Rural Electric Nebraskan by Nebraska Rural Electric Association

October 2014

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS

COLLECTOR’S WATCH

IT’S HUSKERS TIME!

Precision crafted in stainless steel Bold watch face shows off the team’s red and black colors, and the Cornhuskers® logo Features 3 sub-dials plus a convenient date window The Nebraska Cornhuskers® have won the loyalty and respect of avid fans for years, establishing themselves as a top contender in NCAA Division I sports, and it looks like another winning season ahead. Now you can show your team pride with our new custom-crafted timepiece honoring the Nebraska Cornhuskers®.

A Bradford Exchange Exclusive Design Hand-crafted in stainless steel, this striking team watch is a bold design enhanced with the team colors and logo on the dial. The watch features 3 sub-dials to track seconds, minutes and hours, and a date window. It’s styled with a brushed silvertone bracelet, bezel, hands and hour markers, and the watch’s Precision Quartz Movement provides dependable accuracy while the adjustable “C-clasp” allows for a comfortable fit. Etched on the back is the university logo, name, and the founding year and the side is etched with “Go Huskers®!”.

Hurry... This a Limited-Time Offer An impressive way to show your team loyalty, or a wonderful gift for a Cornhuskers® fan that you know, the watch comes with Certificate of Authenticity in a custom presentation case. An exceptional value at $149*, you can pay for it in five easy monthly installments of $29.80, backed by our unconditional, money-back, 120-day guarantee and a full-year limited warranty. To reserve yours, send no money now; just fill out and send in the Reservation Application. But don’t delay... this is a limited-time offer not available in stores!

Etched on the back with the team logo, name and the year the university was founded—1869

RESERVATION APPLICATION

Etched on the side with Go Huskers®!

Shown actual size

SEND NO MONEY NOW Signature Mrs. Mr. Ms. Name (Please Print Clearly)

9345 Milwaukee Avenue · Niles, IL 60714-1393

PLEASE RESPOND PROMPTLY

YES. Please reserve the “Nebraska Cornhuskers® Collector’s Watch” for me as described in this announcement. *Plus $9.98 shipping and service. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery after we receive your initial deposit. Sales subject to product availability and order acceptance.

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Volume 68, Number 10, October 2014

“The Rural Voice of Nebraska”

Staff Editor Wayne Price Editorial Assistant Kathy Barkmeier

Published by the Visit us at www.nrea.org General Manager Troy Bredenkamp President Randy Papenhausen, Cedar-Knox Public Power District Vice President/Secretary Ron Jensen, Loup Valleys Rural Public Power District

Contents Features

Electrifying Careers The men and women who wear hard hats and climb poles to work on power lines might be the most visible employees of electric utilities, but it takes a host of other professions to keep power flowing. Magen Howard showcases careers at public power districts and electric cooperatives in honor of National Co-op Month.

You Have a Voice

Advertising in the Rural Electric Nebraskan does not imply endorsement for products by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association. Correspondence should be sent to Wayne Price, Editor, Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. The Rural Electric Nebraskan is printed by Quad Graphics, 2300 Brown Ave., Waseca, MN 56093. Form 3579 should be sent to the Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. Periodicals postage paid at Lincoln, Neb. POSTMASTER: send address changes to the Rural Electric Nebraskan, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. Publication numbers are USPS 071-630 and ISSN 0193-4937. Rates: $10 for one year; $15 for two years; $20 for three years, plus local and state tax.

October 2014

At the heart of public power is local control -- community leaders making policy decisions so that utility services are in tune with customers’ needs and values. Nebraska’s publicly controlled rural electric utilities have operated successfully under this model for nearly 125 years.

Treasurer David Keener, Niobrara Electric Association, Inc. Published monthly by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln, Nebraska 68501, (402) 475-4988.

Departments EDITOR’S PAGE

SAFETY BRIEFS — Murphy

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS by James Dulley

RECIPES

ADULT PEN PALS

MARKETPLACE/CLASSIFIEDS

On the cover Harvest season is a beautiful time of the year. It can also be a dangerous one. Remember to be aware of overhead power lines when working in the field. Photograph by Wayne Price

EDITOR’S PAGE

It turns out it really is a small world after all abor Day weekend was something of an adventure for my wife and me. We chaperoned a group of 13 high school students from our church to LifeLight, a three day Christian music festival in Worthing, South Dakota. LifeLight started on a church lawn for one night in 1998 and has become one of the nation’s largest music festivals. Held annually over Labor Day weekend, the festival attracts hundreds of thousands of people from all over the country and world. The event is now held in a clover field on a farm located east of Worthing, South Dakota. There are four different stages for bands to perform. There are vendors similar to what you’d find at a county fair, slinging everything from corndogs to funnel cakes to gyros. We stopped by the shaved ice stand on several occasions because the kids liked that you could pick from any of the numerous flavors to pour over your ice. They had flavors like Bubble Gum, Black Cherry and Tiger Blood. There was even a flavor named Godzilla. I was wearing my Huskers shirt on Saturday and the folks running the shaved ice stand mentioned they were also from Nebraska. When we went back on Sunday I asked where in Nebraska they were from and discovered they came from Tekamah, which is located just north of Omaha along the Missouri River. All of a sudden it dawned on me that I had seen the woman running the stand before. She was Susie Robison, who was featured on the cover of the May 2013 Rural Electric Nebraskan. LaRayne Topp, a freelance writer, had written about Robison and her shop, The Master’s Hand, located in Tekamah. I introduced myself and she recognized me from the magazine. She told me that her business had really picked up after the article appeared and she still gets people stopping in and mentioning the magazine article.

L by Wayne Price

She operates the shaved ice stand during the summer months traveling to area events and fairs. LifeLight was her last event of the year. Another article LaRayne wrote for the magazine more recently was on Earl Boston and the Smart Memorials. It ran in the July 2014 issue. Earl e-mailed me last month with news that he had been contacted by the Auckland War Memorial Museum in New Zealand. The museum tells the story of New Zealand, its place in the Pacific and its people. It is a war memorial for the province of Auckland and holds one of New Zealand’s top three heritage libraries. According to their website, the museum has Maori and Pacific collections, significant natural history resources and major social and military history collections, as well as decorative arts and pictorial collections. The museum staff had reached out to Earl to get more information about the Smart Memorials. “Someone read the REN article and inquired about using the process for the museum’s war memorial,” Boston wrote. “I’m impressed – that’s pretty far reaching coverage! Who would have thought?” I already knew the REN had a pretty broad reach across the state and to various parts of the U.S. but it surprised me that the reach had extended to another continent. Hopefully Earl and the Auckland Museum can work together on a project. He said he would keep me updated. Feedback from our readers is important because it helps make the magazine better. While our core goal is to provide readers with a direct communication link to the public power district or electric cooperative that provides your electricity, the magazine is also a way to share interesting and informative stories about the people and places of Nebraska.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

