Issuu

Switch to geothermal for incredible comfort and savings

You may not realize it, but your home is sitting on a free and renewable supply of energy. A WaterFurnace geothermal comfort system taps into the stored solar energy in your own yard to provide savings of up to 70% on heating, cooling and hot water. That’s money in the bank and a smart investment in your family’s comfort. Contact your local WaterFurnace dealer to learn more about the incredible comfort and savings a WaterFurnace unit can provide for you. WE’RE EVERYWHERE IN WISCONSIN

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

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

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

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

Superior/Ashland Northern Ground Source (218) 848-2869

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

Ellsworth/ Lake City Comfort By Design (715) 273-3658

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

Phillips/Merrill PGA Inc. (715) 355-6717

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

Beloit/Rockford Don Martin Htg (608) 758-9882

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

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

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

Tomahawk/ Minocqua PGA Inc. (715) 355-6717

Cashton/Sparta Flock’s Htg & A/C (608) 269-1500 Cornell/New Auburn Water Source Htg & Clg (715) 833-9001

Green Bay/Onedia Van’s Refrig. (920) 833-2051

Neillsville/Medford Northern Indoor Comfort (715) 937-2676

Hudson/Stillwater Comfort By Design (715) 273-3658

Oconto/Rhinelander Van’s Refrig. (920) 833-2051

Siren/Hayward Earth Energy Systems (715) 566-0735

Wausau/ Stevens Point PGA Inc. (715) 355-6717

Spring Valley/Amery Comfort By Design (715) 273-3658

Westby/La Crosse Flock’s Htg & A/C (608) 654-5522

Apr 18_adsPasted.indd 2

3/7/18 10:57 AM

CooperaN

COOPERATIVE

News

Wisconsin

ENERGY Cooperative

contents May 2018

News

Flying in for FAIRNESS

Rural electric leaders lobby in D.C.

4 6 15 28 30

Messages

FROM MOSCOW

The Russians are cunning.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Flight program honors veterans.

NEWS BRIEFS

Stay current with industry news.

MY CO-OP

Find out whatâ€™s happening at your local electric cooperative.

CLASSIFIEDS

On the

COVER

courtesy of Crystal Cave.

Try some eggcellent eats.

Find your fun this May!

Taking THE RAYS

HOW DO SOLAR PANELS WORK? An electric field is created when sunlight hits the solar panels.

(Sunlight)

(Back to grid)

Buy, sell, and trade with readers from across Wisconsin.

EVENTS

CRITTERS

Cute co-op kids get cozy with their critters.

Explore Crystal Cave for a fun adventure. Photo

RECIPES

Kids &

Electricity is generated and flows into a conductive wire.

Any unused electricity travels through your electric meter and back to the electric grid.

The conductive wire carries the DC (direct current) electricity to the inverter, where it is converted to AC (alternating current) electricity, which is used in homes and businesses.

The AC electricity travels from the inverter to the electric panel (or breaker box), which delivers electricity throughout the home.

May 2018

WECN May18TOC.indd 1

4/17/18 1:50 PM

LETTER FROM

THE EDITOR Honoring our Veterans

Wisconsin electric cooperative leaders recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to lobby on issues important to Dana Kelroy, Editor our cooperatives (see page 8). During some free time, I took a walk down the National Mall, where many iconic monuments pay tribute to turning points in our nation’s history. Perhaps one of the most striking is the World War II Memorial, opened in 2004. The memorial recognizes the sacrifice of all who served during that time, often referred to as the “greatest generation.” After spending some time at the memorial, I moved on down the mall but was pulled back by loud cheering. The monument is a somber and moving place, and the cheering seemed unusual. Then I noticed a crowd had gathered inside the memorial, holding signs that said “Thank You,” and cheering as elderly men, many in wheelchairs or using canes, slowly made their way into the memorial. It was then that I realized that this was an Honor Flight group. Honor Flight is a non-profit that arranges trips to Washington, D.C., for veterans to see the memorials dedicated to their service, to honor them and provide them closure at no cost to them. I watched as they made their way around the memorial. Most teared up as they neared the west side of the memorial—a large field of more than 4,000 gold stars, each star representing 100 Americans killed in the war. I learned from one veteran that this particular group was from Florida, but Honor Flight operates out of nearly every state in the nation. Currently, 27,272 veterans from all conflicts are on a waiting list to take part in this experience. More than 180,000 veterans have been honored since 2005. Wisconsin has local chapters that are based out of Madison, La Crosse, Wausau, Appleton, and Port Washington. Veterans interested in taking part are encouraged to contact the chapter closest to them for more information. The experience is provided at no cost to those who have served, and the organization needs donations to operate. Oconto Electric Cooperative and Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services are two co-ops that have contributed generously to Honor Flight. Oconto Electric has contributed more than $10,000 from its employee charity fund to the Old Glory Honor Flight chapter based out of Appleton, and Pierce Pepin supports Freedom Honor Flight out of La Crosse. You can also help; visit www.honorflight.org to lean how. It’s a great way to say “Thank You.”

May 2018 Vol. 78 No. 11 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 non-members for $10 per year or $28 for three years. Published by the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Steve Freese, president & CEO. USPS number: 688-480. Postmaster: please send address changes to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Periodicals postage paid at Baraboo, Wis. Send correspondence to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Phone (608) 467-4650. 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 David Hoopman Ann Bailey Dylan Pingitore Geri Miller

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

For advertising opportunities please email ads@weca.coop. The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised.

Please recycle

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN MayEditor2018.indd 1

4/17/18 1:52 PM

SUPER COUPON

850 Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com

SUPER COUPON

RAPID PUMP® 3 TON STEEL HEAVY DUTY LOW PROFILE Customer Rating SERVICE JACK NOW

$79 $

HUSKY

8750 MAX. STARTING/ 7000 RUNNING WATTS 13 HP (420 CC) GAS GENERATOR

HONDA

ITEM 62326/61282/61253 shown

2,700

COMPARE TO SUPER QUIET

2,170

MODEL: EM6500SXK2AT

LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 9/1/18*

2,605

$449 $899 9 $47999 SAVE $11999 160 SAVE

2,155

ITEM 64281 64134 64133 shown

$ 99 CHICAGO PNEUMATIC MODEL: CP7749

ITEM 62835

COMPARE TO

BUFFALO BLACK

10299 SAVE $53

17999 SAVE $130

Customer Rating

PRO LIFT $ 99

179

SAVE $100

MODEL: T-5350B

NOW

2580

MODEL: 2411-1

ITEM 69645/60625 shown

$299 9 EATON

MODEL: MSLED180W

SAVE 38%

ITEM 62534/69643 shown

LIMIT 8 - Coupon valid through 9/1/18*

205

COMPARE TO $ 99 SHELTER LOGIC MODEL: 23522

SAVE $106

ITEM 63054/62858 shown

$9 9 $12999

3999

1-1/4 GALLON HOME AND GARDEN SPRAYER

COMPARE TO

$ 99

PROFESSIONAL WOODWORKER

2481

MODEL: 51832

ITEM 63292/63235/68986/97626 shown LIMIT 9 - Coupon valid through 9/1/18*

MODEL: HDFDOLLY

1099

SAVE 51%

Customer Rating

COMPARE TO

BLUE HAWK

$ 58 MODEL: BG8X10-Y

SAVE 65%

$29 9 $499

ITEM 69249/69115/69137/69129/69121/877 shown LIMIT 8 - Coupon valid through 9/1/18*

