YOUR ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE NEWS Cadillac Ranch Revisited
ROUTE
66 Still gets its kicks across the Panhandle
Succulent Shrimp
JULY 2018 Escape to Marathon
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FA V O R I T E S 5
Letters
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Currents
18 Local Co-op News Get the latest information plus energy and safety tips from your cooperative.
29 Texas History Double Exposure By Charles Lohrmann
31 Recipes How Do You Like Your Shrimp?
35 Focus on Texas Photo Contest: Opposites
36 Around Texas List of Local Events
38 Hit the Road Redemption in the Desert By Sheryl Smith-Rodgers
ONLINE TexasCoopPower.com
Dora Merony and her tiny MG near downtown Amarillo
Find these stories online if they don’t appear in your edition of the magazine.
F E AT U R E S
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Observations
Rendezvous on Route 66 The Mother Road still offers a journey through a slice of American life.
What’s Yours Is Mine By Lindsay Stafford Mader
Story by Brenda Kissko | Photos by Wyatt McSpadden
Texas USA
Classic Car Culture Route 66 lures all, from street rods to muscle cars.
Witness to Struggle By Gene Fowler
Story by Brenda Kissko | Photos by Wyatt McSpadden
NEXT MONTH Howdy, Bardners The history, myths and wild spirit of Texas provide fertile ground for Shakespeare performances.
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R O U T E 6 6 : WYAT T M C S PA D D E N . S H A K E S P E A R E : R O B E RT M O N C R I E F F
ON THE COVER
Buc Weatherby, mayor of Shamrock on Route 66, with his 1968 Plymouth Barracuda. Photo by Wyatt McSpadden
TEXAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Bryan Lightfoot, Chair, Bartlett; Blaine Warzecha, Vice Chair, Victoria; Alan Lesley, Secretary-Treasurer, Comanche; Mark Boyd, Douglassville; William F. Hetherington, Bandera; Mark Stubbs, Greenville; Brent Wheeler, Dalhart • PRESIDENT/CEO: Mike Williams, Austin • COMMUNICATIONS & MEMBER SERVICES COMMITTEE: Jerry Boze, Kaufman; Clint Gardner, Coleman; Greg Henley, Tahoka; Billy Marricle, Bellville; Mark McClain, Roby; Gary Raybon, El Campo; Kathy Wood, Marshall; Brandon Young, McGregor • MAGAZINE STAFF: Martin Bevins, Vice President, Communications & Member Services; Charles J. Lohrmann, Editor; Tom Widlowski, Associate Editor; Karen Nejtek, Production Manager;
Andy Doughty, Creative Manager; Elaine Sproull, Advertising Manager; Grace Arsiaga, Print Production Specialist; Chris Burrows, Senior Communications Specialist; Christine Carlson, Administrative Assistant; Paula Disbrowe, Food Editor; Travis Hill, Communications Specialist; Qasim K. Johnson, Administrative Assistant; Jessica Ridge, Communications Specialist; Jane Sharpe, Senior Designer; Shannon Oelrich, Proofreader
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July 2018 Texas Co-op Power
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LETTERS Flying Roosevelt Over the Hump My mother had a cousin, Hiram Broiles, who also was a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II [Roosevelt’s Flight, Letters, March 2018]. He flew from China over the “hump,” the Himalayas, south. On one of those flights, he had President Franklin D. Roosevelt on board. JOHN WAGGOMAN | BANDERA BANDERA EC
Habitat Destruction I am involved in a problem with my subdivision regarding the destruction of our native Texas plants [Naturally Protective, May 2018]. Our early spring roadside flowers have been mowed down when they’ve barely managed to emerge. I’ve made a list of 15 Texas flowers that have disappeared in the
So Many Teammates Thursday Night Lights [February 2018] reminded me of a funny, true story. When I played football for the Crosby Buffaloes, we played our home games on Friday nights, and the local black school, Charles R. Drew, played its home games on Thursday nights. It was understood that if you played for either team, you would get into the other team’s games free. When a group of friends and I, all football players, told the man at the gate that we played for Crosby, he said, “Lord, you boys got a big team this year; I bet I’ve let at least 100 of your teammates in already.” We never had more than 25–30 on the team. TOMMY LEISSNER | NEW BRAUNFELS PEDERNALES EC
M O N A R C H : CO U RT E SY S U E ST U TZ M A N . CO O K I E S : M E L I SSA B R I S KO
A Cookie Love Story My mom, Kay Kinn, is a farm girl and a great cook. She has made wonderful chocolate chip cookies my entire 53-year-old life. So when Texas Co-op Power shared a recipe for Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies [Recipes, February 2018] and I asked Mom to make them, well, she was skeptical,
past 30 years I’ve lived here, mainly because of habitat destruction and untimely mowing. DEE WHITNEY | FAIRMOUNT | JASPER-NEWTON EC
to say the least. But she made them, made them again and then again for family, friends and neighbors. These cookies taste great, and anyone who likes peanut butter and chocolate will love them. But my mom, not to be outdone, has made the recipe a little better, in my opinion:
She adds a shake of salt on top of them after baking. SCOTT WIESER | BUDA PEDERNALES EC
Classroom Tool
here has made me appreciate our southern neighbor even more. Being this much closer to the Gulf, I also have loved the clouds that the atmosphere brings to beautiful Texas.
I use Texas Co-op Power in my classroom every month. I love the Texas History stories and general Texas tidbits throughout, but I have even used articles like the linemen story [Line of Duty, October 2016] in my career class and as an example of feature writing to my writing class. My students get so excited when something they’ve learned in the classroom comes alive in an article.
JO ANN LOWRANCE | NORTHLAKE COSERV
LAURA SIDES | WORTHAM JUNIOR HIGH NAVASOTA VALLEY EC
1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX 78701
Clearing the Air Oklahoma is my home state, but the six years I have lived
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TEXAS CO-OP POWER VOLUME 75, NUMBER 1 (USPS 540-560). Texas Co-op Power is published monthly by Texas Electric Cooperatives (TEC). Periodical postage paid at Austin, TX, and at additional offices. TEC is the statewide association representing 75 electric cooperatives. Texas Co-op Power’s website is TexasCoopPower.com. Call (512) 454-0311 or email editor@TexasCoopPower.com. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE is $4.20 per year for individual members of subscribing cooperatives and is paid from equity accruing to the member. If you are not a member of a subscribing cooperative, you can purchase an annual subscription at the nonmember rate of $7.50. Individual copies and back issues are available for $3 each. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Texas Co-op Power (USPS 540-560), 1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX 78701. Please enclose label from this copy of Texas Co-op Power showing old address and key numbers. ADVERTISING: Advertisers interested in buying display ad space in Texas Co-op Power and/or in our 30 sister publications in other states, contact Elaine Sproull at (512) 486-6251. Advertisements in Texas Co-op Power are paid solicitations. The publisher neither endorses nor guarantees in any manner any product or company included in this publication. Product satisfaction and delivery responsibility lie solely with the advertiser.
© Copyright 2018 Texas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. Reproduction of this issue or any portion of it is expressly prohibited without written permission. Willie Wiredhand © Copyright 2018 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
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July 2018 Texas Co-op Power
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CURRENTS 656 BY THE NUMBERS That’s the average consumer credit score in Texas, which ranks 46th in a tie with Oklahoma among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The national average is 675. Minnesota ranks first at 709.
WEB EXTRAS
a Find more happenings online.
HAPPENINGS
Let’s Go to the Hop They do the hop every year in Bonham, but it’s not the dance sensation that was sweepin’ the nation 60 years ago. Rather, the BONHAM QUILT HOP involves more than 300 quilts displayed at nine sites around town plus one in nearby Honey Grove. Visitors are encouraged to hop around and check them out. The Quilt Hop started as a springtime event—held around Easter— about a decade ago. With Easter bunnies in mind, the event got its name, which stuck even as the event moved to midsummer—JULY 27–28 this year. McKinney master quilter Alice Wilhoit is the guest speaker this year.