GUEST EDITORIAL

Life before electricity, and what’s next? or eons the world was a dark place from dusk to dawn. In most recent history man's primary illumination options came from burning wood, dried grasses, or animal fat in candles. Try to picture those smelly, smoky, dangerous options just for indoor lighting. Technology took a great turn in the 1790s when lamps were first fueled with fuel from Sperm whales. Can you imagine the excitement, all one had to do was track and capture a 60ton sea creature. Not sustainable long term you say. Then just 30 years later natural gas became a viable option in the cities. Did I mention the smell, which caused nausea, and the fact that it killed house plants? Later, people relied on turpentinebased fuel from Southern pine trees, but this had a tendency to explode unexpectedly. In the 1850s oil seeping from creeks in western Pennsylvania was used to power lamps, what a breakthrough. About this time in Canada coal tar was being distilled into a clean burning fuel called kerosene. Just think of all of the fires caused by spilt kerosene lamps. Two percent of American homes had electricity in 1900. J.P Morgan (the man) was one of the first to install electricity in his home, and it required a private power plant on his property. Even by 1950, close to 30 percent of American homes didn't have electricity. It wasn't until the 1970s that virtually all homes were powered. Adjusted for wage growth, electricity cost more than 10 times as much in 1900 as it does today, according to Professor Julian Simon. Today, most in the U. S. are fortunate to have access to electricity for 24/7 except for an occasional outage. Generators use a diverse fuel mix to serve our needs, with 2013 fuels’ usage: 39 percent coal, 27 percent natural gas, 19 percent

October 2014

Gary Westphal General Manager Butler County Public Power District nuclear, 7 percent hydroelectric, and 4 percent wind. Electricity is one of the very few commodities we need that cannot be stored effectively, so it must be produced as it’s needed. Recent news about the EPA’s proposed regulations requiring power plants to cut carbon emissions by 30 percent from 2005 levels may cause us to wonder, what’s next? Regulators estimate that electricity from coal in the U. S. will drop from 39 percent to 30 percent by 2030. Those reductions will be offset by China and India’s growing demand for coal. Globally, demand for coal is expected to increase by 58 percent by 2034. It seems the EPA wants to exact some pain on those who have used coal as a fuel source in recent years. They are using the term “Climate Justice”. Low cost power has provided much needed “Economic Justice” to U. S. citizens for the past eighty years, in part, do to coal and the its benefits for the overall economy. Affordability should be part of the equation. Future fuel usages are anybody’s guess. Many feel that renewables are the answer. Federal renewable

electricity production tax credits (PTC) which amount to about 2.3c/kWh are available, but who knows for how long? Wind is also an intermittent resource, so it must be backed-up by another fuel source, unless we are willing to deal with an intermittent power supply, no way, you say! How about solar? Last year solar energy accounted to 0.23 percent of U. S. power generation. Even though technology improvements on solar panels are expected to make great strides solar energy is years away from being a viable fuel source option. The useful life of solar panels is also questionable, we’ll learn more in coming years. I remain hopeful that the decision makers consider affordability and reliability in their thought processes. Many today are on fixed incomes, and moving away from coal will increase costs, there is no doubt about it. I also expect that a continued improvement in scrubbing technologies that reduce emissions from coal-fired plants will cause regulators to rethink their desires to reduce coal usage. Another area each of us should focus on is becoming more energy efficient. Adding insulation, replacing incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs, installing better windows and doors are just a few examples. Your rural power utility may offer cash rebates to assist your energy efficiency efforts. Please contact them to see what is available. It would be best if we as a country could embrace nuclear, natural gas and clean, scrubbed, coal as fuels for long term generation. Each is readily available, low cost and proven to be excellent fuels for power plants. Until large battery storage is affordable and efficient, renewables will have to be heavily subsidized by somebody.

Levi Davenport, an apprentice IV line technician at Perennial Public Power District, practices rescuing an injured co-worker. Photograph by Lisa Jacobsen

Rural Electric Nebraskan

Electrifying Careers There’s a place for you in the electric utility network. by Magen Howard

ctober is National Cooperative Month – this is the time of year when cooperatives of all kinds are celebrated and on display to tell the world why our business model is important and relevant in the 21st century. This year, the Rural Electric Nebraskan is showcasing careers at public power districts and electric cooperatives in honor of National Coop Month. Read on to learn how these jobs are rich, varied and touch every aspect of business — and how you can find yourself in one of these positions. The men and women who don hard hats and climb poles to work on power lines might be the most visible employees of electric utilities, but it takes a host of other professions to keep power flowing. From accounting to communications, engineering to human resources, customer/member service to line work, the job opportunities at public power districts and electric cooperatives are numerous and will become more so as Baby Boomers retire in waves. By 2017, 55 percent of rural electric utility CEOs will be eligible for retirement, and the number jumps to 75 percent in 10 years. That’s just the top job bracket — other categories of workers are on the way out, too, in the next five years: • 37 percent, senior managers • 31 percent, supervisors • 26 percent, system operations

October 2014

employees • 24 percent, engineers • 16 percent, “skilled trades,” which includes lineworkers equipment operators • 14 percent, information technology

are committed to doing the right things for the right reasons, he said. “Keeping electric rates affordable while providing second to none service and reliability; is why I am very thankful to be a part of this great industry,” said Gibbs.

This means lots of new positions are opening up at rural electric utilities near you. Public power districts and, specifically, are not-forprofit businesses, which means they have to generate money in order to operate and meet financial lending requirements, but any extra revenue over and above operating expenses are returned to their member-owners in the form of patronage capital credits. Clay Gibbs, general manager of Cornhusker Public Power District, has worked in the electric industry for 21 years, a length of time that’s common in the industry because of its stability and generous benefits offerings. He started his career as an apprentice line technician. Over the years he worked his way up, serving as a journey line technician, meter technician, and supervisor of data processing & information technology. “Helping to provide rural Nebraskan’s with the electricity needed to enhance their lives and to achieve their business goals is extremely rewarding,” Gibbs said. “We, at public power, are entrusted with great resources and responsibilities, and we take that very seriously.” Nebraska’s rural electric utilities

