Lineworker Appreciation Day April 13.
Southeastern IN REMC’s
APRIL 2020
FIBER and faith Electric co-ops help bridge the digital divide
pages 19–24
from the editor
Cool beans?
They look innocent enough: tiny, smooth, brightly colored, sweet nuggets that rest so invitingly in Easter baskets amid cellophane “grass.” Why then do they threaten me so? Evil shouldn’t lurk within a jelly bean! OK, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit when I say “evil.” But since I remember when the only dangers from eating jelly beans were a toothache or a loose filling (both significant risks), it’s a bit jarring to risk devouring something that tastes like dead fish! But if your “friendly” neighborhood Easter Bunny is really more of a “wascally wabbit,” he has plenty of options to reveal his jelly bean mean streak. Jelly Belly, the California-based company that has manufactured jelly beans since 1960, offers mouthwatering flavors like pomegranate, wild blackberry, mango and lemon drop. But, under its Harry Potter’s Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans and Beanboozled brands, Jelly Belly’s flavors are far less inviting. Vile choices like ear wax, rotten egg, dirt and Professor Dumbledore’s most dreaded flavor, vomit, are included in boxes of Bertie Bott’s beans. Beanboozled gets even more creative in its offerings: canned dog food, stinky socks, lawn clippings and skunk spray. Though I can honestly say I have no idea what any of those things taste like, I have no desire to find out. Yet these jelly beans are meant to fool the unsuspecting — they look exactly like the delicious fruity jelly beans that Ronald Reagan himself coveted. Here’s something else: you can actually “enjoy” Beanboozled as part of a Jelly Bean Challenge game during which your friends and family can tempt the fates and try to guess which flavors are yucky and which are yummy. April 22 is National Jelly Bean Day. May the odds be in your favor if you take the challenge.
EMILY SCHILLING Editor eschilling@indianaec.org
Giveaway: Enter to win Four-pack of Deep River Waterpark tickets
courtesy of South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority in Hammond. Visit indianaconnection.org/talk-to-us/contests. Entry deadline for giveaway: April 30.
On the menu: August issue: Recipes featuring vinegar, deadline June 1. September issue: 30-minutes or less recipes, deadline June 1. If we publish your recipe on our food pages, we’ll send you a $10 gift card.
Three ways to contact us: To send us recipes, photos, event listings, letters
and entries for gift drawings, please use the forms on our website indianaconnection.org; email info@indianaconnection.org; or send to Indiana Connection, 8888 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1600, Indianapolis, IN 46240-4606.
VOLUME 69 • NUMBER 10 ISSN 0745-4651 • USPS 262-340 Published monthly by Indiana Electric Cooperatives Indiana Connection is for and about members of Indiana’s locally-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives. It helps consumers use electricity safely and efficiently; understand energy issues; connect with their co-op; and celebrate life in Indiana. Over 280,000 residents and businesses receive the magazine as part of their electric co-op membership. CONTACT US: 8888 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1600 Indianapolis, IN 46240-4606 317-487-2220 info@indianaconnection.org IndianaConnection.org INDIANA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OFFICERS: Walter Hunter President Randy Kleaving Vice President Steve McMichael Secretary/Treasurer John Gasstrom CEO EDITORIAL STAFF: Emily Schilling Editor Richard George Biever Senior Editor Holly Huffman Communication Support Specialist Ellie Schuler Senior Creative Services Specialist Taylor Maranion Creative Services Specialist Stacey Holton Creative Services Manager Mandy Barth Communication Manager ADVERTISING: American MainStreet Publications Cheryl Solomon, local ad representative; 512-441-5200; amp.coop Crosshair Media 502-216-8537; crosshairmedia.net Paid advertisements are not endorsements by any electric cooperative or this publication. UNSOLICITED MATERIAL: Indiana Connection does not use unsolicited freelance manuscripts or photographs and assumes no responsibility for the safe‑keeping or return of unsolicited material. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $12 for individuals not subscribing through participating REMCs/RECs. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: If you receive Indiana Connection through your electric co-op membership, report address changes to your local co-op. POSTAGE: Periodicals postage paid at Indianapolis, Ind., and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to: Indiana Connection, 8888 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1600, Indianapolis, IN 46240-4606. Include key number. No portion of Indiana Connection may be reproduced without permission of the editor.
APRIL 2020
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contents
APRIL
10
17
energy
03 FROM THE EDITOR 05 CO-OP NEWS Energy news and information from your electric cooperative. 10 ENERGY How power is restored after an outage. 12 I NSIGHTS 14 COUNTY OF THE MONTH Spotlighting Lake County.
30
food
pets
16 INDIANA EATS
28 DIY
The Post Restaurant in Tell City.
Braking bad: Know when your car’s brakes need to be repaired.
17 FOOD Pitching In: What to bring to a potluck. 19 COVER STORY Electric co-ops help bridge the digital divide. 26 EVENTS CALENDAR What’s going on around the state.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Indiana Connection
33
29 SAFETY Don’t add electrical tragedy to the trauma of a flood. 30 PETS Do storms turn your mighty dog into a scaredy-cat? (Not in all versions)
travel
32 H OOSIER ENERGY/ WABASH VALLEY NEWS 33 TRAVEL Mid-America Windmill Museum is still blowin’ in the wind. 34 PROFILE Brandon Hutton, South Central Indiana REMC’s vegetation department manager. (Not in all versions)
On the cover As fiber optic installation in digitally unserved areas of the state continues to increase, more and more rural Hoosiers will have access to life-altering benefits like improved health care and education, and expanded economic development opportunities. PHOTO BY ROB FORD
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APRIL 2020
Lineworkers know how to get the job done.
co-op news
Let’s thank them for powering our lives.
www.seiremc.com CONTACT US 812-689-4111 800-737-4111 Fax: 812-689-6987 EMAIL contact_us@seiremc.com OFFICE HOURS 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday STREET ADDRESS 712 South Buckeye St. Osgood, IN 47037 MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 196 Osgood, IN 47037 SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS To report a power outage: 800-737-4111 or SmartHub BOARD OF DIRECTORS Darrell Smith (District 7), President
Lineworker Appreciation Day April 13, 2020
Remember to #ThankALineworker on April 13
Mike Thieman (District 6), Vice President
Lineworkers
Mother Nature doesn’t work
Vince Moster (District 1), Secretary
serve on the
around holidays, vacations and
front lines of our
birthdays. A service-oriented men-
nation’s energy
tality is one of the many admira-
needs, and on
ble characteristics of an electric
April 13, 2020,
lineworker.
Southeastern
Southeastern Indiana REMC is
Brad Bentle (District 2), Treasurer David Smith (District 3) Jesse McClure (District 4) Melissa Menchhofer (District 5) Bonnie Boggs (District 8) Casey Menchhofer (District 9)
Southeastern IN REMC offers...
Indiana REMC, along with other electric cooperatives across the country, will honor
LED security light rental; a community
the brave men and women who
solar program; total home back-up
work hard to keep the lights on.
generators; heating and cooling rebates; water heater rebates; home
Line crews work around the clock,
energy audits; discount online lighting
sometimes in difficult and dan-
store; appliance recycling; payment via phone, online, e-check, automatic payment plan and budget billing; and mobile website!
gerous conditions, to keep power flowing to our local communities. Whether they’re restoring power after a major storm or maintaining
OUR MISSION To safely provide reliable electricity and diversified services to the members and communities we serve.
critical infrastructure to our electric system, lineworkers are at the heart of our co-op.
proud to honor the lineworkers that maintain over 3,400 miles of power lines in our service territory. Southeastern Indiana REMC invites all co-op members to take a moment and thank lineworkers for the important work they do. On April 13, you can use #ThankALineworker on social media to show your support for the brave men and women who power our lives.
