine your location, and can turn smart thermostats can learn your heating on or off depending on where you are and cooling behavior and will auto-schedule located. Some bulbs are even voice based on your preferences. controlled! 6 SMART COOKING APPLIANCES 3 SMART BLINDS Smart cooking appliances, like smokers, Smart blinds can be useful for those who allow you to cook a perfect meal away from have tall, hard-to-reach windows; for home, without burning the house down! those who have difficulty moving around Wi-Fi technology makes these cooking appliances smart!

4 JUNE 2017 ENERGY STAR Buyers Guide

Purchasing ENERGY STAR-certi ed appliances and electronics is a great way to save energy in your home. But how do you choose the right product? It depends on your energy-saving goals and how you use energy in your home.

Do you wash multiple loads of laundry each week? Investing in an ENERGY STAR-certi ed washer could save you around $45 on your utility bill each year. For the purchase of a qualifying Energy Star rated clothes washer, you can receive up to a $100 rebate from Umatilla Electric Cooperative. See UmatillaElectric.com for details.

Home computers can use a shocking amount of energy each year. If all computers in the U.S. were ENERGY STAR certi ed, we would save more than $1 billion in energy costs per year. If you can’t buy an ENERGY STAR-certi ed computer, consider updating the power management setting on your computer. Visit energystar.gov/products/oce_equipment/computers.

The larger TVs get, the more energy they use. But ENERGY STAR-certi ed TVs are, on average, 25% more ecient than conventional models. LG, Samsung and Vizio make the list of ENERGY STAR’s most ecient 2017 TVs.

There are many di erent types of ENERGY STAR-certied products, including: • Air puri ers • Data center storage • Roof products • Pool pumps • Set-top boxes and cable boxes • Vending machines • Decorative light strands • Dehumidi ers

UEC HOMEOWNERS NOW HAVE ANOTHER WAY TO SAVE on Rheem TierLearn 3 Heat more Pump about Water ENERGY Heaters STAR - products.at The Home Visit Depot. ENERGYSTAR.GOV/PRODUC Now through TS Dec. 31, 2017, you can receive up to $300 off by purchasing a super-efficient and super-reliable Rheem Tier 3 heat pump water heater at the Hermiston store or other participating Northwest locations. In addition, UEC also offers a $300 rebate for this and other qualifying heat pump water heaters, and the State of Oregon offers a tax credit. See https://thd.co/2pOwDSZ for details. For installation and other guidelines, visit UmatillaElectric.com before your purchase.

JUNE 2017 5 Wasco Electric

From left, Joe Schable, Steven Ellis and Rich Sutliff are co-founders of the Tygh Valley Acoustic Jam, a monthly event that brings musicians and community together for informal performances. The jam is open to all ages and skill levels. Getting In Tune Tygh Valley Acoustic Jam welcomes all musicians and listeners, too

By Drew Myron Schable, Rich Sutliff and Steven—created are welcome. The jam features an eclectic the Tygh Valley Acoustic Jam: a monthly, mix of bluegrass, country, rock and folk Musician Steven Ellis vividly recalls informal opportunity for musicians tunes. the first time he played in front of an to practice their passion, and for the The jam is open to all ages. No skill audience. His plan to play guitar and sing community to hear live, local music. or experience is required, just a desire was stalled with fear. The jam takes place at the Tygh School to make music. Participants can expect “I was so nervous,” he says. “My Community Center on the second equal doses of concentration and mouth dried out and I couldn’t talk.” Sunday of each month, from 2 to 4 p.m. laughter. The occasional errant note The nerves eventually passed. Now The event is free, and dessert is provided. or missed chord is quickly met with he happily shares the remedy: practice, Donations are welcome. understanding. practice, practice, and join a jam session. Now in its third year, the jam sessions “This is low stress,” notes Rich, who Gathering together to share the love of typically attract between five to 12 plays guitar and sings. “We encourage making music will boost your spirits and musicians playing a range of instruments, those who are just starting out to join your skills, he says. including guitar, accordion, harmonica, u s .” That is why a Wasco County trio—Joe ukulele, mandolin and bass. Singers also Rich is a retired Willamette University

4 JUNE 2017 Musicians from throughout the area take part in the Tygh Valley Acoustic Jam. From left are The jam sessions features an eclectic mix of bluegrass, country, Bruce Bossio, Philip Brown and Joel Ewing. rock and folk tunes. Photo by Merle Hlavka English professor who lives in Maupin work and home life, while others want to and speaks of music with the fervency of explore dormant passions. Upcoming Event the reformed. Though he has a musical “I got too busy” to play guitar, says Ice Cream Social and Acoustic Jam background—he played guitar and sang Steven, a chiropractor who was born and Sunday, June 11, from 2 to 4 p.m. in church choirs—when his life filled up, raised in Tygh Valley. After a musical Tygh School Community Center music fell away. dry spell, eight years ago he picked “I let it go for a couple of decades,” up his guitar. Now he plays every day, Rich says. “At 55, I picked it up again. attends a weekly practice session and is a lessons and more. I’ve always had a love of music. It speaks core player in the monthly jam. The folks who run the community to the spiritual and communal needs. It’s “With the guitar, you always feel better center are thrilled to hear tunes wafting primitive. when you put it away than when you through the former school. “When you’re playing guitar, you can’t started,” Steven jokes. “We’re a small community, and it’s do anything else. Your body, mind and For Joe, a retired bus driver who lives nice to have something to do,” says Elna spirit is immersed in the instrument, in in Tygh Valley, the chance to connect Brown, a member of the center’s board of the jam experience, in the clapping and with other musicians is key. A long- directors. “It brings people together.” dancing. It’s in the air. It’s magic.” time musician, Joe has played guitar for Rich agrees. In some ways, the Tygh Valley numerous bands and enjoys the com- “This is where the heart of the Acoustic Jam is both ancient and inno- munal nature of making music. In fact, community is, in the music,” he says. “It vative. Music is found in every known in an effort to bring people together, feels like whatever else is going on in culture, past and present, including the he contacted every guitar player in the the world, politically or socially, music most isolated tribal groups. area—he counted 28—to invite them to just feels good. There’s something good Today, as in history, group expres- the jam sessions. happening right here.” n sion provides a way to come together in “The jam helps musicians overcome fun and meaningful ways. From paint fear,” Joe says. “It’s a place for musicians Tygh Valley Acoustic Jam meets the second nights to writing groups, people are seek- to gain confidence and experience.” Sunday of each month, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Tygh School Community Center, 82786 Cedar ing creative—and communal—outlets. And, he adds, it is a great network for St., Tygh Valley. For more information, call Joe Some desire “me-time” away from busy musicians to learn about bands, events, Schable, (541) 993-4883.

JUNE 2017 5 Douglas Electric

Yumei Wang, left, and fellow investigators assess highway failures resulting from the July 2007 magnitude 6.6 Kashiwazaki, Japan, earthquake. Yumei traveled to Japan for a post-earthquake investigation by the American Society of Civil Engineers' Technical Council on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering. Photo courtesy of the Technical Council on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering Are You Ready for the Big One? Experts agree, the Northwest is due for a major earthquake

By Craig Reed Yumei Wang, of a giant image of what is going to caused $5 billion in damage. earthquake occurring off happen in the Pacific Yumei has helped com- Oregon is on shaky ground. the West Coast, impact- Northwest,” Yumei says. “It’s pile post-earthquake damage Simply put, that is what ing Northern California to the same geologic setting. assessments for both the 2011 expert earthquake scien- British Columbia. Right in the Our earthquake is going to Japan and 2010 Chile quakes. tists and engineers believe. middle of that stretch is the occur, we just can’t predict She has been a member and They have been preaching Oregon Coast. exactly when.” adviser to national commit- that belief for a few decades Yumei is a geotechnical The 2011 Japan earthquake tees and programs dealing because science and a his- engineer with the Oregon measured 9.1 magnitude. with earthquakes, and par- torical trend indicate the West Department of Geology There were almost 16,000 ticipated in writing the 2013 Coast is due to experience a and Mineral Industries. She confirmed deaths and bil- Oregon Resilience Plan. She major Cascadia fault earth- explains that the last major lions of dollars in structural has been a leading advocate of quake. They have seen some West Coast earthquake damages. building resilience to natural movement to prepare for occurred 317 years ago. With Yumei has been studying hazards since the mid-1990s. that event from states, busi- records indicating quakes hit earthquakes since the one Yumei says a 9 magnitude nesses and individuals, but are “every few hundred of years, that hit the San Francisco Bay earthquake along the West continuing to push for more the next one is due,” she says. Area on October 17, 1989. Coast would probably last preparedness. “The Japan earthquake That quake was a 6.9 magni- about 5 minutes. She says the “It is inevitable,” says (March 11, 2011) is a mirror tude. It killed 69 people and low-lying areas of Douglas

