Save money and energy: Announcing 2021 Rebate Program.
Dubois REC’s
For the
BIRDS DNR and landowners work hand-in-hand to keep endangered birds in the bush
pages 17–20
JANUARY 2021
from the editor
Embracing friluftsliv No, the above headline does not contain a typo. “Friluftsliv” (pronounced free-loofts-liv) is a word coined by Norwegian playwright and poet Henrik Ibsen in the 1850s which literally means “free air life.” Ibsen believed that spending time outdoors enjoying nature was key to maintaining one’s spiritual and physical well-being. Ibsen’s “communing with nature” philosophy is quite unlike another Scandinavian lifestyle concept: hygge (pronounced hue-guh). To achieve the calm, mindful state that is key to hygge, enthusiasts might hibernate indoors, wrapping themselves with soft blankets and spending time in front of a crackling fire with a cup of hot tea and a good read. Think warm and cozy, and a bit sedentary. Although January’s frigid temperatures may have you searching for that peaceful, easy hygge feeling in your home, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t balance that with some restorative outdoor activities as well. But how can you embrace friluftsliv when the weather outside is frightful? Here are a few tips: • Dress for the cold weather. Proper clothing is the key to comfort. Dress in layers to ensure you maintain hygge-level personal comfort while you’re in the elements. • Hygge + Friluftsliv = Bliss. Create a hygge oasis outdoors with patio heaters, fire pits, and plenty of blankets. Now, get comfortable and take some time to fully appreciate the incomparable sights and sounds of a beautiful winter day. Pause and reflect. • Try something new. Some activities can only be done outside in the winter. So, if you’ve never skied, snowshoed or even made a snow angel before, now’s the time to knock that off your bucket list. • Head out on a scavenger hunt, searching for treasures located in the great outdoors. Having that list of things you need to find forces you to examine and appreciate your surroundings. I encourage you to embrace friluftsliv — and, more importantly, embrace life.
EMILY SCHILLING Editor eschilling@indianaec.org
On the menu: May 2021 issue: Kabobs, deadline Feb. 1.
June 2021 issue: Berries, deadline April 1. If we publish your recipe on our food pages, we’ll send you a $10 gift card.
Giveaway: Enter to win a “Taste of Shipshewana” package, courtesy of Visit Shipshewana. Visit indianaconnection.org/talk-to-us/contests. Entry deadline for giveaway: Jan. 31.
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 70 • NUMBER 7 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 304,000 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 Vice President of Communication 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.
JANUARY 2021
3
contents
JANUARY
10
15
energy
03 FROM THE EDITOR 05 CO-OP NEWS Energy news and information from your electric cooperative. 10 ENERGY How weather impacts your energy bill.
food
12 GRASSROOTS Why involvement in your electric co-op matters. 14 COUNTY OF THE MONTH Spotlighting LaGrange County. 15 FOOD Votes for oats.
11 I NSIGHTS
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Indiana Connection
17
22
cover story 17 COVER STORY For the birds: DNR and landowners work hand-in-hand to keep endangered birds in the bush. 21 SAFETY How you can prepare for winter storms’ outages and dangers.
travel
22 TRAVEL Antique Alley is a road trip to the past. (Not in all versions) 23 INDIANA EATS Rod and Gun Steakhouse serves steak with a side of history. (Not in all versions) 24 H OOSIER ENERGY/ WABASH VALLEY NEWS 25 PROFILE Meet this year’s Youth Power and Hope Award winners.
On the cover Cheryl Siekman cradles a barn owl chick during a re-nesting and banding effort by Indiana DNR in November. Siekman and husband Darrel, Gibson County cattle farmers, had a clutch nesting in an empty silo. Siekman and DNR wildlife experts wore masks or kept social distance throughout the procedure. PHOTO BY RICHARD G. BIEVER
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JANUARY 2021
co-op news www.duboisrec.com CONTACT US Office: 812-482-5454 Billing Dept.: 812-482-1664 Operations Dept.: 812-482-1188 After Hours: 812-482-5455 Fax: 812-482-7015
Staying connected
EMERGENCY POWER OUTAGES To report service interruptions, call: 812-482-5454 (during regular hours) or 812-482-5455 (after hours) day or night. Please have your account number ready when reporting outages. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Brad Knies, President Richard A. Wendholt, Vice President Randall L. Stemle, Secretary-Treasurer Mark Montgomery Andy Schwenk Steve Speedy David Rudolph
that we live in a
pening in our community?
most of us think about technology, like our smart-
OFFICE HOURS 7 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday-Friday 7 a.m.–3:30 p.m. for Line Dept.
MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 610 Jasper, IN 47547-0610
doesn’t enjoy seeing good things hap-
“connected” world,
CEO AND GENERAL MANAGER Joe Henson
STREET ADDRESS 1400 Energy Drive Jasper, IN 47546
When we say
phones and other devices and gadgets. But when you’re a member of an electric co-op, there’s so much more to being part of our connected co-op community.
We also want to make sure we have your most current contact information on hand. Dubois REC relies on data for nearly every aspect of our operations, which means it’s important that we have your most current contact information on file. Updated contact information can ensure that we can provide the highest level of service that you expect and deserve. It can even speed up
As a member of Dubois REC, you can
the power restoration process during
help to power the good in our local
an outage. That’s because when you
community through initiatives like
call to report an outage, our automated
Operation Round Up, which positively
system recognizes your phone number
impacts school groups, nonprofits and
and matches it with your account lo-
other local organizations.
cation. Accurate information helps our
We greatly value our connection to you, the members we serve. And we’d like to help you maximize the value you can get from Dubois REC through
outage-management system predict the location and the possible cause of an outage, making it easier for Dubois REC crews to correct the problem.
a variety of programs, products and
We hope you will connect with us
services that we offer our members.
whenever and wherever you can —
For example, we can help you save
whether that means attending our
money on your energy bill through
annual meeting, providing feedback
rebates on energy-efficient HVAC and
on a recent visit, talking to our em-
water heating equipment. (More infor-
ployees, participating in Operation
mation about our rebate program is on
Round Up or simply downloading our
the next page.) When you download
SmartHub app. Dubois REC exists to
our SmartHub app, you can monitor
serve our members, and when we’re
and manage your home energy use,
better connected to you and our local
Patrick Lichlyter Manager of Operations
pay your bill online and access a menu
community, we’re better prepared to
Larry Schuler Manager of Purchasing
of additional options for potential
answer the call.
savings and more.
