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Midwest Energy & Communications

September 2026

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

FUELED BY GRIT PIPER BELL GOES PRO IN WOMEN’S MOTOCROSS RACING

Last Chance for School Grants

Why Is My TV Buffering?

Meet District 8 Director Erika

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Portland ESI Htg & Clg (517) 647-6906 esiheating.com

$2,250 rebate available through your co-op.

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visit us at waterfurnace.com/mi

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

Contents countrylines.com

September 2026 Vol. 46, No. 8

/michigancountrylines

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Casey Clark EDITOR: Christine Dorr GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Karreen Bird RECIPE EDITOR: Christin Russman COPY EDITOR: Yvette Pecha CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Emily Haines Lloyd PUBLISHER: Michigan Electric Cooperative Association Michigan Country Lines, USPS591-710, is published monthly, except August and December, with periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Mich., and additional offices. It is the official publication of the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association, 201 Townsend St., Suite 900, Lansing, MI 48933.

Subscriptions are authorized for members of Alger Delta, Cherryland, Great Lakes, HomeWorks Tri-County, Midwest Energy & Communications, Ontonagon, Presque Isle, and Thumb electric cooperatives by their boards of directors. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. ASSOCIATION OFFICERS: Chris O’Neill, HomeWorks TriCounty Cooperative, chairman; Gabe Schneider, Cherryland Electric Cooperative, vice chairman; Shaun Lamp, Great Lakes Energy Cooperative, secretary-treasurer; John Kran, president and CEO.

CONTACT US/LETTERS TO EDITOR: Michigan Country Lines 201 Townsend St., Suite 900 Lansing, MI 48933 248-534-7358 editor@countrylines.com

MI CO-OP Community

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please notify your electric cooperative. See page 4 for contact information.

See details on page 10. Cozy Bowls, due Nov. 1. Win a $100 bill credit!

The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised.

MICHIGAN’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

RECIPE CONTEST

6 CYCLING AMIDST

FALL’S BEAUTY The 53rd Apple Cider Century will be held in late September.

GUEST COLUMN

10 MI CO-OP KITCHEN

MYSTERY PHOTO

14 FUELED BY GRIT

See details on page 18. Share your fondest memories and stories. Win $200 for stories published!

See details on page 18. Win a $100 bill credit!

To enter contests, submit reader content & more, visit countrylines.com/community

Pizza: Slice into something delicious.

Piper Bell goes pro in women’s motocross racing.

18 GUEST COLUMN

Recollections of a Bookworm.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

Predicting a Warm and Comfortable Propane Season Ahead CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND CASSOPOLIS SOLUTIONS CENTER 60590 Decatur Road, Cassopolis, MI 49031 M–F 8 a.m.–5 p.m. TECUMSEH SOLUTIONS CENTER 5050 South Occidental Hwy., Tecumseh, MI 49286 M–F 8 a.m.–5 p.m. CONTACT US Midwest Energy & Communications 800-492-5989 teammidwest.com Email: info@teammidwest.com BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jim Wiseley, Chairperson, Bloomingdale 269-760-4619 Jim.Wiseley@teammidwest.com Dan Bodette, Vice Chairperson, Wauseon 419-344-4015 Dan.Bodette@teammidwest.com Ron Armstrong, Secretary, Lawton 269-299-0443 Ron.Armstrong@teammidwest.com John Green, Treasurer, Dowagiac 269-470-2816 John.Green@teammidwest.com Fred Turk, Decatur 269-423-7762 Fred.Turk@teammidwest.com Clarence “Topper” Barth, Three Rivers 269-279-9233 Clarence.Barth@teammidwest.com Jeff Diehl, Union 574-274-6693 Jeffery.Diehl@teammidwest.com Gerry Bundle, Cassopolis 269-414-0164 Gerry.Bundle@teammidwest.com Erika Escue-Cadieux, Onsted 419-346-1088 Erika.Escue-Cadieux@teammidwest.com PRESIDENT/CEO: Terry Rubenthaler DIRECTOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING: Amy Pales COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST: Grant Zamora Midwest Energy & Communications is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Please note: electric customers of MEC must adhere to our bylaws, which can be found at teammidwest.com/bylaws.

Dave Allen, Vice President of Regulatory & Gas Operations

Do you remember when we didn’t name every winter event? It was simply winter, and you bundled up and blustered your way through it. If you didn’t have a lot of snow, you played some pond hockey. If you had snow, you strapped on skis and headed for Swiss Valley, Bittersweet, or Timber Ridge. I’ve seen a lot of press attention around the potential super El Niño that is predicted to impact our area this winter. While apparently the term El Niño has been around for hundreds of years, I don’t recall it being part of my childhood growing up in Battle Creek. Maybe I wasn’t paying attention, but I think it’s the modern-day 24/7 news cycle that’s always looking for a new angle to get eyeballs. “El Niño” and “polar vortex” sound a lot cooler than “cold and snowy.” Regardless, you and I both know Mother Nature doesn’t listen to predictions, so we have to be prepared no matter what the weatherman says. This is why we hedge our propane supply far in advance; we don’t like surprises, and when it comes to propane prices, I am going to bet you don’t either. Recently, we had the opportunity to lock in propane prices through the end of May 2028. That means for both this coming winter and next, our new and existing propane customers pay $1.979 per gallon no matter what the El Niños, La Niñas, polar vortexes, and winter storm whoevers bring. This is huge! Knowing exactly how much you are going to pay per gallon for the next two heating seasons means you don’t have to worry about how much Winter Storm Big and Scary is going to impact your wallet. You can plan.