Preparing for the tide to turn Retirements have already begun in earnest, and public power districts and electric cooperatives are in the thick of planning to ensure new employees are equipped to offer topnotch service. Decades of institutional knowledge can’t be replaced, but training can provide a solid foundation. Training programs for linemen sponsored by or partnered with public power districts and electric coops have popped up all across the country. Line workers are the backbone of the electric utility industry. They work outdoors in all kinds of weather and often are called to restore power in severe weather conditions. In 2007 Perennial Public Power District recognized there would be a need for future utility line technicians due to an aging workforce. To encourage future line workers, Perennial Public Power District introduced a Utility Line Scholarship program that offers a $1000.00 per year scholarship to local students entering an accredited utility line college. “This scholarship program fosters Please turn to page 8

Electric utility careers From page 7 skilled, safety-conscious, highly motivated individuals who would like to pursue a career in utility line,” said Lisa Jacobsen, Perennial PPD marketing and communications coordinator. “Since the implementation of the Utility Line Scholarship, Perennial has awarded scholarships to 12 individuals.” Students pursuing an associate’s degree in utility line are required to work as a summer intern to gain real life experience and learn what it is like to work as a utility line technician. Many public power districts and electric cooperatives partner with local colleges to offer utility line internships. During the internship, students can combine their course work with hands-on experience working with a veteran utility line technician. Interns gain valuable work experience operating specialized equipment to install, maintain and restore electrical services. “We appreciate our younger employees because rural electric utilities often see 30- or 40-year careers, and on occasion even more than that,” Troy Bredenkamp, general manager of the Nebraska Rural Electric Association says. “Recent college graduates bring fresh perspective and new ideas, and we can train them from the ground up on what it means to work at a public power district or electric cooperative.” Safety is a top priority in the electrical industry; students learn safety procedures first hand from working with experienced line technicians. In addition, instructors from local colleges communicate with the student and the intern’s supervisor to evaluate not only how the student is performing, but also to see how the public power district is performing. By the numbers The unique aspect about public power districts and electric

There are a wide range of career opportunities available in the rural electric utility industry, from information technology to meter technician. Many utilities offer education scholarships to qualified individuals. cooperatives in the U.S. is that each one is an independent business, but they’re all connected in a vast network that serves 42 million people across 47 states. They serve 19 million businesses, homes, schools, churches, farms and other establishments in 2,500 of America’s 3,141 counties. To accomplish that feat, about 900 public power districts and electric coops nationwide employ nearly 70,000 workers, and it’s no wonder. Much more goes on at each one of these rural electric utilities than keeping the system running. Member services employees take care of phone calls, bill payments and offer programs and services, such as home energy audits and scholarships for high school graduates. Staking technicians and engineers plot where new lines will be built, while purchasing employees maintain an inventory of equipment and negotiate contracts. And IT professionals are increasingly part of the operations landscape, in addition to traditional IT work, as more and more digital technologies are integrated into the day-in and day-out of running an

electric system. “Anyone from a recent college grad to a more seasoned professional looking for a great career can find a place in the electric utility industry,” Bredenkamp says. How to find co-op jobs Interested in joining the electric coop family? National electric industry career opportunities are available at TouchstoneEnergy.jobs, the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives’ career center, where applicants can search for openings and submit resumes. Employment opportunities in Nebraska and the region are also listed at www.nrea.org. Sources: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

Rural Electric Nebraskan

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Sculpted rooster announces each hour with a cheerful crow!

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Can energy savings be as easy as painting? ith our hectic schedules in today’s fast-paced world, the easiest option often times seems to be the best option. A new series of insulating paints promises energy savings by simply painting the exterior of a building. But do they really work? Some insulating paints promise up to 40 percent energy savings when applied to exterior walls. Typically, insulating paints (also called “nanocoatings” by some vendors) are designed to be applied to a building’s exterior with the goal of reflecting radiant heat energy. These types of radiant barriers have shown to provide benefits when properly applied to roofs (particularly in sunny areas with large cooling loads), and there are a number of Energy Star-qualified products that can be used for this purpose. However, radiant coatings for roofs are different than paints that are to be applied to exterior walls. To date, there has not been any definitive research showing that adding such coatings to exterior

walls is a cost-effective way to reduce building energy use. Instead, there has been a good deal of material from coating vendors that confuses radiative heat transfer with conductive heat transfer. For example, numerous coating manufacturers advertise an “equivalent R-value” of their coatings. R-value represents the amount of insulation needed to reduce conductive heat transfer across a surface. In an example of the confusion that arises from heat transfer equivalence, one manufacturer claims that test results show that adding its 100micron-thick coating to a four-inch concrete and plaster wall decreased the thermal conductivity across that wall by nearly 30 percent. In other words, the manufacturer claims that the coating reduced conductive heat transfer by a significant percentage. Simply considering the scale difference between four inches of concrete and 100 microns of paint should illustrate why claims like this should be met with extreme

suspicion. Actually, the R-value of coatings is typically quite low. If a coating were applied to a depth of one inch, it might be able to achieve the insulating properties of, say, one inch of fiberglass-batt insulation or rigid foam. But even that’s unlikely given that a coating doesn’t contain the gas voids that give insulators their insulating properties. Because coatings are applied in a thickness measured in microns, not inches, they simply cannot affect conductive heat loss from a building in any appreciable way and are not directly comparable to traditional insulators on an R-value basis. The best energy-efficiency improvements are often the simplest and most common. Turning lights off when leaving a room, sealing windows and doors and cleaning refrigerator coils aren’t as much fun as buying a shiny new appliance or product. But these simple, low-cost actions are proven ways to save energy and increase comfort.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

Go with the low flow

id you know that just making hot water can consume up to 14 percent of your home energy

dollars? One way to help save on water-heating energy is, of course, to use less hot water. Here's a way to do that and still keep clean: Install a low-flow showerhead. These inexpensive, easily installed showerheads use about half as much water as the typical showerhead, but give you the same water pressure and the same great shower. If you've tried one of the older versions of the low-flow showerhead and didn't like it, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably time to try again. The new models are vastly improved and can really help you save money on your electric bill. A variety of showerhead styles are available at your local hardware store or from retailers online. Prices range from less than $10 for simple, no-frills plastic ones to more than $100 for designer showerheads. Source: Alliance to Save Energy