NOW

$79 9

ITEM 61899/63095/63096 63098/63097/93888 shown

SUPER COUPON

2/10/50 AMP, 12 VOLT BATTERY CHARGER/ ENGINE STARTER

$89 9

COMPARE TO

ROUNDUP $ 71

MODEL: 190315

SAVE 51%

SAVE 57%

$ 99 SCHUMACHER ELECTRIC MODEL: SE-1250

COMPARE TO

ITEM 63124/63145/95692 shown

ITEM 60581/60653 shown

LIMIT 9 - Coupon valid through 9/1/18*

*Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 9/1/18.

hft_wisconsinenergy_0518_M-REG128289.indd 1 May 18_adsPasted.indd 5

BUFFALO SAVE TOOLS $ 59% 43

NOW

$299 9 $

4999

LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 9/1/18*

SUPER COUPON

Customer Rating LIFETIME WARRANTY

40 PIECE, 3/8" DRIVE SAE AND METRIC SOCKET SET

ENERGY, ANYWHERE

NOW

$69 9 SAVE 71%

COMPARE TO

NOW

Customer Rating

7 FT. 4" x 9 FT. 6" 100 WATT SOLAR PANEL KIT Customer Rating ALL PURPOSE/WEATHER RESISTANT TARP RENEWABLE

NOW

Customer Rating

LIMIT 9 - Coupon valid through 9/1/18*

SUPER COUPON

Customer Rating

18" x 12" MOVER'S DOLLY

• 1000 lb. capacity

SUPER COUPON

80 PIECE ROTARY TOOL KIT

SUPER COUPON

NOW

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 9/1/18*

SUPER COUPON

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 9/1/18*

LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 9/1/18*

Customer Rating

NOW

SAVE $70

Customer Rating

SUPER COUPON

Includes 6V, 900 mAh NiCd battery pack.

COMPARE TO

16999

MODEL: DWFP55126

ITEM 62511/62894/62380/68149/67696 shown

10 FT. x 20 FT. PORTABLE CAR CANOPY

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 9/1/18*

$99 9 $1499

DEWALT

• Air delivery: 2.5 CFM @ 90 PSI 3.4 CFM @ 40 PSI Customer Rating Cu

SUPER COUPON

8999 $799 9

4-1/2" ANGLE GRINDER 60 LED SOLAR SECURITY LIGHT

SAVE 61%

COMPARE TO

MODEL: 1125220

LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 9/1/18*

SUPER COUPON

7999 Customer Rating $12499

SUPER COUPON

NOW

ITEM 60395/62325 62493/61523 shown

LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 9/1/18*

COMPARE TO

$99

ITEM 61840/61297/63476/61258 shown

COMPARE TO

MODEL: DP5UL

NOW

Customer Rating

ITEM 62520/60238 shown

PERFORMAX

COMPARE TO SUPERWINCH

• 300 lb. capacity • Weighs 72.5 lbs.

NOW

ATV/LAWN MOWER LIFT

NOW

6799

Voted Best Winches

SUPER COUPON

8", 5 SPEED BENCHTOP DRILL PRESS

• 11-1/8" L x 4-1/2" H

LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 9/1/18*

SUPER COUPON

Customer Rating

LIMIT 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, compressors, floor jacks, safes, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, trenchers, welders, Admiral, Ames, Bauer, Cobra, CoverPro, Daytona, Earthquake, Fischer, Hercules, Icon, Jupiter, Lynxx, Poulan, Predator, Tailgator, Viking, Vulcan, Zurich. Not valid on prior purchases. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 9/1/18.

SUPER Battle Tested COUPON 2500 LB. ELECTRIC WINCH WITH 6 GALLON, 1.5 HP, 150 PSI PROFESSIONAL OIL-FREE WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL AIR COMPRESSOR • Weighs 14.3 lbs.

$499 9 $

249

COMPARE TO

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 9/1/18*

$4 9

ITEM 62535/90566 shown

SUPER COUPON

MODEL: KRA4813FPBO

ANY SINGLE ITEM*

MODEL: 11194

Cannot be used with other discounts or prior purchases. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 9/1/18 while supplies last. Limit 1 FREE GIFT per customer per day.

LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 9/1/18*

44" x 22" DOUBLE BANK 1/2" HEAVY DUTY 950 TORQUE ROLLER CABINET COMPOSITE PRO FT. LBS. BOLT BREAKAWAY AIR IMPACT WRENCH Customer Rating NOW • Weighs 99 5 lbs. NOW

SNAP-ON

TITAN $ 99

Hardware sold separately.

Wheel kit and battery

SUPER COUPON

COMPARE TO $

4" MAGNETIC PARTS HOLDER

sold separately. ITEM 68530/63086/63085 shown ITEM 68525/63087/63088, CALIFORNIA ONLY

MODEL: HD00120

ANY PURCHASE

• Non-Marring Base • Stainless Steel

outlets 59999 • GFCI SAVE

COMPARE TO

14998 SAVE $69

WITH

9 $5299

20% OFF

FREE

NOW

• Weighs 73 lbs.

20"

COMPARE TO

SUPER COUPON

Customer Rating

SUPER COUPON

ITEM 64335 63585 shown COMPARE TO $

SUNFORCE

199

32592 SAVE $175

MODEL: 50180

NOW

99 NOW

9 $1 4 99

LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 9/1/18*

COMPARE TO

KOBALT

1997

MODEL: 89809

SAVE 80%

$39 9 $499

ITEM 63015/61328/47902/62843 shown LIMIT 8 - Coupon valid through 9/1/18*

At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.

3/21/18 8:33 AM 3/29/18 1:00 PM

NEWS BRIEFS FORMER BAYFIELD MANAGER PASSES Carl Melchiors, who retired as general manager of Bayfield Electric Cooperative in January 2012, died at his home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, on the night of April 2. He was 74. Melchiors began his tenure with Bayfield Electric in December 1987 and held the manager’s post for 24 years. His electric industry career began in the 1960s, as a lineman with the Menasha municipal utility. He left that job to earn an engineering degree at the University of Wis-

consin and, while a student, came to work for the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (then named Wisconsin Electric Cooperative) as an engineering associate. His first task there was to assist in mapping the Bayfield Electric Co-op system. He became a consulting engineer with Power System Engineering in 1974, remained there until returning to Menasha Utilities for a five-year stint beginning in 1981, and served for a year with the Oconomowoc municipal electric utility until becoming the general manager at Bayfield Electric.

ANOTHER WARNING ON BASELOAD RETIREMENTS The northeastern United States would have been unable to meet heightened electrical demand during the past winter’s polar vortex episode without substantial help from baseload fossil and nuclear power plants now under threat of early retirement because of economic factors, yet another analysis has concluded. The Energy Department’s National Energy Technology Laboratory in mid-March issued a report saying its survey of six regional grid operators found that fossilfueled and nuclear plants provided 89 percent of all the electricity generated at peak demand during two weeks of bitter cold weather from last December 27 through January 8. Power demand spiked during the cold snap, rising 20 percent above typical levels on the Midcontinent Independent System

Operator (MISO) grid that serves Wisconsin, and even more—from 23 to 28 percent—in the Northeast. In New England, surging natural gas demand for home heating and pipeline constraints combined to shift electric generation sharply toward less-clean burning fuel oil, “barely enabling” the regional grid to meet demand, the report said. Wind and solar generation plummeted during the critical period, falling 19 percent below normal levels in the MISO region, the report said. While the most recent report focused on concerns about additional baseload plant retirements, a January study by the New England regional grid operator warned that winter blackouts across the area could be expected within a half-dozen years without gas pipeline upgrades.

