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• Central Cooling Systems - ENERGY STAR® qualified systems that may help save up to 20% on your annual energy costs§ • Siding - Weather resistant natural woodgrain texture panels • Replacement Windows - Energy efficient design, that may help reduce heating and cooling costs** • Roofing - Our shingles offer 60 - 130 MPH wind resistance limited warranties***

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Call to schedule your FREE in-home design consultation! Offer Code: 052-472 *IMPORTANT SPECIAL FINANCING/DEFERRED INTEREST DETAILS (when offered); Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the purchase balance is not paid in full within the promotional period or if you make a late payment. Minimum payments required. With credit approval, for qualifying purchases made on a Sears card (Sears Commercial One® accounts excluded) Sears Home Improvement Account (sm) valid on installed sales only. Offer is only valid for consumer accounts in good standing; is subject to change without notice; see store for details. May not be combined with any other promotional offer. Sears cards: As of 5/3/2016, APR for purchases: Variable 7.49%-27.49% or non-variable 14.00%-29.99%. Minimum interest charge: up to $2. See card agreement for details, including the APRs and fees applicable to you. Sears cards are issued by Citibank, N.A. **Applies only to ENERGY STAR® rated windows. Energy savings may vary depending on your home and windows selected. ***Ask your Sales Project Consultant about written limited warranty

details. §ENERGY STAR® estimates that ENERGY STAR® qualified cooling equipment, when properly sized and installed, can save up to 20% on your annual energy bills with a properly sealed duct system. Energy efficiency may vary depending on your home and climate. Home Improvement products not available in all areas. +See www.searshomeservices.com/shs/info/satisfaction-guarantee for Satisfaction Guarantee details. Sears Home Improvement Products, Inc. is a division of Sears Roebuck and Co. The ‘Sears Home Services’ brand logo is used with the permission of Sears, Roebuck and Co. ±The following licenses are held by or on behalf of Sears Home Improvement Products, Inc.: WI (Dwelling Contr. Cert. #15151; Dwelling Contr. Qualifier #982570; HVAC #15151); Some services performed by Sears’ associates. Other services and installation performed by Sears-Authorized licensed contractors; additional Sears license information available upon request.

VIEWPOINT 4[contents ]

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

EVENTS CALENDAR

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

NEWS CLIPS

INDUSTRY

FEATURE

RECIPES

GARDENING

OUTDOORS

ENERGY TIPS

FUNNY STORIES

DISCOVERIES

JUNE 2016 Volume 47, Number 06

Facebook Post, March 30 — Ron Ruhoff photographs Pikes Peak at sunset through wind turbines that dot Colorado's eastern plains.

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INSTAGRAM PIC OF THE MONTH

Colorado Country Life Posted:

Where's your favorite place to enjoy a spring day in Colorado?

[cover] A Albertosaurus sarcophagus greets visitors at Rocky Mountain Resource Center in Woodland Park. Photographed by Mona Neeley.

You Said:

Red Rocks- Colorado Springs Tobi Steinberg Lake City @ Castle Lakes campground!!! Tina Baldwin

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE COLORADO RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION COMMUNICATIONS STAFF: Mona Neeley, CCC, Publisher/Editor; mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org Cassi Gloe, Designer; cgloe@coloradocountrylife.org ADVERTISING: Kris Wendtland, Ad Rep; advertising@coloradocountrylife.org Colorado Country Life (USPS 469-400/ISSN 1090-2503) is published monthly by Colorado Rural Electric Association, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216-1731. Individual subscription rate: $9 per year for Colorado residents or $15 per year for out-of-state residents, taxes and postage included. Periodical postage paid at Denver, Colorado. © Copyright 2016, Colorado Rural Electric Association. Call for reprint rights. Subscribers: Report change of address to your local cooperative. Do not send change of address to Colorado Country Life. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216 Advertising Standards: Publication of an advertisement in Colorado Country Life does not imply endorsement by any Colorado rural electric cooperative or the Colorado Rural Electric Association. Editorial opinions published in Colorado Country Life magazine shall pertain to issues affecting rural electric cooperatives, rural communities and citizens. The opinion of CREA is not necessarily that of any particular cooperative or individual. EDITORIAL: Denver Corporate Office, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216; Phone: 303-455-4111 | mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org | coloradocountrylife.coop | facebook.com/COCountryLife | Twitter. com/COCountryLife | Pinterest.com/COCountryLife | YouTube.com/ COCountryLife1 Advertising: advertising@coloradocountrylife.org | 303-902-7276 National Advertising Representative: National Country Market | 611 S. Congress Street, Suite 504 | Austin, TX 78704 | 800-626-1181

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[viewpoint]

2016: A Successful Legislative Session BY KENT SINGER

CREA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

With the completion of the 2016 legislative session, we want to say "thank you" to legislators on both sides of the aisle for passing bills that aided Colorado’s electric coop members. The Colorado General Assembly adjourned for 2016 on May 11 after completing Kent Singer the latest 120-day session. And with that, our staff breathed a sigh of relief. The Colorado Rural Electric Association monitors all of the bills introduced in the legislature each year to determine whether they will have any impact on the business operations of member co-ops or their member-owners. CREA supports or opposes individual bills after discussion with and at the direction of its board of directors. Although some commentators suggested that the 2016 legislative session was a failure since the General Assembly failed to address big issues like transportation and Medicaid funding, CREA sees 2016 as a productive legislative session. As I reported in the February issue of Colorado Country Life, CREA initiated a bill relating to co-op board elections to clarify a couple of provisions in the current Colorado law. That bill, SB 16-055, revised the co-op board election statute in two ways. First, the bill made it clear that votes cast for candidates for electric co-op boards will be counted regardless of whether or not they are returned in a security envelope. Second, the bill clarified that while candidates for co-op boards are entitled to audit the results of the board elections, they are not entitled to be present when the votes are counted by third parties. This change recognized that, in some cases, co-ops use out-of-state firms to count ballots, and it’s not practical for the candidates to travel to these locations. SB 16-055 passed unanimously in both the Colorado House and the Senate and was signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper on

JUNE 2016

KSINGER@COLORADOREA.ORG

March 23. We are grateful for the leadership of state Sen. Kevin Grantham (R-Cañon City) and state Rep. Dominick Moreno (DAdams County) in carrying the bill and shepherding it through the Senate and House. While we thought that SB 16-055 might be the only bill we would initiate this year, about halfway through the session we became aware of another issue that required a legislative fix. Since 1980, electricity sales to residential users were exempt from Colorado state sales tax. Like many other exemptions from

the sales tax, certain basic necessities like food and electricity used in residences were exempted from the tax by the legislature. However, in a recent audit the Colorado Department of Revenue determined that one of our member co-ops should have been collecting sales taxes on the sale of electricity to any account that is not in the name of an individual. So even though the use of the electricity was for residential purposes, the state concluded that the tax applied.

Once again, we sought bipartisan support for a bill, HB 16-1457, that addressed this situation. The bill made it clear that if a coop applies its residential rate to an account, the co-op is entitled to presume that the account holder is using the property for residential purposes and therefore the co-op is not required to collect sales tax. The bill also added definitions of the terms “residence” and “residential use” to make it clear that multiunit apartments that are billed under one meter are exempt from the sales tax. These clarifications codify the practice that has been in place at the Department of Revenue for many years. HB 16-1457 also sailed through both chambers of the legislature with unanimous support, and we are grateful to the prime sponsors, state Reps. Alec Garnett (D-Denver) and Jim Wilson (R-Salida) and state Sens. Tim Neville (R-Jefferson County) and Leroy Garcia (D-Pueblo) for their work on the bill. We’re also grateful for the efforts of the whole team of co-op lawyers and lobbyists who assisted us in crafting the right language for the bill and moving it through the process. We were successful sponsoring legislation in each of the past two legislative sessions because, as an organization, we bring legitimate issues to the legislature and seek commonsense, bipartisan solutions. We appreciate the willingness of both Democrats and Republicans to hear our concerns and help us work out issues of importance to Colorado’s electric co-ops. Although some people suggest that the Colorado legislature is just as fractured and deadlocked as the United States Congress, that has not been our experience. Just remember: While a lot of important issues were not resolved this year, at least our legislature balances the books and allows open hearings on hundreds of pieces of legislation. Maybe the U.S. Congress should take a few notes.

Kent Singer, Executive Director

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[letters] Baseball Banter

I especially enjoyed reading “For the Love of Baseball” by Sharon Sullivan (May ’16). I knew the Junior College World Series was big for Grand Junction and the state and appreciated all of the background. I also appreciated her writing about the Rockies farm team. Great story. My wife and I enjoy your magazine. She especially enjoys the recipes and it’s always nice to read about the employees we know. First class magazine, one you can be proud of. Paul Matlock, Pagosa Springs

Concern for the Grid

My wife and I enjoy Colorado Country Life. Thank you for [this] source for great industry information and news. I was really interested in the recent articles on the greatly increased power reliability from all providers, large and small. I completely concur with these articles. However, I have noticed an increase in news from other sources regarding our power grid resiliency in light of possible electromagnetic pulses and cyber attacks, as well as physical attacks to our electric power infrastructure. [Articles on this topic] would be of extreme interest to me (and many others I am sure) given our world events and the recent proliferation of interconnected services and technologies, along with the worldwide Internet. Jim Porter, Poudre Valley REA member

Energy Conservation

In response to the short article ("Electric Use Drops," May ’16), couldn’t part of the reason that electricity sales fell in 2015 be that people are shutting off unused lights and electric items? This has been asked of the public for years and years. Why do they not mention that possibility in the article? M. Cary via email

Send Us a Letter Send your letter to the editor to 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org. You must include your name and address to be published. Letters may be edited. coloradocountrylife.coop

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TIME TO REGISTER:

2016 PEDAL THE PLAINS

When you register: Register as a team — Pull down menu to: Colorado’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives After you register with Pedal the Plains send an email to cgloe@coloradocountrylife.org with your Touchstone Energy jersey size and let us know you are on the team.