KEY STAFF Greg Dilger Manager of Engineering Ruth Hopf Billing Supervisor Tina Hunter Manager of Finance and Office Services Matt Brames Manager of Cooperative Communications
CUSTOMER SERVICES Budget billing SmartHub Pay by Phone 24/7 Drive-through window Night depository Medical account watch This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
To update your contact information
When you follow Dubois REC on social
or to learn more about co-op products
media, you can stay up to date on
and services that can help you save,
power restoration efforts, pole treating
visit www.duboisrec.com or call
planning, co-op director elections,
812-482-5454, or stop by our office
giveaways and more. You’ll also see
and use the drive-thru window.
photos of our line crews in action and our employees helping with com-
JOE HENSON
munity service projects — and who
CEO and General Manager JANUARY 2021
5
co-op news
Rate schedule
Now even easier to win a
$50 bill credit
Service charge Single-phase................................................... $24 Three-phase................................................... $40 Energy charge The first 500 kWh at.......................$.10522 /kWh The next 2,500 kWh at....................$.09772/kWh All remaining kWh at.......................$.09462/kWh
GREAT NEWS!
It’s now even easier to enter our
Power cost tracker All rate classes All kWh at.................................... $(0.00183)/kWh Electric Thermal Storage (Off-peak) Energy charge.................................$.05912/kWh
monthly $50 drawing! Effective Jan. 1, all Dubois REC members who pay their bill by the 15th of the month, using any payment option, will be automatically entered in the $50
Security light If you have a security light, add: 175-watt mercury vapor...................$8.32/month 100-watt sodium vapor.....................$7.50/month 100-watt metal halide.......................$8.75/month 70-watt LED......................................$7.50/month
monthly drawing. Members who pay The winner will be notified, and his by ACH/bank draft and recurring
or her name will be published here.
payments are also automatically
included in the drawing. (Delinquent DECEMBER’S WINNER: payments are not eligible.)
Electric bills due by the 20th of each month.
Kevin Cooper, Ferdinand
Save money and energy with the
2021 Rebate Program
AIR-TO-AIR HEAT PUMPS: New construction or replacing gas
GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMP:
or heat pump:
New construction or replacing
•
$750 — Dual/Variable Speed
electric resistance heat, gas, heat
Compressor
pump or geothermal
Replacing electric resistance heat • •
•
$1,500 — Desuperheater or “hot new installations with electric
Compressor
resistance water heater
Compressor
WATER HEATERS: •
$500 — Heat Pump (Hybrid) Water Heater
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JANUARY 2021
•
$300 — Single room installations***
•
$750 — Replacing existing A/C, heat pump or new construction
•
water assist” recommended on
$1,500 — Dual/Variable Speed $800 — Single Speed
MINI-SPLIT HEAT PUMP:
$800 — Replacing electric resistance heat - single speed
•
$1,500 — Replacing electric resistance heat
Get specific requirements and apply for rebates at duboisrec.com.
Get involved!
co-op news
Meet our new employees
SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY ON THE DUBOIS REC BOARD OF DIRECTORS Want to make a difference in your community? Consider running for a seat on the board of directors of Dubois REC. Incumbent board members must file a written notice of their intent to seek reelection at least 60 days before the annual meeting. Any member who would like to run for election to the board of directors must submit a petition, signed by 20 other members, at least 60 days before the annual meeting. (Members can pick up an official petition in our office.) The completed petition must be submitted to Dubois REC after 7 a.m., Jan. 2, and before 4 p.m. on Feb. 13. Due to last year’s Annual Meeting being canceled, the 2021 Annual Meeting will
feature directors from 2020 who have already filed for election, as well as directors up for election in the current year. 2020 Directors up for re-election: District 3 – Mark Montgomery District 4 – David Rudolph District 6 – Steven Speedy 2021 Directors up for re-election: District 1 – Andy Schwenk District 5 – Brad Knies More details about the election process can be found in the Dubois REC bylaws, which we encourage our members to review. A complete publication of the Dubois REC bylaws is posted on our website, www.duboisrec.com.
TYLER ALLEN Apprentice Lineman
Tyler Allen has been hired as an apprentice lineman for Dubois REC. He and his wife, Amy, have two children, Blakely and Dawson. He enjoys hunting, fishing, metal working, wood working and camping. He is also a member of St. Anthony Church, St. Anthony Fire Department and St. Anthony Conservation Club.
Do you depend on life-support equipment? WE NEED TO KNOW! If you rely on life-sustaining equip-
If you rely on a life support system,
ment, such as respirators or dialysis
please take a few moments right now
machines, please let us know.
and send us a copy of your doctor’s or
It is particularly important for us to be aware of these situations when the need for electrical power is especially crucial. We can keep you advised of extended or planned outages if we are aware of these special situations. However, this is not a guarantee of uninterrupted service! Despite our best efforts,
home health care provider’s statement that you require this support. Tell us what type of equipment you have as well as the type of emergency backup equipment in use. Be sure to include your phone number so we can contact you should the need arise.
an interruption in electric service may
If you notified us in the past and no
be caused by auto accidents, storms,
longer have the equipment in use,
wildlife or other unpredictable cir-
please let us know. In a major storm,
cumstances. Therefore, our members
we would not want to provide a
who rely on life-sustaining equipment
priority to that service when others
should also obtain emergency backup
may require it for a life-threatening
systems, such as batteries or genera-
situation.
tors.
DAYNE SEIBERT Accountant
Dayne Seibert has been hired as the new accountant for Dubois REC. He will handle payroll, AR processing and purchasing. He is married to Emily Seibert and enjoys golfing, hiking and refereeing. The Dubois REC board and management are proud to welcome these two new employees to our team. JANUARY 2021
7
co-op news
Tips for winter safety It’s no surprise that winter months bring increased potential for fire risks and electrical safety hazards. This makes sense because during the coldest months, consumers are using additional electrical devices and appliances, like space heaters, electric blankets and portable generators.