October 2014

Local control

You have a voice The benefit of local control is cornerstone of public power

here is a movement across With local control also comes Nebraska’s publicly controlled the country to buy food access for electric consumers. rural electric utilities have operated locally. Folks are Customers have a voice in the successfully under this model for rediscovering the benefits of buying activities of their electric systems. nearly 125 years. People like having locally grown food a say in matters from farmers that affect them. markets. It is fresher, And we are glad tastier and is good for they do, as the local economy. customer feedback Just like you want helps keep us on your food from a track and pushes source you know, us to do better. Nebraskans can be reassured in the fact Voicing Your that their public Opinion power electric utility Do you have a is governed by a concern you would board of directors like to bring to the they know and trust. attention of your At the heart of electric utility? public power is local Nebraska’s rural The board of directors of Wheat Belt Public Power District meet at control -- community electric public the office in Sidney, Neb. to discuss the needs of the district. leaders making power districts Photograph by Jeff Dickinson policy decisions so and electric that utility services cooperatives invite are in tune with customers’ needs Public Power is after all, the you to attend a board meeting. At and values. At Nebraska’s public public’s business. An electric these meetings you can voice your power districts and electric utility’s board of directors meets to opinion or share a concern directly cooperatives, decisions on vital discuss the current and future with the board of directors. Every services that affect every home and needs of the utility and to make resident of Nebraska can provide business are made by a locally decisions regarding the operations input into how his or her local elected board of directors through of the utility. These board members electric system is operated. an open and democratic process. vote to set rates and they Even if you’ve never attended a The publically elected board participate in a wide variety of board meeting at your local electric members understand their most programs geared to improving utility, you can have the confidence important responsibility is to serve Nebraska’s economy and overall that your board member is working the needs of their customers and to quality of life. Of course these board hard to keep rates low and is protect the affordability of meetings are open to the public and looking out for your interests. electricity and the reliability of the allow an opportunity for concerned That’s because board members are electric system. customers to be heard. your neighbors.

Nebraska’s electric rates are among the top 15 lowest in the U.S.

Visit the website at: www.workingfornebraska.org Rural Electric Nebraskan

Our historic beginning n 1935, at a time when fewer than seven percent of Nebraska farms had electric service, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order, establishing the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) as an agency of the federal government. The goal of the Rural Electrification Administration was to provide low-interest, long-term federal loans to the existing power industry, hoping to make it possible to provide electric service across the sparsely populated sections of rural America. The existing electric industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s response was to refuse the loans on the grounds that there was

little demand for electric service on the farm and little profit to be gained. In 1936, Nebraska Senator George Norris introduced, and President Roosevelt signed, the Rural Electrification Act. This measure directed the REA administrator to give preference in making loans to rural power districts, providing the needed startup funds for electricity to be distributed across rural Nebraska. Rural Nebraskans demanding electric service began to come together forming public power districts and electric cooperatives and beginning the process of

Above: Neighbors came together to build power lines across the nation. Below: President Roosevelt signs the Rural Electrification Act in 1936. Senator George Norris of Nebraska is on his right. establishing an electric utility. Their objective was not to own electric utilities for profit, but simply to obtain service that would bring them into step with the rest of the modern world. The cooperative model fit with this goal because it did not require them to pay or collect profits from anyone. Those founders volunteered their time, their labor, their teams and equipment-whatever was needed to bring electric service to their homes. They knew it would be a high-cost service, because, in spite of their contributed services and their nonprofit operation, the numbers of electricity users per mile of line were still too few to share in the cost of providing the expensive service. Co-op members recruited as many neighbors as they could and they took on as much of the job as they could themselves in order to keep costs down. They organized a state association, The Nebraska Rural Electric Association, (NREA) headquartered in Lincoln, to serve as their common voice and represent them in the state capital. Through the Association, they worked together to create joint programs and materials and to share the load of critical problems confronting all of them.

Next Month: New Technology October 2014

Treasure Hunts Along the Road by Amy Higgins

Family-friendly sleuthing makes traveling more exciting

oad trip activities are often tedious and predictable: the license plate game, 10 minute pit stops, mounds of munchies and the occasional snooze. But there are ways to break up the monotony, get a little exercise and have fun. Try geocaching and letterboxing. These scavenger hunts aren’t new, but they aren’t as familiar as your traditional traveling games. They have gained worldwide attention and can be played within feet of your home, in the middle of nowhere and abroad. No matter where or how far you travel, it’s practically guaranteed a geocaching or letterboxing treasure is nearby. On your next road trip, take a little detour and include a few stops to search for hidden treasure. Geocaching Geocaching was first reported by The New York Times in October 2000. It

has since become a worldwide sensation, says Eric Schudiske, public relations and special media manager for geocaching.com. Geocachers can be found all over the world, several of which are deeply ingrained in the geocaching community. Several groups go so far as to schedule geocaching events and outings. Geocaching uses GPS devices to locate the coordinates to a specific treasure, or geocache. Simply register for a free basic membership on geocaching.com, locate the “Hide & Seek a Cache” page, enter the postal code, state or approximate address of your desired location and click on any geocache in the list provided. Lists are sizable and range in difficulty and terrain, so you’ll have many options to choose from. Once you decide which geocache is the most enticing, enter the Please turn to page 16

Rural Electric Nebraskan

An Ounce of Hydrogen Peroxide is Worth a Pound of Cure (SPECIAL) - Hydrogen peroxide is trusted by every hospital and emergency room in the country for its remarkable ability to kill deadly germs like E. coli and the swine flu virus. In fact, it has attracted so much interest from doctors that over 6000 articles about it have appeared in scientific publications around the world. Research has discovered that hydrogen peroxide enables your immune system to function properly and fight infection and disease. Doctors have found it can shrink tumors and treat allergies, Alzheimer’s, asthma, clogged arteries, diabetes, digestive problems, migraine headaches, and arthritis pain. Smart consumers nationwide are also discovering there are hundreds of health cures and home remedy uses for hydrogen peroxide. A new book called The Magic of Hydrogen Peroxide is now available that tells you exactly how to use hydrogen peroxide by itself... and mixed with simple everyday kitchen items... to make liniments, rubs, lotions, soaks and tonics that treat a wide variety of ailments. It contains tested and proven health cures that do everything from relieving chronic pain to making age spots go away. You’ll be amazed to see how a little hydrogen peroxide mixed with a pinch of this or that from your cupboard can: s 2ELIEVE THE PAIN OF ARTHRITIS RHEUMATISM AND FIBROMYALGIA s 4REAT ATHLETE S FOOT s #LEAR UP ALLERGIES AND SINUS problems s 3OOTHE SORE THROATS s &IGHT COLDS AND FLU s (ELP HEAL BOILS AND SKIN INFECTIONS s 7HITEN TEETH WITHOUT SPENDING A FORTUNE s $ESTROY HARMFUL DENTAL BACTERIA and heal gingivitis s (ELP HEAL COLD SORES AND CANKER sores s #LEAR UP FOOT AND NAIL FUNGUS s 2ELIEVE THE STING AND PAIN OF INSECT bites s 3OOTHE SORE FEET s 2ELIEVE EAR ACHES s 3OOTHE MUSCLE ACHES s %NABLE MINOR WOUNDS CUTS AND SCRAPES TO HEAL FASTER s 2EFRESH AND TONE YOUR SKIN