3-DAY RACE SEPTEMBER 16-18 ORDWAY, CO FOWLER, CO LA JUNTA, CO

It is going to be a great ride — join us! 4

JUNE 2016

[calendar] [June] June 9 Durango Quilt Trunk Show

First United Methodist Church 5:30 pm • lpqgdurango.com June 10-11 Pueblo Barbed Wire and Collectibles Show Colorado State Fairgrounds’ Creative Arts Building 719-989-0201 • coloradostatefair.com June 11 Akron Charity Poker Run/Motorcycle and Car Run Washington County Event Center john2nree@gmail.com June 11-12 Buena Vista Collegiate Peaks Stampede Rodeo Rodeo Grounds buenavistacolorado.org June 11 Fort Collins Big Splash at the Water Works Water Works 10 am-3 pm • 970-221-0533 June 11 Grand Junction Pancake Day & Fun Fest Two Rivers Convention Center 7 am-2pm • kiwanis-gj.org June 11 Mancos “Gourd Ocean Drum” Workshop Artist’s Studio 10 am-4 pm • schoolofthewest.org June 11-12 Grand Lake Arts and Crafts Fair Town Square Park grandlakechamber.com June 11-12 Rye American Indian Festival Rye Home United Methodist Church 10 am • 719-676-3741 June 12 Durango Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Barn Dance and Picnic Fundraiser River Bend Ranch 5-8 pm • 512-517-5619 6

JUNE 2016

June 13 Colorado Springs Golf Tournament Colorado Springs Country Club 719-347-7638 • coccenter.org June 17-18 Calhan Summer Rummage Sale Whittemore Hall at the El Paso County Fairgrounds 8 am-3 pm lynn_anderson32@yahoo.com June 17 Durango Demonstration Garden Tour Durango Public Library 9:30 am • 970-769-3091 June 18-19 Durango Dinosaur Train™ Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad 888-872-4607 • durangotrain.com June 18 Fort Collins Tea on the Avery Lawn Avery House 10 am-1 pm • 970-221-0533 June 18 Fraser Pet Pals “Doggie Drag” Grand Park 9 am-12 pm • 970-887-2988 June 18 Holyoke Dandelion Daze Courthouse Lawn 970-854-3517 • holyokechamber.org June 18 Loveland and Surrounding Areas Garden Tour and Art Show View lakeside gardens 8 am-3 pm • 970-669-7182 June 18 Pagosa Springs Relay for Life Celebration Town Park 10 am-10 pm • 970-507-0345 June 18 Peyton Peyton Country Fair and Market Front Street 8 am-8 pm facebook.com/peytoncountryfair/

“Little Women” Musical Theater Performances

June 17-18 and 24-25, 7:30 pm, at the Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre, Trinidad Sisters Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth await your presence in a musical theater performance based on the novel Little Women. Whether you read the classic or not, this is a story your whole family will enjoy. Additional showings through September 3. For more information, call 719-846-4765 or visit scrtheatre.com. June 23 Durango “Celebrating the National Park Service in the Southwest” Opening Reception Fort Lewis College’s Center of Southwest Studies 4-6 pm • 970-247-7456 June 24-26 Estes Park Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Bond Park 303-449-9596 estesmidsummer.com

[July] July 2 Durango Durango Half Marathon Animas Valley Elementary 7:30 am durangohalfmarathon.com July 2 Granby Community Breakfast and Fly-In Grand County Airport 7-11 am • 970-531-9641

June 25 Bayfield Bayberry Jam Music Festival Eagle Park 1-7 pm • sites.google.com/site/ baammusicboosters

July 2 La Veta Spanish Peaks Music Festival LeVeta Airport on Highway 12 4 pm spanishpeaksmusicfestival.com

June 25-26 Colorado Springs and Surrounding Areas Parade of Ponds Self-guided pond and waterfall tour 9 am-5 pm • 719-896-0038

July 4 Kiowa Independence Day Celebration Elbert County Museum grounds 10 am-3 pm elbertcountymuseum.org

June 25 Dove Creek Dolores County Jr. Rodeo Series Dolores County Fairgrounds 9 am • 970-677-2283 June 25 Meeker Moto Mayhem Rio Blanco County Fairgrounds 8 am-10 pm montrosemotomayhem.com June 29-July 4 Gardner Rocky Mountain Star Stare Starry Meadows • rmss.org

SEND CALENDAR ITEMS

TWO MONTHS IN ADVANCE TO: Calendar, Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216; fax to 303455-2807; or email calendar@ coloradocountrylife.org. For more information on these activities, visit coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Community Events and discover what’s happening. coloradocountrylife.coop

] YAMPA VALLEY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, [INC.

[YVEA News] PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

BY DIANE JOHNSON || PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER || DJOHNSON@YVEA.COM

When summer approaches and we’re preparing for the time-honored tradition of our annual meeting and board of directors election, I’m reminded of Yampa Valley Electric Association’s past — how, in order to provide electricity to a special, hard-to-serve part of Colorado we joined together, in a cooperative effort.

Diane Johnson

Today, the annual meeting and elections bring a flurry of activity for us: sending out lots of articles and communication about the meeting and making sure that every member receives an election ballot. We spend months preparing the agenda, the guests, the presentations and, of course, the food. We diligently set up the election process, from nominations to opening ballots, ensuring that everyone’s vote is counted. It’s an important time for us at YVEA. But, why, after so many decades do we still think that having this business meeting and electing directors is so important? In the fast-paced, electronic world we all live in, why should such an old-fashioned event matter? The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association writes: “Technology and business innovations are rewriting the utility playbook by transforming the industry.” Yes, the future of YVEA will look different, but it will also reflect the long-

standing heart of our business model — member ownership and having a voice. The annual meetings and voting reinforce that this is your business and you have a say in what happens. We encourage you to vote and attend the meeting, if you can. Exercise your rights as member-owners and influence decisions. As the industry transforms, we will see other businesses and companies jump into energy. Last week, I received a flyer from my cable television provider explaining that I could buy green power through the company. Later in the week, I was also approached by a company that said it could offset all of my power with renewable energy and I could just have my bill go to the company and the company would pay YVEA. As you watch this industry grow and change, I encourage you to cautiously evaluate companies that say they can provide new, special, green and innovative ways to give you electricity. Make sure the company

is reputable and that what they are selling is logical and legitimate. Tell the salesperson about our cooperative model and ask whether, in their business model, you have a vote or ownership in the business. As a cooperative, we have been providing new electricity solutions since 1940. We are stretching, growing, changing and innovating to serve you better, but always with member ownership as our focus. If someone tells you they have a better electricity bargain for you, recall what they say about things that are too good to be true. And, before you sign on the dotted line, make sure it’s actually good for you. If you are contacted by a company and you don’t quite understand what it is selling, call us. We can help you sort through it and make a smart decision. We’ve been bringing electric service to our members for decades. Let us help you as the market and the industry changes.

HOLIDAYS The Annual Meeting of Yampa Valley Electric Association, Inc. will be held at the Hayden High School Auditorium, 495 W. Jefferson Ave., Hayden, Colorado, on Thursday June 23, 2016. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow. If you plan to join us, look for a postage paid RSVP card enclosed with your ballot or RSVP by June 13, 2016.

coloradocountrylife.coop

Flag Day— June 14 Father’s Day— June 19 Summer Solstice— June 20 4

JUNE 2016

[YVEA News] NEW! “THE POWER LINE” Your positive energy resource at YVEA At YVEA, we strive to provide the best service, response time and value to our members. In May, we began our new column, “The Power Line,” to address many commonly asked questions that we are receiving from members. QUESTION OF THE MONTH: “What is the best form of heat to install in my home?” While YVEA cannot specifically answer that question, we can share how to convert between energy costs. First things first: Let’s have a little educational session on energy. Energy is defined as the ability of a system to perform work. In most cases, people are concerned with the work of heating their homes. In the case of electricity, the energy is an electric charge through the wires and the case of natural gas or propane, the energy is generated when the gas is burned and converted to thermal energy to heat the home. Energy is not measured the same for electricity as it is for propane and natural gas heaters. Most electric heaters will be rated in watts, while propane and natural gas heaters will be rated in Btu, or British thermal units, per hour. These are not energy ratings but, instead, power ratings; energy is how long you use power. To convert from the power rating to the energy rating, you need to multiply the rated power by how long you plan to use the heater in hours. This results in the following units of energy that you will be billed for at the end of the month. Electricity: kWh (kilowatt-hour) Propane: Btu Natural gas: Btu You might not see Btu on your bill at the end of the month but instead gallons or ccf. Just realize that a gallon of propane and a ccf (100 cubic feet) of natural gas is equal to 91,333 Btu and 102,800 Btu respectively. With this information, we are left with the following to convert to energy. Electricity: kWh Propane: gallons x 91,333 Btu = Btu Natural gas: ccf x 102,800 Btu = Btu We can now relate the cost of propane and natural gas. If you multiply your natural gas cost by 1.1256 and it is higher than the cost of 1 gallon of propane, then propane is cheaper. If you multiply your propane cost by 0.8885 and it is higher than the cost of 1 ccf of natural gas, then natural gas is cheaper.

JUNE 2016

Finally, let’s convert from Btu to kWh: Cost per gallon of propane / ( 91,333 x 0.000293071 ) = cost of 1 kWh of propane Cost per ccf of natural gas / ( 102,800 x 0.000293071) = cost of 1 kWh of natural gas To make things easier, here is a chart that allows you to compare different energy sources. Compare to

Cost of Electricity (kWh)

Cost of Propane (gal)

Cost of Natural Gas* (ccf)

Cost of Electricity (kWh)

Cost of Propane (gal)

Cost of Natural Gas (ccf)

** Example: If you wanted to convert electric costs to compare to natural gas, you would multiply your electric costs by 30.12956 to compare that number to cost of natural gas. ANSWER: Unfortunately, choosing your heating system isn’t quite as simple as comparing the rates as different types of heat are more efficient. Electric heat isn’t quite 100 percent efficient but it’s close, while propane and gas systems are going to range from 50 percent all the way up to 90 percent depending on the age of your system. Additionally, there is more to a bill than just these charges. Some companies might charge differently for other ancillary charges. There are also sometimes availability charges and different rebates. At a minimum, we hope that this helps you to compare apples to apples. A big thank you to YVEA’s engineering team for helping put this information together. If you have any more questions on this topic, please send your questions to questions@yvea.com and we will do our best to get you an answer. Source: eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=about_energy_units

coloradocountrylife.coop

TO SERVE YOU BETTER…

[YVEA News]

Yampa Valley Electric Association completed phase I of its pilot portion of the advanced metering infrastructure project at the end of December 2015 with much success.

In April and May, we deployed meters to our members on the west side of Steamboat, Milner and surrounding areas that receive power from our Airport substation. Beginning in June, we will deploy meters to our members who reside in the downtown area including Old Town, Brooklyn and Fairview that receive power from our Brooklyn substation. We will finish the summer of 2016 with deployment in south Routt from the Keystone substation in order to reach meters that are sometimes not accessible during the winter. • Members will receive a phone call a few days prior to YVEA being in their area • Members do not need to be at home in order for YVEA to install a new meter • I n most cases, power will not be interrupted. But if power is interrupted for a few minutes, you may have to reset your electronic devices YVEA will leave a courtesy notice on your door when the meter installation is completed. If members have any access issues, i.e., gate codes we do not know about or safety concerns that we should have advanced knowledge of, we ask that you call us at 970-879-1160. For detailed up-to-date information and a map of deployment in your neighborhood and subdivision, please visit our website at www.yvea.com. We also created an icon on our website next to our Facebook and Twitter icons for easy access to AMI information.