We call this peace-of-mind pricing, and it comes without hidden fees or first-fill gimmicks. It helps us purchase propane when prices are favorable, so you don’t end up footing the bill when markets spike. It also ensures that existing customers don’t subsidize low rates for new customers. Everyone pays the same price per gallon all season long, no matter if it’s your first fill or 50th. And you don’t have to do anything special to get that locked-in rate. If you are already our propane customer, you’re automatically getting that rate and will continue to do so. If you want to join the MEC propane family, you simply sign up. That’s it. You don’t have to pay an extra fee to get the locked-in rate, make a special phone call, or provide some sort of promo code. All you have to do is be one of our customers. We do this because you aren’t just customers; you are our neighbors. This might sound like a cheesy sales pitch, but it’s the truth. We live in the communities we serve and always have. In fact, our propane manager’s family has been farming in southwest Michigan since the mid-1800s. So quality service matters more to us because it’s not just about our bottom line. It’s about providing a product our employees can be proud to share with the people they see at church, their kids’ schools, and throughout the community. They say the El Niño could make for a warmer and drier winter. Warmer and drier than what? I don’t know, but I do know that our propane team is ready for anything. And hopefully, our secured rate means you don’t have to think twice before you adjust your thermostat. Wish me luck on the skates and slopes!

teammidwest.com /teammidwest

SEPTEMBER 2026

OUR MISSION: Delivering first-in-class innovations and solutions where others won’t OUR VISION: Creating vibrant, relevant, sustainable rural communities®

Can I Streamline My Passwords? Downsizing your password collection? Use caution—sometimes what seems like a good solution can create a whole new problem. In the following examples, four people have tried to solve their password overload. Let’s see how each one did.

1. Reusing Passwords “More passwords, more problems.” That’s the motto of One-and-Done Will. Will decided using the same password for every account would make it easier to remember his login information. He wouldn’t have to think when making new passwords, either.

Hackers and bots are big fans of Will’s method. Once they figure out his password, they can use it to log into every single one of his accounts without breaking a sweat. Will needs to have a varied set of passwords. Otherwise, his security is one-and-done too.

2. Using Easy-to-Remember Words or Personal Info Quizmaster Kelly likes to use trivia about herself to craft easy-to-remember passwords. “423KingStreet” (her address) and “July1963!” (her birth month) are just two of her masterpieces. By switching up her passwords, Kelly has successfully thwarted the laziest of intruders. She still has a problem, though: if a bot has collected any of her personal data, or if someone she knows is trying to hack her, her passwords are almost as

transparent as Will’s. Turns out quizzes aren’t so hard when you already know the answers. Kelly needs passwords with a minimum level of complexity to keep them from being guessable. That means no common names or dictionary words, and a good mix of some or all of the following: uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters (for example, a question mark or ampersand).

3. Writing Passwords Down Nick the Notetaker has a theory: If all your passwords are written down, you won’t have to worry about memorization, and hackers can’t guess them. Nick writes his passwords in his notebook, which he keeps in a drawer at his desk.

Nick is getting there. There’s one major problem, though—if Nick can read his password off a list, everyone can. Even if he locks his desk drawer, all it takes is a misplaced key to make his passwords freely available.

4. Using a Secure Password Manager Hackbuster Helen is on her A game. She knows that by using a digital password manager, she can save her login ID and password for every account she uses without worrying about theft, bots, or memorization. The app keeps her passwords secure behind a twofactor authentication system (it texts or calls to verify it’s her when she logs in). While it’s active, the app fills in her passwords automatically when she visits sites she’s registered for. It even helps her generate new, random passwords.

These apps work with a wide range of devices and browsers, and many offer a free tier that’s enough for the average user. Helen says options like iCloud Keychain (for Apple devices) and Google Password Manager (a browserbased wallet) are good too, despite some limitations on how and where you can access them. As with any new software, you should research the features of each before signing up.

Some of Helen’s favorite password managers include: Bitwarden, 1Password, and Keeper.

Please Note: Our Election Timeline Has Changed In previous years, we have accepted applications for our board elections from October 1 to December 1. To align the process with a new annual meeting date in June 2027, we will accept applications for the upcoming election in Districts 3, 4, and 8 from January 1 to March 1.* *Dates are subject to change. More information will be provided in a future issue of Country Lines. MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

Cycling Amidst Fall’s Beauty The 53rd Apple Cider Century will take place in late September By Chris Lewis

For most of his life, Bryan Volstorf has been an avid cyclist, as he’s participated in various century (100-mile) rides across the country. His passion continued to increase throughout his 20s, ultimately leading him to create his own bicycle club and century ride in 1974.

