Bon Homme Yankton Electric December 2018 Vol. 19 No. 8
Cooperatives: Committed to Community Page 8
Investing in Our Communities Page 12
MANAGER’S COLUMN
2018-2022 Infrastructure Improvement Plan:
Road Projects Drive Loan It has been busy at Bon Homme Yankton Electric. At the October Board meeting, your Board approved a $9.1 million USDA Rural Utilities Services (RUS) Federal Financing Bank (FFB) loan application. This application covers construction work and projects for 2018-2022. This is more than past loan applications mainly due to the South Dakota Department of Transportation’s highway projects on Highways 37, 52, and 46 that need to get done in the next four years.
Stephanie Horst horst@byelectric.com
I want to personally thank our members for being cooperative with us, East River Electric Power Cooperative, the State DOT and other utilities through this process..
These highway projects will be a great benefit to our area. Not only because of the highway upgrades will make travel much safer but also the significant upgrades utilities must do to clear way for the highway expansions. We have both overhead and underground facilities along these projects that will be replaced with new underground. Of course, this affects members that have property along these highways by possibly losing land and giving utility easements. I want to personally thank our members for being cooperative with us, East River Electric Power Cooperative, the State DOT and other utilities through this process. Your cooperation will make these projects move along more smoothly with less setbacks that only cause more time and money. So, thank you for helping this be more cost effective. Our plow crews began on the Highway 37 project north of Springfield on October 28. Once we get done with this project our plow crews will work on a project in the Avon area. On October 28, we hosted a REED 101 meeting in Tabor where local leaders in our service territory were invited to learn what economic development funding is available. Rural Electric Economic Development (REED) provides business and community project financing in partnership with commercial and other economic development lenders to leverage private investment and make a difference in the region. It was established in 1996 and is governed by 22 electric cooperatives, including Bon Homme Yankton Electric. REED assists projects that promote growth and contribute to job, business and wealth creation, as well as improve the infrastructure, community facilities/services and economic base of rural areas. Representatives from Scotland, Springfield, Tabor, Yankton, and Avon attended this meeting. Our goal is to help all our communities thrive. This fund is available for any business or community project to apply for even if Bon Homme Yankton Electric does not provide it electricity. Please contact me if you have any questions about this fund. You can also go to www.reedfund.coop for more information. We are also working on our 2019 budget and analyzing our rate structures. Rates are developed to recover costs while meeting our lender’s financial requirements. We are also examining accounts ensuring that every service is paying its fair share. With that being said, some services may have to be moved to a different rate based on qualifying criteria. You will be notified in advance if your account will be changed. Once the budget is finalized, the Board will also determine if a rate increase will be needed in 2019. With the Holidays in full swing, please remember to stay safe this winter. Travel with survival kits in your vehicles and test your generators. Weather can be unpredictable, but you can be prepared. Again, be safe and have a Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas.
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Cooperative Connections | December 2018
Bon Homme Yankton Electric (USPS No. 018-973)
Bon Homme Yankton Elecric Assocation, Inc PO Box 158 134 S Lidice St Tabor, SD 57063 Office Hours: Monday through Friday 7:30am - 4:30pm
CO-OP NEWS
Lillevold Certified Director Director John Lillevold has recently completed the courses needed to earn his Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) Certificate. Directors pass a curriculum consisting of five courses designed to provide basic knowledge and skills required of cooperative directors. These courses include Director Duties and Liabilities, Understanding the Electric Business, Board Roles and Relationships, Strategic Planning and Financial Decision Making.
John has been a director for three years serving District 5 which is in the south central part of the Bon Homme Yankton Electric service area. John joins Rick Koupal, Dave Sternhagen, Paul Voigt and Dave Sykora who have all previously earned their CCD Certificate. Congratulations to John on this impressive accomplishment and his commitment to becoming educated in all things cooperative!
Pay by Phone: 1-888-395-5315 Pay Online: www.byelectric.coop To report an outage call: Local call from Tabor, Tyndall and Yankton: 605-463-2507 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.