KEITH MATHEWS General Manager
When a storm hits, they set aside their personal priorities because APRIL 2020
5
co-op news
Celebrate Earth Day by saving energy Earth Day is a good time to save some energy around your home. You can start by:
1
Caulking around windows and doors to seal air leaks, and adding insulation to your attic. Both will prevent air-conditioned air from getting out of your house through the roof this summer. Wasting less energy is the easiest way to save it.
2 3 4 5 6
Cooking dinner in your microwave oven. Microwaves
7 8
Running your clothes dryer only when it’s full. Dry two or more loads in a row to make use of the heat already in the dryer. And locate your dryer (and your washer) in a heated space. Using the energy-saving cycle on your dishwasher and not using the heated drying cycle. If your dishwasher sits next to your
use up to two-thirds less electricity
refrigerator, move it. The dishwasher
than conventional ovens. They
gives off heat that forces your
also cook food faster.
refrigerator to work harder.
Unplugging the TV, stereo, computer, printer and other electronics when you’re not using them. Unplug cell phone chargers once you remove the phone. Replacing your old thermostat with a programmable model. You could save up to 10 percent on cooling and heating, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Lowering the water heater’s temperature to 130 F. Wrap your
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Replacing your air conditioner’s filters before the cooling season begins. Clean filters help the
Putting off using the air conditioner, especially at night, until the weather gets hotter. Open the windows instead and let the spring breezes into the house to keep you cool. Keeping the area around the outside of the air conditioner unit clean. Remove dirt, grass and any debris that has collected
to keep it warm so it will use less
around it so those things don’t
Washing clothes in cold water. You could save more than $60 a year and help your clothes last longer, too.
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Start by participating. Half of what American households throw away is recyclable. Check locally to know what’s accepted in your curbside recycling and what day it’s picked up, or find a nearby drop-off site.
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Know what to throw. Recycling is a global issue that requires local solutions. Many communities accept different materials. Visit your local city website to learn what materials are and are not accepted.
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3
Know what not to throw. Plastic bags, clothing, food and liquid, garden hoses, electrical cords, Styrofoam, needles and yard waste are on the “no list.” They do not belong in curbside recycling.
4
Twin the bin. Make it easy for anyone in your house to recycle – just as easy as it is to throw something away. Locate your in-home recycling bin next to your trash can. For extra credit, twin the bin in your kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry room. Most of a home’s recyclables originate in these three rooms.
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Empty your recyclables. Before you toss your empty cans, bottles, and cartons, make sure you remove food waste and such – then recycle.
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Return items to stores for recycling. Some items can’t be recycled at the curbside. These include plastic wraps and films, plastic shopping bags, and air shipping pillows. Many retail locations provide recycling centers for these items.
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Keep electronics and batteries out of the recycling cart. While
system operate more efficiently.
storage tank in a blanket designed energy to heat the water.
Nine tips to recycle more, better in 2020
restrict its air flow. Trim shrubs away so they don’t touch it. You should rinse your unit every now and then — but shut off the power to the unit first. A tip: Never use a power washer to clean the outdoor unit.
Plant a tree on Earth Day Earth Day organizers encourage everyone to plant trees wherever they can: in parks, in their neighborhoods or in their own yards. If you plant a tree in your yard, choose a strategic location that will allow the tree to shade your home from the hot summer sun. As it grows, the tree will help reduce your air conditioning bills and keep your home more comfortable.
co-op news these should be recycled, batteries and electronics do not belong in your curbside recycling cart or bin. These can start fires at recycling centers and in trucks. Please take a moment to check locally for hard-to-recycle items.
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Don’t bag your recyclables. Most curbside recycling and drop-off programs require recyclables to be placed directly into the cart or bin. Unless your community instructs otherwise, don’t bag your recyclables.
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Reduce, reuse, and rethink. When it comes to sustainability, reducing, reusing and rethinking only help to further recycling efforts to protect our planet. Find ways to reduce your consumption, reuse items, and rethink your needs and approach. For example, you can:
REDUCE by purchasing smaller amounts of food or having it pre-cut to your family’s unique needs. Remember, when it comes to sustainability, it starts at the cart.
REUSE
by eliminating singleuse items and opting instead for a reusable shopping bag.
RETHINK by considering the packaging of what you purchase to see if it’s recyclable or how you approach your consumption when it comes to items like cloth vs. paper napkins. While recycling may feel universal, the truth is only slightly more than half of Americans can recycle at home as easily as they can throw something away, but together we’re working to change this and transform U.S. recycling for good. — The Recycling Partnership
Why we should
recycle
Recycling benefits the environment by diverting hundreds of millions of pounds of valuable materials from landfills and avoiding millions of metric tons of greenhouse emissions annually, creating healthier air and cleaner waterways. Recycling also reduces the need for sourcing new raw materials through mining and logging, which can create water pollution and emit greenhouse gases. It also saves energy used to produce new products from raw materials.
Recycling creates jobs and supports our economy. Some tips from the Arbor Day Foundation: Trees on the west and northwest sides of your home will shade the building during mid- to late afternoons. Keep branches pruned enough that they don’t block your view when you look out of west-facing windows. Shade trees along driveways and patios will keep you
cooler while you’re outside. The shade keeps the concrete and your yard cooler. Protect your outdoor air conditioning unit from weather-related wear and tear by planting a shade tree nearby. The less direct sunlight that hits the unit, the more efficiently it will run all summer.
As recently as 2017, recycling generated $117 billion in economic activity and $13.2 billion in tax revenue. Today, recycling employs more than 156,000 men and women nationwide and could create more than one 1 million new jobs within the next two decades.
Recycling benefits future generations by decreasing our use and reliance on natural resources, decreasing overly wasteful landfalls, which lead to the production of greenhouse gases, and decreasing water and air pollution.
APRIL APRIL 2020 2020
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Recycle, don’t toss, used appliances When you recycle or donate your used electronics, like computers, cell phones and flat screens, you do the environment a big favor. Recycling 1 million laptops saves roughly the amount of energy it takes to power more than 3,500 homes in a year. Even if the device isn’t usable, it still contains metals, plastics and glass, which can be reused by someone else for another purpose. In fact, from
KIDS’ CORNER
Be Kind To Our Planet
1 million useless cell phones, recyclers can reap 35,000 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium. To find a place near you that recycles electronics, visit www.ecyclingcentral.com.
Being kind to our planet is something all of us can do — no matter how young or how old. Celebrate Earth Day by thinking “green” and developing environmentally friendly habits. Share these suggestions with your parents and other family members, too.
TAKE REUSABLE SHOPPING BAGS WITH YOU WHEN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GO SHOPPING. Sometimes, stores will even give you a small discount on your purchases when you bring your own bags.
BEFORE THROWING OUT A USED PIECE OF PAPER, TURN IT OVER TO SEE IF THE OTHER SIDE IS BLANK. If so, it can still be used as scratch paper on which you can practice spelling words, figure out math problems or play a game of MASH.
VINTAGE CLOTHING CAN BE COOL! It’s fun to check out resale/thrift shops and antique stores to find authentic distressed jeans and true vintage T-shirts. Plus, you’re actually doing your part to recycle while putting together a unique look!
WATCH HOW MUCH WATER YOU’RE USING. Don’t leave the faucet running longer than it needs to when brushing your teeth. Also, opt for showers instead of baths. Showers shouldn’t last any longer than 10 minutes.
THIS ONE’S EASY TO DO, BUT STILL, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU LEFT A ROOM AND FORGOTTEN TO TURN OFF THE LIGHT? SAVE ENERGY! If there’s no one in the room, there’s no need to have the light on!
GET ON THE RECYCLING BANDWAGON. Encourage your family and friends to
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APRIL 2020
recycle aluminum cans and paper. Donate used clothing, household items, and games and books to charity. Lions Clubs (which are community service organizations) collect used glasses and used cell phones are collected by many community organizations to be used by servicemen or servicewomen overseas or by victims of domestic violence.