A Surge in Popularity A member of the League of American Wheelmen, he was inspired by the organization’s numerous 100-mile routes. Seeking assistance from the organization, Volstorf sat down and thought about names for his upcoming century ride. Interested in hosting the ride in Three Oaks, Michigan, in September, one name especially stood out to him, as it just “rolled off” his tongue: Apple Cider Century. The name simply made sense. Not only is Three

SEPTEMBER 2026

Oaks renowned for its cideries, but September is a popular time to visit.

said. “We eventually had 7,500 riders in the late 1980s and early 1990s.”

“I put little ﬂyers out in different bike shops to promote it,” Volstorf said. “We ended up with 226 riders the ﬁrst year.”

The ride’s popularity increased so much that Volstorf couldn’t have any more participants. After all, he wanted to feed and entertain everyone too, as he didn’t view Apple Cider Century as just a century ride. It ultimately became a weekend full of entertainment, camaraderie, and lasting memories.

While planning the ﬁrst-ever Apple Cider Century, he also focused on his own club, the Three Oaks Spokes Bicycle Club. A nonproﬁt, the club has expanded considerably over the years, as it now organizes several 15- to 40-mile rides each cycling season. As the club steadily grew, so did Apple Cider Century—substantially. During its second year, the century ride had 500 participants. By the fourth year, it had 1,000 riders. From there, everything changed even more. “In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Apple Cider Century was the United States’ number-one ride,” Volstorf

In fact, Volstorf believes his century ride stands out from most others for one key aspect—its wide array of amenities. “We have an ice cream social, a spaghetti dinner, and tons of food stops,” Volstorf said. “We have everything you can think of. We don’t skip on anything and every participant gets their money’s worth.”

This year, the weekend festivities will begin on Saturday, Sept. 26. Participants are welcomed to check in at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, prior to enjoying an ice cream social from 4 to 8 p.m. at Dewey Cannon Park. On race day itself, participants will begin parking at the church at 5 a.m. If they haven’t done so yet, they can check in from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m., while also relishing an all-youcan-eat pancakes, eggs, and sausage breakfast. As a reﬂection of the Three Oaks community’s involvement, the breakfast is prepared and served by the Three Oaks Fire Department. As has always been the case, participants can begin riding whenever they’d like. All 100-mile riders are advised to start by 10 a.m. though, and every participant must ﬁnish their ride by 7 p.m. Participants don’t need to ride for 100 miles either, as 15-, 25-, 50-, and 75-mile route options are available, too. Furthermore, to fully complete the experience, every participant is welcomed to attend an all-you-caneat spaghetti dinner at St. Mary of the Assumption Church after the ride. A salad bar, French bread, and fresh apple pie will be served as well.

“Because of our amenities, we don’t have to advertise,” Volstorf said. “It’s mostly word of mouth, which is the best advertising you can have.”

A Family Affair In addition to its food options, the Apple Cider Century has an outdoor band on Saturday evening, offering entertainment for all ages. While reﬂecting on the century ride’s steady popularity, Volstorf’s son, Tim, believes there is another key ingredient: It provides something for nearly everyone, whether a participant is in middle school or has been riding for 50 years.

the ride. And the average age—of all participants—was 45. “We can’t wait for our 53rd ride, and we have some special milestones coming up, including the 55th and 60th anniversaries,” Bryan Volstorf added. “Our future is bright!”

For more information, scan the QR code or visit applecidercentury.com

“We let children 12 and under ride for free,” Tim Volstorf said. “They’ll receive a rider number and a packet. Everything they receive costs us money, but it doesn’t cost them a penny.” This family atmosphere continues to attract riders from all across the United States. Last year, roughly 200 children participated in

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

A Drive to Serve Erika Escue-Cadieux is driven by many things: her faith, her love of people, and her many varying technological and scientific interests. But when she speaks about her work as MEC’s District 8 director, “service” is the theme that ties them all together. “I think as a restauranteur, it’s all about service,” she says. “I take it very seriously that members are properly represented and their best interests are taken to heart.”

Food and Faith While working as a restaurant designer in Toledo, Erika had the opportunity to buy a building in Adrian, Michigan, and start her own restaurant. She was drawn to Adrian because its size and countryside-influenced way of life reminded her of her beloved hometown of Lebanon, Ohio. In 2011, she purchased and started work on the building that would later become Hooligan’s Grill. Work on Hooligan’s took longer than expected, but Erika persevered. In 2013, the restaurant officially opened to the public, serving recipes that Erika herself had created and collected from family over the years. Just two months after the opening, however, Erika was presented with her toughest challenge yet. A serious cancer diagnosis forced her to take time away from Hooligan’s, her staff, and her customers.

Her philosophy is to put service first, seeking out the best value for her guests before putting something on the menu. Her favorite saying is, “Food is Love.”

The mental and emotional toll left Erika feeling rudderless. It was then that she rediscovered her greatest source of comfort, which drives her decisions and motivates her to this day: her faith. While Erika had been a Christian prior to her diagnosis, the events catapulted her faith to new heights, helping her see it was part of God’s plan all along.

