JUNE 2017
VOL. 18 NO. 2
Making Cheese The Artisanal Way at Valley Side Farm Page 8-9
Manager’s
Column
Mother Nature Strikes On May Day May Day is often celebrated with anonymous deliveries of flowers or treats, but this year Mother Nature had a special May Day delivery for Bon Homme Yankton Electric members. She started with delivering about 1.5 inches of rain on April 30 and by May 1 morning about 4 inches of heavy wet snow. The weight of the snow stephanie Horst taxed our overhead power lines. General Manager Bon Homme Yankton Electric Both Bon Homme and Yankton counties were heavily damaged. An estimated 125 poles were broken, many cross arms, and numerous wire breaks from Avon to Irene. The Tabor and Lesterville areas had the most pole damage. Monday, May 1, at the peak of the storm we had about 1,000 meters without power In order for us to restore power faster with this much damage, we needed extra men and equipment. We contacted our statewide electric association, South Dakota Rural Electric Association (SDREA), requesting help. In storm situations, they help electric cooperatives coordinate resources. We let them know how many crews and what equipment we needed and electric cooperatives in the state respond back. Central Electric out of Mitchell, Charles Mix out of Lake Andes, Rosebud Electric out of Gregory, Douglas Electric out of Armour, and Dakota Energy out of Huron all responded to our requests and immediately sent crews and equipment to help arriving by Monday afternoon. Each day progress was made and by Thursday, May 4, every residence was restored. Now that the power has been restored, the next step to do is a thorough line patrol. Our linemen will be documenting in detail the damages. With this information, Line Supt. Robert Ulmer will
2 June 2017 • Cooperative ConneCtions
create a plan to put our system together. There is a lot of work that needs to get done and with our dedicated employees this will happen. The main priority is safety for our employees and the public. Keep in mind until we get to an area to do final repairs, there may be material or debris on the ground. We will clean these areas up as we get to them. There is potential that material may be hiding in water areas. As these water holes and ditches dry up, please inspect for debris before driving your equipment through it. Also, stay away from any downed power line. Just because it isn’t arching and sparking, doesn’t mean that it is safe.
Thank you to the members. We understand that many of you had challenges of your own not having power, your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated. I will end this with THANK YOU! Thank you to the Bon Homme Yankton Electric dedicated-hardworking employees! Thank you to SDREA with coordinating resources! Thank you to the above cooperatives for upholding the sixth cooperative principle of cooperation among cooperatives by sparing equipment and hardworking linemen that truly made a huge difference with restoration! Thank you to The Keg in Tabor for making lunches! Thank you to everyone that dropped off rolls and snacks for the linemen! Thank you to the members that pulled our trucks out of the mud! And finally, thank you to the members! We understand that many of you had challenges of your own not having power. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated. I believe this storm has taught all of us to never underestimate Mother Nature and to always be prepared.
Co-op
news
Nathan Zimmerman Wins DC Trip (USPS No. 018-973)
Bon Homme Yankton Electric Assn, Inc. PO Box 158 134 S Lidice St Tabor, SD 57063 Office Hours: Monday through Friday 7:30am to 4:30pm
To Report an Outage Call: Local From Tabor, Tyndall and Yankton 605-463-2507 or Toll Free in South Dakota 1-800-925-2929 NOTICE: Electric bills must be paid by 10:00am on the 20th of each month to avoid a $10 late fee. Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connections is published monthly by Bon Homme Yankton Electric Association, Inc., PO Box 158, 134 S. Lidice St., Tabor, SD 57063-0158 for its members. Families subscribe to Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connections as part of their electric cooperative membership. Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connection’s purpose is to provide reliable, helpful information to electric cooperative members on matters pertaining to rural electrification and better rural living. Subscription information: Electric cooperative members devote $6.00 from their electric payments annually for a subscription. Nonmember subscriptions are available for $12 annually. Periodicals Postage Paid at Tabor, SD 57063 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connections, Bon Homme Yankton Electric, PO Box 158, Tabor, S.D. 57063 TELEPHONE (605)463-2507: FAX (605) 463-2419. Design assistance by TDG Communications, Deadwood, S.D.
Nathan Zimmerman was selected to participate in the annual Washington DC Youth Tour. Nathan is a sophomore at Yankton High School. He has been active at school participating in soccer, debate and HOSA. He has been on the merit role since sixth grade and has received awards from the YHS Booster Club and American Legion. Nathan feels "that visiting D.C. will not only improve my debating ability, but also improve my overall knowledge of U.S. history and politics." Nathan is the son of Duane and Nancy Zimmerman of Yankton, SD.