FREE from Dubois REC While supplies last, members are invited to stop by the Dubois REC office and pick up a free copy of these publications: • 2021 Indiana Festival Guide • 2021 Student Art Calendar • 2021 Farmers’ Almanac
2021 Youth Programs CANCELED After careful deliberation, the Touchstone Energy Camp committee and Youth Tour committee decided that for the safety and well-being of our students, chaperones and staff, these youth programs for 2021 have been canceled. We hope to bring these important programs back for our students in 2022.
8
JANUARY 2021
The National Fire Protection Association estimates that 47,700 home fires occur each year in the U.S. due to electrical failure or malfunction. These fires result in 418 deaths, 1,570 injuries and $1.4 billion in property damage annually. This winter, safeguard your loved ones and your home with these electrical safety tips from the Electrical Safety Foundation International.
Don’t overload outlets Overloaded outlets are a major cause of residential fires. Avoid using extension cords or multioutlet converters for appliance connections — they should be plugged directly into a wall outlet. If you’re relying heavily on extension cords in general, you may need additional outlets to address your needs. Contact a qualified electrician to inspect your home and add new outlets.
Never leave space heaters unattended If you’re using a space heater, turn if off before leaving the room.
Make sure heaters are placed at least three feet away from flammable items. It should also be noted that space heaters take a toll on your energy bills. If you’re using them throughout your home, it may be time to upgrade your home heating system.
Inspect heating pads and electric blankets These items cause nearly 500 fires every year. Electric blankets that are more than 10 years old create additional risks for a fire hazard. Inspect your electric blankets and heating pads — look for dark, charred or frayed spots, and make sure the electrical cord is not damaged. Do not place any items on top of a heating pad or electric blanket, and never fold them when in use.
Use portable generators safely Unfortunately, winter storms can cause prolonged power outages, which means many consumers will use portable generators to power their homes. Never connect a standby generator into your home’s electrical system. For portable generators, plug appliances directly into the outlet provided on the generator. Start the generator first, before you plug in appliances. Run it in a wellventilated area outside your home. The carbon monoxide it generates is deadly, so keep it away from your garage, doors, windows and vents.
energy
How weather impacts your energy bill
As Hoosiers, we can’t control the cold weather pushing down from Canada but we can control the temperature inside our homes. The difference in indoor/outdoor temperature can be more than 50 degrees. This gap is known as weather variance and it has an impact on the comfort of your home and the amount of energy used. There are things you can do to improve the efficiency of your home ranging from insulation to technology. Making sure your home is properly insulated is important. This helps keep the warm air in and the cold air out. So be sure to assess your attic insulation, your chimney dampers to ensure they’re working properly, the sealing around your window frames and your floorboards – and make improvements as necessary.
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JANUARY 2021
Technology can help too. I recommend starting with a HVAC tune-up if you haven’t already done so this season. When this system is operating properly, it should efficiently heat and distribute the air in your home. Technology can also help automate the heating of your home. Smart thermostats manage how and when your HVAC system runs. These units take the temperature you set, let’s say 68 degrees, and work to maintain that temperature in the most efficient way by adapting to your routine. An easy way to increase the efficiency of your home is to make sure your ceiling fans are pushing air downward in the winter months. This will help circulate the warm air rising in your home.
a frigid fact: You use more energy in cold weather. here’s why: In cold weather, your heating system works much harder to keep your home comfortable. Even if you don’t change your thermostat setting, it runs longer to heat your home. T H E R MO S TAT S E T T IN G
H E AT R E Q U IR E D
50°
O U T S ID E T E MP E R AT U R E
18°
H E AT R E Q U I R ED
20°
68°
O UTSI D E T EM PER ATU R E
When the difference between outside and inside is significant, your heating system must run more to condition your home.
48°
Even gas heating systems use electricity to power the fan and distribute the warm air.
ENERGY USE MATTERS Your monthly bill is largely determined by the amount of energy you use.
ENERGY USED
ELECTRIC RATE
The meter on your home measures the energy you consume. This is your “use.”
There is a charge or each kilowatt-hour you use. This is your “rate.”
by
Colin Mahoney
Marketing and Communications Coordinator WIN Energy REMC
insights
Ready, set, draw
(or paint!)
Now that 2021 is here – it’s time to begin thinking about 2022! The
deadline to enter the Cooperative Calendar of Student Art contest to illustrate the 2022 wall calendar is March 19. First place winners in grade divisions kindergarten through grade 12 will receive $200 each. Their winning artworks will illustrate the calendar’s cover and the 12 months of the year. One “artist of the year” will also be selected and will earn an additional $100. In addition, the judges will select honorable mention winners whose artwork will also appear in the calendar. They will receive $75 each. The contest is open to Indiana public, private or home-schooled students. They must be in grades kindergarten through 12th grade during the 2020-21 school year. A complete set of rules and required entry forms are available at indianaconnection.org/for-youth/artcontest.
ORDER YOUR 2021 CALENDAR TODAY! Please send ______ copy (copies) of the Cooperative Calendar of Student Art 2021 at $6 each to: Name: Address: City, State and ZIP: Price includes shipping and Indiana sales tax. Make check payable to “Indiana Electric Cooperatives.” Send this completed form and a check to Indiana Connection Calendar; 8888 Keystone Crossing, Suite 1600; Indianapolis, IN 46240. Some electric co-ops have free calendars available for pickup in their offices. Contact them directly for more information.
energy grassroots
WHY INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR
electric co-op matters
A
merica was founded on a
Today, we serve more than 1.3
are vital to your local cooperative’s
cooperative spirit. Working
million individuals, families, farms,
success and function.
together, helping each other for the
and businesses in 89 Indiana
mutual good – this is the American
counties. With more than $2.4
way. And for good reason:
billion in system infrastructure,
cooperative organizations provide
we’re providing Hoosiers with the
their consumers economic, social
reliable electric power they need
and cultural benefits that often
— and we do it while emphasizing
wouldn’t be available otherwise.
environmentalism, sustainability
That’s the way it is with electric
and efficiency.
