NOVEMBER 2017 VOL. 18 NO. 7
Art Emerging Page 8-9
Lemmon Artist Reshapes Metal into Art
Manager’s
Column
Growing Up Co-op And because we are owned by you, our I love the feeling of being able members, we have a vested interest in making to walk into my favorite locallysure our community is prosperous. We do this by owned shop, restaurant or store investing in economic development and community knowing that the profit, product service projects and programs. and labor can make positive impacts on my community. The Living on co-op lines is an investment in spirit of main street is embodied in these local businesses, just like our community and its members. it is in Bon Homme Yankton I hope that you view Bon Homme Yankton Electric. Electric not just as your electric utility provider, but Electric cooperatives are as stephanie Horst as a local business that brings pride and prosperity local and community centered as General Manager to our community. If you are interested in learning Bon Homme Yankton Electric they come. Founded as a way to more about how we keep the lights on and beyond, bring electricity to communities please stop by the co-op or give us a call. We love that didn’t interest Investor-owned utilities (or being a part of this community, and we hope you IOUs), electric cooperatives have been a cornerstone feel the same way too! of community and economic development in rural America and beyond for decades. That feeling I get when I frequent local businesses in our community is the same feeling I get when I walk into work at the co-op every day. It is a feeling of pride. I am proud to be a The cost of powering your home rises at a slower pace than many of your part of an organization that serves the typical expenses. Compare the average price increase of these expenses community in which we live, instead each year over the last five years, and the value of electricity shines. of a group of shareholders who may never have set foot in our service Average Annual Price Increase 2011-2016 territory. Percent Living on co-op lines is more 4.0 than just knowing there are people out there working to bring you safe, 3.4% 3.3% reliable and affordable electric service. 3.5 3% Living on co-op lines is an investment 3.0 in our community and its members. 2.5 You see, Bon Homme Yankton Electric is a not-for-profit business. 2.0 When we make more money than we need to keep the lights on safely, 1.5 affordably and reliably, we return it 1% 1.0 back to our members (that’s you!) in the form of capital credits. This means 0.5 after all co-op expenses are paid, any additional money we earn goes back 0 Medical Care Education Rent Electricity into our community, instead of going into a shareholder’s pocket, which is pretty great! Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index
ELECTRICITY REMAINS A GOOD VALUE
2 November 2017 • Cooperative ConneCtions
Co-op
news
SmartHub Tips:
Are automatic payments right for you? (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.
Bon Homme Yankton Electric offers several easy and convenient payment options for your electric bill but we often hear concerns from our members regarding our recurring payment plans wondering if they are safe. We have heard your concerns and have made improvements regarding our cyber security and the protection of your data. First of all, we have recently installed a network server in our office and require all employees to log into the server even if they have just stepped away from their desk for a while. This prevents any physical access to our network by unauthorized personnel. Secondly, we are required to perform tests to make sure we are in compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). We recently passed our compliance test with flying colors. All account information is encrypted after it is entered into the computer system and only displays the last four digits of the account number for verification purposes. It is stored on a remote server with higher security than our local network. You will need to provide proof of your identity before we can divulge any account information. Automatic recurring payments can save you from paying late fees when you forget to pay your bill or if the payment is delayed as it travels through the postal system. Automatic payments from
checking account is our favorite form of payments as it is our least costly method of accepting payments. Recurring credit card payments is in second place as we still have to pay merchant fees but both plans offer labor savings as the payments are posted to your account automatically in bulk versus having to open the mail, create the deposit and posting the payments by hand. We realize that automatic payments aren't for everyone, but for those that are interested, you can sign up for both plans online in SmartHub or by filling out the printable application that is available on our website, www.byelectric. coop. We are still offering the one-time bill credit of $5.00 for any members newly signing up for automatic payments by checking account. Contact our office at 605-4632507 for assistance or if you have any questions about any of our payment plans.