Payment Drop Boxes to be Removed June 30 The payment drop boxes at the two convenience stores at Lewis & Clark Lake on Highway 52 will be removed on June 30, 2017. While we understand what a convenience this has been to members in the lake area, we feel that it is a safety concern to have employees picking up payments and cash at the drop boxes. There are several other convenient ways to pay your bill: 1. Mail your payment to PO Box 158, Tabor, SD 57063. Please do not send cash in the mail. Allow several days for mail to arrive before any critical due dates. 2. Call in with your credit, debit or bank account information. 3. Use your bank's bill pay service by choosing us as an electronic vendor. 4. Sign up for automatic payments from bank account and receive a one time credit of $5.00. These payments are posted around the 15th of each month. 5. Sign up for recurring credit card
payments. These payments are posted around the 12th of each month. 6. The drop box on the front of the main office in Tabor will still be available. 7. Use the SmartHub Online Services app or website to pay online or sign up for recurring automatic payments. If you have any questions about this decision or any other matter, feel free to contact the office.
Welcome new Members
Mission Hill Matt Potts Springfield Melissa K Vollmer Tabor Dale E & Michelle Alink Dan Hunhoff Yankton Lewis & Clark RV Park LLC Maurice Gisyer
statement of non-Discrimination This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.
Cooperative ConneCtions • June 2017 3
Safety
Tips
Know How You Can Stay Safe and Get Through Until Power Gets Restored to You Severe storms are devastating to homes, properties and lives. These storms can also take down power lines – creating a dangerous situation for all of us, including the linemen and linewomen working hard to get your power turned back on. How long it takes to get your power restored depends on the extent of the storm’s destruction, the number of outages and when it becomes safe for utility personnel to get to the damaged areas. There are many steps in the assessment and restoration process – clearing downed power lines; ensuring public health and safety facilities are operational; checking power stations and transformers; repairing transmission lines, substations, and distribution lines; and getting power restored to customers within the various damaged areas. Be sure to contact your electric utility immediately to report the outage.
Safe Electricity recommends taking the following safety precautions: • Just because power lines are damaged does not mean they are dead. Every downed power line is potentially energized and dangerous until utility crews arrive on the scene to ensure
Kids’ Corner Safety Poster “Call first or you might hit underground cable.”
Seth Lippert, 9 years old
Seth is the son of Dean Lippert, Blomkest, Minn. He is a member of Renville-Sibley Co-op Power, Danube, Minn. Kids, send your drawing with an electrical safety tip to your local electric cooperative (address found on Page 3). If your poster is published, you’ll receive a prize. All entries must include your name, age, mailing address and the names of your parents. Colored drawings are encouraged.
power has been cut off. Downed power lines, stray wires and debris in contact with them all have the potential to deliver a fatal shock. Stay far away and keep others away from downed power lines. • Never enter a flooded basement if electrical outlets are submerged. The water could be energized. • Do not turn power off if you must stand in water to do so. Call your electric utility and have them turn off power at the meter. • Before entering storm-damaged buildings, make sure electricity and gas are turned off. • Do not use water-damaged electronics before properly restoring them. Electric motors in appliances should be cleaned and reconditioned before use. It may be necessary to replace some of your appliances and electronics. Have your water-damaged items inspected and approved by a professional before using them. • If you clean-up outdoors after a storm, do not use electronic equipment in wet conditions. • If you are driving and come along a downed power line, stay away and keep others away. Contact emergency personnel or your utility company to address the downed power line. • If you do come in contact with a downed power line, do not leave the car. Wait for utility and emergency professionals to make sure the power line is de-energized before exiting the car. During an outage, Safe Electricity recommends turning off electrical appliances and unplugging major electronics, including computers and televisions. Power sometimes comes back in surges, which can damage electronics. Your circuits could overload when power returns if all your electronics are still plugged in and on. Leave one light on to indicate that power has been restored. Wait a few minutes and then turn on other appliances and