s #LEAR UP ACNE RASHES AND AGE spots s (ELP HEAL YEAST INFECTIONS s !ND MUCH MORE Besides killing E. coli and the swine flu virus, hydrogen peroxide also destroys botulism, salmonella and other harmful organisms. It works by making viruses and bacteria selfdestruct on the cellular level. Amazingly, for something so powerful, hydrogen peroxide is safe. That’s because after it makes germs self-destruct, hydrogen peroxide breaks down into harmless water. The Magic of Hydrogen Peroxide book is a valuable health improvement treasure that also shows you how to make tons of household cleaners that work better and more economically than expensive store-bought products. It’s a safe powerful alternative to harsh chemical cleaners. Discover easy-to-make formulas that: s +ILL GERMS ON KITCHEN COUNTERS AND SURFACES s 3TERILIZE DISHES CUPS AND KITCHEN utensils s -AKE A POWERFUL SCOURING POWDER THAT WORKS WONDERS ON KITCHEN SINKS REFRIGERATORS AND OVENS s $ISINFECT AND DEODORIZE COFFEE MAKERS TEA POTS BLENDERS AND FOOD PROCESSORS s 3ANITIZE WOOD CUTTING BOARDS AND WOODEN SPOONS s #LEAN OUT AND DISINFECT CLOGGED drains s -AKE HARDWOOD FLOORS TILE FLOORS grout and linoleum gleam s 'ET RID OF HARMFUL BACTERIA ON FRUITS VEGETABLES AND MEATS WITH THIS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE FOOD RINSE s %LIMINATE NASTINESS FROM TOILET BOWLS BATH TUBS SHOWERS AND SHOWER CURTAINS s 3TERILIZE AND PURIFY TOOTHBRUSHES and dentures s #LEAN AND DISINFECT PET STAINS s 2EMOVE MOLD AND MILDEW FROM BASEMENT WALLS ROOFS AND OTHER SURFACES s $ISINFECT DIAPERS PACIFIERS AND BABY TOYS s 2EMOVE WINE INK AND BLOOD STAINS FROM CLOTHING CARPETS AND FURNITURE s "OOST LAUNDRY DETERGENT POWER and restore brightness and color TO FABRICS

s 3TREAK FREE CLEAN YOUR WINDOWS and mirrors s #LEAN AND DEODORIZE YOUR CAR s %LIMINATE SKUNK STENCH ON PETS AND FOUL ODORS FROM LITTER BOXES old tennis shoes, etc. s 2ID PETS OF PARASITES AND BACTERIA s -AKE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR PLANTS FLOURISH WITH A SUREFIRE FERTILIZER and insecticide all rolled-into-one s +EEP HANDS GERM FREE WITHOUT EXPENSIVE HAND SANITIZERS s !ND MUCH MORE The Magic of Hydrogen Peroxide contains many more amazing health remedies, cleaning formulas and gardening mixtures. In addition, it also gives you a list of qualified physicians who use hydrogen peroxide in their practices to treat serious ailments. Also included FREE with each book are useful tips and home remedy formulas using vinegar, garlic baking soda and teas. To get your copy of The Magic of Hydrogen Peroxide direct from the publisher at the special introductory price of $19.95 plus $3.98 shipping and handling (total of $23.93, OH residents please add 6.5% sales tax) simply do this: Write “Hydrogen Peroxide” on a piece of paper and mail it along with your check or money order payable to: James Direct, Inc., Dept HP493, 500 S. Prospect Ave., Box 980, Hartville, Ohio 44632. You can charge to your Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express by mail. Be sure to include your card number, expiration date and signature. Want to save even more? Do a favor for a relative or friend and order two books for only $30 postpaid. Remember, you’re protected by our 90-day money back guarantee. If you’re not happy, for any reason, we’ll refund your money. Simple as that. &2%% ')&4 You will also receive a copy of the handy booklet “How To Grow, Dry, Use & Prepare Herbs” as our gift to you. Even if you return the book, it is yours to keep with no obligation. Hurry! Supplies are limited so you must act now. ©2014 JDI HP134S08 http://www.jamesdirect.com

LETTERS Hydrogen Peroxide Knocks Out the Toughest Cases of Athlete’s Foot

hen I read, treat athlete’s foot, I had to try it. I have been fighting with this for four months. I tried every kind of salve from the drug store with no luck. But when I put hydrogen peroxide on my feet it has started to go away. So now I need two books on hydrogen peroxide. One for my best friend. They are like having a doctor in your home. - M. R. Sun Prairie, WI

NEWS & RESEARCH Hydrogen Peroxide: the First Responder of the Immune System

ew research conducted at Harvard Medical School and University of Wisconsin – Madison has offered exciting clues as to how our bodies fight off infection and disease. It’s been common knowledge in medical circles that our bodies produce hydrogen peroxide, but new studies of human and animal cells are shedding new light on the critical role hydrogen peroxide plays in immunity, wound healing and even tumor biology. This new data shows that hydrogen peroxide is the catalyst to the body’s effective fight against disease and infection. This is one more brick in the wall of evidence supporting hydrogen peroxide’s safety and power. Readers are urged to pick up The Magic of Hydrogen Peroxide without delay to begin harnessing the power and saving money without delay. To get this valuable book direct from the publisher a special introductory price of $19.95 has been arranged plus $3.98 shipping and handling (total of $23.93, OH residents please add 6.5% sales tax) and write “Hydrogen Peroxide” and mail it with a check or money order payable to: James Direct, Inc., Dept HP493, 500 S. Prospect Ave., Box 980, Hartville, Ohio 44632. Want to save even more? Do a favor for a relative or friend and order 2 books for only $30 postpaid.

*Testimonials are atypical, your results may be more or less.