Board President Paul Voigt (left) presents John Lillevold with his Credentialed Cooperative Director certificate.
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.
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. December 2018 | Cooperative Connections
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SAFETY TIPS
Holiday Decorating Safety Tips
Providing power for countless generations.
While decorative lights and other electrical decorations add to the splendor of the season, they can increase the risks of fire and electrical injuries if not used safely. Inspect electrical decorations for damage before use. Cracked or damaged sockets, loose or bare wires and loose connections may cause a serious shock or start a fire. Do not overload electrical outlets. Overloaded electrical outlets and faulty wires are a common cause of holiday fires. Avoid overloading outlets and plug only one high-wattage into each outlet at a time. Never connect more than three strings of incandescent lights. More than three strands may not only blow a fuse, but can also cause a fire. Keep trees fresh by watering daily. Dry trees are a serious fire hazard. Use battery-operated candles. Candles start almost half of home decoration fires (National Fire Protection Association). Keep combustibles at least three feet from heat sources. A heat source that was too close to the decoration was a factor in half of home fires that began with decorations (NFPA). Protect cords from damage. To avoid shock or fire hazards, cords should never be pinched by furniture, forced into small spaces such as doors and windows, placed under rugs, located near heat sources, or attached by nails or staples. Check decorations for certification label. Decorations not bearing a label from an independent testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Intertek (ETL) have not been tested for safety and could be hazardous. Stay in the kitchen when something is cooking. Unattended cooking equipment is the leading cause of home cooking fires (NFPA). Turn off, unplug and extinguish all decorations when going to sleep or leaving the house. Unattended candles are the cause of one in five home candle fires. Half of home fire deaths occur between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. (NFPA).
KIDS CORNER SAFETY POSTER
Source: esfi.org 4
Cooperative Connections | December 2018
“Do not use electronics when there are thunderstorms.” Hope Wagner, 8 years old
Hope is the daughter of Bryan and Lynita Wagner, Wetonka, S.D. They are members of FEM Electric Association, Ipswich, 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.
RECIPES Recipe and photo courtesy mccormick.com/recipes
Holiday Favorites Holiday Streusel-topped Squash 1 butternut squash (2 to 2.5 lbs.) peeled, seeded and cut in 1/2-inch chunks, about 4-1/2 cups
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup water 1/2 tsp. salt 1/3 cup flour
Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with Lemon Crème
1/4 cup chopped pecans
3 cups flour
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 T. softened butter
2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup crushed peppermint candies
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
Lemon Creme:
In an 11x7-inch microwavable dish, spread squash cubes. Add water and sprinkle with salt. Cover with plastic wrap, folding back one edge or corner 1/4-inch to vent steam. Microwave on high 5 minutes or until crisp tender. Meanwhile mix flour, brown sugar, pecans, butter and pumpkin pie spice together using a fork. Top squash with sweetened cranberries. Sprinkle streusel evenly over cranberries and squash. Bake at 350°F. uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until streusel is brown. Serves 8.
1/4 tsp. salt
1 (7 oz.) jar marshmallow creme
1-1/2 sticks butter, softened
1/2 stick butter, softened
Michelle Ommen, Mitchell, SD
For the Gingerbread Whoopie Pies, mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt in large bowl. Set aside. Beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add molasses, egg and vanilla; beat well. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Press dough into a thick flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar to coat. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350°F. 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies just begin to brown. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. Meanwhile, for the Lemon Creme, mix marshmallow creme, butter, cream cheese and lemon extract in medium bowl until well blended. To assemble whoopie pies, place about 1 T. filling on the flat side of 1 cookie. Top with a second cookie, pressing gently to spread the filling. Repeat with remaining cookies. Roll edge of cookies in crushed candy. Store whoopie pies between layers of wax paper in airtight container in refrigerator up to 5 days. Makes 30 servings.