Don’t Let Unsafe Actions Make Waves in Summer Fun

Keep you and your loved ones safe while enjoying water recreation activities this summer. Be sure to check weather forecasts. Postpone your plans if a thunderstorm is expected, as the risks for lightning strikes are especially high in or near bodies of water. Remember the advice from the National Weather Service: “When thunder roars, go indoors.” According to the NWS, 64 percent of lightning fatalities occur during outdoor recreation activities. You are not safe from lightning strikes while outside, so once you hear thunder, get to a safe shelter, such as an enclosed building with electricity or plumbing or an enclosed metal-topped vehicle with its windows up. Wait until at least 30 minutes pass without thunder to return outside. Be aware of your surroundings. Always check the location of nearby power lines before boating or fishing. Make sure you are casting the line away from power lines to avoid potential contact. Do not raise a mast or antenna when your boat is near a power line. Never attempt to move a power line out of the way so that a boat can pass underneath. Maintain a safe distance of at least 10 feet between your boat

coloradocountrylife.coop

and nearby power lines. Keep in mind that water levels are constantly changing, altering the distance between the water and the line. If your boat does come in contact with a power line, do not enter the water. The water could be energized. Instead, stay in the boat and avoid touching anything metal until help arrives or until your boat is no longer in contact with the line. Do not swim around docks with electrical equipment or boats plugged into shore power. If you are in the water and feel a tingle of electric current, shout to let others know, try to stay upright, tuck your legs up to make yourself smaller and swim away from anything that could be energized. Do not head to boat or dock ladders to get out. If you see someone who you suspect is getting shocked, do not immediately jump in to save them. Throw them a float, turn off the shore power connection at the meter base and/or unplug shore power cords. Try to eliminate the source of electricity as quickly as possible; then call for help. To help prevent the risk of electricity entering the water, have your boat and dock electrical systems regularly inspected and maintained by a professional familiar with marine electrical codes.

WORK IN PROGRESS UPDATE

SPRING IS FINALLY HERE! Spring and mud season is here. As the weather warms and the snow melts, members may notice winter weather created additional cleanup requirements in some Yampa Valley Electric Association fall 2015 project areas. As soon as spring conditions become dry enough, YVEA will make every effort to return affected areas to near preconstruction condition where possible. If you have a concern or notice an area of last fall’s construction needing attention, please contact Cynthia Reed at 970-871-2297 with the address and a description of the situation. YVEA will schedule reclamation to the affected areas as soon as field conditions allow.

4 JUNE 2016

[YVEA News] Staying Ahead of the Sun

Co-op leadership in community solar energy helps craft a new industry BY PAUL WESSLUND

Co-ops such as Yampa Valley Electric are leading the way in community solar energy initiatives. What are community solar programs? These cooperatively built “farms” of solar panels, such as YVEA’s project at Craig, allow co-op members to share in a photovoltaic installation that generates electricity from the sun. “Co-ops are way ahead of the industry in community solar energy,” says Andrew Cotter, program and product manager for renewable and distributed generation with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Electric co-op involvement with different types of solar energy projects grew from enough photovoltaic projects to produce 3 megawatts of electricity in 2009, to 176 MW in 36 different states by the end of 2015, says NRECA strategic analyst Michael Leitman. He adds that with another 375 MW in the planning stages, by 2018 co-op involvement in solar will triple. “Cooperative involvement in solar en-

ergy has risen very quickly over the last few years,” Leitman says. “And 70 percent of the community solar programs in the country are run by electric co-ops.” Among the new approaches called for by solar energy are ways to assure safety in the way solar panels are connected to power lines and how to design electric rates in ways that benefit all members of the co-op. Electric co-ops are even examining ways to overcome one of solar energy’s biggest hurdles — producing electricity at night, in weather and in parts of the country with limited sunshine. Battery storage technology is improving, and one NRECA idea — community storage — recognizes that energy is stored in the hot water of home electric water heaters. Specially-designed electric rates and power line technology could link all those water heaters into one giant community battery. In addition, NRECA participates on a number of codes and standards committees, tackling the most urgent safety and

Solar energy has created special excitement recently, with electricity generation from photovoltaic cells growing at 30 percent annually for the past two years. At that rate, it will still take a long time for solar to play a major role in energy production. By the end of 2015, solar energy was producing less than 1 percent of the nation’s electricity. Electric cooperatives are leading the way in solar energy projects that will provide valuable information in how to best use solar energy as its use becomes more widespread.

operational issues to keep co-op members and staff safe and ensure a reliable grid. That’s just one of the ways that co-op leadership in solar technology could maximize the usefulness of photovoltaics. Paul Wesslund writes on energy topics for the National Rural Electric Association.

RETROFITTING YOUR MANUFACTURED HOME FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY 1

Install energy-efficient windows and doors

Replace insulation in the belly

Make general repairs (seal bottom board, caulk windows, doors, ducts, etc.)

Add insulation to your walls

Install or seal belly wrap

Add insulation to your roof or install a roof cap

6 1

Original artwork provided by Touchstone Energy ® Cooperatives

JUNE 2016

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[news clips] Co-op Communicators Win National Awards Seven national awards came home to Colorado after a recent national electric co-op communications conference. Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association took the top prize, winning the 2016 Edgar F. Chesnutt Award for best total communication program for its “Power” campaign. The star of this program is the familiar “Power” robot-like guy that has made appearances at electric co-ops and coop events around Colorado this past year, as well as appearing in Tri-State advertising in Colorado Country Life. Power was designed to give Tri-State’s member co-ops a way to draw attention to how electricity (power) fuels communities that depend on electric co-ops. Tri-State also won a Gold Award for its communication program, as well as Gold Awards for best graphic design, best wild card and best special publication. Mountain View Electric Association, headquartered in Limon, won a Silver Award for best column and Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association, headquartered in Fort Collins, won a Silver Award for best individual ad.

Grand Valley Power board Vice President Rod Martinez presents the Palisade High Schools team with its Matchwits trophy.

Co-ops Sponsor Final West Slope Matchwits Battle Colorado’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives congratulate Palisade High School, the 2016 Matchwits champions. The final quiz of the Sunday evening show on Rocky Mountain PBS was between Grand Junction High School and Palisade High School, with the Palisade Bulldogs coming out the victors. The electric co-ops helped sponsor Matchwits, which is open to all high schools throughout the state, for the past three seasons. The on-air knowledge tournament

includes four rounds of competition with three of those rounds including toss-up questions for individuals and a speed round in which the team must answer as many questions as possible. Questions cover English, history, geography, science, math, current events and other topics. The individual rounds for the 16 final teams run from January through April on Rocky Mountain PBS. Look back at those individual rounds at http://video.rmpbs.org/ show/matchwits.

Pedal the Plains Moves South Get ready to ride! A new, more southern route was selected for the September 16-18 Pedal the Plains bicycle tour of Colorado’s eastern plains. Over the three days, riders will go from Ordway to Fowler to La Junta and back to Ordway. Colorado’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives will again be among the sponsors for the event and will sponsor the co-ops’ “Powering the Plains” bike team, which will raise money for Energy Outreach Colorado. The new route was announced at an April 27 press conference at the Capitol. After the ride being in northeastern Colorado for the last two years, a more southern ride through the Arkansas River Valley was selected for 2016. The local communities are preparing for the expected 1,000 bicyclists riding in Pedal the Plains. Readers and co-ops employees and members are invited to join the electric co-op bike team. Register as a team member at pedaltheplains.com.More information is also available at www.poweringtheplains.coop or by contacting cgloe@coloradocountrylife.org. 12

JUNE 2016

coloradocountrylife.coop

[ news clips] Colorado Co-op Reps Visit Capitol Hill About 50 directors, managers and staff members from Colorado’s electric cooperatives joined 1,500 other co-ops representatives to carry the co-op message to Washington, D.C., May 1-3. The three-day conference, hosted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, included a series of forums on subjects such as the co-ops’ community storage initiative, drones and their use by electric co-ops, and the Clean Power Plan and what to do following its stay by the U.S. Supreme Court. Both houses of Congress were in recess during the conference, so there was time to meet with congressional staff members, who provide background information and context for the elected officials on issues such as energy. Colorado’s co-op representatives met with energy staff members from the offices of U.S. Sen.Michael Bennet (D) and U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R). The group also conducted a session with staff members from Colorado’s seven U.S. House district offices. Issues brought to the attention of the legislators were: the need for rural broadband; regulations on pole attachments; the geothermal tax credit; support for final coal ash regulations that regulate coal combustion residuals as nonhazardous; support for Federal Emergency Management Agency reauthorization that also helps cut the red tape within the agency; and support for federal land management policies that will help co-ops manage vegetation in rights-ofway through federal lands.

CO-OPS SEND YOUTH TO WASHINGTON This month, nearly 1,700 students from America’s electric cooperatives. electric cooperatives across the counAll of these students on Youth Tour try, including 29 from Colorado, are are leaders back home in their schools converging on our nation’s capital for and communities. These are top students youthwho tour the annual Electric Co-op Youth Tour. are involved in a variety of extraColorado students will spend June 9-16 curricular activities including sports, visiting monuments school clubs, church and museums, meetgroups and commuing the state’s U.S. nity groups. They were senators and represenselected by their local tatives, and learning electric co-op for this about leadership and trip with the belief that the cooperative busiit will open their eyes ness model. They will to even more possibilialso be forging lifeties as they learn about long friendships with electric co-ops and fellow Youth Tour about their govern2016 Washington, D.C. Youth Tour participants from farment, up close and away places who were personal. strangers just a few days before. “Every kid on Youth Tour has big Each of the 44 states that participate in aspirations,” said one Youth Tour particithis program will also select one mempant. Going to Washington, D.C., further ber of their delegation to represent that inspires these young participants, showing state on the Youth Leadership Council. them new possibilities for their future and Members of the council come back to helping them believe that they can make Washington, D.C., for additional leadera difference. That is why the local electric ship development experiences, serve as co-ops, in cooperation with the Colorado youth ambassadors at events hosted by Rural Electric Association, cover the their state’s electric co-ops and represent expenses of this program each year. their states at the annual meeting of

D.C. Peeps

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Deer Trail Ranch Wins Leopold Keven and Sani Turecek of the Stacked Lazy 3 Ranch outside Deer Trail were selected as the recipients of the 2016 Colorado Leopold Conservation Award, co-sponsored by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, the power supplier for 18 of Colorado’s 22 electric co-ops. The award, named for renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, recognizes extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. It aims to inspire landowners and provides a visible way to recognize farmers, ranchers and private landowners as conservation leaders. The Stacked Lazy 3 Ranch runs a commercial cow-calf herd as well as harvesting dryland crops. The Tureceks converted hundreds of acres of marginal farmland back to native grass pastures, installing over 50,000 feet of terraces and planting thousands of trees. “Tri-State and its member cooperatives are proud to support the Leopold Conservation Award,” said Tri-State CEO Mike McInnes. “The award’s recognition of environmental stewardship in protecting our rural landscapes reflects the strong conservation ethic of rural communities and their electric cooperatives.” 4

JUNE 2016

[industry]

Solar Energy Heats Up

Electric co-ops guide consumers through the promise of power from the sun BY PAUL WESSLUND

Solar energy is really heating up. Use of photovoltaic cells to make electricity grew 30 percent each of the last two years. Experts expect that pace to continue because of falling prices for solar equipment and December’s three-year extension of federal tax credits for solar energy. As with any new and booming technology, solar brings promise and problems. On the upside, making electricity from sunlight would seem to solve the need for energy. But the sun doesn’t shine all the time we want power, the equipment can be expensive and the nation’s electricity transmission system was not designed for the widespread use of solar energy. “We’ve seen very quick growth already,” says Andrew Cotter, program and product manager for renewable and distributed generation at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. “And we’re going to see more of it.” Electric co-ops are among the leaders in testing how community solar technology will work in the real world. “The consumer-owned cooperative 14

