May Texas Co-op Power

HE UNEARTHED ANCIENT TOOLS

FOR GRAYSON-COLLIN EC MEMBERS

SAM RAYBURN TURNED ON TEXAS’ LIGHTS

I’D DO ANYTHING FOR MOM MAY 2026

Trickle Your Fancy

The arid West is awash, if you know where to look

Beyond and below the tumbleweeds and cactuses, oases beckon out west.

Photo essay by Erich Schlegel

Thanks to an archaeologist’s persistence, we have 20,000-year-old evidence of Texans.

By Pam LeBlanc

Appreciating Our Moms

IN CELEBRATION OF MOTHER’S DAY, May 10 this year, we ask readers to finish the sentence “Moms are …” TCP ’s writers and editors also share their thoughts.

Lifelong learners—always reading, changing and growing.

—Samantha Bryant, communications specialist

The first person you want to call when something big happens, and you’ll miss her when you can’t.

—Alex Dal Santo, assistant production manager

Psychic. Mine can sense how I’m feeling even from miles away.

—Erin Sinclair, communications specialist

Frequently undervalued for their enormous contributions. They do so much.

—Claire Stevens, communications specialist

Family historians, capturing (usually unflattering) smartphone pics at family functions.

—Kelly Tran, communications specialist

Eternally selfless.

—Tom Widlowski, associate editor

Contests and More

$500 RECIPE CONTEST

Campfire Favorites

FOCUS ON TEXAS PHOTOS

Rodeo

RECOMMENDED READING

Why We Like Bats, our May 2006 feature story, looked closely at the creatures that still captivate Texans. Download the May 2006 issue at TexasCoopPower.com.

FINISH THIS SENTENCE

Moms are ...

Tell us how you would finish that sentence. Email your short responses to letters@TexasCoopPower.com or comment on our Facebook post. Include your co-op and town. Here are some of the responses to our March prompt: My favorite Texas saying is ...

The sun has risen and the sun has set, but we haven’t left Texas yet.

EUGENE NEESE

BOWIE-CASS EC

LINDEN

All hat and no cattle.

SISSY CARTER

HAMILTON COUNTY EC

GATESVILLE

If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute.

TANYA STEELE

BLUEBONNET EC

BURTON

The bigger the hair, the closer to God.

DEBRA MILLS

NUECES EC PORT ISABEL

Bless your heart.

KIT VAUGHN

PEDERNALES EC LIBERTY HILL

Visit our website to see more responses.

Matters of Funding

Overall, a great article, but there is a quote saying that rebuilding the Mason courthouse “didn’t cost taxpayers a dime” [In All Their Glory, March 2026]. At least $9.6 million of funding from the state wasn’t from the tooth fairy.

Larry Strong CoServ Lewisville

Shouldering the Load

I loved the story of Tyler Schlickeisen, tow truck driver [Currents, March 2026]. It’s great to see stories on unsung heroes like him.

I do have to disagree with his comment, “Nobody likes to see a tow truck driver.” When I have needed them—on Interstate 35—my two tow truck drivers were heroes.

Frank Graham Navarro County EC Hill County

MARCH

2026 Charted Waters

“Happy to see Pam LeBlanc is still adventurous. And Erich Schlegel’s photos artfully capture her adventure.”

STEVE

HARDY

PEDERNALES EC CEDAR PARK

A Rash of Trash

Back in the ’60s, Lady Bird Johnson championed a “Don’t Be a Litterbug” campaign, sending us children home with “litter bags” to hang on the handle of our roll-down car windows [A Tidy Revolution, March 2026]. Then in the ’80s, the “Don’t Mess With Texas” slogan was a fun and effective refresher course. Now we desperately need a new antilitter crusade because Texas roadways have grown increasingly trashy.

Cheryl Irish Bluebonnet EC Bastrop

Ancestry and ‘TCP’

My hobby is genealogy and family history. Two articles in March gave enough information about people for me to see if I am related to them.

I discovered Tad Lucas [Currents] was the wife of my 10th cousin. Jennie Reynolds [In All Their Glory] is my 10th cousin. Our common progenitors date from the 1500s and 1600s.

Judith Tavares Nueces EC Corpus Christi

Editor, Texas Co-op Power 1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor Austin, TX 78701

Please

and

TEXAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chair Bryan Wood, San Augustine

Vice Chair Cameron Smallwood, Burleson

Secretary-Treasurer Jim Coleman, Edna

Board Members Matt Bentke, Bastrop Kerry Kelton, Navasota • Mark McClain, Roby • Zac Perkins, Hooker, Oklahoma

PRESIDENT/CEO Mike Williams, Austin

COMMUNICATIONS & MEMBER

SERVICES COMMITTEE

Mike Ables, Bellville • Kathi Calvert, Crockett

Tachi Hinojosa, Fredericksburg

Gary Miller, Bryan • Bryan Story, Blossom Grace Subealdea, Dalhart

Buff Whitten, Eldorado

MAGAZINE STAFF

Vice President, Communications & Member Services Martin Bevins

Editor Chris Burrows

Associate Editor Tom Widlowski

Production Manager Karen Nejtek

Creative Manager Andy Doughty

Advertising Manager Elaine Sproull

Communications Specialist Samantha Bryant

Digital Media Specialist Cayt Calhoun

Senior Designer Stacy Coale

Assistant Production Manager Alex Dal Santo

Print Production Specialist Grace Fultz

Food Editor Vianney Rodriguez

Communications Specialist Erin Sinclair

Communications Specialist Claire Stevens

Communications Specialist Kelly Tran

Proofreader Louie Bond

TEXAS CO-OP POWER Volume 82, Number 11 (USPS 540-560). Texas Co-op Power is published monthly by Texas Electric Cooperatives. Periodical postage paid at Austin, TX, and at additional offices. TEC is the statewide association representing 77 electric cooperatives. Texas Co-op Power’s website is TexasCoopPower.com. Call (512) 4540311 or email editor@TexasCoopPower.com.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscription price is $5.53 per year for individual members of subscribing cooperatives and is paid from equity accruing to the member. If you are not a member of a subscribing cooperative, you can purchase an annual subscription at the nonmember rate of $7.50. Co-op members: Please notify your co-op of address changes or other subscription requests.

POSTMASTER Send address changes to Texas Co-op Power (USPS 540-560), 1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX 78701. Please enclose label from this copy of Texas Co-op Power showing old address and key numbers.

ADVERTISING Contact Elaine Sproull at (512) 486-6251 or esproull@texas-ec.org for information about purchasing display ad space in Texas Co-op Power and/or in our 26 sister publications in other states. Advertisements in Texas Co-op Power are paid solicitations. The publisher neither endorses nor guarantees in any manner any product or company included in this publication.

COPYRIGHT All content © 2026 Texas Electric Cooperatives Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this issue or any portion of it is expressly prohibited without written permission. Willie Wiredhand © 2026 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

WET TEXAS

Beyond and below the tumbleweeds and cactuses, oases beckon out west

Drive west on Interstate 10 from the Hill Country, through beautiful desert mesas and mountains, and there’s no water in sight, right?

Not unless you know where to look. Rivers, springs and even waterfalls are hidden across West Texas.