You are entitled to participate in your cooperative’s democratic process. You can vote in annual cooperative board elections and elect directors who are nominated from among the other consumers. Cooperatives also encourage you to voice your thoughts
power cooperatives which were
Indiana’s electric cooperatives
and ideas within the company.
formed to get power to the people,
work hard for you, our members,
Consumers maintain equal status
farms and businesses of rural
and the communities we serve.
and work together for the good of
America. One of the nation’s first —
Our members have always come
the community.
Boone REMC — was formed right
first – that’s the cooperative spirit.
here in Indiana.
And it’s a spirit that focuses on
Since then, the citizens and employers in the communities Indiana’s electric cooperatives serve have been our owners, and we’ve always put their needs first. Because if you receive your electricity from a cooperative, you
today and tomorrow. Because, as the landscape continues to evolve, we want to ensure our members – our consumers – always have access to clean, safe, abundant years to come. But we cannot do it without you.
as a member-consumer, but also
Consumer-owners have several
as an owner.
unique privileges and you; your involvement and your participation
JANUARY 2021
your local electric cooperative. Have your voice heard and be an essential part of keeping electricity safe, reliable, and affordable in your community.
electric power — now and for many
belong to that cooperative not only
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Get involved today and contact
Learn how you can get involved at
ACTION.INDIANAEC.ORG
LaGrange County LaGrange County was settled and founded in 1832 by mostly Yankee immigrants from New England. They so admired the Marquis de Lafayette, the French aristocrat and military officer who fought alongside the Americans in the American Revolutionary War, they named their county after his French estate outside of Paris. But within a dozen years, LaGrange County started becoming home to a migrating Amish community from Pennsylvania who spoke German and “Pennsylvania Dutch.” Today, the county is most known for its Amish/Mennonite community. Over a third of the population of LaGrange County is Amish, and LaGrange, along with neighboring Elkhart County, is home to the third-largest Amish community in the United States. Reflecting the diverse culture, the town of Shipshewana, which is almost synonymous with the Amish/Mennonite culture, is named after Chief Shipshewana of the Potawatomi Tribe of Native Americans who were forcibly removed from their lands by the federal government in 1837. Shipshewana has become a tourism mecca drawing in visitors for its auctions and flea markets, quaint shops, and Amish craftsmanship and cooking. The renowned Shipshewana Trading Place has grown into a
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JANUARY 2021
Professional ice carvers create unimaginable pieces of art adjacent to each other at the Wolfe Building in downtown Shipshewana. This year’s Shipshewana Ice Festival Competition & Chili Cook-off is Saturday, Jan. 23. As always at this time, check for updated information before planning a trip to make sure COVID-19 restrictions haven’t affected events, hours or locations.
destination for its seasonal Tuesday/Wednesday flea market, the largest in the Midwest; weekly yearround antique, livestock and horse auctions; lodging; dining; craft and vintage shows, antique markets, and RV service. People come mostly from Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Illinois, but it also attracts visitors from all over the United States and Canada.
y t n u o C acts F FOUNDED: 1832 NAMED FOR: the French home of Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de Lafayette outside of Paris known as “the Château de la Grange-Bléneau.” POPULATION: 39,330 (2018 estimate) COUNTY SEAT: LaGrange
To give visitors a better understanding of the unique culture of the Amish in the area, the Menno-Hof Amish & Mennonite Museum in Shipshewana showcases the history and the faith and life of the Amish and Mennonites who trace their beginnings to the Anabaptists in Switzerland in 1525 at the time of the Protestant Reformation.
The Amish were part of this movement until 1693 when they formed their own group in Switzerland and the Alsatian region of present-day France. Their first leader was Jakob Ammann, and they became known as Amish. The center is generally open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Before planning a visit, be sure to check its website for updated info concerning COVID-19 and hours of operation.
P HO TO P RO V I DE D BY V I S I TS HI P S HE WANA. O RG
county feature
food SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
Susie Kraning, Peru, Indiana 3 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed ½ cup sugar ½ cup milk 2 large eggs, slightly beaten ¼ cup butter 1 t. vanilla ⅛ t. cinnamon Topping: ¾ cup flour ¾ cup brown sugar ¾ cup old-fashioned oats ⅛ t. salt ⅓ cup cold butter, cubed 2 cups mini marshmallows Preheat oven to 350 F. Place sweet potatoes in a 6-quart stock pot. Add water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook uncovered for 10-12 minutes or until tender. Meanwhile, make topping by combining flour, brown sugar, oats and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Drain potatoes; return to pan and beat until mashed. Add sugar, milk, eggs, cinnamon, butter and vanilla; beat until combined. Transfer to a greased 13-by-9-inch broiler-safe baking dish. Sprinkle topping over potato mixture. Bake uncovered until topping is golden, around 45 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with marshmallows. If desired, broil 4-5 inches from heat until puffed and golden (about 30-45 seconds). Serves 12.
Votes for Oats Readers pick their favorite recipes featuring this healthful grain JANUARY 2021
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food JAMAICAN BAKED OATMEAL
Linda K. Thompson, Otwell, Indiana
½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened ¾ cup brown sugar (may substitute cane or coconut sugar) 3 eggs 1 cup almond milk ½ cup cream of coconut 1 t. vanilla extract 3 cups quick-cooking oats 2 t. baking powder ½ t. baking soda ½ t. salt 3 bananas, mashed ½ cup fresh pineapple or 8 oz. canned crushed pineapple, drained ½ cup flaked coconut ¼ cup chopped pecans Preheat oven to 350 F. Cream the butter and brown sugar in a large bowl. Add eggs, one at a time. Mix well. Add the cream of coconut, almond milk and vanilla. Mix well. Set aside. Combine the oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Add oat mixture to
OATMEAL CRACKERS
Mary Jane Graybill, Delphi, Indiana 3 cups quick rolled oats 1 cup raw wheat germ 2 cups whole wheat flour ½ cup sesame seeds 1 cup water ¾ cup oil 3 T. honey 1 t. salt Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Heat water, oil and honey until warm. Pour over oat mixture. Mix well and roll out on a floured surface to a thickness of ⅛-inch thick. Cut into squares. Put on cookie sheets. Bake at 300 F for 20-25 minutes until crisp but not too brown.