JUNE 2016

business model is promoting the growth of solar,” says Tracy Warren, senior communications manager at NRECA. “Co-ops are getting involved in solar energy because their members are asking them about it.” The country will need more solar. U.S. energy experts say we will not be able to meet national energy goals — achieving energy independence and meeting new requirements connected to the government’s Clean Power Plan — unless we increase our solar energy capacity. Now before you start thinking that solar power is taking over, you should know that the huge growth in solar energy starts from a small number; even with the explosion of the past few years, solar energy still generates less than 1 percent of the nation’s electricity. It will take many years of equally strong growth to even get near the portions of electricity generated nationally by wind and other nonsolar renewable energy (6 percent), hydroelectric power (6 percent), nuclear (19 percent) or coal and natural gas (about 33 percent each). The basic way that solar energy works

is that when light hits certain speciallydesigned materials, it releases electrons from the material’s atoms, and electricity is really nothing more than flowing electrons. When these materials are manufactured into photovoltaic cells and connected, they can produce enough electricity to power a calculator, a lightbulb, a house or even several houses. The recent growth of solar is happening in three different ways. One is utility-scale solar — large banks of photovoltaic panels that produce enough electricity for thousands of homes or businesses. Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, which supplies electricity to 18 of Colorado’s 22 electric co-ops, buys power from the 30-megawatt Cimarron Solar Facility for its members. When it was built, it was the largest facility of its kind. A second growth area is community solar. United Power, an electric co-op in Brighton, pioneered this concept back in 2009 when it built a solar power facility. Interested United Power members bought a share of the electricity the solar farm produced. Now 13 coloradocountrylife.coop

[ industry] of the state’s 22 electric co-ops have similar community solar facilities and more co-ops will be adding them in the near future. The third solar category goes by the fancy term “distributed generation.” That just means that the nature of solar cells can be made in lots of different sizes that can be distributed to make electricity from a lot of different places, from a little cell that powers a handheld calculator to a panel the size of a tabletop that could operate a remote water well on a cattle ranch, without the expense of building a long-distance power line. Rooftop solar is an increasingly popular kind of distributed generation that allows homeowners to set up a bank of solar cells on their rooftops. Rooftop solar raises some of the trickiest issues for this developing source of electricity. One of those issues comes from home solar energy owners selling excess electricity back to the utility. Designing those reverse rates can be complicated, since they need to account for a lot of factors, including the homeowner’s need for electricity all the time, not just when the solar panels are working. Other technical issues include safety. Lineworkers repairing what they expect is a de-energized line can’t afford to be surprised by home solar panels suddenly sending electricity back through the wires. “There is a whole new set of safety protocols and best practices that are being developed,” Cotter says. “When home solar generation becomes part of the electric grid, it is plugging into what has been called the most complex machine in the world.” Another area of caution involves the cost and financing. The popularity of rooftop solar created an industry of vendors making a variety of claims in their sales pitches. Cotter advises people to be smart shoppers, read the fine print and get advice from your local electric co-op. He especially advises asking whether the homeowner or the vendor is getting the benefits of the renewcoloradocountrylife.coop

able energy credits known as RECs. “Electricity is a commodity; it is all the same whether it comes from a photovoltaic system or a power plant," Cotter says. The RECs are the renewable attributes of that electricity, and if you are not able to keep them, then the power is not ‘green’ and is exactly the same as what you are normally purchasing, even if you have a photovoltaic system on your roof.” Cotter also says some of the claims for how soon the solar project will pay for

itself are based on unrealistic projections of how much electric rates will increase in the future. “Keep an eye out for any claims higher than 2 to 3 percent per year,” Cotter says. “Every utility is different, and members interested in solar energy for their home should look to their local electric co-op as the first source of trusted information.” Paul Wesslund writes on cooperative issues for the nation's cooperative.

SOLAR CONSIDERATIONS Solar Photovoltaic (PV) technology is heating up on the consumer market. If you are considering solar panels for your roof, or if you want to know more about residential solar, here are three important factors to consider. TAX CREDITS—Ask questions and read the fine print. Federal solar energy tax credits are available. Check to see how they apply to your plans. If you’re working with a contractor to install solar panels, make sure you know who gets to take advantage of those credits—you or the contractor. PAYBACK—Work with your local electric co-op to find out how long it will take for the solar savings to pay for your up-front investment. Be aware that some solar energy contractors base their payback claims on unrealistically high predictions of future electricity rate increases. Special electric rates may apply in the case of a residential solar energy system, so be sure to talk to your electric co-op first. SAFETY—Make sure your electric co-op is aware of your solar energy system, especially if the system is connected to local power lines in any way.

Most importantly, check with your local electric co-op before taking any major step toward installing solar energy at your house. 4

JUNE 2016

A GIG YOU CAN DIG BY AMY HIGGINS

Step into the world of prehistoric beasts

West of Colorado Springs, nestled among vacation destinations along Highway 24, is an unexpected discovery: a dinosaur wonderland. Colorful, life-sized dinosaur statues welcome visitors to the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center, a low brick building in downtown Woodland Park. Even with the Daspletosaurus and the Styracosaurus beckoning dinosaur fans off the main road, these two prehistoric animals are only a hint of the treasure trove of dinosaurs and sea creatures that inhabit this unlikely museum. Inside, the main space is filled with amazing skeletons of a Pachycephalosaurus, Tyrannosaurus rex, Anzu wyliei and Edmontosaurus annectens, all dinosaurs that once walked what is now the Midwestern and Western United States. Another room is filled with ancient sea creatures that swam the great ocean that covered what is now the Midwest. Some of these skeletons were built from the actual fossilized bones of these creatures. Others are molds cast from actual fossilized bones. That process of finding the remains of a dinosaur and replicating it is the truly unique and exciting behind-the-scenes part of this Colorado business.

JUNE 2016

Finding Fossils Triebold Paleontology, Inc., was founded by Mike Triebold in 1989. TPI specializes in unearthing, restoring, replicating and selling fossils, which now appear in museums all over the globe. Mike’s team of talented paleontologists unearth those fossils at ranches throughout the Midwest. Paleontologists Triebold, Anthony Maltese and Jacob Jett scout areas around these ranches and uncover fossils of all shapes and sizes. “We know what kind of animals lived in the outcrops that are on (these) ranches,” Triebold explains. “So, I will go to a rancher and explain what I want to do and how it works. We discuss what we will be doing, how we do it, how they benefit. All my ranchers receive a royalty. If they’re interested and they want us to do it, then we sign the license and go to work.” Often, they can guesstimate promising areas that may reveal fossils based on rainfall activity and erosion. “If you’re in a drought, not much happens. If you got normal rainfall, it’s predictable. If you have really heavy rainfall, things can change dramatically from one year to the next,” Triebold explains. The heavier the rainfall, the more erosion will take place, revealing fossils unseen in 65 million years or more. “We usually only spend a short amount of time at each ranch each summer and walk through the outcrops,” Triebold says. “It’s not a matter of if we find something, it’s a matter of when because we know we’re going to find things.” In 2006, the team discovered a Daspletosaurus, a type of tyrannosaur smaller in stature than the T-rex and with longer arms. More than 80 percent of the dinosaur was recovered from that dig, which is extraordinary in the paleontological world. “Usually skeletons are not complete; sometimes individual bones are missing little pieces,” Jett says. “So, we have to restore them, because if we mold and cast them into a skeleton and they’re missing a chunk, it’s really obvious to even your casual observer. The average 5-year-old can tell that something’s up.” The TPI crew worked intently to create a cast of the Daspletosaurus, which they nicknamed Pete. (The TPI staff found it is easier to nickname fossils than to continue to call them by their scientific name or a catalog number.) The cast of Pete will be finished in the coming weeks and will then find its home at the Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience in Cañon City. (Read about this new dinosaur museum in the Discoveries section on page 30). But as the crew works, it becomes clear that Pete’s identity is more of an anomaly than the team originally thought. coloradocountrylife.coop

2015

ANNUAL REPORT

2015 YVEA Board of Directors DISTRICT 1

DISTRICT 2

DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT 4

DISTRICT 5

DISTRICT 6

DISTRICT 7

DISTRICT 8

DISTRICT 9

Glynda Sheehan

Lary Ellgen

Mike Brinks

Dean Brosious

Frank Roitsch

Tom Fox

Pat McClelland

Scott McGill

Russ Garrity

PEOPLE PRIDE POWER

GENERAL MANAGERâ€™S REPORT

YVEA 2016 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD REPORT

THE ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2015 provides statistical information showing the financial condition and operations for the year. The financial and operating results for 2015 show a decrease in kilowattDIANE JOHNSON, hour sales of 4 percent and a General Manager 2 percent decrease in revenue. The detail of our receipt and expense report shows an operating margin of $2,668,688. This is the amount to be allocated to members for the 2015 margin. The report also shows other income of $2,782,735. These items include interest, gain on the sale of an asset, and capital credit allocations received from organizations in which Yampa Valley Electric Association has a membership. The board of directors approved the retirement of $1.1 million which will be paid against the 2000 Patronage Margin Allocations. We are pleased to continue the refund of capital credits to our members. I thank all the members, board of directors, and employees for your continued support.

2015 CONTINUED TO BE A YEAR OF challenge and change for Yampa Valley Electric Association. We completed our move into the new headquarters and now have all of our Steamboat employees under one roof and all of our materials and equipment at a single location. Plans are conDEAN BROSIOUS tinuing for a remodel to allow for a more President strategic use of the new campus and plans are also being formulated for the upgrade of our facilities in Craig. In June of 2015, the final standards and guidelines were released by the EPA for the Clean Power Plan. The plan calls for a state by state reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030. Coloradoâ€™s target is to reduce overall carbon emissions 28 percent, by that date. Yampa Valley Electric Association is positioned to have 30 percent of our power coming from renewable energy resources by 2020. To help meet this high standard, YVEA partnered with Clean Energy Collective to build the first solar garden in our distribution territory. The garden began producing power in January of 2015 and member-owners received their first bill credits the following month. As a follow up to the solar garden, we also entered into a purchase power agreement with the Upper Yampa River Conservancy District to purchase all of the power output from Stagecoach Reservoir. In addition, we have signed an agreement with Grid Alternatives Colorado and the Colorado Energy Office to develop a community solar array next to our Steamboat Springs campus. This project is ear marked for low-income individuals. Grid Alternatives Colorado will administer the program but the array will be owned and operated by YVEA. Even though implementation of the Clean Power Plan has been stayed by the United States Supreme Court, we are moving forward to reduce our carbon footprint. We fully expect that this plan will be back, in some form, and must be diligent in our efforts. During the last year and continuing into the current year, your coop has been busily upgrading the transmission grid within our district. We are continually looking for ways to increase the reliability, affordability and quality of our service to you, our member-owners. As part of the reliability upgrade, we have begun the rollout of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure. The AMI system will allow us to pinpoint power outages and help us respond to problems more quickly, even if no one has called in the outage. We expect this system to be fully operational by the end of 2017. As we move forward, the YVEA Board of Directors and management team will continue to face challenges, but you should feel comfortable in knowing that your association is financially sound and fiscally responsible. I encourage you to join your fellow member-owners, your directors and the management staff of Yampa Valley Electric Association at the Annual Meeting of the Members on Thursday, June 23 at 6 p.m. at the Hayden High School. We look forward to sharing the results of 2015 and welcome your input as we navigate the challenging future of Yampa Valley Electric Association.