Coconut Macaroons 2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk 2 T. flour
2-1/2 cups flaked coconut 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp. vanilla Combine sweetened condensed milk, flour and vanilla. Stir in coconut and chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls onto well-greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350°F. 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool. Maxine Smith, Owanka, SD
Honey Chew Candy 1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped dates
1 cup honey
1 cup chopped walnuts
Cook butter and honey for 20 minutes, stirring constantly. Add dates and nuts; mix well. Put into an 8-inch buttered pan. Cool. Cut candy into bite-sized pieces; wrap each piece in waxed paper. Makes about 48 pieces. Helen Gregory, Lemmon, SD
3/4 cup packed brown sugar 4 oz. (1/2 pkg.) cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup molasses 1 egg
1 tsp. lemon extract
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories 203, Total Fat 7g, Protein 2g, Cholesterol 28mg, Sodium 135mg, Protein 22g, Carbohydrates 33g Pictured, Cooperative Connections
Please send your favorite soup, brunch or seafood recipes to your local electric cooperative (address found on Page 3). Each recipe printed will be entered into a drawing for a prize in June 2019. All entries must include your name, mailing address, telephone number and cooperative name. December 2018 | Cooperative Connections
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CO-OP NEWS
WELCOME MEMBERS Springfield Robbie Jelsma Odens Family Properties, LLC Tabor Ashlee Toben Mark Korn Heather Fritz Kenneth Decker William Wright Tripp C & D Services Tyndall Pat Degroot Yankton Danny Palmer Charlene Berke Marvin Iiams Jo Herfel Alan Heyl Michael Nelson Christopher & Stephanie Hoffman Century 21
THANK YOU NOTE Bob Felber and B-Y Electric, Thank you so much for allowing me to go on the Basin tour. I had lots of fun and made lots of new friends. I saw lots of cool things and learned lots of new things. Jacob Carda
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Cooperative Connections | December 2018
CO-OP NEWS
December 2018 | Cooperative Connections
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COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY
WREA employees gathered for a Day of Service in the town of New Underwood, S.D. The cover photo features one of the projects the group undertook: painting the community’s fire hydrants.
COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY Electric Co-ops Active Locally Brenda Kleinjan editor@sdrea.coop
Across South Dakota and western Minnesota, the region’s electric cooperatives – and their employees and members – can be found not only providing reliable, affordable energy to thousands, but also rolling up their sleeves and helping to improve their local communities. This fall, West River Electric Association in Wall undertook a Day of Caring project that saw dozens of co-op employees on the streets of New Underwood, a western South Dakota town with a population of about 660. Working with local community leaders, the co-op identified a variety of projects they could assist with. Crews helped remove trees, paint fire hydrants, fences, a walking bridge and prepare a wall for a future mural. As they worked, community members joined in the effort. At Colman, S.D., on a Saturday in September, co-op employees and members gathered in the 8
Cooperative Connections | December 2018
Sioux Valley Energy Customer Electrical Technician Dana Foster sands a board as part of the co-op’s Sleep in Heavenly Peace bed build project.
COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY
Investing in Youth: Scholarships Each year, electric cooperatives in South Dakota and western Minnesota, offer more than $100,000 in scholarships to students – usually children and dependents of co-op members – to further their educations.
Cam Wal Electric’s Scott Artz conducts a safety demonstration for Selby, S.D.-area youth.
Sioux Valley Energy parking lot east of town along S.D. Highway 34 to construct beds for the Sleep in Heavenly Peace organization. Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a volunteer organization that builds, assembles and delivers bunk beds to children and families in need. During the Sioux Valley Energy build, 20 beds were constructed, which is 10 percent of the Brookings chapter’s goal of 200 beds built in 2018. The Brookings Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace is one of 69 in the country. Co-op employees have also assisted with clean-up projects in Sioux Falls and also at an abandoned rural cemetery near Dell Rapids, S.D. These examples are in addition to the on-going local community commitment cooperatives throughout the state have. Throughout the year, electric cooperatives can be found working to educate area youth on the importance of energy efficiency and safety around power lines. And, heading into the holiday season, co-op crews can be seen in various towns hanging municipal holiday decorations in towns like Bison in northwestern South Dakota and other communities in the state.
East River Electric’s Jennifer Gross demonstrates how much electricity a student is creating by pedaling a bicycle.