Just as she serves her customers, she serves God, her community, and the MEC members she represents. She has a love of learning, especially about science and technology (at one point even inventing a patented biometric technology called GoDotz). She has a longstanding interest in science, technology, and innovation, including research into patents and emerging developments in energy production and distribution. Erika looks forward to aiding these scientific changes to the community through her position as an MEC director, with an eye toward reliability, keeping costs down, and providing the best possible service to members.

“Everything I’ve done has led me on a journey to where I’m supposed to be, and I can see God’s fingerprints all over it,” she says.

According to Erika, the most rewarding part of being on the board is working with a team of directors that all have the same agenda: serving the members.

Erika’s newfound faith helped her through her recovery, and she was eventually able to start working again. While she had been commuting from Toledo to Adrian to work at Hooligan’s, she moved to Adrian permanently in 2019, becoming an MEC electric customer in the process. She ran for the board of directors that same year, winning the election for District 8.

“The issues the board is being presented with are so impacting, and none of us take it lightly,” she says. “All the directors bring their experience with them, and that lends itself to making the best decisions for customers. I’ve been told by other directors at national conferences that the MEC board is just outstanding.”

“At that time, I was still working 18-hour days,” Erika says. “But I was sitting in the doctor’s office and he told me, ‘If I let you go, you’ll be dead in two hours.’”

A Life of Service Erika doesn’t have a favorite menu item at Hooligan’s— or, more accurately, every menu item is her favorite, made from scratch each day using locally sourced ingredients. 8

“ I take it very seriously that members are properly represented and their best interests are taken to heart.”

SEPTEMBER 2026

As the board faces new challenges brought by a rapidly changing world and technological landscape, Erika is confident that she and her fellow directors can weather any storm—with dedication, experience, and service as their driving force.

Notice to Members of Midwest Energy & Communications

8 1

Case No. U-16594: 2025 Renewable Energy Plan Annual Report Summary

5 7

Michigan law (MPSC) required all Michigan electric utilities to get at least 15 percent of their power supply from renewable sources during 2025.

Sources: Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community

Get Started: teammidwest.com/district-map

Find Your MEC Board Representative Do you know which of our nine board members represents your district? There’s an easy way to find out! Visit us at teammidwest.com/district-map to search for your electric and/or fiber service address using one of the following methods: • Type your address using the search bar • Click on the map where your address is located • Tap the Use My Location button (note: this only works if you’re currently at your address) If you have more than one address where you receive electric and/or fiber service, your assigned district is determined based on your primary service location.

Under this requirement, Midwest Energy & Communications submits an annual report to the MPSC regarding its Renewable Energy Plan. In 2025, Midwest acquired a total of 83,834. renewable energy credits. All credit transfers were directed through Midwest’s wholesale power supplier, Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative, Inc. Wolverine will continue to generate renewable energy and bank unused renewable energy credits for future use and compliance with statutory renewable portfolio standard requirements on behalf of all of its members. A full copy of the cooperative’s Renewable Energy Plan annual report that was filed with the MPSC is available on the cooperative’s website at www.teammidwest.com or by request at any of the cooperative’s offices.

ENERGY-EFFICIENT COMFORT FOR EVERY SEASON Reliable comfort, made easier with rebates. Rebates available now for: • • •

A variety of heat pump systems High-efficiency central air conditioners Efficient circulation pumps

Midwest Energy & Communications offers rebates on energy-efficient systems that can help offset the cost of qualifying upgrades. Now is a smart time to invest in comfort, efficiency, and long-term energy savings. This program is part of the State of Michigan’s Energy Waste Reduction Standards and is not available to customers in Indiana and Ohio, or to customers who do not receive MEC electric service.

Fall into Comfort Fall into Savings

Scan the QR code to view eligible rebates or visit teammidwest.com/energy-savings

MI CO-OP Kitchen

PIZZA

Slice into something delicious. WINNING RECIPE!

BUFFALO CHICKEN FLATBREAD PIZZA Steve-Ann Van Wyk, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op

1 large prebaked flatbread or pizza crust (12-14 inches) ½ cup prepared buffalo ranch dressing (or homemade, see below) 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese ½ cup cooked chicken, diced ¼ cup mild taco sauce (such as Old El Paso) Optional Toppings: • sliced black olives • crumbled blue cheese • Italian seasoning • garlic powder • crushed red pepper flakes Homemade Buffalo Ranch Dressing (optional): ½ cup ranch dressing ¼ cup buffalo wing sauce (such as Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Wings Sauce) 2 tablespoons mayonnaise Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place the flatbread on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Spread the buffalo ranch dressing evenly over the flatbread, then top with the shredded mozzarella cheese and diced chicken. Add the black olives and blue cheese, if desired. Season with the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper flakes, if using. Drizzle the taco sauce over the top. Bake for 9–11 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the crust is golden brown. Slice and serve immediately. Note: To make the Homemade Buffalo Ranch Dressing, whisk together the ranch dressing, buffalo wing sauce, and mayonnaise until smooth. Makes about 1 cup. Use ½ cup for the flatbread and refrigerate the remaining dressing for up to 1 week. Watch a video of this month’s winning recipe at micoopkitchen.com/videos

RECIPE CONTEST

Win a $100 energy bill credit!