POWER SALES DOWN IN ‘17 Retail electricity sales in the United States declined by 80 billion kilowatt-hours last year, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), which said last month the number represented the biggest year-to-year reduction since the economic recession in 2009. Large as the decline was in terms of electricity volume, it only brought total sales down by 2 percent compared with the prior year. Lower retail sales were recorded across the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors and were “largely attributable to milder weather,” the EIA said. 6

The agency explained that air-conditioning usage is a major driver of electricity demand, and that cooling degree-days were 9 percent lower in 2017 than in 2016, “indicating a cooler summer and less demand for air conditioning.” The residential sector accounted for more than 37 percent of total sales from the grid in 2017, compared with slightly less than 37 percent for the commercial sector and about 26 percent for the industrial sector, the EIA said. The agency is a division of the Department of Energy.

CYBER ATTACK HITS PIPELINE COMPANIES

In mid-March, the Department of Homeland Security warned that Russian hackers have been attempting to penetrate computer systems of the U.S. electric grid. By the end of the month, at least four U.S. gas pipeline companies had their ability to communicate electronically with customers interrupted in what three of the companies called a cyber attack. The affected pipeline companies have facilities serving areas from the Rocky Mountains to the East Coast. No gas deliveries were interrupted but the interference with the electronic communication systems—which in some cases lasted more than three days—complicated customers and operators talking with each other about needs. So far, cyber criminals are not believed to have been able to gain access to industrial control systems; government and industry officials say they’re stepping up efforts to harden such systems against attacks.

FEDERAL RESCUE FOR MERCHANT FLEET COMPLICATED, DOUBTFUL

A restructured merchant generating company born of 1990s electric deregulation filed March 31 for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, two days after asking the Department of Energy (DOE) for an emergency order guaranteeing cost recovery for its financiallyailing coal and nuclear plants. On March 29, FirstEnergy Solutions advised regional grid operator PJM Interconnection it would retire three nuclear plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and applied for a DOE order directing PJM to “begin negotiations to secure the long-term capacity” of the company’s coal and nuclear units, citing “a serious threat to the stability of the electric grid.” The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has directed regional grid operators to propose wholesale market revisions to preserve baseload generation assets for reliability purposes.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN May18NewsBriefs.indd 1

4/16/18 10:19 AM

Tips for Spring Energy Savings 1.

CLEAR THE AIR: Open windows to allow fresh (free!) air to circulate.

2. COOK OUTSIDE: Enjoy a few hours of sunshine by using your grill or smoker to add festive flavors to meals.

3. SEARCH AND SEAL: Cracks and spaces let conditioned air outside. Caulk and weather strip to seal leaks.

4. NATURAL LIGHT: Open blinds and curtains, and turn off the lights to save energy.

5. BE FAN FRIENDLY: Use ceiling fans to circulate airflow. 6. ATMOSPHERIC ADJUSTMENT: Remember to adjust your thermostat settings for the milder months ahead.

7. TUNE UP: Schedule an appointment with your HVAC technician to identify any potential problems with your system.

8. PEAK SAVINGS: Think about supply and demand. Plan household chores that require electricity for off-peak hours (when energy demand is low).

9. TAKE CHARGE: Consider disconnecting electrical devices you donâ€™t use regularly until you need them. Plugged-in devices use energy even when not in use. Source: U.S. Department of Energy Brought to you by:

Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association

CHERP May 2018

May 18 CHERP ad.indd 1

4/17/18 8:12 AM

FLYING A

pril was another busy month for your statewide electric co-op organization. It featured the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) 2018 Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. NRECA is the nationwide electric cooperative trade association and every spring, leaders from co-ops across the United States gather for a few days in our nation’s capital for informational briefings and face-to-face meetDuring a reception in Washington, D.C., Congressman Ron Kind ings with members of addressed Wisconsin co-op leaders about bipartisan legislation the Senate and House of regarding electric cooperative pension plans. Representatives and their Steve Freese Unfortunately the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporastaff people. This year some President and CEO tion (PBGC) persists in treating the RS program as if it were 2,000 leaders participated, inrisky. It treats the individual electric cooperatives in this cluding more than 60 representing virtually every electric defined-benefit, multiple-employer pension plan as if they cooperative in Wisconsin. were a single entity that might go out of business all at once We focused on three primary issues in meetings with without warning. The PBGC applies its rules to these 880 our elected representatives. The first was support for electric co-ops based on two assumptions: that they should robust rural development programs in the 2018 Farm Bill. be considered a single employer, and that they’re no differWe support enhancement of key rural development efforts ent from for-profit companies. including the Rural Economic Development Loan and Those assumptions—both wrong—result in Wisconsin Grant (REDLG) Program administered by the Rural Utilielectric cooperatives paying premiums 87 percent higher ties Service. This low-interest loan program is exceptional than they ought to be. This strains their ability to maintain among federal government activities in that the reliable the employee benefit and complicates the recruitment of new repayments from participating cooperatives are a net plus workers. Fortunately Representatives Ron Kind, a Wisconto the treasury’s bottom line. sin Democrat, and Mike Kelly, a Pennsylvania Republican, A second issue is creating a healthy investment in have developed bipartisan legislation to remedy the unfairfiscal year 2019 appropriations for rural broadband that ness. Wisconsin’s third congressional district is home to 44 would help improve internet service in rural Wisconpercent of the state’s electric co-op member-owners, who sin. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue addressed the comprise 32 percent of Congressman Kind’s constituents. assembled cooperative leaders and asserted that broadband He’s been recognized by the NRECA for his work toward an deployment could bring about a “seismic shift” in rural equitable resolution of the pension issue. economic development. The two proposals—H.R. 3596 and H.R. 5282—sponOur final lobbying issue this year is one you’ve sored by Kind and Kelly would save Wisconsin co-ops heard about before, and it is significantly relevant to the almost $738,000 every year without additional risk to the ability of electric cooperatives to attract and keep quality PBGC. The co-op pension proposals also have bipartisan employees. Most Wisconsin electric cooperatives parsupport from Wisconsin Representatives Glenn Grothman ticipate in NRECA’s Retirement Security (RS) Pension and Mark Pocan as cosponsors. plan. Congress has recognized that pension plans like RS When you see any of these representatives, please thank pose virtually no risk of default: RS is not underfunded them on behalf of your co-op and its employees. And if your and it counts more than 880 rural electric cooperatives as congressman isn’t one of them, please ask for their support participants. The plan covers more than 56,000 employees for fair treatment of co-op pension plans. It would help to in 47 states, including almost 1,300 here in Wisconsin. properly compensate and retain the highly trained and qualiThese employees are a primary reason why we have safe, fied employees who keep our lights on. reliable, and affordable electricity.

in for

FAIRNESS

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

08_0005.indd 1

4/17/18 8:47 AM

ADVANCED HEARING AID TECHNOLOGY For Less Than $ 200

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

How can a hearing aid that costs less than $200 be every bit as good as one that sells for $2,250 or more?

The answer: Although tremendous strides have been made in Advanced Hearing Aid Technology, those cost reductions have not been passed on to you. Until now...

Can a Hearing Aid Delay or Prevent Alzheimer’s and Dementia? A study by the National Institute on Aging suggests older individuals with hearing loss are significantly more likely to develop Alzheimer’s and dementia over time than those who retain their hearing. They suggest that an intervention — such as a hearing aid — could delay or prevent this by improving hearing!

MDHearingAid® uses the same kind of Advanced Hearing Aid Technology incorporated into hearing aids that cost thousands more at a small fraction of the price.