GOLD IN THAT THAR HILL COUNTRY Construction of the nation’s first state-administered gold depository begins soon, with a 60,000square-foot facility planned for an undisclosed location in Pedernales Electric Cooperative’s service territory in Leander. Developed partly in response to the 2008 recession, the Texas Bullion Depository is scheduled to open in 2019 and will provide secure storage of gold and other precious metals for companies and individuals while operating under state comptroller oversight. The facility will include high-definition security cameras, a tactical training area, an on-site gun range and advanced perimeter defense, in case any would-be bandits harbor Bonnie and Clyde-inspired fantasies.
The Fannin County Barn Quilt Trail, which features dozens of painted squares in and around Bonham, is an added attraction for those hopping around the area. INFO a (903) 583-9830, visitbonham.com
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Texas Co-op Power July 2018
TexasCoopPower.com
Q U I LT H O P & C A K E : B A RT B R OW N E . G AU G E : M I ST E R E M I | S H U T T E R STO C K .CO M . G O L D B U L L I O N : Y U R C H E L LO 1 0 8 | D R E A M ST I M E .CO M . B E ATO N : CO U RT ESY PAU L A B E ATO N . LU G G AG E TAG : I N B J | D R E A M ST I M E .CO M . TO K E N S : SA N PAT R I C I O EC
LIFESTYLE
CO-OP PEOPLE
CO-OPS IN THE COMMUNITY
Carrying Through WHEN HUNTER BEATON’S parents adopted three foster children, he was proud to gain three younger siblings but troubled by what they brought with them from the foster home. “They had all their possessions in a black trash bag,” Beaton said. “How awful is that?” So when it came time to plan a community service project to become an Eagle Scout, the Boerne High School freshman knew what he wanted to do. He didn’t know how big it would become. “I decided to find a way to say, ‘No, no kid deserves this,’ ” he said. With the help of his church, community and parents, who are members of Bandera Electric Cooperative, Beaton raised $10,000 and filled 100 duffel bags to give to Texas foster kids. He reached his goal, but requests for bags didn’t stop. Almost 20,000 bags and two years later, Beaton’s Day 1 Bag initiative has spread to all of Texas with the help of a state Senate proclamation—and beyond. He has teamed up with nonprofits One Simple Wish and Comfort Cases to keep the bags going even as he gears up for college, where he hopes to get more involved in public service. “I just want to help people,” he said.
Did you know? u To donate to the
Day 1 Bag initiative, visit onesimplewish. org/giveday1bags.
H A P P Y B I R T H DAY
Two Football Legends TexasCoopPower.com
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CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS with foster care experience are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder at twice the rate of U.S. war veterans, according to the American Society for the Positive Care of Children.
JIMMY JOHNSON, who replaced the venerated Tom Landry as Cowboys coach and won two Super Bowls for Dallas, turns 75. Johnson was born July 16, 1943, in Port Arthur.
Tokens of Appreciation Believing thank-you notes weren’t enough and knowing how linemen enjoy collecting and trading tokens emblazoned with co-op logos, San Patricio Electric Cooperative awarded tokens to all who helped with Hurricane Harvey recovery last year. The Category 4 storm blasted the coast with 130 mph winds, leaving 98 percent of the co-op’s more than 11,000 members in the dark. Co-ops and contract linemen from across the state answered San Patricio EC’s pleas for help and rushed to Sinton to pitch in, restoring power to most members within days. “We had an overwhelming response to our request,” General Manager Ron Hughes says. To express his gratitude, he had 250 commemorative Hurricane Harvey tokens made and distributed them among all San Patricio EC employees and the six co-ops and outside contract crews that helped with restoration.
ANDRE WARE, who became the first black quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy after setting 26 NCAA records for the University of Houston in 1989, turns 50. Ware was born July 31, 1968, in Dickinson. July 2018 Texas Co-op Power
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Story by Brenda Kissko | Photos by Wyatt McSpadden
One hundred seventy-eight miles of Route 66, the iconic American highway, traverse Texas, from ghost town Glenrio on the western border of the Panhandle right through Amarillo to Oklahoma. It’s still one of the biggest draws for international tourists to the Texas Panhandle. “Americans travel the road for nostalgia,” says David Rushing, city manager for Shamrock, a town along the road, and a member of Greenbelt Electric Cooperative. “The internationals travel for a dream. For the internationals, it represents freedom.” This summer, travelers will voyage across the globe—from places like Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Spain and Scotland—to Shamrock, 90 miles east of Amarillo, to celebrate the Mother Road. With a population of 1,946, Shamrock will be the smallest town to host the Route 66 Festival, which celebrates the U.S. highway that journeys from Chicago to Los Angeles through eight states. This year’s festival runs July 12–15. As legislation supporting the designation of the route as the Route 66 National Historic Trail (to become part of the National Trails System) makes its way through Congress, the affection and nostalgia for historic Route 66 continues to grow. The festival offers a useful outline for exploring Route 66 any time. Start in McLean, 21 miles west of Shamrock, and you’ll discover the Devil’s Rope Museum and Route 66 Museum. On Friday, there will be “roadie” day trips—a chance to drive Route 66 for yourself—before a rodeo and concert with Cody Canada and the Departed and Dalton Domino. Saturday kicks off with cowboy coffee, followed by a chuck wagon lunch, a car show, more roadie 8
Texas Co-op Power July 2018
day trips, a silent auction, a banquet with music by the Road Crew (dubbed the official musical ambassadors of Route 66) and a second rodeo with music by Charlie Robison and Bri Bagwell. A poster in the lobby of Shamrock’s Texas Theater proclaims that, at one time, at least 49 theaters named “Texas” showed films for the public. Now, Shamrock’s is one of the oldest continuously open Texas Theaters, and it still screens first-run movies on weekends. At the Pioneer West Museum, travelers learn of Wheeler County boy Alan Bean, the fourth person to walk on the moon, who died in May. Kiss a piece of the Blarney Stone and check out the tallest water tower in Texas. The U-Drop Inn, an iconic part of Shamrock’s identity and a top attraction among all of Route 66, is an art deco building of green glazed tile and brick, richly adorned with neon lights. When it opened in 1936, travelers ate in its diner and gassed up at the Tower Station (all part of the same building) as they made their way across the country. Elvis stopped here multiple times on his travels between Memphis and Las Vegas. The landmark was restored in 2004 and now serves as a visitors center and gift shop offering Route 66 memorabilia and certified organic cotton T-shirts made from cotton grown nearby (its best-seller). Visitors are welcome to bring a lunch and eat in the booth where Elvis sat. There’s even a Tesla Supercharger station here, a testament to a new chapter of traveling Route 66. In 2017, over 22,500 visitors from 110 countries stopped at the U-Drop Inn, more than 10 times the population of Shamrock. “The Route 66 phenomenon just gets bigger every year,” says Shamrock Mayor Buc Weatherby. “We refer to ourselves as the crossroads of America because Shamrock is the only place in the United States where two border-to-border highways intersect. That’s U.S. 83 and I-40.” Amarillo, 95 miles west of Shamrock, is the largest Texas city along Route 66. Eric Miller, director of communications for the Amarillo Convention & Visitor Council, says Route 66 is one of the top five attractions in the city, according to visitor surveys, along with Cadillac Ranch, Big Texan Steak Ranch, Palo Duro Canyon State Park and the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum. “In the last 25 years, people have started to get reinterested in Route 66,” Miller says. “It’s a very unique part of Texas. It’s an incredible part of history. And it happened right here, not that long ago. If you get off onto Route 66, you feel the roll, experience the wide-open spaces, see the farmClockwise from top: The Uland, the ranchland, and you get an Drop Inn opened in 1936 in idea of why it was important.” Shamrock. East entrance to The Route 66 Historic District in the Route 66 tourist attracAmarillo, lined with buildings from tions in Amarillo. Sign at a salvage yard in Vega. the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s, runs a full TexasCoopPower.com
S I G N : KOJ I H I RA N O | S H U T T E R STO C K .CO M
The Mother Road still offers a journey through a slice of American life
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mile on Sixth Avenue between Western Street and Georgia Street. It was developed in the early 1900s as the San Jacinto neighborhood, connected to downtown via streetcar. Today, it’s a popular hangout for roadies and locals alike to spend an afternoon shopping, catching up over food and drinks, and gathering for live music. This historic district embodies the intersection of the past and present. Grab a margarita and reliable Tex-Mex at Bracero’s Mexican Bar & Grill in a building that once housed a gas station. Enjoy a root beer float or share a pitcher of beer while a band plays at the GoldenLight Cantina. The GoldenLight serves burgers much as it has since it opened in 1946, and it is one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants on Route 66. Nearly two dozen antique shops along this stretch offer everything from vintage blown glass perfume bottles to old road signs. Dora Meroney is the president of the Old Route 66 Association of Texas, treasurer of the Historic 6th Street on Route 66 Association and director of sales and services for her family’s Texas Ivy Antiques, located in the historic district. “The love of Route 66 goes beyond the eight states that it passes through,” Meroney says. “We have roadies from Ohio, Michigan—all over the United States. We’re trying to save what we can save, revive what can be revived and blend it with the new stuff that comes along.” Route 66, the first major transcontinental highway across the United States, was created in 1926 as part of a new federal highway system. The route connected Chicago and Santa Monica, California, via a patchwork of existing roads that stretched 2,448 miles. It made transportation of goods from rural farms to the larger cities much easier. During the Dust Bowl, the route took on a new purpose. It became the Mother Road, as John Steinbeck named it in The Grapes of Wrath, leading all those in search of another promised land to the fabled green lands of California. Back then, all they had was the road. The land shriveled beneath their feet as the clouds were all cried out. The Dirty ’30s came after the Roaring ’20s had been quickly ushered out by the Clockwise from top left: stock market crash of 1929. The Devil’s Rope Museum in party was over, and a mass migraMcLean. Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo. Cadillac tion would begin. The crushing Ranch west of Amarillo. drought was followed by high winds Karen and Greg Conn own that ripped away the rich topsoil, the Milburn-Price Culture destroying a way of life for thouMuseum in Vega. Sign at the site of the original Phillips 66 sands of American farmers. Once station in McLean. those desperate folks were pushed
“We’re trying to save what we can save, revive what can be revived and blend it with the new stuff that comes along.”
