YOUR ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE NEWS MARCH 2020 Soapy’s Skulduggery Fresh From the Gulf Devil’s Rope Museum ¡VIVA CONJUNTO! The soul music of South Texas reaches far and wide MMADE A D E FFOR O R LLASTINGASTING performance Let Mueller create a custom steel building that will serve your needs for decades to come. Put us to work on a garage, storage building, workshop or combination of all three. All of our buildings are designed and manufactured in the USA, featuring commercial grade steel and limited paint warranties up to 30 years. That means they’re built to last – and backed by a company that’s been in business for 90 years. Learn more at: www.muellerinc.com 877-2-MUELLER 8772683553 Since 1944 March 2020 FAVORITES 5 Letters 6 Currents 18 Co-op News Get the latest information plus energy and safety tips from your cooperative. 29 Texas History The Dirt on Soapy By Clay Coppedge 31 Recipes Crawfish, Oysters, Crab and More 35 Focus on Texas Photo Contest: First Ride 36 Around Texas List of Local Events 38 Hit the Road Sharpening My Knowledge By Chet Garner Eduardo Garza of Mission was one of the big winners at the 2019 Big Squeeze youth ONLINE accordion competition. TexasCoopPower.com Find these stories online if they don’t FEATURES appear in your edition of the magazine. Observations Soul Music of South Texas Conjunto turns accordions Lessons in Canning By Joe Holley 8 and 12-string guitars into ambassadors of happy music. By Joe Nick Patoski Texas USA Twist in the Wind Texas’ Main Squeeze The accordion has been a beloved By E. Dan Klepper 14 musical instrument since it got here. By Joe Nick Patoski NEXT MONTH A Snake To Love An outdoors journalist comes to admire rattlesnakes, which are not the evil beings of legend and myth. 31 38 29 35 GARZA: COURTESY TEXAS FOLKLIFE. RATTLESNAKE: FIVESPOTS | SHUTTERSTOCK.COM ON THE COVER Flaco Jiménez brought the conjunto accordion to Amsterdam in 1989. Photo by Frans Schellekens | Getty Images TEXAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Alan Lesley, Chair, Comanche; Robert Loth III, Vice Chair, Fredericksburg; Gary Raybon, Secretary-Treasurer, El Campo; Mark Boyd, Douglassville; Greg Henley, Tahoka; Billy Jones, Corsicana; David McGinnis, Van Alstyne • PRESIDENT/CEO: Mike Williams, Austin • COMMUNICATIONS & MEMBER SERVICES COMMITTEE: Marty Haught, Burleson; Bill Hetherington, Bandera; Ron Hughes, Sinton; Boyd McCamish, Littlefield; Mark McClain, Roby; John Ed Shinpaugh, Bonham; Robert Walker, Gilmer; Brandon Young, McGregor • MAGAZINE STAFF: Martin Bevins, Vice President, Communications & Member Services; Charles J. Lohrmann, Editor; Tom Widlowski, Associate Editor; Karen Nejtek, Production Manager; Andy Doughty, Creative Manager; Elaine Sproull, Advertising Manager; Chris Burrows, Senior Communications Specialist; Grace Fultz, Print Production Specialist; Travis Hill, Communications Specialist; Qasim K. Johnson, Administrative Assistant; Megan Myers, Food Editor; Jessica Ridge, Communications Specialist; Chris Salazar, Digital Field Editor; Jane Sharpe, Senior Designer; Kristin Wise, Digital Media Intern; Shannon Oelrich, Proofreader TexasCoopPower.com March 2020 Texas Co-op Power 3 SUPER COUPON SUPER COUPON