4 JUNE 2017 County, including Winchester strikes. He advises people Bay, Reedsport and Gardiner, to slowly build up their would be severely impacted supplies. by a major tsunami. She “Y2K was a time when says the tsunami would not most citizens were most pre- reach up the Umpqua River pared,” he says. “Now they to Scottsburg, but the earth- need to take that and roll it quake would have a major over to prepare for this event. shaking impact on central It’s not a death sentence. Douglas County and the rest People have been living with of Western Oregon, up to the earthquakes for thousands of west slopes of the Cascade years. We just need to prep Mountains. for it.” The shaking would most Paul Leonard, general likely knock hundreds of manager of Douglas Electric bridges out of commission, Cooperative, says the co-op bringing most north/south is fully aware of the possibil- transportation to a halt, stop- ity of a major quake in the ping the delivery of food and near future. The co-op has fuel. increased its supply inven- The production of electric- tory, but Paul says the biggest ity on the Columbia River concern is transportation. He Douglas County Emergency Manager Wayne Stinson, center, during the Cascadia by the Bonneville Power explains with highways 38 and Rising 2016 exercise simulating a major earthquake. Simulations such as this help agencies across the state refine their procedures before the real thing Administration could eas- 42 prone to slides of falling happens. ily be knocked off line and trees, rocks and other debris, not restored for two weeks or service crews could be cut off not aware of the Cascadia “It’ll be like a movie that longer. from Douglas members. threat, don’t understand it turns into reality,” he says. “It’s “Depending on where “It’ll be more difficult to or don’t take it seriously. He easy to talk about the topic, you live, like on the coast, it restore power to our rural says Oregon has spent money but also easy to put it off, say- might be a challenge for a members,” he says. drawing evacuation maps and ing, ‘One of these days I’ll while,” says Wayne Stinson, He points out, however, producing the publication have a plan.’ It comes down the Douglas County emer- that if BPA is down, it may “Living on Shaky Ground— to individual responsibility. gency manager. “That’s the be weeks before power is How to Survive Earthquakes It is easy to roll that off the bad news. The good news is available. During that time, and Tsunamis in Oregon.” tongue, but harder to put into that Douglas County and the some transportation routes He says people—starting p l ay.” Pacific Northwest have a lot may be put back into service. when they are in elementary Yumei says the point of of citizens who participate in This means when power does school—need to be educated earthquake studies and plans outdoor recreation and tend come back online, it can more about the Cascadia event. is not to scare people, but to understand the concept quickly be restored at homes “I hope it is another 20 rather to provide information of staying warm and having and businesses. to 30 years before it hits, so and education to help better food.” “The bulk of our popu- there is more time to prepare,” understand what is eventu- But Wayne admits it is lation is in rural Douglas Wayne says. “However, I’m ally going to happen, how to probably a minority of people County, therefore those concerned it is going to be prepare for it and how to deal who are truly prepared for people need to take prudent sooner rather than later. We with it on that fateful, future the “big one.” He says it is steps to be without services need to take preparedness day and time. n the responsibility of people for some time,” Paul says. “Be seriously.” to be prepared because there prepared. You’re not going Paul says Douglas Electric For a copy of “Living on Shaky will not be enough govern- to be able to lean on the members should visualize Ground—How to Survive ment resources to go around government.” how they are going to manage Earthquakes and Tsunamis in Oregon,” go to www.oregongeology. to help everybody when a Wayne says it is discourag- without the normal services org/tsuclearinghouse/resources/pdfs/ 9 magnitude earthquake ing that a lot of people are they expect. shakygroundmagazine_Oregon.pdf.

JUNE 2017 5 Central Electric

Community solar tours provide educational opportunities, in this case for engineering students from Oregon State University-Cascades. Power from the Sun CEC members make community solar work

By Jeff Beaman solar program. “It’s a fantastic deal compared to buying panels As the long sun-soaked days of summer approach, on your own,” says David Kuperstein of Prineville, the outlook for Central Electric’s community solar whose subscription is one of the largest in the project is getting brighter. program. Since a dramatic reduc- David appreciates having maintenance-free solar tion in the price of a solar energy, but dollars were a factor, too. When he panel subscription at the first looked at adding five solar panels to his house in of the year, the number of 2011, the cost was approximately three times that of panels under subscription has today’s seven-panel subscription with CEC. increased 100 percent over “That’s an A-plus, but the big deal is in the long 2016 levels. As of May 1, the term it pays off,” he says, explaining the energy cred- subscription base included its help him meet his objective of not exceeding his 33 co-op members and house’s baseload energy use during the peak sum- accounted for 66.25 of the 350 mer months. “I consider it an investment. The eco- panels available for the shared nomics are not an overriding consideration, but it’s a big piece of it.” The CEC board of directors visits the For other CEC solar community members, those community solar site. From left are other pieces were the major motivators. Boyd Keeton, Kelly McFarlane, Ken Miltenberger, Shirley McCullough, Jeff Jones and Laurie Hoyle of Bend attended Beverly Clarno and Tom Strand. one of CEC’s community meetings as the project

4 JUNE 2017 Jeff Jones and Lauri Hoyle of Bend were among the first co-op members to buy a subscription under the Shared Solar Program. was rolling out and the couple hosted a neighborhood gathering in 2015 to learn more about the project. From the start, the couple liked the concept. “It’s the idea of using renewable How Does Shared Solar Work? resources and another, for me, is it sup- Subscription ports our local, nonprofit energy produc- CEC members subscribe to the energy output from a quarter, half, or full panel or tion company, CEC,” says Jeff. more and receive an energy credit on their bill each month equal to the amount of Laurie says economics certainly played energy their subscription produced the previous month. Subscribers pay a single fee a role in their decision to subscribe to up front. 2017 subscriptions are for 19 years. New subscriptions are back-credited for the production of one-and-three-quarters production since January 1. Half of the community solar project’s 700 solar panels are panels. in the Shared Solar Program. Once they are sold out, CEC will buy the next 100,000- “But this was a way for us to be part watt phase. If subscriptions are available next year, the price per panel declines by of a bigger project and we didn’t have $31, and the subscription period drops to 18 years. to create our own little infrastructure,” she says. “You’re actually capturing the Credits energy very close to our home and using A panel will produce an estimated 447 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. At it in the cooperative itself. We like that CEC’s current residential rates, that is an annual credit of nearly $34. Each month, it’s local.” a member’s bill reflects a credit based on the amount of energy produced by the In the project’s first 17 months of pro- number of panels in their subscription. duction, it produced 375,217 kilowatt- hours, enough electricity to supply 22 Signing Up average CEC members’ homes for a year. Go online to www.cec.coop/communitysolar and order a packet that includes an The largest one-month production was introductory letter, informational brochure, subscription contract and FAQ. You also 37,493 kWh last August. Production dur- can send a request to [email protected] or call our offices at ing January’s snowbound, short days was (541) 548-2144. 80 percent lower at 6,804 kWh, the proj- ect’s lowest monthly production. n

JUNE 2017 5 West Oregon

PowerUp Helps WOEC Members Innovative round-up program allows members to help others in the community

By Scott Laird

West Oregon Electric Cooperative members may have noticed an extra slip of paper in their April bill that notified them of a new program the co-op offers. WOEC’s PowerUp program allows members to help others in the WOEC community by voluntarily rounding up their monthly bill. Those extra donated funds go into a pool of money to help other WOEC members who may have trouble paying their bill. “This is something I have wanted to do for quite some time,” WOEC General Manager Bob Perry says about the new round-up program. “We very often see a need in our community, especially in the winter time. I wanted to create an opportunity and an avenue for our members to help other members.” The PowerUp program funnels money to the Oregon Energy Fund— a statewide nonprofit that has assisted Oregonians in times of unexpected financial crisis for almost 30 years. West Oregon Electric Cooperative receptionist Judy Gwin, left, assists member Helen Johnston at the co-op’s While co-op members have been front desk. Last winter, Helen received financial assistance when she had difficulty paying her electric bill. able to donate and help other members in the past through other programs start of this new program.” of helping us,” Brian says. “Last year, managed by Oregon Energy Fund— The program is simple: Members can they applied for—and were awarded—a such as HEAT Oregon, through the round up the payment to the nearest grant for us from one of their financial Community Action Team and through dollar on their monthly bill, and those partners, which allowed us to help WOEC’s Care to Share program— funds come back to the community as that many more people in their service WOEC is the first organization in energy assistance. Members also may area and communities. This year, their Oregon to develop a round-up program. create a standing gift each month or leadership team brought us the idea of a “I’m really pleased that WOEC is make a one-time gift to the program. round-up program.” leading the way with this program,” The Oregon Energy Fund collects Energy assistance programs have says Oregon Energy Fund Executive the money and provides notification provided a tremendous benefit to Director Brian Allbritton. “We hope to WOEC members for their tax- WOEC members in the past. According this will become a statewide program in deductible donations. to Dan Huggett, WOEC’s manager of the future. WOEC really are innovators, “WOEC has been a longtime partner finance and administration, the co-op’s especially for a small, rural cooperative, with Oregon Energy Fund, particularly Care to Share program helped 58 and they really care about their over the last couple of years, when members with $13,085 in funds in 2016. membership, as evidenced through the they’ve been finding some new ways Last year, the Oregon HEAT