Check out our website at: WWW.BYELECTRIC.COOP 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 • November 2017 3
Safety
Matters
Halloween Electrical Safety Halloween haunts usually mean strings of decorative lights, fog machines, strobe and black lights, animatronics, electrically powered decorations and the list goes on. These things all add to the ambience of your haunt, but they also create the added dangers of fire, electrocution and other nasty and potentially disastrous accidents. It is very important that you look for and eliminate potential dangers from your Halloween lights and decorations that could lead to fires and injuries. • Carefully inspect each electrical decoration. Cracked or frayed sockets, loose or bare wires and loose connections may cause a serious shock or start a fire. Discard damaged sets of lights or damaged props that can no longer be used safely. • Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples to hold strings in place, not nails or tacks. Or, run strings of lights through hooks (available at hardware stores). Don’t staple or nail through light strings or electrical/extension cords – you could damage the wire or insulation, which could lead to an electrical shock or fire. • Don’t overload extension cords or allow them to run through water or snow on the ground. Before using any light strings, animated displays or other electrical products outdoors, make sure the product is approved by a nationally recognized certification organization and marked for outdoor use. • Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord. Don’t use electrical decorations or light strings on materials that could catch fire. It is important to turn off all electrical light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed. Follow the use and care instructions that accompany your electrical decorations. • Rule of thumb, most household circuit breakers are rated up to either 10 or 15 amps (you can tell by looking at the breakers themselves) and household current is generally 110 volts. Amps times volts equal the amount of watts that a breaker can handle without tripping. With caution, learn what breakers protect each section of your home and label them. Don’t overload your circuit breakers/fuses. • For added electric shock protection, plug outdoor electric lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters. Portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold. GFCIs can be installed permanently to household circuits by a qualified electrician. • Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire. Always have at least one fire extinguisher available and know how to use it. In homes with small children or animals, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable. Practice safety, use common sense and you’ll have a happy, memorable Halloween! Source: www.halloween-online.com 4 November 2017 • COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS
Kids’ Corner Safety Poster “Don’t touch active wires.”
Max Baker, 9 years old Max is the son of Travis and Becki Baker, Fulton, S.D. They are members of Central Electric Cooperative, Mitchell, S.D. 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.
Reader
Recipes
Crockpot Creations Slow Cooker Potato Casserole
Slow Cooker Chocolate Pecan Pie Cake
2 lb. pkg. frozen hash brown potatoes, partially thawed 2 (10 oz.) cans Cheddar cheese soup
1 pkg. (2-layer size) chocolate cake mix 2 tsp. McCormick® Cinnamon, Ground 1 T. plus 2 tsp. McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract, divided
1 (13 oz.) can evaporated milk, undiluted 1 can French-fried onions Salt and pepper to taste
Combine potatoes, soup, milk and half the onions. Pour into a greased slow cooker. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover and cook on LOW 8 or 9 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours. Sprinkle remaining onions over top before serving. Carolyn Saugstad, Alcester
Slow Cooker Corn 2 (16 oz.) bags frozen corn 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese 1 stick butter
2 T. sugar 2 T. water
Spray inside of 6-quart slow cooker with no stick cooking spray. For the Chocolate Cake, prepare cake batter as directed on package, stirring in cinnamon and 2 tsp. vanilla. Pour into greased slow cooker. Place towel over slow cooker and cover with lid. Cook 2 hours on LOW or until cake is almost set. For the Pecan Pie Topping, sprinkle pecans over cake. Beat remaining ingredients with wire whisk until smooth. Slowly pour over pecans. Cover. Cook 10 minutes longer on LOW. Turn off slow cooker. Carefully remove slow cooker insert and place on wire rack. Cool 20 minutes before serving. Serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired. Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories 580, Total Fat 28g, Saturated Fat 7g, Sodium 377mg, Cholesterol 57mg, Carbohydrates 78g, Dietary Fiber 2g, Protein 4g Pictured, Cooperative Connections
Place frozen corn in slow cooker. Cut cheese and butter into small cubes. Add to corn with sugar and water. Cook on HIGH for 45 minutes. Stir with a wooden spoon. Turn to LOW for 3-1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Shirley Miller, Winfred
Slow Cooker Whole Chicken 4 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 2 tsp. paprika 1/2 tsp. black pepper 1 tsp. each cayenne pepper, thyme, 1 large roasting chicken onion powder and white pepper In a small bowl, combine spices. Place frozen chicken in slow cooker. Pour seasonings over chicken. Do not add any liquid. Cook on LOW 4 to 8 hours.