Most folks know about the Rio Grande, which cuts through the Big Bend, and you may even know of San Solomon Springs, which fills the 1.3-acre pool in Balmorhea State Park.

But you probably don’t know about the 70-foot waterfall 143 feet below a cow pasture. It’s managed by the Texas Cave Management Association and accessible only by wetsuit-clad expert cavers with advanced vertical rope training.

The Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, also known as the Lower Canyons, flows down from Big Bend National Park toward Amistad Reservoir near Del Rio—the most remote part of the state. The 83-mile canoe trip takes a week and requires extensive river paddling knowledge and wilderness experience. Help, if needed, can be days away, but only if you carry a satellite phone.

On the other hand, anybody can paddle and swim just west of the Hill Country. Here, the crystal-clear Nueces River is nothing like the muddy flows that empty into the Gulf of Mexico. You’ll find swimming pool-clear water in Lake Nueces as well as upstream, in a swimming hole in the town of Camp Wood named for its depth in feet, Quince (15).

It’s easy to take water for granted. But seeing and experiencing water in West Texas brings an appreciation of one of our state’s most important and sensitive resources. D

Blue Hole is a spring-fed swimming spot near the headwaters of the Frio River north of Leakey on the private property of the H. E. Butt Foundation Camp. Blue Hole reaches a maximum depth of about 30 feet.

The

LEFT The Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River is the most remote part of the state. The heart of this stretch of the Rio Grande is an arduous 83 miles called the Lower Canyons, which offers spectacular scenery but requires extensive wilderness experience.

BELOW A campsite along the Devils River, which begins in northwest Sutton County and flows south for 94 miles, emptying into Amistad Reservoir on the Rio Grande.

Thanks to an archaeologist’s persistence, we have 20,000-year-old evidence of Texans

BY PAM LEBLANC

He Kept Digging

Last summer, Michael Collins gazed over a tree-lined valley near Florence, his eyes scanning the grassy field where he once led excavations that changed our understanding of how and when humans first populated North America.

“I describe it as coming back to an old friend,” Collins said during that visit to the Gault archaeological site, about 50 miles north of Austin.

Collins sat beneath pecan trees for a picnic that day with others who had worked at Gault and filmmaker Olive Talley, whose 2025 documentary, The Stones Are Speaking, explores the site’s significance—and Collins’ role in saving it.

In the 1980s and ’90s, the film explains, artifact hunters lugging buckets and shovels flocked to the 30-acre plot of land, where a creek flowed and an abundant supply of flint rippled through a rocky ledge. They paid $25 a day to search for scrapers, projectile points and knives made by Native Americans and walk away with whatever they found. They left behind empty holes and mounds of dirt.

By taking those stone artifacts, collectors were destroying much of the history that they held. “It’s like looking at a book, tearing a picture out and throwing away the rest of the book,” said Elton Prewitt, a longtime Texas archaeologist.

The Gault story could have ended there— as a pay-to-dig site whose significance disappeared along with the ancient implements once scattered in its soil. But that’s not what happened.

In 1990, collectors digging at Gault found something unusual: two stones with hatch marks etched onto their surface. Word got back to the University of Texas, where the discovery perked the ears of Thomas Hester, then the director of the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory, and Collins, then the lab’s associate director.

The two drove to the site, where more etched stones turned up—along with a Clovis spearpoint, named for a Paleo-Indian archaeological site near Clovis, New Mexico, where scientists had discovered distinctive human-made tools more than 11,000 years old.

Most archaeologists long believed that humans first funneled into North America via a land bridge that formed between Russia and Alaska across what is now the Bering Strait about 13,000 years ago. The so-called Clovis culture was thought to be the oldest in the Americas.

Because Clovis tools had been found at Gault, Collins knew the site was important. But at the time, nobody knew just how significant.

Over the next few years, the land changed hands, and the pay-to-dig operation ended. When the property’s new owners, Howard and Doris Lindsey, stumbled onto some mammoth bones, Collins again got the call. He struck up a friendship with the Lindseys, and in 1998, Collins convinced them to allow a three-year lease so he could conduct an excavation.

That dig turned up more artifacts from the Clovis period, but Collins ran out of time. He filled in the pit and left when the lease ended, convinced the site held even more significance.

Collins stayed in touch with the Lindseys, and in 2007 they agreed to sell him the land. (They still live nearby and keep an eye on the property.) Collins and his wife, Karen, used their own money to buy the site, then immediately donated it to the nonprofit Archaeological Conservancy, where it would be protected in perpetuity.

Collins began a meticulous, long-term excavation project. The people who had come here thousands of years ago made tools, discarded some and lost others, leaving behind a record. The researchers uncovered thousands of artifacts, plus a human-made surface believed to be the floor of a structure at least 15,000 years old.

At first, not everyone believed what the stones were saying. Some pushed back on the idea that humans had been in Central Texas since before the Clovis people. But using a technique called optically stimulated luminescence, which

Collins with volunteers at the last part of the Gault site to be excavated. Currently there are no open excavation sites on the property and no digs planned.

tells scientists when sediments were last exposed to light, Collins and his team proved that some of the most deeply buried artifacts were indeed older than Clovis.

Today, most archaeologists agree that humans began to move into North America before the land bridge at the Bering Strait opened, using boats to cross the water and spread down the coast.

To book a guided tour, visit the GSAR website, gaultschool.org.

Evidence discovered through Collins’ excavations show signs that humans have come to the water at this Texas site—what is now nearby Buttermilk Creek—for 20,000 years. That arguably makes it the oldest demonstrably inhabited site in the Western Hemisphere.

“What’s important about this site is what we’ve learned about ourselves from it,” says Tim Brown, a board member at the nonprofit Gault School of Archaeological Research, which Collins founded. “This site has been so important in the rewriting of the book about the very early story of man in the Americas.”

And it may have more stories to tell.

Collins, now in his 80s, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2022, and the main excavation pit was covered in 2016. But just 3% of the land here has been excavated. New technologies may help future archaeologists unravel even more of its past.

“Walk across this soil,” Brown says. “If you don’t get a humble, awestruck reaction, there’s something wrong. And without Mike, we’d have no idea.” D

Scan the QR code or visit gaultfilm.com to learn more about The Stones Are Speaking and for streaming options.

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Save the Date for the Annual Meeting

THE ANNUAL MEETING of the members of Grayson-Collin Electric Cooperative will be held Monday, July 20, once again at Van Alstyne High School at 700 Collin McKinney Parkway in Van Alstyne.

The next few issues of Texas Co-op Power will include information about this important meeting, with the July issue containing the official notice of the meeting, your registration card for participation and a proxy ballot for those unable to attend.

SAVE THE DATE

Following is an excerpt from the bylaws of the cooperative. In accordance with these bylaws, the committee on nominations will meet May 2 to nominate candidates for directors for districts 2 and 5.

If you have any questions concerning the annual meeting of the members, call David McGinnis, general manager and CEO, at (903) 482-7115. We look forward to seeing you and your family July 20 at your annual meeting.