TexasCoopPower.com
out of their homes by a failed economy, they exerted the sheer will to find a better life and fell in line along one particular path. World War II marked a new era for Route 66. Once the war was over and people finally had a little money to spend and some vacation time to burn, they took to the road again, this time for pleasure. By 1955, the number of automobiles registered in the United States had doubled since the end of the war. Motor courts, roadside diners and curio shops bloomed along the route that basically became Main Street in many of the small towns it passed through. Route 66 defined the ultimate road trip and was a part of pop culture. Nat King Cole first recorded (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66 in 1946, and the song has since been recorded by dozens of other artists like Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters, the Rolling Stones and Asleep at the Wheel. The television series Route 66, starring Martin Milner and George Maharis, ran for four seasons in the early ’60s on CBS. Guest stars were the likes of Dora Meroney of Amarillo is the president Robert Duvall, Robert of the Old Route 66 Association of Texas. Redford and James Caan, and episodes were filmed on location across the country. When President Dwight D. Eisenhower saw the benefits the German autobahn (a series of federal roads with high speeds and limited access) provided during the war, he decided America needed a similar system. The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 was consequently signed into law, leading to the building of our interstates—and the demise of Route 66. The route was officially decommissioned in 1985, but today much of it is still drivable. The 2006 animated movie Cars perhaps tells the story of Route 66 most simply and poetically as characters Lightning McQueen and Sally look down upon the fictional Radiator Springs, which represents all the small towns along Route 66 that once boomed with visitors, now bypassed by an interstate. As Sally points out, those were the days we traveled to have a great time, not to make great time. Ramone’s House of Body Art in the movie bears a striking resemblance to the U-Drop Inn. Perhaps we travel to remember we’re alive. A trip down Historic Route 66 honors the days when we took time to slow down to appreciate the scenery and talk with the people serving us. Route 66 represents not only a way across the country but a way of life. “Our main job as curators of Route 66 is taking what the people before us have left us and making sure that we preserve it for the people that will come after us,” Meroney says. Brenda Kissko is a native Texan who writes about nature, travel and our relationship with land. Visit her online at BrendaKissko.com. July 2018 Texas Co-op Power
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Classic Car
Culture >> ROUTE 66 LURES ALL , FROM STREET RODS TO MUSCLE CARS <<
>> S T O R Y B Y B R E N D A K I S S K O | P H O T O S B Y W YAT T M C S PA D D E N <<
‘ We are probably the closest-knit family you could ever find because most of the time we can read each other’s minds and know what is needed without ever having to say it,” says Mona Roberts from Ralls, 30 miles east of Lubbock. Roberts lives and works with her sister Melinda and mother, Laverne, and the mind reading refers to the family business of restoring vintage cars and trucks. Laverne Roberts, who turns 80 this month, has been restoring vehicles in Ralls for more than 40 years. In that time, Roberts’ family has restored more than 50 vehicles, including a 1947 Willys Jeep, 1970 Ford Mustang convertible, 1961 Airstream travel trailer and 1974 International Scout II. Laverne’s father was a John Deere mechanic in Crosbyton, where he also farmed. Laverne grew up on the farm and became a bookkeeper for a motor company in Crosbyton, where she met mechanic Lon Roberts. Three months later, they married. For date nights, they went to Lubbock to see movies and then to HiD-Ho, a popular drive-in burger joint where Buddy Holly and the Crickets played. Lon and Laverne raised their three girls in Crosbyton before opening Lon’s Auto Clinic in Ralls in 1987. Restoring cars became a family affair when Mona was the first daughter to turn 16, and they restored a 1967 Ford Mustang convertible for her to drive. “When we restore them, it’s a family project,” Mona says. “We restored them as we got enough money together to restore them. Dad was the mechanic, and I was the painter. Melinda’s the paint mixer, and Mama’s usually the hose holder.” They laugh as they fondly remember car restorations together. Mona and her dad were both pilots—Mona also is an airplane mechanic—and went out on “morning patrol” together on Saturdays, when they’d fly around in a Cessna 150 to look for old cars they could restore. Mona would mark the map so later they could drive out to find the owner. Lon died in 2015, but he left his girls a few projects. A 1954 Ford F-100 pickup and a 1940 Chevrolet half-ton pickup are two of the vehicles they’re working on now. And Laverne and Mona continue to do state vehicle inspections at Auto Clinic. Though Laverne’s middle daughter, Michele, doesn’t work on cars, Michele’s son Nick inherited that talent, having restored a 1960 Ford Thunderbird and a 1946 Cushman scooter (at age 11), making him a fourth-generation Opposite: From left, Laverne, mechanic. Mona and Melinda Roberts Car culture in America has restore vintage cars and influenced the development of our trucks at their shop, Auto cities, our highways and the busiClinic, in Ralls. Right: Details nesses along the way. When horseof cars at the Make-A-Wish Car Show in Amarillo. power replaced horses, we paved TexasCoopPower.com
July 2018 Texas Co-op Power
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The Make-A-Wish Car Show in March in Amarillo featured hundreds of cars.