Thyen Family Slow Cooker Dressing 1/2 cup parsley 1 cup diced onions 2 (8 oz.) cans mushrooms 2 cups diced celery 1 cup butter 12 to 13 cups of bread crumbs
1-1/2 tsp. sage 1 tsp. poultry seasoning 1 tsp. thyme 4-1/2 cups chicken broth 2 eggs, well beaten
Saute first 4 ingredients in butter. Combine bread crumbs, sage, poultry seasoning and thyme. Mix together all ingredients. Put in slow cooker on HIGH for 45 minutes. Reduce heat to LOW for 4 to 8 hours. Emily Luikens, Tea
Morning Slow Cooker Casserole
Teresa Affeldt, Box Elder
Sweet and Sour Pork 1-1/2 to 2 lbs. pork steak, cut into strips 2 T. canola oil 1 large onion, sliced 1 large green pepper, cut into strips 1 (4 oz.) can mushroom pieces
2 cups chopped pecans 1-1/2 cups light corn syrup 1-1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 (2 lb.) bag frozen hash brown potatoes 1 lb. diced, cooked and drained bacon or ham 3/4 cup diced onions 1 green pepper, chopped
1 cup shredded cheese 12 eggs 1 cup milk 1 tsp. salt Pepper to taste
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce 1 cup brown sugar 2 T. vinegar or Worchestershire sauce 1-1/2 tsp. salt 1 (10 oz.) jar sweet & sour sauce Place layer of frozen hash browns on bottom of slow cooker.
Brown pork in oil; drain. Place all ingredients into slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW 6 to 8 hours. May serve over rice or noodles.
Layer 2 or 3 times the bacon, onions, green peppers, cheese and hash browns; ending with cheese on top. Beat eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Pour over all; cover. Cook on LOW for 10 to 12 hours.
Patricia Hopkins, Central City, Neb.
Elaine Rowett, Sturgis
Please send your favorite holiday treat, soup and brunch 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 • November 2017 5
Energy Efficiency
Notes
How to Efficiently Bring Fresh Air Into Your House Year-Round Dear Jim: We made efficiency improvements over the years, but the indoor airoften gets stale now. Without negating all our efficiency investments, what ways can we get more fresh air indoors? – Laura T. Dear Laura: Stale air and a buildup of pollutants are common problems as people James Dulley tighten up their houses to www.dulley.com save energy. According to the U.S. EPA, people typically spend 90 percent of their time indoors. Common symptoms of poor indoor air quality include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness and fatigue. Radon gas can be a cancer risk as great as smoking. The purpose of bringing in fresh air is two-fold. First, when fresh air comes in, polluted stale air must go out or your house would explode. Secondly, fresh air dilutes the pollutant concentrations of the stale air remaining indoors. In addition to providing fresh air ventilation, attempt to minimize the gaseous and particulate pollution you generate indoors. There are four basic mechanical methods to introduce fresh air into your house and each has advantages and disadvantages. The simplest is an exhaust-only system. This often uses a central ducted vent fan to depressurize the house. This draws fresh air in through gaps and leaks in the house exterior. Passive inlet vents can be installed in an airtight house like yours. This is the least expensive system to install. This works best in cooler, low-humidity climates, especially during summer. Its drawback is the fresh air may not be distributed evenly throughout the house. It will increase utility bills slightly and may cause chilly drafts during winter. If you have gas appliances, backdrafting may be a problem. Supply-only systems use ducted fresh air fans to create a positive pressure indoors. This forces the stale indoor out through cracks in the exterior. It
is simple and inexpensive to install like an exhaustonly system. Its primary advantage is the incoming air can be filtered and it provides better control over the fresh air flow. Also, it will not cause backdrafting of gas appliances. A balanced system uses a combination of ducted supply- and exhaust-only systems. This provides better control of the ventilation because it does not rely on just cracks or leaks in the house exterior. It costs more to install because it requires two ducted systems. It uses more electricity because it runs two sets of fans and it does not control incoming summertime humidity. A HRV (heat recovery ventilation) system is the most efficient and expensive (typically $1,000 to $2,000) balanced system. During winter, heat from the stale outgoing warm air is transferred to the incoming cold fresh air. During summer, the stale outgoing cold air precools the incoming hot outdoor fresh air. Up to 75 percent of the energy in the air can be saved. A HRV is a simple system with a heat exchanger inside a cabinet and two separate blowers, one incoming air and one outgoing air. It has its own duct system drawing the stale indoor air usually from bathrooms and the kitchen. The incoming fresh air ducts often lead to the living room and hallway. In many climates, indoor humidity levels are also a concern. During summer, bringing in precooled humid air may not greatly improve comfort and may exacerbate allergies. Excessively dry air during winter can be uncomfortable for the skin and can cause other health problems. An ERV (energy recovery ventilation) system has a special heat exchanger to also transfer moisture. During the summer, the incoming fresh air is partially dehumidified by the outgoing cool dry stale air. During winter, the indoor humidity is recaptured. These systems speed and run-time are controlled by a humidistat or programmable timer. The following companies offer HRV’s and ERV’s: Aprilaire, 800-334-6011, www.aprilaire. com; Broan, 800-558-1711, www.broan.com; Fantech, 800-747-1762, www.fantech.net; Honeywell, 800-328-5111, www.yourhome.honeywell.com; and Renewaire, 800-627-4499, www.renewaire.com.