Article II: Meeting of the Members

Section 2.1. Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the members shall be held during the month of July each year on such day and at such time of day of said month as may be designated by the board of directors. The meeting shall be held at such place in the Counties of Grayson or Collin, State of Texas, as shall be designated in the notice of the meeting. The meeting shall be for the purpose of electing directors, receiving reports covering the previous fiscal year and transacting such other business as may come before the meeting.

Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, if the election of directors shall not be held on the day designated herein for any annual meeting, or at any adjournment thereof, the board of directors shall cause the election to be held at a special meeting of the members as soon thereafter as conveniently may be arranged. Failure to hold the annual meeting at the designated time shall not work a forfeiture or dissolution of the Cooperative. Notwithstanding any provision of these Bylaws to the contrary, in case of a Force Majeure Event, such annual meeting may be postponed until as soon as reasonably practicable after the removal of the cause, including postponement until the next annual meeting of the members, and the election of directors shall be held in accordance with Article III, Section 3.3 of these Bylaws. “Force Majeure Event” includes, but is not limited to, any intervening act of God or public enemy, war, invasion, act of terror, natural disas-

ter, disease, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, or other declaration of public health emergency, quarantine restriction, and any action of any governmental body or authority.

Section 2.2. Special Meetings

Special meetings of the members may be called by the president, by at least three (3) directors or upon a written request signed by at least ten percent (10%) of all members and it shall thereupon be the duty of the Secretary to cause notice of such meeting to be given as hereinafter provided. A special meeting of the members may be held at any place within the County of Grayson in the State of Texas specified in the notice of the special meeting.

Section 2.3. Notice of Members’ Meetings

Written or printed notice stating the place, day, and hour of the meeting and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than ten (10) days nor more than thirty (30) days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the Secretary, or by the persons calling the meeting, to each member. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail, addressed to the member at his address as it appears on the records of the Cooperative, with postage thereon prepaid. The failure of any member to receive notice of an annual or special meeting of the members shall not invalidate any action which may be taken by the members at any such meeting.

Notice of members’ meetings shall include a brief notice of any member resolution. To be valid, a member resolution must be signed by at least 15 members and presented to the Secretary of the Cooperative not less than 60 days in advance of the member meeting at which its consideration is requested. Member resolutions may not infringe upon the power of the board of directors to manage the business and affairs of the Cooperative as provided in the Electric Cooperative Corporation Act, Section 161.071. Accordingly, in order to be valid, a member resolution should resolve that the board of directors consider or consider and favorably or unfavorably act on a particular proposition. Member resolutions that are not timely submitted shall not be included in the notice of the meeting and shall not be considered at the meeting of members.

Section 2.4. Quorum

Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.4, two per centum (2%) of the total number of all members of the Cooperative present in person (which includes, if authorized by the Board of Directors of the Cooperative, votes received by (i) regular mail ballot returned to the Cooperative; (ii) electronically via the Cooperative’s website; (iii) a website or information processing system that the Cooperative has designated or uses to send, receive or transmit documents or information, or to electronically conduct an action, transaction, business, meeting or activity); or (iv) by proxy shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at

all meetings of the members. If less than a quorum is present at meeting, a majority of the members present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice.

A majority of the total membership of the Cooperative shall constitute a quorum at a meeting for the purpose of considering the sale, lease, lease sale, exchange, transfer or other disposal of all or substantially all of the Cooperative’s property, for the purpose of considering the alteration, amendment or repeal of Section 1 of Article VIII of the articles of incorporation relating to sale or disposition of property, or for the purpose of amending, altering or repealing Section 2 of Article VIII of the articles of incorporation. Provided, however, this quorum requirement shall not apply with respect to the authorization of transactions described in paragraph (c) of Section 1 of Article VIII of the articles of incorporation.

Section 2.5. Voting

Each member shall be entitled to one (1) vote and no more upon each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of the members. At all meetings of the members at which a quorum is present all questions shall be decided by a vote of a majority of the members voting thereon in person, by proxy, by mail or electronically, as determined by the Board, except as provided by law, the articles of incorporation of the Cooperative or these bylaws. If a husband and wife hold a joint membership, they shall jointly be entitled to one (1) vote and no more upon each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of the members.

Members may vote or act only upon a matter described in the notice of the meeting of members. Member resolutions must comply with Section 2.3 of these Bylaws. This section does not preclude members from raising issues relevant to the operation of the Cooperative for discussion at the meeting of members. In connection with any matter of business of the Cooperative, including the election of directors, submitted to a vote at a meeting of the members where the members are required or allowed to vote by mail ballot and/or by electronic means, the Board shall cause printed mail ballots to be prepared and mailed to the members for their action. Ballots so mailed shall specify the member meeting to which they correspond, list each issue or question submitted and, if directors are to be elected, list the names of person(s) nominated for directors, and each mail ballot shall contain and provide a place where the member may indicate such member’s vote. Each member shall be instructed that such member’s mail ballot must be received by 5:00 p.m. (local time) at the location determined by the Board or, if no such determination is made, at the Cooperative’s principal office, at least five (5) days before the date of the meeting. If members are also allowed to vote in person at the member meeting to which such mail ballot corresponds, then members submitting a completed mail ballot may not vote in person at such meeting regarding any matter described in such ballot.

If voting by mail, each mail ballot shall be signed and mailed or delivered by hand or courier by the member casting such ballot to the location determined by the Board or, if no such determination is made, to the Secretary of the Cooperative at the Cooperative’s principal office. If electronic voting is allowed, such voting shall be in accordance with Article II, Section 2.9. The Board shall select or cause an election official to receive, validate, and count

mail and electronic ballots, and the Cooperative shall announce the results of the election to its members.

Section 2.6. Proxy Voting

At all meetings of members, a member may vote by proxy executed.

Section 3.3. Term of Office

Directors shall be so nominated and elected that one director from or with respect to each of the directorate districts numbers 2 and 5 shall be elected for three-year terms at an annual meeting; one director from or with respect to each of the director districts numbers 3 and 4 shall be elected for three-year terms at the next succeeding annual member meeting; and one director from or with respect to directorate district number 1 shall be elected for three year terms at the next succeeding annual member meeting, and so forth. Upon their election, directors shall, subject to the provisions of these bylaws with respect to the removal of directors, serve until the annual meeting of the members of the year in which their terms expire and/or until their successors shall have been elected and shall have qualified.

If for any reason, an election of directors shall not be held at an annual meeting of the members duly fixed and called pursuant to these bylaws, such election may be held at an adjournment of this meeting of the members. Failure of an election for a given year shall allow the incumbents whose directorships would have been voted on to hold over only until the next member meeting at which a quorum is present.

Notwithstanding any provision of these Bylaws to the contrary, if an annual meeting of the members is not held due to a Force Majeure Event as provided in Article II, Section 1 of these Bylaws, (i) the election of Directors can be postponed until as soon as reasonably practicable after removal of the cause, including postponement until the next annual meeting of the members or (ii) the election of Directors can be held without a meeting of the members, in which case voting shall be by mail ballot or electronically, or both, as determined by the Board in accordance with Article II, Section 2.5.