ENERGY BITES
butter mixture. Fold in bananas,
Kayla Knepp, Montgomery, Indiana
pineapple, coconut and pecans.
1 cup old-fashioned oats ½ cup peanut butter ½ cup ground flaxseed ½ cup chocolate chips ⅓ cup honey 1 t. vanilla
Spread evenly in a greased 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 1520 minutes longer or until top is golden. Cook’s note: I have made this this for everything from family get-togethers to fundraisers as it can be cut into squares and individually packaged.
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Stir everything together in a large mixing bowl until combined. Cover the bowl and chill in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours or until the mixture is chilled. Roll into 1-inch balls. Serve or refrigerate in a sealed container for up to one week or freeze up to three months. Makes 20-25 energy bites.
Cook’s note: I personally don’t refrigerate the mixture before rolling into balls.
OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Michael Hackman, Columbus, Indiana ¾ cup shortening 1 cup brown sugar, packed ½ cup granulated sugar 1 egg ¼ cup water 1 t. vanilla 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 t. salt 1 t. cinnamon ½ t. baking soda ½ t. cloves 1 cup chocolate chips 1 cup chopped nuts 3 cups quick-cooking oats Heat oven to 350 F. Mix shortening, sugars, egg, water and vanilla thoroughly. Stir in remaining ingredients. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls one-inch apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake 12-15 minutes or until almost no imprint remains when touched with finger. Immediately remove from baking sheet. Store in tightly covered container. Makes 5 dozen cookies.
FO O D PREPARED BY I NDI ANA CO NNECT I O N S TA FF PHO TO S BY TAYLO R MA RA NI O N
JANUARY 2021
TIOIN IN P R
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GR
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For the
O
BARN O WL PHO TO BY M ARTY L. J O NE S
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DNR and landowners work hand-in-hand to keep endangered birds in the bush By Richard G. Biever
O
the birds out was through the
n the drizzly windy Sunday
opening at the top.
afternoon before Thanksgiving,
Kearns, assistant ornitholo-
two wildlife biologists with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources stood in mud and manure beside a cattle barn. They stared up at a silo and scratched their heads. Deep inside the 22-foot-tall cylinder were five Indiana-endangered barn owl chicks. The empty unused silo had served as the perfect nest for a pair of barn owls for years. But now, Gibson County cat-
gist with the Division of Fish & Wildlife, and Mirtl, who normally works with reptiles and amphibians but volunteered to help Kearns this day, hadn’t come prepared for such an involved operation. But rather than wait and hold up the Siekmans’ farm operation, they worked with the family to gather rope and a deer-
tle farmers Darrel and Cheryl Siekman
stand safety harness.
were needing it to store feed for their
Secured safely by a rope
animals. So began a rescue mission the two biologists, Amy Kearns and Jason Mirtl, described numerous times as “sketchy.” The silo tapered into a funnel with openings at the bottom. Though the birds nested on remnants of feed maybe just three feet above those openings, the silo hadn’t been used
wrapped around the tubular bumper of the Siekmans’ utility vehicle, Mirtl, a rock-climbing enthusiast, descended into the silo. He called out instructions to Cheryl Siekman — when to give slack and when to tighten — until he reached a teetering 16-foot extension ladder he had earlier lowered in. He then stepped down to
for seven years. The grain had turned
the birds.
as hard as rock. The only way to get
continued on next page JANUARY 2021
17
DNR wildlife biologists Jason Mirtl, atop the silo, and Amy Kearns work out plans to move five barn owl chicks from inside the silo. The two had just installed a nesting box, visible above Kearns’ head, high in the barn beside the silo.
“It’s a good example how private landowners and the DNR can work together to save endangered wildlife.” AMY KEARNS, ASSISTANT ORNITHOLOGIST WITH THE INDIANA DNR DIVISION OF FISH & WILDLIFE PHO TO S BY RI CHARD G . BI EVER
continued from page 17 STEPPING UP This was not a text-book rescue, but few are. Improvisation and determination most often win the day when working with wildlife in unforeseen circumstances. Kearns and Mirtl knew failure would not be an option for these rare birds.
“Leaving them be would have been
Program. The program, funded
the best strategy for that particular
through donations to the DNR
brood of owlets, but it wasn’t a good
Nongame Wildlife Fund, has placed
option for the farmer,” Kearns noted.
more than 400 nest boxes for barn
“So, we put our heads together
owls since 1984.
and came up with a plan that would benefit the owls and the farmer. It’s a good example how private landowners and the DNR can work
Once common, barn owls have
together to save endangered wildlife.”
virtually vanished from the state.
RAISED IN A BARN The barn owl,
Fewer than 20 barn owl nests were known to exist in Indiana a decade ago. In the latest survey in 2017, that number was up to only 43.
named for its preference for nesting in barns, became endangered in Indiana with the loss of grassland habitat and secure nesting sites. The
The survival of the barn owl depends
small distinctive owls have a heart-
on the success of continuing DNR
shaped face with dark eyes.
programs and efforts to protect them. Having the support of landowners, like the Siekmans, is imperative.
18
JANUARY 2021
“Boxes are really helpful for the species because it is vulnerable to predation,” Kearns explained. “If the owls are just nesting on some old hay in the loft of the barn, a lot of times they’ll be eaten by raccoons.” Nest boxes, she said, get the chicks up off the ground and into a secure surrounding. The entrance hole cut for the owls is small, so bigger predatory birds, like great horned owls, can’t get in. “If they have great
It is one of more than 750 animal
habitat and lots of food,” Kearns
species supported by the DNR’s
added, “they can have two broods
Nongame and Endangered Wildlife
each year.”
Help raise
A BARN OWL
For more information about barn owls, including a step-by-step guide on how to build your own nest box, please visit: https://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3382.htm. To check out the DNR live streaming barn owl nest cam, go to: https://www. in.gov/dnr/fishwild/8183.htm.