Over 300,000 satisfied MDHearingAid TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR customers agree: High-quality, 45-DAY RISK-FREE TRIAL! FDA-registered hearing aids don’t Hearing is believing and we invite you to try have to cost a fortune. The fact is, this nearly invisible hearing aid with no you don’t need to spend thousands annoying whistling or background noise for for a hearing aid. MDHearingAid yourself. If you are not completely satisfied is a medical-grade hearing aid Nearly Invisible with your MDHearingAid, return it within 45 offering sophistication and high days for a FULL REFUND. BUY A PAIR performance, and works right out AND SAVE! For the Lowest Price Call of the box with no time-consuming BATTERIES “adjustment” appointments. You INCLUDED! can contact a licensed hearing READY TO USE RIGHT specialist conveniently online or OUT OF THE BOX! www.GetMDHearingAid200.com by phone — even after your purchase at no cost. No other company provides such extensive Use Code support. Now that you know...why pay more? and get FREE Batteries for 1 Year

1-800-964-8421 HU43

Plus FREE Shipping

DOCTOR DESIGNED | AUDIOLOGIST TESTED | FDA REGISTERED

May 18_adsPasted.indd 9

Proudly assembled in America!

3/29/18 1:09 PM

MESSAGES FROM

MOSCOW

THE RUSSIANS ARE CUNNING…

n two consecutive days in March, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that U.S. liquefied natural gas exports quadrupled in 2017 compared with the prior year, and that net U.S. energy imports in 2017 fell to their lowest levels since 1982. A further bit of homework using EIA data—a statistical trove maintained by the Department of Energy— revealed that total net U.S. electricity generation was slightly greater in 2015 than 10 years earlier, but the resulting carbon dioxide emissions were 21 percent less than from the marginally smaller electric output for 2005. All this is possible because abundant U.S. natural gas production eases the ongoing transition from coal to gas as electric generation fuel, an abundance

relatively newfound and so great as to restrain power prices even as gas demand grows and exports increase. It’s reasonable to think even opponents of all combustion in producing electricity might, on balance, regard these developments as improving upon what’s gone before, while one man would view them as irredeemably disastrous. That man would be Vladimir Putin.

Social Subterfuge Entangled as it is in the ac-

rimony of contemporary American politics, the issue of Russian interference in this country’s domestic affairs is undoubtedly dismissed by some as a partisan distraction. That’s a mistake. Evidence already accumulating years before the 2016 U.S. election identifies Russian interventions both here and in Europe, focused on energy policy and

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN May18Feature1.indd 2

4/16/18 9:49 AM

United States,” which it said was “likely reflective of the Russian Government’s concern about the impact of fracking and the U.S. natural gas production on the global energy market and the potential challenges to [Russian energy companies’] profitability.” But the pattern was known long before that 2017 DNI report. In a June 2014 speech to a private group, former secretary of state and then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said supporters of U.S. energy development “were up against Russia pushing oligarchs and others to buy media. We were even up against phony environmental groups, and I’m a big environmentalist, but these were funded by the Russians to stand against any effort: ‘Oh that pipeline, that fracking, that whatever, will be a problem for you,’ and a lot of the money supporting that message was coming from Russia.” What makes this skullduggery worthwhile to Moscow? The House committee report flatly states that American energy development “stands to disrupt

the Kremlin’s ability to leverage energy consumption for geopolitical influence.” “Russia,” the report says, quoting the EIA, “provides roughly 75 percent of the natural gas imported by countries in Central and Eastern Europe while the countries in Southeast Europe ‘receive almost all of their natural gas from Russia.’” Gazprom, the Russian government-controlled energy giant, “has acknowledged for the first time a threat to its dominant position in European gas markets from an expected influx of liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced in the United States,” the report noted, quoting a January 2017 Reuters story.

Lethal Leverage

Dark humor presumably wasn’t the House committee’s intent in its remarkable understatement that the Kremlin uses other nations’ energy consumption to achieve “geopolitical influence.” Less than a week before the committee issued its report, British media headlined worries about Russia constraining

RENEW

Grind Away ANY Size Stump FAST!

Your Driveway...

LOWEST

PRICE EVER!

...with the ALL-NEW DR® POWER GRADER! The DR® STUMP GRINDER uses carbide-tipped cutting teeth (taking 360 “bites” per second) to reduce any stump to a pile of woodchips. Grinds stumps below ground level so they are gone forever! • Faster, safer and easier than digging, burning, or using chemicals.

NEW Self-Propelled Model Available!

DRstumpgrinder.com

FREE SHIPPING 6 MONTH TRIAL SOME LIMITATIONS APPLY Call or go online for details.

EASY TO USE—tows behind your ATV or riding mower, filling in potholes and ruts. PRECISE CONTROL of grading depth is adjustable from your driver’s seat.

Now Starting at

$59999

DRpowergrader.com

• New, more powerful and lower-priced models. • Now towable with your riding mower or ATV.

SAVES YOU MONEY—loosens and redistributes existing material, saving you from purchasing new gravel or stone.

PRICE DROP!

contrived less to assist one party or another than to aggravate conflicts between them, the apparent motive being to sow chaos within the political institutions of other nations so as to serve the interests of Russia’s energy exporters. The newest documentation of these activities came in a congressional committee report issued March 1. The Russian government has exploited social media to plant false narratives seeking to undermine U.S. domestic energy production, according to the report from the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Citing “the Kremlin’s energy influence-peddling operation,” it describes Russian entities “deceptively using various social and traditional media platforms” to spur opposition to U.S. domestic energy development and the resulting additions to global energy supplies. Though the report was authored by majority Republican committee staff, the charges of Russian manipulation have been bipartisan and consistent with each other. Coverage of the committee report by The Hill quoted Connecticut’s Richard Blumenthal, a Senate Judiciary Committee Democrat, saying “Russia is continuing to extend its digital tentacles into every aspect of American life; it is absolutely chilling and profoundly dangerous to our future.” The GOP report also referenced “voluminous” findings published in January by Democratic staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, commissioned by Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD). The Cardin report noted Kremlin attempts to co-opt U.S. and European environmental activists and surreptitious bankrolling of groups protesting energy development. “According to NATO officials,” it says, “Russian intelligence agencies also reportedly provide covert support to European environmental groups to campaign against fracking for natural gas, thereby keeping the EU more dependent on Russian supplies.” The House committee report noted findings from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in January 2017 citing “clear evidence that the Kremlin is financing and choreographing anti-fracking propaganda in the