Section 3.4. Qualifications

To become or remain a director, a person must meet the following qualifications:

1. Be an individual member of the cooperative for at least 12 months, maintaining a primary residence in the district the director represents, and purchasing electric energy from the cooperative at that residence;

2. Not be employed by or have a material financial interest in a competing enterprise or business that sells electric energy or a supplier, contractor, consultant or any other entity with which the cooperative does a substantial amount of business;

3. Not be employed by the cooperative and not have been employed by the cooperative for a period of two years before becoming a director;

4. Not have been convicted of any criminal offense involving dishonesty or breach of trust;

5. Not have a final judgment entered against the director in a

ANNUAL MEETING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

civil action on the grounds of fraud, deceit or misrepresentation;

6. Not have a payment due the cooperative that is more than 90 days delinquent;

7. Not be the incumbent of or candidate for an elective public office in connection with which a salary is paid, other than members of the School Board or County Commissioner’s Court; and

8. When membership is held jointly by the husband and wife, either one, but not both, may be elected a director; provided, however, that neither one shall be eligible to become or remain a director or hold a position in the cooperative unless both shall meet the qualifications hereinbefore set forth.

9. Any person who serves as a director on or after March 1, 2012, other than a director whose service as director commenced prior to that date, shall complete a course of study and submit to the Cooperative a Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (“NRECA”) within 33 months of the date he or she commenced to serve as a director.

Nothing in this Section shall, or shall be construed to, affect the validity of any action taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors.

Section 3.5. Nominations

It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to appoint, not less than thirty (30) days nor more than ninety (90) days before the date of a meeting of the members at which directors are to be elected, a nominating committee consisting of not less than five (5) nor more than eleven (11) members who shall be so elected so as to give equitable representation on the committee to the geographical areas served or to be served by the Cooperative.

No officer or member of the Board of Directors shall be appointed a member of such committee. The committee shall nominate one or more (as the judgment of the committee may direct) members as nominees for directors for each director to be elected at the annual meeting, and after such selection or nomination, shall post a list of said nominees in the principal office of the Cooperative at least thirty (30) days before the meeting of members at which directors are to be elected.

Any fifteen (15) or more members may nominate a qualified person to serve as director by written petition bearing their signatures delivered to the secretary not less than twenty-five (25) days prior to the meeting of members at which directors are to be elected. The secretary shall post a copy of the petition at the same place where the committee nominations are posted, not less than twenty (20) days prior to said meeting. The Secretary shall mail with the notice of the meeting, or separately, but at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, a statement of the number of directors to be elected and showing all nominations made.

The members may, at any meeting of members at which a director or directors shall be removed, may also nominate a successor or successors from the floor of the meeting.

Notwithstanding anything in this section, failure to comply with any of the provisions of this section shall not affect the validity of any election of directors.

Section 3.6. Vacancies

Subject to the provisions of these bylaws with respect to the removal of directors, vacancies occurring in the board of directors shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining directors and directors thus elected shall serve until the next annual meeting of the members and/or until their successors shall have been elected and shall have qualified.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Cinco de Mayo

Tuesday, May 5

Military Spouse

Appreciation Day

Friday, May 8

Mother’s Day

Sunday, May 10

Memorial Day

Monday, May 25

Our offices will be closed in observance of the holiday.

Practical Pointers for Electrical Safety Month

MAY IS NATIONAL Electrical Safety Month, and Grayson-Collin Electric Cooperative is raising awareness about home electrical hazards and the importance of electrical safety.

Our modern lives depend on electricity, and if you don’t properly maintain your gadgets and devices, they can turn into hazards. The good news is that staying safe doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive.

Many homes and their electrical systems were built before most modernday electronics and appliances were even invented. Today’s increased demand for energy can overburden an older home’s electrical system. If you notice flickering or dimming lights, it may indicate your home’s wiring is inadequate for your needs. Have it checked by a licensed electrician.

Grayson-Collin EC offers the following tips to help identify and eliminate electrical hazards to protect yourself, your family and your home.

Make sure TVs, game systems and computer equipment have plenty of space around them for ventilation.

Use extension cords as temporary solutions only, and don’t run extension cords in high-traffic areas or under carpets.

Use a surge protector to help protect your computer, TVs and other electronic equipment from damage caused by voltage changes.

Heavy reliance on power strips is an indication that you have too few outlets for your needs. Have additional outlets installed by a licensed electrician.

Keep liquids away from electrical items such as TVs and computers. Make sure the light bulb wattage is right for the fixture. Light bulbs with wattages that are too high can overheat and cause a fire. Swap out incandescent bulbs with LEDs to prevent this and save energy.

Create a guide for your breaker box so that you know which breaker to turn off when needed.

Recurring tripped circuit breakers or multiple blown fuses can signify a serious and dangerous electrical problem. Contact a licensed electrician immediately. D

Clean Refrigerator Coils To Keep Cool

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE IS important to keep your refrigerator running efficiently.

Lint and dirt should be cleaned from your fridge’s coils every six months to a year— and more often if there are pets in the home. When coils are coated with lint, dust or pet hair, your refrigerator works harder than it’s designed to, which prevents the appliance from cooling properly and efficiently. Dirty coils can affect your fridge’s ability to regulate temperature.

The additional work can increase the energy costs of the appliance by as much as 35% and shorten its life.

While you’re in cleaning mode, take a few extra minutes to clean inside the refrigerator too. Wiping down shelves, drawers and walls can help remove spills, crumbs and odors while eliminating mold and bacteria that can spoil food.

If shelves and drawers are removable, they can be washed with warm water and soap, then rinsed. A nonabrasive cleaner and damp cloth can be used to wipe down all other surfaces inside the fridge.

Keeping the refrigerator clean—inside and out—can help keep your food safe and your appliance running efficiently. D

A Full House of Savings

WHEN YOU’RE TRYING to reduce energy use and save money, lots of little tweaks around the house can add up to big savings. Each room offers a chance to improve the energy efficiency of your whole home. Here are some small modifications you can make to reduce energy use, room by room.

Attic

In many homes, attic insulation is one of the easiest, least expensive and most effective ways to reduce your energy use year-round. Check energystar.gov/saveathome to see how much insulation is right for your climate.

Home Office

Plug all cellphone and laptop chargers, printers, and gaming consoles into a power strip with an on/off switch. When not in use, turn the power strip off to eliminate those energy vampires. Open the blinds on sunny days so that you don’t need to turn on additional lights.

Bedroom

Ceiling fans can help save energy year-round. In the summer, fans should rotate counterclockwise to push cool air down. In the winter, fans should rotate clockwise to help draw cool air up toward the ceiling and push the warm air that naturally rises down to you and your family. Remember that fans cool people, not rooms, so turn them off when the room is unoccupied.

Bathroom

Cutting hot water use lowers your electric and water bills. Try taking short showers instead of baths, installing low-flow fixtures and not letting the water run unnecessarily. Also be sure to fix any leaks.

Use faucet aerators on sinks. These affordable devices mix air with water, which creates a consistent stream that uses less water.

Living Room

Smart thermostats learn how you and your family live and automatically adjust the temperature settings based on your lifestyle. This keeps you comfortable while saving money. When possible, use task lighting instead of overhead lighting. Targeted lighting from a lamp lets you accomplish a task, such as reading, without using the energy needed to light the whole room.

