Issuu

Geothermal gives you the freedom to focus on life WaterFurnace geothermal systems provide reliable operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year—rain, shine or snow. They use the stored solar energy in the ground to provide your family luxurious comfort and incredible savings. In fact, it’s the only HVAC system that’ll pay you back—and with the federal tax credit currently available, now is a great time to switch to the Reliable Renewable. Contact your local WaterFurnace dealer today.

visit us at waterfurnace.com/Reliable contact scott.niesen@waterfurnace.com WE’RE EVERYWHERE IN WISCONSIN

Arcadia/Mondovi Water Source Htg & Clg (715) 833-9001

Dodgeville/Baraboo Modern Htg & Clg 608-767-2689

Beaver Dam/ Green Lake Air Care, Inc. (920) 356-8860

Eau Claire/Osseo Water Source Htg & Clg (715) 833-9001

Black River Falls / Stevens Point Northern Indoor Comfort 715-937-2676 Cashton/Sparta Flock’s Htg & A/C (608) 269-1500 Chaseburg/Coon Valley Flock’s Htg & A/C (608) 269-1500 Clintonville/Oshkosh Van’s Refrigeration (920) 833-2051 Cornell/New Auburn Water Source Htg & Clg (715) 833-9001

Ellsworth/Lake City Comfort By Design (715) 273-3658 Escanaba/Iron Mountain GPS Htg & Clg (715) 732-2111 Friendship / Waupon All Phase Geothermal 920-763-2301 Green Bay/Onedia Van’s Refrigeration (920) 833-2051 Hudson/Stillwater Comfort By Design (715) 273-3658

Osceola/St. Croix Falls Comfort By Design (715) 273-3658

Tomah/Oakdale Dean’s Refrig. & Htg (608) 372-6928

Madison/Black Earth Modern Htg & Clg 608-767-2689

Plymouth/Fond du Lac Advanced Custom Geothermal (920) 894-3999

Marinette/Peshtigo GPS Htg & Clg (715) 732-2111

Prescott/Hastings Comfort By Design (715) 273-3658

Wasau/Antigo Van’s Refrigeration (920) 833-2051 Westby/La Crosse Flock’s Htg & A/C (608) 654-5522

Menomonie/Bloomer Water Source Htg & Clg (715) 833-9001

Richland Center/Viroqua Strang’s Htg Electric Plmb (608) 647-2855

Janesville/ Fort Atkinson Don Martin Htg (608) 758-9882

Neillsville/Medford Northern Indoor Comfort (715) 937-2676 New Lisbon/Shamrock Deans Refrig. & Heating 608-372-6928 Oconto/Rhinelander Van’s Refrigeration (920) 833-2051

Wisconsin Rapids/ Warens Northern Indoor Comfort 715-937-2676

Siren/Superior Earth Energy Systems (715) 566-0735 Spring Valley/Amery Comfort By Design (715) 273-3658 Sturgeon Bay/Denmark Van’s Refrigeration (920) 833-2051

The Reliable Renewable is a trademark of WaterFurnace International, Inc.

January 22_adsPasted2.indd 2

12/13/21 8:09 AM

CONTENTS January 2022 Vol. 82 No. 7 The Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News (Formerly Wisconsin R.E.C. News) has been published monthly and distributed since July 1940 to members of Wisconsin’s non-profit, consumer-owned rural electric cooperatives. It is available to nonmembers for $13 per year or $35 for three years. Members pay $6.93 per year. Published by the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Steve Freese, president & CEO.

Pathways to Net Zero

Budget Boost

How the Midwest is central to combatting climate change.

Make dollars and sense of energy efficiency.

USPS number: 688-480. Postmaster: please send address changes to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703.

Wisconsin Favorites Trek into the New Year.

Periodicals postage paid at Sun Prairie, Wis.

Send correspondence to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Phone (608) 467-4650.

Cute co-op kids get cozy with their critters.

Web site: www.wecnmagazine.com. Co-op Members: Please send address changes to your local electric co-op. Contact information can be found on page 18. Steve Freese Dana Kelroy Mary Erickson Julie Lund Ann Bailey Geri Miller Jennifer Taylor

WECA president & CEO editor associate editor contributing writer graphic designer advertising consultant editorial assistant

For advertising opportunities please email geri@weca.coop. The appearance of advertising or events does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. We reserve the right to refuse advertisers.

Kids & Critters

Join us on

On the cover: The cover photo this month is courtesy of the Black River Area Chamber of Commerce.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

NEWS BRIEFS

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

15 MY CO-OP 20 RECIPES 22 READER RECIPES 28 CLASSIFIEDS 30 EVENTS

Please recycle wecnmagazine.com

WECN Jan22TOC.indd 1

January 2022

12/17/21 11:18 AM

SYMBOL SEARCH HIDDEN OBJECT GAME LETTER FROM

THE EDITOR Winning our kitchen kit this month is Vernon Electric Cooperative member Gary Slack. He found the hidden star in the headline on page 10. “Your magazine is probably the only one in our home that is read from cover to cover. Every article has something interesting. We really appreciate the workers at Vernon Electric Cooperative. It is amazing (sometimes risking their own lives) what they do so the rest of us can have a comfortable life.” This month we challenge readers to find this snowshoe inspired by our story on page 24. Remember that the symbol can be anywhere and any size. One randomly selected winner will receive a Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News kitchen kit. One entry per household, please. Send entries by January 30.

Enter via the “Symbol Search” link on the homepage of wecnmagazine.com. You can also enter by mail (don’t forget to include the name of your cooperative):

SYMBOL SEARCH Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association 222 W. Washington Ave., Suite 680, Madison, WI 53703

Good luck! 4

Refresh and Renew

s we promised in our December magazine, we have a (slightly) new look for the New Year. You’ll notice that we’ve moved a few things around, including the very popular Symbol Search game. It’s now right up front, sharing real estate with me. (With more eyes on this page, I’ll make a resolution to improve this column.) We also added a “Safety Spot” in our Young Members section on page 31. Another popular feature with our readers, the “Kids and Critters” submissions bring joy to many readers. Now, they can pick up a safety tip while visiting that page. The cover also received a bit of a makeover, though we’ve retained much the same look you know and trust. We’re proud to continue to provide readers with the information they need about their electric cooperative, along with a few fun and useful tidbits thrown in. We’re not done yet, though. We’ll continue making improvements and tweaks towards our refresh in the next few months. We’re always a work in progress, and we always strive to put out the very best magazine for our readers. We’ll make adjustments based on, among other decisions, feedback from you, our readers. Your opinion matters to us. So this month, when you upload your Symbol Search entry at wecnmagazine.com, drop in a comment about what you think of our new look so far. Wishing you all a safe, healthy, and happy 2022!

Dana Kelroy Editor

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN Jan22Editor.indd 1

12/17/21 11:13 AM

On The Trail Of

LEWIS & CLARK COLUMBIA AND SNAKE RIVERS

Follow Lewis and Clark’s epic 19th-century expedition along the Columbia and Snake Rivers aboard the newest riverboats in the region. Enjoy unique shore excursions, scenic landscapes, and talented onboard experts who bring the region to life.

