South Dakota Electric February 2020 Vol. 72 No. 2 Reasons to Love Your Electric Co-op Page 8 Outhouse Racing in Nemo Page 12 Tough training. Safe & reliable power. Linemen play a critical role in our mission to provide reliable, affordable electricity. Tough training and a focus on safety is behind everything they do. Simulated field operations and emergency-response training are ways Basin Electric invests in their safety and in providing reliable power to you. Your energy starts here. basinelectric.com BEPC Linemen safety-reliability ad 8-18.indd 1 8/29/2018 3:43:54 PM EDITORIAL South Dakota Electric Cooperatives Care Electric Love for Community With Valentine’s Day approaching, we can’t think of a better time to express how much ISSN No. 1067-4977 we love South Dakota, its communities and serving you, the members of our electric co-ops. Produced by the following electric We know when electric co-ops helped to bring elec- cooperatives in South Dakota and tricity to rural South Dakota many years ago, the Tough western Minnesota: quality of life improved for all. Through the years, other Black Hills Electric, Custer, S.D. issues needed to be tackled and we have been at the Bon Homme Yankton Electric, Tabor, S.D. forefront of helping to address some of those issues. We training. want to help meet the long-term needs of our commu- Butte Electric, Newell, S.D. Cam Wal Electric, Selby, S.D. nities to ensure they continue to thrive – because just Central Electric, Mitchell, S.D. like you, we live here, too. Charles Mix Electric, Lake Andes, S.D. While our cooperatives’ top priority is to provide safe, Cherry-Todd Electric, Mission, S.D. reliable and affordable energy to you, equally important Safe & Clay-Union Electric, Vermillion, S.D. is our mission to enrich the lives of the consum- Codington-Clark Electric, p Watertown, S.D. Ed Anderson er-members (that’s you!) that we serve. This focus to benefit the larger community is central to the way we Dakota Energy, Huron, S.D. SDREA General Manager reliable operate as cooperatives. We know that electricity is a Douglas Electric, Armour, S.D. [email protected] East River Electric, Madison, S.D. critical need for modern-day life, but it takes more than FEM Electric, Ipswich, S.D. poles and power lines to make a community. Grand Electric, Bison, S.D. power. Over time, our co-ops have evolved to meet the changing needs of our communities, H-D Electric, Clear Lake, S.D. thereby improving the quality of life for everyone. And that can mean many different Kingsbury Electric, De Smet, S.D. things. It can mean programs for youth, such as education scholarships or the electric Lacreek Electric, Martin, S.D. Lake Region Electric, Webster, S.D. cooperative Youth Tour, where we take our state’s brightest young people to Washington, Lyon-Lincoln Electric, Tyler, Minn. D.C., for a weeklong immersion to experience democracy in action. It means organizing Moreau-Grand Electric, Timber Lake, S.D. food and clothing drives and operating Operation Round Up®, a program that helps local Northern Electric, Bath, S.D. families and organizations. It means partnering with organizations like fire departments, Oahe Electric, Blunt, S.D. 4-H Clubs and other groups for local events and other worthy programs. Renville-Sibley Co-op Power, Over the last 80 years, our community-focused programs and other giving projects p Danube, Minn. Linemen play a critical role in our mission to provide reliable, have helped our local communities – and we couldn’t do any of this without you, our Rosebud Electric, Gregory, S.D. affordable electricity. Tough training and a focus on safety Rushmore Electric, Rapid City, S.D. members. is behind everything they do. Simulated field operations Sioux Valley Energy, Colman, S.D. We all benefit from these programs because of you and your neighbors. You empower Southeastern Electric, Marion, S.D. the electric cooperatives through your membership and through your participation in and emergency-response training are ways Basin Electric Traverse Electric, Wheaton, Minn. and support of these programs. invests in their safety and in providing reliable power to you. Union County Electric, Elk Point, S.D. West Central Electric, Murdo, S.D. As local businesses, electric cooperatives West River Electric, Wall, S.D are proud to power your life and bring Our co-ops have Whetstone Valley Electric, Milbank, S.D. good things to our communities. We hope evolved to meet the City of Elk Point, S.D. you will continue to guide our efforts by sharing your perspective as we plan for changing needs of SOUTH DAKOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS the future. The energy landscape is under- is published monthly for $6 annually for member coop- our communities, eratives, $12 annually for non-members