For nearly 30 years, Basin Electric Power Cooperative has partnered with its member cooperatives to offer more than 180 scholarships in the amount of $1,000 for each school year. This program is for dependent children of member cooperative employees, member cooperative consumers and children of Basin Electric employees. Thirty-one of those scholarships go to students in South Dakota and western Minnesota. Basin Electric offers scholarships for dependent children of employees of Basin Electric and its subsidiaries who are in college or will be entering college in the fall. Five scholarships are designated for qualified applicants who plan to attend a certified vocational or technical school, and five are designated for qualified applicants who plan to achieve an engineering degree. Up to two awards are designated for students majoring in information services and telecommunications. Basin Electric also offers 20 $1,000 scholarships to children of member cooperative employees. A handful of these scholarships are awarded to South Dakota and western Minnesota students each year. Many local cooperatives also offer additional scholarships. One co-op uses monies from their Operation Round Up® program to fund more than $10,000 in scholarships. Other co-ops offer scholarships in conjunction with other programs such as the Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives Scholar of the Week program. And, some co-ops offer scholarships to students seeking a specific career path, such as becoming a line worker. For more than 20 years, the South Dakota Rural Electric Line Superintendents Association, which is made up of those in charge of cooperative operations managers, have awarded scholarships to students pursing a career as a line worker, particularly those attending Mitchell Technical Institute in Mitchell, S.D. Students selected to represent their co-op on the annual Rural Electric Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., are eligible to apply for a $10,000 scholarship and four $1,000 scholarships once they are a sophomore in college through the Glen English Foundation. English was the former CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. December 2018 | Cooperative Connections
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CO-OP NEWS
CLASSIFIEDS January Issue Deadline: December 1, 2018. 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. 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. FOR RENT: Tabor Self Storage. Call 605-660-0274 or 605-6603497.
HOLIDAY CLOSING The Bon Homme Yankton Electric Office will be CLOSED for Thanksgiving, Thursday and Friday, November 22 & 23 Outage crews will remain on call 24/7
SOLAR STATS Month Solar Production Solar used by office
October 449 KWH 409/91%
Solar put back on grid
40/9%
Main office KWH used
4,769
From grid
4,320
From solar
409
Solar % of KWH used
9%
Max solar production/day
10
25 KWH
Cooperative Connections | December 2018
MARKETPLACE HEATING & COOLING
2401 Broadway Suite #3 Yankton, SD 57078
60 5- 665- 9 4 61 800-491-9461
Warm Air, Air to Air, Geothermal Heat Pumps
GT Repair & Autobody Glenn Tycz Tyndall, SD 57066
605-589-3018 Marine Boat Repair Aluminum & Fiberglass We Repair and Install Windshields
BOHEMIAN FARMERS R. Martin Koch, Secretary PO Box 206 Tabor, SD 57063
Koranda Well Company LLC Tabor, SD 57063
605-463-2244 Well drilling, repairing and cleaning Water Systems – Artesian Wells Sales and Installation Earth-Coupled Heat Pump
Emergency Service Free Estimates
MUTUAL
605-463-2558 605-589-3572
If only the future was predictable. Farming is always a gamble. You never know when bad weather or other problems will strike. The only thing you can be sure of—you need quality insurance protection. Call our office today for a competitive quote.
Sanders Heating & Cooling 300 W 17th Tyndall, SD 57066
Yankton, Tabor, Tyndall, Menno
605-665-9679
Preplanning will give you peace of mind and may save money
K CONSTRUCTION AND PAINTING New Construction Remodel - Roofing Flooring
Jason Finck Tabor, SD 57063
605-589-3228 1-800-894-3228 Furnaces, Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners Free Estimates
Feel the power of data in your hands with SmartHub mobile and web apps. SmartHub allows you to view your usage data and manage your account right from your mobile device in a secure environment. Go to www.byelectric.coop and follow the link to the SmartHub site or download the free app on Google Play or iTunes.