Closets and Hallways

Add sensors that automatically turn lights off when a room is empty so that lights aren’t left on for hours accidentally.

Kitchen

On the stove, make sure your burner isn’t bigger than the pan, and use flat-bottomed pans to maximize surface contact with the burner. Don’t preheat the oven until you’re ready to use it. Minimize the number of times you open and close the refrigerator or oven door. When it’s time to upgrade appliances, choose Energy Star-certified products.

Laundry Room

When it comes to laundry, timing is important. Try to run the washer and dryer in off-peak periods, when fewer people are using electricity. Wash clothes in cold water when possible, and always clean out the dryer lint trap. D

Spruce Up Your Home With Pet-Safe Houseplants

HOUSEPLANTS CAN BE a great way to add greenery and cleaner air indoors. But certain plants can also be highly toxic to the furry friends with whom you share your space.

Common indoor plants such as monstera, aloe vera and pothos are toxic to cats and dogs. Check your bouquets, too: tulips and peonies are toxic to pets, and lilies can cause kidney failure in cats.

If Fido does take a bite out of something he shouldn’t have, call the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ poison control line: 1-888-426-4435.

But don’t toss all your greens. There are still plenty of pet-friendly options.

Spider plants are popular nontoxic houseplants that are easy to propagate. Prayer plants add a striking and colorful touch to a room and are also pet-safe.

Money trees can thrive indoors and are said to be symbols of good fortune. The ASPCA considers them nontoxic, though they can cause an upset stomach if consumed in large quantities, so they may not be the best choice if your pet loves to chew.

A small kitchen herb garden can bring life to a windowsill. Basil, rosemary and thyme are great options to include. However, parsley and mint can be dangerous to pets if consumed in large quantities.

Succulents are a great option if you’re looking for a low-effort plant that can thrive with little water. Try a burro’s tail or zebra-striped haworthia for nontoxic options.

To check whether a plant is toxic to dogs, cats and horses, visit aspca.org. D

Grayson-Collin Electric Cooperative

CONTACT US

14568 FM 121, Van Alstyne, TX 75495

P.O. Box 548, Van Alstyne, TX 75495

Office Hours Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Local (903) 482-7100 Toll-Free 1-800-967-5235

Web gcec.net

Directors

Steve Robinson, President, Celina

Paul Kirkland, Vice President, Lucas

Jim Copeland, Secretary-Treasurer, Pottsboro

David Ellis, Tom Bean

Dennis Ferguson, Van Alstyne

ABOUT GRAYSON-COLLIN EC

GCEC owns and maintains more than 5,300 miles of line to provide electric service to approximately 72,300 members in Collin and Grayson counties.

PAYMENT LOCATIONS

GCEC Office

14568 FM 121, Van Alstyne Night deposit available

Independent Bank—Anna Highway 5, Anna

Cendera Bank Highway 82 East, Bells

Independent Bank—Celina 290 Preston Road, Celina

Independent Bank—Howe 100 S. Denny St., Howe

First National Bank 109 S. Britton St., Tom Bean

VISIT US ONLINE gcec.net Check us out at TexasCoopPower.com/gcec

Member Market

Grayson-Collin Electric Cooperative does not endorse these individuals or services. Member Market ads are a form of member service.

For Sale

Building materials—Large barn full of building materials of all types, new. Also cedar fencing 8 ft. x 4 in., new. Call (972) 369-2068.

Antique rifles—Winchester 1886 octagon barrel, caliber .40–82, very good bore and action, very good wood, 100% original, $2,650. Also 1886 .33 WCF, $1,850, full magazine. Call (214) 533-1415.

Golf carts—2018–20 electric and gas Yamaha and Club Car Tempos. Can be refurbished and personalized to your needs or wants with accessories. Call or text TGCG at (469) 424-4042.

Various—Tiger Cub Equipment, lawn mowers, Toro and Cub Cadet sales and service, in Whitesboro. Call (903) 564-7901.

Various—Hoverboard for sale, in very good shape and has new batteries, $550. Left and right taillights that fit a 2019 Dodge Ram truck, in very good shape, $50. Call (903) 487-9784 or (903) 337-8250.

Boat—18 ft., lake ready, completely rebuilt with more than $5,000 spent on the rebuild. Call (972) 369-2068 with offers.

Tupperware—New microwavable bowl, $8; new bowl, $8; small container, $5; rectangular container, $10; spaghetti dispenser, $5; pitcher, $8; sandwich container, $3; large freezer container, $10. Call (903) 482-4252.

House—3-bedroom, 2-bathroom ranchstyle home on 7 acres with 4-stall pole barn, detached garage and other structures. Located on the corner of FM 1897 and Dugan Chapel Road at 6294 Dugan Chapel Road, Bells, $674,900. Must see to appreciate. Call Kenny at (903) 821-3566.

Various home items—Montgomery Ward gas wall furnaces, 30K–50K Btu/hour, $69–$99. Space heaters, $39. Dearborn, $99. Interlocking rubber floor mat squares: 40 multicolor 2’x2’, $75/160 sq. ft.; five thicker blue 2’x2’, $15/20 sq. ft. Call (972) 837-2243.

Manufactured home—3 bedroom, 2 bathroom Clayton manufactured home. Excellent condition. $20,000. Buyer is responsible for moving and relocation of the home. Easy access to blacktop road for moving. Located in the Celina area. Call or text (214) 931-9383.

Land—Escape the city and enjoy country

living on 13.362 acres. A serene pond, wildlife and plenty of open space to build your dream home, ranch or private retreat. Completely cleared. 8403 Kidd Road in Cheek (near Beaumont). Contact Jackie at (409) 499-5502.

Antique furniture—Beautiful antique oak leaf-carved love seat and matching rocker in rose velvet. Pictures available, Allen area, $300. Call (918) 385-2391.

Tractor—Kubota L4701 HST with bucket and brush hog mower. 18’ trailer included. Only 424 hours on tractor. Text Denny at (214) 288-3817 for pics and price.

Collectible coins—Lincoln wheat pennies. 1941–58 P&D, $9.95. 2019 FM 2729 Whitewright. Call (903) 546-7464.

For Rent or Lease

Lodge—5,000-sq.-ft. facility. Available for family reunions, retreats, weddings, etc. Overlooks private lake. RV spots available. Sleeps 24. Full kitchen. Email innkeeper@ crescentmoonlodge.com or call (214) 538-0513.

Executive RV storage—In Celina, full service. Fully enclosed, 50-amp series, heated, gated and 24-hour access as well as a water and dump station. Call (972) 382-3936.

Hall—2,000-sq.-ft. facility available for reunions, weddings, receptions, luncheons, meetings, etc. Available every day of the week except Fridays. Also RV spots for lease by day or week. Inquire by phone at (903) 482-9360 or come by American Legion Post 376 at 293 Jay Road in Van Alstyne.

Chapel—Getting married or renewing vows? Historic chapel, beautifully restored, overlooks private lake, seats 100-plus. For an appointment, call (214) 521-2937 and leave message or (214) 522-8000.

Sadler Community Center—Five-hour rental, fee includes space for up to 100 people with tables, chairs and full kitchen. Call or text (903) 819-7918.