Send inquiries to James Dulley, Cooperative Connections, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com. 6 November 2017 • COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS
News
Briefs
Cooperative Representatives Talk Current Issues on Capitol Hill Representatives from Basin Electric Power Cooperative and member cooperatives visited Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., during the cooperative’s annual Legislative Fall Fly-In the week of Sept. 25. In total, more than 70 attendees represented eight states – North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. The fly-in included visits with legislators and their staffs from states representing participating cooperatives, as well as a reception Sept. 27 for fly-in attendees, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association representatives and congressional staff. Topics of conversation included legislation to encourage carbon sequestration; carbon management strategies; advanced energy technology solutions such as the Allam Cycle; Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) reform; high pension premium rates paid in “multiple-employer” plans; and the effort to repeal and replace the Clean Power Plan with a workable carbon dioxide mitigation standard. “The fly-in is a great opportunity to get some facetime with legislators and their staffs, build those relationships and keep them informed on issues that are important to Basin Electric and its members,” said Dale Niezwaag, Basin Electric vice president of government relations. Sen. Mike Rounds, South Dakota Rural Electric Association general manager Ed Anderson, Sen. John Thune, SDREA board president Don Heeren and Rep. Kristi Noem pose for a photo during the fly-in.
Michels Announces Veterans Arts Initiative In partnership with the Michael J Fitzmaurice State Veterans Home, the South Dakota Arts Council and Arts South Dakota, the South Dakota Lieutenant Governor’s Office is working to design comprehensive arts residency programming for the State Veterans Home and community of Hot Springs. The veterans arts program will be designed around a central storytelling component and include professional artists-in-residence from all arts disciplines. “I’m excited to begin working on this program, as are all of our partners,” said Lt. Gov. Matt Michels, who was selected to serve as chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association during the organization’s annual meeting in Nashville, Tenn. As chair, Michels announced the group’s initiative for the year would be to focus on connecting veterans with opportunities in the arts. “We’ve already developed a concept
for the program and it will take some time to get it designed and implemented. But this will be a wonderful investment to help our state’s honorable veterans share and celebrate their stories.” Arts South Dakota, funded entirely by donor contributions and grants, is a nonprofit, non-partisan corporation whose primary purpose is to advance the arts in South Dakota through service, education and advocacy. An office of the South Dakota Department of Tourism, the South Dakota Arts Council’s mission is to provide grants and services to artists, arts organizations and schools across the state with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the state of South Dakota. The South Dakota Department of Tourism is comprised of Tourism and the South Dakota Arts Council. The Department is led by Secretary James D. Hagen.
Back row: Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Dan McKee (former chair), S.D. Lt. Gov. Matt Michels Front Row: Montana Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney (vice chair) and Jay Dick with Americans for the Arts. COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS • November 2017 7
Taking Shape
Lemmon Artist Transforms Old Iron into Masterpieces
S Brenda Kleinjan Below: Artist John Lopez stands in front of the his Cow Bossman statue which honors Ed Lemmon. The mural on the wall of the Kokomo Inn was created by Nigerian artists as a background for the sculpture. (Photos Courtesy Artist John Lopez)
tudy one of John Lopez’s hybrid metaL art sculptures long enough, you might just be able to decipher what an individual element’s purpose was. The filigreed piece that forms what looks like a shield on some pieces may have started out as a grate on a stove or in a building. Chains and gear links are formed into various parts of the sculpture. Disc blades give definition to large muscles on a finished horse or buffalo. The finely textured feathers of the peacock? Closer examination shows that they once graced many a dining room table as various patterns of silverware. Whether farm implement or table ware or individual pieces of unidentifiable metal, Lopez’s talented touch transforms that which may have been headed to the scrap yard into stunning pieces of art.
8 November 2017 • COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS
One of the artist’s newest sculptures is that of Ed Lemmon, namesake of the northwestern South Dakota community. Lemmon, atop a horse, stands in the Cow Bossman Square next to Lopez’s Kokomo Gallery in the Kokomo Inn on Main Street in Lemmon, S.D. According to Lopez’s description of the monument, he created the statue primarily using scrap iron donated by local friends and neighbors. The portrait of Ed Lemmon is cast in bronze making this monument a Hybrid Metal Sculpture. It took Lopez about six months to create the work. You can watch out for the revolver and jack knife donated in honor of Alvin Jacobs (a cowboy that inspired John). There are other personal items hidden within the sculpture which are the fingerprints of the community members.