GROW YOUR OWN VEGETABLES. This spring, why not try your hand at gardening? Just-picked homegrown vegetables are yummier than you could imagine, and food that you grow yourself does have to be processed or packaged. Many kids take single-serve juice boxes or snack bags in their school lunch bags. TO
CUT DOWN ON WASTE, PACK THE JUICE IN A REUSABLE PLASTIC BOTTLE AND PUT THE SNACKS IN A RECYCLED PLASTIC CONTAINER.
energy
When the power goes out, your co-op goes to work BY
Cindy Denney
You may recall a time when you suddenly heard a loud crash or witnessed a bright flash, and then darkness. The lights were out. As frustrating as the moment was, you should rest assured your local electric cooperative was already getting to work. Improved technology has helped electric co-ops quickly identify power outages so crews can repair damage and restore service to homes and businesses. Severe storms can sometimes cause significant damage, resulting in multiple repairs that need to be made before all power is restored. Some of the potential areas for damage include:
Director of Marketing and Customer Service | Jay County REMC
HI G H-VO LTA G E T R A NSM I SSI O N L I NE S: The transmission towers and cables that carry electricity to transmission substations rarely fail. Yet if they are damaged, these can cause significant outages – and they must be repaired to ensure the rest of the system can function properly.
D I S T R I B U T I O N S U B S TATIO N S : Each substation can serve thousands of members; substations are checked during power outages. If the issue is located at the substation (or the transmission lines leading to the substation), then that means that power can be restored to hundreds or even thousands of members.
DI ST R I B UT I O N L I NE S: If a power outage is not caused by damage at a substation, the main distribution lines are then checked. Main distribution lines carry the electricity to large groups of buildings, including businesses and housing developments, in a community.
TA P LIN ES : These lines carry power to underground transformers or are connected to poles outside of homes and businesses. Line crews prioritize which lines to work on based on which lines will restore power to most members.
I NDI V I DUA L HO M E S: If your home is still without power, then the service line from the nearby transformer to your home may have been damaged. These lines are then repaired to restore power to homes, schools, and other buildings.
If you lose service in your neighborhood or to your home, stay clear of downed power lines and report the outage to your local electric co-op. This will ensure that the line crews are aware and restore service as soon as possible. By understanding the process,
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you can know more and be assured your local electric co-op is working as hard as it can APRIL 2020
to make sure that the electricity stays on to help power your day.
insights
Co-ops continue to meet consumer needs amid
coronavirus No segment of society has escaped
“Indiana’s electric cooperatives
Many lineworkers are taking their
the worldwide pandemic and public
assure consumers contingency plans
rigs home at night and are doing
health emergency caused by the
are in place, and we have taken the
all they can to limit exposure to
novel coronavirus. How virulent
precautionary steps to make sure
the virus while maintaining power
the virus ultimately becomes is
safe and reliable electricity continues
lines. Several of Indiana’s co-ops
uncertain. But Indiana’s electric
flowing,” said John Gasstrom, CEO
have postponed their annual spring
cooperatives are prepared to keep
of Indiana Electric Cooperatives, the
membership meetings and other
the lights on should the pandemic
Indianapolis-based association for
events.
cause widespread illness at a time
the state’s 38 co-ops.
when it’s not “business as usual” anywhere across the country.
“As the public health response,
Many of Indiana’s co-ops have
recommendations and mandates
closed their lobbies; employees
continue evolving, co-ops will
are working remotely from home.
continue adjusting as well to
SYMPTOMS www.cdc.gov
Covid-19 or 2019-nCov
who.int
Fever
Sore Throat
WHAT IS IT?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some of which are known to cause respiratory infections in humans. The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
Headache
Fatigue
Dry Cough Diarrhea
INCUBATION 1-14 DAYS
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The “incubation period” means the time between catching the virus and beginning to have symptoms of the disease. Most estimates of the incubation period for COVID-19 range from 1-14 days, most commonly around five days.
APRIL 2020
Shortness of Breath
Aching Muscles
meet consumer needs,” said
began notifying members that
Gasstrom.
annual meetings and other
Attempts to constrain COVID-19, the name given to this new strain of coronavirus, have
community events typically held in spring will be postponed or canceled.
produced unprecedented
Many co-ops are already
closures of businesses and
preparing for the economic
schools and cancellations,
disruption members will face as
postponements and shutdowns
a result of protracted pandemic
of all major sporting events
restrictions, including loss of
across the nation. But
income, unexpected childcare
cooperative leadership began
expenses and related household
raising concerns about novel
cost increases. Some have
coronavirus exposure and its
announced plans to waive
effects on operations in January
late fees and allow for special
as the first deaths in China’s
payment arrangements for
Wuhan Province were making
consumers.
headlines.
“We’re all in this together,”
“Electric cooperatives have been
added Gasstrom. “We appreciate
planning for this over the past
the understanding and patience
several months,” said Gasstrom,
of consumers as co-ops do
noting the pandemic threat
their part to follow public health
represents a unique situation.
officials’ guidance on what they
“Our cooperatives are fortunate
can do to protect themselves
to have technology that will allow
and their community.”
many of our functions to be completed remotely.”
abreast of the rapidly changing directives to combat the crisis.
consumers and their co-op can
What may have been true about
take place electronically, over
COVID-19 when this issue of
the phone or by mail. Skeleton
Indiana Connection went to
line crews will concentrate
press the third week in March
mostly on outages and
may not be current by the time it
maintenance, limiting or slowing
reaches mailboxes.
connections.
All consumers are asked to please get the latest information
Following recommendations
about your local cooperative
from the U.S. Centers for
and its responses and activities
Disease Control and Prevention
related to the virus through its
and Indiana’s State Department
website and/or social media.
of Public Health, many co-ops
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue.
All consumers need to stay
Most transactions between
new construction and new
Stay at home when you are sick.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. Avoid crowded places. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
county feature
Lake County Most all of Indiana’s 92 counties are named after a person, Native American peoples or other places. But only one is named quite simply
works, and Gary soon became
for the largest geographical
America’s largest company town.
feature that touches Indiana. Other industries also found the
y t n u o C acts F FOUNDED: 1837
That’s Lake County … the
county to be an ideal location. The
state’s northwestern-most
industrialization brought a diverse
county named for the giant
mix of workers from Appalachia,
body of water that dimples
Europe and Mexico, and the
Indiana’s upper left corner.
population growth continued
Lake Michigan’s footprint is
through World War II and into
little more than a toehold, but
the early 1960s. Then came racial
that 45 miles of waterfront,
tensions, plant closings, and loss
which also includes Porter
of jobs in the steel industry. Gary’s
and LaPorte counties, makes
population went from a high of
Indiana a “Great Lakes State.”
178,000 in 1960 to 76,000 today.
That massive waterway connects Indiana to the
While the region works to
Atlantic Ocean and the world.
overcome its urban blight, some of the most pristine natural areas
NAMED FOR: Lake Michigan POPULATION: 484,411 (2018 estimate) COUNTY SEAT: Crown Point
Along with the lake, railroads
of Indiana are within Gary’s city
running to Chicago spurred
limits and eastern Lake County as
industrial development
an extension of the Indiana Dunes
along the sandy ridges and
National Park. Most of the National
swamps of the Lake Michigan
Park is in neighboring Porter
beachhead. Inland Steel arrived
County to the east, but the Paul H.
in East Chicago, Indiana, in
Douglas (Miller Woods) Trail winds
1903. In 1906, U.S. Steel, a
through several habitats on the
corporation cofounded by
Lake County side. The trail offers
Judge Elbert H. Gary and
wetlands, rare black oak savanna
banking magnate J. P. Morgan,
and open dunes.
built what became its Gary
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Indiana eats
The Post with the most On those days when you aren’t
Open seven days a week from 11
quite sure what you’re craving,
a.m.-10 p.m., The Post is not only
The Post Restaurant and Bar in
a favorite lunch spot for locals,
Tell City just might be the perfect
it satisfies both dinnertime early
dining option. Its eclectic menu
birds and night owls hungry for
includes burgers and other sand-
full entrees or just a cocktail and
wiches, homemade soup, wings,
appetizer.