4 JUNE 2017 program—through the Oregon Energy Fund—helped seven WOEC members with a total of $1,663. In 2016, a total of 145 WOEC members received $63,312.41 in assistance across all programs. Helen Johnston—a WOEC member and Vernonia resident—received energy assistance last winter. “The help was enormous,” she says. “I went in to the WOEC office and told them I was going to have trouble paying my January bill, and they automatically WOEC has created its PowerUp program in conjunction with the the Oregon Energy Fund, which allows mem- offered me the application packet for bers to round up their monthly bill. The funds help members in need in the WOEC service area. CAT’s program and information on how to get in contact with St. Vincent give when they want to and are able, “Because of the high rates we need to DePaul. I didn’t even have to ask.” Dan says. charge in order to serve this area, there Helen says the Community Action “You don’t have to do it all year,” he are certain people on fixed incomes Team paid her entire January bill and says. “You can opt in and opt out. That’s or who are having a bad stretch that a little something toward her February the beauty of using our software to need some help,” he says. “This is one bill. manage the program.” way that I thought we could create a “I was just so impressed that WOEC Working with Oregon Energy Fund program to meet our members’ needs.” offered me the numbers to contact and also provides benefits to the program. Brian likes the concept of giving had the forms I would need,” she says. According to Dan, a high percentage of members an opportunity to give to the “I was just thrilled to receive that much the donated funds are returned directly fund and, in turn, help their neighbors unexpected assistance. It’s nice to know to the community with St. Vincent each and every month. that if people really get in a jam, there DePaul—a well-known and respected “The real innovation with this are ways to get help.” charity—handling the administration program is that there is an opportunity One of the things that makes and distribution of the funds. to give every month, and it can be as managing the new round-up program “We’re not creating a new charity that easy as checking a box and rounding easy for WOEC is the computer software we have to manage, and this will put up to the nearest dollar,” he says. “The program the co-op uses to track billing, no new burden on WOEC,” Dan says. ‘set-and-forget’ option, which allows a payroll and mail member notifications. “All we’re doing is acting as a conduit to regular monthly gift, will allow so many According to Dan, the co-op can fund the charity.” more people to get involved and, in easily use its current accounting Approximately 90 percent of the turn, allow so many more people in the software, provided by National funds donated will be returned directly WOEC service area to receive assistance Information Solutions Cooperative, to to the co-op’s territory and assist WOEC through this program. manage members’ round-ups, as well as members. “We really hope the success of this other member services. The Oregon Energy Fund has a staff program shows other co-ops, and even “We use them for a number of things of just four people. other municipalities that run their own now, like mailings to our members “We run very efficiently and push utilities, that this is a great way to help for board of directors’ nominations, absolutely as much money as possible members help each other. And that is notifications concerning capital credits back into the community,” Brian says. the basic premise of co-ops and the allocations and now our PowerUp “There are very few other organizations co-op business model—that folks are program,” Dan says. “They can tie that will run as tightly as we do when working together for the advancement of directly into our software so we can do it comes to keeping the money in the their community.” n all these things. It saves us from having community.” to stuff a lot of envelopes.” Bob says he saw a need for an For more information or to be directed to possible A benefit of a voluntary round-up assistance program when he arrived at resources, call West Oregon Electric Cooperative program is it allows members to only WOEC as general manager. at (503) 429-3021.

JUNE 2017 5 Idaho County

Kathryn Van Acker’s home is her canvas. The design reflects her artistic imagination and the walls showcase her artwork, such as paintings, and mixed media pieces.

Creating an Artist’s Oasis Kathryn Van Acker surrounds herself in the beauty of nature and art By David Rauzi sweeps through the adjacent square stone stories together. tile floor, continuing from the entryway Kathryn says her creativity comes Kathryn Van Acker loves art and is pas- to the living room where family and from being a Virgo. sionate about it. friends gather. “We need that creativity,” she says with “I think about art every day,” she says. The Van Ackers’ guests can partake in a smile. “Our brains are always going.” Daily, she lives in one of her own games, drinks or catch the natural spec- The love of natural things and patterns creations. tacle of wildlife—deer, elk, cougar and was behind the Van Ackers’ move to Kathryn and her husband of 31 years, sometimes black bear­—that often parade the area. Paul had visited during regular Paul, have a two-story hillside home out- through the couple’s rural property. hunting trips. They both are retired—he side White Bird that looks across White “I love to landscape, and I loved from UPS, she as an orthodontic dental Bird Creek and onto the grassy slopes of designing this house,” Kathryn says. “Paul lab technician. the Heckman Ranch. was a wonderful support.” In 1997, they bought their property to Slab stone walls and pillars comple- Paul welded the railings Kathryn enjoy a better way of life. ment windows and ceiling supports of designed. The couple worked together to “We just wanted out of the rat race of dark honey-colored wood. Banisters are do most of their property’s planting. California,” Kathryn says. accented by iron railings resembling sap- The walls of the Van Ackers’ home Kathryn says she enjoys all kinds of lings with a single leaf. is covered in Kathryn’s art: paintings, a art, such as painting in different media— Uniting the home is a river of sorts­— quilt and some mixed media pieces that oils, watercolors, acrylics—on canvas and a meandering ribbon of pebbles that —though abstract in appearance—weave also gourds. She does some sculpture,

4 JUNE 2017 Above, Kathryn is building her portrait skill by painting a scene from a Kenyan Maasai village in her home studio. Left, aside from painting, Kathryn enjoys mixed media art such as these two pieces. She also creates needle feltwork, quilts and sculptures. quilting and needle felting. living room. what catches her eye at the moment; a “I was always drawing,” Kathryn says. Even a seasoned artist faces challenges. round cheese box, a page from an old “My parents encouraged me to go in that For Kathryn, it lies in color. book, vintage buttons, glass beads, natu- direction.” “Greens,” she says. “They’re the hardest ral fibers, embossed card stock. Her initial instruction came as a trade color to paint, the hardest to mix.” Her wheels turn and items come between her mother and a friend: hair- Working the red, yellow and blue pri- together across the canvas as a conglom- cuts for the friend’s boys, oil painting mary colors into a burnt sienna or yel- eration united through sweeps of acrylic instruction for Kathryn. low ochre is not as much of a challenge and an eye for placement. “I always thought I’d be a good archi- as making the right green—just the right “It has to have a theme,” Kathryn says, tect or draftsman, but they didn’t let girls amount of bright or dullness—for her made by weaving together the elements do that much when I was growing up,” natural scene. so they convey a story or thought, and she says. Portraits and portraying people is draws the eye by placement naturally This instruction, plus an art major another challenge for Kathryn. To tackle from one to another. “It’s like putting a in junior college, provided a base. Yet that challenge, she is working on an oil puzzle together.” Kathryn says she is largely self-taught painting based on photographs of people Kathryn advises budding artists to and continues to learn by taking work- at a Kenyan Maasai village. read about art and find books of differ- shops from various artists. Photos are an important aid to paint- ent art to see what you like. She suggests Kathryn says art is about practice and ing—something she learned from Slate taking art classes, and getting online to experimenting with interesting styles. Creek artist Gloria Teats, who “makes me watch videos teaching technique and see “I’m more of a landscape artist,” she work hard,” she says. ideas from good contemporary artists. says. “I have to see it to paint it,” Kathryn “Join an art guild,” Kathryn says. “Meet One of her pieces—a view of says. “I have to have some visual aid.” people who enjoy making art.” Clearwater River—is displayed at their One of her strengths is continu- Kathryn belongs to two local groups: home’s entry. Close by is the face of a ing to look for new art mediums to Salmon River Art Guild and the Central brown bear. Wildlife is another of her try, and working toward being more Idaho Art Association. favorite topics. impressionistic. “Anybody can do this,” she says. “It just She also enjoys still life. An example is “I don’t like to be stagnant,” she says. takes the passion and the desire. I feel displayed, a collection of items—books, Mixed media allows Kathryn to be very lucky being able to do all this.” n a wooden bowl, a candle lamp and shells more fluid and less realistic with her art. If you are interested in CIAA or SRAG, email from the couple’s trip to Africa—in their This venture is fed by her collections of [email protected] or [email protected].