605-660-3204 December 2018 | Cooperative Connections
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INVESTING IN COMMUNITY
Success in Community Investment by Cooperatives REED Fund Powers Local Communities REED FUND QUICK FACTS: • Incorporated in 1997 • Loans issued – 323 • Total funds loaned – $84.3 million • Total employment by REED borrowers – 8,900 • Total project investment $666 million • Real estate financed – 2.1 million square feet – 2017 REED Fund Annual Report The Rural Electric Economic Development, Inc. (REED) Fund provides business and community project financing in partnership with commercial and other economic development lenders to leverage private investment and make a difference in the region it serves. Established in 1996 and governed by 25 electric cooperatives, REED assists projects that promote growth and contribute to job, business and wealth creation, as well as improve the infrastructure, community facilities/services and economic base of rural areas. Nearly 83 percent of REED’s lending goes to communities with populations of less than 5,000 people and the majority of the projects have local ownership.
Community Success Stories Community facilities and services are necessary for quality of life and sustainable development. REED Fund provides a 12
More than 25 fire departments, such as the Wolsey Fire Protection District in Wolsey, S.D., have been recipients of REED Fund investments. wide range of financing for community projects. Loan applicants include, but are not limited to, civic and philanthropic organizations, educational institutions, local governments and special purpose districts. Success stories illustrate the broad spectrum of different types of projects the fund has assisted, including education, public safety, emergency services, recreation, arts, community infrastructure, facilities and equipment.
Health Care Success Stories Health Care Financing has been an important sector for the REED Fund. Whether it is a medical clinic, hospital, long term care facility or emergency services, REED fund recognizes the importance of access to quality care. Financing can be for buildings or equipment. These projects may be
Cooperative Connections | December 2018
Ag-based projects also benefitted from REED Fund investments.
The expansion of Clark, S.D.-based Dakota Butcher to two Watertown locations was financed in part by a REED Fund loan through Codington-Clark Electric Cooperative as well as South Dakota Department of Agriculture financing.
Investing to build a stronger region, REED partners with numerous financial institutions, regional loan funds and government programs to develop financing packages that help create and expand businesses and employment opportunities, sustain and expand health care and education, as well as develop and support community facilities, services, infrastructure and rental housing.
eligible to seek zero percent financing through a USDA program available through the local cooperative..
Business Success Stories REED Fund’s business loans support business growth and development and contribute to employment and business ownership opportunities. The loans benefit retail, service, tourism, manufacturing, and technology sectors. REED also finances nonprofit development organizations for activities such as industrial parks, leasehold facilities. Financing to nonprofit development corporations receive a reduced interest rate.
Agri Business Success Stories To recognize agriculture’s impact on the region’s economic base, REED makes loans to support projects that add value to local agriculture production through innovation, improved services, further processing, or marketing. Loans are not made for traditional production agriculture.
Housing Success Stories
Loans that support housing development are also available. To quality the project needs evidence of broad base of community support and must be able to show need for additional housing and/or infrastructure to support development. REED does not finance home loans to owner occupants. For more information on the REED Fund, contact a participating cooperative or visit http://www.reedfund.coop/reed
Who REED Has Helped 48 Retail and service businesses 37 Office facilities or industrial buildings for lease (all to non-profit owners 31 Health care facilities (clinics, hospitals, nursing care centers) 25 Fire protection projects (trucks and buildings) 22 Community Infrastructure projects (water, wastewater, Main Street) 24 Manufacturing firms (plant and/or equipment) 18 Ag processing businesses (nine producer-owned) – $156 million capital investment 22 Education (schools, distance learning, technology), including four childcare centers 19 Tourism-related businesses 20 Grain handling/agronomy firms (15 are cooperatives) – $126 million capital investment 12 Ag retail/service businesses 14 Recreation and arts facilities, non-profit, including community centers 11 Partner regional and local loan funds 11 Multi-family housing projects (three site development, three elderly housing, five multi-family)
December 2018 | Cooperative Connections
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MEMBER NEWS
Need a gift for your favorite health nut? Smart watches and wrist bands not only keep track of how far you walk each day, but can appeal to your competitive streak by choosing a virtual walking or running mate. Source: Pixabay
ELECTRIFY YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT LIST Advances in electronics offer something for everyone.