equipment – one at a time. If you use a standby generator, it is critical that proper safety precautions be taken. Always read and follow all manufacturer operating instructions. There should be nothing plugged into the generator when you turn it on. This prevents a surge from damaging your generator and appliances. Operate generators in well-ventilated, outdoor, dry areas. Never attach a temporary generator to a circuit breaker, fuse or outlet. Permanent generators should be wired into a house by a qualified electrician using a transfer switch in order to prevent feeding electricity back into overhead lines, which can be deadly for linemen. To help you get through, have a storm kit prepared. Keep the kit in a cool, dry place, and make sure all members of the family know where it is. For information on when to save and when to throw out refrigerated food after a power outage, go to FoodSafety.gov. Source: safeelectricity.org
4 June 2017 • COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS
Reader
Recipes
Dairy Delicious Blues Buster Smoothie
No Bake Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwich
1 (6- oz.) container low-fat blueberry-flavored yogurt 1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 1/3 cup butter, softened 2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar 2 tsp. McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
2/3 cup fresh or frozen blueberries 3 to 4 ice cubes
Combine all ingredients in a blender; blend until smooth and creamy. Cortney Reedy, Tea
Easy Creamy Chicken Enchiladas 3 small chicken breasts or 2 large chicken breasts 2 (10.5 oz.) cans cream of chicken soup 3/4 cup sour cream 1/3 cup milk
1 (7 oz.) can chopped green chilies 1 small can sliced olives 2 cups shredded or grated Cheddar cheese 1 pkg. flour tortillas
Cook chicken breasts in crockpot until tender. Shred. Mix together cream of chicken soup, sour cream and milk; set aside. Prepare 9x13-inch pan. To the chicken, add chopped green chilies, olives and half of the soup mixture. Roll up chicken mixture in tortillas; 8 to 10 usually fit in a 9x13-inch pan. Spread remainder of soup mixture over all and top with Cheddar cheese. Bake at 350°F. for 35 to 40 minutes. If prepared in advance and refrigerated, bake for 50 to 55 minutes. Serve with sour cream and salsa, if desired. Jane Ham, Rapid City
Coconut Cream Cheesecake Bars 84 Nilla wafers, divided 6 T. butter, melted 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened 1 (8 oz.) container Cool Whip, thawed, divided
2 T. sugar 2 (3.4 oz) pkg. vanilla instant pudding 2-1/2cups cold milk 1-1/2cups coconut, toasted, divided
1-1/4 cups vanilla wafer crumbs (about 35 vanilla wafers) 1 cup miniature chocolate chips 4 cups vanilla ice cream, softened
Mix peanut butter and butter in large bowl until well blended. Add sugars and vanilla; stir until blended and smooth. Stir in vanilla wafer crumbs and chocolate chips. Line a 8-inch square pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of pan. Press 1/2 of the dough into an even layer. Pat remaining dough on parchment or wax paper into 8-inch square. Gently spread ice cream over layer in pan. Flip 8-inch square layer onto top of ice cream. Peel back parchment paper. Cover with foil. Freeze 3 hours or until firm. Let stand at room temperature 2 to 3 minutes to allow ice cream to soften slightly. Cut into 16 bars. Wrap each in plastic wrap. Store in freezer. Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories 305, Total Fat 17g, Sodium 118mg, Cholesterol 21mg, Carbohydrates 33g, Dietary Fiber 2g, Protein 5g Pictured, Cooperative Connections
Spam Hotdish 2 cups macaroni, cooked 2-1/2 cups milk 1/4 cup butter, melted 1/2cup bread crumbs 4 eggs, well beaten
1 can cream of mushroom soup 1/2 green pepper, diced 1 medium onion, diced 1/4 lb. Velveeta, cubed 1 can Spam, cubed
Combine macaroni, milk, butter, bread crumbs, eggs and cream of mushroom soup. Add green pepper, onion, cheese and Spam. Pour into casserole dish. Bake at 350°F. for about 1 hour or until bubbly. If time is of the essence, casserole can be heated thoroughly in microwave before putting in the oven and then cut baking time in half. Leann Fredrickson, Aberdeen
Crab Dip 1 (16 oz.) container sour cream 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened 1 pkg. ranch dressing mix
1 bunch green onions, chopped 1 pkg. slivered almonds 1 pkg. imitation crab, chopped 2 cups shredded cheese
Reserve 24 wafers. Crush remaining wafers and then mix with butter. Press onto bottom of 9x13-inch pan. Refrigerate while preparing filling. Beat cream cheese and sugar with mixer until well blended. Whisk in 1 cup Cool Whip. Carefully spread over crust. Stand reserved wafers around edges. Beat pudding mix and milk with whisk in medium bowl for 2 minutes. Stir in 1 cup Cool Whip and 3/4 cup coconut; spread over cream cheese layer. Top with remaining Cool Whip and coconut. Refrigerate 5 hours.