Italian fare and Tell City Fish Tacos, the favorite dish of Rep. Stephen Bartels. The tacos feature hand-breaded cod on three flour tortillas topped with pico de gallo and fresh cilantro chipotle sour cream finished with the house jalapeno coleslaw. Occupying Tell City’s old post office building, The Post’s décor is rich in historic ambience. The bank vault from the early 1900s is one element that adds significant architectural interest. Those who come hungry to the
ABOUT STATE REP. STEPHEN BARTELS:
Rep. Stephen Bartels (R) represents District 74 which includes Perry and Crawford counties and portions of Spencer, Dubois and Orange counties. He is vice chair of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and also serves on the Courts and Criminal Code, and Veterans Affairs and Public Safety committees. Bartels owns and operates Patoka Lake Marina and Patoka Lake Winery.
restaurant aren’t likely to leave hungry. Diners agree the portions are generous and the prices are affordable. And the hand-breaded tenderloins served there are among the
Red Beans and Rice
THE POST RESTAURANT
Indiana Foodways Alliance. The
516 Main St. Tell City, IN 47586
Post was selected as one of 52
812-547-4700
restaurants on the alliance’s cel-
11 a.m.-10 p.m.
best in the state, according to the
ebrated “Tenderloin Trail” which pays tribute to the Hoosier state’s signature sandwich.
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APRIL 2020
Cheese Fries
Fun fact! The Post is in Tell City’s old post office.
Fish Tacos F O O D P H O TO S C O U R T E S Y O F B E N J A M I N K O E L L I N G
food
Pitching in Looking for a new recipe for an upcoming potluck? Try one of these reader-submitted suggestions.
Parke County Cornbread Lena Harper, Lafayette, Indiana
6 T. butter, melted 1 egg 1 cup milk 1¼ cups purple, blue, or red cornmeal 1 cup flour ⅓ cup sugar 1 T. baking powder ½ t. salt
Preheat oven to 400 F. Grease an 8-inch square pan. Whisk melted butter and egg, then add milk and whisk again. Stir in dry ingredients, just until Incorporated (it will be lumpy and very thick). Pour into pan and use spatula to spread evenly. Bake for 20-25 minutes until top has browned. Test with a toothpick in the middle to make sure it’s cooked completely
food
Tater Tot Potluck
Tater Tot Potluck Jan Hackman, Columbus, Indiana 1 lb. ground beef
½ cup pasta sauce
½ onion, chopped
¼ cup salsa
1 green pepper, chopped
¼ cup instant rice
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed
⅛ t. Mrs. Dash salt-free seasoning blend
1 (14 ½ oz.) can diced tomatoes
¼ t. sugar
1 (12 oz.) pkg. frozen peas and carrots
1 lb. tater tots
Brown ground beef with onion and green pepper. Drain grease. Pour into 3 quart casserole dish with lid. Add black beans, diced tomatoes, peas and carrots, pasta sauce, salsa, and rice. Sprinkle with Mrs. Dash and sugar. Top with a layer of tater tots. Cover with lid. Bake at 375 F for 30 minutes. Serves 6-8.
Easy Popover Pizza
Easy Popover Pizza Maurine Roadruck, Brookston, Indiana 1 ½ lbs. ground beef, sausage, or combination
8 oz. shredded mozzarella
1 (15-oz.) jar spaghetti sauce
2 eggs
½ 4-oz. pkg. pepperoni or turkey pepperoni (optional) I small jar mushrooms, drained (optional) 1 small green pepper, chopped (optional)
1 cup milk 1 T. oil 1 cup flour ¼ t. salt ¼ cup shredded parmesan
Brown meat and drain as necessary. Mix with spaghetti sauce and spread over bottom of 9-by- 13 inch dish. Layer on other toppings as desired. Sprinkle mozzarella over all. Whisk together eggs, milk, oil flour and salt. Pour evenly over mozzarella. Sprinkle with parmesan. Bake at 400 F for 30 minutes. Cook’s note: A popular twist on a standard favorite — with lots of options to suit personal preferences. FO O D PREPARED BY I NDI ANA CO NNECTI O N S TA FF PHO TO S BY TAYLO R MA RA NI O N
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Clayton Wilson works on courses on his laptop at his rural Martinsville home. As a sixth grader, Clayton developed a debilitating illness that kept him homebound while poor and pricey internet options left him cut off from the world. With the arrival of fiber optic high-speed internet last summer from South Central Indiana REMC, the now 16-year-old has been able to resume his education with online classes from the Martinsville school system.
P HO TO BY RI CHARD G . BI E V E R
FIBER and faith
Electric co-ops help bridge the digital divide Four years ago, the world stopped turning for Clayton Wilson. While fighting a virus, the Martinsville sixth grader inexplicably suffered something akin to an anaphylactic shock. He required emergency room treatment. He then began experiencing a series of severe ailments: aches and pains, anxiety, brain fog, fatigue, and even loss of consciousness. The ailments forced him to be bedridden most of the day. Until then, Clayton had been a normal kid who played soccer and basketball. He had a regular group of buddies and was an “A� student. As his illness wore on without answers from over a half dozen medical specialists, he had to withdraw from school. Then he withdrew from life.
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APRIL 2020
19
P H OTO B Y TAY LOR MA R A N ION
from their individual homes
said SCI REMC President and CEO
became frustrating. His internet
James Tanneberger at the time.
would freeze; he’d be booted out
“Access to a high-speed internet
and have to rejoin. He soon lost
connection has gone from a luxury
touch with most of his friends.
to a necessity.”
“He was basically cut off from the
Cami was champing at the bit
whole world,” said mom, Cami.
when she saw the announcements
Worst of all, without adequate internet service, Clayton couldn’t even take advantage of Martinsville schools’ online programs. Cami tried to homeschool Clayton the
THE MOWERY FAMILY
following years. But having never taught, she said, suddenly trying to teach her only child, a teenaged boy with severe medical issues,
Patrick and Jennifer Mowery, shown with their young daughter, hoped to settle down in the same rural community that Jennifer grew up in. But they faced a major roadblock when they began pursuing that dream — both of their careers were tied to Indianapolis. Although Jennifer’s employer allowed its staff to work remotely, the Mowerys needed access to high-speed internet to give Jennifer flexibility to work and raise a family in their dream location. Find out how their story evolved at indianaconnection.org/living-their-dream. The Mowerys’ broadband story was published in the October 2019 issue of Indiana Connection.
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE “I just kind of vanished,” he said recently. “I just didn’t want to deal with having to tell people.”
became too much of a strain for them both. “It was just a mess,” Clayton recalled.
LIVING IN THE 21st CENTURY
about the new fiber network offering speeds up to 1,000 megabits per second — 100 times faster than the national average. She began hounding the REMC: “When’s it coming? When’s it coming?” Last July, it came. The Wilsons’ home was included in one of SCI’s many expansion projects vining out across its territory. They could finally, as Cami put it, “live in this century.” The arrival of high-speed fiber was just in time for Clayton, now 16, to enroll for the fall semester in Mar-
At about that same time the Wilsons
tinsville schools’ online program.
were struggling for solutions to
“I feel more normal,” Clayton said
Clayton’s health and education, In-
of resuming his studies, “even if
diana’s electric cooperatives began
I’m doing it at home.”
answering the call of consumers who, like the Wilsons, lived in internet dead zones across the state. Just as consumer-owned electric co-ops brought electricity to Indi-
BRIDGING THE DIVIDE High-speed internet has become a major focus across rural Indiana.
ana’s unserved rural residents over
From electric cooperatives and
He didn’t feel like having visitors.