Cheryl Siekman holds steady one of the barn owl chicks removed from an empty silo on her farm while DNR Assistant Ornithologist Amy Kearns carefully affixes a metal ID band to its leg.
That’s what the pair in the Siekmans’
need to respect His creation, as well.
rest of its life so its movements and
empty silo had done. That’s why a
We’re trying to coexist rather than just
mortality can be tracked.
clutch was there so late in the year.
say, ‘This is ours, and we are going to
Seven years ago, the owls took advantage of a ding in the top hatch of the silo. A small opening and
take it,’” she said. “So, we’re doing our best to preserve nature and still run a productive farm.”
Before beginning the rescue from the silo, Kearns and Mirtl installed a nesting box in the gable of the adjacent barn that would become the new home
the silo’s tall steel sides made it an
Besides, she said she appreciates
for the family of owls. As close to the
impenetrable tower to any predators.
what the barn owls do as top-flight
top entrance of the silo as possible,
The Siekmans let the birds use it as
mousers. “Anytime you have cattle,
Kearns cut an “X” in the barn’s metal
an ongoing incubator and aviary.
they drop feed and that brings mice.
siding and carefully folded back and
Barn owls are great predators for
crimped the edges to create a safe
those mice, and that makes me happy
5-inch square opening to the outside.
that they’re here.”
They then mounted the 16-inch x 32-
In the fall, though, they let the DNR know they needed to reclaim the gravity-fed silo. Darrel Siekman, who
inch x 16-inch box over the opening.
turns 69 this month, implied he’s no
A BIRD SANCTUARY Back at the
spring chick himself anymore. The
rescue, when Mirtl reached the brood
Later, after each banding, Kearns
daily grind of shoveling cattle feed out
at the bottom of the silo, he bagged
carried each bird up an extension
the side hatch of a grain bin they had
each bird, one-at-a-time. He tied the
ladder and placed it in the nesting
been using was becoming too much.
bag to a rope, and Kearns, stationed
box. To prevent the adult owls from
atop the silo, pulled each up. She then
returning to the silo, Darrel repaired
lowered each bag with the same rope
the opening in the hatch.
Cheryl said a lot of farmers may not want to be bothered with an endangered bird on their land, let
to Cheryl Siekman on the ground.
A couple of days later, Cheryl reported
alone make concessions. But she
After all five chicks and Mirtl were
seeing the adults flying at night, as
said she considers themselves part
safely out of the silo, Mirtl and Cheryl
well as smudges around the entrance
of a team with the DNR. “Everything
helped Kearns band each bird with a
we have God has given us, and we
small ID bracelet the bird will wear the
continued on next page JANUARY 2021
19
continued from page 19 of the new nest box. “The smudges
SHRUBS FOR SHRIKES
are a good way to tell that the
A smaller bird that shares much of the
Shrikes most frequently nest on
same grassland habitat with the barn owl
traditional farms with livestock pasture
adult owls have been in and out dropping off food for the nestlings,”
and is even more endangered in Indiana
and smaller fields bordered by shrubby
Kearns said. “So, it appears that
is the loggerhead shrike. Only seven
hedgerows and fence lines. Nests are
the re-nesting was a success.
nesting pairs were found in the entire
usually in a shrub or small tree. Eastern
Those big chicks are the perfect
state during the most recent count. The
red cedars and rose bushes are favorite
age for re-nesting since they are
seven were concentrated in the southern
nesting sites along the fencerows.
big enough and loud when begging
counties of Daviess, Lawrence, Orange
Through a new partnership among
for food to make it easy for their
and Spencer.
parents to find them.”
The loggerhead shrike is a songbird
Service, private landowners and the
slightly smaller than a robin. Its striking
Indiana Audubon Society, Hoosiers
appearance includes a broad black
can now “adopt a shrike.” Half the
mask through the eyes. Despite its
proceeds from these adoptions help
small stature, its habits reflect those of
fund the planting of eastern red cedars
a raptor. Its strong, hooked bill allows it
for nesting shrikes. Donors will receive
to take diverse prey that include mice,
an adoption certificate, an annual report
No one seemed happier about the success than Cheryl. Like a proud godmother holding the baby at baptism, she gushed with joy cradling the chicks during the banding. Her smile was hidden
the DNR, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
voles, house sparrows, snakes and frogs.
on shrike banding efforts, and a “Never
behind the face mask she wore
Loggerhead shrikes hang their prey
met a shrike I didn’t like” T-shirt. Each
when working beside the duo from
from thorns or barbed wire to provide an
adoption is $50 and can be purchased at
the DNR, but the twinkle of her
anchor while they tear their prey into bite-
IndianaAudubon.org/adopt-a-shrike/.
eyes couldn’t be missed.
sized pieces.
“Farmers often don’t get to see the
Prey hung in this way can also be
fruits of their labor,” she said. “We sell to the stockyard. We don’t get to see it go to the table. But we get to see this from the start to finish,
conveniently stored for later, like the bird’s personal meat locker. This behavior has earned it the nickname of “butcher bird.”
and we have years and years and
“There’s only one bird that is going to
years where now these boxes will
impale a snake on barbed wire, and that’s
be productive, and we can still stay productive raising beef. “This is a sanctuary,” Cheryl
a shrike,” said Amy Kearns, assistant ornithologist with the Indiana DNR. That’s one way to know if you have shrikes on your land.
continued. “It’s a very special place we have here. We feel that we live in heaven …,” and, as if on cue, a cow bellowed loudly in agreement from behind her, “… and the cows like it,” she laughed. “Now, that we need our grain bin back,” she said, “we’re going to extra lengths to preserve the owls and their habitat.” RICHARD G. BIEVER is senior editor of Indiana Connection.
20
JANUARY 2021
LOG G ERHEAD SHRI KE P H OTO BY M ARTY L. JO NES
For information about shrikes, please visit: www.in.gov/dnrfishwild/3370.htm. To contact the DNR about either barn owls or shrikes on your property, please contact Amy Kearns at: 812-849-4586, ext. 223, or email: akearns@dnr.IN.gov. To donate to the Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund that supports conservation programs like these and others, go to: www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3316.htm.
safety
Winter storms
Prepare for prolonged outages, dangers
Indiana weather can be unpredictable, especially during the winter months. That’s why you should prepare for dangerous situations before a storm hits.