Photo by John Lopez
At the Grand River Museum, many of Lopez’s to win awards. also in Lemmon, Lopez has “Silverware Peacock” was the depicted the grizzly bear attack People’s Choice Award at the anof Hugh Glass. The grizzly bear nual Sculpture in the Hills Show comes to life with chains and in Hill City, S.D. other metal pieces creating the You can find Lopez’s more bear’s fur. Lopez’s portrait of traditional bronze sculptures as Glass depicts the terror of the part of the The City of Presiattack as the ferocious grizzly dents series in Rapid City (John advances. Adams, John F. Kennedy and “The Last Stand” depicts John, Jr., Calvin Coolidge, two bison – one with a likeness Teddy Roosevelt and Ulysses S. of Gen. George Custer and the Grant) or in the Governor’s Trail other with a likeness of Sitting in Pierre (Arthur Mellette and Bull – engaging one another. Harvey Wollman). It is on display at the Kokomo His Hybrid Metal Art can Gallery, which is open Monday be found across the breadth of through Saturdays from May 1 the state and from coast to coast to Oct. 30. as pieces are on display in San Silverware Peacock can be viewed at Also in the gallery, the aptly Francisco, New Hampshire, Lopez’s Kokomo Gallery in Lemmon, S.D. named “Silverware Peacock” Texas and points in between. captures the imagination. Utilizing steel cable and For more on Lopez’s work, go to http://www. silverware to create the bird’s tail, the 142 forks, 70 johnlopezstudio.com/ There is also a coffee table spoons, and 71 butter knives meld into a regal bird book of Lopez’s work, “John Lopez: Sculpture” proudly standing on a pillar. The sculpture is one of available as well.
Above: “The Last Stand” depicts two bison butting heads. The left bison includes a likeness of Gen. George Custer while the right buffalo pays tribute to Sitting Bull. Right: A close up of a portion of “The Last Stand” reveals the multi-leveled story telling that takes place in Lopez’s statues. On the Cover: “War Horse” stands in front of the Brookings Arts Council building on Fourth Street in Brookings, S.D.
COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS • November 2017 9
Co-op
news
Thank You Notes I would like to thank B-Y and the employees for all the hard work during all the storms and such and for the Cabela's gift card I received at the August meeting. Member always, Jim Sternhagen PS Jane loves the gift card. Thank you very much for the Shop Vac which we received as a prize at the B-Y Electric annual meeting. David & Ione Cap Thank you for the electric grill I won at the annual meeting. Also, thank
you, Bob Felber, for assembling and delivering it. Irene Koranda Thank you Bon Homme Yankton Electric for the beautiful meter light that was presented to me at the 73rd Annual meeting. It was a pleasure being on the Bon Homme Yankton Electric Board of Directors. Thanks also for the cake and social gathering after the meeting. In closing, thanks for the memories, Darrell Beran
OFFICIAL NOTICE OF PUBLICATION STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION (REQUIRED BY 39 U.S.C. 3685) 1. Publication Title:Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connections 2. Publication No.: 018-973 3. Filing Date: 9/29/2017 4. Issue Frequency: Monthly 5. No. of Issues Published Annually: 12 6. Annual Subscription Price: $6.00 Members $12.00 Non-Members 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 134 S Lidice, PO Box 158, Tabor, SD 57063 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: 134 S Lidice, PO Box 158, Tabor, SD 57063 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Address of Publisher, Editor & Managing Editor: Publisher: Bon Homme Yankton Electric Association, Inc. Editor: Nicole Einrem Managing Editor: Nicole Einrem 10. Owner: Bon Homme Yankton Electric Association, Inc.,134 S Lidice, PO Box 158, Tabor, SD 57063 11. Known bondholders/mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: Rural Utilities Service, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, CoBank 12. Tax Status: Purpose, function and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months 13. Publication Title: 14. Issue Date of Circulation Below: Oct. 2017 Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connections Avg. No. of Copies Each Single Issue 15. Extent and Nature Issue During Nearest to of Circulation Preceding 12 Months Filing Date A. Total number of copies (net press run) .................................................... 2966 ............................2997 B. Paid and/or Requested Circulation 1. Paid/Requested Outside County Mail Subscriptions .................... 2907 ............................2935 2. Paid In-County Subscriptions............................................................. 0 ..................................0 3. Sales Through Dealers, Carriers, Street Vendors &Counter Sales ........ 0 ..................................0 4. Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS ........................................... 0 ..................................0 C. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation................................................. 2907 ............................2935 D. 1. Free Distribution by Mail ................................................................ 