Mix together sour cream, cream cheese and ranch dressing mix. Add remaining ingredients. Chill. Serve with assorted chips or crackers.
Gail Lee, Brookings
Pam Hofer, Carpenter
Please send your favorite dessert, salad or garden produce recipes to your local electric cooperative (address found on Page 3). Each recipe printed will be entered into a drawing for a prize in December 2017. All entries must include your name, mailing address, telephone number and cooperative name.
COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS • June 2017 5
Co-op
news
The Power Supply Tour is Back! The Board of Directors at Bon Homme Yankton Electric would like to invite you to participate in the 2017 Power Supply Tour. This is a unique opportunity to learn more about the story behind the switch and how important coal-fired generation is to you and your cooperative.
We will be joining members from Clay-Union Electric and Union County Electric. The bus will depart from ClayUnion’s office in Vermillion. A secure parking area will be provided. The tour is a three day event. On the first day, we will tour the facilities of East River Electric in Madison, SD. From there, we will travel to the motel accommodations. On day two, we will tour the Great Plains Synfuels Plant, the Antelope Valley Station power plant and
the Coteau Freedom coal mine. We will stop by the Capitol in Pierre on the way home and visit Central Electric's solar installation. If you would like to participate in the 2017 Basin Tour, please complete the registration form and return it to Bon Homme Yankton Electric by June 20th. The motel room, meals, and bus transportation are all provided by Bon Homme Yankton Electric. We only ask for a nominal amount of $12.50 for single or $25 per couple to reserve your spot on the tour. This deposit will
be refunded if you are not selected to attend. Please be aware that these tours include walking short distances and climbing stairs. If you have any questions, please contact the office at 605-463-2507.
TOUR D AT E S August 1-3
Time is of the essence! If you have not attended the tour in the past, turn in your registration as soon as possible as the first 7 sign-ups WILL be booked on the trip.
REGISTRATION FORM 2017 BASIN TOUR Name______________________________________________________ (If registering as a couple/double, include both your names)
Address____________________________________________________ Phone Number______________________________________________ Check one: ____ single $12.50 or ____ couple/double occupancy $25.00 Tour Date: August 1st through August 3rd, 2017 Registration must be returned by June 20, 2017 to be eligible for the trip. 6 June 2017 • Cooperative ConneCtions
Co-op
news
High School Seniors Alyssa Iams and Jacob Hertz Honored at Scholar of the Year Banquet Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives in eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota honored some of the area’s most impressive high school seniors Saturday, April 29, during the 15th annual Touchstone Energy Scholar of the Year banquet and recognition on the campus of Dakota State University. The event honored the 34 high school students who were chosen each week throughout the school year as the Touchstone Energy Scholar of the Week. It’s a program which recognizes students for academic achievement, cocurricular involvement and community service. The students are featured in weekly segments which air on KSFY
Television and each student receives a $100 scholarship for being chosen as the Scholar of the Week. Ben Pond, a senior at Ipswich High School within FEM Electric Association’s service territory, was selected during the banquet as the Touchstone Energy Scholar of the Year. Pond, who plans to attend South Dakota State University in the fall, received a $1,000 scholarship. Trevor Sik, a senior at Elkton High School within Lyon-Lincoln Electric’s service territory, and Tory Arbach, a senior at Marion High School within Southeastern Electric’s service territory, were both chosen to receive $500 scholarships. The names were drawn
from among the attendees. Dakota State University’s President Dr. José-Marie Griffiths was the keynote speaker for the Scholar of the Year banquet. KSFY News anchor Brian Allen served as the master of ceremonies. Touchstone Energy Cooperatives in eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota provide safe and reliable electricity to more than 113,000 homes and businesses. The cooperatives have sponsored the Scholar of the Week program since 2002. In that time Touchstone Energy Cooperatives have awarded over $75,000 in scholarships as part of the Scholar of the Week program.