JUNE 2017 5 Big Bend Electric

JUNE 2017

Garrett, an Adams County Sheriff’s Department K-9, leaps into the water to chase a fictional suspect during training under the watchful eye of his handler, Deputy Joe Phillips. PHOTO BY TUMBLED BONES PHOTOGRAPHY

When Things Get Rough, Call in the K-9 PAGE 4 n Big Bend in the Community PAGE 25 Big Bend Electric

Adams County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Garrett charges a padded volunteer “suspect” during training. Photos by Tumbled Bones Photography When Things Get Rough, Call in the K-9 Adams County Sheriff’s deputies welcome their canine co-worker

By Dale Anderson County, and applied for a few jobs in complete a 10-person board interview. Washington. He interviewed with then- Joe scored 99 on the firearms test and While most people respect laws, many do Adams County Sheriff John Hunt and No. 1 on the oral boards. not. They are why we have law enforce- Undersheriff Dale Wagner, and was hired. John and his wife interviewed Joe and ment officers who patrol our streets, “Integrity is a huge part of getting his wife, Ashley. Since John had been a rural roads and state highways. hired,” Joe says. “Honesty is a key part of K-9 handler, he had a unique perspec- To keep residents safe, there must be the equation. If anything you say can be tive on the commitment. Joe accepted the well-trained officers—human and canine. proved as a lie by anyone in your past, position in March 2015. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office you are done.” “This is a big commitment,” Joe says. staff includes Garrett, a 90-pound Joe still had visions of becoming a K-9 “I’m basically on call 24/7. Things come up German shepherd. handler if Adams County decided to get at all hours, and if an officer needs assis- Deputy Joe Phillips is in charge of another German shepherd. That oppor- tance with Garrett, we need to be there.” Garrett—his handler. Originally from tunity came in 2015. Joe says Ashley has been supportive. Utah, Joe has been with the department The process for being a K-9 handler “If there is a family get together and I for about three-and-a-half years. is not easy. Joe first needed to submit a get a call, I need to go,” he says. “I had to “I did ride alongs with my cousin who letter of interest to the department. He leave my daughter’s birthday party this was a K-9 officer in South Salt Lake,” Joe needed to meet high firearms accuracy past year. I felt bad, but they know what says. “I fell in love with the idea of being standards, pass a special fitness test that we signed on for.” a K-9 officer.” includes jumping a 6-foot fence and The sheriff knew it was important Joe went into corrections for Salt Lake carrying a simulated injured dog, and for Joe to select his dog. Joe went to

4 JUNE 2017 Garrett is trained to detect several drugs, including cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin and ecstacy, regardless of other scents and noise in the area. Deputy Joe Phillips has been Garrett’s handler since 2015.

California and picked out Garrett. Being a certified drug dog means Joe says. “It is cool to watch him struggle “It’s very intimidating seeing all of Garrett is certified yearly through with something. When he succeeds, it’s these dogs jumping off the walls and Spokane County for the Washington like having a Dad moment. I get proud of barking,” Joe says. “When I got to Administrative Code. Every month, drug him, too.” Garrett, he stopped barking, sat up and dogs attend 16 hours of training, which Adams County is part of a Tactical looked at me obediently. But I was very must vary in location and scenario. Response Team that includes the Adams determined to find the right dog. I tested “We have some businesses that have and Grant county sheriff’s offices, and them for three days, and I always came been very open to us going into their the Othello, Moses Lake, Quincy and back to Garrett.” buildings after hours to keep Garrett cer- Ephrata police departments. Garrett spent six weeks at narcotics tified,” Joe says. Garrett has found drugs in homes for school, where he was trained to detect Garrett trains twice a month to track Adams County and other agencies. There marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, suspects hiding in businesses or cars. have been at least 12 apprehensions with- heroin and ecstasy. Joe says dogs learn to Those training sessions usually are in out incident because Garrett was present, detect drugs by doing things they enjoy. Spokane, where access to vehicles and and there have been two bites for felony “We get a PVC pipe, drill some holes business searches is greater. warrant subjects, which can happen in it, and then we will put the drug inside It is also important for Joe to visit when suspects decide to resist arrest. of the pipe,” he explains. “We play fetch with other dog handlers during train- “Things are going great,” Sheriff Dale with the dog and for that week, they will ing, which is an ideal time to talk Wagner says. “We have a great handler, smell that drug and have happy thoughts about incidents they have encountered. a great dog and together they are a great of playing with the toy all the while hav- Camaraderie is a big part of the success team. They have been able to respond to ing the scent of the drug. of having K-9s as part of the toolbox— critical incidences where subjects have bar- “When we go into a school, or some- for handler and dog. And even though ricaded themselves in homes. They have place where drugs are thought to be, these officers wear different uniforms, been helpful in searching for people and, Garrett will be able to find it even if there they all are on the same team. most important of all, subjects become less are other smells, like oil, diesel or food.” “Garrett has an incredible personality,” combative when Garrett is around.” n

JUNE 2017 5 Barrow Utilities

Barrow Scholarship Winners Announced

Beverly Maasak Ahgeak Scholarship winners Michelle P. Kaleak, left, and Janessa R. Vinas.

Janessa-Jane R. Vinas to be healthy enough to consume. Today, access to The ringing alarm goes off in the morning, and I water in our homes is as easy as the turning of a fau- hesitantly wake myself up out of my warm bed and cet handle or button. We use water to drink, cook, walk to the bathroom. I turn on the light, take a shower, brush our teeth, and do laundry, among shower, brush my teeth, and get ready for the day many other things. Water is used in our daily lives ahead of me. Just before I leave, I’m able to make and would be extremely challenging without acces- sure I cook myself breakfast on the stove and fill sibility to it. up my water bottle. For most everyone, this is what In this day and age, everything is modern and people’s daily routines consist of. Although it might digitalized, whether it be the newest technological seem like a regular morning, none of these actions gadget: MacBook, iPhone, or TV. On these devices, would be able to happen without the use of utili- we are able to connect and interact through social ties. The importance of utilities do not seem so great media, and especially keep updated on events hap- to most until we realize how difficult life would be pening around the world. Light is available at the without them. Understanding their history, prog- flip of switch, compared to in the past where lan- ress, and significance is essential in recognizing their terns and seal-oil lamps were used. Electricity itself importance. is important in lighting up the street lights within We use utilities for everything, whether it be the community since there is complete darkness in running water, heat or electricity. However, the use the winter. It allows people to keep their vehicles of the these utilities is astoundingly different than plugged in and warm so they do not have to walk in the past. Before people would go outside, fill a during treacherous conditions. Living in Barrow, bucket or pail from a natural water source, haul it Alaska, there are apparent weather extremes that are back to their home, and sanitize it in order for it faced: one of them being blizzards and below-zero

4 JUNE 2017 Michelle Kaleak A world without utilities. Pretty hard to think about that right? We live in a world where utilities are everything requires it. If we want to watch TV, use everywhere: from electricity, to water, heat and our electronics, do homework on our computers, waste. There was a time when our people lived or play video games we need electricity. We need without electricity, had to get their own water, make natural gas to heat our homes or cook with gas their own heat and get rid of their own waste. But ovens. We also need water to drink, take showers, today, we are fortunate enough not to do that. A big and wash our hands. We also need a place for our thanks to Barrow Utilities and Electric Cooperative, waste to go. BUECI provides all of that for us. Inc. Utilities are important to our community because Without BUECI, where would we be? They provide they provide the resources we need. It would be very electricity, water and heat for our community. They difficult to live without electricity, water and heat. I impact your life wherever you are. You most likely know there are many villages in Alaska that still don’t see these guys every time you go out for a drive. have the utilities that we have, so Barrow is very They do the job many people wouldn’t want to do. privileged to have BUECI to provide utilities with Many of them even have to work overtime on the us. These things allows us to have family dinners, long cold winter nights to make sure your heat is on, Christmas games, Fourth of July games, annual your toilet isn’t backed up, your water isn’t frozen, or meetings, and many other community activities the street lights are working. BUECI workers are truly many people love to attend. So hats off to our the backbone of the community. BUECI men that provide for the entire community of Utilities are everywhere in our community, almost Barrow.

temperatures. Heat is vital when living above the utilities are needed to ensure the comfort of guests Arctic Circle, and it’s important that gas and heat are to actively to participate in these events. These easily transferred into our homes for our use. Gas events are tremendously remarkable in the history of allows our stoves to run and operate smoothly and the Inupiat people of Barrow, and allow people from allows heat in our homes for people to live comfort- all over the world to come together and celebrate ably. Without the two, people would not be able to a unique culture. Without utilities, families and cook home food meals and share them with their communities would not be able to come and work families. together. Utilities allow for a community to gather Although utilities are essential within the home, and act as one. As the world continues to develop utilities are also important within the community. and progress, it is vital to remember the past and Without them, the community wouldn’t be able become appreciative for all that we do in our daily to comfortably gather for events like Kivgiq or the lives. Utilities are vital in a community and in mak- Christmas Games. Within these public buildings, ing sure that it operates smoothly. n

and complete questions that determine their Beverly Maasak Ahgeak Scholarship understanding of a cooperative business model. An Each year, Barrow Utilities and Electric Cooperative original essay is also required. This year’s topic was Inc. awards two $1,000 scholarships to graduating the importance of utilities to a community. students. Scholarships were awarded to applicants based Applicants are required to be high school on their response to the scholarship criteria. We seniors who reside in Barrow, Alaska, and must be congratulate Janessa-Jane R. Vinas and Michelle a dependent of an active cooperative member. Kaleak as the winners of the 2017 Beverly Maasak They must provide proof of a 2.0 GPA or higher Ahgeak Memorial Scholarship.