>> “THESE CARS ARE ROLLING WORKS OF ART,” BOB TERHUNE SAYS. “AND THEY’RE FUN TO DRIVE. THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT TAKING A RUSTY, WORN-OUT AUTOMOBILE AND MAKING IT LOOK NEW AGAIN.” << our streets. When we began driving longer distances and for pleasure, roadside diners, service stations and motels appeared. And car culture shows no signs of slowing down. Since 2010, the number of antique, classic and custom vehicles registered with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, including street rods, has more than doubled. In December 2017, there were 187,958 vehicles registered with the Texas DMV categorized as antique, vintage, custom or street rods. This is up 147 percent from the 76,171 registered in December of 2009. The state defines a “classic” as a motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old. An “antique” is at least 25 years old and a collector’s item. A car with antique plates has restricted use. Bob Terhune, a South Plains Electric Cooperative member, is president of the Caprock Classic Car Club, based in Lubbock. The club’s 194 members meet regularly for cruises, fundraisers and fellowship. WEB EXTRAS Terhune says he “got the bug” for a Read this story restoring classic cars when he worked on our website on a 1970 Buick GSX, number 160 of to see photos of the 187 made that were white. Buick Roberts family only made two cars with the same car restorations. options as his. He knows the entire history of this car: It was in an episode of 14
Texas Co-op Power July 2018
Hawaii 5-O, was bought by a serviceman in the Navy who hauled it from Hawaii to Louisiana, sat in a barn in North Texas for 15 years, and passed through several more owners, including Terhune’s brother, before ending up with him. “These cars are rolling works of art,” Terhune says. “And they’re fun to drive. There’s something about taking a rusty, worn-out automobile and making it look new again. That satisfaction of seeing your hard work pay off and the appreciation that like-minded people give you for the work you’ve done, it’s just something else.” Car shows are a prime opportunity for enthusiasts and collectors to show off their work. In addition to the Route 66 Festival car show in Shamrock on July 14, there are countless car shows across the state. Motor Texas (motortexas.com) keeps a list along with a blog that digs deep into the automobile culture of Texas through the lens of travel. Today, vehicle ownership rates in the U.S. are down 3.3 percent from 12 years ago. As we look to a new era of transportation, it’s impressive to see so many families restoring these classics. “To restore cars together was a pleasure,” Laverne Roberts says. “It meant that my family all worked together.” Brenda Kissko is a native Texan who writes about nature, travel and our relationship with land. Visit her at BrendaKissko.com. TexasCoopPower.com
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Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship of Damascus steel. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price. But we believe that once you hold the
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If North Texas Is Your Market, We’ve Got You Covered. Target customers close to home with the North Texas advertising section of Texas Co-op Power. We know that now, more than ever, it makes sense to target your audience with a trustworthy name—a name like Texas Co-op Power, which creates more advertising options for regional and local businesses like yours. Our North Texas advertising section targets homeowners living around Texas’ largest metropolitan area. With a regional circulation of 527,000 and a readership of 1,212,100, Texas Co-op Power delivers a huge audience that’s loyal and responsive. Be part of a statewide magazine—without the statewide cost. Reach North Texas customers with Texas Co-op Power. Call or email today. NORTH TEXAS AUDIENCE Circulation 527,000 • Readership 1,212,100
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When Will the Robots Take Over? ON FOKUS | I ST OCK.COM
MESSAGE FROM CEO BILL HETHERINGTON SO WHEN WILL THE ROBOTS TAKE OVER? MY WIFE RECENTLY had a birthday and received an iRobot, which is an autonomous vacuum cleaner. This is especially useful for our household, which includes three dogs. Each morning, the iRobot wakes up and starts its daily vacuuming of our house, and when the task is completed, it returns to the home base docking station to recharge for the next day. As the device is cleaning, it is also learning the layout of the house, so in essence it is self-learning. Examples of artificial intelligence surround us in our daily lives, but they are so subtle it is easy to overlook them. My truck has an auto alert capability that will allow the truck to slow down, or even brake the vehicle, if I’m approaching a car too quickly. If that isn’t enough, the truck will also parallel park itself if so desired. The deployment of these self-learning devices and technologies are keeping us safer and providing options to reduce the necessary drudgery of cleaning. Likewise, BEC has been investigating these technologies to help improve electric system reliability and reduce energy consumption during periods of peak energy demand, which will help reduce your electric bill without impacting the comfort of your home. We call our technology Apolloware, and we have
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Texas Co-op Power BEC July 2018
been testing it at homes for the past 18 months. We have more than 1.5 million data records from these installations. While at this point we are building up the database, I believe that the next step is to incorporate self-learning into the technology. A few weeks back, we had guests from out of town stay with us, and the temperature in the house was very warm. The air conditioning was on and blowing, but warm air was coming out. When the AC repairman investigated, he found that wires controlling the heat were touching the cooling unit. In essence, I was running the heater in parallel with the AC. In addition to the inconvenience of not having AC available with guests visiting, I was consuming more energy because both the heater and the AC unit were engaged. The repairman told me that this happens more than you’d think because of the design of HVAC systems. A smart, selflearning technology applied on the electric system in the home would have been able to recognize that energy use was unusually high and even suggest corrective action. I believe that self-learning technologies will very soon be commonplace in homes so to answer the question: When will the robots take over? They already have.
BanderaElectric.com
1.866.226.3372 | BANDERAELECTRIC.COM
3172 Highway 16 N. | P.O. Box 667 Bandera, TX 78003
1.866.226.3372 (1-866-BANDERA) BanderaElectric.com Operating in Bandera, Bexar, Kendall, Kerr, Medina, Real and Uvalde counties
79th Annual BEC Membership Meeting Highlights THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED THE 79th Annual BEC Membership Meeting: “Empowering and Energizing Our Members” held Saturday, May 19. Here are some highlights: Nearly 400 members attended the meeting and learned more about Operation Roundup, electrical safety, employment opportunities, BEC services—BEC Solar, fiber broadband, demand response and SmartHub. Other information tables included Texas Co-op Power and a health screening table. BEC members re-elected directors in districts 4, 5 and 6 in the annual election. District 4 Director Jeremy Diller, BEC District 5 Director Jerry Pierce and District 6 Director Richard “Dick” Earnest each will serve for three more years. More than $5,000 in prizes were given away to members in attendance. See the video of our Year of Firsts shown at the meeting by visiting our YouTube channel or Facebook page.
CE O
William “Bill” Hetherington BO A RD O F D IRE CTO RS
District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 District 6 District 7 District 8 District 9
Jerry N. Word Sr. Frances Laue Douglas “Rob” Sandidge Jeremy Diller Jerry S. Pierce Richard “Dick” Earnest Zeda Alvarado Michael D.T. Edwards Kurt Solis
OFFICES BEC Headquarters 3172 Highway 16 N., Bandera Boerne Office 2 Spencer Rd. Ste. 103, Boerne Comfort Office 739 Front St. (Highway 27), Comfort Leakey Office 485 W. Ranch Road 337, Leakey
MEMBER BENEFITS • Paperless billing • SmartHub • Online outage map • Follow Us! Twitter: @BanderaElectric Facebook: BanderaElectric Instagram: BanderaElectric Pinterest: BanderaElectric • Co-op Connections discount card • Heat pump rebates
PAYMENT OPTIONS AND LOCATIONS • SmartHub and SmartHub app • Bank draft • Automatic credit card payment • Level billing • Visa, Discover and MasterCard accepted • ECheck payment by phone • Cash or check payment in our offices • Payments accepted at Fidelity Express locations • PrePay program • Time-Based Usage plan
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Co-op Power July 2018 BEC Texas
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BEC
Pipe Creek Candied Popcorn Business Still Popping After 35 Years BY MELISSA WHITFIELD BEC Staff Writer
CARAMEL POPCORN IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH BASEBALL games and Christmas tins, but a Pipe Creek candy maker prepares the tasty snack year-round for anyone to enjoy. Bob Curtis, Pipe Creek resident and BEC member for 35 years, gets up at 4 a.m. to hand stir his Honey Crunch Popcorn one batch at a time. “I walk out the back door and go to work,” Curtis said. “I get up there and cook before it gets too hot because that stuff comes out of the kettle at 300 degrees. It’s made in small batches when people order it and not sitting on a shelf or in a warehouse before it ships.” Curtis has been making Honey Crunch Popcorn out of Pipe Creek since 1983 when he took over the business from his parents. Curtis’ parents took over from his uncle who started the business in the mid-1950s in California. “My uncle made it in his garage for many years. When my dad retired in San Antonio after 30 years in the U.S. Air Force, he decided to keep the business alive in Texas after my uncle passed away. Now my wife and I run it,” Curtis said. Curtis’ wife, Sherry, manages the accounting and works in Kerrville full time at a furniture store. “We made an agreement she would not do this and I said no problem. When I needed employees, I hired them. Otherwise, it’s just me. I make it all,” Curtis said.