Call for FREE DVD and Catalog! TOLL FREE

888-212-2387

May 2018

WECN May18Feature1.indd 3

4/16/18 9:50 AM

gas exports to Europe as the U.K. government asserted its “Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram were able to identify sovereignty in reaction to suspected Kremlin-directed asRussian accounts linked to the Internet Research Agency sassinations of Putin-regime opponents on British soil. The (IRA), a Russian company based in Saint Petersburg estabmost recent incident, only days earlier, was the attempted lished by the Russian government for the purpose of decepmurder in a town west of London of a former Russian tively using various social and traditional media platforms agent, his daughter, and a British policeman by exposure to to advance Russian propaganda,” the report said. a Soviet-era nerve toxin. Russia’s adverse interest in U.S. gas development was The U.K. doesn’t directly import a lot of Russian gas, illustrated in January when a tanker from Siberia docked in but the European Union depends on Russia for about oneBoston, loaded with gas New Englanders needed for winter third of its supply and part of that is passed on to Britain. heating as regional pipeline constraints blocked otherwise British media speculated about price spikes for home heatabundant domestic supply. ing fuel amid winter demand, were Putin to slow deliveries More than Just Media On March 15, the Department in retaliation for actions to discourage further mayhem on of Homeland Security and FBI jointly issued a “technical British territory. alert” warning the energy sector and others about Russian If Moscow expects to act with impunity against its pogovernment-sponsored hacking activity. litical enemies inside the borders of a major NATO partner, The agencies described “a multi-stage intrusion camit can’t be surprising when it acts to suppress independent paign by Russian government cyber actors who targeted energy production by former Soviet bloc nations. small commercial facilities’ In November 2014, The New York Times networks where they staged reported on “a mysteriously well-financed and malware, conducted spear well-organized campaign of protest” to shut down phishing, and gained remote natural gas exploration in Romania by Chevron access into energy sector Corp. The Times said protests had turned the networks.” So far, there’s no “destitute village” of Pungesti into “a magnet indication the malefactors for activists from across the country opposed penetrated industrial control to hydraulic fracturing” and quoted Romanian networks. It could be very officials asserting the turmoil was orchestrated by bad news if they do. Gazprom. The inescapable conThe Times reported that elsewhere in Romania, clusion is that Russian a Gazprom subsidiary began explorations and meddling is very real and “unlike the Chevron project” the prior year, “the country’s domestic conducted on a far wider Gazprom effort has stirred no mass protests.” scope than the amateurish Earlier in 2014, London’s The Guardian dabbling in the contentious quoted outgoing NATO Secretary General Anders 2016 election that dominates Fogh Rasmussen telling a British audience the Pumedia coverage of the issue. tin regime was behind efforts to prohibit fracking. In his new book “Micro“I have met allies who can report that Russia, trends Squared,” Mark Penn, as part of their sophisticated information and Bill Clinton’s pollster and disinformation operations, engaged actively with a top strategist in Hillary so-called non-governmental organizations—enClinton’s presidential camvironmental organizations working against shale paigns, dismisses the idea that “the one hundred thousand gas—to maintain European dependence on imported Rusdollars in ads from Russian accounts [would] tip the elecsian gas,” Rasmussen said. tion. That’s a pittance compared with the $2.4 billion spent Last year, the Science, Space, and Technology Comin the 2016 presidential campaigns, most of which would mittee sought help from social media companies to track have gone into a limited number of swing states,” he wrote. the origin of postings designed to discredit production and There’s useful perspective in remembering that if the transportation of U.S. domestic energy resources. “NuKremlin underhandedly sought to promote the Trump merous tweets,” the committee report said, encouraged campaign, it also bankrolled anti-Trump demonstrations viewers to follow links to petitions seeking to block conin U.S. cities. The objective was not to pick the winner. struction or shut down pipelines including Enbridge Line 5 The objective was chaos. Their performance over several running from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Ontario. years suggests Kremlin strategists fully understand that the Russian postings also advocated separately on both more promising path toward the chaos they seek lies not in sides of contested issues in order to inflame hostility fiddling with U.S. elections, but in sabotaging America’s between Americans with differing viewpoints, the production of affordable energy. —Dave Hoopman report said.

“ENTANGLED as it is in the acrimony

of contemporary American politics, the

issue of Russian interference in this affairs is undoubtedly

DISMISSED BY some as a

PARTISAN DISTRACTION.

That’s a mistake.“

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN May18Feature1.indd 4

4/16/18 9:50 AM

TAKING

THE RAYS HOW SOLAR PANELS WORK

owering a home using the sun’s energy is not a new concept by any means. But recent technological advances and lower costs are helping to make solar a more attractive option. This promising source of renewable energy is also becoming increasingly accessible, with many electric cooperatives offering community solar programs as an alternative to purchasing a rooftop solar array. Community solar helps spread the costs and relieves the homeowner of the burden of maintaining and operating the system. A question pondered by many—who may or may not be considering the investment in a solar generating system— is how solar panels actually produce electricity. Here, we’ll break down this seemingly abstract concept for a closer look at the conversion of sunlight into usable power.

Solar Panels The solar panels you see on road signs or rooftops consist of smaller, connected photovoltaic or “PV” cells, “photo” meaning light and “voltaic” meaning capable of producing direct-current electricity. These cells consist of two layers of a semi-conducting material, typically silicon, which are the meat of the solar panels. The cells are infused with additional elements

giving the top layer a negative charge and the bottom layer a positive charge. The two silicon layers are also sandwiched between several other coatings, including a glass casing, to optimize the PV cells’ energy production and provide protection from outside debris.

Journey of Solar Energy

Keeping in mind the construction of these panels, let’s explore the electrical process they facilitate. The sun emits massive amounts of solar energy each day in the form of photons, very small particles of electromagnetic energy in the form of light. When photons collide hard enough with PV cells, electrons are dislodged from atoms in the top silicon layer of the cells, leaving gaps to be filled by electrons from the bottom layer. Because of the electric field created by the two silicon layers, the loose electrons will circulate through the cells in a single direction, out towards the metal sides of the solar panel, creating electricity with a direct current (DC). This is where the system component called a power inverter comes in. The newly generated electricity flows out of the panels, through conductive wire and into the inverter system. This system is needed because the majority of our home appliances and electronics operate

on alternating current, or AC power. The inverter converts the power from DC to AC. Once the electricity is in an alternating current, it ﬂows from the inverter to our breaker box and into our homes as needed for charging our phones, watching TV, or running appliances. Any solar energy that goes unused will ﬂow through the electric meter and onto the grid.

Cooperative Solar

Solar has been booming, especially among utilities. And electric cooperatives have been leading the utility industry in developing the resource through a deployment strategy called “community solar.” This business model of shared solar generation allows co-ops to develop an array for members who can either purchase the power or lease panels. A community program makes solar energy accessible for co-op members who ﬁnd rooftop panels impractical because of expense, tree shading, directional orientation, renting rather than owning the residence, or other factors.

Rooftop Solar If the cost makes sense and you have a suitable roof, installing solar panels can be a great way to reduce your monthly energy bill. If that’s something you might consider, May 2018

WECN May18Feature2.indd 1

4/16/18 8:57 AM

it’s a good idea to talk with your local electric cooperative before installing solar PV on your home. Many co-ops nationwide have been working to gauge the level of member interest, and you might ﬁnd your coop offering a community solar program for a better price than a rooftop system and without the hassle of maintaining it yourself. Individual cooperatives may also have

differing policies regarding member-owned generation, and they can also give you sound advice on maintaining a system of your own. —Kaley Lockwood writes on cooperative issues for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-proﬁt electric cooperatives.

HOWDO SOLAR PANELS WORK? An electric field is created when sunlight hits the solar panels.

(Sunlight)

(Onto grid)

Electricity is generated and flows into a conductive wire.

Any unused electricity travels through your electric meter and onto the electric grid.

The conductive wire carries the DC (direct current) electricity to the inverter, where it is converted to AC (alternating current) electricity, which is used in homes and businesses.

The AC electricity travels from the inverter to the electric panel (or breaker box), which delivers electricity throughout the home.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN May18Feature2.indd 2

4/16/18 9:21 AM

TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN about safe outdoor play Warm days beckon the child in all of us to go outside to play. Children may not recognize hazards, so make sure they can spot them and know how to stay safe. Point out electrical equipment like overhead power lines and service lines connected to homes. They should never try to reach them with a stick or long object.

Ensure they understand to climb trees and fly kites safely away from overhead lines. Explain that green metal boxes contain electrical equipment and are not platforms or toys. Teach them never go into a substation to retrieve a toy or for any other reason. Point out â€œDanger. High Voltageâ€? signs.

Learn more at

May 18_adsPasted.indd 19

3/29/18 1:39 PM

EATS

Recipes and photos courtesy of the American Egg Board.