Trailers—Enclosed cargo/car hauler, utility/dump, open car haulers, horse trailers. Winches & hitches offered for no additional cost. Visit towrar.com, call 1-877-701-1477 or email rightawayrentalsllc@gmail.com. Trailers—Enclosed cargo (CellTech),

utility and car hauler trailers (TopHat). Financing and rent-to-own available. Call Open Road Trailers at (972) 565-1972 or visit buycelltechtrailers.com.

RV spots—Close to Tom Bean. All utilities included. Call (903) 546-2168.

Suite—Beauty pros! Rent a suite at La’Bomb Salon Suites to operate your own business. Interested? Email info@ labombsalonsuites.com to join the waitlist.

Wanted

Knives and watches—Old pocketknives and pocket watches. Call (972) 658-6082.

Gas pumps—From 1920s–50s. I also sell them restored. Call (214) 808-4621.

Steel beer cans—Old steel beer cans in good condition. No pull tabs. Text pics to Jeff at (214) 878-8811.

Lawn equipment—We want your unwanted lawn equipment. Got an old lawn mower, weed-eater, blower or other lawn care equipment just sitting around? Don’t throw it away, we’ll take it! We’re looking for: push mowers, riding mowers, weed-eaters, leaf blowers, chain saws, generators or small engine equipment, running or not. Free pickup included. We’ll come to you and haul it away fast and hassle-free. Call (214) 6319761.

Services

Professional cleaning—Kiki’s House Cleaning delivers top-notch cleaning services for homes and offices in North Texas. Our dedicated team ensures every nook and cranny is spotless, providing you with a fresh and inviting environment. We take pride in our attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction, transforming your spaces into pristine areas that you can enjoy. Here’s what sets us apart: personalized service, trustworthy team, topnotch results and eco-friendly products. Call (469) 905-0969.

Farmers Insurance—Auto, home, life, umbrella, recreational vehicles, commercial. For a policy review or no-obligation quote, call Cindy at (469) 625-1239 or email Janice at jcross-white@farmersagent.com.

Weston Land Co.—If you’re looking to buy or sell real estate in the Grayson or Collin counties areas, give us a call at (972) 3828980 or (903) 482-4026.

LaFollett Tree Service—Trees trimmed and removed in the Van Alstyne area. Also British white cattle available. Call (214) 7331055.

Retired cabinetmaker—45 years’ expe-

rience designing and building kitchens, baths, offices, barn doors, entertainment centers. No job too small or too big. Call Tim at (619) 944-2873.

Striper fishing guide—Have been a professional fishing guide since 1979 and furnish everything. Call Ed Fowler at (903) 267-2311.

Eva’s All-Seasons Glass—Serving Grayson and Collin counties. Owner/operator with over 30 years of experience in the glass industry. Residential and commercial services. Visit evasallseasonsglass.com or call (214) 223-9691.

Guitar amplifiers repaired—Vacuum tube and solid-state amplifiers, musical instrument amplifiers repaired and restored. All makes and models. I specialize in vintage amplifiers. Visit crossfireelectronics.com or call (903) 436-1683.

Patterson Real Estate—If you’re looking to buy or sell property in the Grayson and Cooke counties area, please give me a call at (903) 814-3439.

Tractor work—Small to large acreages. Mowing, post holes, bucket work, rolled hay moving, level driveways, fence repair, tree removal, fence row clearing and trash removal, fertilizing and seeding. Call (972) 832-0120.

Garage door and opener services— Residential and commercial, since 1982. Having door problems? Call Glenn at (903) 819-6064.

Chimney and fireplace services—Hale’s Chimney Cleaning and Repair. Chimney and fireplace services for all of North Texas since 1993. Repairs, inspections, cleaning and chimney caps. Dryer vent cleaning also. Call (972) 562-6851 or visit haleschimney.com.

Décor hanging—Your walls called and they’re tired of being naked. Let us hang your art, plaques and mirrors. Call museum couple Connie and Mitch at (214) 7356187.

Scott’s CNC & Laser—We do custom wood signs, engraving and plastic 3D printing. Call (903) 741-8320.

Member Market Advertising Form

Category (check one): ○ For Sale ○ For Rent or Lease ○ Free ○ Services ○ Wanted

Type or print your ad below and mail to: Savanna Chandler, Grayson-Collin EC, P.O. Box 548, Van Alstyne, TX 75495

NAME

PHONE ( )

AD

Advertising Policy

Advertising in GCEC’s Member Market is a free service offered to our co-op members. As we have more than 40,000 members, we often have more ads submitted than we have space to print. Please limit ads to 25 words or fewer and submit only one ad per month. Ads will be placed on a first-come, first-served basis. Ads must be submitted before the 28th of each month to run in the next possible Texas Co-op Power (i.e., May 28 for the July issue). We reserve the right to refuse any ads. Ads must be resubmitted each month to run more than one month. Do not submit ads on the back of your payment stub. These stubs are processed automatically because we receive hundreds of payments daily. Ads for commercial businesses will be printed only if space allows after all other ads are placed.

Handyman—Scott’s Home Remodeling and Handyman. Bathroom remodel, deck, painting, flooring, cabinet maker. Small or big. Contact Scott Randolph at (903) 7057009 or scottshomeremodeling.com.

Violin and piano instruction—Dr. Rand Certain, owner of Certain Music Studios, offers violin, piano and music theory instruction. Contact (469) 671-6078 or certainmusicstudio@gmail.com or visit certainmusic.net.

Guitar lessons—Available for any age. I will come to you, or come to the studio on Liberty Road off U.S. Highway 377 in Gordonville. Text (469) 418-6600.

Landscape/Irrigation install—Over 25 years of experience. Consultation, landscape design, plant material broker. Residents of Anna Town Square receive 10% discount. Email Ken at krhellwig@gmail.com or text (214) 912-8399.

Howe Metal Works—Custom CNC and welding. Fences, gates, awnings, etc. Call Zach at (903) 815-3353.

Lashes—Get naturally flawless lashes at La’Bomb Lashes! Custom, classic, hybrid or volume sets tailored to your features. Book your glow up today at labomblashes.com.

Windows—Tired of drafty, outdated windows spiking your energy bills? Get musthave custom windows. Energy-efficient, stylish solutions! Free estimate. Email info@ labombthings.com

B&B Small Engine Repair—We specialize in servicing and repairing air-cooled small engines. Lawn mowers, weed eaters, blowers, chain saws, generators and more! We offer fast and reliable repairs, affordable pricing, and friendly and personal service. Pickup and delivery can be arranged. Call (214) 631-9761.

DID YOU KNOW?

On May 11, 1935, the Rural Electrification Administration was created to bring electricity to rural America.

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Power and Light

BY JESSICA RIDGE

BEFORE THE PASSAGE OF THE Rural Electrification Act nearly a century ago, in the depths of the Great Depression, most U.S. farmsteads made do in the dark while their neighbors in cities a few miles away experienced a higher standard of living. Investor-owned utilities didn’t deem it profitable to run miles of power lines across the countryside.

Without electric lights and appliances, farm families cooked over smoky woodstoves, read and studied under kerosene lamps, and performed laborious agricultural chores by hand.