OVER 5,000 5 STAR REVIEWS g 1,000+ Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com FREE WITH ANY PURCHASE Ideal for Impact Wrench, Finish & Brad Nailers, SUPER COUPON Customer Rating Stapling, All Purpose Spray Gun & Blow Guns SUPER BRIGHT LED/SMD WORK LIGHT/FLASHLIGHT Handle and 20 GALLON, 135 PSI Protective • Super-Strong, Shroud 135 Max. PSI Ultra-Lightweight 20% OIL-LUBE 1.6 Running HP Composite Plastic AIR COMPRESSOR 4.0 SCFM • Magnetic Base & Oil Lube Pump 360° Swivel Hook for Powerful Hands-Free Operation NOW Induction Motor • 3-AAA Batteries (included) 99 • 144 Lumens “Won’t trip ANY $ 174 your breaker” SINGLE Large ALL IN A SINGLE SUPER POWERFUL LIGHT ITEM* Rubber Wheels COMPARE TO OFF ITEM 63878/63991 * 13704843 * SAVE PERFORMANCE $ 52 $ $ 99 64005/60566/69567 13 13 7 0 4 8 4 3 75 199 63601/ 67227shown TOOL MODEL: W2364 Limit 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot Easy Access be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day COMPARE TO $ 99 Drain Valve Rubber Foot * 13700317 * Parking Lot Sale item, compressors, fl oor jacks, safes, storage cabinets, chests or 249 Stabilizers 13 7 0 0 3 1 7 carts, trailers, welders, Admiral, Ames, Atlas, Bauer, Central Machinery, Cobra, PORTER-CABLE MODEL: 118903799 * 13720481 * CoverPro, Daytona, Diamondback, Earthquake, Fischer, Hercules, Icon, Jupiter, Cannot be used with other discounts or prior purchases. Original coupon must be presented. Lynxx, Poulan, Predator, Tailgator, Viking, Vulcan, Zurich. Not valid on prior 13 7 2 0 4 8 1 Valid through 5/2/20 while supplies last. Limit 1 FREE GIFT per customer per day. purchases. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/2/20. ITEM 56241 / 64857 shown LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20 * SUPER COUPON SUPER SUPER COUPON COUPON % #1 SELLING JACKS IN AMERICA 200 LUMEN LED SUPER BRIGHT OVER 50 MORE 301 PIECE MASTER ALKALINE PLUS PERFORMANCE RAPID PUMP® 3 TON STEEL FLIP LIGHT MECHANIC'S TOOL KIT • Wireless, tool-free Customer Rating BATTERIES HEAVY DUTY LOW PROFILE and easy installation AA, AAA - 18 PK FLOOR JACK Also available in Customer Rating C - 4 pk, D - 4 pk, and • Weighs 78 lbs. $ 99 9 volt - 2 pk sizes Customer Rating NOW99 199 NOW 99 Customer Rating $ $ 99 $ 1 SAVE Item 64490 SAVE 90 $ $ 169 shown 3 130 COMPARE TO NOW COMPARE TO COMPARE TO NOW TEQ CORRECT 99 PROMIER SAVE COMPARE TO $ 29999 DURACELL $ 99 99 $ 99 $ 99 KLUTCH $ 97 8 189 $ 99 $ 99 4 60% MODEL: 43994 13 $ 6 MODEL: T830018Z 109 MODEL: SW-SWITCH-12/24 ITEM 64189/64723 / 63922 shown ITEM 63464/63457 / 45951 shown MODEL: 004133303032 SAVE 49% ITEM 56618/56619/566205 6 6 1 8 / 5 6 6 1 9 / 5 6 6 2 0 / /56617 5 6 6 1 7 shown * 13739035 * * 13750193 * * 13757462 * * 13764435 * 13 7 3 9 0 3 5 13 7 5 0 1 9 3 13 7 5 7 4 6 2 13 7 6 4 4 3 5 LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20 * LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20 * LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20 * LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20 * SUPER COUPON SUPER COUPON SUPER SUPER COUPON COUPON 30", 5 DRAWER MECHANIC'S CARTS Customer Rating POWDER-FREE AIRLESS PAINT SPRAYER KIT 72" x 80" • 700 lb. Customer Rating capacity NITRILE GLOVES MOVING