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Texas Co-op Power BEC July 2018
In the late ‘80s, Curtis hired eight high school students who went to Bandera High School. Around that time, Honey Crunch Popcorn was sold in convenience stores, but it has downsized since then. Curtis attended big trade shows in New York and Chicago and ended up with 40 or 50 accounts in New York City. The Waldorf Astoria used to carry his product. “If you’re not constantly there, they go by the wayside. Shipping, being what it is, makes it tough. You have to have a reputation of a quality product,” he said. Curtis said he’s currently at the level he wants. The smaller, local retail outlets make it easier to manage and it gives him the opportunity to be able to talk to people. “We just go along every day and try to grow a little bit here and there, but only to the small shops so I can manage it myself. It could change on a dime like it did before, but I’m not looking for that specifically. If it happens, it happens,” Curtis said. Curtis uses the highest quality ingredients, including real butter, honey and pecans, and hands stirs it with a big wooden paddle in copper kettles. He used to add almonds but changed to strictly pecan around two years ago. “In this area and in Oklahoma, I found people like pecans more than they like almonds. That was OK with me because I
BanderaElectric.com
1.866.226.3372 | BANDERAELECTRIC.COM
RECIPE OF THE MONTH was getting almonds from California and pecans from Texas and Georgia. I save a little on freight and a little on cost on the product with just pecans. So I put more pecans in it,” Curtis said. “In this southern part of the state, people could care less about almonds. They want pecans.” He used to pick up 10, 30-pound cases of pecans from Seguin, but now he has it all shipped to Pipe Creek. Curtis also occasionally makes a jalapeño product. “It’s more of a novelty. You get a few people out there who like that kind of hot stuff. I’m not one of them. Mainly we just make to demand,” he said. Until about 15-20 years ago, Curtis made apple-flavored green caramel BO B C URT IS | BUSINE SS O WNE R popcorn for sale in Medina. “They had their own label and I do private label when people want it,” he explained. In addition to private label, people can purchase Honey Crunch Popcorn locally (see below), through mail order and online, which accounts for more than half of his yearly volume. “Most of the business is probably Christmas business. Other than that, I do a small route here locally. I don’t have anyone else representing me right now, except VPV Distributors, who came on board a few months ago,” he said. Curtis, who is also the Castle Lake Ranch Volunteer Fire Department Chief, said the Christmas rush keeps him focused that time of year. “It’s not that difficult to make the product, but when you use the ingredients I do—they’re expensive. It makes me a bit more unique, but basically it’s just catering to the individual who likes that type of product and who wants a quality product. That’s the way we’ve always kept it,” Curtis explained. It’s likely to remain that way, too. “I’m not a big city fan,” Curtis said. “I lived in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas in my time. I was a military brat and moved all over the world. I was born in Japan. When I was in the military, I was stationed just north of London for three years. I found that the country lifestyle was a lot more appealing to me. Although I’m FDA inspected, I’m not in the city. Because I made that decision, shipping costs are a lot higher for my customers, especially out of state, but they and the local ones, the ones that I can get to taste the product, are always around. They don’t go away and they’re loyal to it. They’ll pay that freight charge. In that regard, I’ve got the best of both worlds.” Where to purchase locally: • • • • • • • • •
HoneyCrunchPopcorn.com Bandera Signs & Advertising True Value Hardware in Bandera True Value Hardware in Lakehills La Cabaña in Lakehills The Feed Barn in Pipe Creek Picosos on Highway 16 in Helotes Texas Gourmet Pantry in Boerne San Antonio Zoo
BanderaElectric.com
RICK P ATRICK
Twisted Texas Chicken Diablos 2 pounds chicken tenders 2/3 cup orange juice 11/2 tablespoons dry steak seasoning 8 ounces cream cheese 2/3 cup chopped Texas pecans 12 whole fresh jalapeños 2 pounds thinly sliced bacon 2 cups barbecue sauce
1. Place chicken tenders in a bowl, add orange juice and 1 tablespoon steak seasoning. Stir, cover and set in refrigerator to marinate at least 1 hour but no longer than 4–5 hours. 2. In a separate bowl, mix cream cheese, pecans and 1/2 tablespoon steak seasoning. Blend well by hand and set aside. 3. When ready to assemble, wash and slice jalapeños in half lengthwise, remove seeds, then rinse again. Fill each jalapeño half with cream cheese mixture, place chicken tender on top of filling, wrap with 1 slice of bacon, and secure with large grilling skewer so that bacon stays wrapped around jalapeño. Place three stuffed jalapeños on each skewer. 4. When finished, brush all finished jalapeños generously with barbecue sauce. Bake or grill until chicken is thoroughly cooked, approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour at 350 degrees, turning halfway through cooking time and basting with more sauce. Baste one last time about 5 minutes before finishing cooking or use remaining sauce to serve. Find this and more delicious recipes online at
TEXASCOOPPOWER.COM Co-op Power July 2018 BEC Texas
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BEC
Managing Rights-ofWay the Right Way
IDA JAROS OVA | I S T OCK.COM
OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE SAFE, reliable and economical electric service to our members. Managing trees and other vegetation around our facilities and in rights-of-way is key to achieving that goal. Trees may seem harmless on a calm, sunny day, but add a bit of wind on a stormy night and those towering pillars might threaten your home’s electric supply. We perform routine maintenance of trees and other vegetation throughout the system to help prevent outages. Maintenance includes pruning trees, removing hazardous trees, mowing and cutting brush, and applying herbicides. These activities all are designed to minimize adverse environmental impacts and fully comply with applicable laws and regulations. They are essential to maintaining reliable electric service for our members and to provide for the safety of both your family and the general public. A clear right-of-way is so important that tree-trimming and rights-of-way maintenance programs are required for a cooperative to receive its safety accreditation from our national association. BEC is committed to providing safe and reliable power, and our vegetation management program is key to fulfilling that promise.
Cool It, Roof IF YOUR ROOF IS IN NEED OF REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT, OR IF YOU’RE BUILDING a new house, consider whether investing in a cool roof makes sense for you. For those homeowners with conventional roofs that are in good shape, there are still ways to retrofit a roof to make it cool that may reduce energy use and increase your home’s comfort. What Is a Cool Roof? No, it doesn’t wear sunglasses and a leather jacket. A cool roof strongly reflects sunlight and cools itself by efficiently emitting solar radiation to its surroundings, which can lower the roof temperature by up to 50 degrees. When the roof stays cooler, it conducts less heat to the building below. The two primary characteristics that determine a roof’s cool factor are solar reflectance and thermal emittance. Both properties are measured on a scale of 0–1, where 1 is the most reflective or emissive. The Cool Roof Rating Council records these measurements for a product’s initial values and after three years of exposure to the elements. CRRC publishes the results online in their Rated Products Directory, which is available to the public at no charge. This consumer resource allows comparison of rated values across various product types and brands. A cool roof can provide these benefits: a Reduce utility bills associated with air conditioning by 7 to 15 percent. a Increase your home’s comfort. a Prolong the life of your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. a Extend roof life, reduce roof maintenance costs and avoid repeated re-roofing. a Decrease peak electricity demand, which can help prevent power outages. How To Make the Switch
NR EC A
There are a range of options for upgrading your roof to cool status, from coatings featuring special pigments and asphalt shingles with coated granules that provide enhanced solar reflectance to metal roofs and even “green” roofs, for the rooftop garden inclined. The best option for your home will depend on a number of factors, including how steeply your roof is sloped and your area’s climate, particularly its humidity level. For more information, visit energy.gov or coolroofs.org.
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Texas Co-op Power BEC July 2018
BanderaElectric.com
1.866.226.3372 | BANDERAELECTRIC.COM
UTILITY
POLES ARE NOT
D I Y A NA D I MI T ROVA | I S T OCK.COM
BULLETIN
BOARDS
BEC Solar Partners With Sungage Financial
Help us keep our linemen safe.
BY MELISSA WHITFIELD BEC Staff Writer
Electric cooperative workers find all kinds of intrusions on utility poles such as yard sale signs, basketball hoops, deer stands, satellite dishes, lights and birdhouses.
BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE SUBSIDIARY BEC SOLAR AND SUNGAGE FINANCIAL announced a new partnership to offer the benefits of solar ownership through a loan program tailored for homeowners. The partnership will provide BEC Solar customers reliable access to a range of solar financing options to meet the differing needs of many homeowners. An innovator in solar finance, in 2013, Sungage brought to market the first secured residential solar loan in the nation. As homeowners recognize the financial benefits of owning solar, the market has been growing steadily since. Sungage offers five-, 10-, 15- and 20-year financing products with no-moneydown options. This program is only for solar power systems and does not include financing for Tesla Powerwall. To learn more about BEC Solar, visit BanderaElectric.com/Solar.
These obstructions are dangerous for line workers. Unwelcome clutter on utility poles can compromise linemen’s safety equipment, leaving them vulnerable to electrocution. Anyone posting items on utility poles also is at risk of exposure to thousands of volts of electricity pulsing overhead. Always stay at least 10 feet away from utility lines.
D AVE SH AFER
Think before you post that sign!
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Co-op Power July 2018 BEC Texas
23
Pay your bill using the SmartHub desktop or mobile app. It’s easy!
• Manage Your Account • View and Pay Your Bill • See Your Electric Usage • Report and View Outages • Contact Us Download the FREE mobile app today for secure account management right at your fingertips.
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Texas Co-op Power BEC July 2018
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DRAGON IM AGE S | I S T OCK.COM
1.866.226.3372 | BANDERAELECTRIC.COM
ERCOT Warns Against Peak Summer Usage BY MELISSA WHITFIELD BEC Staff Writer
DON N ICHOLS | IS TOCK. COM
Power Tip Turn your thermostat up to 78° when you’re not home to save energy and money, especially during hot summer days.
THE MAIN ELECTRICITY GRID OPERATOR FOR TEXAS ANTICIPATES HIGH DEMAND this summer that could result in state-wide voluntary load reductions, rolling blackouts and price fluctuations. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) released its preliminary assessment for the summer and warned of possible rolling outages. As more people move to Texas and older power plants are retired, ERCOT said it will have sufficient operational tools to manage tight reserves, including increased training for systems operations. “The ERCOT market has experienced a series of new peak demand records over the last few years as Texas’ economy continues to grow at record pace,” said Bill Magness, ERCOT president and CEO. “We expect high peak demand will continue this summer.” The last time BEC was mandated to participate in rolling blackouts was February 2011. BEC will share energy emergency alerts on BanderaElectric.com, social media and traditional media. For tips on how to save energy and money, visit BanderaElectric.com/EnergySaving. You can also download ERCOT’s Energy Saver app for energy conservation tips, news, notices and more. M ARILYN GOU LD | DRE AM S TIM E . COM
Download the ERCOT Energy Saver mobile app today!
Happy Independence Day Our offices will be closed Wednesday, July 4, in observance of the holiday.
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Co-op Power July 2018 BEC Texas
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Leading Acid Reux Pill Becomes an AntiAging Phenomenon Clinical studies show breakthrough acid reux treatment also helps maintain vital health and helps protect users from the serious conditions that accompany aging such as fatigue and poor cardiovascular health by David Waxman Seattle Washington:
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Scientists believe that it helps improve digesSold under the brand name AloeCure, it was already backed by clinical data documenting its tive and immune health by acting as a natural ability to provide all day and night relief from acid-buffer that improves the pH balance of your heartburn, acid reux, constipation, irritable bow- stomach. el, gas, bloating, and more. Research has shown that this acid imbalance But soon doctors started reporting some incred- contributes to painful inammation throughout your entire body and is why AloeCure seems to ible results‌ be so effective. “With AloeCure, my patients started reporting EXCITING RESULTS FROM PATIENTS less joint pain, more energy, better sleep, stronger immune systems‌ even less stress and betTo date over 5 million bottles of AloeCure have ter skin, hair, and nailsâ€? explains Dr. Liza Leal; a been sold, and the community seeking non-pharleading integrative health specialist and company ma therapy for their GI health continues to grow. spokesperson. According to Dr. Leal, her patients are absolutely AloeCure contains an active ingredient that thrilled with their results and are often shocked by helps improve digestion by acting as a natural how fast it works. acid-buffer that improves the pH balance of your “For the ďŹ rst time in years, they are free from stomach. concerns about their digestion and almost every Scientists now believe that this acid imbal- other aspect of their health,â€? says Dr. Leal, “and I ance is what contributes to painful inammation recommend it to everyone who wants to improve throughout the rest of the body. GI health without resorting to drugs, surgery, or The daily allowance of AloeCure has shown to OTC medications.â€? calm this inammation which is why AloeCure is “I was always in ‘indigestion hell.’ Doctors so effective. put me on all sorts of antacid remedies. Nothing Relieving other stressful symptoms related to GI worked. Dr. Leal recommended I try AloeCure. health like pain, bloating, fatigue, cramping, con- And something remarkable happened‌ Not only were all the issues I had with my stomach gone stipation, diarrhea, heartburn, and nausea. completely gone – but I felt less joint pain and I Now, backed with new clinical studies, Aloe- was able to actually sleep through the night.â€? Cure is being recommended by doctors everyWith so much positive feedback, it’s easy to see where to help improve digestion, calm painful why the community of believers is growing and inammation, soothe joint pain, and even reduce the appearance of wrinkles – helping patients to sales for the new pill are soaring. look and feel decades younger. THE SCIENCE BEHIND ALOECURE
This would explain why so many users are experiencing impressive results so quickly.
The recommended daily allowance of acemannan in AloeCure has been proven to support digestive health, and calm painful inammation without side effects or drugs.
REVITALIZE YOUR ENTIRE BODY With daily use, AloeCure helps users look and feel decades younger and defend against some of the painful inammation that accompanies aging and can make life hard. By buffering stomach acid and restoring gut health, AloeCure calms painful inammation and will help improve digestion‌ soothe aching joints‌ reduce the appearance of wSinkles and help restore hair and nails‌ manage cholesterol and oxidative stress‌ and improve sleep and brain function‌ without side effects or expense. You can now reclaim their energy, vitality, and youth regardless of age or current level of health.
One AloeCure Capsule Daily • Helps End Digestion Nightmares • Helps Calm Painful Inammation • Soothes Stiff & Aching Joints • Reduces appearance of Wrinkles & Increases Elasticity • Manages Cholesterol & Oxidative Stress • Supports Healthy Immune System • Improves Sleep & Brain Function
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Texas History
Double Exposure Unexplained coincidence prompts photographer’s reunion with couple at Cadillac Ranch
WYAT T M C S PA D D E N
BY CHARLES LOHRMANN
When photographer Wyatt McSpadden left his studio in Austin for the long drive to photograph sites along Route 66 in the Texas Panhandle for the feature in this issue, he did something unexpected: He picked up a print from a table in his office and took it along. There was no reason, he just did it. One of his stops along Route 66 was in the town of Vega, 35 miles west of Amarillo. McSapdden noticed a ruggedly charming building bearing the name MilburnPrice Culture Museum. Inside, he met and struck up a conversation with Greg Conn, who had returned to his native Vega after TexasCoopPower.com
a long career in facilities management and opened the museum in 2014. One topic of conversation was Cadillac Ranch. McSpadden mentioned that he had been among those present at the installation’s dedication in 1974 and photographed the Cadillacs as they were planted nosefirst all those years ago. Conn then mentioned that his friends, Vega natives Marion and Jessie Kinsey, were at that same event and remembered having a photo taken. They had no idea how to get a print today. “Wait just a minute,” McSpadden said, as he walked outside to his vehicle. He
Marion and Jessie Kinsey in 1974 and again with the same Cadillac at Cadillac Ranch in 2018
returned with the print he had decided to bring along when he left home. What are the odds? Naturally, they decided to restage the photo, on March 3, 2018, the Kinseys’ 67th wedding anniversary. Of the thousands of people photographed with these famous Cadillacs, how many can make such a claim on the site’s history? Charles Lohrmann is the Texas Co-op Power editor. July 2018 Texas Co-op Power
29
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Recipes
How Do You Like Your Shrimp? This is the best time of year to feast on sweet, fresh shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico. This month, readers shared favorite preparations that range from a brilliant three-ingredient, spicy-sweet sauce (my kind of easy, breezy warm-weather cooking) to a delicious chilled shrimp salad that’s perfect for lunch. Whether it’s dinner on a beach (Port A or bust!) or on the back porch, I love the simplicity of shrimp with a buttery, lemony pasta. This recipe relies on a secret ingredient (ground dried shrimp) to elevate the seafood flavor of this simple, satisfying preparation. PAULA DISBROWE, FOOD EDITOR
Beach House Pasta teaspoons dried shrimp (optional) pound angel hair or linguine, preferably fresh Kosher salt 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced Pinch crumbled chile pequin or crushed red pepper flakes 1 pound rock shrimp or other small shrimp, peeled and deveined, cut into small pieces 1 tablespoon finely chopped tarragon 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley Finely grated zest of 1 lemon 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, plus more to finish 3 tablespoons cold butter, diced 2 scallions, thinly sliced
J O DY H O RTO N
2 1
1. Finely grind dried shrimp in a spice mill or with mortar and pestle; set aside for serving. 2. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 3 minutes if using fresh pasta, longer if dried. Drain pasta, reserving 1½ cups pasta liquid. 3. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and chile and cook, stirring, until CONTINUED ON PAGE 32 July 2018 Texas Co-op Power
31
Recipes How Do You Like Your Shrimp?