By the mid-1930s, change was afoot, thanks in large part to a dedicated and diplomatic Texan intent on the empowerment of rural communities. The REA,

enacted 90 years ago this month—May 20, 1936—made available low-cost federal loans to rural landowners who had banded together in hopes of threading the countryside with electric lines.

Electric cooperatives were born, starting with the first, Bartlett Electric Cooperative in Central Texas.

Before the REA, only around 10% of U.S. farms had electricity. By 1950, the federal financing the legislation shook loose had helped electrify nearly 80% of farms. Today, more than 900 co-ops power rural and suburban residents.

A 1960 Department of Agriculture video describes electricity as “magic from nowhere and everywhere” and details “the drab, colorless days” before

its rural availability. The video colorizes a black-and-white sequence, demonstrating the life-changing force of electricity coursing through the home of the fictional family it depicts.

Similar transformations, effected many times across prewar rural landscapes nationwide, were largely enabled by the efforts and advocacy of U.S. Rep. Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn, who cosponsored the REA legislation with Nebraska Sen. George Norris.

Rayburn, born in Tennessee, moved with his family to an unelectrified Fannin County farm, in North Texas, when he was 5, in 1887.

He attended grade school through law school in Texas and served in the Legislature before catapulting to Congress in 1913, where he set records as the longestserving speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives—17 years over 10 sessions spanning the 1930s to 1960s, accrued piecemeal during his near-half-century tenure.

Rayburn didn’t forget his former neighbors. In his papers, housed at the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas, a March 1938 thank-you on Fannin County Electric Cooperative letterhead notes the co-op’s progress in installing its first 110 miles of line, thanks to a $100,000 REA requisition.

In July 1940, Farmers Electric Cooperative sent its own note to Rayburn, chiefly attributing to him the REA’s “birth and success.” Included was a precursor to this magazine, a monthly newsletter called the REA Co-op Message, which included a rundown of the co-op’s recent annual meeting, a list of new members and updates about members’ appliance purchases.

Readers learned that member W.C. McKay had installed an electric range at home. “Naturally,” the newsletter reads, “Mrs. McKay is very happy.”

She wasn’t alone. Thanks to Rayburn, life in Co-op Country was changed forever. D

Mom’s Favorites

Recipes perfected and passed down through the years

BY VIANNEY RODRIGUEZ, FOOD EDITOR

This salad smells like home. Growing up, my mami had a beautiful garden where she harvested the juiciest cucumbers and tomatoes. Sliced, tossed with panela and drizzled with her homemade dressing, I could eat this salad every day. I’m thrilled to share a dish my mami and I still enjoy together.

Tomato Cucumber Panela Salad

2 cups halved cherry tomatoes

2 medium cucumbers, diced

1 package panela cheese (16 ounces), cubed

1/2 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons white vinegar

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground black pepper

1 bunch cilantro, finely minced

1. Place tomatoes, cucumbers and panela in a bowl.

2. In another bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, lime juice, salt and pepper until well blended. Stir in cilantro.

3. Pour dressing over salad, stir to combine and store in fridge until ready to serve.

SERVES 4

Follow Vianney Rodriguez as she cooks in Cocina Gris at sweetlifebake.com, where she features a recipe for Frida Kahlo’s Ensalada de Calabacín.

Lasagna

DANI DECESARO

TRINITY VALLEY EC

DeCesaro’s Norwegian mom married an Italian man and perfected this recipe alongside her sister. It has become a wonderful memory for the entire family.

3 quarts plus 1/3 cup water, divided use 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon salt, divided use

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

9 lasagna noodles

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter

1 pound ground beef

1/4 cup minced onion

1/4 cup dried parsley flakes

1/8 teaspoon garlic salt

2 tablespoons flour

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1 can evaporated milk (12 ounces)

1 can tomato paste (12 ounces)

1 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced into 18 pieces

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

2. Bring 3 quarts water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt and oil. Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and place noodles on paper towels.

3. Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, onion, parsley and garlic salt. Cook, breaking up ground beef with spoon.

4. When fully cooked, reduce heat to simmer, and stir in remaining 1 teaspoon salt, flour, pepper and oregano until well combined.

$500 WINNER

Mom’s Fresh Apple Bars

DIANE KORUS KARNES EC

Korus’ mom enjoyed these bars in the afternoon with a cup of coffee, and I have to agree that these babies are the ultimate afternoon snack. Packed with fresh apples and a sinfully sweet streusel topping, these bars are a crowd pleaser.

STREUSEL

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened

BARS

2/3 cup shortening

2 cups light brown sugar

$500 Recipe Contest

CAMPFIRE FAVORITES DUE MAY 10

2 eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten 1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups flour

1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 cups peeled and chopped Granny Smith apple (about 1 large or 2 medium apples)

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1. STREUSE L In a bowl, combine flour, sugar and butter. Mix until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

2. BARS Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9-by-13-inch pan with cooking spray.

3. In a large bowl, beat shortening and brown sugar on medium speed until smooth. Add eggs, salt and vanilla and mix until combined, scraping down sides as needed.

4. With a spatula, stir in flour, cinnamon and baking powder until well combined. Gently fold in apples and pecans.

5. Spread batter into prepared pan and sprinkle with streusel. Bake 35–40 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

SERVES 12

For our October issue, we’re eager to pass around treats and meals to munch on while gathered around the flames. Fire off your best recipe for a chance at winning $500.

UPCOMING: CRANBERRY HARVEST DUE JUN 10

RECIPES CONTINUED

5. Add evaporated milk and remaining 1/3 cup water. Cover and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in tomato paste until well combined.

6. Layer three noodles on bottom of prepared pan. Spread 1/2 meat sauce over noodles, then layer on 3 more noodles and top with 1/2 of cheese. Add remaining 3 noodles. Top with remaining meat sauce and remaining cheese.

7. Bake about 30 minutes, until cheese is melted and begins to brown.

SERVES 8

Yankee Cake

CHUCK BURGESS

HEART OF TEXAS EC

Burgess’ mom was from Texas, his dad from New York. His dad’s family shared this cake recipe with Mom. It’s now a family favorite and sure to be your new

favorite too. This Yankee Cake is a cinnamony sweet surprise sprinkled with sugar and nuts.

2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, divided use

7 tablespoons (7/8 stick) butter, softened, divided use

1 egg

1/2 cup heavy cream

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1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9-by-13-inch pan with cooking spray.

2. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, salt and baking powder.

3. In a large bowl, beat 1 cup sugar and 5 tablespoons butter at medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and add egg, heavy cream, milk and vanilla. Mix until combined, scraping down sides.

4. Add flour mixture and mix until combined.

5. Spread batter evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar plus cinnamon and nuts. Dot with remaining 2 tablespoons butter.

6. Bake 25–30 minutes, until edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

SERVES 12

South Poles

Panna Maria museum shows off Polish heritage in a big way

BY CHET GARNER

LOTS OF FOLKS know Texas for its Mexican flavors, its German beer halls and its Czech kolache. But mention our Polish history, and most won’t know where to start, even though Texas is home to the oldest permanent Polish settlement in America.

I’ll admit, before visiting the small community of Panna Maria, I didn’t grasp how deep our Polish roots run. But fortunately, I found the Polish Heritage Center ready to educate me and the rest of Texas.