49 ................................52 4.Free Distribution Outside the Mail ..................................................... 7 ..................................7 E. Total Free Distribution ............................................................................... 56 ................................59 F. Total Distribution ................................................................................... 2963 ............................2994 G. Copies Not Distributed ................................................................................ 3 ..................................3 H. Total ....................................................................................................... 2966 ............................2997 I. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation ................................................98% ............................ 98%
Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation as of October 1, 2017 1 0 November 2017 • Cooperative ConneCtions
Welcome new Members Tabor James Mendez Stephanie Wilkinson Utica Richard Parr Volin Ambre Jeffrey Yankton Brad Bohnet Douglas F Simmons Rick & Patty Cheloha Jerome R Dittrich Heather Armstrong & Richard Allen Tara L Swanson Garry Cihak Marsha Mertz-Speight & Garrett Mertz Beth Rabine & James Dongog Bill Lambertz Anthony Fontenot Kevin Haselhorst Tamara & Matthew Carns Scott Nedved Richard Andre Lyle & Karin Scheer Jason & Erin Canavan Frank & Janice Vellek
Classifieds December Issue Deadline: November 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 Gary at 605-463-2209 or Ron at 605-463-2256.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 605660-0274 or 605-660-3497.r
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Lending a Helping Hand Organization Helps Those in Need Bring In the Harvest
D Jocelyn Romey
uring tragic circumstances, farmers and ranchers usually don’t have many options. What happens when a natural disaster, injury, health issue or fatality is experienced by an agricultural family? Getting the harvest in on time and cutting enough hay for the coming year can become major issues these families face when tragic circumstances occur. So, in the Midwest, farmers are helping farmers. Farm Rescue – a nonprofit organization created in North Dakota and headquartered in Horace, N.D., just outside of Fargo, is providing help to farmers and ranchers through the organized efforts of volunteers. People from across the nation have volunteered their time and effort to assist agricultural families who need help getting their crops in during a family crisis. This organization’s volunteers
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not only help harvest and plant crops, but also haul grain and provide donated hay to farmers and ranchers affected by the drought. Bill Gross, founder and president of Farm Rescue, started the organization in 2005 when it received its nonprofit status. In 2006, volunteers began their harvest heroism helping families in North Dakota. Since then, Farm Rescue has grown. It now offers help to agriculture communities in a five-state region with plans to expand. Currently, this region encompasses North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Montana and Minnesota. Farm Rescue’s Carol Wielenga, program coordinator, said roughly 100 volunteers are called upon every year. They are included in a database of nearly 1,000 nationwide. Most volunteers have an agriculture background and want to get back to the farm.
Yet, a few come from different demographics. Wielenga said one volunteer was a scientist from NASA. Ted Smith, director of engineering and operations from Sioux Valley Energy in Colman, S.D., is one of those volunteers who dedicates his time off to helping others. He began his work with Farm Rescue in 2012. While describing his volunteer services, Smith said, “Some people think I’m crazy to take my vacation time to go work, but I enjoy it…I’ve worked for really nice folks over the years.” Good deeds are not always easy to act out, however. Smith told one story in which he and his partner set a record for how many times they could become stuck in one day while volunteering. Smith said, “I don’t think anyone has broken our record yet, at least I hope not.” Farm Rescue not only relies on volunteers like Smith, but also sponsors and donors to aid farmers and ranchers. One donor heavily involved in aiding agricultural families through Farm Rescue is RDO
Equipment Co. From the beginning, this company has been the sole donator of all the equipment needed by volunteers to plant, harvest and haul. Currently, Farm Rescue employs four full-time employees and is managed by a board of directors. These directors make the qualification decisions of every applicant requesting help from Farm Rescue. Wielenga described the application process as easy and quick. She also noted that many requests for assistance are made anonymously by a friend of the family. Since Farm Rescue assists families who are usually stressed, the application process is simple and has no cut-off date. This ensures that help is available for any family in need. Information regarding qualification for assistance can be found on Farm Rescue’s website www.farmrescue.org.