Enter online to win 5 pounds of Texas Gulf shrimp.
THIS MONTH’S RECIPE CONTEST WINNER
DONNA JOHN | SAN BERNARD EC “Shrimp is a quick meal anytime, but when the recipe has just three more ingredients, it makes for a super-quick meal,” John says. “It’s sweet, spicy and addictive!” We agree. Serve these succulent shrimp as an appetizer, a partner to grilled steak or a main course over steamed or fried rice.
Quick Sweet Chili Shrimp ¼ ¼ 2 14
cup sweet chili sauce cup mayonnaise large cloves garlic, minced jumbo shrimp (or 1½–2 pounds medium shrimp), peeled and deveined Olive oil Salt and pepper to taste
pan, cast-iron skillet or frying pan until just cooked, about 2 minutes per side. When the shrimp are almost finished cooking, add the chili sauce mixture, stir to combine and warm through. a Serves 4.
COOK’S TIP It’s easiest to coat the shrimp with the sauce in a regular skillet. If you grill them, consider tossing the hot shrimp with 1. Whisk together the chili sauce, mayon- the sauce in a mixing bowl. Grilled green beans, broccoli, snap peas, fresh cilantro naise and garlic and set aside. and lime juice all would be nice additions 2. Lightly brush the shrimp with a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper. to these flavors. 3. Cook the shrimp in a preheated grill
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31
fragrant, about 1–2 minutes. Add the shrimp, season with a pinch of salt and cook, tossing, 1–2 minutes. Add the tarragon, parsley, lemon zest, juice, pasta, ¾ cup pasta cooking liquid and butter, and toss to coat. Cook, tossing and adding more pasta cooking liquid as needed, until sauce is glossy and coats pasta, and shrimp are cooked through, about 3 minutes. Season with salt if needed. 4. Divide pasta among warmed bowls and top with scallions and reserved dried shrimp. a Serves 4–6. COOK’S TIP Another way to “drain” pasta and retain the starches that help pull your sauce together? Use tongs to pull the cooked noodles from their pot and place them directly in your skillet. If you do this, you likely won’t need to add pasta water. Cherry or grape tomatoes (red, yellow or orange), halved and added to the skillet with the shrimp, are a delicious addition to the mix.
Shrimp Louis Salad IRENE PORTALES | GUADALUPE VALLEY EC
¾ ¼ 2 1 4
IF YOUR RECIPE IS FEATURED, YOU’LL WIN A TCP APRON!
$100 Recipe Contest December’s recipe contest theme is Quick and Easy Holiday Appetizers. ’Tis the season to have something festive and fun to serve while the big meal is prepared. Send us your go-to family favorite. The deadline is July 10. ENTER ONLINE at TexasCoopPower.com/contests; MAIL to 1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX 78701; FAX to (512) 763-3401. Include your name, address and phone number, plus your co-op and the name of the contest you are entering.
cup mayonnaise cup chili sauce or ketchup teaspoons lemon juice teaspoon Worcestershire sauce drops hot sauce (or more as desired for heat) ½ cup chopped celery 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions 2 tablespoons finely chopped red bell pepper ½ teaspoon salt Pinch cayenne pepper 1 pound boiled shrimp, peeled, deveined and cut into bite-size pieces 4 lettuce leaves 4 hard-boiled eggs, halved 2 avocados, sliced 1 large tomato, sliced
1. To make the dressing, whisk together the first 10 ingredients in a medium bowl. 2. Fold in the shrimp and chill for at least TexasCoopPower.com
WO O D : O L E P E S H K I N A | S H U T T E R STO C K .CO M . C H I L I SAU C E : T H E FA RAWAY K I N G D O M | S H U T T E R STO C K .CO M . S H R I M P : T I M O L I N A | S H U T T E R STO C K .CO M
Whether it’s made with shrimp or crab, a “Louie” or Louis salad is a classic that’s traditionally made with Thousand Island-like dressing. Slightly sweet with a bit of heat, this simple, refreshing salad makes a fantastic lunch. You also can serve it on toasted white rolls.
1 hour. Before serving, taste and adjust seasonings as desired. 3. Serve the shrimp salad over lettuce leaves with 1 halved egg, half of a sliced avocado and a few tomato slices per serving. a Serves 4.
SHRIMP SPREAD
1 4
COOK’S TIP To avoid a watery salad, allow the
boiled shrimp to dry on paper towels briefly before adding them to the sauce.
Spicy Creole Shrimp Spread
1 1 ½ 1 1 4 ¼ ¾
DORIS WIDACKI | GUADALUPE VALLEY EC
Rich and creamy with three varieties of cheese, this spicy dip screams “game day” or any other gathering that calls for a warm-from-the-oven snack to slather on crackers or toasted bread. SEASONING BLEND
2 1 1 1 ½
teaspoons creole seasoning teaspoon pepper teaspoon garlic powder teaspoon onion powder teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more to taste
IC DEL ER
¾
pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided use stalk celery, diced shallot, diced bell pepper, diced jalapeño, seeded and chopped clove garlic, minced ounces cream cheese, softened cup mayonnaise cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided use cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided use
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. 2. SEASONING BLEND: Mix together the ingredients and set aside, reserving 1 teaspoon of blend for the vegetables. 3. SHRIMP SPREAD: Rinse shrimp and pat dry with paper towels. Slice each shrimp into 3 pieces, place in a mixing bowl, and toss with 2 tablespoons of
olive oil and the seasoning blend. Set aside. 4. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the celery, shallot, bell pepper and jalapeño, season with the remaining seasoning blend and cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add the shrimp and cook for about 3 minutes. 5. Remove from heat and place the mixture in a large bowl. Add the cream cheese, mayonnaise and ½ cup of each shredded cheese to the shrimp mixture, using a rubber spatula to combine. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish, top with remaining cheese and bake 20 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly. 6. Remove from oven, cool 5–10 minutes and serve with bread or crackers. a Serves 6–8 as an appetizer or hearty snack. WEB EXTRAS a Read this story on our web-
site to enjoy a recipe for Shrimp and Cheesy Grits from a Central Texas EC member.