Cozy Bowls, due Nov. 1. Submit your favorite recipe for a chance to win a $100 bill credit and have your recipe featured in Country Lines with a photo and a video. Submit your recipe at micoopkitchen.com, or send it via email (include your full name and co-op) to recipes@countrylines.com.

10 SEPTEMBER 2026

PIZZA PINWHEELS Phil Ehardt, Great Lakes Energy

Dough: 1½ cups warm water 1 tablespoon honey 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 teaspoons instant yeast 1½ teaspoons salt 3½–4 cups ﬂour Filling: 2½–3 cups pizza sauce, divided 2 cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, divided 1 cup pepperoni, chopped, divided ¼–⅓ cup cornmeal ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet (about 12x18 inches) with parchment paper. In the bowl of a stand mixer

fitted with a dough hook (or in a large mixing bowl using a sturdy spoon), combine the warm water, honey, olive oil, yeast, salt, and 1 cup ﬂour. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the remaining ﬂour until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and forms a soft, smooth ball. Knead by mixer or by hand for 3–4 minutes, then cover and let the dough rest for 10–15 minutes. Divide the dough in half. On a lightly greased work surface, press one portion into a 14x10-inch rectangle. Spread ½–¾ cup pizza sauce evenly over the dough, then top with half of the mozzarella cheese and half of the pepperoni. Starting with one long side, roll the dough tightly into a log, pinching the seam to seal. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling. Place the cornmeal in a shallow bowl or dish. Slice each log into 1 inch pinwheels. Dip the bottom of each pinwheel into the cornmeal, then place about 1-inch apart on the prepared baking

APPLE PIZZA

Teresa Williams, Midwest Energy & Communications Crust: 1 package refrigerated pie crusts (2 crusts), or homemade pastry for a double-crust 9-inch pie Filling: 7 cups baking apples, peeled and thinly sliced (such as Granny Smith or Gala) ½ cup sugar 1½ tablespoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg Crumb Topping: ¾ cup all-purpose ﬂour

DETROIT-STYLE PIZZA Cynthia Hodges, Ontonagon REA

Dough: 2½ cups (300 grams) bread ﬂour 3 teaspoons (10 grams) kosher salt 1½ teaspoons (5 grams) instant yeast 1 cup lukewarm water • extra-virgin olive oil, for greasing the pan Sauce: 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 3 medium garlic cloves, minced 2 teaspoons dried oregano ⅛ teaspoon red pepper ﬂakes 1 (28-ounce) can high-quality crushed tomatoes 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder 1 teaspoon granulated onion powder 1 tablespoon sugar • kosher salt, to taste Toppings: 4 ounces thinly sliced pepperoni 12 ounces Wisconsin brick cheese, cut into ½-inch cubes (or 6 ounces mozzarella cheese and 6 ounces Monterey Jack cheese)

Combine the ﬂour, kosher salt, yeast, and lukewarm water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, or in a large mixing bowl. Mix until a shaggy dough forms, then let rest for 10 minutes. Knead by mixer or by hand for about 10 minutes, until smooth and slightly sticky. Cover and let rise in a warm place for about 2 hours, or until doubled in size. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch metal baking pan with olive oil. Transfer the dough to the pan and gently stretch it toward the edges. If the dough resists, let it rest for 30 minutes, then stretch again. Cover and let rise for another 45 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic, oregano, and red pepper ﬂakes; cook for 30 seconds. Stir in the tomatoes, garlic powder, onion powder, and sugar. Simmer for about 30 minutes, then season with kosher salt to taste. Preheat the oven to 500°F. Press the dough gently to release any large air bubbles. Top evenly with the pepperoni, then the cheese, making sure some reaches the edges of the pan. Spoon the sauce over the cheese in three lengthwise stripes. Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until the cheese is

sheet. Sprinkle the tops evenly with the Parmesan cheese. Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the pinwheels are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly. Warm the remaining pizza sauce and serve alongside the pinwheels for dipping.

½ cup sugar ½ cup cold butter or margarine Preheat the oven to 450°F. Roll the pie dough to fit a large pizza pan or baking sheet and ﬂute the edges as desired. In a large bowl, toss the apple slices with the lemon juice. Arrange the apples evenly over the prepared crust. In a small bowl, combine the ½ cup sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, then sprinkle evenly over the apples. In another bowl, cut the ﬂour, remaining ½ cup sugar, and cold butter or margarine together until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the apples. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the apples are tender. Cool completely before cutting into squares and serving.

melted and bubbly, and the crust is crisp and golden. Let cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 11

Get Revved Up for the Fiber Cup HIGH SCHOOLERS: SIGN UP TODAY FOR THE 2026 MEC X SMC FIBER CUP!

WHEN

WHERE

Saturday, Nov. 7

Barbara Wood Building, Southwestern Michigan College (Dowagiac, MI)

ROCKET LEAGUE Form a team of three and compete against up to 16 other teams in a double-elimination bracket for Steam Decks, gift cards, and the coveted Fiber Cup championship belts! Any school teams that place in the top three will also win a donation to their school.* *Limit one team per school. Private schools are not eligible for a donation.