2015 YVEA RESOURCE MIX

Coal 52.90% Natural Gas 23.50% Wind 19.30% Hydropower 2.00% Solar 1.30% Biomass 0.10% Other 0.90%

2015 YAMPA VALLEY ELECTRIC ANNUAL REPORT

coloradocountrylife.coop

2015 STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

2015

2014

Operating Revenue and Patronage Capital 52,711,367

53,902,146

Operations & Maintenance Expense

Power Cost

Operating and Maintenance Expenses

Interest

Taxes

Other expenses

35,542,735

11,952,257

13,126,471

595,860

489,387

-0-

Total Operation & Maintenance Expense Earnings before Interest & Amortization

33,384,045

Depreciation & Amortization

Patronage Capital & Operating Margins Other Capital Credits & Patronage Dividends

-0-

$41,438

$110,472

$45,973,600

$49,269,065

6,737,767

4,633,081

(4,272,935)

(3,879,061)

2,464,832

754,020

203,856

192,289

Income/Loss from equity investments

-0-

Non Operating Margins—Other

$2,782,735

$162,552

Patronage Capital or Margins

$5,451,423

$1,108,861

TREASURER’S REPORT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015, reflects the sound financial status of Yampa Valley Electric Association, Inc. The association was audited by Bolinger, Segars, Gilbert & Moss, L.L.P, certified public accountants of Lubbock, Texas. The audit states: “We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Yampa Valley Electric Association, Inc., and subsidiary as of December 31, 2015, and the related consolidated statements of income and patronage capital and cash flows for the year then ended, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements.” The opinion paragraph in the Independent Auditor’s Report that was presented to the YVEA Board of Directors reads as follows: “In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Yampa Valley Electric Association, Inc., and subsidiary as of December 31, 2015, and the results of operations and cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.” The 2015 data presented in this report is from the 2015 audited financial statements and represent a summary of the auditor’s complete report. Copies of the audited financial statements and the annual report are available at Yampa Valley Electric Association’s headquarters.

HIGHLIGHTS OF OPERATIONS NEW CONSTRUCTION & SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

2015

2014

Miles of Line Built

2.18

2.75

New Security Lights

New Services Installed

211

104

Services Upgraded

OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE

2015

2014

Average Outage Minutes Per Month Per Consumer

14.4

Consumers Per Employees

403

435

8,287

9,923

Meter Orders Processed (connects, disconnects & changes) Meter Read Each Month

25,805 25,800

Meters Tested

951

Miles of Distribution Line Patrolled

377

365

Miles of Transmission Line Patrolled

191

302

Number of Consumer work orders written

1,463

484

413

Number of Poles Inspected

3,799

3,985

UG Cable Locations

6,547

4,057

UG Dig-Ins Repaired

Amy Mahon

Finance Manager, Yampa Valley Electric Association coloradocountrylife.coop

2015 YAMPA VALLEY ELECTRIC ANNUAL REPORT

YVEA FINANCIAL REPORT AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2015

Other 0.8%

Industrial 24.9%

Commercial 33.9%

Residential 40.4%

2015 KWH SALES BY RATE CLASS

Rate Class kWh % of kWh Residential 215,873,769 40.4% Commercial 181,471,552 33.9% Industrial 132,843,102 24.9% Other 4,376,214 0.8% Total kWh Sales 534,564,637 100.0%

ASSETS 2015 2014 Current Assets Cash—General Fund 1,577,668.40 3,693,132.57 A/R General Association 3,447,150.77 3,202,783.21 Materials—Our Stock 851,817.50 774,311.14 Prepayments 2,516.70 429,128.56 5,879,153.37 8,099,355.48 Deferred Debits $3,307,593.01 $3,982,080.23 Investments Associated organization and special funds 1,833,676.82 1,956,686.00 Equity in other organizations 1,647,396.12 1,510,565.27 $3,481,072.94 $3,467,251.27 Utility Plant Electric Plant 144,262,172.96 138,045,508.55 Accumulated Depreciation (53,598,370.31) (52,130,766.61) Total Plant 90,663,802.65 85,914,741.94 TOTAL ASSETS $103,331,621.97 $101,463,428.92

LIABILITIES Current Liabilities Current maturities of long-term debt 1,348,150.42 1,143,083.18 Accounts Payable 4,400,695.72 5,656,981.06 Accrued Expenses 3,720,762.71 2,985,913.39 Accrued Taxes 1,230,945.00 1,509,282.25 Customer Deposits 576,670.00 554,090.00 11,277,223.85 11,849,349.88 Long-Term Liabilities 19,029,070.10 20,377,220.52 Deferred Credits 2,246,100.42 1,723,038.18 Other Long-Term Obligations 397,120.56 515,945.64 TOTAL LIABILITIES $32,426,452.69 $34,988,616.46

EQUITY Capital Equities Patronage capital 70,570,060.35 66,166,861.50 Other equities 335,108.93 307,950.96 TOTAL EQUITY 66,474,812.46 70,905,169.28 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY $103,331,621.97 $101,463,428.92

COMPARATIVE OPERATING STATISTICS Category 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 kWh Purchased 560,070,838 581,546,653 630,524,717 601,866,394 616,620,798 605,564,148 kWh Sold 534,564,637 555,522,413 582,569,334 566,376,274 583,273,666 574,962,233 Annual Peak Demand 149,027 137,882 144,641 139,272 139,135 117,399 Percent Line Loss 4.55% 4.20% 7.58% 5.78% 5.40% 5.01% Average Number of Members 26,630 26,531 26,456 26,350 26,274 26,292 Miles of Line 2,865 2,863 2,860 2,856 2,847 2,842 Members Per Mile 9.30 9.27 9.25 9.23 9.23 9.25 Average Return per kWh Sold $0.0986 $0.0970 $0.1025 $0.1005 $0.0975 $0.0946 Total Revenue $52,711,367.00 $53,902,146.00 $59,696,762.00 $57,230,329.00 $5,723,053.00 $54,705,900.00 Property Taxes Paid $1,160,312.91 $1,547,196.00 $1,245,054.00 $1,093,667.00 $931,817.00 $964,285.00 Power Cost as % of Electric Sales 63.3% 65.9% 68.5% 65.6% 63.2% 62.4% Principal Paid on Debt $1,643,083.18 $1,693,442.00 $1,468,600.00 $1,415,568.00 $1,407,022.00 $1,430,170.00 $144,262,173.00 $138,045,509.00 $122,286,807.00 $11,752,087.00 $112,529,955.00 $111,072,423.00 Total Utility Plant Total Margins $5,451,423.00 $1,108,861.00 $3,159,556.00 $5,221,530.00 $6,622,635.00 $6,441,947.00 68.6% 65.5% 73.5% 73.7% 75.1% 73.6% Member Equity 2015 YAMPA VALLEY ELECTRIC ANNUAL REPORT

“As we’ve been working in the lab, we’re finding it’s more unusual than we first thought. [Daspletosaurs are] not well-known. This was number eight or nine that has ever been found, as opposed to the T-rex, which there are more than 50 out there,” Jett says. “And as we’re getting into this one, there’s going to be a lot of science done on this particular specimen. I wouldn’t be surprised if we got a new species out of it.” Maltese adds, “It happens all the time, though, with stuff we've dug up. We just described two or three new species of fish about a month ago.” “Described” is a scientific explanation of a specimen used among scientists. Describing a species is important in this line of work because it is used as a type of reference tool for future finds. “If somebody else finds another skeleton or animal with those features on its skull, those will be classified as that species because they’ll refer back to the first one that was found,” Maltese says. Jett adds, “It’s also how you know if it’s something different as well. If somebody else comes along and finds another fish head and it differs in substantial ways, they know that it’s not the same thing.” TPI finds fossils in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Kansas. TPI has explored some of the ranches for nearly 30 years. Why not Colorado? “It’s not because I don’t want to,” Triebold says. “Basically what’s happened is, they keep us really busy. But, if a rancher from Colorado wanted us to scout their land for them for fossils, I’d be happy to do that.” An All-Star Casting Crew Pete is just one of the projects under way in the TPI lab, just beyond the viewing windows in the museum. At one end of the building in the paleo lab, Catrina Callahan and April Patton work meticulously on a Hell Creek Pterosaur, a pint-sized dinosaur with a wingspan of approximately 4.2 feet that was discovered in 2010. Callahan and Patton mold the Pterosaur to the company’s high standards, using metal to keep the parts in shape. Bedecked in her powder blue gloves, Callahan carefully “flips the mold” of the Pterosaur to finish the already completed side. Amid their work on the Pterosaur, the two are also meeting a deadline to finish pieces for Pete. Molds of the fossils were created soon after the removal of the Daspletosaurus from the site, but since October 2015 the crew has concentrated on completing the rest of the dinosaur. “It’s fun working here,” Patton says. “You get lots of gratification from this job.” Moving down the hallway to the casting lab, Caleb Lewis is busy making repairs on a latex mold of a Brachiosaurus. “Remember the first ‘Jurassic Park’ movie where there’s a huge dinosaur there and Sam Neill falls down crying? That’s what this is,”

“… as we’re getting into this one, there’s going to be a lot of science done on this particular specimen. I wouldn’t be surprised if we got a new species out of it.”

— paleontologist Jacob Jett

coloradocountrylife.coop

(At top) Caleb Lewis makes repairs on a Brachiosaurus mold. (Bottom left) Mike Triebold searches for fossils on a dig. (Bottom right) David Livingston welds segments of a Brontosaurus.

Lewis says. “Kind of makes Apatosaurus look like a pipsqueak.” Looking back at his work, he notes, “This is a latex mold and sometimes they’ll get tears and you have to repair it. I’m just trying to stuff latex in there and make it OK again.” TPI uses a laser scanner, mirror imaging and 3-D printing to recreate the missing features of its dinosaurs. TPI also uses scanning and prototyping to create 1/18th-scale copies of full-size dinosaurs to sell in the museum’s gift shop. As you approach the assembly area, sparks fly as David Livingston welds segments of a Brontosaurus. Maltese and Jett work on Pete’s metatarsal as it dangles from the ceiling. Several other men on the crew are loading a big order onto a big rig. And at the north wall of the lab, a silver-haired gentleman peeks through a public viewing window from inside the museum.

DASPLETOSAURUS “PETE” Still not done In progress/molded JUNE 2016

A full Xiphactinus audax hangs from the museum ceiling.

Mike Treibold shows off a rare Thescelosaur skull.