Pictured: From left, Back Row: Alec Paulson, Ben Pond, Jeremiah Mitchell, Cole Anderson, Matthew Eigenberg, Trevor Sik; Middle Row: Brianna Smith, Alexis Peterson, Carson Zubke, Jacob Hertz, Hannah Brockway, Tory Arbach; Front Row: Hannah Harberts, Keeley Rexwinkel, Elizabeth Tobin, Maggie Peterson, Alyssa Iiams, Rachel Geary Cooperative ConneCtions • June 2017 7
Valley Side Farm Makes
Cheese an Artform F
Jocelyn Romey
resh, natural, artisan cheese – it can only get better by being locally made. And, it is. Kris Swanson and her husband, Scott, own and operate Valley Side Farm Cheese, LLC in Crooks, S.D., a rural town north of Sioux Falls. The business began in 2012 on the Swanson’s eighth-generation family farm, where an old barn built in 1899 serves as the identifying logo for the cheese. Kris Swanson studied how to make artisan cheese in Vermont at the Vermont Institute for Artisan Cheese (VIAC). From there, she took her knowledge and experience to start her own business. She notes she is the only artisan cheese maker in South Dakota. However, making this cheese by hand can be hard work and a time-consuming endeavor. “It’s more labor intensive than I bargained for,” Swanson said. “I give a lot of credit to people who
8 June 2017 • COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS
make artisan cheese.” She carefully described the lengthy process of pasteurizing, culturing, cooking, cutting, weighing and pressing the cheese that was displayed in a refrigerated storage room. In all, the process of preparing the cheese took two to three days before it could be placed on the shelf. Swanson said, “My favorite part in this process is seeing the finished product – the smell, the taste. When you cut into a wheel of cheese, it’s so pretty. The satisfaction you get from making a product like that is so cool.” Swanson provides her local customers with a variety of Cheddar cheeses, mozzarella and even string cheese. Some of her current flavors include garlic, bacon, dill, red wine and beer. Unlike other store-bought cheeses, Swanson’s
PHOTOS BY JOCELYN ROMEY/SDREA
cheese is made with natural and fresh ingredients. Swanson does not use additives such as color or preservatives like many other providers. “Most cheese is yellow because dye is put into it,” Swanson said. “People always say my cheese tastes so clean. That’s because no preservatives are in it.” Swanson buys ingredients locally, including the milk, which she buys from South Dakota State
University in Brookings where they conduct antibiotic testing on the milk before delivering it. While explaining this process, Swanson smiled and said, “Did you know, it takes 10 pounds of milk to make one pound of cheese.” Inspired by her love of cheese, Swanson said, “I like trying new things.” She wanted to try something new and something she loved doing. Now, she has steady business and returning customers who are mostly local. Swanson has also been providing tours of her shop to interested groups such as the Red Hat Society, homeschoolers, FFA chapters, culinary classes and more. Even though it’s a new business, maybe Swanson always had it in her to make cheese. While talking about her business, she smirked and said, “I was a dairy princess in high school.” So, the former dairy princess from Cottonwood County in Minnesota is now South Dakota’s artisan cheese maker. For more information on Valley Side Farm Cheese, visit their Facebook page @ValleySideFarmCheese. Swanson’s cheese can be found in select stores and restaurants in the Sioux Falls area.
Left: Rows of cheese wheels with varying flavors sit on shelves at the Valley Side Farm Cheese Shop, ready for customers. Above: The iconic 1899 barn serves as the identifying logo for the Valley Side Farm Cheese brand of Crooks, S.D. Top: Valley Side Farm Cheese owner Kris Swanson stands with her 300-gallon cheese vat that she ordered from the Netherlands. Cover: Multiple cheese samples are produced and displayed at Valley Side Farm Cheese. COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF KRIS SWANSON/VALLEY SIDE FARM CHEESE
COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS • June 2017 9
Co-op
news
Legislative Rally Benefits Members The annual National Rural Electric Legislative Conference was held April 24-25, 2017. 51 representatives from 20 South Dakota electric cooperatives joined together with electric cooperative across the nation to meet with their state’s Senators and Representatives highlighting issues the electric cooperatives are facing. The South Dakota group individually met with Sen. John Thune, Sen. Mike Rounds, and Rep. Kristi Noem on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Dave Page, manager of Whetstone Valley Electric, discussed protecting the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) electric loan program; Rep. Thomas Brunner, director at Butte Electric, discussed utility access easements across federal land; Stephanie Horst, general manager of Bon Homme Yankton Electric, discussed the potential for administrative initiatives that conflict with PMAs’ statutory mission; Russell
Gall, general manager of Charles Mix, discussed protecting funding for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); and Ken Schlimgen, general manager of Central Electric, brought to their attention that we would like to be part of any conversation pertaining to alternate approaches to the reimbursement process from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). All of these issues are important to either the lives or potential rate impacts of our members. In addition to General Manager Stephanie Horst, Office Manger Nicole Einrem, Electrician Kevin Meyer, and Director Robert Ruppelt represented Bon Homme Electric Association. It is vital that our voices are heard in Washington, D.C. and when legislators’ constituents show up in Washington to be heard, they listen.