80 years ago, electric co-ops began
allied rural organizations to the
He didn’t feel like doing anything.
bringing high-speed internet to
offices of the governor, lieutenant
What made the disabling illness
unserved consumers. Among them
governor, and legislators who serve
worse, his home, just three miles
was the Wilsons’ electric co-op,
rural areas, finding the financial
northeast of Martinsville, was in an
South Central Indiana REMC, the
wherewithal to fund expensive
internet “dead zone.”
state’s largest co-op with al-
fiber-optic networks into sparse-
most 34,000 meters across seven
ly-populated areas is no longer a
counties. SCI REMC created a new
quixotic quest. It’s happening.
division — SCI Fiber — and in 2018
“Hoosiers need affordable, quality
began installation.
internet regardless of where they
pricey. What little contact Clayton
“Today, quality of life and eco-
live, work, or go to school,” Gov. Eric
maintained with friends playing
nomic development are tied to the
J. Holcomb told Indiana Connec-
online video games they’d stream
availability of high-speed internet,”
tion. “Access to broadband brings
There was no cable. Groves of trees and weather limited satellite service. Using hotspot service through a mobile phone was slow and
20
APRIL 2020
countless opportunities. And that’s why I’m excited to see key infrastructure projects positively impact economic development, health, agriculture, and quality of life.”
facts about broadband in rural America
Closing the digital divide allows those in under-served or unserved areas the same opportunities that exist in connected communities: Modern Health Care. Barriers that limit access to advances in modern health care in medically under-served areas of the state would be diminished. Rural Hoosiers would be able to take advantage of prompt access to specialists and expanded monitoring and treatment options. Modern Education. Technology would help keep rural students from falling behind their urban peers and improve student performance. Adult learners would have access to distance education, as well, to improve job skills and offer opportunities for personal growth. As the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded, bringing unprecedented mass closings of schools and colleges nationwide, the need for universal broadband deployment has become ever clearer. How can students be expected to complete coursework shifted from a classroom to the internet without high-speed access at home? Economic Development. The path to economic development begins with bridges across the rural digital divide. With quality internet service, local small businesses can enter a global marketplace, agricultural and business income
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1
MILLIONS OF CO-OP MEMBERS LACK BROADBAND
About 34 million Americans don’t have high-speed internet service, according to the FCC. Of that number, at least 13.4 million people in 6.3 million electric co-op households lack broadband access.
2
PRIVATE CARRIERS FEAR RURAL COSTS
There is a huge gap between the benefits to consumers and what a private service provider will earn by deploying broadband in areas with low population density. Many of these areas are electric co-op territories. Private carriers often find their returns fail to justify their per-customer investment cost even when the lost value for these rural consumers could exceed deployment costs by 70 percent.
3
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS LEFT ON THE TABLE
The FCC estimates that nearly all of the areas in the U.S. without broadband could be connected with an initial capital expenditure of $40 billion. In comparison, a 2018 study by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association found that the lost consumer value of not connecting electric co-op members with broadband is $68 billion over a 20-year period.
4
BROADBAND BACKBONE EASES CO-OP ENTRY
A modern electric co-op requires upto-the-minute smart communications technology, and that requires a broadband backbone. Such a system would allow the co-op to communicate with its substations, better oversee power lines to restore or even prevent outages in a timely fashion, and provide smart meters and other advances that consumers demand. A broadband backbone also affords co-ops the opportunity to provide retail high-speed internet, when possible, as it passes fiber-optic cable by members’ homes and businesses. Thus, co-ops that build a broadband backbone for their electric power system can more economically connect rural areas.
5
A GOOD PARTNER CAN HELP
Many hands lighten the load, and that rings true for rural broadband. While electric co-ops may have infrastructure in place and brand recognition among consumers in rural areas they serve, the cost to deliver high-speed internet can give many pause. Government loans and loan guarantees and grants for rural broadband can help close the digital divide. Partnerships between co-ops and private carriers are an economical way to deliver internet service to members. SOURCE: NRECA
APRIL 2020
21
P H OTO B Y TAY LOR MA R A N ION
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
TONY NEHRT
opportunities can expand, rural areas will become attractive homes for skilled employees and their families, and more.
INCREASED SPEEDS, INCREASED MARKET
In addition, high-speed fiber in REMC service territories will help modernize electric operations to meet members’ growing desires to save energy and money through
Tucked in the rural Indiana community of Brownstown is a small business named Nehrwess. Tony Nehrt started the company after he sold Brownstown Quality Tool and Design, a business his father founded more than four decades earlier, to two longtime employees in 2015.
load control, real-time pricing, smart appliances and other functions that require smart infrastructure.
ancing investment against return is the same issue rural areas faced trying to get electricity in the early 1930s. That was before not-for-profit electric co-ops formed and, with federal loans, came to the rescue. Installing fiber optic can range from almost $30,000 per mile and upward. That fixed cost doesn’t change much whether 40 households tap into the mile, or if it’s just four. But how soon that investment is repaid, and how much the shared cost of maintenance is, obviously does. The density issue
To further consider the economic
makes installing broadband an
impact, a 2018 study conducted by
impossible dream for some of the
Purdue University and commis-
state’s electric co-ops if they have
Nehrwess designs and manufactures small straps, hangers and clamps that mount underground utility distribution lines to poles. The company, with three full-time and three part-time employees, sells its products throughout the U.S.
sioned by Indiana Electric Co-
to go it alone.
“It’s important for us to keep the images and data on our website up to date. It wasn’t uncommon for us to spend 15 minutes uploading a single image to the site,” Nehrt said. “We were always able to get the job done before, but it was much more frustrating.”
period if broadband were deployed
When Jackson County REMC introduced fiber internet service to its service area through Jackson Connect, Nehrwess was one of the company’s first internet customers. “The fiber service from Jackson Connect now frees up our time to do other things. It’s important our small staff is efficient and now we have more productive hours,” Nehrt said. Nehrt said he remembers when Brownstown Quality Tool couldn’t finish projects because it was impossible to transfer the large design files among vendors. “It’s almost instantaneous now,” said Nehrt. “It has definitely had a positive effect on our company.” Nehrwess has seen an uptick in sales through its website because the company can produce new products in a timely manner. The company has also now entered a global market with increased internet22 speeds available through Jackson APRIL 2020 Connect.
operatives, the trade association for the state’s REMCs/RECs, estimated Indiana could reap nearly $12 billion in economic benefits over a 20-year into the state’s rural areas. The report estimated a return of nearly $4 to the local economy for every $1 spent on high-speed infrastructure. “A 4-to-1 return is significant,” said John Gasstrom, CEO of IEC. “The Purdue report clearly validated the opportunities created by broadband investment. The areas of the state that lack affordable and reliable high-speed internet are largely the same areas served by electric cooperatives. That makes it fundamentally important to us.” Indiana’s 38 electric co-ops distribute electricity in 89 of the state’s 92 counties. When internet is unavailable, too slow or too expensive, the impact harms areas already economically disadvantaged and losing population. The technology has changed, but the challenge of bal-
Two of every five of the state’s REMCs have fewer than six households per mile. These are many of the co-ops along the state’s edges and interior that still serve mostly agricultural areas farther from larger cities and their dense suburbs. Lower density causes fixed costs to be spread among fewer consumers. It makes it more challenging for a nascent fiber network to be economically feasible. But many variables can come into play. Grants and other funding mechanisms can help offset some of the “minimum threshold” numbers to create new opportunities for even areas of sparse population.
EASING THE PATHS Over the past seven years, IEC and its legislative allies in the Indiana General Assembly have been working hard to find the funding components to bring broadband benefits to all Hoosiers.