JUNE 2017 5 Golden Valley Electric

Mary Shields, center, with some of the 75 people who gathered to honor her at the Fairbanks Community and Dog Mushing Museum. Photo by Kris Capps Daring to be Strong Mary Shields was the first woman to finish the Ididirod, opening the door for others By Kris Capps Nom e .” Nome, a banner held aloft declared, But those words only made her more “You’ve come a long way, baby.” When Mary Shields entered the 1,000- determined. Mary nurtured that strength Mary did not realize it at the time, but mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race in 1974, through 28 days of frostbite, overflow, as the first woman to finish the gruel- she did not think much about it being arctic temperatures, driving snow and ing race, she opened the door for other a man’s world. She just felt ready for an sleep deprivation. women to successfully follow in her sled adventure after living a remote lifestyle She also discovered on the historic tracks. and learning the value of self-reliance. journey that women along the way Eleven years later, in 1985, Libby On the first day of the race, a man on cheered for her, from checkpoint to Riddles became the first woman to win the side of the trail yelled, “You better checkpoint. the race. Susan Butcher soon followed, turn around now, you’ll never make it to When she crossed the finish line in winning in 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1990.

28 JUNE 2017 In March 2017, Mary was honored by “Women Who Dared”—a nonprofit group dedicated to recognizing and honoring women who have taken a per- sonal risk that furthered the advance- ment of equal opportunity and status for women. By giving attention to these women, Women Who Dared believes they are encouraging the elimination of prejudice and discrimination. About 75 people, including two mayors, gathered at the Fairbanks Community and Dog Mushing Museum to honor the longtime musher. Fairbanks City Mayor Jim Matherly was a young mushing fan while growing up in Fairbanks. He remembered think- Mary Shields and her dog team. This photo is part of the Mary Shields display at the community museum. ing how cool it was to have a woman in Photo by Jim Andersen the race. “Twenty-eight days,” he recalled. “I’ve friends,” she said. “I thank all of you for dogs, and the fortitude to rise above had jobs that lasted less than that. But helping me along the way.” adversity. she went out on that trail, didn’t bat an Then she invited everyone to sing After a short celebration at the finish eye. It’s amazing to me. along with her to George Harrison’s song, line in Nome, Mary headed back down “This state has a lot of history. And it’s “Handle With Care,” which everyone did, the Iditarod trail, mushing all the way not just the men who make the history. with gusto. to Galena. There, warm weather finally It’s the women who make the history as “Thank you all for handling me with forced her to abandon the trail and fly w e l l .” care,” Mary told them at the end of the back to Fairbanks. The gathered crowd of fans “shows the sing-a-long. For years, Mary continued to explore impact you’ve made on people in this This is only the second time Women the wilderness with her dogs. In 1984, community,” Jim said. Who Dared has presented a gratitude she entered the inaugural 1,000-mile Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor award. The first went to Linda Moffitt, a Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race between Karl Kassel said he learned a few things basketball player for University of Alaska Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Yukon. She from Mary. A dog musher himself in Fairbanks in the early 1970s. entered again in 1986 and 1988. those early years, another sourdough Only 19 years old at the time, Linda She also participated in the Hope 1991 musher referred him to Mary for expert wrote a letter to the Office of Civil Race—a 1,200-mile journey from Nome advice on dog care. Rights to report discrimination against to Anadyr, Russia. “She has done so much for our com- women’s basketball, skiing, rifle, pistol, In 2015, Iditarod organizers invited munity,” he said. “She has done a lot to swimming and hockey in favor of men’s Mary to speak at the starting line. advance the care of sled dogs around the basketball. “This is a message from a musher w or l d .” Due to that letter, the Office of Civil who, just like you, was waiting to take Karl noted that Mary often voices her Rights turned its attention to the Far off on the second Iditarod, 41 years ago,” opinion about other issues in the com- North. The women’s basketball program she told them. “Every musher around munity as well. went from a budget of $800 to $20,000 the world wishes they could be in your “A more caring lady I don’t know,” he two years later. shoes. Every time you harness your dogs, said. “I think that is her greatest asset, Mary’s Iditarod run was during the put your parka on, remember every min- her approach to life and what she does. same era, but had a different impact. ute of it. She has made this town a better place.” When Mary finished the Iditarod, she “The years pass and you’ll wonder Mary acknowledged her friends and showed that gender did not decide the where all the time went,” said Mary. fans at the event. outcome. What really mattered was the “Take good care of yourself and remem- “It’s so nice to be in a room filled with partnership between mushers and their ber every minute.” n

JUNE 2017 29 28 JUNE 2017 Wells Rural Electric

Improving the Member Experience WREC’s new, user-friendly When Wells Rural Electric Co. set out brutally honest, so we removed WREC to redesign the cooperative’s website, employees from the process and allowed website was designed www.wrec.coop, our No. 1 priority was our web designers at Ruralite Services based on your input to make sure we identified the tasks Inc. to facilitate the testing. and information most important to our That feedback—combined with web members and then deliver the best, most analytics—formed the foundation for convenient user experience possible. building our new website. We strive to provide quality member Our members were adamant about service every time we engage with our having cleaner navigation, improved members in person or over the phone, design and, most importantly, an effec- and we want our website to be a 24/7 tive, easily identified way to pay their online extension of that philosophy. bills. They also wanted a site that was just To accomplish our goal, we went as intuitive on a smartphone as a per- straight to the source. Rather than trying sonal computer. to guess what would best fit your online Each time we were faced with an needs, we solicited advice directly from important decision, we went with the WREC members via usability testing con- solution that best answered the question: ducted during three days in December. “What was most important to our mem- We held sessions in three of the com- bers?” For instance, the most prominent munities in our service territory and feature on the home page now is an gathered a few dozen members of all easily identified login box that allows demographics from throughout our ser- members direct access to their account, vice territory to go through a workshop regardless of the device they are using. to analyze the old cooperative website, as We encourage members to spend a well as evaluate the look and feel of sev- few minutes navigating the new site. eral modern utility sites. After all, it was designed with your feed- We wanted our members to be back at heart. n

JUNE 2017 29 Wells Rural Electric

Dancers of all ages with individualized regalia participate in the grand entry at the Shoshone-Bannock Festival, one of the most popular events on the summer powwow circuit. Photo courtesy of Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Office of Public Affairs A Time to Dance, Celebrate Tradition Aguilar siblings and others keep their vibrant and colorful Te-Moak traditions alive

By Dianna Troyer At powwows, members of drum “My kids dance to keep our tribal tra- groups sing and play drums for dancers, ditions alive,” Alicia says of her children, Stepping into her mother’s childhood who are judged in several divisions and Adriana, 9; Enrique, 15; and Leslie, 18. moccasins at age 4, Adriana Aguilar earn prize money. Besides dancing, par- “They say it’s an important part of their began to carry on her family’s tribal tra- ticipants compete in Native American heritage and a way to express their tradi- dition of dancing at powwows. hand games, rodeos and sports contests. tions and say, ‘I am Native.’” “My grandmother made the mocca- “If you’ve never been to a powwow, During summer, the Aguilar fam- sins and gave me a shawl to wear when you should go,” says Alicia. “It puts a ily travels a circuit to their favorite I started dancing,” says her mother, smile on your face, whether you watch powwows: the Duckwater Festival, the Alicia, a member of the Wells Band of or dance. At the grand entry, you see all Elko Band Powwow and the Shoshone- the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone. ages from the elders at the beginning Bannock Festival. “I’m grateful to still have them and that to the tiny tots. The regalia each dancer To share her culture during Wells they fit Adriana.” wears is so different and individualized.” Heritage Days last summer, Alicia Five years ago, Adriana began dancing The regalia is made with feathers, described dances, their origins, and in the tiny tot division at powwows— beads, porcupine guard hair, elk teeth dancers’ colorful regalia while tribal gatherings tribes host throughout the and other items. To make a jingle dress, members twirled and swayed to the West to celebrate their heritage through metal tobacco lids are twisted into cone drumbeats. playing drums, singing, dancing and shapes and attached to the dress to make In addition to Heritage Days, the socializing. a soft tinkling sound as dancers move. Wells Band showcases its culture during