Experience the grandeur of Multnomah Falls

Cruise Close To Home®

Spokane

WASHINGTON

Snak e Riv e r

Astoria Pacific Ocean

Columbi aR ive

Hayden Island

Mount St. Helens

Kalama Stevenson River Gorge Hood River Colu mbia

Portland

OREGON

January 22_adsPasted2.indd 5

Multnomah Falls Mt. Hood

MAGAD_WECN_8.25X10.5_ISSUE_JAN_2022.indd 1

Clarkston

Richland

The Dalles

Lewiston

Umatilla

Hells Canyon

Pendleton

OREGON

Call 1-800-459-2596 to request a FREE Cruise Guide AmericanCruiseLines.com 12/6/21 10:16 AM

11/9/21 11:24 AM

NEWS BRIEFS Biden Ramps Up Climate Goals

President Joe Biden recently signed an executive order that directs the federal government to become carbon neutral by 2050, and use federal buying power to help reach ambitious climate goals including: • 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2030 (at least half of which will be locally supplied clean energy to meet 24/7 demand) • 100% zero-emission vehicle acquisitions by 2035, including 100% zero-emission light-duty vehicle acquisitions by 2027 • Net zero emissions from federal procurement by 2050 • A net zero emissions federal building portfolio by 2045, including a 50% emissions reduction by 2032 The executive order is good news for clean energy and electric vehicle companies, as the federal government buys $650 billion in goods and services annually in addition to a real estate portfolio of more than 300,000 buildings and a fleet of more than 600,000 cars and trucks.

December Storm Causes Widespread Power Outages

A rare, extreme weather event swept through Wisconsin and much of the Midwest December 15–16, knocking power out for almost 20,000 members from at least 21 Wisconsin electric co-ops. Wind gusts topped 75 miles an hour, and at least one tornado, an EF-2, was confirmed in Clark County. Most power was restored within 24 hours, despite widespread downed trees and powerlines. The weather followed a day of record high temperatures. Madison and Green Bay both recorded a high temperature of 65 degrees. Riverland Energy, Clark Electric, and Alger Delta Cooperatives requested assistance in restoring power. Bayfield Electric, East Central Energy, St. Croix Electric, and Dunn Energy Cooperatives sent crews to help. 6

2021 Essay Winners Announced

Congratulations to the winners of the 2021 Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association essay contest. Students who attended the Youth Leadership Congress were invited to participate in the contest. The winners are: 1. Mackenzie Shankle – Oakdale Electric Cooperative ($1,000 scholarship) 2. Katelyn Haschke – Oakdale Electric Cooperative ($500 scholarship) 3. Lauren Thompson – St. Croix Electric Cooperative ($250 scholarship) Students were asked to write an essay about how electric cooperatives benefit local communities beyond providing electricity. Mackenzie wrote, in part, “Cooperatives invest in teaching the next generation to become active, strong, wise, and aware individuals. This happens by sponsoring the Youth Leadership Conference and providing education and careers in the cooperative. They also encourage positive growth, learning, and the importance of teamwork along with many other skills.”

CHARGE EV Grows to 49 Cooperatives

CHARGE EV, a cooperative-branded electric-vehicle charging network spearheaded by Wisconsin electric co-ops, has grown to include 49 cooperatives. The CHARGE EV brand will extend to western Iowa and southern Illinois with the addition of Iowa generation and transmission cooperatives Corn Belt Power Cooperative and Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative, as well as Egyptian Electric Cooperative Association in Murphysboro, Illinois. “This is an incredible boost for CHARGE both in terms of cooperative participation and the opportunity for collaboration,” said Nate Boettcher, president of CHARGE EV, LLC. “As our affiliations grow, we leverage the needs of each cooperative to benefit all.”

CHARGE is a national electric vehicle (EV) charging brand that launched just about a year ago to ease range anxiety by providing cooperative-branded chargers located on routes where they are needed, as well as making them available to install in homes.

Record Renewable Growth is Still Not Enough

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), about 290 GW of new renewable energy generation capacity, mostly in the form of wind turbines and solar panels, has been installed around the world this year, beating the previous record set in 2020. The Renewables Market Report predicts renewable energy generating capacity will jump to 4,800 GW by 2026, exceeding that of fossil fuels and nuclear energy combined by 2026. However, the agency says the 2021 record level of growth is still far short of what is necessary to achieve net zero carbon emissions by mid-century. Meanwhile, the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Short-Term Energy Outlook shows coal-fired electricity generation is estimated to increase this year for the first time since 2014, mainly due to rising natural gas prices.

Elk Mound Plant Sees Record Year

Dairyland Power Cooperative’s Elk Mound plant has shattered records in 2021, 20 years after it first went into service. The station generated 57,231 MWH by the end of October, almost five times the annual average of 12,000 MWH for the plant, which consists of two dual-fuel combustion turbines (natural gas with fuel oil as back-up). The previous record for the Elk Mound facility was set in 2007, at 30,529 MWH. The record low was set in 2009 at 338 MWH. The facility has been in service since June of 2001.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN Jan22NewsBriefs.indd 1

12/17/21 11:07 AM

ALL NEW mobility technology

Introducing the world’s lightest wheelchair with all of these safety features The revolutionary portable wheelchair with dozens of standard features

NEW

For years, the millions of Americans with mobility issues had a choice when it came to wheelchairs: convenience or comfort. Wheelchairs have been around since the 17th century, but there have not been significant improvements to their design . . . until now. Thanks to the So Lite™ Wheelchair, individuals with mobility challenges and their caregivers no longer need to choose between wheelchairs that are comfortable and those that can be easily transported. The frame is crafted using magnesium, known for its combination of light weight and strength. This has resulted in a chair frame that weighs only 16.5 pounds, but can easily handle a person weighing as much as 250 pounds. This lesser weight makes it easier to maneuver, whether by the person sitting in it or the person pushing it. The seat and the back feature comfortable yet durable cushions that can be removed easily for cleaning. The rear wheels, footrests and anti-tippers all feature easy quick-release, no-tool removal. The backrest folds for convenient storage in a closet, underneath a bed or in a car trunk, and the armrests flip back, so you can roll up close to a desk or table. The tires feature flatfree design and do not require maintenance, and there is a dual braking system featuring manual locks and handbrakes. Why spend another day struggling? Call now and a helpful, knowledgeable product expert will answer

Why So Lite™ is better: • Chair frame weighs only 16.5 pounds • Frame crafted using magnesium for light weight and strength • Easy quick-release rear wheels, footrests and anti-tippers • Flip-back armrests for the ability to roll up close to a desk or table • Folds for convenient transportation and storage • Dual braking system featuring manual locks and handbrakes • FREE stylish and comfortable back and seat cushions

any questions you have. The So Lite™ Wheelchair comes with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty and our exclusive home trial. We’ll even give you FREE back and seat cushions. Don’t wait . . . Call now.

So Lite™ Wheelchair Call toll-free now

1-888-690-0058

Available in Black (shown), White or Blue January 22_adsPasted2.indd 7

85614

Please mention code 116237 when ordering.

12/6/21 10:18 AM

MESSAGE from the CEO

Electric cooperative leaders from across Wisconsin gather in the Capitol rotunda before meeting with their individual legislators in 2019.