Keep an eye on your fur baby when you’re away. Consumers have numerous options for home video monitoring. The PetChatz® system, shown here, allows pet owners to watch and talk to their pets when away – and even toss tasty treats! Image Credit: PetChatz®
Paul Wesslund NRECA
Electricity doesn’t just have to light up your tree this Christmas, it can also power your holiday gift list. Electric gadgets can cook, entertain, help with chores and improve your health, says Brian Sloboda, a program and product manager at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). He says electric devices will almost always get the job done quieter, cheaper and more efficiently. Sloboda has a couple of tips before you head to the store or online to start shopping:
Don’t always buy the cheapest. Inexpensive rechargeable batteries, for example, can catch fire. Or their charges can be limited, giving just a few minutes of use at a time. Buy from reputable companies and shop around to compare prices. 14
Cooperative Connections | December 2018
Be cyber safe. Any internet-connected device can be hacked. Even security cameras and smart TVs come with a preset and lousy password. Change it. Keep the software updated – updates often include security fixes. He adds, “Don’t let the fear of hacking prevent you from enjoying these devices. Just be aware of what could happen and take necessary precautions.”
Here’s your idea list for giving or receiving: For the cook. Sous-vide is the latest kitchen trend. In French, it means “under vacuum,” but it’s basically a cooking technique that seals the food in a plastic bag and slow cooks it in water. “It is used by a number of restaurants,” says Sloboda. “It doesn’t get rid of the nutrients in the food through overcooking.” Sous-vide devices come as an electric pot, or for less money, as a wand that you stick into your own pot of water with the plastic bag. And of course, there’s an app for that – you can control the sous-vide cooking with your smart phone. For the handyperson. Electric lawnmowers, trimmers and chainsaws eliminate spills and trips to the gas station. But they’re not for everyone – Sloboda says professional landscapers need the power of gasoline. Rechargeable battery models are best for suburban yards where the job takes about 30 minutes. Plug-in versions have the hassle and distance limits of a cord, but are more powerful and cheaper. Another big advantage is electric models are quiet and won’t disturb the neighbors. With leaf blowers in particular, Sloboda says, some states are passing noise-limiting regulations. Electric blowers pollute a lot less – Sloboda says the types of motors in gasoline leaf blowers “put more pollutants into the air than most gas-powered cars.” For fun. “It’s a good time to buy electronics,” says Sloboda. “Televisions are getting thinner and lighter and they’re coming down in price. All because LED (light-emitting diode) technology has improved.” If the video games in your house are a few years old, gamers will get much better graphics with an upgrade and they will save energy, says
Sloboda, because “we’ve seen the video game console manufacturers improve the efficiency of their products.” For outdoor activities, flying remote-controlled drones has gotten popular and they’re available in a range of prices. Before you buy, check battery life between recharges so you know whether your gift provides 30 minutes of fun or three minutes. E-readers make books quickly and cheaply available and now you can even check out electronic books from your library. Virtual reality glasses or goggles not only put you right in the middle of the action in a video game, they can be useful in home repair – companies are starting to offer virtual reality diagnostics for their products that can show details like which way to turn the wrench to fix a problem. For health. Smart watches and wrist bands not only keep track of how far you walk each day, but can appeal to your competitive streak by choosing a virtual walking or running mate. A wide range of power scooters are available for fun or for commuting, some even have pedals to supplement the motor, so you can get a bit of exercise, too. Be aware that good motorized bikes and scooters are expensive. For the home. Amazon’s Alexa and Echo, as well as other smart speakers, are getting popular, but Sloboda says they’re not being used to their full potential yet – most people just
ask their speaker to play music or give a weather report. Companies are working on addressing privacy concerns – smart speakers are listening all the time – but Sloboda says solving security questions would open up uses like home banking and controlling appliances with a voice command. To recharge all your devices, you can choose options like smart power strips that avoid continuing to use electricity after a device is fully charged or portable block chargers to extend your phone’s battery life while traveling. Sloboda advises against wireless charging devices because they use a lot of electricity to operate. For your pet. Electronics will shoot tennis balls for your dog to fetch, feed and water pets while you’re away, monitor their health and cameras can keep track of what they’re up to when you leave. “I aimed one of my security cameras at my dog,” says Sloboda. “Now I always push the chairs up to the dining table before I leave, otherwise within five minutes, our dog is standing in the middle of the table looking for anything he can chew on.” Sloboda also advises supplementing all the electronic gifts with a good old-fashioned football or basketball. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Paul Wesslund writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives.