An average size Conchoraptor gracillis is on display in the museum

For Your Viewing Pleasure Visitors on the museum side of the facility are greeted by prehistoric fish suspended from the rafters and on floor displays. A massive fossilized Xiphactinus fish, nicknamed Mildred, covers virtually the entire wall where it is displayed. “I’m actually one of the people who helped dig this up,” says Stephen Woolf, a visitor experience guide. “Mildred is a record holder. Normally they’re 9 to 11 feet, maybe 13 feet. Mildred is the record holder at 18 and a half feet.” Woolf ’s knowledge of the surrounding fossils is vast and his animated gestures and facial expressions along with the inflection of his voice are captivating. He spiritedly explains how scientists believe what was once Pangea, a supercontinent, split and formed new land masses and what the climates were like. “It was very, very much like a rain forest in lots of parts of the world with some really, really big herbivores. Long necks in general thrived very much at this time,” Woolf explains, adding, “This is a time period Colorado is really famous for. We have something called the Morrison Formation. It’s a Jurassic layer that’s thick with these animals.” It takes about an hour for a guided tour through the museum. Consisting mostly of three rooms, the museum is small in size, but

the fossil collection is immense. “We’re, at the moment, the largest dinosaur museum in the entire state, but we’re still not as big [in area] as those museums,” Woolf says. “We actually have close to the same amount of skeletons on display as the Smithsonian does.” Woolf guides guests through myriad displays, answering questions from eager dinosaur enthusiasts along the way. While every skeleton on display is fascinating, there are a few that have particularly interesting stories. For example, a Pachycephalosaurus, which the museum proudly displays, is a prized discovery by Triebold. Triebold is currently the only person to discover both the skull and body of this species. Also, in 2012, TPI discovered a new species of Ceratopsian when crews assembled a new find. “Originally we thought it was something called an Avaceratops until it was put together. [Then] we thought, that’s not an Avaceratops at all,” Woolf says. Part of a group called Centrosaurines, this fossil, nicknamed Ava, has some peculiar features that are uncharacteristic of this group. “Usually Centrosaurines are all nose and very little brow horns to speak of. She’s the opposite. Not only that, they’re curving in,” Woolf says.

MORE COLORADO DINOSAUR EXPERIENCES

low the trail south about a quarter mile. dinoridge.org/tritrail.html

Dinosaur Ridge — Morrison The Discovery Center features Jurassic dinosaur bones, such as Stegosaurus and Apatosaurus. Enjoy hands-on Dinosaurs for kids, including the Backyard Bones Dinosaur Dig, the Cretaceous Crossroads Dinosaur Track Site, and other activities. C-470 and Alameda Pkwy; dinoridge.org. Denver Museum of Nature and Science — Denver Dinosaur highlights include the Prehistoric Journey exhibit and Dinosaur Gulch in the Discovery Zone. 2001 Colorado Blvd.; tinyurl. com/PrehistoricJourney. Triceratops Trail at Parfet Prehistoric Reserve — Golden This half-mile hiking trail is full of trace fossils. To get to the trail, park in the lot west of the Ford dealership on 19th Street, just east of U.S. Highway 6 in Golden, then take the bike path west and fol18

JUNE 2016

Picketwire Canyonlands — south of La Junta The nation’s largest collection of fossilized dinosaur footprints. Visit Comanche National Grassland Visitors Center for info. tinyurl.com/PicketwireTracks. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument — near Cripple Creek Find enormous petrified redwoods and detailed fossils of ancient insects and plants. Located south of Hwy. 24; nps.gov/flfo Garden Park Fossil Area — Cañon City Owned by the BLM, this natural research area and site of fossil discoveries for nearly 130 years. North of Cañon City; tinyurl.com/GPFossils. Dinosaur Diamond Scenic and Historic Byway — Plan a Colorado road trip along the byway to see multiple dinosaur attractions in one journey. tinyurl.com/DinoByway.

LOOKING FOR MORE DINOSAUR FUN? TURN TO PAGE 30.

coloradocountrylife.coop

Stephen Woolf leads a group of curious fossil fans through the museum's exhibits.

An Albertosaurus sarcophagus is part of the main room's display.

A Passionate Profession Regardless of who you talk to at the museum or TPI, there seems to be a common theme: job satisfaction. Not everyone who dreams of working with dinosaurs actually sees it come to fruition. Jett and Maltese are so passionate about their jobs that they decided to share interesting and fun aspects with the world on a YouTube channel called “Dinosaur Nerds.” The compilation of videos featured on their page shares information on how to collect data on a dinosaur dig, how TPI uses 3-D printing, what makes Ava the Ceratopsian so special and more. Check it out at dinosaurnerds.com. “I’m very fortunate because a lot of my friends in the sciences work in nut factories. Literally a nut factory, and [that friend] has his doctorate in chemistry, so I’m very fortunate to work in something I care about,” Woolf says. “I get to talk about dinosaurs all day.” What’s not to love? Working with artifacts of magnificent creatures that lived eons ago is a gig you can dig.

HOURS OPEN YEAR-ROUND, 7 DAYS A WEEK Monday-Saturday: 9 am to 6 pm Sunday: 10 am to 5 pm Center will be CLOSED on the following holidays: Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day

Amy Higgins is a freelance writer from Centennial. With a fifth-grade son, dinosaurs are an intriguing subject in her household. They plan to visit several dinosaur museums in Colorado this summer.

* The center offers a military discount of $1 off all above General Admission with current military ID.

coloradocountrylife.coop

Plan a visit to the ROCKY MOUNTAIN DINOSAUR RESOURCE CENTER

GENERAL ADMISSION Seniors (65+): $10.50 Adults: $11.50 Children 5-2: $7.50 Children 4 and under: FREE

JUNE 2016

[recipes]

Give Them Something to Talk About Stir up something sensational for your guests BY AMY HIGGINS Season’s Greetings June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month, and there are countless options available at your local grocery store or farmers market. When brainstorming side dishes, keep seasonal produce in mind. In Colorado, squash, potatoes, tomatoes and strawberries are good choices this month.

TIP

Set the Tone Before your guests arrive, be sure they’re aware of the mood you want to create. Is it casual and lively? Low-key or formal? Your guests will appreciate the insight. 20

JUNE 2016

RECIPES@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

Dreaming up a delicious main dish for friends and family is simple in comparison to side dishes. Runof-the-mill go-tos are potato, macaroni or egg salads. Those options are dandy and delicious, but why not mix it up with a dish that’s worthy of applause? We found some tasty side dishes that are far from garden variety. Give them a whirl and ready yourself to take a bow at your next get-together.

Blended Chili and Macaroni 1/2 pound mushrooms 1 pound lean ground beef 1 package chili seasoning 1 can (14 ounces) beef broth 1 can (15.5 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste 1 cup medium salsa 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked cheddar cheese, to taste sour cream, to taste cilantro, to taste In food processor with metal blade, pulse mushrooms until finely chopped. In large saucepan, brown meat and mushrooms with chili seasoning. In another saucepan, mix broth, kidney beans, tomato paste, salsa and macaroni. Bring mixture to boil and cover. Simmer on low 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. When noodles are al dente, stir in browned meat and mushrooms. Serve topped with cheese, sour cream and cilantro. Source: Mushroom Council

Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Tater Topped Casserole 1 package (16 ounces) frozen broccoli florets, thawed 1 package (16 ounces) frozen cauliflower florets, thawed 2 tablespoons butter 1 cup chopped onion 2 tablespoons flour 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1 teaspoon garlic salt 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper 1 1/4 cups milk 4 ounces (1/2 package) cream cheese, cubed 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1 pound frozen fried potato tots Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut up any large broccoli and cauliflower florets into bite-size pieces. Set aside. Melt butter in large skillet on medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir about 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in flour, Italian seasoning, garlic salt and pepper. Add milk; cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Add cream cheese and Parmesan cheese; cook and stir until cream cheese is melted. Mix in broccoli and cauliflower; toss gently to coat. Spoon into a 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with cheddar cheese and top with potato tots. Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until heated through and potato tots are golden brown and crispy. Source: McCormick Spice

For more tasty side dish recipes, visit coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Recipes. coloradocountrylife.coop

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[gardening] SALVIA

DIANTHUS

HIGH-COUNTRY GARDENING

Tips on how to make this challenge a success BY VICKI SPENCER

MASTER GARDENER

When I moved to Gunnison, fellow gardeners warned me of the difficulty of producing a decent crop of tomatoes above 7,000 feet, so I dipped my toes in gradually, rather than plunging in full force. The first year, I planted golden sweet tomatoes and grape tomatoes, with a shorter growing season. I also planted zucchini because it seems to grow anywhere. My crop was small, but gave me the track record I needed to expand my vegetable garden in subsequent years to include potatoes, garlic, onions, beans and peas. However, early season plants are at risk if you don’t monitor the weather vigilantly. One summer, my tomato plants were covered with fruit and I lost them all when I went to Denver for the weekend and failed to check the forecast. Flowers are less challenging at high altitudes, especially if you focus on native plants. Salvia is one of my favorites. The flowers come in many varieties, and their aroma makes them resistant to deer. The deep blue of the award-winning Salvia sylvestris Blue Hill in my yard is not only brilliant to my eye, but also attracts pollinators, which are always welcome. The Blue Hill blooms all summer and thrives well in Colorado’s clay soil. Companion plants like Oriental poppies, daisies and dianthus really make the garden “pop.” 22

JUNE 2016

GARDENING@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG What I love about dianthuses is that they come in a variety of colors (red, white and pink) and bloom all summer. I plant them in clusters, arranged by color and scatter around the garden borders. There are differing opinions as to whether you need to deadhead (remove spent blooms) from dianthuses, but I do. Some may find deadheading to be a tedious task, but I think it is a relaxing activity after spending the entire day in the office. To deadhead, you just pinch off the flower under its base. This leaves stems that stick up, so if I have more time, I will get my pruning shears and cut the stem just above the next leaf. You can try saving the blooms for the seeds for the following year, but I just let mine fall into the soil. If they self-seed, all the better. I have a strong preference for native plants because they make sense in Colorado where water is scarce and we are constantly reminded to be water wise. I am also drawn to perennials because they will fill in empty spaces over time, reduce the need to weed and save lots of money. Nonetheless, each year I maintain a modest gardening budget that allows me to experiment with new plants and fill in winterkill with colorful annuals. Pansies and snapdragons are good choices because they can handle cold

temperatures. Cosmos and alyssum also work well once the weather settles down in the summer. Flowering kale and cabbage make great filler and provide color well into the fall.

More Online

If you want to explore new high-altitude plants, I suggest going to the High Country Gardens website: highcountrygardens.com. The “Plant Finder” page suggests plants according to hardiness, ease-of-care and beauty. Read previous gardening columns at coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Gardening.