Above: Volunteers pause from their duties to pose for a photo. Top: A Farm Rescue combine and semi trailer continue the harvest at dusk. Opposite Page: Farm Rescue volunteers harvest soybeans. Left: Farm Rescue volunteers operate an air seeder to help a farm family in crisis during
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Two Years In: Regional Power Entities are Part of SPP
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t’s been two years since cooperatives and other entities joined the Southwest Power Pool, a regional transmission organization. “It’s definitely been a benefit to Basin Electric and our members,” said Valerie Weigel, director of Marketing Financial Analytics for the Bismarck, N.D.,-based cooperative. “In an RTO, everyone pools their assets together and the RTO dispatches them economically, which allows access to lower-cost production,” Weigel said. At midnight on Oct. 1, 2015, Western Area Power Administration’s Upper Great Plains Region, Basin Electric Power Cooperative and Heartland Consumers Power District successfully transferred functional control of the integrated transmission system to Southwest Power Pool and began operating in the regional transmission organization. This was the final step in achieving full membership in the RTO. “This major achievement demonstrates Western’s commitment to evolve our services in a changing energy frontier so we can continue to reliably, economically and securely serve our customers,” said Western Administrator and CEO Mark Gabriel at the time of the transfer.
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With the inclusion of the Integrated System, SPP’s footprint spans almost 575,000 square miles in all or parts of 14 states in the central U.S. and includes more than 800 generating plants, nearly 5,000 substations and about 56,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines. The IS added about 5,000 megawatts of peak demand and 7,600 megawatts of generating capacity, including a threefold increase in SPP’s hydroelectric capacity. Western also represented the first federal power marketing administration to become a full RTO member. “The successful integration of the Integrated System is a significant milestone for SPP,” said SPP President and CEO Nick Brown. SPP was organized in 1941 and celebrated 75 years of existence in 2016. “The IS further diversifies our membership with the addition of a federal agency and creates a more robust transmission network to meet the electrical demand across the region and efficiently operate a wholesale energy market.” The decision to integrate into SPP meant the IS would need to develop systems and tools to successfully operate in an RTO environment. “I have to give a lot of credit to our employees who have been dedicated and tenacious in preparing the cooperative for this transition,” said Paul Sukut, Basin Electric CEO
Chad Coppess/SD Tourism
and general manager. “It’s a significant shift in how we have historically operated, and though our decades-old partnership with Western is changing, we have plans to continue working with them in a number of ways. Today, we have taken a step to evolve our operations and partnerships, but one thing will never change. Our primary focus has and always will be serving our members.” Heartland CEO Russell Olson said, “This move represents a major shift in the way we have traditionally operated, but is a necessary step in ensuring we are providing the best possible service to our customers. We will have greater flexibility and increased options for buying and selling power and look forward to the opportunities operating within SPP will provide.” The integration was the culmination of years of discussions and public involvement between the IS members, SPP, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and customers. The IS owners studied several forms of potential regional transmission organization participation since the 1990s. Beginning in 2001, the IS participants began to evaluate potential options of joining SPP, joining the Midcontinent Independent System Operator or continuing operations on a stand-alone basis. These studies identified the option to join SPP as having the most benefit and the least risk. A public process began in November 2013 to hear comments from concerned parties, which resulted in approval to pursue membership in January 2014. Western’s Upper Great Plains Region markets Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program – Eastern Division power and energy to preference customers in Montana east of the Continental Divide, North Dakota, South Dakota, western Minnesota and Iowa and eastern Nebraska. It also operates the Integrated Transmission System, which is owned by Western, Basin Electric Power Cooperative and Heartland Consumers Power District. About Western Area Power Administration Western Area Power Administration annually markets and transmits more than 25,000 gigawatthours of clean, renewable power from 56 hydroelectric powerplants owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 15 central and western states. Western also owns, operates and maintains a more than 17,000 circuit-mile, highvoltage transmission system in its service territory. It is part of the Department of Energy. Learn more at www.wapa.gov.
About Basin Electric Power Cooperative Basin Electric is a consumer-owned, regional cooperative headquartered in Bismarck, N.D. It generates and transmits electricity to 138 member rural electric systems in nine states: Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. These member systems distribute electricity to about 2.9 million consumers. www. basinelectric.com
SPP Primary Services Provided to Members and Customers SPP provides many services to its members and customers. These services include: Reliability Coordination: SPP monitors power flow throughout its footprint and coordinates regional response in emergency situations or blackouts. Tariff Administration: SPP provides “one-stop shopping” for use of the region’s transmission lines and independently administers an Open Access Transmission Tariff with consistent rates and terms. SPP processes an average of 4,729 member transmission service requests per month. In 2016 transmission service transactions totaled $3.9 billion. Regional Scheduling: SPP ensures the amount of power sent is matched with power received. Transmission Expansion: SPP’s planning processes seek to identify system limitations, develop transmission upgrade plans, and track project progress to ensure timely completion of system reinforcements. Market Operations: The Integrated Marketplace launched in 2014, replacing the Energy Imbalance Service (EIS) market. It includes a dayahead market with transmission congestion rights, a reliability unit commitment process, a real-time balancing market replacing the EIS market, and the incorporation of price-based operating reserve procurement. SPP’s own analysis showed its markets provide participants with net savings of 422 million annually. Compliance: The SPP Regional Entity enforces compliance with federal and regional reliability standards for users, owners and operators of the region’s bulk power grid Training: SPP offers continuing education for operations personnel at SPP and throughout the region. SPP’s 2016 training program delivered over 28,046 training hours to 46 member companies
About Heartland Consumers Power District Heartland Consumers Power District is a non-profit, public power utility located in Madison, S.D. Heartland provides reliable wholesale power as well as energy services and community development programs to communities, state agencies and organizations in South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. Heartland is governed by a ten-member, publicly elected board of directors and owns participation shares in two base-load generating units including Whelan Energy Center Unit 2 near Hastings, Neb., and Laramie River Station near Wheatland, Wyo. Heartland also procures the output of the 51 MW Wessington Springs Wind Energy Center located in South Dakota.