Looking to upgrade electronics for the whole family to enjoy? Televisions are getting thinner, lighter and less expensive – all because LED (light-emitting diode) technology has improved. Source: Pixabay December 2018 | Cooperative Connections
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DATELINE
October 20-January 6
Pheasant Hunting Season, Statewide, Pierre, SD, 605-223-7660
November 15-December 18 Black Hills Christmas Tree Permit Season, Custer, SD, 605-673-9200 Christmas at the Capitol, Pierre, SD, 605-773-3178
November 23-24, Dec. 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23 1880 Train Holiday Express, Hill City, SD, 605-574-2222
December 1: Christmas Parade, 5:30 p.m., Downtown, Custer, SD, 605-673-2244
December 2
Mid-Winter Fair, Memorial Auditorium, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Gregory, SD, 605-830-9778
Festival of Trees and Chili Cook-Off, Cookie Walk and Luncheon, Event Center, De Smet, SD
November 29-30
December 8
Festival of Trees, Lead, SD, 605-584-2067
Christmas Musicale, Eureka, SD, 605-284-2161
December 1
December 8
November 24
December 15-March 31
February 21-23
January 18-19
March 9-12
South Dakota snowmobile trails season, Lead, SD, 605-584-3896 Media One Funski, Sioux Falls, SD, 605-339-0000
January 18-20
Sno Jam Comedy Festival, Sioux Falls, SD, siouxfallssno jamcomedyfest@gmail.com Summit League Basketball Championship, Sioux Falls, SD, 605-367-7288
Winterfest: A Three Day Snowbash, Lead, SD, 605-584-1100
March 15-16
Christmas Stroll and Holidazzle Parade, Spearfish, SD, 605-717-9294
Frontier Christmas, Lake City, SD, 605-448-5474
December 1
December 8-9
Black Hills Cowboy Christmas, Lead, SD, 605-584-2067
January 25-26
March 29-30
December 8-9
January 25-February 3
Rapid City Garden Club’s 57th Annual Wreath Sale, Canyon Lake Activity Center, Canyon Lake Senior Center, Rapid City, SD, 605-343-0710
December 1
Christmas in the Village Craft Fair, Community Center, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Oacoma, SD
December 1-2
Living Christmas Tree, Aberdeen, SD, 605-229-6349
Dec. 1, 7-8, 13-15, 20-21 Strawbale Winery Twilight Flights, Renner, SD, 605-543-5071
Dakota Territory Gun Show, Astoria Hotel, Dickinson, ND, 701-336-7533
Snowmobile Rally, Deadwood, SD, 605-578-1876 Annual Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo, Rapid City, SD, 605-355-3861
December 9
January 26
December 9
February 8-9
REO Speedwagon, Deadwood, SD, 605-559-0386 41st Celebration of the St. Lucia Tradition, Dalesburg Lutheran Church, Rural Vermillion, SD, 605-253-2575
December 14
A Green Dolphin Jazzy Christmas Concert, Spearfish, SD, 605-642-7973
Sioux Empire on Tap, Sioux Falls, SD, 605-367-7288 Strawbale Winery Valentine Twilight Flights, Renner, SD, 605-543-5071
February 8-10
Black Hills Sports Show & Outdoor Expo, Rapid City, SD, 605-939-1812
28 Below Fatbike Race, Lead, SD, 605-584-3435 Annual Schmeckfest, Freeman, SD, 605-925-4237
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.
Photo courtesy: Kathy Bradeen
November 20-December 26