CORRECTION In May’s column on pollinators, writer Vicki Spencer mentioned pasqueflowers as being in her garden that attracts bees. Auto correct changed pasqueflowers to pascal flowers and we did not catch the switch during proofing. Our apologies for the resulting confusion. coloradocountrylife.coop

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If you haven’t already done so, call a professional to schedule maintenance on your air conditioner. Your A/C unit will run more efficiently and effectively while saving money on your electric bill. 24

JUNE 2016

OUTDOORS@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

My grandmother was a resilient, high-spirited widow who suffered no fools. She was also a walking encyclopedia of aphorisms, many of them, I suspect, inspired by the harsh realities of raising nine children on her own during the Great Depression. That she managed to maintain such an incredibly witty sense of humor remains a positive marvel to me. No matter what misfortune befell her, she never got rattled. She either conquered it or got over it before she let it ruin her day. “Blessed are those who expect nothing, for they shall not be disappointed,” she told us. “Expect the unexpected, then embrace it. No matter your lot in life, build something on it.” We didn’t know what she was talking about half the time, but her endless supply of seemingly silly sayings would eventually become words to live by for me, my cousins, our children and our children’s children. I’m constantly reminded of her wisdom almost every time the boys and I take off on some kind of outdoor adventure. Case in point: This past April, we camped on a prairie creek bottom determined to bag a tom turkey with our bows and arrows. We scouted the area two weeks before and located at least two large flocks and a couple of smaller ones. We not only found where they roosted, but where they strutted, fed and dusted their feathers during the day and the return path they took to the big cottonwood stands at dusk. We counted more than 50 turkeys in one flock alone. Careful not to disturb them, we crept out of the area and planned our hunt for the follow-

ing weekend. We fully expected to pot one of those big ol’ gobblers, maybe even two of them when we returned. Turkey dinner was as good as in the oven. Then the unthinkable happened: Four straight days of rain turned access roads into a network of evil, slimy goo slicker than a bowl of boiled okra and fit to swallow a Sherman tank. We had to cancel our hunt. When shotgun season opened the next weekend, out-of-state hunters swarmed into the area and scared our turkeys into the next county. Oh, we heard a few gobblers at sunrise, but none came to our decoys as expected, and we saw only a few random hens. We were disappointed, but not for long. We flushed a covey of bobwhite quail on our way to our blinds each day, had a chance encounter with a prairie rattler, witnessed a big bull snake shedding his skin, watched a hair-raising fight between two boar raccoons and got some moody photos of a greater prairie chicken doing his crazy love dance on a fence post at dawn. Gram’s words filtered into the conversation around the fire that night: “Expect the unexpected, then embrace it.” We almost forgot about the turkeys.

Miss an issue? Catch up at coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Outdoors. coloradocountrylife.coop

[]

ENTRIES DUE

August 1

Photo Credit: Flickr user Wonderlane

WHO RESCUED WHOM? amazing rescue pet stories

Passive and active solar can help achieve zero net energy.

Zero in on Efficiency BY PATRICK KEEGAN AND AMY WHEELESS

Do you have a fascinating story about how your pet became a member of your family?

TELL US ABOUT IT! Enter today:

Go to COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.COOP to download an entry form

A Zero Net Energy home is one where all the energy that is used in the home is completely offset by the production of on-site power, such as through rooftop solar photovoltaic panels. Before buying a solar panel system, remember this mantra: “Reduce before you produce.” Retrofitting a home to be ZNE will require investments, large and small. Upgrading your heating and cooling system to something more efficient is a large investment, but, as heating and cooling usually make up half of the average home’s energy use, the upgrade will have a substantial impact on your home, especially when combined with insulation improvements. Sealing air leaks and replacing lightbulbs with LEDs are smaller investments but can also help you reach ZNE. Behavioral changes, such as using a clothesline to dry your clothes and turning off electronics and lights when you leave a room, are easy ways to reduce your energy use. Harness the power of the sun in other ways. For example, solar water heaters can be cost effective. Or you can use passive solar techniques, like strategic window placement, landscaping and shading, and specific building materials to heat certain areas of your home in the winter or reduce sun and heat exposure in the summer. Once you reduce your energy use as much as you can, you can think about producing. Remember to talk with your electric co-op's energy experts before making any major upgrades, like rooftop solar, to your home.

Selected stories will be published in the October 2016 magazine and winners will receive a $25 gift card. Visit coloradocountrylife.coop to learn more energy-saving tips. Look under the Energy tab. coloradocountrylife.coop

JUNE 2016

OUR SUCCESS IS ROOTED IN COOPERATION Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association is proud to stand with Colorado farmers and ranchers as they uphold a rich agricultural tradition. The reliable and affordable power we provide helps you get the job done today and lets you plan for tomorrow.

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[ marketplace]

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2807 North Prospect • Colorado Springs, CO 80907

MATADOR BLANKET Elizabeth Chang Berthoud, CO

CO Y A M coloradocountrylife.coop

R E N N WI T S E NT 4

JUNE 2016

[classifieds] TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

Please type or print your ad on a separate paper. Indicate how many months you would like your ad to run and which month to start. There is a minimum of 12 words at $1.63 per word/month. Be sure to include your full name and address for our records. Check MUST accompany this order or call to pay by credit card. Send your ad to: mail: Colorado Country Life 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 phone: 303-902-7276 fax: 303-455-2807 email: classifieds@coloradocountrylife.org

ANTIQUE RESTORATION CHAIR CANING – Hand caning, machine caning, fiber rush caning. Pueblo West, 719-547-0723. chaanita@q.com (858-10-16)

ANTLERS

ANTLER CHANDELIERS made only from REAL antlers. We are the manufacturer and we sell all of our products at wholesale prices; save as much as 60% from store prices. Many other antler products and mounts, including 56” elk mount, giant moose paddles, and elk antlers. Showroom now open year ’round in Granby, CO. 18 years at this location, over 900 satisfied customers! Designers: We can provide you a single item or a whole houseful. Call ! (970) 627-3053. (085-09-16)

BOOKS/CDs/DVDs

CHANT OF A CHAMPION: Auctioneering DVD from World and International Champion Auctioneer John Korrey. Let John show you how to improve all aspects of your auctioneering chant. Order online at www. chantofachampion.com (210-08-16)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

(These opportunities have not been investigated by Colorado Country Life.) HEALTH FOOD STORE & DELI: 2 turnkey businesses in one. Strong income/customer base. Colorado mountains (970-641-5175), leave name & number. (252-08-16)

CLOCK REPAIR & RESTORATION

www.clockrepairandrestoration. com DURANGO AREA. CLOCKS of all kinds repaired. Antique and modern. Clocks bought and sold. bob.scott@usa.net Call Robert 970-247-7729. (109-06-16) 28

JUNE 2016

EVENTS

CUCHARA HERMOSA ANNUAL ART SHOW – Cuchara Recreation Center, Cuchara, Colorado, June 24-25, 10a-5p. Questions? Appel2us@yahoo.com. (241-06-16) DOLORES, COLORADO – July 9, Navajo Taco Lunch, 11:00–1:30, Dolores Methodist Church, 105 N 8th St., 970-882-2363 (303-07-16)

FISHING

PHILLIPSON POWER PACK BAMBOO ROD – 8’6”, 5oz., mint condition, extra unused tip, full wells grip, Ni-silver ferrules, anodized down-lock reel seat, in original bag and tube. Jim, 970-731-3478 or mushroomhunters@frontier.net (302-06-16)

FOR SALE

MAJESTIC woodburning cookstove with oven. Awesome condition. Works great! $3800. 719-564-5865, 719-485-1543. Beulah. (270-06-16) OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS - $380 with warranty. Also sell portable concentrators and oxygen supplies. Repair and service of equipment. Aspen Concentrator Repair Service 719-471-9895 (040-08-16) SELLING 60A & 60B (used, good condition) Hesston Stakhands and parts. Stan 719-829-4425 or clineherefordfarms@gmail.com (292-06-16)

FREE

FREE BOOKS/DVDS. Soon the “Mark of the Beast” will be enforced as Church and State unite! Let the Bible reveal. The Bible Says, POB99, Lenoir City, TN 37771. thebiblesaystruth@ yahoo.com 888-211-1715. (814-08-16) FREE $25 Gift Card. Enter by emailing number of classifieds to classifieds@ coloradocountrylife.org with JUNE $25 as the subject. Include addess and phone #. Deadline June 15.

HELP WANTED

LEGITIMATE WORK AT HOME opportunity. No sales, investment, risk. Training/website provided. Monthly income plus bonuses, benefits. Call Carrie 303-5794207, www.workathomeunited. com/ourabundance (932-02-17)

IMPROVEMENTS & REPAIRS

I CAN MAKE YOUR LOG HOME like new! Chinking, caulking, staining, log repairs. 30 years experience. References available. 970-389-0995 (285-06-16)

MACHINERY & PARTS

www.sawmillexchange.com SAWMILL EXCHANGE: North America’s largest source of used portable sawmills and commercial equipment for woodlot owners and sawmill operations. Over 800 listings. THE place to sell equipment. 800-459-2148. (267-09-16)

PETS

I PAINT PETS, capturing the essence of your treasured pals & creating family keepsakes. Julie 719-539-4260 (300-09-16)

POULTRY & GAMEBIRDS

FREE COLOR CATALOG. 193 varieties, Cornish Cross, standard breeds, fancy chicks, ducks, geese, turkeys, bantams, guineas, pheasants, quail, supplies, video. 417-532-4581. PO Box 529, Lebanon, MO 65536. www. CackleHatchery.com. (876-08-16)

REAL ESTATE

BAYFIELD / VALLECITO – Beautiful mountain retreat, 4bd, 3ba, approx. 3436sf on 1.2 acres, well water, septic, 5 minutes from Vallecito Lake. $467,900. 970-884-9324. (163-08-16) CHEYENNE, WYOMING DUPLEX – 2, 1 bedrooms. $1175 monthly income, tenants pay utilities. Great downtown location. $139,000. Dave 303-881-2411. (297-08-16) GUNNISON / MONTROSE – Level, heavily wooded, ¾ round lot. ALL utilities installed. 2 sheds. Many Arrowhead activities. Reduced to $59,900. Carol, 970-497-9740. (109-09-16) LOCATED BETWEEN Cortez and Dolores on 16 acres – 11 bedroom lodge, 5 bedroom house, 2 bedroom cabin. SWColoradoDream.com (304-06-16)

REAL ESTATE

MOUNTAIN GETAWAY – Spectacular piece of property. 60 acres. Magnificent views of Pikes Peak, Green Horn Mt. & canyons. House like new! Complete with NEW kitchen & appliances. 1bd, 1ba, 3-car garage. 719485-0560, 719-582-0560 (301-06-16) OWN PROPERTY? NEED INCOME? We’ll rent exclusive hunting rights from you. Looking for antelope, goose, duck, coyote, & prairie dog habitat. Encourage young sportsmen by providing safe, private access. You make the rules. 303-460-0273 (069-08-16) READY TO RETIRE? +- 13 acres near Mancos, CO. Trout-stocked canyon lake, commercial greenhouse, gardens, lots of water, passive solar timber frame home. $509,000. Jim, 970-769-1391, for pictures. (282-06-16) WE BUY LAND and/or mineral rights. CO TX NM KS. 1-800316-5337 (099-03-17) YEAR ROUND LOG HOME, 32759 W Hwy 14, Poudre Canyon, Colorado. Roomy living area, 2bd, 1.5ba. Beautiful 17' ceiling in living area, stairs to open loft & out of sight storage. Full walk-out basement, appliances, cabinets, 2 furnaces (propane & wood). Outside porches N & W. Concrete pad, storage shed, 30amp RV hookups, riding mower for ½ acre property, 300 yds to Cache la Poudre River. Good fishing. 970-881-2476. aapachuck@aol.com (296-08-16)

TICKETS

NFR & PBR RODEO TICKETS – Las Vegas. Call 1-888-NFR-Rodeo (1-888637-7633). www.NFR-rodeo.com A+ rated BBB Member. (912-04-17)