Eggcellent Eggs Benedict Eggs:

Hollandaise:

Muffin:

Water 1 Tbsp distilled white vinegar 1/4 plus 1/8 tsp salt, divided 8 eggs

3 egg yolks 1/4 cup water 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice 1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter 1/4 tsp salt 1/8 tsp paprika

4 English muffins, split, toasted 8 slices Canadian-style bacon, warmed 1/8 tsp pepper Chives, chopped

In a large saucepan or deep skillet, heat 2â€“3 inches of water, vinegar, and 1/8 teaspoon of salt to boiling; adjust heat to keep liquid simmering gently. Break eggs into a small bowl, one at a time. Hold bowl close to surface of pan and slip eggs into water. Cook eggs until whites are completely set and yolks begin to thicken, but are not hard (approx. 3â€“5 minutes), do not stir. Lift eggs from water with slotted spoon; drain well on a platter lined with paper towels. Keep warm.

In a small nonreactive saucepan, whisk together egg yolks, water, and lemon juice until blended. Cook over low heat; whisking constantly, until mixture bubbles alongside the pan. Whisk in butter until it is melted and sauce is thickened. Remove pan from heat immediately. Stir in salt and paprika.

Top each muffin half with 1 bacon slice, 1 egg, and approx. 1 to 1-1/2 tablespoons of hollandaise sauce. Garnish with chives. Serve immediately.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN May18Recipes.indd 2

4/13/18 3:31 PM

Zucchini Fritters with Poached Eggs

Recipes and photos courtesy of the American Egg Board.

2 zucchini 1 tsp salt, divided 1 egg, lightly beaten 3 Tbsp chopped fresh chives, divided 2 Tbsp all-purpose ﬂour 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley

1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 tsp pepper 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated Cooking spray 1 Tbsp white vinegar 4 eggs Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grate zucchini on coarse side of box grater. Place zucchini in colander and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Allow to stand for 30 minutes. Using a tea towel, squeeze out and discard liquid. In a mixing bowl, stir together zucchini, 1 beaten egg, 2 tablespoons of chives, ﬂour, parsley, mustard, garlic, remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and pepper. Stir in parmesan cheese. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and spray lightly with cooking spray. Scoop 1/4 cup zucchini mixture and shape into thin patty; repeat with remaining zucchini mixture. Lay patties on parchment paper, 1-inch apart. Bake for 7 minutes or until browned around edges. Turn over; cook for approx. 5 minutes (until golden & crisp). In a saucepan set over medium heat, pour in enough water to come three inches up the side; add vinegar and bring to simmer. Crack eggs into a dish; slide one at a time into simmering water. Cook approx. 3–4 minutes or until desired doneness. Remove with slotted spoon; blot on paper towels. Top zucchini fritters with poached eggs; garnish with remaining chives.

Moroccan Eggs in a Basket 1 Tbsp olive oil 1 clove garlic, ﬁnely chopped 1/2 cup canned garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed 1 small cucumber, ﬁnely diced 1/2 tsp garam masala 2 cups fresh spinach 1/8 tsp salt 1/8 tsp pepper 1 tsp butter 2 large eggs

In a sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and cook garlic, stirring for 1–2 minutes or until fragrant. Add garbanzo beans, cook for 3–4 minutes or until softened; then mash garbanzo beans using back of a fork. Stir in cucumber and garam masala, cook for approx. 4–5 minutes, or until cucumber is slightly softened. Fold in spinach and cook for approx. 1–2 minutes, or until spinach wilts. Season with salt and pepper. Make holes using a spoon or spatula in middle of vegetable mixture, add butter in the holes and allow butter to melt; then crack eggs into the hole. Cover pan and cook for approx. 4 minutes, or until eggs are cooked to desired doneness. Slide onto a plate and serve.

The Nutcracker’s Pasta Carbonara 1 lb. linguine 1 large shallot, ﬁnely chopped 2 large eggs 2 large egg yolks 1/2 tsp salt

2/3 cup freshly grated Pecorino cheese, plus extra for serving 6 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/4-inch strips 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 2/3 cup ﬂat-leaf parsley leaves

Cook linguine according to package directions. In a large skillet, fry bacon over medium heat; turning occasionally until crisp (approx. 5 minutes). Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a paper towel covered plate; drain all but 1 tablespoon of drippings. Add shallot to skillet and cook, stirring until softened (approx. 2 minutes). In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, egg yolks, Pecorino, salt, and pepper; set aside. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. Add pasta, bacon, and oil to skillet mixture; toss to coat. Remove pan from heat. Add egg mixture, tossing constantly. Gradually add reserved cooking liquid, tossing until sauce is creamy. Sprinkle with parsley and extra Pecorino cheese, if desired. Serve at once.

Mini Chocolate Cream Tarts 1-1/4 cups granulated sugar, divided 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa 1/4 cup cornstarch 1/8 tsp salt 2 cups nonfat milk 3 large eggs, separated 1 tsp vanilla extract 45 mini phyllo shells 1/8 tsp cream of tartar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup of sugar, cocoa, cornstarch, and salt. Combine and whisk in milk and egg yolks. Cook over medium-low heat until mixture thickens, whisking constantly. Boil for 1 minute. Stir in vanilla. Bake phyllo shells on baking sheets for 3 minutes or until slightly crisp. Cool on wire rack. Fill each shell with approx. 1 tablespoon of chocolate ﬁlling. In a medium bowl with an electric mixer on high speed, beat egg whites until foamy; stir in cream of tartar. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup of sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over top of each tart, making sure to seal edges. Bake tarts on baking sheets for approx. 5–7 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve warm or refrigerate before serving. May 2018

WECN May18Recipes.indd 3

4/13/18 4:08 PM

RECIPE EXCHANGE Submit your favorite recipes to be featured on our reader recipe page. Email to dylan@weca.coop. For bonus recipes, go to http://wecnmagazine.com/recipes/.

Fudge Upside Down Cake Yvonne Broast, Medford

Cake 2 Tbsp butter 1-1/2 cups sugar 1 cup milk 2 tsp vanilla 2 cups ﬂour 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsp baking powder 3 Tbsp cocoa 1/2 cup nuts Mix cake ingredients together (except nuts) and pour into a greased 9x13-inch cake pan. Topping: 1 cup sugar 1 cup brown sugar 4 Tbsp cocoa Mix together sugar, brown sugar, and cocoa. Sprinkle nuts over top of cake mixture. Syrup: 2-1/2 cups boiling water 1 tsp vanilla 1 pinch salt Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour boiling water and vanilla over cake mixture. Sprinkle pinch of salt over everything. Bake for approx. 35–40 minutes. The cake will rise to the top and the boiling water will combine with the sugar/cocoa mix to make a rich syrup underneath. Cut into squares and place them upside down (gooey side up) on dessert plates. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream. Enjoy!

Taco Beef Shell Casserole

Twice Baked Potato Casserole

Gloria Rufener, Online reader

Rosetta Gruss, Marshall

2 lbs ground beef, browned 2 envelopes taco seasoning 1 cup water 8 oz pkg cream cheese 3 cups cooked miniature pasta shells 4 Tbsp butter 1 cup salsa 1 cup taco sauce 2 cups marbled cheese, shredded 1-1/2 cups tortilla chips, crushed Optional toppings: sour cream and green onions

4 large baking potatoes (approx. 3-1/2 lbs.) 1 Tbsp olive oil 3/4 tsp salt, divided 3/4 tsp pepper, divided 1/4 cup butter, cubed 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream 1/4 cup sour cream 2 cups (8 oz) shredded cheddar cheese, divided 6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled, divided 2 green onions, sliced, divided

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a saucepan, bring beef, taco seasoning, and water to a boil; let simmer for a few minutes. Mix in cream cheese. Add cooked pasta and butter. Place mixture in a 9x13-inch pan. Pour salsa and taco sauce over mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and chips. Bake for 30 minutes. Serve with sour cream and chopped green onions.