Photos L-R: Senator John Thune listens to rural electric concerns. Senator Mike Rounds offers a tutorial on the President's Budget. Representative Kristi Noem offers to check in on proposed changes to FEMA rules. General Manager Stephanie Horst encourages the delegation to continue monitoring for any changes in the status of the Power Marketing Administration in regards to power that rural electric cooperatives receive from hydroelectric dams.
Classifieds July Issue Deadline: June 1, 2017. Email your classified ad to: by@byelectric.com. Members can post one free ad per year. Repeats or longer ads are $1/column inch. FOR RENT: 1 bedroom apartment. Tabor Manor. Contact John at 605-463-2478 or Gary at 605-463-2209.r Thinking about building a home? Don’t pick a floor plan or a builder until you’ve talked with the area’s ONLY Certified Aging-in-Place specialist, Certified Green Professional Builder and ENERGY STAR Partner Builder. Call 4 Life Homes today. 605-661-4488.r Beseda Hall, Tabor, SD for rent for any special occasion such as weddings, anniversaries, graduation or birthdays! For more information contact Linda Bares at 605-661-6220 or snlbares@gmail.com.r FOR RENT: Tabor Self Storage. Call 605-660-0274 or 605-660-3497.r 1 0 June 2017 • Cooperative ConneCtions
Director Petition Filing Deadline June 22, 2017 Districts up for election: 1, 4 and 6 Contact the office for more information
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Who Will Answer
The Call?
Approximately 1 percent of all South Dakotans volunteer on their local fire departments.
W
hen the sirens blare in small towns and
Brenda Kleinjan
rural areas across South Dakota and western Minnesota, those responding to the emergencies are often volunteers. “Volunteer fire departments serve a vital role to us here in South Dakota. Often times they are the only ones available to meet public safety needs in rural areas of the state,” said South Dakota Fire Marshal Paul Merriman. In South Dakota, a majority of the state’s 8,500 firefighters are volunteers. According to statistics avail-
12 June 2017 • COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS
able from Merriman’s office, only five of the state’s 337 fire departments are career paid departments, employing 443 firefighters. The remaining 332 departments are staffed by volunteers (seven departments have a combination of paid and volunteer firefighters). But, when an emergency arises, it doesn’t distinguish whether the people responding are volunteers or paid professionals. “To become a certified volunteer firefighter in the state, a recruit has to undergo approximately 150 hours of instruction and hands-on training. Training
requirements have greatly increased over time out of necessity. Volunteer fire departments serve the community by responding to a wide variety of situations, from emergencies that immediately threaten life or property, to routine citizen requests for information and assistance,” Merriman said. “Fire department staffing and firefighter recruitment and retention issues continue to present big challenges to volunteer fire departments. Time demands, increasing call volume, changes in the ‘nature of the business’ of firefighting, aging communities and other factors have contributed to reductions in the number of men and women joining and remaining in the volunteer fire service. The demand or need for volunteers continues to increase as the list of their duties continues to grow,” Merriman said. In early June, firefighters from across the state will gather at Mitchell Technical Institute in Mitchell, S.D., for the State Fire School. While there, they will train in nearly 30 different areas. There will be courses one expects: live fire training, firefighter survival, structure live burn and structural firefighting essentials. And there will be courses related to department operations such as junior firefighter programs, honor guards, grant writing, small engine maintenance and fire investigation. And then there are the courses that cover the gamut of emergencies a fire department might encounter: mass triage, responding to an active shooter event, auto extrication, bus extrication, trench rescue, water rescue, grain bin rescue, hazardous materials awareness and the list goes on. But, a firefighter’s training doesn’t stop at the conclusion of the State Fire School. “Training requirements over and above the certified firefighter endorsement are established locally and vary from department to department, depending upon the type of incidents they typically respond to,” Merriman said. In addition to training, fire department funding and fire department staffing (recruitment and retention) are some of the biggest challenges faced by volunteer fire departments across the state and the U.S., Merriman said. “Becoming a volunteer firefighter takes a tremendous amount of time, and is a very demanding and sometimes dangerous job. The personal satisfaction that comes from helping others is the No. 1 reason people give why they choose to serve in the fire service. Being a volunteer is a rewarding experience and one of the best ways you can make a difference in your community. The skills and experience gained as a volunteer firefighter are invaluable and can have a positive and lasting effect on your life and the lives of those around you,” Merriman said. “We take firefighters and local fire departments for granted. Until we need them, we don’t realize how important they are. No matter how big your community department is, support them. Show them that they matter.”