Five bills to enable easier deployment or provide tax incentives or grants to develop high-speed internet in rural areas have passed into law. All five were either authored or sponsored by Sen. Eric Koch (R-Bedford, District 44) and Sen. Erin Houchin (R-Salem, District 47). The two senators co-auGrant Program, Senate Enrolled Act 460, which created a fund for grants to rural broadband service providers. A year earlier, the two co-sponsored a bill that created a grant
FI LE PHO TO BY RI CHAR D G . BI E V E R
thored the 2019 Broadband
framework. Prior to that, in 2017, they
George Plisinski, manager of telecom operations at NineStar Connect, right, shows Sen. Todd Young, left, and Brendan Carr, an FCC member, a fiber optic strand about to be spliced together in the back of a van. Young and Carr visited the installation site along a Hancock County highway during a visit in May 2018.
co-authored a bill allowing Indiana’s electric co-ops
Despite the publicity generated
understand how critical it is to im-
to use existing overhead utility
by the rural digital issues, a lot of
prove high-speed internet access,
easements to extend fiber for the
folks from larger cities, even in the
and I have worked hard to bridge
purpose of delivering broadband
legislature, simply cannot believe
the digital divide in our unserved
service.
the oft-told but true tales of rural
areas of the state.”
“The easement bill prevented us from having to renegotiate thousands, if not tens of thousands, of easements,” said Tom Havens, director of state policy and broadband initiatives at IEC. “That bill alone
kids who still do their homework at the nearest McDonald’s. It’s not for milkshakes and fries; it’s to take
INVESTING IN FIBER
advantage of free WiFi because
From out of the legislation Koch
their internet at home is too slow,
and Houchin helped create last year
too expensive or non-existent.
came the Holcomb administration’s Next Level Connections Broadband
may have saved co-ops wanting
“Access to affordable and efficient
Grant Program. The broadband
to install fiber years in deployment
broadband service is vital for Hoo-
component is just a part of Hol-
delays and all the associated costs.”
sier families, students, businesses,
comb’s broader $1 billion Next Level
and farmers, and this technology
Connections infrastructure plan.
“My focus has been on removing regulatory obstacles that have impeded the expansion of broadband into rural areas, and these initiatives have shown great success,” Koch said. “We are now seeing investment flow to parts of our state that have had little or no access to high-speed internet service.”
is often taken for granted where services are easily accessible,”
The first phase of the broadband
Houchin said. “Far too often, my
grant program awarded nearly $8.5
internet-secure colleagues seem to
million to three electric co-ops and
have a general misunderstanding
their partner organizations in 2019.
regarding the severity of issues
Southern Indiana Power received
related to the lack of broadband
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
connection. Representing a rural district in Southern Indiana, I
APRIL 2020
23
“It [internet service] has just opened so many doors.”
Cami Wilson
cardia syndrome (POTS) — which affects the nervous system. Little is known about the ailment, even its root cause. Those with it can range from suffering mild fatigue to total debilitation. Clayton was put on medications that helped ease his condition. It’s
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE $6.5 million, Tipmont REMC received about $500,000, and Jackson County REMC received about $1.3 million. “By creating and implementing grant programs, we are beginning to connect the unconnected,” said Houchin. “We are grateful to Gov. Holcomb for the $100 million investment in Next Level Connections for broadband grants and are hopeful this will spur additional investments among the provider community to reach those final miles.” As recent as 2015, only two electric co-ops in Indiana were deploying fiber in their service territories. Those two served the dense suburbs bordering Indianapolis. As of 2020, 12 co-ops — from Marshall County REMC in far northern Indiana to Southern Indiana Power on the Ohio River — are now actively engaged in broadband projects. Another 12 co-ops are expected to begin projects by 2025.
hoped the disabling complications of POTS will diminish as he grows into adulthood. While he is still mostly homebound, the high-
including prompt access to specialists, and expanded monitoring and treatment options.
“There was a time when all hope seemed lost,” said his mom. “Since we’ve gotten the new internet, I have seen a huge change in his mental status because he’s now able to communicate with friends. He’s taught himself to play keyboards streaming YouTube. He just inherited a guitar. Once we get some schoolwork under his belt, he’s going to learn that. It has just opened so many doors.” Cami and Clayton live on Teeters Road. The rolling land all around their home had been in her family for generations. The road itself is named for her family. But as Clayton’s outlook on life was being sapped away by his illness and isolation, she was becoming desperate for other solutions. “I was to the point,” Cami said, “‘What are we going to do? Move to town?’
she said. “The new internet has been a blessing. It came at the per-
his mysterious illness. The Mayo
fect time.”
APRIL 2020
Affordable and reliable quality internet means life-altering improvements for rural Hoosiers in:
emotional and physical health.
Wilson finally had an answer to
24
Electric cooperatives are finding ways to help close the rural digital divide, providing all Hoosiers the same opportunities.
MODERN HEALTH CARE,
Three years into his illness, Clayton
der — postural orthostatic tachy-
Tell us why expanding high-speed internet to all of Indiana is important.
world has helped improve both his
“We didn’t want to. We love it out
diagnosed him with a rare disor-
broadband story?
speed connection to the outside
HIGH-SPEED BLESSING
Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota,
WHAT’S YOUR
here. But I have to put him first,”
This story was compiled by Indiana Connection/Indiana Electric Cooperatives staff.
MODERN EDUCATION options so rural students can use technology previously available only to their urban peers. Adult learners will have access to distance education options.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT opportunities mean small businesses in rural areas can enter the global marketplace. And, young families seeking a rural lifestyle can enjoy that small town sense of community with the modern conveniences of an urban area. Tell us how having access to affordable and reliable high-speed internet could improve your family’s quality of life, or how new service options have changed the way you live. Your stories will continue to inspire our state’s leaders to do all they can to bring broadband to all of Indiana.
Visit IndianaEC.org/ YourBroadbandStory to share your broadband story!
product recalls Leaf blowers recalled for fan dangers ECHO and Shindaiwa have recalled 2-cycle gas powered commercial backpack blowers with shoulder straps. This recall also includes shoulder straps. The blower’s shoulder straps, plastic buckles, or the anti-static ground wire can be drawn into the blower fan and fan housing causing plastic pieces to be expelled from the machine, posing laceration and impact hazards. Recalled model numbers are PB-8010H, PB-8010T, EB810 and EB810RT. The model and serial numbers can be found on the blower’s engine block. The ECHO or Shindaiwa logo appears on the shoulder strap, and the replacement strap part number appears on the plastic bag at the time of sale. The blowers were sold at independent ECHO and Shindaiwa outdoor power equipment dealers and online at www.HomeDepot.com and www.Grainger. com between August 2018 and February 2020 for about $600 for blowers and $30 for replacement straps. As a service to our readers and to promote electrical safety, here are some recent recall notices provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Visit www.cpsc.gov/en/recalls for full details of these recalls and for notices of many more.
Marketplace Our Marketplace offers maximum exposure for your business or organization at a minimal cost. A limited number of display ads (such as the one to to the right) are available each month.
Don’t miss this opportunity to reach over a half million consumers at an affordable rate! Please contact Cheryl Solomon, 847.749.4875 or cheryl@amp. coop, for other small business advertising opportunities in Indiana Connection.
CUSTOM POLE BARNS, DESIGNED TO LAST Buy Factory Direct & Save! 22 Colors, Fast Delivery. Two Convenient Locations: • Dayton, OH (937) 503-2457 • Decatur, IL (217) 864-5835 MidwesternBuildings.com APRIL 2020
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calendar NORTHWEST
22
FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW OF CARROLL COUNTY, Flora (Carroll), Flora Town Park. Flowers, hanging baskets, vegetable plants, perennials, garden art, supplies and more! Door prizes. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. 574-967-3022.