ADVANCING THROUGH ADVOCACY achieving the legislative wins we have experienced in Advocacy is often the cornerstone of many associations, recent years at both the state and federal levels. There will especially those participating in public policy debates. be plenty of political discussions as we head into another WECA is no different. As the voice for Wisconsin’s electric critical election cycle. cooperatives and publisher of this magazine, the first part of However, it won’t all be work. We’ll also set our vision statement says, “WECA will serve its aside time to allow our members to enjoy some members by providing leadership on key legislative in-person camaraderie that we’ve all dearly missed and regulatory issues.” It is for this reason that over the last 18 months. Wisconsin’s rural electric cooperatives were the first The most important aspect of Education and in the country to organize a statewide association. Lobby Days is when our members go to the To this day, a good portion of our purpose is to Capitol and visit with their representatives. There engage legislators on behalf of our members on is no more powerful voice than yours! Having our issues that affect both the daily operations and the members advocate for the issues that will make a long-term goals of our electric cooperatives. difference to their cooperatives and the consumerDeveloping and nurturing relationships with Steve Freese members they serve is the best part of this event. elected officials is a core function of our vision President and CEO Our strength is through our members, and watching statement. It’s a big reason why we exist. Having them tell the cooperative story to legislators is WECA and the members that make up our exciting for me. organization engaged in policy decisions and talking with Even as toxic as our political environment is today, legislators is tantamount to making certain our cooperatives our cooperatives are committed to taking a reasoned and have the proper tools—statutory and/or regulatory—in place nonpartisan approach in communicating with elected to ensure they can continue to provide safe, reliable, and officials on the importance of safe, reliable, and affordable affordable electricity to our consumer members. electricity. We are seeing societal norms shift towards more Speaking of advocacy, WECA will host our annual renewable sources for energy, so we must showcase and Education and Lobby Days event in Madison in February. share our collective stories about utilizing renewable energy This will be a great opportunity for members to hear from resources in an energy mix that is moving away from coal experts on key issues we are following at the Capitol. After generation. the education component of the event is complete, our Our cooperatives recognize that the words members will then make their way to the Capitol to have a “sustainability” and “reliability” cannot be mutually discussion with their state legislators on these key topics and exclusive of one another, but rather the challenge in the leave them with a better understanding of who we are and coming years is to make sure they can and must go hand why we believe in the issues for which we are advocating. in hand. Conveying the importance of this message to our As I write this column, my team is working on putting elected officials during WECA’s Education and Lobby Days together a solid program that will discuss some pretty will be paramount to providing clean, reliable, affordable, important issues like community solar, third-party financing, and safe energy solutions for generations to come. I wish renewable energy, broadband, electric vehicles, easements, you all a very safe, healthy, and happy New Year! and electric grid reliability. In addition, we’ll hear how crucial our organization’s political involvement is to 8

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN Jan22Steve.indd 1

12/15/21 2:52 PM

Now, THIS is a Knife! This 16" stainless steel blade is not for the faint of heart — now ONLY $99!

n the blockbuster film, when a strapping Australian crocodile hunter and a lovely American journalist were getting robbed at knife point by a couple of young thugs in New York, the tough Aussie pulls out his dagger and says “That’s not a knife, THIS is a knife!” Of course, the thugs scattered and he continued on to win the reporter’s heart. Our Aussie friend would approve of our rendition of his “knife.” Forged of high grade 420 surgical stainless steel, this stick tang knife is an impressive 16" from pommel to point. Secured in a tooled leather sheath, this is one impressive knife, with an equally impressive price. This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here. We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers. Also, receive a genuine leather sheath FREE when you purchase the Down Under Bowie Knife.

What Stauer Clients Are Saying About Our Knives

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price. Limited Reserves. A deal like this won’t last long. We have only 1120 Down Under Bowie Knifes for this ad only. Don’t let this beauty slip through your fingers at a price that won’t drag you under. Call today!



“This knife is beautiful!” — J., La Crescent, MN



“The feel of this knife is unbelievable...this is an incredibly fine instrument.” BONUS! Call today and you’ll also receive this genuine leather sheath!

— H., Arvada, CO

Down Under Bowie Knife $249*

Offer Code Price Only $99 + S&P Save $150

1-800-333-2045

Your Insider Offer Code: DUK275-02 You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.

Stauer

Rating of A+

14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. DUK275-02 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com

*Discount is only for customers who useNot the offer code versus the listed original shown Stauer.com price. actual size.

California residents please call 1-800-333-2045 regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product.

• Etched stainless steel stick tang blade ; 16” overall • Painted natural bone and wood handle • Brass hand guards, spacers & end cap • Includes genuine tooled leather sheath

Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.® January 22_adsPasted2.indd 9

12/10/21 2:52 PM

COMMENTARY

PATHWAYS TO

NET ZERO

HOW THE MIDWEST IS CENTRAL TO COMBATTING CLIMATE CHANGE “I want to be a famous pop star,” my 8-year-old daughter announced one day. “What do I need to do?” “Well, you should probably take some singing lessons,” I answered. “Ugh! No. I’m not doing that,” she replied. And that was the last I heard of her grand, future plan. It’s not unlike the common approach to climate change. Sometimes it feels like it’s over before it begins. According to many state, national, and international surveys, and you could argue the last presidential election in the United States, most people believe climate change is real, and support efforts to ﬁght it. A recent Pew research survey of the United States, Europe, and Asia found 72 percent of people are “somewhat” or “very” concerned about climate change, and in the United States, 89% said they are willing to make changes to how they live and work to help reduce the effects. Of that 89%, 30% chose “a lot,” 44% chose “some,” and 15% noted they’d make “a few” changes. But actions are louder than words. “Controversial Wind Farm Scrapped” reads a recent headline referring to the Sugar River Wind Project proposal in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, which prompted opposition from dozens of nearby homeowners. Some of them said they are not anti-wind; they just don’t think wind farms belong close to residences.

“Leeward Renewable Energy Cancels Highland Wind Farm project in Town of Forest” reads another headline from last November. This project, which had been in the works since 2008, attracted ﬁerce opposition from the local community. “We are relieved and gratiﬁed that the Highland Wind Farm project has been stopped, once and for all. We thank the leadership of Leeward for doing the right thing for our community, but also for the environment,” said Jaime Junker, chair of the Forest Town Board, in response to the news that the project was dead.

Midwest is central to climate change efforts

Meeting the climate change goals of the Biden Administration requires an

ambitious, expansive, and expedient build-out of wind and solar projects, at a rate in which this country, and this region, has never seen before. Last month President Joe Biden signed an executive order ramping up his previous climate change goal and calling for 100 percent of carbon pollution-free electricity by 2030 “at least half of which must be locally supplied clean energy to meet 24/7 demand.” And a human-scale look at wind and solar expansion shows the Midwest is key. Over the course of two years, 18 researchers worked to produce the Princeton Study: Net Zero America, which takes a deep dive into what it would take to reach net zero, in real-life scenarios. The study maps out ﬁve different pathways that, if implemented, would meet the

Courtesy of Net-Zero America Report, Princeton Study

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN Jan22Feature1.indd 2

12/17/21 11:20 AM

net-zero goal by 2050. Each scenario includes a major expansion of wind and solar energy, and there are variations for expansion of nuclear, biomass, carbon storage, and natural gas. “We made an effort to make it really visceral—what it would mean to get to net zero emissions for the United States across not just the electricity sector, but all sectors,” Eric Larson, one of the Princeton study authors told attendees at the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association annual meeting recently. Looking at the logistics, Larson and his team mapped out where the wind and solar expansion would be most logical. They eliminated areas across the country where building is unlikely to be allowed, including dense urban areas, national parks, prime agricultural land, and other environmentally sensitive areas. Using a least-cost algorithm, they came up with several maps, including the one on page 10, that show dense wind farm expansion in the Midwest and Wisconsin, and significant off-shore wind installations on the east coast. The opposition to new wind farms in Wisconsin is even more significant when you look at the stalled progress in adding clean energy generation in the state. The current capacity from wind is roughly 746 MW in Wisconsin, enough to power only 172,000 homes, and just a fraction of what is able to be produced in neighboring states. Minnesota, for example, has more than five times the capacity of Wisconsin. The abandoned Sugar River and Highland projects were two of just a handful of utility-scale wind farms that have been proposed in Wisconsin over the past decade. Wind farm opponents say aesthetics and potential health concerns (discounted by wind proponents) are the key reasons they don’t want wind farms in their areas, wecnmagazine.com