For information on becoming a volunteer firefighter, contact your local fire department. Grand Electric Cooperative in Bison, S.D., assisted the Lemmon, S.D., Volunteer Fire Department with a training scenario involving a car and a power pole. Throughout South Dakota, more than 8,000 people serve on one of the state’s 332 volunteer fire departments.
S.D. FIREFIGHTER AGE DEMOGRAPHICS S.D. Volunteer Fire Departments 2.1% .25% 10.23%
19.8%
20.17% 26.37%
21.09%
Paid Fire Departments .45% 17.23%
32.43%
14.74%
35.15%
■ Under 29 ■ 30-39 ■ 40-49 ■ 50-59 ■ 60-69 ■ 70-79 ■ 80-plus Statistics as of July 1, 2016. Information on age demographics as reported by fire departments to the South Dakota Fire Marshal’s office. The average age of a South Dakota volunteer firefighter is 42.48 years old compared to 39.73 for a paid firefighter. Source: https://dps.sd.gov/emergency_services/state_fire_marshal/images/age_of_firefighters_2016.pdf
DID YOU KNOW? • As of July 1, 2016, there were 8,560 firefighters at South Dakota’s 337 fire departments. • When compared to the state’s size of 77,121 square miles, this equates to one firefighter per nine square miles. (On average, each fire department covers 228 square miles.) • Of South Dakota’s state population* of 865,454, less than 1 percent of all South Dakotans are a firefighter. • Minnesota has 20,921 firefighters at 757 active fire departments, the majority of which are volunteer or paid on-call departments. • When compared to the state’s size of 86,943 square miles, this equates to about one firefighter per four square miles. (On average, each department covers 115 square miles.) • Of Minnesota’s state population* of 5,519,952 people, less than 0.3 percent of all Minnesotans are a firefighter. (*Based on the U.S. Census Estimate for July 1, 2016)
PHOTO COURTESY GRAND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS • June 2017 13
May Day Storm Wreaks Havoc On System Most people were pretty surprised to see all the heavy, wet, slush the morning of May 1, 2017 but what came next was a shock. Sticky snow piled onto lines, cross arms and overhead equipment causing extreme overweight conditions. Some poles buckled under the strain. Other lines held up until the snow started falling off. This resulted in the wires jumping up hitting each other causing breakers to trip and fuses to blow. If there are no line breaks as a result, these are the easiest outages to fix. The phone started to ring, the lights were blinking and the employees sprang into action. The decision was made pretty quickly that extra help would be needed and the
South Dakota Rural Electric Association coordinated crews from other cooperatives to give us a hand. Seven two-man crews from five cooperatives arrived quickly. Imagine the dismay of a line crew when they headed out ready to splice a few wires, reset some breakers or replace a fuse but instead they were welcomed with the sight of 9 broken poles in a row. This scenario repeated itself all over Yankton and Bon Homme Counties throughout the morning with the area surrounding Tabor hit the hardest. Crews re-routed power where they could and reset breakers and fuses after making sure there were no hazards on the line. Then the pole replacement process
began. As time went on, it was clear that the crews would have to be creative to get power back on to all services and as a result, some three-phase lines were just put up as single phase for now and any neutral wires that were down, were going to have to wait. Neutrals are necessary for a well balanced electrical system, but not required to restore power. The final member's power was restored on Thursday, May 4 and the outside crews were allowed to head home. Crews will be making minor repairs as soon as possible and scheduling major repairs for the next few months. Find us on Facebook for more photos and like our page for future updates.
This two man crew of Staking Engineer Ken Carda and Electrical Contractor Kevin Meyer made use of the smaller bucket truck usually used for security light repair. The 40' boom on this truck helped keep them out of the soft ditches. They called for back up after finding a broken pole on this line northwest of Tabor.
Central Electric crew working south of Tabor on Highway 52.
Cross arm stripped off pole, line in water and on fence. Anchors pulling out of the soft ground was also an issue that caused sagging lines.
1 4 June 2017 • Cooperative ConneCtions
Rosebud Electric crew pulling out a broken pole east of Tabor Monday evening. Depending on the location of the pole, these large trucks backed into the ditch and then had a hard time getting out due to the soft, wet conditions.