25
SPRING HAS SPRUNG BLOOMERS RUN, North Judson (Starke), Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum. 5K and 1-mile fun runs. Prize for the best bloomers! 10 a.m. mrs.brenda.palmer@gmail.com
May
1-2
INDIANA GOURD SOCIETY STATE GOURD SHOW, Rochester (Fulton), Fulton County Museum. Gourd art, crafting supplies, auction, demonstrations, classes, food, crafted gourds, dried gourds, gourd seeds. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Admission charge. 765-674-8088. indianagourdsociety.org
CENTRAL
1719
VIKING FEST, Whitestown (Boone), Anson Park (4671 Anson Blvd.). Experience Norse culture, food and music. Reenactments and performances. Friday, 4-10 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m; Sunday, Noon-5 p.m. Admission charge. 317-732-4537. facebook.com/ VikingFestWhitestown
VILLAGE May PURDUE CONTEMPORARY DANCE 25- MANSFIELD MUSHROOM FESTIVAL, SPRING WORKS 2020 DANCE 1-2 COMPANY (Parke), CONCERT, West Lafayette (Tippecanoe). 26 Mansfield various locations. Nancy T. Hansen Theatre. Seven dance Mushroom auction, food and vendor sales. Car show on Sunday. Free. 765-653-4026. MansfieldVillage.com
works choreographed by faculty and selected students. Friday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $14, general public; $11, students; $7 children (age 1-12); children under 1 year of age are free. 765-494-5993. dapdance@groups. purdue.edu
SOUTHWEST
1826
ORLEANS 52ND ANNUAL DOGWOOD FESTIVAL, Orleans (Orange), Historic Congress Square. Parade, carnival rides, food, live music and more. Free. Visit website for events and times. 812-865-9930. orleansdogwoodfestival.com
2122
GARDEN GATE: JAZZ, WINE, & CRAFT BEER Huntingburg (Dubois), Huntingburg City Park. Enjoy jazz music while sampling wine and craft beer. Art Garden, tasty treats, Jazzed Up 5k and a Kiwanis Car Show. Noon-7 p.m. Admission charge. 812-683-5699. gardengatefestival.com
26
APRIL 2020
May
2
NEWBURGH WINE FEST, Newburg (Warrick), Old Lock & Dam Park. Features Indiana wineries, craft beer garden, restaurants, food trucks, artists and live music all day. Admission charge. Must be over 21 to attend. Noon-9 p.m. (Central Time). 812-853-2815. historicnewburgh.org
APRIL
MAY
Due to the ever-changing coronavirus situation, please note that the events below may not occur at their originally scheduled times. Be sure to reach out to the event contacts below to ensure that the programs you are interested in are still taking place.
NORTHEAST
24
30
SHIPSHEWANA FRIDAY NIGHT ANTIQUE AUCTION, Shipshewana (LaGrange), Shipshewana Auction and Flea Market. Live auction with 6-10 auctioneers selling simultaneously. Antiques, collectibles, furniture, primitives, glassware, books, advertising, toys, and miscellaneous items. Free. 5 p.m. 260-768-4129. info@shipshewanatradingplace.com. https:// shipshewanatradingplace.com/auctions/misc-antiques BABY SHARK LIVE!, Fort Wayne (Allen), Fort Wayne Embassy Theatre. Learn about shapes, colors, numbers and more. Tickets: $29. 6 p.m. https://www.visitfortwayne. com/event/baby-sharklive!-at-the-embassytheatre/25593
May
1-2
MAYFEST IN SHIPSHEWANA, Shipshewana (LaGrange), townwide. Bluegrass and gospel music, food, family activities. Parade on Saturday at 10 a.m. Free. 866-631-9675. shipshewana.com/mayfest
SOUTHEAST
1718
2425
INDIANA DAFFODIL SOCIETY’S ANNUAL DAFFODIL SHOW, Columbus (Bartholomew), Hamilton Community Center. Only daffodil show in Indiana open to the public and sanctioned by the American Daffodil Society. Enjoy the phenomenal hybrid and species of daffodils on display. Fun activities for your junior gardeners on Saturday. Hours: Friday, 3-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. 502-424-3431. cccutshall@yahoo.com. www.indianadaffodilsociety.org CROSSROADS ACOUSTIC MUSIC FEST, Seymour (Jackson), downtown. Regional and national artists at multiple venues. Food vendors, wine and beer, artist merch and more. Admission charge. 812-707-9583. crossroadsacousticfest.com
25
ST. JOSEPH SPRING GARDEN SHOW, , North Vernon (Jennings), St. Joseph Catholic Church Parish Hall. Garden plans, crafts and homemade foods. 812-346-3604.
This calendar is published as a service to readers and the communities electric cooperatives serve. Indiana Connection publishes events free of charge as space allows, giving preference to free community festival and events in and around areas served by subscribing REMCs/RECs. While Indiana Connection strives for accuracy, please note that events, dates and time may change without notice. Indiana Connection advises using contact phone numbers or internet sites to check times and dates of events before making plans. To add events to Calendar, please use the “Submit and Event” form under the “Talk to Us” or “Calendar” buttons at indianaconnection.org; or mail your info to: Calendar, Indiana Connection, 8888 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1600, Indianapolis, IN 46240. Please submit info two months before the date of the event.
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do-it-yourself
Braking Bad HOW TO K N OW W H E N YO UR VE H I C LE NE E DS BR AKE R E PAI R Let’s face it: In the normal course of driving, we’re hard on our vehicle’s braking system. We tap our brakes while enduring stop-and-go traffic and occasionally have that sudden “brake check” to avoid a collision. During your automobile’s life span, and depending upon how long you keep your vehicle, you may need to replace your brakes more than once. So, how do you know when your car is ready for a brake repair or replacement? According to AAA, there are five warning signs when you may need brake repair:
1
2
You apply the brakes and hear a high pitch or grinding noise. This is a strong indicator the brakes have worn thin.
You apply the brakes and feel a vibration. This indicates warped brake rotors. A professional inspection can help determine whether they should be resurfaced or replaced.
The brake pedal feels differently — either low or spongy — and takes more effort to apply. This means there’s a potential problem with the brake system that should be promptly diagnosed.
4
5
You apply the parking brake, either by foot or hand, and do not feel resistance. This may require an adjustment or a repair. (Whether you have an automatic or manual transmission, AAA recommends always applying the parking brake before exiting the vehicle.)
The dashboard indicator for the anti-lock braking system (ABS) is illuminated (usually yellow). The ABS prevents the wheels from locking up so you can maintain control of the vehicle during hard stops.
If you notice any of these signs, it’s best to take your automobile to a professional for an inspection. He/ she can determine the extent of the repairs or replacement to your braking system.
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APRIL 2020
3
Source: AAA Motor Club https://www.hoosier.aaa.com/automotive/five-waysknow-you-may-need-brake-repair
safety
electrical tragedy DON’T ADD AN
TO THE TRAUMA OF A FLOOD
“Electricity and water don’t mix” is a safety rule we’ve all heard. But when flooding occurs in our home, the cautionary voices echoing in our mind can be drowned out by the swell of the stress and water. Don’t jump in and add a tragedy to the trauma. “Whenever there’s flooding, it’s human nature to want to quickly assess the damage and start cleaning up. And if the water’s still rising, we definitely want to save other things from getting wet,” said John Gasstrom, CEO at Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “But that old rule about electricity and water holds true whether we’re talking about running water in the tub or two feet of water in the house.” If water has risen above or comes into contact with electrical outlets, baseboard heaters or other electrical systems, do not go into the water, added Gasstrom. “You can be shocked or killed. Not only can electricity travel through water, it can
shock you through a wet floor.” Here are some things to keep in mind before and after a flood.
breaker off first, and THEN turn off the main breaker. You may also need to shut off the main valve for your home’s gas and water.
Before the Flood
After a Flood
If you live in a flood-prone area:
• If you’ve had to evacuate, do not enter a flooded area until it has been determined safe to do so by a first responder or other authority. • Once you return home, do not touch a circuit breaker or replace a fuse with wet hands or while standing on a wet surface. • If your home experienced flooding, keep the power off until an electrician has inspected your system for safety. • Have an electrician inspect electrical appliances that have been wet, and do not turn on or plug in appliances unless an electrician tells you it is safe. Most wet appliances will require replacement. • If your home experienced severe flooding, snakes and other animals may be in your house. Wear heavy gloves and boots during cleanup.