WECN Jan22Feature1.indd 3

January 2022

12/17/21 11:20 AM

Courtesy of American Wind Energy Association

but building utility-scale solar arrays is often an uphill battle as well. “Stop Koshkonong Solar” signs can be seen dotting the landscape east of Madison, where many in the Cambridge community are ﬁghting a proposed 300-megawatt solar farm that would span 2,400 acres and power almost 80,000 households on a sunny day. If built, it will be the largest solar farm in Wisconsin, and would double the state’s solar capacity. While that sounds promising, the current capacity is only 1 percent. Four of the ﬁve Princeton study scenarios would require 50 percent capacity from wind and solar by 2050. Even with the Koshkonong project, Wisconsin has a

very long way to go. Further complicating the barriers to new wind and solar projects, is the difficult process of building new highvoltage transmission lines to get the clean energy from the places where it is abundant to the areas that need it. Dairyland Power Cooperative’s 345 kilovolt Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line is now under construction after years of planning, but it is still facing legal challenges from environmental groups. The ongoing opposition left several potential wind farm proposals in flux for years. “The southern Wisconsin energy market is in flux right now,” a project

manager of one of those wind farms said in 2020. Larson said the Princeton Study concludes that it is possible to reach the net-zero goals, but he adds, “If we’re not able to gain and sustain social license from the general public and all sectors of society, it’ll be difﬁcult to move forward in all of this,” and he adds that “we’ll need to start yesterday if we’re going to be successful.” Considering the grand goal and the ground level resistance, it seems about as likely as hearing my daughter on the radio someday. —Julie Lund

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN Jan22Feature1.indd 4

12/17/21 11:21 AM

FEATURE

Making Dollar$ and $en$e of Energy Effi¢ien¢y

he term “energy efficiency” can cause confusion. Some see it as a way to a cleaner environment. Others see extra expense and inconvenience. Sorting out those views gets even more complicated as technology gives us a dizzying array of choices for using electricity, from smart thermostats to varieties of light bulbs. The basic idea of energy efficiency is simple—use less energy to do the same amount of work, which can save you money on your electric bills. Here’s where it starts getting confusing. Sometimes you have to pay more for something that’s considered energy efficient. It costs more upfront but actually saves money in the long run. That may sound illogical at first, like the old phrase, “You have to spend money to make money.” But it makes sense after you think about it for a minute—most moneymaking projects require an initial upfront investment, whether it’s a factory or a lemonade stand.

Pay a little now, save a lot later

From computers to major appliances, manufacturers are increasing the energy efficiency of their products. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, ENERGY STAR®-rated appliances can save you 10% to 50% of the energy required for standard models that don’t receive the ENERGY STAR® sticker. Considering most major appliances last 10 years, those savings can stack up over time. There’s even more savings in store by replacing older appliances that weren’t built with today’s efficiency standards in mind. Improvements in refrigerators are cutting their energy use in half about every 15 years. So, if your fridge is more than 20 years old, replacing it with a new highefficiency model could save you $300 in operating costs over the next five years. “Smart power strips” also show how spending now on efficiency can make money in the future. Keeping your phone charger and other electronic devices plugged in can consume electricity even after they’re fully charged or not in use. A smart power strip cuts off the electricity once charging is complete. A smart strip costs about $40, and depending on your electric rates and how much charging you do, it could save as much as $40 a year on your electric bills, recovering your initial investment almost right away.

Another example of returns on energy efficiency investments comes from the world of real estate. Realtors will be the first to tell you that energy efficiency sells houses. If you’re in the market to sale, spending a little extra on insulation and efficient appliances increases resale value.

Save $200 a year on light bulbs

Light bulbs offer the most dramatic story of efficiency technology improvements. By spending $5 to $10 on an LED bulb (compared to about $1 for an old incandescent), you get a product that uses 75% less electricity and, incidentally, can last 20 years compared to about a year for an incandescent bulb. The Department of Energy estimates the average home could save more than $200 a year by replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs. Maybe the best news of all is that as efficient products improve and gain popularity, they’re not always more expensive. Many cheaper appliance models have similar annual operating costs compared with the pricier versions. Two key tips for turning energy efficiency into dollars are to know what you want from your energy use and to do

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, ENERGY STAR®rated appliances can save you 10% to 50% of the energy required for standard models that don’t receive the ENERGY STAR® sticker. Photo courtesy of Maytag

wecnmagazine.com

WECN Jan22Feature2.indd 1

January 2022

12/15/21 3:01 PM

your homework. Products come with a wide range of features that cost extra and may actually be less efficient—do you want a refrigerator that offers the best efficiency, or do you want to pay more for a less-efficient model that has an ice dispenser in the door? And ask for help. Your local electric co-op has energy experts who can tell you how to make the best use

of electricity. To compare efﬁciency among appliances, look for the yellow Energy Guide label, which shows information like estimated annual operating costs. Visit the energy.gov website for online calculators and additional resources that can help you turn efﬁciency data into real savings on your energy bills.

Paul Wesslund writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56% of the nation’s landscape.

Efficiency improvements in refrigerators are cutting their energy use in half about every 15 years. If your fridge is more than 20 years old, replacing it with a new high-efficiency model could save you $300 in operating costs over the next five years. Photos courtesy of Whirlpool

WE NE VE R STOP.

Not everyone starts their day at the same time, or in the same way. But no matter when or how, your local Touchstone Energy cooperative is there to help you power every moment of it. To learn more, visit TouchstoneEnergy.com

YOUR SOURCE FOR POWER. AND INFORMATION.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN Jan22Feature2.indd 2

12/15/21 3:02 PM

Magic in the Meadow Sculpted Torchiere Sleek torchiere design illuminates Greg Alexander’s majestic art around the genuine glass shade

•

Fully-dimensional buck sculpture is hand-cast and hand-painted in extraordinary detail This impressively-sized, 14-inch high masterwork displays Greg Alexander’s nature art, expertly hand-applied all the way around the genuine glass shade. The thrilling sight becomes dramatically three-dimensional on the handcast, intricately sculpted base, where an eightpoint buck leaps over rocky terrain. Masterful hand-painting breathes precious life into every detail. Lit or unlit, our Magic in the Meadow Sculpted Torchiere will bring a dimension of natural grandeur to any room.

14 Inches Tall

A rare value! Order now. Order now at four easy installments of $33.75, for a total of $135.00*. Your purchase is backed by our 365-day money-back guarantee. Send no money now. Just mail the postage-paid Reservation Application today.

Pric

❏

Logo Addre

Shown smaller than actual size of about 14 in. high. Base, 7½ in. diam. Includes one energy-efficient bulb for soft illumination.

ORDER TODAY AT BRADFORDEXCHANGE.COM/MEADOW

❏

Where Passion Becomes Art RESERVATION APPLICATION

SEND NO MONEY NOW

The Bradford Exchange 9345 Milwaukee Avenue, Niles, IL 60714-1393

YES. Please reserve the Magic in the Meadow Sculpted Torchiere for me as described in this announcement.

Mrs. Mr. Ms.

Track Cod

❏

Name (Please Print Clearly)

Address City

State

Yello Snip

Zip

❏

Please Respond Promptly

Email (optional) *Plus a total of $19.99 shipping and service; see bradfordexchange.com. Limited-edition presentation restricted to 295 crafting days. Please allow 4-8 weeks after initial payment for shipment. Sales subject to product availability and order acceptance.

January 22_adsPasted2.indd 19

Job Cod

01-30137-001-E49801

12/6/21 10:19 AM

Shipp Servi

❏

OH SNAP, IT’S GINGER

Cranberry-Ginger Marinated Chicken Recipe and photo courtesy of Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association.