9:00pm Tuesday, May 2: Operations Manager Robert Ulmer reviews plans for Wednesday with a very tired line crew. Pictured L-R: Nathan Kloucek, Travis Zomer, Wes Kloucek, Tyler Suess, Robert Ulmer, Gunnar Dally. Bon Homme Yankton Electric outage crew not pictured here: Floyd Burbach, Travis Gause, Joe Renner, Ken Carda, Kevin Meyer, Bob Felber.
THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!
Thanks to everyone not specifically listed in the Manager's Column on Page 2 who helped out in any way large or small! We appreciate each and every one of you!! Below: The EZ Spot UR attachments to the twin Bobcats from Dakota Energy made pole changes much quicker. One unit has an auger and the other has a pole clamp to remove the old pole and place the new pole in the new or existing hole. The tracks worked great in the muddy conditions. Why don't we have such amazing equipment at our cooperative? We do not perform a lot of new overhead construction and only change poles as needed after they receive a failing mark in the pole testing program or if an upgrade is required. Therefore, we have determined that it would not be a wise investment in this specific equipment at this time.
This neutral wire hanging down is ok. It is not energized and we will be back to get it fixed up later.
Broken three phase pole is replaced by single phase pole for now to restore power.
Cooperative ConneCtions • June 2017 1 5
Regional Dateline
Events of Special Note
May 19 Tesla Car Rally, Custer, SD 605-673-2244
May 19-21 State Parks Open House and Free Fishing Weekend Pierre, SD, 605-773-3391 May 20 Turkey Days, Huron, SD 605-352-0000 May 20-21, 28-29 Pari-Mutuel Horse Racing, Aberdeen, SD, 605-715-9580 May 26-27 State Track Meet Sioux Falls, SD, 605-224-9261 May 26-28 South Dakota Kayak Challenge Yankton, SD, 605-864-9011 May 27-28 Annual SDRA Foothills Rodeo Wessington Springs, SD 605-770-4370 May 30 26th Annual Kids Art Fest Yankton, SD, 605-665-9754 June 2-3 Senior Games, Sioux Falls, SD Contact Scott Junke at 605-367-8222 June 2-4 Fort Sisseton Historical Festival Lake City, SD, 605-448-5474
PHOTO COURTESY OF NAJA SHRINE CIRCUS
May 19-20 Sioux Empire Film Festival Sioux Falls, SD, 605-367-6000
June 2-3 Ribfest, NFAA Easton Yankton Archery Center, 800 Archery Lane, Yankton, SD 605-665-1657 July 1 Naja Shrine Circus Deadwood, SD, 605-342-3402
To have your event listed on this page, send complete information, including date, event, place and contact to your local electric cooperative. Include your name, address and daytime telephone number. Information must be submitted at least eight weeks prior to your event. Please call ahead to confirm date, time and location of event.
June 2-4 Annual Black Hills Quilt Show and Sale, Rapid City, SD 605-394-4115
June 17-18 South Dakota Peach Festival W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds Sioux Falls, SD
July 19-22 Senior Games, Rapid City, SD Contact Kristi Lintz at 605-394-4168
June 2-4 Wheel Jam, Huron, SD 605-353-7340
June 23 148th Annual Midsummer Festival, Dalesburg Lutheran Church, Vermillion, SD 605-253-2575
July 21-22 Senior Games, Brookings, SD Contact Traci Saugstad at 605-692-4492
June 2-4 Fish Days, Lake Andes, SD pattironfeldt@hcinet.net June 3 Dairy Fest, Brookings, SD 605-692-7539 June 9-10 Senior Games, Spearfish, SD Contact Brett Rauterkus at 605-722-1430 June 16-17 Czech Days, Tabor, SD www.taborczechdays.com June 17-18 Coin and Stamp Show Sturgis, SD, 605-381-4625
June 23-24 Senior Games, Mitchell, SD Contact Howard Bich at 605-275-6891 June 30 Naja Shrine Circus Bowman, ND, 605-342-3402 July 7-8 Senior Games, Madison, SD Bernie Schuurmans at 605-270-3327 July 14-15 Senior Games, Aberdeen, SD Contact Gene Morsching at 605-216-2822
July 22 Holy Smoke Car Show O’Gorman High School Sioux Falls, SD www.holysmokecarshow.org August 18-20 Riverboat Days and Summer Arts Festival, Yankton, SD 605-665-1657 August 19 Riverboat Days Bull Riding Tour, 7:30 p.m., Rodeo Arena West 31st St (Hwy. 50) Yankton, SD, 605-760-2153