Due to these dangerous conditions,
It is especially important to develop
prepare you and your family for
a plan for prolonged power outages
a power outage, your electric
during these harsh months. Heavy
co-op recommends members
snows, freezing rain and ice storms
keep a storm preparedness kit fully
can all create electrical hazards.
stocked. The basic supplies in this
“Being safe around electricity
kit should include:
is something you should focus
• Bottled water
from doors, windows and vents that
• Non-perishable food
could allow carbon monoxide to come
• Emergency blankets
indoors.
on year-round,” said John Gasstrom, CEO at Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “Indiana winters can bring a whole slew of dangerous hazards, especially where power lines are concerned. “Snow and ice often accumulate on power lines. The added weight may cause lines to snap off the poles or
many residents may be confined to their homes for days at a time. That’s why it is important to have a plan in place, especially during these prolonged outages. To better
• First aid kit/medicine • Flashlight • Battery-operated or hand-crank radio • Extra batteries • Toiletries
GENERATOR SAFETY: Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially enclosed area. Keep these devices outdoors, away
Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO buildup in the home. Although CO can't be seen or smelled, it can rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death.
cause the poles to break,” Gasstrom
To protect your home’s electrical
Install CO alarms in
explained. “That can bring power
equipment during an outage, turn
central locations on
lines into contact with the ground,
off and unplug all unnecessary
every level of your
trees, homes, vehicles and other
electronics or appliances. This
home and outside
objects. If people or pets come in
will keep equipment from being
sleeping areas to
contact with a live power line, they
damaged by surges or spikes when
provide early warning
can suffer serious injury or even
the power returns.
of accumulating carbon monoxide.
death.” JANUARY 2021
21
22
JANUARY 2021
Indiana eats
On the banks of the Wabash Rod and Gun Steakhouse serves steak with a side of history The Rod and Gun Steakhouse in
Though the original gun club
Rosedale offers diners something
burned down in 1970, the current
that most restaurants can’t — a
building still offers private room
tasty steak dinner plus a side of
dining options. The menu includes
scandalous history.
strip steaks, filets and ribeyes — all
Located just north of Terre Haute on the Wabash River, the restaurant — originally called the Spring Brook Rod and Gun Club — opened in 1921. A favorite hangout of Hoosier-born John Dillinger and other Chicago gangsters during Prohibition’s heyday, the restaurant’s private dining rooms were perfect hideaways to indulge in a little
USDA choice or higher — or freshly ground (from beef tenderloin) burgers. Pork chops, chicken, shrimp, catfish and tilapia are the other protein options. Entrees are
wings — and margaritas — are the
HOURS: 5–10 P.M.
weekly special on Thursday nights.
gun club’s original owner, Terre
to the 2020s, the
Haute businessman Eddie Gosnell,
Rod and Gun
was married to one of Terre Haute’s
Steakhouse has
most notorious madames of the
been a mainstay
1920s-‘40s, Edith Mae Brown, and
for the notorious,
had his own lurid reputation as a
noteworthy
bootlegger and gambler with
(former President
mafia ties.
Ronald Reagan
restaurant since 1948, when he was just 11 years old. When he was 18, Johnson took a job as Gosnell’s bodyguard. The walls of the steakhouse are lined with Johnson’s memorabilia from the restaurant’s bygone days when dinner could be someone’s last supper.
2525 E. Lambert Ave., Rosedale
812-466-2521
From the 1920s
current owner, has worked at the
ROD AND GUN STEAKHOUSE
salad and a dinner roll. Chicken
served with a choice of potato, side
illegal gambling and drinking. The
Bob Johnson, the Rod and Gun’s
Rod and Gun’s socially distanced restaurant layout
dined there), and legions of normal folks looking for a good meal. Just head for the building with “Rod & Gun Club” emblazoned on it.
Gangster John Dillinger enjoyed going to Rod and Gun Steakhouse back in the Prohibition era. The Rosedale restaurant’s private dining rooms were perfect spots not just to eat but to also gamble and drink. Patrons nowadays enjoy Rod and Gun's mouthwatering steaks and other delicious menu items.
JANUARY 2021
23
Hoosier Energy news
It’s All About Being Prepared “We’re pretty much prepared for winter all the time, because we’ve got to be,” says Substation Working Foreman Joe Crowe, explaining that
FROM THE
front lines
WHEN WEATHER TURNS BAD, EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE THE GRIT GET TOUGH PROJECTS DONE
crews prepare their fourwheel-drive trucks for winter by putting in diesel additives and make sure all equipment batteries are sufficient. Being prepared for any weather circumstance or disaster involves having cutting-edge technology and
In his 27 years at Hoosier Energy,
Richardson explains that miles stretch
equipment that facilitate
Line Foreman Mark Richardson has
between road crossings, which means
trekked countless hours across the
lineworkers often have to hike —
and maintain grid resiliency.
hills and hollers of southern Indiana
regardless of the terrain or weather
and Illinois to find downed power lines.
conditions — to find and fix downed
Each winter storm comes with its
lines. “You just have to fight through it
own challenges complicated by cold
and keep going,” he says.
temperatures and snowfall.
At about daylight, Richardson and
Richardson recalls a rough snowstorm
a coworker found the culprit power
several years ago, when he and
line. “It’s just one of those all-nighters
another lineworker embarked on foot
that you don’t expect to happen, but
to find the cause of an outage.
usually does.”
“The snow was probably 10 inches
Hoosier Energy
to a foot deep, and we were climbing
crews give their
uphill, downhill — I think I spent more
all to maintain
time on my hands and knees than
the resiliency of
on my feet,” he says. “We walked for
the electric grid. When
probably three or four hours straight,
the power goes out, these
and the snow was blowing so hard.
are the people working
It was dark, and you’d shine the
to get power restored
flashlight up and couldn’t even see the
— even in foot deep
line half the time.”
snow.