by South Dakota going dramatic change fueled by evolving Rural Electric Association, 222 W. Pleasant Drive, Pierre, S.D. 57501. Correspondence to: Editor, South Dakota technology and consumer desires for thereby improving Electric Cooperative Connections, PO Box 1138, Pierre, more options. While the larger environ- SD 57501; telephone (605) 224-8823; fax (605) 224-4430; the quality of life e-mail [email protected] ment in which we operate is constantly Brenda Kleinjan, Editor changing, one thing remains the same. for everyone. Dawn Trapp, Communications Specialist By working together, I’m certain that we Jocelyn Romey, Your energy starts here. p Staff Communications Professional can continue to do good things for our communities. basinelectric.com February 2020 | Cooperative Connections 3 BEPC Linemen safety-reliability ad 8-18.indd 1 8/29/2018 3:43:54 PM SAFETY TIPS Getting Involved The state legislatures of both Space Heater Safety Minnesota and South Dakota convened in early January. Need Heating equipment is the second leading cause of home to contact your legislator while in fires in the United States. More Pierre or Saint Paul? Here’s how: than 65,000 home fires are attributed to heating equipment Contacting Members each year. These fires result in of South Dakota’s hundreds of deaths, thousands Legislature: of injuries and millions of dollars in property damage. Go to http://sdlegislature.gov/ From there, you can search your Portable electric space heaters senator or representatives, see the committees which they are can be a convenient source of assigned and send them an email. Need to reach them by phone? supplemental heat for your home You can call and leave a message with the Senate at 605-773-3821 in cold weather. Unfortunately, or with the House of Representatives at 605-773-3851. You can they can pose significant fire also send a fax to 605-773-6806. and electric shock hazards if not used properly. Fire and electrical Contacting Minnesota Legislators: hazards can be caused by space For contact information on Minnesota house members, heaters without adequate safety visit: features, space heaters placed https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members near combustibles, or space heaters that are improperly plugged in. For contact information on Minnesota senators, visit: Safety should always be a top consideration when using http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members space heaters. Here are some tips for keeping your home safe and warm when it’s cold outside: p Make sure your space heater has the label showing KIDS CORNER SAFETY POSTER that it is listed by a recognized testing laboratory. p Before using any space heater, read the manufacturer’s instructions and warning labels carefully. p Inspect heaters for cracked or broken plugs or loose connections before each use. If frayed, worn or damaged, do not use the heater. p Never leave a space heater unattended. Turn it off when you’re leaving a room or going to sleep, and don’t let pets or children play too close to a space heater. p Space heaters are only meant to provide supplemental heat and should never be used to warm bedding, cook food, dry clothing or thaw pipes. p Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home and outside all sleeping areas and test them once a month. p Proper placement of space heaters is critical. Heaters must be kept at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including papers, clothing and rugs. “Don’t let anything get near your extension p Locate space heaters out of high traffic areas and cords!” doorways where they may pose a tripping hazard. p Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet. Do not Sierra Staufacker, 9 years old use an extension cord or power strip, which could overheat and result in a fire. Do not plug any other Sierra is the daughter of Cory and Staci Staufacker, electrical devices into the same outlet as the heater. Balaton, Minn. They are members of Lyon-Lincoln p Place space heaters on level, flat surfaces. Never place Electric Cooperative, Tyler, Minn. heaters on cabinets, tables, furniture, or carpet, which can overheat and start a fire. Kids, send your drawing with an electrical safety tip to your local p Always unplug and safely store the heater when it is electric cooperative (address found on Page 3). If your poster not in use. is published, you’ll receive a prize. All entries must include your name, age, mailing address and the names of your parents. Colored drawings are encouraged. Source: esfi.org 4 Cooperative Connections | February 2020 RECIPES Recipe and photo courtesy mccormick.com/recipes BountifulBountiful BrunchBrunch Pineapple-Zucchini Bread Grilled Fruit with Cinnamon 3 eggs 3 cups flour Oatmeal Crumble 2 cups sugar 1 tsp. salt 6 T.