Pumpkin Pickles

Diane Rinnman, Hayward

8 cups pumpkin, peeled and cubed 2-1/2 cups white vinegar 2-1/2 cups sugar 4 sticks cinnamon 1 tsp pickling spices 1 tsp cloves Steam bite-sized pumpkin cubes over (not in) boiling water until tender. In a separate pan, combine vinegar, sugar, cinnamon, spices, and cloves; bring to a rolling boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add in steamed pumpkin cubes and simmer for an additional 5 minutes. Pack into hot sterilized jars. Seal and process in a boiling water-bath for 5 minutes. Makes 4 pints.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Scrub potatoes and pierce several times with a fork. Brush potatoes with oil; and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Microwave until potatoes are soft (approx. 5–10 minutes). In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in whipping cream and 1/4 cup sour cream. Add 1-1/2 cups of cheese; stir until melted. Remove cheese mixture from heat and cover to keep warm. When potatoes are cool, cut into 1inch pieces. Put potatoes in a large bowl; add remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and cheese mixture. Transfer to a greased 1-1/2 quart baking dish. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese, bacon, and green onions. Bake for approx. 30–35 minutes or until heated through and lightly brown.

REQUESTS from our

READERS Rusty Doering, La Valle, is looking for a recipe for Rutabaga soup. If you can help, have a request of your own, or would like to submit a recipe for publication, please write to

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, What’s Cooking? 222 West Washington Ave., Suite 680, Madison, WI 53703-2719 or contact us via our website, www.wecnmagazine.com. Thanks!

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN May18ReadRecipes.indd 1

4/13/18 10:15 AM

WE KEEP THEM UP HERE FOR A REASON.

STAY CLEAR OF DOWNED POWER LINES. Helping members use electricity safely, thatâ€™s the power of your co-op membership. Learn more from the experts themselves at TogetherWeSave.com.

T OG E T H E RW E S AV E .C O M May 2018

May 18_adsPasted.indd 23

4/5/18 11:33 AM

SPECTACULAR

SPELUNKING

EXPLORE CRYSTAL CAVE FOR A FUN, EDUCATIONAL ADVENTURE

alk about taking a trip down the rabbit hole. In 1881, two little farm boys by the names of William and George Vanasse were chasing a small animal near their home in the Spring Valley area when the creature disappeared down a hole. Their attempts to examine the animal’s getaway by poking a stick in the opening were thwarted when the stick disappeared under the surface as well. Call them brave or call them crazy, but the Vanasse brothers returned the next day to explore the strange hole some more. They lowered themselves through the opening, dropping into a dark, dome-like space filled with clay and debris and then farther down to another level with shallow entrances leading to other directions. Unbeknownst to the curious boys at the time, they were the first known human visitors to what would come to be known as Crystal Cave. They would be the first of very many. Today, Crystal Cave, located on St. Croix Electric Cooperative’s lines, is Wisconsin’s longest show cave at just under a mile, with about a third of it developed for public tours. According to this publication’s predecessor, Wisconsin REA News, Crystal Cave welcomed 4,000 visitors on June 7, 1942, the cave’s opening day as a public attraction. These days, as many as 50,000 visitors pass through each season to marvel at the cave’s stalactites, stalagmites, and crystal formations.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

May2018WisFav.indd 2

4/16/18 1:03 PM

WISCONSIN FAVORITES In season, cave tours are open rain or shine. No matter what the weather’s doing above ground, conditions are always the same below. “It’s 50 degrees year-round—that’s the average temperature in Wisconsin,” explained Eric McMaster, Crystal Cave’s executive director. “It’s a nice place to visit when it’s cold out because it’s nice and warm there, relatively, and then in the summer when you’re trying to get out of the heat the cave is nice and cold because you’ve got nature’s air conditioning.” Visitors have several tour options. Most popular by far is the main tour of Crystal Cave, which takes guests through a 70-foot elevation change through three separate levels. The pathways and stairs along this tour are developed for public use and lit with energy-efﬁcient LED bulbs. These tours

Tours for All Types

are led by knowledgeable guides who teach visitors all about the cave’s history, geology, and bat population. New this season for guests who would like a more authentic spelunking experience are early-evening lantern tours of Crystal Cave, which for safety reasons come with more restrictions. “All the lights are shut off so it’s not for kids,” McMaster said. “People always want to see how dark the cave really is—what it’s like with the lights off. It’s a fun experience, particularly with the little lanterns like what the Vanasse brothers might have had in 1881. Our lanterns are rechargeable, but it’s the same idea.” Even more genuine are the Walking Flashlight Tours of the nearby South Portal Cave. This is one of two additional caves that have been discovered on the Crystal Cave grounds since the Vanasse boys ﬁrst dropped underground

137 years ago. The South Portal Cave is less developed and unlit, offering a less structured experience. A short hike leading to this cave has been rated as moderate/strenuous, so this activity is only for the physically hardy. “We set you up with hard hats and lights and gear,” McMaster said. “It’s a walking tour. You get a true caving experience.”

Aboveground Fun Not all of Crystal Cave’s attractions are below the ground’s surface. A separate activity that’s become increasingly popular is Prospector’s Creek, where young visitors can try their hand at panning for gems or fossils over an old-fashioned sluice. “We’re mimicking what it would have been like in the 1800s, with real post beam construction,” McMaster said. “We’ve got almost 60 stations for gem panning. Staff are out there helping—it’s

1. The entrance building is constructed with fragments of carbonite rock removed from the cave. This building was completed in 1942. 2. A newer feature of Crystal Cave is Prospector’s Creek, where children can try their hand at gem panning. 3. All gems, minerals, and fossils uncovered at Prospector’s Creek are genuine. Gems are also available in the museum gift shop. 4. Eric McMaster, shown here in the gift shop, is executive director of Crystal Cave. (Photos 3 and 4 courtesy of Keith Wohlfert; all others courtesy of Crystal Cave)

3 1

May 2018

May2018WisFav.indd 3

4/16/18 1:03 PM

Crystal Cave is Wisconsin’s longest cave at just over a mile long. A major exploration in 1992 nearly tripled the length of the known cave. Exploration continues today, with more footage constantly discovered. The cave is also a hibernaculum to four species of bats. (Bottom right photo courtesy of Keith Wohlfert; all others courtesy of Crystal Cave)

a lot of fun. We’ve got all sorts of incredible gems and minerals, and real fossils like trilobites and gastropods. They’re all authentic, and they’re from all over the world.” In addition, the Crystal Cave grounds include a halfmile interpretive nature trail open to all visitors, with spacious picnic grounds complete with a covered pavilion, tables, and charcoal grills. Guests are welcome to pack a picnic lunch, or they can purchase some refreshments that are available in the visitor center/gift shop.

Scientific Discoveries Separate from the public tours but equally important to the cave’s purpose is its role as a scientific research site. At any given time, an active research project is underway in Crystal Cave through partnerships with universities, weather data programs, and conservation organizations. “We probably have the most researched bats in the nation,” McMaster said. “Right now we’re working on a project with Santa Cruz University, where we’ve installed radio transmitters on our bats, and then we have a radar on the entrance so we’re able to track whenever bats enter and leave the cave. There isn’t a lot known about that activity, especially in the spring and fall when the bats are entering and exiting their hibernation site.” 26

Last summer, he added, Crystal Cave partnered with the Department of Natural Resources in a study that helped determine where bats go when they leave hibernation. “We actually put little powerful radio beacons on several bats here, and then when they woke up and left the hibernaculum the DNR had crews of people with radio receivers driving around the countryside seeing where the bats are flying to.” McMaster said data gleaned from such projects aids in research to, for example, find ways to protect bats from diseases such as White-Nose Syndrome. The young Vanasse brothers would no doubt be surprised to see that their daring discovery has evolved into a popular show cave and a key scientific research site. A tour of Crystal Cave today is not the trip down the proverbial rabbit hole that it was for these two adventurous boys, but it’s very much a wondrous experience.—Mary Erickson

Cave of Wonders

Crystal Cave is located at W965 State Road 29, Spring Valley, WI 54767. It’s open daily from April 1 through October 31. To learn more, visit acoolcave.net or call 715-778-4414.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

May2018WisFav.indd 4

4/16/18 1:08 PM

YOUNG MEMBERS

Kids and Critters May 2018 1. Ashley’s peacock perches on her shoulder. Photo submitted by Kathy Babcock, a member of Adams-Columbia Electric. 2. Annalise learns where milk comes from. Photo submitted by Grandpa Scott Ausen, a member of Riverland Energy. 3. Myla makes a new kitten friend. Photo sent in by Darla Opper, a member of Central Wisconsin Electric.