24
JANUARY 2021
Hoosier Energy provides lineworkers with all-terrain vehicles and track machines — digger and bucket trucks on tracks that resemble a tank — to make it easier to travel across hazardous properties to find line breaks.
profile
never too young Award-winning middle schoolers making an impact in their communities With the pandemic and social unrest, finding glimmers of hope in 2020 was not easy. But five young Hoosiers are doing their part to make this world a better place. Each year since 2009, five community service-minded middle school students have been honored with Youth Power and Hope Awards from Indiana Electric Cooperatives and its magazine, Indiana Connection. Proving you’re never too young to make an impact, this year’s busy volunteers play key roles in uplifting and serving their communities.
CHLOE SCHUT
Grade 6, Danville Danville might seem a long way away from Disneyland to most folks, but don’t tell Chloe Schut. Chloe’s demonstrated a love of her community and its furry and feathered members that makes you sing “It’s a small world, after all.” She has been active with Hendricks County Humane Society’s animal shelter. She began her work there through her Girl Scout troop but continued volunteering on her own. Once a week, she visits the shelter to clean the rooms, wash dishes, feed the cats, monitor the sick and give medicine when needed, and socialize with the kittens. During COVID-19, she’s fostered kittens in her home. “Chloe has been a long-time volunteer, contributing many hours,
her artistic talents and love of cats to help the animals of Hendricks County,” noted Tricia Pierce, operations manager at the shelter, in her YPH letter of recommendation for Chloe. Through Girl Scouts, Choe has visited different nursing homes to sing Christmas carols and hand out cards. Her troop also built owl boxes for the decreasing barn owl population — coincidentally the cover story of this month’s Indiana Connection. “We believe in being ‘girl-led’ with our Girl Scout troops,” noted Carolyn M. Harris, Chloe’s Troop 1433 co-leader. “In doing that, our girls vote each year on what type of volunteer work and projects they want to see to better serve their community. Chloe has always shown leadership skills and actively participated in making these projects successful.” “Community service to me is my everything,” said Chloe. “Whenever I'm able to help, I get the same feeling you get after you find out you're going to Disneyland!”
ADDISON SCHNEIDER Grade 7, Ferdinand
Before COVID, Addison Schneider routinely visited nursing homes and homes of the elderly with her grandmother to spread cheer and talk to the residents. That is much of Addison’s community involvement: Thinking of and baking treats for seniors in nursing homes and the staff who care for them and for veterans. “I am grateful to all of the veterans,” she said. “My dad taught me at an early age that anytime I see a veteran, to go up and thank them for their service. Each time I do, I see a smile come across their face, and they respond with a humble ‘thank you.’ It reminds me how much a small act can make a big difference.”
continued on page 26 JANUARY 2021
25
profile continued from page 25 During e-learning brought on by the pandemic, Addison emailed her sixth grade English and social studies teacher to ask if they could write letters to the Honor Flight heroes of World War II and the Korean War. “As a result, we collected many letters that were sent in for the veterans when flights are able to commence,” noted Hannah Sitzman, the teacher, in her letter of recommendation. “I also took them flowers to brighten their day,” Addison added. “In light of the COVID onset, I spent more time drawing pictures and writing out cards that we sent to the nursing homes letting the residents know that they are being thought of, especially since they couldn't receive visitors. I routinely called individuals who lived alone just to keep in touch as I knew they were lonely. They said my call made their day each time I called them. I also made meals and delivered it to them (wearing my mask of course) to keep their spirits up during the pandemic.”
KYLE KINKER
Grade 7, McCordsville How many junior high kids do you know who not only volunteer at a soup kitchen, but genuinely enjoy the work and enjoy meeting and talking with the patrons? Meet Kyle Kinker. “What I liked about the Soup Kitchen the most was meeting the volunteers and the patrons,” said Kyle. “It is awful to be cold or hungry. I am glad that I am able to help my neighbors go to sleep at night with a full stomach.”
26
JANUARY 2021
And while COVID-19 precautions have prevented Kyle from volunteering recently as he had been, Chris Wade, the volunteer coordinator for the Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen, noted Kyle is special. “I have interviewed and worked with many of our young volunteers over the years. While I cannot remember each one, Kyle Kinker is a different story,” she wrote in her Youth Power & Hope letter of recommendation for Kyle.
recommendation, “His leadership and dedication earned him the role of our interdisciplinary team captain as a seventh grader. This role is rarely ever given to a seventh grader, which is a testament to his hard work and the way he carries himself around others. He is a natural leader who others look up to.”
“The reason I remember him is he genuinely wanted to be here. I really appreciate when our youth are hard workers, energetic and finish a task with no hesitation.
Grade 8, New Harmony
“The beauty of this young man,” added Wade, “is he has repeatedly asked his family when he can come back. This is the beginning of a genuine servant’s heart for years to come.”
BRANTLY OAKLEY
Grade 8, New Harmony “Let me make it work” is how Kelly Lashley, academic team coach at North Posey Junior High School, sums up the attitude of Brantly Oakley. The North Posey Junior High School student helps teachers and volunteers at athletics at his school, and participates in 4-H, his church and other community activities. “To me, community service means being active in your community and doing everything you can to make your community a better place,” said Brantly. Brantly’s academic coach, Kelly Lashley, noted in her letter of
KAITLYN OAKLEY
For Kaitlyn, the twin sister of Brantly, “Community service is going out of your way to help others and enjoying the opportunity to serve others. To me community service means the opportunity to make a difference for your community and the people around you and a way to be an active member of your community.” Kaitlyn has been active in Girl Scouts, collecting supplies for gift bags donated to Chemo Buddies, making blankets and collecting over 100 books for the Ronald McDonald house in Evansville. She is an active fellowship time server at her church and does nursing home outreach on certain Sundays, and participates in Relay for Life with her church and school. “Kaitlyn can be described as an intelligent, respectful, hard-working, dedicated, conscientious, caring and responsible young lady,” noted her sixth grade teacher, Traci Newcomer, in her recommendation letter. “One thing that really stood out to me about Kaitlyn was her ability to make everyone feel accepted. She made it her mission to make sure that nobody was left out or felt excluded.”
36
FEBRUARY 2019