SUPER SMASH BROS. ULTIMATE New this year, compete against up to 16 other high schoolers in a singleelimination, best-of-three Smash Bros. tournament! The winner will receive a Nintendo Switch 2 system.

teammidwest.com/esports

COME TO WATCH: Don’t want to compete? Join us anyway! Come watch the showdown and enjoy Smash Bros. (casual play) and small giveaways.

MEC in the Community BIG TRUCK DAY Kids got to explore MEC propane and bucket trucks at the Cass District Library.

Digital SkillBuilding Classes We partner with local libraries and other organizations to offer free digital skill-building classes. Space is limited—RSVP today at teammidwest.com/classes!

WOLF’S PRAIRIE PARK

October 8

We supported the revitalization of the playground in Berrien Springs.

Galien Township Public Library

Photo Credit: Village of Berrien Springs

HILLSDALE SAFETY FAIR We joined several organizations in the Hillsdale County area to provide fun, informative safety materials to families.

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RSVP BY OCT. 16

TOPIC: AI Basics: Usage & Safety SESSION TIMES: 11 a.m.–noon OR 1–2 p.m.

Full STEAM Ahead Julie Wilder’s students can make a car out of a cardboard box. As the science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) teacher at Davis Elementary in Decatur, it’s her job to make sure they have the materials and know-how to do so. Now her job is easier than ever before thanks to a new cardboard cutting tool, purchased with the help of an MEC Strengthening Schools Grant (funded via partnership dollars through our power supplier, Wolverine Power Cooperative).

Unforeseen Circumstances In September of 2025, Wilder broke her finger. Per the doctor’s orders, she had to stop using her hand for a full eight weeks to heal. There was just one problem: her STEAM lessons required her to cut cardboard for her students using a box cutter. Without her hand, this simply wasn’t possible. Wilder started looking for tools that would allow students to cut their own materials. However, safety concerns presented another issue, as many of the tools she found were simply too technical for elementary schoolers and could potentially put their own fingers at risk.

ensure nobody could hurt themselves. The price tag was a bit higher than usual for Wilder, but she soon found a solution for this as well. On the advice of her superintendent, she applied for an MEC Strengthening Schools Grant, and the rest is history.

The Tools to Succeed As one of the school’s special classes, Wilder’s STEAM class is attended by each student in the building for 50 minutes about once per week. While lessons vary by grade, the structure is the same. Students read about a scientific concept, then do a hands-on activity that incorporates what they learned, gaining experience with everything from making bar graphs to engineering paper planes and balloon-powered cars. The materials she presents her students with are all common household items including tape rolls, CDs, and yes, cardboard. Students get more than scientific knowledge from the classes—they

Enter the ChompSaw, a motorized cutting tool with a small opening to insert cardboard and a finger guard to

get the chance to practice their selfesteem too. Sometimes projects fail, and Wilder says it’s important for kids to be able to experience that failure and process it. As she puts it, “If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, and that’s okay. You keep trying.” Wilder says not every student learns the same way, and her classes give students opportunities to learn in creative ways that they might not experience in a traditional classroom setting. “STEAM encourages creativity and innovation,” she says. “You hear about it now more than ever because technology is becoming so important. It’s not just individualized paper and pencil now.” Although Wilder looks forward to the surprises that come with teaching a class all about creativity, she’s also happy about one certainty this year: Thanks to her Strengthening Schoolsfunded ChompSaw, students will have the materials they need to learn—even the perfect cut of cardboard.

APPLY NOW FOR A STRENGTHENING SCHOOLS GRANT There’s still time left! If you’re a teacher, administrator, or school official at a public school serving students in our electric service areas, visit teammidwest.com/school-grants to apply by Oct. 12. Please note: Due to the nature of the partnership dollars that fund Strengthening Schools Grants, schools serving students solely in our fiber internet service areas are not eligible.

Photo credit: Julie Wilder

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 13

FUELED BY GRIT

PIPER BELL GOES PRO IN WOMEN’S MOTOCROSS RACING By Abby Moran

he starting race gate rattles beneath Piper Bell’s front tire as motocross engines throttle around her. Beneath her helmet, the 17-year-old rider claps her gloves together, settling her adrenaline before the gate drops. While the atmosphere around her is electric with pre-race energy, Piper’s focus locks in on the start of the race, visualizing the packed ﬁrst turn on the hot dirt racetrack. “I try to keep myself calm and lock in mentally. I really focus and visualize,” Piper said about her racing strategy. “The ﬁrst is the start of the race, so I’ll focus on that. If you have a bad start, it will probably be a bad race.” This mental fortitude was a practice Piper built over nearly a decade of motocross racing. Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan-based Piper has dedicated her teenage years to conquering motocross racing and becoming a rider who is not just respected in the Midwest but is now competing across the nation on the professional women’s motocross (WMX) racing circuit.

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Piper started riding dirtbikes at 8 years old and competed in her ﬁrst race in Ontario, Canada, at 9. Although it started as a family hobby, as Piper continued racing, she got better, faster, and stronger. The turning point in her racing journey came when she competed in the Monster Energy AMA National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s ranch in Tennessee (known to racers as Loretta Lynn’s), considered the world’s largest amateur motocross race.