2 cups cranberry juice 1/2 cup sweetened, dried cranberries 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated 1 clove garlic, minced 1-1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 4-x1-x3/4-inch strips Salt and pepper, to taste 1 Tbsp butter or margarine 2 Tbsp shallots, finely diced 1/2 cup carrots, peeled and cut into 2-x1/8-x1/8-inch strips 2 Tbsp diced chives for garnish, if desired Stir cranberry juice, cranberries, ginger, and garlic in a large bowl until blended. Add chicken, cover, and marinate in refrigerator for 1–2 hours. Remove chicken from marinade; reserve marinade. Add salt and pepper to chicken, to taste. Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Add shallots and sauté over medium heat until transparent. Add reserved marinade, bring to a boil, uncovered. Decrease heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until reduced in half. Add carrots during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Grill chicken over medium-high heat, 4–5 minutes per side, until juices run clear when pierced with fork or chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Place three pieces of chicken on each plate; spoon marinade over chicken. Garnish with chives, if desired. Serve with seasonal vegetables. Makes 4 servings.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN Jan22Recipes.indd 2

12/16/21 12:20 PM

RECIPES Ginger Beef & Noodle Bowls Recipe and photo courtesy of the Wisconsin Beef Council.

1 beef flat iron steak (approx. 1 lb), cut 3/4-inch thick 1 Tbsp dark sesame oil, divided in half 2 Tbsp fresh ginger, minced 2 tsp garlic, minced Salt and pepper, to taste 2 cans (14.5 oz each) beef broth 3/4 cup green onions, thinly sliced 2 Tbsp mirin or rice wine vinegar (found in Asian food section of grocery store) 6 cups cooked fresh Asian-style thin cut noodles or unseasoned instant ramen noodles 1/2 cup carrots, shredded

Blueberry Pancakes with Blueberry Ginger Sauce Recipe and photo courtesy of the US Highbush Blueberry Council.

Blueberry Ginger Sauce 2 cups fresh blueberries 1/4 cup sugar 1 Tbsp cornstarch 1 Tbsp finely chopped crystalized ginger or 1/2 tsp dried ground ginger 1/3 cup water In a large saucepan, combine blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, and ginger; stir in water. Over medium-high heat, bring sauce mixture to a boil. Cook and stir until sauce thickens, approx. 1 minute. Blueberry Pancakes 1-1/2 cups part-skim ricotta cheese, or drained smallcurd cottage cheese 1/4 cup butter, melted 4 egg yolks 1/2 cup flour 1/4 cup sugar 2 tsp grated lemon zest 8 egg whites 2 cups fresh blueberries In a medium-sized bowl, combine ricotta, butter, and egg yolks until blended. In a small bowl, stir together flour, sugar, and lemon zest. Stir dry ingredients into ricotta mixture. In a separate medium-sized bowl, beat egg whites until they form soft peaks. Fold egg whites into batter, and then fold in blueberries. Over medium heat, spoon 1/4 cup of batter per pancake onto a hot, lightly-greased griddle or skillet. Cook cakes, turning once until browned, approx. 4 minutes. Serve with Blueberry Ginger Sauce.

Cut steak into 1- to 2-inch pieces; heat 1/2 tablespoon of the oil in pan until hot. Add ginger and garlic; cook 1 minute. Add half of the beef; stir-fry for 2 minutes or until the outside surface of beef is no longer pink and is thoroughly cooked. Remove from skillet. Repeat with remaining oil and beef. Season with salt and pepper, as desired. Keep warm. Add broth, green onions, and mirin to skillet; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 8–10 minutes. Meanwhile, divide noodles and beef evenly among 4 large soup bowls. Bring broth mixture to a boil over high heat; ladle boiling mixture evenly over beef and noodles. Garnish with carrots and serve.

Turkey Sausage Rice Balls with Pineapple Recipe and photo courtesy of USA Rice Federation (USA Rice). Looking for a great way to reinvent leftover rice? Look no further than this Turkey Sausage Rice Balls and Pineapple recipe!

Sausage Balls 1 lb sweet or hot Italian turkey sausage, casings removed 1 cup cooked white rice 1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped 2 Tbsp flour 1 Tbsp grated ginger 1 egg, beaten 1 Tbsp canola oil Sauce 1 (20 oz) can pineapple tidbits (with juice) 2–3 Tbsp sugar

3 Tbsp cider vinegar 2 Tbsp hoisin sauce

Combine the sausage ball ingredients in a medium bowl. Shape into 24 balls, approx. 1-inch each. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Tilt skillet to coat bottom lightly. Add the sausage balls and cook 12–14 minutes or until no longer pink in center, turning frequently. (Use a fork and tablespoon to turn balls over easily while cooking.) Meanwhile, combine the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl. Stir until well-blended and set aside. Increase the heat to medium high, add the pineapple mixture. Bring to a boil and cook 10 minutes or until thickened slightly. Do not stir. Remove from heat, gently stir to coat sausage balls evenly. Serve as is with sauce or over snow peas or asparagus spears, if desired. Serves 4.

wecnmagazine.com

WECN Jan22Recipes.indd 3

January 2022

12/16/21 12:25 PM

READER RECIPES Vegetable Medley

Submit your favorite recipes to be featured on our reader recipe page. Email to jennifer@weca.coop. For bonus recipes, go to http://wecnmagazine.com/recipes/. Due to potential food safety issues, we cannot accept canning recipes.

MARILYN HINES, ELLSWORTH This recipe is very easy to make and is so delicious. It is also a pretty side-dish that goes with any kind of meat, and it’s a great way to use up any extra cucumbers. VEGETABLE BLEND 2 Tbsp pickling salt 7 cups cucumbers, sliced and unpeeled 1 cup onion, chopped 1 green pepper, chopped 1 red pepper, chopped MARINADE/SAUCE 2 cups sugar 1 cup vinegar 1 tsp celery seed 3/4 tsp pickling spice VEGETABLE BLEND Sprinkle pickling salt over vegetables and let set for 2 hours, drain well. MARINADE/SAUCE Mix sugar, vinegar, celery seed, and pickling spice together well. Pour over drained vegetable mixture. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator. This will keep for up to 6 months.

Carrot Cake with Orange Sauce PAT CHRISTENSEN, ROME

REQUESTS FROM OUR READERS

An online reader asked for pulled pork or sloppy joe recipes to feed a crowd. SEND TO: WECN, Reader Recipes, 222 West Washington Ave., Suite 680, Madison, WI 53703-2719 or jennifer@weca.coop.

CAKE 2 cups flour 2 tsp baking soda 3 eggs 3/4 cup oil 3/4 cup buttermilk 2 cups sugar 2 tsp vanilla 2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp salt 2 cups grated carrots 1 (8.25 oz) can crushed pineapple, drained 3 oz shredded coconut 1 cup nuts, chopped

ORANGE SAUCE 1 cup sugar 10 oz frozen orange juice concentrate CAKE Sift flour and baking soda. Beat together eggs, oil, buttermilk, sugar, and vanilla. Mix well and add flour and baking soda mixture, cinnamon, salt, carrots, pineapple, coconut, and nuts until well blended. Pour into a greased and floured 9-x-13-inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes. ORANGE SAUCE Combine sugar and orange juice concentrate. Bring to a boil and pour over warm cake. Let sit at least 3 hours or overnight.

Crockpot Lasagna RECIPE COURTESY OF DOROTHY SHIRK, THORP 1-1/2 lbs ground beef 1 (16 oz) box lasagna noodles 1 (26 oz) jar spaghetti sauce 1/2 cup butter 1 lb Velveeta (or other processed) cheese 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese Brown the ground beef. Cook the noodles for 15 minutes, drain; add butter. Layer in crock pot: meat, sauce, noodles, and cheese. Repeat layers with any remaining ingredients. Turn on LOW for 4 hours.