Geocaching From page 14 coordinates in your GPS device and follow the clues. Find out if the description offers geocache’s additional hints, such as a decryption, as these hints can be critical to finding the cache. And remember to pack a pencil and notebook for the road. Smartphone users can install the free “Geocaching Intro” app, which accomplishes the same goals as the website but its portability comes in handy, especially on road trips when you need to look up a tip or resolve to abort a particular mission and move to a different cache. Geocaches have hidden compartments and come in many forms: plastic containers, boxes, bags, fake rocks and logs, tools, nuts and bolts, and magnetic containers such as the geocache titled “Cherry Knolls 8: Elvis” in Centennial, Colorado. With a difficulty rating of one star, this particular find is easy enough for an amateur geocacher, but fun to hunt down nonetheless. When you find the geocache, open it, check out the contents, sign the logbook and take a picture as a reminder of your journey. Some caches contain treasures. If you choose to take one, it is expected that you replace the treasure with another of equal value. When your mission is complete, it’s important to return the cache to its original spot so others can enjoy the treasure hunt in the future. Because geocachers often hide or search for caches on public land, some government agencies have adopted policies for geocaching and require permits to place caches on their property. They say the goal of these policies is to protect from harm both the public and sensitive habitats, such as wetlands and wildlife management areas. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission adopted a policy which requires placement of a cache on Parks property must be secured with a Special Occasion Permit. Geo-

Smartphone users can install the free “Geocaching Intro” app from www.geocaching.com. caching is not permitted at Nebraska State Historical Parks. To view the complete list of rules, visit http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/parks/geocaching.asp Letterboxing It is believed that letterboxing began in 1854 in England. In a hard to reach area of the park, James Perrott, a Dartmoor National Park

guide, left his contact information in a bottle, inviting those who found the bottle to contact him and to leave their own information for others to find. That was letterboxing in its infancy. The game never went away, but it didn’t gain a lot of popularity in North America until it was resurrected in 1998 when Smithsonian magazine wrote an article about the pastime.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

When you locate a letterbox, you’ll find a logbook and stamp inside. Imprint the enclosed stamp impression in your personal logbook and write about your experience. Next, stamp the letterbox’s logbook with your personal stamp and record your letterboxing name, hometown and date. Lastly, return the letterbox and its contents to its original location. The LetterBoxer’s Companion – Exploring Mysteries Hidden in the Great Outdoors by Randy Hall is a popular guide for letterboxing newbies and could come in handy during your letterboxing road trip. In the book, Hall offers tips on following clues, creating your personal stamp and letterboxing etiquette.

Geocaches can be found in parks like this one in Lincoln, Neb. It is important to check with property owners before placing a cache as many locations have policies that may require a permit.

Actively Searching With geocaching and letterboxing you’re not only experiencing a fun

adventure and testing your problemsolving skills, you also benefit from the exercise. “There’s a study, for the first time, that tracks the health benefits of geocaching,” Schudiske says. “People who geocache are less likely to be obese or call in to work sick.” Studying 1,000 participants, researchers of the Geocaching for Exercise and Activity Research (GEAR) project will determine how much physical activity is involved hunting for geocaches. Study participants are using a pedometer to track their movement while geocaching. Who doesn’t like a little treasure in their life? Start a tradition and give letterboxing or geocaching a shot on your next road trip. Whichever path you choose, be sure to go back to their websites and share your experience with people who enjoy treasure

Today, letterboxing is different. Letterboxing players start by establishing a trail name and stamp design as their identification. Many diehard letterboxing enthusiasts create their own one-of-a-kind signature stamp using wine bottle corks, foam, erasers, rubber or any other ink-absorbent material. Then, with a writing implement, notebook, inkpad, compass and clues in hand, they set out to find letterboxes. Letterbox clues can be found online at letterboxing.org or atlasquest.com. By doing a simple location-based search, players can obtain a list of letterboxes in that area. Choose your desired letterbox, read the clues, print a map of the area, gather your letterboxing supplies and you’re ready for the hunt. Letterboxes range in size and type. One letterbox could be a Tupperware container while another might be a fake rock, so be observant. Many letterboxes require you to hike for miles and others can be found feet from your home.

October 2014

Be aware of electrical dangers during flooding ccording to the Federal Emergency Disaster Agency (FEMA), floods are one of the most common hazards in the United Sates. The prospect of an electrical accident is probably not top of mind when you are dealing with flooding in your home, but it is the first thing you should think of before you step into a flooded area. If there is any danger the water could be energized because of contact with electrical equipment, do not enter the area. You could be in serious danger of electrocution. Here are some additional suggestions from Safe Electricity to help keep you and your family safe during a flood: • Never attempt to turn off power at the breaker box if you must stand in water to do so. If you cannot reach your breaker box safely, call your electric utility to shut off power at the meter. • Never use electric appliances or touch electric wires, switches, or fuses when you are wet or when you are standing in water. • Keep electric tools and equipment

at least 10 feet away from wet surfaces. Do not use electric yard tools if it is raining or the ground is wet. • Never drive into flood waters because it is very difficult to tell by sight how deep floodwaters are. It only takes six inches of water for your car to lose control and stall. Your car could be swept out of control and into electrical dangers. Accidents related to driving are the leading killer related to floods. • Also, do not enter flood waters on foot or in boat. Flood waters hold unknown dangers. The water could be energized or could sweep you into electrical equipment. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. • If you see downed power lines or damaged equipment, stay away, warn others to stay away, and notify the authorities. • Do not enter a flooded basement. Submerged outlets can energize water, making it dangerous to step in. • If instructed to do so, turn off utilities at the main switch before

evacuating. Unplug appliances and electronics. Do no re-enter your home until you are certain it is safe. Never turn on natural gas. Only professionals should turn on natural gas. • Replace appliances and electronics that are water damaged. If you are in a flood prone area, one action you can take to be better prepared is to have a sump pump with a back-up battery in case the power goes out and an alarm to alert you of flooding. Additionally, you can elevate the water heater, electric panel, and furnace to keep them clear of potential flood waters. Safe Electricity also recommends installing ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) on outdoor outlets and indoor outlets in areas of the house that are prone to flooding such as the basement. GFCIs should also be installed in rooms with heavy water use such as the laundry room, bathroom, and kitchen. For more information on avoiding electrical hazards, visit SafeElectricity.org.