“I thought, let’s just give it a shot. If I can qualify, I’ll compete,” Piper said. Qualifying for Loretta Lynn’s was a feat of endurance for then 11-year-old Piper. First, she had to finish high in an area qualifier, followed by a placement in a regional qualifier. The top 42 racers in each division are eligible to compete at Loretta Lynn’s. “We had never experienced anything like that race environment before,” Piper said. “I thought it was so cool. Once we knew I could compete on the national level, we started taking racing more seriously.” Since then, Piper has qualified to compete in the renowned motocross championship for the past five years, placing sixth in her division over the past three years. Just after Loretta Lynn’s in 2025, Piper took on the Thor Mini O’s race in November, which featured some of the best motocross racers in the world. She claimed a sixth-place finish, ensuring her place as a rising star in motocross racing.

“I just kept thinking, there’s a future here,” Piper said about the start of her racing career. “When I’m racing, and the other riders are faster, I just think about how much I want to get better. I love it so much.”

all maintenance on the bike, ensuring everything runs smoothly for both training and race days. Her mom, Kerry, is the backbone of support. Piper’s brother, Cole, also an aspiring racer, is there riding alongside his sister.

Most riders competing at Piper’s skill level live year-round at boardingschool-style elite racing centers, completing both their high school education and training at high intensity, often living away from their family members for most of the year.

The Bell family spends a lot of time watching other motocross racers, learning from great riders and

Piper has a more traditional high school experience, completing schoolwork online through Sault Area High School while balancing sports as a point guard on the varsity girls’ basketball team. While most other riders are training year-round, Piper’s training picks up after her basketball season ends. Around March, the Bell family, who are Cloverland Electric Cooperative members, packs their RV and travels down to motocross tracks for training in Florida and Georgia.

“When I’m racing, and the other riders are faster, I just think about how much I want to get better. I love it so much.”

reviewing race footage to pick up the small tweaks that can lead to big improvements in racing. This summer, Piper will line up against the fastest women motocross riders in the country, chasing a starting gate she once only dreamed of reaching. After being recruited to join the WMX circuit, Piper will compete against some of the sport’s top riders, marking a major milestone in a journey that began as a family hobby nearly a decade ago. As she balances her rookie season on the professional circuit with her senior year of high school, Piper is already setting her sights higher, determined to continue climbing the ranks of women’s motocross. “I want to be a top three pro-rider in the WMX,” Piper states. With her goal to expand motocross training after her high school graduation, Piper has the dedication, athleticism, and grit to make that goal a reality.

The training is grueling. Combining endurance training with 100-degree heat on a dirt race track creates extreme conditions that demand every bit of stamina. The riders start with a warm-up stretch in the morning, followed by hours of motocross riding and an afternoon strength-training workout. While many riders train year-round at elite racing facilities, Piper has only a brief stretch each spring to prepare before the racing season begins. This spring, Piper also trained at NXT LVL 101 in South Carolina, her first opportunity to receive official professional training before the WMX season began. The experience paid off quickly. Despite competing against women with significantly more racing experience and yearround training, Piper has already earned multiple top 10 finishes during her rookie professional season. For the Bell family, Piper’s racing career is a family commitment. Her dad, Amos, is Piper’s trainer and handles

WMX motocross races stream Saturdays throughout the summer on Peacock. Watch recaps online or follow Piper’s racing journey on Instagram @Piper_bell_67. MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 15

How to Find Your Account Number(s) and Update Your Info Via SmartHub Did you know you can find your MEC account number(s) and/or update your personal information using SmartHub? It’s easy—here’s how!

FIND YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER(S)

1. L og in at teammidwest.com or via your SmartHub mobile app. 2. In the Customer Overview box on the homepage, select Show Details or View Details. The number displayed next to the line of service is the account number.

UPDATE YOUR INFO 1. Log in at teammidwest.com or via your SmartHub mobile app. 2. Navigate to the menu and go to Settings  Contact Methods. 3. Select the appropriate button to add a new phone number or email address, then type it in when prompted. a. If adding a phone number, use the dropdown menus on desktop or the toggles on mobile to choose whether to receive text messages and/or voice calls. These options are turned off by default. Choosing Yes on desktop or flipping the toggle to the right on mobile turns the options on. b. If you would like to receive voice calls, you must leave the Do Not Call option off and turn Receive Voice Calls on. c. To opt out of voice calls, turn the Do Not Call option on so that the Receive Voice Calls option is grayed out.

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4. On desktop, check the box to accept the terms and conditions, then click Save. On mobile, tap Continue, then tap Accept on the following page to agree to the terms and conditions. 5. SmartHub will email, text, or call your new contact method with a verification code depending on the options you selected. Type this code into the Verification Code box and click Save on desktop or Verify on mobile to complete the process. Please note that you must complete verification before we can use the email or phone number to contact you.

Why Is My TV Buffering? We’ve all been there. You sit on the couch, pick up the remote, and pull up the next episode of a show on your favorite streaming service…but then it just keeps buffering. What’s going on?

Step 1: CommandIQ Speed Test First, run a speed test using the CommandIQ app. It’s free for MEC fiber internet customers on the Apple App Store and Google Play! 1. Log in to your CommandIQ app. 2. On the home screen, tap Speed Test.