Venison Breakfast Sausage MARY STERNBERG, MASON 1 lb lean ground venison 1 small onion, grated (about 1/3 cup) 1/4 cup cold water 1-1/2 tsp leaf marjoram, crumbled 1/2 tsp ground allspice 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper 1 tsp salt Mix all ingredients together, blending well. Shape mixture into patties and pan fry in a skillet sprayed with cooking spray, until well browned and cooked through. COOK’S NOTE: This venison sausage is very tasty with a great seasoning combination. The onions keep the sausage moist.

Holiday Grasshoppers RECIPE COURTESY OF LYNNE MILLS 1/2 gal vanilla ice cream 8 oz whipped topping 3/4 cup Crème de Cocoa 3/4 cup Crème de Menthe Candy canes Mix together vanilla ice cream and whipped topping; add Crème de Cocoa and Crème de Menthe. Freeze until just soft enough to stir. When ready to eat, place in glasses and top each serving with crushed candy canes. As a garnish, add one small candy cane in or on the side of each glass or cup as an added treat. The “Sour Cream Drop Cookies” recipe featured on page 22 of our December magazine contained an error. No baking powder is needed. We regret the error.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN Jan22ReaderRecipes.indd 1

12/16/21 12:14 PM

ADVA NCED DIGITA L HEARING AID TECHNOLOGY

Now Rechargeable! BUY 1 GET 1

FREE

Reg: $599.98

Only $299 99

Each When You Buy a Pair – LIMITED TIME ONLY!

How can a rechargeable hearing aid that costs only $29999 be every bit as good as one that sells for $2,400 or more?

“I was amazed! Sounds I hadn’t heard in years came back to me!” — Don W., Sherman, TX

CHARGE AT NIGHT AND GO ALL DAY

The answer: Although tremendous strides have been

Never Change a Battery Again!

made in Hearing Aid Technology, those cost reductions have not been passed on to you. Until now...

NEW

The MDHearingAid® VOLT+ uses the same kind of technology incorporated into hearing aids that cost thousands more at a small fraction of the price. Over 600,000 satisfed MDHearingAid customers agree: Charging Case High-quality, FDA-registered rechargeable hearing aids 30-Hour Battery Life Water Resistant to 3 Feet don’t have to cost a fortune. MDHearingAid is a medical-grade, digital, rechargeable Order Now & Get hearing aid offering sophistication and high 3 FREE Accessories rating for performance; and works right out of the box + years 10 with no time-consuming “adjustment” – $150 Value – appointments. Now that you know... why pay more?

A+BBB

Rinse Kit

45-DAY RISK-FREE TRIAL!

Extra Charging Case*

If you are not completely satisfied with your MDHearingAids, return them within 45 days for a FULL REFUND!

For the Lowest Price Call

1-800-956-3657

Nearly Invisible

www.MDVolt.com

DOCTOR DESIGNED | AUDIOLOGIST TESTED | FDA REGISTERED

January 22_adsPasted2.indd 23

Tube & Tip Replacement Kit *Extra charging case does not include additional hearing aids.

Use Code SP98 and get FREE Shipping and Accessories 12/10/21 2:46 PM

TREK INTO THE NEW YEAR Jackson County Snowshoe Opportunities Provide Path to Healthy Lifestyle

he dawn of a new year is the perfect time to strap on some snowshoes and start trekking, and not just because January typically brings fresh snow to tramp through. This family-friendly activity is also a great way to check off a few New Year’s resolutions, the most common of which is getting more exercise, according to a Statista Global Consumer Survey. That same survey lists spending more time with family and friends and living more economically among the top ﬁve New Year’s resolutions, with spending less time on social media and reducing stress following closely behind. Snowshoeing will help you reach all of those goals. It’s an easy activity to take up and stick with, as it requires no special skills; that old adage “if you can walk, you can snowshoe” is really true. However, don’t be fooled into thinking snowshoeing is just a walk in the park. Breaking through snow requires a little more energy and provides an aerobic workout, which can be as strenuous as you want to make it. It won’t feel like hard work, though, if you focus on the peaceful winter landscape around you. Because it’s a simple, low-impact activity suitable for everyone from young children to senior citizens, snowshoeing is a great way to enjoy some outdoor fun with family and friends. It’s also a low-cost activity,

with no need for a lift ticket or club membership to participate. All you really need are warm clothing and a pair of snowshoes, which can often be rented and even borrowed. And of course, you need a stretch of snow, which isn’t hard to ﬁnd in our state at this time of year. You can snowshoe in your own backyard—literally—or head out to the nearest park. If you want to venture out a little farther and explore the unique scenery found in different areas of Wisconsin, head to any of the state’s many parks, forests, and recreation areas, most of which are crossed with trails suitable for trekking.

Winter Wonderland Snowshoe Challenge With about 200,000 acres of public land

including state and county forestland, Jackson County is one such area with an abundance of trails that take trekkers through some of Wisconsin’s prettiest winter wonderland. The scenery is reason enough to plan a Jackson County snowshoeing outing, but if your goal is to also work through some of those resolutions, a community snowshoeing event might provide an extra bit of fun and motivation. The Winter Wonderland Triple Snowshoe Challenge is a free, monthlong event sponsored by Jackson In

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WisFavJan22-option 2.indd 2

12/16/21 2:26 PM

WISC NSIN FAVORITES

Action (JIA), a community coalition dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles (see sidebar). The event consists of three weekends of snowshoeing at three different parks in Jackson County between mid-January and mid-February. Participants register online at jacksoninaction.org and then hike through the courses on their own at any time from Friday at 10 a.m. through Sunday at 3 p.m. each weekend of the event, logging into their account after each course to indicate completion. Each completed course earns an entry into the grand prize drawing for a pair of snowshoes. The courses range in length from roughly a mile to just over 3 miles, and they get progressively more challenging although all are suitable for most ages and ﬁtness levels. JIA has made participation as easy as possible, with few restrictions and rules: People are free to tackle as many of the individual courses as they are able, and even to turn around mid-course at any point if necessary; those who don’t have snowshoes are

welcome to simply hike the courses in boots instead; and no times are kept or recorded. “This is not a race; we’re just trying to promote physical activity,” said Kathleen Clemons, JIA coalition member from the Ho-Chunk Health Department. Clemons and fellow JIA member Dawn Jacobson, a public health specialist at Jackson County DHHS, are actively involved in organizing the snowshoe challenge. Clemons marks the courses, while Jacobson handles promotion.

Snowshoeing is a great way for the whole family to enjoy Jackson County’s beautiful winter landscape. (Photos courtesy of Black River Area Chamber of Commerce; inset photo by Woody Meyer)

Product of the Pandemic

Ironically, the successful, participationfriendly format of an event organized to promote healthy lifestyles is due largely to a public health threat. “It deﬁnitely was borne out of the pandemic,” Clemons said of the monthlong setup that both participants and sponsors have embraced. “We always

OUR 60th YEAR

wecnmagazine.com

WisFavJan22-option 2.indd 3

January 2022

12/16/21 2:33 PM

had a Family Snowshoe Day, so it was always held on one day, at one time. But last year, like with everything else, we had to kind of think outside of the box.” She and Jacobson came up with a way to continue the annual snowshoe event safely, spreading it out over multiple weekends, and over different venues, to allow for appropriate social distancing. Jacobson described the switch in format as one of the “little silver linings of COVID,” as the pandemic-driven changes also helped with another challenge the organizers had faced even before social distancing was a concern: the unpredictable winter weather. “You’d plan it in advance, and then it would always be the coldest day of the year, or you’d have freezing rain, so there was always a chance you’d have to scramble,” Jacobson pointed out. “That’s just how winter is here.” Also, spreading the event over three weekends and three courses brought the added bonus of showcasing two more of the area’s beautiful parks. With these extra benefits, the flexible, pandemicdriven format is here to stay. “We had really good participation last year and this format was really well received, so we decided this is the model we’re going to continue with, moving forward,” Clemons said. Changes that were made to this year’s Winter Wonderland Triple Snowshoe Challenge simply build on last year’s successful format. In response to feedback, organizers expanded the event’s weekends to include Fridays this year, to accommodate area schools that want to incorporate the snowshoe challenge as a class activity. To further encourage youth participation, JIA used proceeds from a previous successful fundraiser to buy 25 pairs of snowshoes for the MelroseMindoro and Alma Center-HumbirdMerrillan grade schools this year.