About Southwest Power Pool, Inc. Southwest Power Pool, Inc. manages the electric grid and wholesale energy market for the central United States. As a regional transmission organization, the nonprofit corporation is mandated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure reliable supplies of power, adequate transmission infrastructure and competitive wholesale electricity prices. Southwest Power Pool and its diverse group of member companies coordinate the flow of electricity across 56,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines spanning 14 states. The company is headquartered in Little Rock, Ark. Learn more at www.spp.org.
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Regional Dateline
October 21 Nelly’s Revenge Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Deadwood, SD, 605-580-5799 October 22 Kidz Bop Kids Best Time Ever Tour, Sioux Falls, SD 605-367-7288 October 27-28 Harvest Halloween, Yankton, SD info@harvesthalloween.com October 27-28 Deadweird, Main Street Deadwood, SD, 605-578-1876 October 27-29 Autumn Festival Sioux Falls, SD, 402-331-2889 October 27-29 ZooBoo, Sioux Falls, SD 605-367-7003 October 28 Scare in the Square Rapid City, SD, 605-716-7979 October 28 ZOO BOO, Watertown, SD 605-882-6269 October 29 Trick or Treat Trails, Pierre, SD 605-773-2885 November 4 78th Annual Lutefisk Feed Summit, SD, 605-881-4377
Events of Special Note October 21-January 7 Pheasant Hunting Season Statewide, Pierre, SD 605-223-7660
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHAD COPPESS, S.D. TOURISM
October 21 Black Hills Opry with Aces and Eights featuring Jalan Crossland, Lead, SD 605-584-2067
November 9-11 Ringneck Festival & Bird Dog Challenge, Huron, SD 605-352-0000
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.
November 11 Holiday Extravaganza Sisseton, SD, 605-698-7425 November 11 Foo Fighters, Sioux Falls, SD 605-367-7288 November 17-January 7 Winter Wonderland Sioux Falls, SD, 605-275-6060 November 18-19 Winterfest 2017, A Winter Arts Festival, Aberdeen, SD 605-626-7025 November 21-December 25 Christmas at the Capitol Pierre, SD, 605-773-3178 November 24 Annual Parade of Lights Sioux Falls, SD, 605-338-4009 November 24-December 23 1880 Train Holiday Express Hill City, SD, 605-574-2222
November 25 Holiday Celebration and Winter Market, Rapid City, SD 605-716-7979
December 9 Black Hills Cowboy Christmas Lead, SD, 605-584-2067
December 1-2 Festival of Trees, Lead, SD 605-584-2067
December 15 Jazz Sessions: A Green Dolphin Jazzy Christmas Concert Spearfish, SD, 605-642-7973
December 1-2, 7-9, 14-16 Strawbale Winery Twilight Flights, Renner, SD 605-543-5071
December 15-17 Sioux Empire Wacipi Sioux Falls, SD 310-922-1886
December 2 Christmas Stroll and Holidazzle Parade Spearfish, SD, 605-717-9294
December 15-March 31 South Dakota Snowmobile Trails Season, Lead, SD 605-584-3896
December 2 Christmas Parade, Custer, SD 605-673-2244
December 31 Make-A-Wish New Year’s Eve Dance, Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center Aberdeen, SD, 605-370-4588
December 2-3 Living Christmas Tree Aberdeen, SD, 605-229-6349 December 9 Frontier Christmas Lake City, SD, 605-448-5474
January 19-20 ISOC Deadwood SnoCross Showdown, Deadwood, SD 605-578-1876