VACATION RENTAL

BAYFIELD ATTIC INN – A vacation rental in downtown Bayfield, Colorado. bayfieldatticinn.com 970-759-6957, bayfieldatticinn@ gmail.com (263-09-16) KAUAI VACATION RENTAL, 2bdr, full kitchen. Minutes from beaches. $600/wk. 808-2456500; mokihana@hawaiian.net; kauaiweddings.com. (756-05-17)

WANTED TO BUY

CAST-IRON COOKWARE (Wagner & Griswold). Pyrex. Old toys in good condition. Vintage signs. Anything cowboy and Indian – hats, boots, rugs, etc. Before the yard sale and after family gets what they want, we’ll buy the rest. Antiques, collectibles, furniture, glassware, etc. We come to you! 970-7593455 or 970-565-1256. (871-08-16) NAVAJO RUGS, old and recent, native baskets, pottery. Tribal Rugs, Salida. 719-539-5363, b_inaz@ hotmail.com (817-06-16) OLD COLORADO LIVESTOCK brand books prior to 1975. Call Wes 303-757-8553. (889-08-16) OLD GAS AND OIL items: Gas pumps, advertising signs, globes, etc. Pieces, parts, etc. considered. Also 1932-34 Ford cars and trucks, parts and pieces, too. Any condition. Brandon, 719-250-5721. (519-11-16) OLD MODEL AIRPLANE ENGINES, unbuilt airplane kits. Will pick up or pay shipping. Don, 970-599-3810. (233-06-16) OLD POCKET WATCHES – working or non-working and old repair material. Bob 719-859-4209. (870-12-16)

Find hidden treasure in the classifieds Read through the ads and FIND the CCL classified explaining how to WIN a $25 gift card. It’s easy. You could WIN. The classified ads May contest winner is Gina Littlefield of Cortez. She correctly counted 37 ads. coloradocountrylife.coop

[ funny stories] WANTED TO BUY

SMALL OLDER CAMP TRAILER about 15' long. 970-739-5050 (299-07-16) VINTAGE FISHING TACKLE. I buy rods, reels, lures, creels, etc. Gary, 970-222-2181 (170-10-16)

Tyler and Laur next to a Cess en Curtis stand in Anchorage, na 180 float plane Alaska.

WANT TO PURCHASE mineral and other oil/gas interests. Send details to: PO Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201. (402-03-17)

After visiting a new barbershop, Sid came out and met up with his friend Bill. “Do you think he did a good job?” Bill asked. “The haircut looks OK, but I didn’t like the four-letter words he kept using when he cut my hair,” Sid said. “What did he say?” Bill asked. Sid replied, “Oops.” Lila Taylor, Stratton

WANTED: JEEP CJ OR WRANGLER. Reasonably priced. No rust buckets. 888-735-5337 (099-04-17) WE PAY CASH for minerals and oil/ gas interests, producing and nonproducing. 800-733-8122 (099-02-17)

Our neighbor’s precocious 3-year-old grandson was baffled about a recent power outage due to their bad weather. He couldn’t understand why the television went off, so she patiently tried to explain. He followed her everywhere and as she opened the refrigerator door, he peered in and said, “Not sunny in there.” Donna Verderaime, Pueblo West

Josephine Fleming celebrates her 30 of Pueblo West th anniversary in Maui, Hawaii.

mboat aile from Stea Kealia and Med this photo with us ar Springs sh Bahamas. from Exuma,

WINNERS

Mountain Parks members Randy Sue and Ken Fosha enjoy Colorado Country Life while on a cruise on the Danube River in Budapest, Hungary.

TAKE YOUR PHOTO WITH YOUR MAGAZINE AND WIN! It’s easy to win with Colorado Country Life. Simply take a photo of someone (or a selfie!) with the magazine and email the photo and your name and address to info@coloradocountrylife. org. We’ll draw one photo to win a $25 gift card each month. The next deadline is Wednesday, June 15. This month’s winners are Ken and Randy Sue Fosha from Mountain Parks Electric. coloradocountrylife.coop

We were driving to town with our 4-yearold granddaughter on a nasty, windy day. She suggested we look for and count deer along the way. Her great-grandpa told her it was so cold and windy, the deer would be hiding in the trees. After a few moments of silence, we heard her say, “But Grandpa, deer can’t climb trees.” Mailene Duran, Cortez Prior to taking my 9-year-old daughter to a girls’ fashion show at the YMCA, my 5-yearold daughter appeared, dressed in a fancy dress. She asked me if she was too fancy. I said, “It’s better to be overdressed than under dressed.” When I asked her if she knew what that meant, she replied, “It means it’s better to wear clothes than to go naked!” Amy McKenzie, Monument We pay $15 to each person who submits a funny story that’s printed in the magazine. At the end of the year we will draw one name from those submitting funny stories and that person will receive $200. Send your 2016 stories to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email funnystories@coloradocountrylife.org. Don’t forget to include your mailing address, so we can send you a check.

$15 4

JUNE 2016

[discoveries] ROYAL GORGE DINOSAUR EXPERIENCE

Morrison Natural History Museum If you want a close-and-personal experience at a dinosaur museum, Morrison Natural History Museum near Denver is the place to go. Not only can guests view the amazing exhibits, but they can also touch them and clean fossils in the paleo lab. The staff at MNHM pride themselves on teaching children significant and exciting scientific information, creating a love for the sciences. Visitors will see T. rex and Triceratops skulls, the first Stegosaurus fossils ever found, live snakes, an interactive fossil lab, and the Big Stego Dig. Located one half-mile south of Red Rocks Park in Morrison. MNHM is open daily at 10 am. Admission is $8 for ages 12 and older; $6 for ages 3-11; free for ages 2 and younger. For more information, call 303-697-1873 or visit mnhm.org. Watch what happens at MNHM: www.youtube. com/watch?v=YKVj8QA3rQw.

DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT The great wall of dinosaur bones at Dinosaur National Monument’s Quarry Exhibit Hall is a must-see. The cliff wall features approximately 1,500 dinosaur bones. In the Carnegie Museum, folks can feast their eyes on specimens like Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Camarasaurus, Diplodocus and Stegosaurus. The Apatosaurus on display at the museum was the first specimen ever found at Dinosaur National Monument. While you’re in the area, be sure to check other regional attractions, such as Echo Park, Harpers Corner Area, Jones Hole National Fish Hatchery and Cub Creek Area, an area packed with petroglyphs and pictographs from the Fremont people who lived in the area 1,000 years ago. For information, call 435-781-7700 or visit nps.gov/dino.

The newest dinosaur museum in Colorado is the Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience in Cañon City, slated to open June 18. This new museum will house hordes of dinosaur casts including a Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Allosaurus, Brontosaurus and Pete, the Tyrannosaur mentioned in this month’s feature story. To make the most of the fascinating displays, RGDE tour guides will offer comprehensive information about the area’s paleontological history. The "down low" on dinos continues outdoors on the museum’s easy-to-hike nature trail where guests will encounter 17 full-scale lifelike and moving animatronic dinosaurs. As if that’s not enough excitement, RGDE will offer two rope obstacle courses: one for junior guests ages 2 to 9 and a separate three-story course for the adventurous, older guests. General admission for adults is $12; children under 12 are $8. Ropes courses and Dinosaur Wild Walk cost extra. For more information, visit dinoxp.com.

Dinosaur Journey Museum In the western area of Colorado is the Dinosaur Journey Museum in Fruita. This gem of a museum features real fossils, cast skeletons and robotic reconstructions of dinosaurs. Guests will ooh over the life-sized exhibits and ahh over the on-site activities, including a simulated earthquake ride and a sandbox area where they can create dinosaur tracks. Kids can get their hands dirty in the quarry area and unearth real Jurassic dinosaur bones on their own. Summer hours are May 1 through September 20, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission prices are $9 for adults; $7 for seniors; and $5 for children. For information, call 970-858-7282 or visit museumofwesternco.com/ dinosaur-journey.

ENTER OUR DINOSAUR GOODIES GIVEAWAY CONTEST

CLICK ON "CONTESTS" AT COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.COOP FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO ENTER. 30

JUNE 2016

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Nebraska Eye Doctor Helps Legally Blind To See High Technology For Low Vision Patients Allows Many To Drive Again

are not familiar with the condition. As many as 25% of those over the age While there is some currently no of macular of 50 have degree cure,degeneration. promising research is being The macula is only one donesmall on many fronts. “My part of the retina,job however it is is to figure out everything and the most sensitive and gives us sharp anything possible to keep a person central vision. When it degenerates, functioning” says Dr. Stamm macular degeneration leaves a blind “Even if it’s driving”. spot rightbenefit in theofcenter “The major the of vision makin it difficult or impossible to recognize bioptic telescope is that the lens faces, readfocuses a book,onor pass the driver’s automatically visionyou’re test. looking at,” whatever Same scene of Grandchildren as viewed Nine of 10 through telescope glasses. “It’s likepeople a self- who have or many patients with macularsaid Dr. Stamm.out macular degeneration degeneration and other visionfocusing camera, but muchhave morethe dry form. New research suggests vitamins related conditions, the loss ofprecise.”

A scene as it might be viewed by a person with age-related macular degeneration

For many patients with macular telescopes to help those who central visual detail also sig- For more information and to degeneration and other visionhave lost vision due to macular nals the end to one of the schedule an appointment today, related conditions, the loss of degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, call: of independence - driving. A central visual detail also signals last bastions and other eye diseases. Wilmington optometrist, Dr. Edward Paul, the end to one of the last bastions Imagine a pair of glasses Robert Stamm, O.D. telescopes of independence - driving. Kansasis using that miniaturized can improve your visionwhich are in to glasses helplife. people who Low Vision Optometrist optometrist, Dr. Robert Stamm mounted enough changetoyour have lost vision from macular is using miniaturized telescopes Bioptic telescopes may be degeneration Member IALVS eye conditions. which are mounted in glasses to and other the breakthrough in optical “Some of my consider help people who have lost vision technology thatpatients will give you me Toll Free: forindependence. people who have vision from macular degeneration and the last backstop your Patients other eye conditions. loss”with saidvision Dr. Paul, one of only a few doc- A scene as it might be viewed by a person with in the 20/200 range “Some of my patients consider tors can many times improved to in the world whobespecializes in fitting age-related macular degeneration me their last chance for people bioptic 20/50. telescopes to help those who have can help. The British medical journal who have vision loss” said Bioptic telescopes both lost vision due to maculartreat degeneration, BMC Ophthalmology recently reporte Dr. Stamm, one of only a dry and wet forms of macular diabetic retinopathy, and other debilitating that 56% of patients treated with a high few doctors in the world who eye diseases. degeneration as well as other dose combination of vitamins experispecializes in fitting bioptic vision limiting Imagine a pairconditions. of glasses that can im-

(877) 393-0025

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enced improved vision after six month prove your vision enough to change your TOZAL Comprehensive Eye Health life. If you’re a low vision patient, you’ve Formula is now available by prescripprobably notwww.NebraskaLowVisionDoctor.com only imagined them, but tion from eye doctors. have been searching for them. Bioptic teleWhile age is the most significant scopes may be the breakthrough in optical risk factor for developing the disease, technology that will give you the indepen- heredity, smoking, cardiovascular disdence you’ve been looking for. Patients 4 JUNE 2016 have 31 ease, and high blood pressure also with vision in the 20/200 range can many been identified as risk factors. Macular

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