Panna Maria (population about 40) sits quietly on the rolling plains of Karnes County about an hour southeast of San Antonio.

The entire community revolves around two blocks. On one sits the picturesque Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, which dates to 1855. And on the next is the stately Polish Heritage Center, which dates to 2021. I have visited more than my fair share of smalltown museums, but nothing could prepare me for what I found inside this state-of-the-art facility.

After signing my name in the guest book next to visitors from the Polish capital of Warsaw and beyond, I stepped into an immersive experience that transported me to 1854, when a group of Polish immigrants held Mass under the oak trees just outside the church and decided to call Panna Maria home. The museum went on to tell the story of the culture, faith and struggles of this community, including its influence on modern life in Texas.

The history unfolds through hand-embroidered clothing, family photos, tools and letters carried across the Atlantic. It’s so well done that it would impress visitors in any big city, making it all the more amazing in tiny Panna Maria.

Texas is a patchwork of cultures, accents and traditions. Thanks to the Polish Heritage Center, one of our more overlooked threads is finally getting the spotlight it deserves. D

ABOVE Chet stops at a painting in the Polish Heritage Center in Panna Maria showing the first Catholic Mass after immigrants reached the site on Christmas Eve in 1854.

Watch the video on our website and see all of Chet’s Texplorations on The Daytripper on PBS.

Know Before You Go

Call ahead or check an event’s website for scheduling details, and check our website for many more upcoming events.

9

Brenham [8–9] Maifest, (979) 451-0621, brenhammaifest.com

Round Top [8–10] Fine Art Festival at the Compound, (281) 236-3821, bit.ly/fafatthecompound

Nacogdoches Scottish Highland Games and Festival, (936) 371-3072, nacscottishgames.com

Palestine Mother’s Day Lunch Train, 1-855-632-7729, texasstaterailroad.net

Stonewall Williams Creek (Albert) School Open House, (830) 685-3321, historicschools.org

14

Giddings [14–16] Lee County Fair, info@leecountyfairtx.com, leecountyfairtx.com

15

Columbus [15–16] Magnolia Days Festival, (979) 732-8385, magnoliadays.org

Grapevine [15–17] Main Street Fest, (817) 410-3185, grapevinetexasusa.com

16

17

Fredericksburg Classic Truck Show, (830) 990-4433, pecangrovestore.com

Greenville Knights of Columbus Mayfest, (903) 455-9062, donvinson75402@gmail.com

Fredericksburg Thomas Pandolfi, fredericksburg musicclub.com

21

22

Grapeland [21–23] Salmon Lake Park Gospel Bluegrass Festival, (936) 687-2594, slpbluegrass.com

Kerrville [21–June 7] Folk Festival, (830) 257-3600, kerrvillefolkfestival.org

Granbury [22–24] Memorial Day Weekend Festival, (682) 936-4550, granburysquare.com

Kerrville [22–24] Texas Masters of Fine Art & Craft Show, (469) 223-4162, texasmasters.com

23

Chappell Hill Artwalk on Main Street, (979) 337-9910, chappellhilltx.com

Hondo Heritage Hike, (830) 660-6908, bit.ly/hondohike

Levelland [23–25] Panhandle Cutting Horse Association Show, (325) 518-1424, panhandlecha.com

29

Corsicana Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, (903) 874-7792, corsicanapalace.com JUNE

5 Fort Worth [5–7] Hadestown, (817) 212-4280, basshall.com

Yoakum [5–7] Tom Tom Festival, (361) 293-2309, yoakumareachamber.com

San Antonio [5–August 1] Fiesta Noche del Rio, (210) 226-4651, fiestanochesa.com Submit Your Event

We pick events for the magazine directly from TexasCoopPower.com. Submit your August event by June 1, and it just might be featured in this calendar.

Caught Napping

1 PAUL LAUDER FARMERS EC

“After a hard morning competing in the livestock show at the State Fair of Texas, a young competitor and her pet take a well-earned rest.”

2 REAGAN FERGUSON CENTRAL TEXAS EC

“A number of neighbors went to the CF Ranch in Clarksville to help with their cattle drive. Following the drive, this young lady laid claim to a few bales of hay.”

3 SHAWN DEAN DEEP EAST TEXAS EC

“My granddaughter took this of her horse’s new colt.”

4 GABRIELLE ETHINGTON PENTEX ENERGY

“Some friends raise kunekune pigs on a small farm outside of Nocona. I photographed this cutie napping in the front pasture area. It looks so happy.”

If you find yourself catching a catnap, needing 40 winks on the fly or sawing logs around your siblings, you’re in good company. Usually, if you snooze you lose. But these readers won’t be losing sleep anytime soon.

CURATED BY GRACE FULTZ

Upcoming Contests

RODEO DUE MAY 10

TAILGATING DUE JUN 10

RIDE THE RAILS DUE JUL 10

See Focus on Texas on our website for many more Caught Napping photos from readers.

Mother’s Days

They give a lot to their kids, but sometimes moms need a little bit back

BY CAYT CALHOUN

ILLUSTRATION BY ANNA GODEASSI

A PANG OF FEAR HIT as the gurney wheeled me away from my family. Months of testing brought me here, and within the hour, I would become my mom’s kidney donor.

Until that point, it struck me as odd when people asked if I was afraid. Why? I love her. That’s enough. And it was enough to bat away intrusive thoughts as the anesthesia took hold.

Those fleeting moments of anxiety paled in comparison to years of uncertainty.

I understood the crushing weight of losing a parent—my dad died before I turned 2. Between his death and the deterioration of my mom’s health, I tumbled through my adolescence fearing I’d lose both my parents before adulthood.

My mom received the IgA nephropathy

diagnosis when I was 10. At the time, I didn’t understand how to pronounce it, let alone grasp the complexities of an inflammatory kidney disease that has no cure and can be fatal.

But chronic illness doesn’t give you time to understand. It creeps in and presents itself with a slew of medications, revolving appointments and the enormously draining toll of it all. Despite everything, she expended energy she didn’t have on my behalf. It seemed effortless at the time. I know better now.

Back then it was easier to accept things at a blithe glance—because being anything other than willfully ignorant meant facing a hard reality. I convinced myself that her active role in my life meant all was well.

But I couldn’t pretend anymore. For a decade, I watched the quality of my mother’s life ebb and flow until her kidney function dwindled to a measly 19%. She had two options: dialysis or surgery. With no known viable donor, she was forced to choose the former.

It had been us against the world for as long as I could remember. What if she lost the ability to do the things she loved? What if I lost her? The scenarios I conjured in my mind felt suffocating.

Watching how nightly dialysis altered her life was heartbreaking. At that point, I didn’t have a choice. The voice in my head said the least I could do was try to give back to the person who gave me everything. So when co-workers, professors, peers and doctors asked if I was comfortable with donating a kidney at 20, I said yes emphatically. I don’t believe it was selfless. I selfishly wanted more time with my mom.

Luckily, we got it.

We’re now approaching the 10th anniversary of the donation, and I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to have been her donor. There may be a world out there in which I wasn’t qualified. There isn’t a world where I wouldn’t do anything for my mom. D

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