Three Courses

The first leg of the Winter Wonderland Triple Snowshoe Challenge is held January 14–16 at East Arbutus County Park, located on the shores of Lake Arbutus on Jackson

Smrekar Trailhead

he Black River State Forest in Jackson County is filled with great places to enjoy snowshoeing, including the Smrekar Trails that start at Smrekar Road, 4 miles east of Millston just off County Road O. This road, providing access to a cluster of four multi-purpose trail loops ranging in length from 1.2 miles to 8 miles, has connections to Dan Smrekar, longtime member of the Jackson Electric Cooperative Board of Directors. Smrekar’s grandparents farmed in the area, which is now largely forestland owned by the state. In fact, Smrekar said his family is the

Electric Cooperative’s lines (W7898 Duck Hill Rd., Merrillan, WI 54754). The course begins at the Boat Landing Parking Lot. The challenge continues two weeks later, January 28–30, at the Skyline Golf Course (612 N. 11th St. in Black River Falls). An 18-hole public golf course, Skyline also offers winter recreation opportunities including snowshoeing, cross

last to privately own property in this area. Among the Smrekar trail system is a 1.6-mile loop for snowshoeing, offering relatively flat terrain as well as a small stretch of more rugged topography. This trail begins at the Smrekar Trail parking lot at the trailhead off County O. The Smrekar parking lot also has a warming shelter and access to drinking water. Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in the Black River State Forest except for those trails groomed for cross country skiing. (Photo courtesy of Black River Area Chamber of Commerce)

country skiing, and sledding. “It’s like a little hidden treasure here that a lot of people don’t know about,” Clemons said. The third and final leg is held at the Wazee Lake Recreation Area, also on Jackson Electric Cooperative’s lines (N6302 N Brockway Rd., Black River Falls). At 1,300 acres, this is Jackson County’s largest county park, the focal

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WisFavJan22-option 2.indd 4

12/16/21 2:26 PM

WISC NSIN FAVORITES

Jackson In Action Sets a Healthy Pace

ackson In Action (JIA) is a community coalition that promotes healthy lifestyles for children, their families, and the greater community. The organization was founded in 2011 in response to a survey showing Jackson County ranked low in health and high in poverty among other Wisconsin counties. With the help of generous local sponsors, JIA volunteers organize activities throughout the year that provide low-cost or no-cost programs that encourage healthy habits and take advantage of the outdoor recreation opportunities available in Jackson County. “We want to make physical activity available without any barriers in cost and accessibility,” said Dawn Jacobson, JIA member and a health specialist at Jackson County Department of Health and Human Services, one of JIA’s 12 community partners. In addition to the Winter Wonderland Snowshoe Challenge, JIA sponsors the following: • Pace and Pedal, a run/bike duathlon with a 5K color fun run/walk and a youth color fun run • Laces to Leaders, an eight-week program for youth in grades 3–5 focusing on building self-confidence and a positive self-image while training for a 5K fun run • Hunter & Hiker Fitness, a program designed to prepare hunters and hikers for the fall season with walking, hiking, and strength training • Move with a Doc, an educational program presented by a local doctor followed by a group walk around the area • Harvest of the Month, a nutrition program showcasing a different fruit or vegetable each month to encourage healthy food choices Thanks to JIA’s efforts, Jackson County has been recognized as a Wisconsin Active Together Community by the statewide organization Active Wisconsin. To learn more about Jackson In Action, please visit jacksoninaction.org or call 715-284-4301 ext. 365.

The Wazee Lake Recreation Area, located on Jackson Electric Cooperative’s lines, is the county’s largest park and site of the final leg of the Winter Wonderland Snowshoe Challenge. (Photos courtesty of Jackson in Action)

point of which is Wisconsin’s deepest inland lake. In the winter, the park provides 11 miles of ungroomed cross-country ski trails. Wazee Lake Recreation Area’s sprawling size means there are multiple options for courses. Clemons designed this year’s path a little differently from last year so return participants can experience a different part of the park. Snowshoers can enjoy any or all courses at their own pace, on their own time, as a solo jaunt or with a group. And of course, visitors are

welcome to explore the three sites at any time, even beyond the dates of the snowshoe challenge. The details don’t matter to Clemons, Jacobson, or anyone else at JIA—they just want as many people as possible to get outside, get active, and enjoy the county’s winter wonderland.—Mary Erickson To learn more about the Winter Wonderland Triple Snowshoe Challenge, call 715-299-0870 or visit jacksoninaction.org/ winterwonderland. wecnmagazine.com

WisFavJan22-option 2.indd 5

January 2022

12/17/21 10:43 AM

CLASSIFIEDS Miscellaneous

Plants & Shrubs

WANTED: Paying cash for WWII German, Japanese flags, daggers, swords, guns, etc. Also, lever-action rifles. 715-340-1974.

HARDWOOD AND CONIFER SEEDLINGS AND TRANSPLANTS. Thousands available, Oaks, Maples, Poplar, Hickory, Milkweed, Brown Eyed Susan Dogwoods, Ninebark, Cranberry, Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, Spruce, Pine, Cedar, Food plot and grafted apple trees too, large bareroot shade trees including Autumn Blaze. Check us out on the web at www.paintcreeknursery.com, Facebook, and YouTube also. Paint Creek Nursery, Cadott, WI 715-723-2072.

WANTED: DEER TAGS, back tags. Trapping, bear, hunting licenses. Otter, bobcat, fisher tags. Old traps. David Schober, W4234 Rock Creek Rd., Loyal, WI 54446. 715-255-9284. CHAINSAWS WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE. Buying 1 or 100 McCulloch, Pioneer, Jonsereds, Echo, STIHL, Homelite, Remington, Mall. Buying all brands and sizes. Non-running, running, seized, parts. Let me know what you have—will travel. Call Chainsaw Mike at 715-828-9414. SEPTIC PROBLEMS: Do you have standing water on your drain field? Have you been told you need a new expensive septic system? I have an alternative that works, also comes with a warranty (no digging). Call toll free 855-797-6072 or email mmtagm@ yahoo.com. WANTED: VINTAGE ALUMINUM CHRISTMAS TREES. Any size any color- buying for collection. Cash paid, will pick up. Please call 715-254-4651 or email upnboonies@ yahoo.com.

Real Estate VACATION RENTAL. Cape Coral, FL Beautiful 3 bedroom home on gulf access canal. 10,000 lb boat lift. Weekly rental or more. Call Al. 608-295-7433. 80 ACRES OF LAND FOR SALE Currently in Managed Forest Land with WI Tax ID 5086, 5085. 12 acres can be built on without changing MFL arrangement overall. 12 miles west of Bayfield, 7 miles SE of Cornucopia, and adjacent to approx. 2500 acres of trails on Bayfield County Forest. $80,000. 715-292-4177.