PACK OF 100 NOW BLANKET • 5 mil thickness 99 $ 164 Customer Rating SAVE 59% NOW99 Customer Rating COMPARE TO $ 5 $ 99 NOW $ 99 VENOM 219 COMPARE TO 99 YOUR CHOICE $ 97 COMPARE TO 229 OF 7 COLORS COMPARE TO BLUE HAWK $ 5 Snap-on 99 14 $ 99 $ MODEL: VEN4145 GRACO $ 99 SAVE BLUE-POINT SAVE 630 $ 199 7 19 $ SAVE $ MODEL: 77280 830 Item 64031, 56429, ITEM 37050, 64417, 61363, 68496, $ 299 70% $ 99 MODEL: KRBC10TBPES 64033, 64059 , 64721, 64722, 64720 68497, 61360, 61359, 68498, 64418 shown ITEM 62915 / 60600 shown 134 MODEL: 262800 ITEM 69505/62418 / 66537 shown 8 * 13773866 * * 13779030 * * 13788080 * * 13789838 * 13 7 7 3 8 6 6 13 7 7 9 0 3 0 13 7 8 8 0 8 0 13 7 8 9 8 3 8 LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20 * LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20 * LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20 * LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20 * ® SUPER COUPON SUPER COUPON SUPER COUPON SUPER COUPON AUTOMATIC 1 TON CAPACITY Customer Rating BATTERY FLOAT 4 PIECE, 1" x 15 FT. 4375 WATT MAX. STARTING FOLDABLE RATCHETING TIE DOWNS EXTRA LONG LIFE GAS POWERED CHARGER SHOP CRANE • 16 hour run time Customer Rating • 400 lb. working load NOW GENERATOR • Boom extends from 34" to 45" 99 6 Customer Rating NOW $ 99 • Crane height adjusts from $ 99 9 69-5/8" to 82" Customer Rating $ 329 NOW99 $ 1239 COMPARE TO $ 4 NOW COMPARE TO $ 99 $ $ 99 99 KEEPER 379 HONDA $ 41 SAVE 90 189 $ 80 Wheel kit sold $ $ COMPARE TO $ 139 22 separately. SAVE 1,739 2,069 30 SAVE COMPARE TO $ 99 MODEL: EM4000SX SCHUMACHER ELECTRIC MODEL: SC1 229 SAVE 69% MODEL: 5505 ITEM 63963 / 63962 shown ITEM 69955/64284 / 42292 shown 83% GOPLUS MODEL: GP-101040150 ITEM 695126 9 5 1 2 / /61858 6 1 8 5 8 shown ITEM 90984/63056/63057/63150/56668 / 63094 shown ITEM 63960/63961, CALIFORNIA ONLY * 13790966 * * 13793962 * * 13806945 * * 13813774 * 13 7 9 0 9 6 6 13 7 9 3 9 6 2 13 8 0 6 9 4 5 13 8 1 3 7 7 4 LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20 * LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20 * LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20 * LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20 * SUPER COUPON SUPER AMMO DRY BOX TWO TIER Customer Rating COUPON EASY-STORE 14" ELECTRIC Customer Rating 4-1/2" ANGLE GRINDER Customer Rating CHAINSAW STEP LADDER • 225 lb. capacity Customer Rating NOW99 SAVE NOW49 $ 19 NOW99 44% $ 3 $ 39 COMPARE TO COMPARE TO NOW $ 99 CRAFTSMAN PERFORMAX 99 29 SAVES A V E $ 99 SAVE $ 74 $ 99 $ 99 $ 9 $ 99 $ 99 SAVE $ 88 49 80 17 14 COMPARE TO 9 65% 5 COMPARE TO 33 MODEL: 071-45247 MODEL: 2411-1 MODEL: S322A-1 ITEM 64498 / 64497 shown 50% ITEM 69645 / 60625 shown RANGEMAXX MODEL: 1312-92 ITEM 63135 / 61451 shown ITEM 67514 40% WERNER * 13820662 * * 13822208 * * 13823528 * * 13824748 * 13 8 2 0 6 6 2 13 8 2 2 2 0 8 13 8 2 3 5 2 8 13 8 2 4 7 4 8 LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20 * LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20 * LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20 * LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20 * At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specifi ed comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was *Original coupon only.