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TECHNOLOGY SIMPLIFIED – BIGGER AND BETTER

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Have you ever said to yourself “I’d love to get a computer, if only I could figure out how to use it.” Well, you’re not alone. Computers were supposed to make our lives simpler, but they’ve gotten so complicated that they are not worth the trouble. With all of the “pointing and clicking” and “dragging and dropping” you’re lucky if you can figure out where you are. Plus, you are constantly worrying about viruses and freeze-ups. If this sounds familiar, we have great news for you. There is finally a computer that’s designed for simplicity and ease of use. It’s the WOW Computer, and it was designed with you in mind. This computer is easy-to-use, worry-free and literally puts the world at your

fingertips. From the moment you open the box, you’ll realize how different the WOW Computer is. The components are all connected; all you do is plug it into an outlet and your high-speed Internet connection. Then you’ll see the screen – it’s now 22 inches. This is a completely new touch screen system, without the cluttered look of the normal computer screen. The “buttons” on the screen are easy to see and easy to understand. All you do is touch one of them, from the Web, Email, Calendar to Games– you name it… and a new screen opens up. It’s so easy to use you won’t have to ask your children or grandchildren for help. Until now, the very people who could benefit most from E-mail and the Internet are the ones that have had the hardest time accessing it. Now, thanks to the WOW Computer, countless older Americans are discovering the wonderful world of the Internet every day. Isn’t it time

you took part? Call now, and a patient, knowledgeable product expert will tell you how you can try it in your home for 30 days. If you are not totally satisfied, simply return it within 30 days for a refund of the product purchase price. Call today. s Send & Receive Emails s Have video chats with family and friends s Surf the Internet: Get current weather and news s Play games Online: Hundreds to choose from!

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SAFETY BRIEFS

Beware of electrical hazards at Halloween he decorative lights, fog machines, black lights, and animatronics of Halloween make for adventurous, entertaining times for children and adults. With these decorations, though, the risk of fire or electrocution could be lurking around the corner. It is important to check for electrical hazards before accidents happen. Use the following tips to keep electrical hazards from haunting you this Halloween: • Inspect electrical decorations. Look for cracked or frayed sockets, loose or bare wires, and loose connections. • Read manufacturer’s instructions regarding installation and maintenance. Check the instructions to see how many light strings can be connected together. • Always unplug light strings before replacing any bulbs. • Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, walls or other firm supports. Do not use nails or tacks that could puncture light strings or electrical/extension cords.

• Provide well-lit walkways and porch lighting for trick-or-treaters. Make sure the walkways are clear for trick-or-treaters. • Don’t overload extension cords or

place them near, or in, snow or water. • Make sure electrical decorations are approved by a nationally recognized certification organization like “UL” (Underwriters Laboratory) and marked for outdoor use if you are using them outside. Check www.cpsc.gov or www.ul.com for

recalls. Many Halloween toys have been recalled in the past by the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission). • Do not overload your circuit breakers or fuses. • Plug lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold. • Make sure decorative lighting is well-ventilated, protected from weather and a safe distance from anything flammable like dry leaves and shrubs. Do not coil power cords or extension cords while in use or tuck under rugs or drapes. • Turn out all lights and decorations before leaving or going to bed. Always have at least one fire extinguisher available and know how to use it. Sources: Home Safety Council www.homesafetycouncil.org; Electrical Safety Foundation International www.electricalsafety.org

Rural Electric Nebraskan

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CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS

When do appliance upgrades make sense? by James Dulley

I wonder if I should buy new Q :appliances (kitchen, laundry, TV, etc.). Other than just comparing EnergyGuide labels, how can I determine the savings? How can I calculate the cost to use an appliance? major appliances, comparing A :theForEnergyGuide label is the best method to determine the cost to use each new one. Based upon the purchase price, you can then calculate which appliance provides the best return. The most efficient appliance is not always the best buy from a payback standpoint. However, there are other factors to consider. Some people are very concerned about the environmental impact of using appliances, so they are willing to spend extra for the most efficient models. Selecting an Energy Starqualified model is a good choice. Visit TogetherWeSave.com and take the “Home Tour” to learn about potential energy savings on Energy Star appliances. To do a proper payback analysis of the decision to replace your existing appliances, you have to determine the cost to operate your existing appliance. You may have kept the old EnergyGuide label with your paperwork from the old appliance, or you may be able to do an Internet search to find it. Keep in mind that even if you have the EnergyGuide labels showing annual operating costs, these figures are only averages. If you already are energy conscious, your current operating costs are likely on the low side, and your savings from installing a new appliance will be lower than the average annual cost figures indicate. There are a couple of ways to

calculate the cost to use an electric appliance. The simplest and quickest way is to download the “Save Energy, Save Money” app from TogetherWeSave.com. This easy-touse app provides several calculators for appliances found throughout your home.

Front-loading clothes washers are the most energy efficient, and matching washer and dryer sets can be stacked on top of one another to save floor space. Photograph by James Dulley Another way to calculate the cost of appliance use is to use an actual formula. First, find the wattage rating on the nameplate. Divide this by 1,000 and multiply the result by your $/kwh electric rate to get the operating cost per hour. If the nameplate lists amperage, multiply it by 120 to get watts. For appliances with a thermostat, reduce the operating cost by about 50 percent. The rate of efficiency improvements and meaningful new features in major appliances is slowing, so there is no need to wait if you really need a new one. One exception is televisions because their prices are constantly dropping and features and quality improving.

In general though, it makes economic sense to keep your older, major appliances about 10 years or until they need expensive repairs. If you make a concerted effort to use your older appliances as seldom and as efficiently as possible, they will not cost a lot more to use than a newer one. Even for the refrigerator, which has to keep cool continuously, usage habits can really influence the electricity consumption. If you have a large family and do much laundry, the cost to use the clothes washer also includes the cost of the water and the cost to heat the water. Upgrading your water heater, to perhaps a heat pump water heater, will also reduce your dishwashing and bathing costs in addition to laundry costs. New front-loading clothes washers are typically more energy efficient than top-loading ones because frontloaders require less heated water. The actual electricity use by the motor is about the same for both types. Also, since a front-loader washer uses less water, less detergent needs to be used. A secondary, but significant, savings with a front-loader is their faster spin cycle. The horizontal axis tub design can spin very fast. By spinning faster, more water is extracted from the rinsed clothes. This greatly reduces the drying time, so the dryer needs to run less and uses less electricity. When selecting a new dishwasher, make sure it has a built-in water preheater. This allows you to set your water heater temperature lower without sacrificing the cleaning effectiveness of hotter water. Spend a little extra and select a model with many cycles. With more cycles, you can more accurately target the cycle length to the requirements of each load.