ADVERTISE WITH US

LA CROSSE’S HISTORIC CONCORDIA BALLROOM. Supported by community for the community. Dancing, receptions, reunions, concerts, fundraisers. Live music! Lets’s polka! www.concordiaballroom.com | 608-782-7049. HELP THIN THE HERD. Buffalo. Book your hunt. Guaranteed meat for your freezer. 715703-0376. 54729. WANTE D: O LD M E TAL AN D WO O D SIGNS. Gas, oil, soda, country store, etc. Private collector. 920-373-3515 / jefish@ bayland.net / 54154.

geri@weca.coop Classified ads reach more than 152,000 mailboxes. RATES: For non-members of Wisconsin rural electric co-ops: one insertion, $25 minimum (up to 20 words); additional words, $1.25 each. For members of Wisconsin rural electric co-ops: one insertion, $14 minimum (up to 20 words); additional words, $.70 each. Count name, address, and phone number as part of ad. Please include zip code. FOR PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP, please include your address label from your copy of the magazine. FREQUENCY DISCOUNTS: 2% discount for 3 months; 5% for 6 months; 10% for 12 months. DEADLINE: 1st of the month prior to the month in which the ad is to appear. All classified ads must be paid in advance. There is no agency discount on classifieds. Make check or money order payable to: WECA. Mail to: WECN, Attn. Jennifer, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Ph: 608-467-4638. Email jennifer@weca.coop. We reserve the right to refuse ads.

28 28

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN Jan22Classifieds.indd 1

12/15/21 1:01 PM

FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE CONVICTION OF ANYONE WILLFULLY DAMAGING THE PROPERTY OF ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OPERATING WITHIN WISCONSIN OR WILLFULLY DAMAGING PROPERTY RESULTING IN THE INTERRUPTION OF SERVICE TO MEMBERS OF ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OPERATING WITHIN WISCONSIN.

Information should be conveyed to your local law enforcement officials, to your electric cooperative, or to the:

WECN Nov20VandalismAd.indd 1

Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (608) 467-4650 www.weca.coop

10/16/20 4:17 PM

January 2022

WISCONSIN EVENTS 1 New Years’ Day Dinner—Marshﬁeld. Belvedere Supper Club, 4–9 p.m. Menu only. Call 715-387-4161 for more info. 1–31 Holiday Show and Glassblowing Demos— Brule. Oulu Glass Gallery, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free admission. Holiday Show and glassblowing demos every day. Follow current Covid rules. One hour north of Hayward between Ashland and Superior. 715-372-4160. 2 Bonne Anne—Prairie du Chien. St. Germain dit Gauthier House, 1–3 p.m. Celebrate the new year as the early French Canadians did. Visit the log cabin and enjoy French holiday treats. Call 608-326-6960 for more info. 8 Fire & Ice Winter Festival—La Farge. Kickapoo Valley Reserve, all day. Event will be held entirely outdoors. Bundle up and join in on the winter family fun. Warming ﬁres will be available throughout the festival grounds. Concessions will be available inside the visitor center with outdoor seating. Activities subject to change due to weather conditions. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 8 Special Occasion Dress Sale—Neillsville. High School main entrance, 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Dress drop off dates and times are

Jan. 2 (11 a.m.–1 p.m.) and Jan. 7 (6–8 p.m.) Bring your clean, gently used dresses (prom, wedding, 1st communion, quinceañera, mother-of-the-bride, etc.) on one of the drop off dates. $5 per dress entered and you choose the price for each item.

19 Snowshoe Race—Medford. Perkinstown Winter Sports Arena, 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m. First race 10:45 a.m. 3-mile, 6-mile, and kid’s races. Heated chalet and dressing rooms, food, and beverages available. Pre-register via website or by mail or onsite day of race. 715-965-3286.

15 Fisheree—Nekoosa (Town of Rome). Lake Sherwood Lodge, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., Registration 7:30 a.m., awards 5:30 p.m. This fun event on a DNR Free Fishing Day provides a family-friendly outdoor winter activity. Registration is $15 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under. Cash payout for largest northern, bass, walleye, and largest overall fish. Children’s trophies for pan fish. Door prizes, raffle, kid’s lunch, and crafts. 715-325-4066.

20–22 GrassWorks Grazing Conference—Wisconsin Dells. Chula Vista Resort. All day. Featuring Jason Rowntree, Dale Strickler, Rhyne Cureton, and Bluesette Campbell, along with many other grazing gurus. Information on animal health, handling drought, pasture management tools, and so much more. Contact Heather at 715-289-4896 for more info.

15 Ice Fishing Derby—Pound. Wouters Front II on White Potato Lake, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Eighteen cash fishing prizes, raffles, food, music, and refreshments; all in a very large, heated tent. Free raffle for kids 12 and under. 920-242-9044. 15 Family Fishing Outing—Stanley. Otter Lake; adult contest 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m.; kids’ contest 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Warming tent available. Every fish caught earns a prize. Call Dean Samuelson (adult contest) at 715-644-2192 or Dan Liske (kids’ contest) 715-644-1099 for more info.

22 Flurry Snowshoe Race—Phillips. School forest, 10:30 a.m–1 p.m. Serving as the Wisconsin state snowshoe championships. 5k and 10k distances. Pre-register by Jan. 18. Race is virtual or in-person. 715-339-2190 for more info. 29 Antique Snowmobile Show—Spencer. Swampstompers Club House, 9 a.m–3 p.m. Antique snowmobile show and ride. Call Bruce at 715-305-8231 or Jeremiah at 715-581-0390 for more info. 29 Ice Fishing Contest—Gillman. Miller Dam, Chequamegon Waters, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. A fun event for the entire family. Free rods and reels to the ﬁrst 100 kids. Door prizes, rafﬂes, food, heated shelter, and refreshments. Call 715-447-8524 or 715-314-2035 for more info.

Upload events directly to the wecnmagazine.com through the “Events” tab.

Upload your event

WECNMAGAZINE.COM

30_0001 2022.indd 1

Wisconsin Events is a public service for our readers. Due to space limits, we may need to eliminate details, so be sure to include a phone number (with area code) where callers may obtain more info. If we receive more listings than space allows us to print, we reserve the right to select those we believe will be of interest to the greatest number of readers. Please no virtual events. Events can also be mailed to: WECN, Events, 222 W. Washington Ave. Ste. 680, Madison WI 53703-2719

Upload events to wecnmagazine.com

12/16/21 2:54 PM

YOUNG MEMBERS

Kids and Critters January 2022

Send photos of kids with animals, along with a brief description, to WECN Magazine, 222 W. Washington Ave., Suite 680, Madison, WI 53703. Please include the name of your electric co-op. Photos will be returned. If in good-resolution, electronic format, photos may also be uploaded via wecnmagazine.com through the “Submit a photo” tab. By submitting, sender implies that he/she has rights to and owns the image, and grants WECN permission to use the image. By submitting, the parent or legal guardian also authorizes us the right to publish the image.

1. Libby walks her puppy, Cooper, around the yard. Photo submitted by Deanna Oliver, a member of Jackson Electric.

3. Leif and his dog Arrow share a moment. Photo submitted by Katrina Steffen, a member of Central Wisconsin Electric.

2. Lily relaxes with Moonbear. Photo submitted by Katrina Steffen, a member of Central Wisconsin Electric.

4. Esmie and Owen love the critters at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Photo submitted by Grandma Toni Cleasby, a member of Riverland Energy.

Upload photos directly to the new wecnmagazine.com through the “Submit a photo” tab.

HEAT YOUR HOME WITHOUT BURNING IT DOWN Plug your electric space heater directly into the wall; never use an extension cord. Place your space heater on a smooth, flat surface. Keep all flammable objects at least 3 feet away from a space heater. wecnmagazine.com

WECN Jan22KidsCrits.indd 1

January 2022

12/15/21 2:45 PM

January 22_adsPasted2.indd 32

12/9/21 3:08 PM