IOUS R E ASON
P M I R H S F L U G S A X TE OT AN
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Coastal
TexasCoopPower.com
July 2018 Texas Co-op Power
33
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Upcoming Contests DECEMBER ISSUE
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Focus on Texas
Opposites We find birds of a feather don’t always flock together, but these opposites sure attract attention. GRACE ARSIAGA WEB EXTRAS a See Focus on Texas on our website for more
photos from readers.
o WYATT WATSON, Grayson-Collin EC: “Though these two birds are enemies, they don’t mind sharing opposite sides of the feeder.”
o CRAIG SANGREY, Bluebonnet EC: Old becomes new.
o ELAINE AND DAVID WILSON, Pedernales EC: Male and female wood ducks at Landa Park in New Braunfels
o CHRIS MILLER, Bluebonnet EC: Saddling up has multiple meanings at the Fort Worth Stockyards. UPCOMING CONTESTS NOVEMBER ABANDONED BUILDINGS DECEMBER HIGH CONTRAST JANUARY HARVEST
DUE JULY 10 DUE AUGUST 10 DUE SEPTEMBER 10
All entries must include name, address, daytime phone and co-op affiliation, plus the contest topic and a brief description of your photo. ONLINE: Submit highest-resolution digital images at TexasCoopPower.com/contests. MAIL: Focus on Texas, 1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX 78701. A stamped, self-addressed envelope must be included if you want your entry returned (approximately six weeks). Please do not submit irreplaceable photographs—send a copy or duplicate. We do not accept entries via email. We regret that Texas Co-op Power cannot be responsible for photos that are lost in the mail or not received by the deadline. TexasCoopPower.com
o YVETTE AND MICHAEL FOSTER, Pedernales EC: “On a morning walk, I was taken by the delicate curves of the morning glory partnered with the strong, sturdy barbed wire.” July 2018 Texas Co-op Power
35
Event Calendar
Around Texas
Canadian [12, 19, 26] Screen on the Green, (806) 323-6234, canadiantx.com
13
July
Bulverde The Lego Batman Movie, (210) 212-9373, slabcinema.com
7
Clute [13–15, 20–22] The Music Man, (979) 265-7661, brazosportcenter.org
El Paso Magoffin Home State Historic Site Cooking Class: Lemon Ice, (915) 533-5147, thc.texas.gov/historic-sites Galveston An Evening With Bill Engvall, 1-800-821-1894, thegrand.com Grand Prairie Festival de Mariachi, (972) 647-2331, tradersvillage.com/grand-prairie
July 14 McDade Watermelon Festival
Llano Rock’n Riverfest, (325) 247-5354, llanorocknriverfest.com Mooreville United Methodist Church’s Annual BBQ, (254) 709-7921, moorevilleumc.org
Pick of the Month
Big Scoop Ice Cream Festival
Port O’Connor Fireworks Display, (361) 983-2898, portoconnorchamber.com
Wimberley July 7 (512) 921-7043, wimberley.org
Rockport [7–8] Art Festival, (361) 729-5519, rockportartcenter.com
How can you pass up ice cream and a good cause on a hot July Saturday? The festival, hosted by St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and featuring frozen treats, entertainment and oldfashioned summer fun, benefits Camp Good Sam Wimberley.
12
Levelland [12–17] Cal Ripken 10 Year Olds Regional Baseball Tournament, (806) 894-3157, levelland.com
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San Angelo [July 13–Sept. 9] Made in Texas! 25 Contemporary Quilts, (325) 653-3333, samfa.org
San Antonio Kickin’ for a Kure, (830) 780-2360, facebook.com/kickinforakure Tulia [21–22] Red Barn Trade Days, (806) 633-4365
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Austin Cards for Kids Casino Night, (512) 444-7199, bgcaustin.org
Bonham [26–28] Kueckelhan Ranch Rodeo, (903) 583-9830, visitbonham.com
Center Point VFD Annual Dance & BBQ, (830) 928-8707
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Levelland Early Settlers Day, (806) 894-3157, levelland.com
Stratford [27–29] Jamboree & Block Party, (806) 753-6897, shermancountytx.org
McDade Watermelon Festival, (512) 332-1270, mcdadetexas.com
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Weatherford Parker County Peach Festival, (817) 596-3801, parkercountypeachfestival.org
Castell VFD 44th Annual BBQ, (325) 247-6130
Tyler [14–15] Hunter/Jumper Horse Show, (903) 882-8696, texasrosehorsepark.com July 21 Lytle Paws of Summer
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Blanco Neal Ford and Friends, (830) 833-1227, nealfordmusic.com
19
Stephenville Texstar Ford Lincoln Summer Nights Concert Series: Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder With Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines, (800) 481-9345, stephenvilletexas.org
August 3
New Braunfels [3–5] Lone Star Gourd Festival, (337) 376-9690, texasgourdsociety.org
21
Caldwell Texas Czech Genealogical Society: Life Is a Journey, Not a Destination (214) 577-0029, txczgs.org Fredericksburg Night in Old Fredericksburg, (830) 997-2359, gillespiefair.com Lytle Paws of Summer, (210) 621-5891, lytleanimalallies.com
Submit Your Event! We pick events for the magazine directly from TexasCoopPower.com. Submit your event for September by July 10, and it just might be featured in this calendar.
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July 2018 Texas Co-op Power
37
Hit the Road
Redemption in the Desert A last-minute escape to Marathon offers inviting surprises BY SHERYL SMITH-RODGERS
38
Texas Co-op Power July 2018
Post Park, 5 miles south of Marathon
inside the lobby for a sample of the hotel’s luxurious, Spanish-flavored décor. Around the corner, we spy the tin-roofed French Co. Grocer, named after a mercantile store that operated 72 years in Marathon. Some motorcyclists have just plunked down with their drinks at one of the picnic tables on the covered concrete porch. Inside, French’s stocks everything from ketchup to camping gear. We look over prepackaged sandwiches and salads in the cooler then buy a loaf of homemade bread. Across the railroad tracks, we’re surprised to find a 27-acre oasis called Gage Gardens. A crushed granite path winds through columbines, santolina, red hot pokers, yuccas, oaks and retamas. We also check out a rose garden, fountains and a pond, not to mention a nine-hole putting green. Where’d the desert go? But wait. A side trip 5 miles south of Marathon turns up yet another surprise: a secluded green spot known as Post Park. Shaded by huge cottonwoods and oaks, picnic tables and a concrete dance pavilion overlook a spring-fed pond. In the 1880s,
the watering hole supplied a U.S. Army post. Now, a quartet of ducks hurriedly paddle our way in hopes of a handout, and nearby, a pair of summer tanagers flit from branch to branch. Back at the house, James cooks up supper. At a wooden table on the screened porch, we savor broiled salmon, corn on the cob and French’s bread. Our eastward view of distant hills, silhouetted against the evening sky, gradually melts into starry darkness. After supper, we relax on the porch and listen to soft classical music. Early the next day, we’re back on the porch, armed with cameras and steaming cups of coffee. A mockingbird calls from high atop the cottonwood that stands near the back door. Soon, the morning’s first burnt-orange sunrays halo over the hills. “So,” James says from his seat on the glider, “how about we stay an extra night?” I smile. I’m pretty sure I’ve been redeemed. Sheryl Smith-Rodgers, a member of Pedernales EC, lives in Blanco.
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WEB EXTRAS a Read this story on our website to read about more West Texas destinations. TexasCoopPower.com
E . DA N K L E P P E R
Dry. Dusty. Desolate. We’ve just pulled up alongside a century-old cottage on Avenue J in Marathon, and the desert scenery’s definitely not inviting. The house looks iffy, too. I can already sense that my husband wishes he hadn’t agreed to this last-minute trip. Past the iron garden gate, Mexican feathergrass tickles our bare legs as we carry our stuff across the flagstone path and up the front steps of La Esmeralda. “Look, James, a glider!” I’m hopeful that the screened porch’s rusted vintage sofa with red cushions will charm my dubious husband (and redeem me). We unload our suitcases and supplies. Then we nose around the house, decorated cowboy-modern style. Ceiling fans, modern kitchen appliances and central air mesh well with the home’s wood floors and clawfoot tub. Built-in bookcases contain an eclectic library that includes acclaimed Texas authors. I can’t wait to browse. In the yard, native wildflowers, prickly pear cacti, yuccas and cenizo replicate the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert. Several carpenter bees, black and shiny, patrol a dead agave stem, where they’ve tunneled nest holes. Binoculars in hand, I sit down on a rock bench and watch a blackthroated sparrow as it lands at the rockbordered fish pond for a sip. Next, we set out to explore Marathon, Brewster County’s second-largest town, with a population of 430. A downtown stroll takes us past the post office as well as art galleries, shops and a cafe. I tug James toward the historic Gage Hotel. In 1927, San Antonio businessman Alfred S. Gage built the two-story, terra-cotta brick hotel as headquarters for his local ranching and banking interests. We slip
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