4 JUNE 2017 Counter clockwise from top left, Leslie, 18, Adriana, 9, and Enrique, 15, show off their regalia. Fancy dancers wear a feather bustle attached to their shoulders and waist and swirl energetically. Photos courtesy of Alicia Aguilar and Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Office of Public Affairs fringe that has His regalia is made from countless fallen off. Before yards of yarn, cut to various lengths. a powwow, we see “We made fringe with colors of baby what needs to be blue, white and blue, and hot pink d on e .” around the edges and sides to make it Adriana has stand out,” Alicia says. “With the grass outgrown much of dance, you’re swaying and bending her regalia since down instead of twirling and moving she started doing fast like a fancy dancer.” the fancy shawl Competing in fancy shawl division, dance. Leslie prefers bright neon colors of pink, “I’ve made three green and blue. Her shawl’s background the town’s annual Fourth of July parade. regalia for her so far because she grows is a shiny, silver-colored material with “We have a float and during the so fast,” says Alicia. “The one she wears fringes of pink and orange to catch a parade will do an intertribal dance,” now is baby pink, purple and turquoise. judge’s eye. says Alicia, who learned the fancy She loves the fancy dances because she To practice dancing and prepare for shawl dance and does intertribal and says it makes her feel like a butterfly.” powwow competition, the siblings find round dances at powwows. “When I Her brother, Enrique, started out as a YouTube performances so they can was young, I rode the float. An elder, fancy dancer, wearing two feather bus- observe and practice the moves. Nevada Penoli, organized it. I’d like to tles, one at his shoulders and the other The Aguilars have impressed judges. eventually start doing women’s tradi- at his waist. “Two years ago, Leslie was second at tional dancing.” “The bustles are heavier than they Duckwater,” Alicia says. “The first year For now, after working fulltime as look, and you can’t sit down because Enrique did fancy dance, he was first at the band’s finance director, Alicia’s spare of how they’re attached,” Alicia says. Duckwater and second at Elko. All the time is consumed with helping her chil- “In crowds, it was sometimes awk- tiny tots are winners to encourage them dren prepare for powwows. She sews, ward to move around because you can’t until they’re old enough to start as a maintains and refines their regalia. help but bump into people with the junior dancer.” Depending on the details, Alicia says feathers.” Alicia says her kids have told her they it takes several months to make the For those reasons, last summer will keep dancing. regalia during weekends and evenings. Enrique decided to be a grass dancer—a “They say they feel a need to carry on “You never really complete the rega- style of dance named for sweet grass that our traditions,” she says. “People have lia,” she says. “You’re constantly working traditionally hung from dancers’ belts told me they like the regalia and music on it, making little changes or replacing and swayed as they moved to the music. and are glad to see children dancing.” n

JUNE 2017 5 Valley Electric Looking Ahead - Leading by Example

Photos by Jeff Scheid VEA is evolving to meet the changing needs of today’s members and tomorrow’s, said CEO Husted. Embrace Change, Dare to Dream Heller praises VEA efforts to bring fiber-optic technology to rural Nevada

U.S. Sen. Dean Heller praised efforts by kilovolt trans- power poles in order to serve the resi- Valley Electric Association to bring high- mission sys- dents of Sandy Valley with high-speed speed communications to rural areas tem has been broadband. of Western Nevada during his keynote delayed until “I believe VEA is at the forefront speech at the Cooperative’s 2017 Annual FERC has of significant technological develop- Meeting. a quorum. ments” that are helping residents in rural The theme of the April 22 meet- Currently, Nevada, said Heller. “Like you, I want to ing at Pahrump Valley High School was three of the see this (high-speed fiber) service expand U.S. Sen. Dean Heller “Evolving to Meet Member Needs.” Heller five seats on to all, but the federal government has got pledged his support and assistance in the commission are vacant. Once FERC to get out of your way.” addressing two issues that are representa- approves the transmission sale and the Less than two weeks later at a Senate tive of how the Cooperative is evolving: transaction closes, VEA members will hearing in Washington, D.C., Heller • Urging the Trump Administration receive premium checks for $579. outlined the challenges VEA is facing to nominate new members to fill open • Encouraging the Bureau of Land with BLM. Heller told members of the seats on the Federal Energy Regulatory Management to sign off on VEA’s plans Commerce, Science and Transportation Commission. The sale of VEA’s 230 to hang fiber-optic cable on existing Committee that VEA cannot bring fiber

4 JUNE 2017 to Sandy Valley until BLM gives permis- sion to hang the fiber on already existing power poles. “Federal agencies like BLM are hamstringing private companies that are using their own money to invest in and expand infrastructure in places no one else wants to expand,” said Heller. Heller is backing legislation that would require agencies like BLM to act on such requests in a timely manner. In the past 12 months, while await- ing approval from BLM for Sandy Valley fiber, the Cooperative has connected nearly 5,500 residents and businesses to broadband within VEA’s service territory, mostly in Pahrump. Board Before the Annual President Meeting, Heller toured John Maurer Desert View Hospital in Pahrump to partici- pate in a ribbon-cutting for the hospital’s second all-fiber broadband circuit from VCA in its radiology department. At the meeting, member-owners saw demonstrations on how the Cooperative has evolved in the past 12 months through major projects like broadband, the Electric Vehicle Charging Station at Beatty and the Community Solar Project at Pahrump. In his annual address to mem- bers, CEO Thomas H. Husted said the 52-year-old Cooperative is in the process of evolving. The last 12 months have been extraor- Sliders for members before the April 22 Annual Meeting. dinary for VEA, said Husted. “It was a year unlike any other. consumer of today and tomorrow, they continued evolution is an acknowledg- “Fifty-two years ago, this young com- want flexibility. They want choice and ment of the lessons we have learned. It’s pany was asked, ‘What do you want flexibility,” he said. our gift to the future member-owners of to be?’ At that particular time, Valley “Our company is setting a stage for the this company.” Electric just wanted to be a distribution consumer that is rapidly changing, a big Though the technologies are ever electric cooperative,” he said. cross-representation of choice, flexibility, changing and the needs are different, Technology is driving changes at coop- affordability,” Husted said. “As a com- the challenge remains the same: Meeting eratives throughout the country, however, pany, that’s what we have to prepare for.” member needs. consumers want choices. “The pioneers of this company “We are still dreaming, and our gift Those choices will include renewable dreamed of better communities. Today, to the future is dare to dream, be coura- energy that will be managed by consum- we are still dreaming and evolving for geous, have the conviction and commit- ers who demand high-speed communica- the betterment of the communities and ment to make your dreams reality. That tions in their homes and businesses. “The members that own us,” Husted said. “Our is what Valley Electric is doing today.” n

JUNE 2017 5 Kittitas PUD

JUNE 2017

Rodeo City Rollergirls Tabitha “Lady Colt” Engelstad, left, and Hailey “What the HellVetica” McGraw battle with Atomic City Rollergirls’ Kelley Correio. PHOTO BY BRYAN CLARK PHOTOGRAPHY

Alter Egos Take to the Rink PAGE 4 n Emergency Preparedness PAGE 25 Kittitas PUD

Rodeo City Rollergirls’ Tabitha “Lady Colt” Engelstad duals with an opponent as she races around the track to score a point. Photos by Bryan Clark Photography Alter Egos Take to the Rink Skates, fans and a place to wreak some derby havoc is all these Rollergirls need

By Cris Ellingson it started in 2010. She still has her sixtth and increased feelings of self-esteem and grade skates, which she wore at a roller a healthy respect for the body.” By day, they are professors, bakers, horse derby boot camp before Rodeo City Andrea has skated in Oregon, Hawaii trainers, hula dancers and cellists. But Rollergirls started. and Las Vegas, and guest coached a few after hours, however, they shed the day’s Andrea and a colleague researched practices in Milan, Italy. stresses and work attire for purple jer- how participation in roller derby affects “The bonds you make are amazing,” seys, mouth guards and skates. participants’ body image. she says. “I lived in Ellensburg for four ‘There is a place for every woman in “The environment of roller derby chal- years and only knew a few other profes- roller derby,” says Andrea “Professor Pain” lenges the cultural ideal and promotes a sors on campus. Once I started roller Eklund, an associate professor and program healthier body image,” she says. “It shows derby, I made so many lifelong friends. director at Central Washington University. an acceptance of a variety of body sizes It’s also not just people in Ellensburg. It’s “No matter if you are 5 foot, 6 foot, a size 2 and types. Respondents expressed an an amazing sisterhood that is interna- or 22, you can excel at roller derby.” increased respect for their body and an tional. No matter where you go, there is Andrea has been with the league since appreciation for variety of body types roller derby.”