• Keep an emergency kit of batteries, medications, etc., ready if you have to leave immediately, or if services are cut off. • Keep important documents in a waterproof container. Create password-protected digital copies. • If your basement requires a sump pump, install a backup pump that uses a battery and sounds an alarm in case the main pump fails or the electricity is out for an extended time during the storm.
If flooding is forecast or imminent: • Move electrical appliances and devices out of your home or to an area in the house above the expected level of flood water. • Follow any directives to turn off utilities. To switch off the main power to your home, flip each
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29
pets
Do spring thunderstorms turn your mighty dog into a
scaredy-cat? Does your dog jump, shake, tense up, cower, become anxious or crawl under a bed with an approaching storm? If so, your dog might be suffering from anxiety or phobias related to storms or loud noises. Just as in humans, some unusual behaviors in dogs may not ratchet up to the point of concern. But it’s time to seek professional help if your dog engages in destructive behavior like chewing, digging, scratching and tearing up objects in the home. Severe phobia can trigger panicked attempts to escape by scratching and digging at doors or even jumping out of windows. A dog may injure itself — breaking teeth or nails — or people during a panic attack. Veterinarians don’t know all the triggers but suspect the dogs are set off by some combination of wind, thunder, lightning, barometric pressure changes, static electricity, and low-frequency rumbles preceding a storm that humans can’t sense. Fireworks, gunshots and vacuum cleaners are also common causes of anxiety and fear in dogs. Here are some ways veterinarians suggest helping your cowering canine through a storm:
Reward calm behavior year-round. Don’t wait to soothe a dog when it’s whimpering or climbing on you during a
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storm; your dog may interpret that as extra attention — which will encourage more panicky behavior. But also, never scold your dog for its increased clingy behavior or ignore it. Try to stay calm yourself; your dog will sense your fear or nervousness during a storm which will reinforce its belief they should be afraid.
When thunder roars, pooches like Lucy (above) are reassured by a snug pressure garment’s calming effect.
Shelter. Notice where your dog likes to go during a storm and let it go there, if possible. You may want to move to an area with no outside doors or windows, such as a finished basement or a tiled bathroom. If your dog prefers its crate, try covering the crate with a blanket until the storm ends.
Consider a snug garment. Snug-fitting shirts and wraps especially designed to calm anxious dogs may be worth a try. A so-called pressure garment is said to have a calming effect similar to swaddling a baby. You can also make your own by wrapping your pet in a stretchable bandage, towel or old T-shirt. Just be sure not to wrap your pet too tightly that it can’t breathe.
Medicate. Finally, if all else fails, the use of medications, such as sedatives, can be helpful in severely affected pets. Supplements, pheromones and herbal remedies are also available.
Talk to your veterinarian. As with any concerns you have for your pet’s health or safety, the best bet is to see your vet. A vet can help determine if your pet is suffering an anxiety or phobia, or if there is an underlying physical ailment causing an overreaction to outside stimuli. Your vet may also have more ideas for behavior modification and can help you determine what supplements or remedies to try, or if a prescription of anti-anxiety medication is needed.
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cooperative that provides wholesale power and services to 18 member electric cooperatives in central and southern Indiana and southeastern Illinois. We deliver power through a nearly 1,700 mile transmission network. Our mission is to provide members with assured, reliable and competitively priced energy and services in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner. We demonstrate our
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Hoosier Energy has been recognized as best-in-class for engaging our workforce, and we are passionate about serving members. Every Hoosier Energy team member has a story to tell about advancing a culture to serve members well. Hoosier Energy’s website is a valuable resource for those looking for a job in the electric utility industry. On the site, you can search for job opportunities.
video at HoosierEnergy.com/ careers. As an electric cooperative employee, you can make a positive impact on the lives of people in your community.
VIEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES TODAY HoosierEnergy.com/careers
travel
Still blowin’ I N TH E WI ND FI LE PHO TO BY RI CHARD G . BI EVER
Museum preserves mechanical marvels of the past; tells the story of wind power Long before electric cooperatives began stringing silver strands of singing wire across rural America in the 1930s, the rhythmic chatter of windmills performed many of the tasks needed to make America grow. Every farm, ranch and railroad stop had those mechanical marvels of wood and steel blades and fins to pump water and do other tasks that made the land workable. In the heart of the Midwest, from where so many of the windmills were manufactured, the Mid-America Windmill Museum in Kendallville tells this story of wind power. The museum opens for the season April 1. Having celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, the museum is still dedicated to collecting, preserving and publicly displaying these clean-energy
machines of the past. Through video presentations, guided tours, exhibits, interactive displays, and photographs, the museum tells the whole history of wind power: from 4,000 years ago to the sprawling wind farms generating electricity today. A total of 53 windmills of varying shapes and sizes have been restored and are on exhibit across several acres of land. Most are mounted on down-sized towers and are free to spin in the wind as designed. Others are protected against the elements in an 1889 bank barn that houses most of the museum. The barn was moved from its original location eight miles away in Avilla by Amish craftsmen in 1994. Along with the American windmills, a highlight of the museum is its replica of the Robertson Post windmill, an enclosed single-stone grist mill with a 52foot diameter wind wheel. The original Robertson, the first windmill built in the American colonies, was shipped from
England and erected on the James River near Jamestown, Virginia, in the 1620s. The museum, on the southeast edge of Kendallville, also features 11 Flint & Walling models of windmills beginning with its original “Star,” patented in the 1870s. Flint & Walling was established in Kendallville in 1866 and manufactured windmills until 1954. Still in Kendallville, Flint & Walling today manufactures high-performance water pumps and systems. The company celebrated part of its 150th anniversary in 2016 on the museum grounds beneath some of its original products. While rural electrification brought an end to the heyday of the American windmill, World War II brought an end to many of the windmills themselves — as farmers turned the antiquated relics in for scrap metal to aid the war effort. But thanks to museums like the Mid-America Windmill Museum, this passing but important part of American history is being preserved.
UPCOMING EVENT: GO FLY A KITE!
IF YOU GO:
Colorful kites of all sizes and shapes will be flying high over the grounds of the Mid-America Windmill Museum during its annual Mother’s Day kite flying demonstration, May 10. Working together with members of the Hoosier Kiteflyers Society and museum volunteers, children of all ages can build a simple sled kite in Baker Hall.
Mid-America Windmill Museum
Sunday, May 10; 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Children 12 and under are free, $2 for children age 13+.
732 S. Allen Chapel Road Kendallville, Indiana 46755 260-347-2334 www.midamericawindmillmuseum.org Check the museum’s Facebook page for the latest news on its new opening date. APRIL 2020
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career profile
Providing
quality service Top 3
responsibilities in a day: • Provide direction. I lead the superintendents and forepersons who oversee our tree crews. • Purchase. I make sure our crews have the resources they need to run safely and efficiently like personal protective equipment, tools and equipment. • Budgeting. I set and maintain a consistent budget for the required scope of work. How would you describe working for a cooperative? It is like working with your friends on a project that you all care about. What are your professional goals at the cooperative? I take every opportunity that is presented to show my skills and look for opportunities for personal development, and then teach others as quickly as I learn new skills. What kind of education has made you successful in this role? I am a certified arborist, certified utility arborist, certified category 5 (aquatic) and 6 (industrial) herbicide applicator. Most of my education has been through Purdue University Extension.
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Brandon Hutton Vegetation Management Manager South Central Indiana REMC What part of your job do you find to be most fulfilling? Being a part of the hardworking team at our cooperative and providing our consumers with a quality service. What’s the most challenging part of your job? There are many opportunities for growth at an electric cooperative and we train our tree crews with the knowledge we may someday lose them to another career within the cooperative. Why did you choose to accept a job at a co-op? It was a great opportunity to work
with my friends and neighbors while providing a needed service in the community I grew up in. How is your cooperative involved in the community? We are always looking for ways to support the communities we serve with either our equipment or the talents of our employees.
INTERESTED IN AN ELECTRIC CO-OP CAREER? Visit WePowerIndiana.org to learn about available careers or tell us about yourself.