3. T ap Run Test to begin. After the brief test, the app will display your results. CommandIQ’s speed test checks the speed that’s coming into your home. For the best streaming experience, the goal is to have more than 50 Mbps. Most streaming services use less than 20 Mbps; however, Wi-Fi signals degrade and get slower as they travel through your home. If you have MEC fiber, you should be getting the speed you pay for. If you’re getting significantly less than this, give us a call at 800-492-5989.

Step 2: Ookla Speed Test Speedtest by Ookla is a handy app that measures the strength of your Wi-Fi network from the router to a device. Like CommandIQ, it’s free on the Apple App Store and Google Play! Once you’ve downloaded the app to your phone, simply hold it next to your TV and hit “Go.” This will measure the quality of your Wi-Fi signal from your router to your TV.

The goal once again is to get more than 50 Mbps. If the speed test results are lower than this, you may need a mesh unit to boost the signal to areas of your home where it’s weaker. If you have excellent speeds that are much greater than 50 Mbps, one possibility is that the streaming service you’re trying to watch is down. Visit Downdetector.com to see if other people are reporting issues. The second possibility is that the TV or device you’re watching may not be able to handle the speeds required for a good streaming experience. Try hooking up a second device like a Roku or Amazon Fire TV streaming stick to see if the situation improves.

MEC Electric Customers: Give Your TV The Wi-Fi It Needs All MEC fiber packages include unlimited data, a free Wi-Fi router, a full suite of parental controls via CommandIQ, and automatic hacker blocking. If you have MEC electric service, you’re eligible! Visit teammidwest.com/internet to explore packages.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 17

Where In Michigan Is This?

MI CO-OP Guest Column

Recollections of a Bookworm Joan Blewett, a Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op member

Growing up in Ishpeming, my family never lived more than three blocks from Ishpeming’s Carnegie Library. The library was the focal point of my life through grade school and high school, and I even worked there part time while going to Northern Michigan University.

MYSTERY PHOTO Win a $100 energy bill credit! Identify the correct location of the photo above by Sept. 25 and be entered into a drawing to win a $100 electric bill credit. Enter your guess at countrylines.com/community.

JULY 2026 WINNER! Our Mystery Photo winner is Laura Hostetler, a Midwest Energy & Communications member who correctly identified the photo as the World’s Largest Cherry Pie in Charlevoix, Mich. Winners are announced in the following issues of Country Lines: January, March, May, July/ August, September, and November/December.

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If you turned right upon entering the library, you would encounter the stairs leading to the children’s room. The wooden stairs are about 8 feet in width and were worn down in the middle from years of use. Children would clatter down the stairs, a racket heard in most of the adult area. At some point, either patrons or a director had enough and the stairs were closed off and entrance to the children’s room was obtained through an outside entrance. The children’s room was located in what was once the basement. It was a pretty large space and when converted, it made for a wonderful children’s library. Once inside, oh heaven, the stories that awaited. I read all the Nancy Drew, all the Hardy Boys, Bobbsey Twins, Freddie the Pig (the adventures of a talking pig who walked on his hind legs). There were several fairy tale books that went by color. “The Blue Fairy Tale Book,” “The Red Fairy Tale Book,” and a few others with a color in the title. I had to climb a ladder to reach them on a top shelf. No, not that kind of ladder that moved on a rail. A ladder like that in The Home Depot. And then there was every single horse book that I could

find. Horse stories about a boy and his horse (think The Black Stallion series) or a boy and his dog (think Big Red), and there were stories of a girl and her horse, never a girl with a dog. There was a nonfiction book called “Drinkers of the Wind” by Carl Raswan, written in the 1930s about his time with the Bedouins and their Arabian horses. One time when I was probably 9 or 10 years old, I was on my knees inching along the floor, checking out the bottom shelves of the nonfiction so as not to miss anything, when I came across a book by Roy Chapman Andrews. I was flummoxed. There were authors who used their middle initials, but never, ever had I run across an author who used his middle name. The book was about hunting for dinosaur fossils in Mongolia. Holy Moley! This screamed adventure! And he was doing this in the 1920s when it really was an adventure. Roy Chapman Andrews worked for the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and subsequently became its director in 1934. Holy Moley! Ishpeming’s Carnegie Library, built with a grant from Andrew Carnegie, is but one of many Carnegie libraries in Michigan, the U.S., and the world. Opened in 1905, it stands in all its neoclassic sandstone glory, attracting local patrons and serving as another lasting tribute to the philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie. Holy Moley!

GUEST COLUMN Win $200 for stories published!

Share your fondest memories and stories. Win $200 for stories published. Visit countrylines.com/community to submit.

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YOU CAN BE GOOD AT TECH TOO! Why is your TV buffering? What are the pros and cons of your kids having a cell phone? What’s the best way to make sure Wi-Fi reaches every corner of your home?

Watch Tech Talks for the inside scoop!

In each video, Techie Chuck tackles a new tech topic. Get tips and tricks, learn valuable online safety info, get recommendations for the latest gadgets, and more!

START WATCHING:

teammidwest.com/tech-talks

THAT’S NOT ALL!

Visit YouTube.com/@Team_Midwest for safety videos, chats with CEO Terry, and more.