4 JUNE 2017 Left, Callie Guntheroth takes a hard check by an opponent during a Rodeo City Rollergirls match against Avalanche City. Right, Rodeo blockers Lynda Nicoulin, Alicia Wagner and Shelby Taylor-Olson move Atomic City’s blockers so Rodeo jammer Callie can get through the pack.

competitive,” she team scores a point. says, noting that The other team tries to stop the oppos- roller derby is a ing team’s jammer using hip checks, perfect activity for shoulder checks and other techniques. For her. safety reasons, hand, elbow, head and feet For Callie “Yo-Yo Mauler” Guntheroth, Rodeo City Rollergirls aims to foster a contact is prohibited, as well as contact interest in roller derby began when she sense of community, sportsmanship and below mid-thigh and the shoulder area. was a student at CWU. athleticism by providing positive athletic Regardless of how the matches are “While attending CWU as a music role models and instilling a sense of sister- played, teams need a venue. That is where major, I saw a flier at a bar about roller hood, loyalty, hard work and competitive- volunteerism comes into play. derby,” she says. “In general, skating and ness among skaters and a sense of family Besides the admission ticket revenue— playing are very much an outlet for me. among the organization as a whole. typically $5 in advance and $10 at the It is nice therapy, gets my body going and Roller derby offers venues for youth door—teams also sell pizza, beverages and is a full contact sport. If you are having a in the area, too. Rodeo City Rollergirls merchandise to offset costs. Fundraisers bad day it is good to get frustrations out.” is the adult team, but there also is the used to help defray costs include pint night Callie, a Rodeo City Rollergirls assis- Junior Rollers for interested youth. at the Iron Horse Brewery and local events tant coach and one of the team’s “jam- Because there are rules and different where team members serve the public. mers,” works at Gondo’s Sausage in Cle skill levels involved, rookies are placed “We are known in the Ellensburg com- Elum. in the “fresh meat program,” where they munity for our bartending skills,” says The jammer is a scoring player, while develop at their own pace—typically 90 spokeswoman Nicole “Master Bouter” the other four team members serve as days or so. In this phase, they are paired Klauss. “We volunteer to bartend events “blockers.” Jammers are easily spotted by with another team member who will help in exchange for tips. Our biggest expense the star on their helmets. them develop their roller derby skills and is space rental. We also pay insurance Alicia “The Huntress” Wagner—man- complete a checklist of minimum skills, to WFTDA, pay for EMTs at our bouts, ager at Pita Pit in Ellensburg—also saw a which the Women’s Flat Track Derby medical equipment and track supplies.” flier in town and joined. She planned to Association has developed. The league depends on volunteers to try it for a year. Once deemed able to skate with expe- keep track of scores and time, track penal- “It’s now been three years,” Alicia says. rienced derby teams, competitors are ties and referee. Roller derby names often reflect the allowed to participate in a bout. Community, skating, cooperation and players, but also can be their alter-ego— Each bout features two teams of five competition: All are important to keep separate from the player’s normal life. members participate in a bout. Players Rodeo City Rollergirls on the move. n It reflects a Alicia’s passion for hunting. skate counterclockwise around a track. Go to www.rodeocityrollergirls.com for more “I have always liked sports and am Each time the jammer finishes a lap, the information.

JUNE 2017 5 Oregon Trail Electric www.otecc.com

Building a Better Platform OTEC’s avian protection program saves birds’ lives and reduces power outages

By Lisa Britton

To a bird, any flat spot looks like a good place to build a nest. Birds do not, however, always make the best choice for a nest location— especially when the chosen place is on a transformer among electrical wires. “It’s a risky, risky place to build for a bird,” says Jeff Anderson, manager of safety and loss control for Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative. To test out a possible nest site, birds fly over and drop material to see if it is flat enough. “They’ll actually dive bomb until something sticks,” Jeff says. In his computer database, Jeff can pull up photograph after photograph of the creative nests birds have built on top of power poles, nestling the sticks and baling twine in among the wires. The most common avian culprits are raptors such as ravens, hawks and osprey. Birds that make their home on utility poles are known to cause power outages. OTEC works on solutions for “Birds are a big problem for power the benefit of both the birds and the cooperative membership. companies,” Jeff says. “They like power Photo by Al Dockweiler poles because they’re tall and out in the open.” be removed while active nests can’t,” Jeff Under MBTA, OTEC must report all Jeff is well versed in the Migratory says. “We hold federal and state permits bird mortalities to U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Bird Treaty Act, which protects a long that allow us, in emergency situations, Dead eagles cannot be touched. list of migratory birds, as well as their to relocate active nests, including eggs or The U.S. Forest Service or the Oregon nests and eggs. The treaty protects every nestlings, found on our structures when Department of Fish and Wildlife must species of bird in the United States there is a risk that threatens safety.” be contacted. The birds are frozen except for the common pigeon, sparrow, But sometimes a nest is noticed too and transported to Colorado Springs, starling and Eurasian dove. late, and already has eggs or young Colorado, where the feathers are “We can’t just destroy an active nest,” chicks snug inside. harvested and sent to Native American Jeff says. “We have to relocate it.” Sometimes a bird fares just fine living tribes across the country. If OTEC employees encounter a nest within a set of energized power lines, that a bird is building, they are allowed but if it happens to touch a wing tip Avian Protection Program to move it before any eggs are laid—a to the line while standing on a metal Ideally, birds would stay away from task that can be troublesome with angry transformer box, the outcome is not a power lines when searching for a nest birds dive-bombing the workers taking good one, resulting in the death of a site. But since they continue to roost down the nest. bird, possible power outage and damage near these electrified spots, OTEC has “Under the MBTA, inactive nests can to OTEC equipment. an avian protection program.

4 JUNE 2017 The Legal Side of Bird Protection The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of ship, cause to be shipped, deliver for 1918 is the domestic law that affirms transportation, transport, cause to be or implements the United States’ transported, carry, or cause to be carried commitment to four international by any means whatever, receive for conventions—with Canada, Japan, shipment, transportation or carriage or Mexico and Russia—for the protection of export, at any time, or in any manner, any a shared migratory bird resource. migratory bird, included in the terms of Under this act, 1,007 species of birds this convention … for the protection of are protected. It expressly forbids any migratory birds … or any part, nest, or party, unless permitted by special egg of any such bird.” (16 U.S.C. 703) regulations, to “pursue, hunt, take, Many species not covered by the capture, kill, attempt to take, capture or MBTA are covered by the Endangered kill, possess, offer for sale, sell, offer to Species Act, or other federal or state purchase, purchase, deliver for shipment, laws. n

Left, OTEC crews modify and build alternate structures—or perches—for birds to land on, and sometimes install hoods to prevent nesting on the poles. Photo courtesy OTEC archives

“We want to minimize the number “We can look at our map and see Jeff says. “We’re adding more cover of bird mortalities and at the same time clusters starting to form,” Jeff says. products than we’ve ever had.” reduce the number of power outages,” One particular instance he recalls is One photo in his collection shows Jeff says. when a Eurasian dove hit a substation a messy osprey nest built with thick Because birds are “site tenacious” and in La Grande and caused a major power tree limbs and baling twine hanging tend to build a nest in the same spot outage in the Grande Ronde Valley. That far below the platform. This nest was each year, OTEC has used different substation is in a field of sunflowers built on a pole supplying power to an techniques to protect the birds. grown as an agricultural crop—and abandoned well on farm ground. One option is to place plastic caps sunflowers attract birds. To remedy this situation, linemen on the energized parts of a transformer, OTEC added safety coverings to that removed the lines feeding power to the and silicone hose along the wires that substation this spring to guard against pole and created a stand-alone nesting are close to where a nest could be built. outages. platform. This plastic is UV-resistant and has a Sometimes a bird will cause a Outages also are caused when birds high electrical resistance, which provides “nuisance outage,” which is created fly into power lines. Bird diverters can protection. during the nesting stage when the bird be added to the lines to make them Any new transformer installed by drops nest material such as fencing or more visible to flying fowl. These are OTEC is outfitted with these safety barbed wire. Ospreys like to use these similar—although smaller—to the balls coverings. items to build a nest. installed on power lines to alert low- Another technique is to change the Some power poles are made in a flying aircraft. location of the lines on the power pole double-arm configuration that resembles All of these projects help protect the to increase the spacing. This guards a T with flat wooden beams across the local bird population, but that is not the against birds touching two wires at once, top. Some birds see this as the perfect only consideration. or touching wire while standing on the place for a nest. These poles can be “We’re also reducing power outages metal box—both moves that can result retrofitted with a nesting deterrent: one- and making the system safer,” Jeff says. in death. third of a plastic culvert placed over the “It’s money well spent.” n All bird-related power outages are top, with a round shape that repels any entered in a database. That information sticks dropped from above. Spring often brings a spike in bird-caused outages. The public can help reduce the risk by is used to identify areas that are more “If we can keep them from building reporting nests on power poles. To report a siting, susceptible to bird issues. on or near, that’s the best thing possible,” call your local OTEC office.