Send inquiries to James Dulley, Rural Electric Nebraskan, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

“To you, it’s the perfect lift chair. To me, it’s the best sleep chair I’ve ever had.” — J. Fitzgerald, VA

Remote Controls for Heat, Massage, Recline and Lift

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Our Perfect Sleep Chair® is just the chair to do it all. It’s a chair, true – the finest of lift chairs – but this chair is so much more! It’s designed to provide total comfort and relaxation not no found in other chairs. It can’t be beat for comfortable, long-term sitting, TV viewing, relaxed reclining and – yes! – peaceful sleep. Our chair’s recline technology allows you to pause the chair in an infinite number of positions, including the Trendelenburg position and the zero gravity position where your body experiences a minimum of internal and external stresses. You’ll love the other This lift chair benefits, too: It helps with correct puts you safely on your feet!

spinal alignment, promotes back pressure relief, and encourages better posture to prevent back and muscle pain. And there’s more! The overstuffed, oversized biscuit style back and unique seat design will cradle you in comfort. Generously filled, wide armrests provide enhanced arm support when sitting or reclining. The high and low heat settings along with the dozens of massage settings, can provide a soothing relaxation you might get at a spa – just imagine getting all that in a lift chair! Weight capacity 375 lbs. Shipping charge includes white glove delivery. Professionals will deliver the chair to the exact spot in your home where you want it, unpack it, inspect it, test it, position it, and even carry the packaging away! Includes one year service warranty and your choice of fabrics and colors – Call now! ®

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We’ve all had nights when we just can’t lie down in bed and sleep, whether it’s from heartburn, cardiac problems, hip or back aches – it could be a variety of reasons. Those are the nights we’d give anything for a comfortable chair to sleep in, one that reclines to exactly the right degree, raises feet and legs to precisely the desired level, supports the head and shoulders properly, operates easily even in the dead of night, and sends a hopeful sleeper right off to dreamland.

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RECIPES

Sally Pumpkin Pie Beat 2 eggs Add 1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin 1 (14 oz) can sweeten condensed milk (not evaporated milk) 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon salt Mix ingredients well. Pour into a 9-inch unbaked pie shell. Bake 15 minutes at 425 degrees. Set oven to 350 degrees and bake 40 minutes longer or until knife inserted in center of pie comes out clean.

Vlasta Zrust, Clarkson, Nebraska

No Bake Granola Bars Italian Stuffed Pork Meatball Sandwich 1 pound ground pork, lean 2 eggs, whisked 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 cup bread crumbs 1 cup fresh mozzarella balls, about 12 to 15 of small size 1 28-ounce jar tomato sauce Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper Submarine-style buns In a large bowl combine the whisked eggs, garlic powder and red pepper flakes. Add the ground pork and breadcrumbs and mix together until evenly combined. Form the ground pork mixture into small meatballs, each the size of a golf ball. Insert a mozzarella ball in the center of each meatball, taking care to re-form the meatball around the cheese once itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been added. (The cheese should not be visible.) Place the tomato sauce in the bottom of a slow cooker and add the meatballs on top. Turn the slow cooker on and cook over high heat for 6 hours or low heat for 8 hours. Carefully rotate the meatballs after half the cooking time to make sure they cook evenly. To serve, place three meatballs plus sauce in a submarine bun.

2 cups crispy rice cereal 2 cups quick cooking oats 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/2 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup peanut butter 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup raisins 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Combine cereal and oats in a large bowl and set aside. Bring brown sugar and syrup to a boil in a saucepan over medium high heat, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Pour peanut butter mixture over cereal, stirring until coated. Let stand for 10 minutes. Stir in raisins and chips. Press mixture into 9 x 13 inch pan. Cool in pan on wire rack. Cut into squares.

Bonnadel Foster, Ericson, Nebraska

Jumbo Raisin Cookies 2 cups raisins cooked in 3/4 cup water. Simmer 5 minutes. Use 1/2 cup juice (if not enough juice add water to make 1/2 cup) 2 cups white sugar 1 cup shortening 3 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon allspice 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional) 4 to 4 1/2 cups flour, start with 4 cups

Cream sugar, shortening, eggs, vanilla, spices, baking powder, & baking soda. Add raisin juice and raisins. Mix. Add flour. Make sure dough in not too sticky or to dry. Nuts may be added if desired. Drop on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 400 degrees. 10-12 minutes.

Anita Eller, Columbus, Nebraska

Recipe provided by the National Pork Board 24

Rural Electric Nebraskan

Look for Adult Pen Pals next month ue to a low number of submissions sent in by readers for use in the October issue of the Rural Electric Nebraskan, no Adult Pen Pals submissions will be printed this month. Submissions sent for use in the October issue will appear in the November 2014 issue of the magazine instead. It is the policy of the Rural Electric Nebraskan to run Adult Pen Pal submissions only when at least six letters have been received by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association office in a given month. The Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service is exclusively for member-readers ages 18 and over. Adult Pen Pal submissions can be sent to Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501.

To appear in print The Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service is exclusively for member-readers ages 18 and over. To be considered for use, submissions must: (1) Identify rural electric system providing magazine; (2) Include $6 to cover mail forwarding costs; (3) Be 25 words or fewer; (4) Include full name and mailing address (will not be used in magazine); and (5) Be first person, submitted directly by person to receive responses. Acceptance, editing and issue scheduling is at editor’s discretion. Address all submissions to Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. All responses received by the Adult Pen Pal Service are routed directly, postage paid, to the response number assigned to each submission.

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Advertise in Rural Electric Nebraskan Classifieds

To write To respond to one of the adult pen pal requests, write letter, place in envelope, seal and affix first class postage. Address to full, correct response #, c/o Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. Your letter will be forwarded unopened. Do not send money or additional postage; forwarding is prepaid. Enclose your full mailing address for return correspondence. Once again . . . it is very important that all responses carry the full response number—both month and number—to be properly forwarded. Abbreviation Code C — Christian; C/W — Country-western; D — Divorced; F — Female; M — Male; NS — Non-Smoker; ND — Non-Drinker; R&R — Rock and roll; S — Single; W — White; Wid — Widowed

October 2014

MARKETPLACE/CLASSIFIEDS Farm • Industrial • Commercial 25 Year Warranty on Roof & Walls; Prices F.O.B. Mfg. Plants; Seal Stamped Blue Prints; Easy Bolt Together Design. 30’ x 50’ x 10’........$8,985 40’ x 60’ x 10’........$12,490 50’ x 75’ x 14.........$17,999 60’ x 100’ x 12’......$24,400 100’ x 150’ x 14’....$57,800

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Arena Special (roof & frame) 100’ x 100’ x 14’...$35,725 (Local codes may affect prices)

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Rural Electric Nebraskan

The washing machine doesn’t do the laundry. Power does. Power works tirelessly around the house. It helps us do the things we need to do — and lets us do the things we want to do. To that end, electric cooperatives across the West are working hard to make sure that power is reliable, affordable and responsible. With their power supplier, Tri-State, co-ops are innovating to help homeowners, farmers and ranchers, and businesses use power wisely. In doing so, members of electric co-ops save money and make better use of resources. Learn more at PowerWorksForYou.coop. Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association • P.O. Box 33695 • Denver, CO 80233 Wholesale power supplier to 44 electric cooperatives in Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska and Wyoming.

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