JUNE 2017 5 Tanner Electric

JUNE 2017

“Our Town” actors Ed Benson as Dr. Gibbs, Patti Penner as Mrs. Gibbs, and Patrick Ostrander as George Gibbs perform at the Sallal Grange in April.

PHOTO BY ANNE HERMAN

A Play By, For and About Community PAGE 4 n Emergency Preparedness PAGE 8 Tanner Electric

From left, “Our Town” actors Urielle Lockwood, Karen Beisner, Ed Benson, Patti Penner, Craig Lockwood, Ingrid DeHaan, Holly Madland, Dixie Bradeen, Olivia Lockwood and Max Gonzalez acknowledge the audience. A Play By, For and About Community Cast members come together to share a story of relationships and a sense of belonging By Anne Herman woman and the paperboy, worry about beings with nature and with each other. the town drunk and speculate about Susan, director of the North Bend Theatre Black Dog, the Sallal Grange, whether it is going to rain. production, is co-founder and artistic director Susan Bradford and members of In a lecture about culture in the town, director of Theatre Black Dog. She has the community came together in April the newspaper editor says, “…We like directed the group for more than years. to produce Thornton Wilder’s classic the sun comin’ up over the mountain in She says she finds “Our Town” espe- play, “Our Town.” the morning, and we all notice a good cially meaningful in this time of divisive The play won the 1938 Pulitzer deal about the birds … And we watch politics and increasing attention to tech- Prize for drama, and is so popular that, the change of the seasons; yes, every- nology over nature. according to Susan, it is performed body knows about them.” “It’s a refreshing look at what matters somewhere in the world every day. As the play progresses, the towns- most in life: simplicity, relationships and Set in a small New Hampshire town people’s affection for each other becomes the preciousness of daily life, as opposed called Grover’s Corners, the play depicts clear. The choir sings the hymn, “Blest to depending on technology,” Susan says. daily life in a way that highlights its ordi- be the Tie That Binds” in each act—at “It reminds us to look up at the birds, nary, yet precious, beauty. The town’s choir practice, a wedding and a funeral. not down at our phones.” residents chat with the milk delivery It is symbolic of the unity of human She says performing “Our Town” is a

4 JUNE 2017 Clockwise from top left, Ed Benson and Patti Penner on stage at Theatre Black Dog. Alisa Murray as Emily Webb, Ingrid DeHaan as Mrs. Webb, and Bill Stone as Mr. Webb work through a scene. Patrick Ostrander as George Gibbs, the groom, Craig Lockwood as The Stage Manager, and Alisa during the wedding scene.

or no experience, were in “To Kill A Mockingbird” last too, although oth- spring, including the three kids in ers had been on the play: Urielle and Olivia, and Max the stage for years. Gonzalez. Craig’s daughters, Kristin Lockwood, the program contribution to the community. When Urielle and Olivia, are already seasoned designer, is Craig’s wife and Urielle and she chooses a play, she says she thinks actresses at their young ages. The cast Olivia’s mother. Max’s father, Raul, also hard about its message. also featured regulars in the local theater performs with Theatre Black Dog. “The audience is a real partner,” Susan scene, including one of the founders of Some actors knew each other from says. “I try to bring themes that are Issaquah’s well-known Village Theater. living in the same town. The rest became timely, and will really reach the audi- Susan encouraged the cast to become integral parts of the cast during the three ence. I’m also very interested in non- its own community. She asked them to months of rehearsal, helping each other experienced actors. I like helping begin- share about their real lives and experi- with lines and props, rehearsing for ning actors grow.” ences with small towns. many hours and changing costumes in In this recent production, Tanner Before each rehearsal there were tight quarters. Electric member Craig Lockwood warm-ups—stretching, vocal exercises “For us to effectively portray a tight- played the stage manager, who narrates and games—to have cast members prac- knit community, it helps for us to actu- the show. With little previous experi- tice listening to each other to create ally be that community,” says Travis ence on stage, Craig spendt at least four greater unity. Bridgman. “We go in separate, then with months memorizing the many pages of It did not hurt that some of the com- our common purpose and the intertwin- monologue. munity already existed. Half a dozen ing that happens in the group, the play Several other cast members had little people in the cast of “Our Town” also becomes our life.” n

JUNE 2017 5 Kotzebue Electric

Kotzebue Scholarship Winners Students write winning essays about the benefits of electricity in rural Alaska By Megan Hoke

Alaska is a beautiful place filled with many extraor- dinary scenes, such as mountains, glaciers, hunting grounds, and shimmering lakes and oceans. People love being able to plan trips to Alaska to experience new sights. These trips would not be possible with- out electricity, though. Electricity has become a cru- Kotzebue Electric cial part of living in rural areas, providing students Association awards with a better educational experience and also mak- three four-year ing sure that any visitors have an enjoyable stay. scholarships for The first benefit of electricity in rural Alaska $750 each. There would be that families need to be able to live com- also is a one-year fortably in their houses. Electricity ensures that scholarship of $750 families have light, heat, ways to prepare food, and to a student in a also communication. Without these things, no one vocational program. would be able to stay in Alaska, unless they lived as Presented here are the ancestors did. Electricity also provides machines the essays from two that make sure that families’ health is the best that of the scholarship it can be. Almost everything in our society today winners. requires electricity, and Alaska should shine as a welcoming place to move your family to. Another benefit of electricity in rural Alaska is a better educational experience for all stu- dents. There are many resources that are avail- able to students that can better their education, but many of these resources require electricity. In and views to offer, but without the level of comfort Alaskan schools, students are provided with lap- that electricity offers, most people are not willing to tops, iPads, SmartBoards, technology classes and spend money on such a big trip. Electricity offers classes through video teleconferences. All of these heat, light and access to all technology. All these are things need electricity to function. Without these essential for an enjoyable visit to the Arctic. resources students in rural Alaska would not be Alaska is too beautiful of a place for it not to able to compete with students across the world be shared with the rest of the world. It would be a in educational advances. Technology is a major shame if no families were willing to fill these lands. staple of today’s schools, and without electricity Electricity ensures that families are given the same these pieces of technology would be nonexistent in opportunities as the rest of the world. With electric- Alaska’s rural schools. ity, all people are given heat, light, communication, The last benefit, but certainly not the least, is leisure through technology and machines used for that electricity in rural Alaska helps boost the state’s maintaining a healthy lifestyle. overall economy. Without electricity, there wouldn’t Rural Alaska has much to offer, and electricity be too many people willing to make trips to the makes sure that these experiences can be enjoyed by Arctic. Rural Alaska has many beautiful experiences everyone. n

4 JUNE 2017 By Seth Roetman

In today’s world, electricity is very important, especially for a secluded place like rural Alaska. Electricity has many uses: power and light, heat and construction, and the internet and telecommunica- tions services. Kotzebue Electric Association makes this all pos- sible by making essential communication and ser- vices available to the rest of the world. Electricity is crucial to nearly everything we do today. Something as easy as microwaving popcorn cannot be done without electricity. Electricity pow- ers everything in our homes, schools and businesses. Refrigerators and freezers are very helpful in rural Alaska because we need to be able to store food for months at a time without it rotting. In the lower 48, food does not need to be kept for so long because they have access to large supermarkets or farmers markets where fresh food can be bought. every day and access to the internet is becoming Electricity also powers lights and lamps that we very important. The internet can be used to advance use. Above the Arctic Circle, this is absolutely key. education, stay up to date with the happenings of In the winter, the sun gives us very little light, so we the world, shop for groceries or clothes and com- rely on electricity to be able to see in our houses, municate with others. Telephones and cell towers are businesses and when working outdoors. also powered by electricity and are key to life in the The ability to heat a home or school is also 21st century. Having the capability to call and talk to important in rural Alaska, as temperatures as low people from far away benefits not only friends and as 40 below are not uncommon. Some people in family, but businesses and schools as well. rural towns use wood stoves, which do not require Electricity will continue to advance in the future, electricity, to heat their homes, but buildings such as creating more uses and more benefits for people all businesses and schools are too big to be heated by a around the world, but especially for people in rural wood stove. communities. The ability to light and warm our Construction is also much easier with electricity. homes and businesses and communicate with peo- The ability to use power tools speeds up the process ple in other parts of the world is helpful and is now exponentially, and very short summers in the Arctic important to our way of life. Thanks to associations make working quickly very important. like Kotzebue Electric, this is possible and life in the The internet is playing a bigger role in the world Arctic can be made easier. n

JUNE 2017 5