4. Jasper hugs his dog Buck. Central Wisconsin Electric member Karley Poppe submitted the photo.

4 3

Upload photos

directly to the new wecnmagazine.com through the “Submit a photo” tab. Send photos of kids with animals, along with a brief description, to WECN Magazine, 222 W. Washington Ave., Suite 680, Madison, WI 53703-2719. 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.

May 2018

WECN May18KidsCrits.indd 1

4/13/18 10:02 AM

CLASSIFIEDS MISCELLANEOUS

COLLECTOR BUYING WAR SOUVENIRS: German, Japanese, U.S. weapons, medals, helmets, daggers, swords, military items. 715-344-5031. WANTED: DEER TAGS, BACK TAGS. Trapping, bear, hunting, and fishing licenses. Otter, bobcat, fisher tags. Any old traps. David Schober, W4234 Rock Creek Rd., Loyal, WI 54446. 715-255-9284. WANTED: PAYING CASH FOR WW-2 GERMAN, JAPANESE FLAGS, DAGGERS, SWORDS, GUNS. ETC. 715-340-1974. TARPS–HEAVY DUTY, 14’ x 48,’ hemmed. Expired billboard faces. $50 each or 10’x 30’ – $24 each. Shipping not included. Tarps can also be picked up at Jones Sign, 1711 Scheuring Road, De Pere, WI 54115. 800-536-7446. GOT WOOD! NEW PORTABLE SAWMILLS. We sell Forestry Equipment for the hobbyist to the professional. Band Sawmills, Firewood Processors, Skidding Winches & more. A-F County Market an authorized Hudson Forest Equipment Dealer. Adams, WI 53910. Phone Joe or Rich 608-339-6703. 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 855-7976072 or email mmtagm@yahoo.com. FIREWORKS: Hyland fireworks sales Red and White Tent Westfield Wisconsin 53964 June 21 Thru July 8. Adams Tent Corner of State Hwy 21 and 13 June 29 thru July 7 fireworks show. Call 715-325-5020. WANTED: PRE-1970 Motorcycle jackets, helmets, parts, memorabilia, old metal signs, toys, knife collections, and straight razor. Private collector. 920-373-3515. SKI BOAT: 16 foot 1994 Sunbird- Stinger. 3.0L Cobra OMC 115hp engine. I/O drive. Very good condition & well maintained, excellent seat vinyl, hull in great shape. Seats up to 7 people. Great for skiing or swimming! Includes trailer. Boat is located in Rosholt, WI. 414-491-8686. $5295/Offer. Includes all original manuals.

AMSOIL SYNTHETIC LUBRICANTS OUTPERFORM CONVENTIONAL OILS. New preferred customer plan saves 25%. Visit www.wanikassociates. shopamsoil.com or call 715-398-0488 for details. LAND STEWARDSHIP PLANS AND MONITORING: Ecologist working in the Driftless Area will conduct an assessment of your land and develop a management and monitoring plan. Find out if you have areas to restore, invasive species that need attention. trilliumlax.com; 608-615-8692. zip=54650. MUST SELL due to medical reasons, 2013 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Anniversary Edition), 7,666 miles, includes waterproof cover with alarm and battery charger, $14,900.00, call 920-609-1783.

REAL ESTATE 90 ACRES OF WOODS, 1700’ LAKE FRONTAGE, newer summer home near Minocqua. Great hunting and ﬁshing on private 320 acre lake. No public access. 608-774-6726, $650,000. FOR RENT: May-Sept 2018 Season. 2 Bedroom private cabin on Big Round Lake, Hayward, WI 54843 great sand beach – cabin sits next to water’s edge. 715-558-5803. Weekly rates 800-1200. Will do 3 days in Spring+Fall. If no answer leave message. FOR SALE: 70 acres wooded, Abundant Hunting, 3 bedroom house, 2 full baths + 2 car garage, with walk-in cooler, plus a bonus room used as a workshop (heated) and a generator. Rusk County WI. Under 200,000.00. 1-414-458-0496. FOR SALE: WI lake home by owner, 20-acre no motor lake. 60 miles to Madison. 3BR/2Ba, 1796 sq ft 3-car garage. $279,500. Call or email for more info and appointment 608-586-4588 maburtch@mags.net. Principals only. FOR SALE: Seeking stewarding conservator buyer. Private ancestral 40 acres. Orienta, Bayﬁeld Co. WI. Soul-healing trout river runs through it, thickly forested, road access. $59,400. mmcarey1414@msn.com or 763-221-9523.

COUNTRY LIVING IN SERENE GORGEOUS VALLEY MINUTES FROM HOLMEN, WI, a community with so much to offer close by. Spacious 3 BR, 1.5 baths on 7+ acres. 4 car garage, 2 large steel insulated shops, excellent hunting with creek border and income-generating property from your back door, or ample storage for those big boy toys. Countless amenities. Must-See! Private sale, motivated seller, reduced price $431,500. Call Barb 608-526-4373. FOR SALE: Mobile Home on 1 acre with living room addition. Fully furnished. Located on Reshel Road in the Town of City Point, Jackson County. 608-577-6140. FOR SALE: IDEAL HUNTING BASE: 3 bedroom lake cabin on Upper Clam Lake, Ashland County. Center of the Chequamegon National Forest. Includes furnishings, appliances, ﬁreplace, boat, dock, and more. 23501 Nyberg Rd. Clam Lake, WI. See Craigslist Wausau, hunting cabin. Call Tim 715-572-2632 or timgapen@wctc.net.

PLANTS & SHRUBS PREMIUM SPRUCE TREES 7-8 FOOT TALL when planted. balled & burlapped and ready to plant. Perfect for a manicured yard or a natural fence or along a driveway. These are nicely shaped and full from all sides. $79.99 call 608-981-2169. COVER SPRUCE TREES 8-10 FOOT TALL random sizes. balled & burlapped and ready to plant. These trees are nice but they are not perfect. Great for wildlife or blocking a messy neighbor or even making a windbreak. $64.99 Call 608-981-2169. SEEDLINGS RED PINE OR BALSAM FIR. 18-36 inch tall random sizes. Pick your own, there are 1000’s of them; you will save a lot of money. Peter Stellas farm 608-358-4313. BARE ROOT fruit trees. Available April thru May. For varieties visit sunriseraspberryfarm. com Stevens Point, WI 54482. 715-572-5381.

EMPLOYMENT AND BUSINESS GEC ELECTRIC LLC 608-792-8475 Contact John.

Classified ads reach more than 171,000 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. Dylan Pingitore, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Ph: 608-467-4599. Email dylan@weca.coop

18MayClassifieds.indd 1

4/16/18 4:25 PM

ADVERTISE WITH US

ads@weca.coop

Get the Muck

OUT!

Marble size AquaclearTM Pellets clear your lake or pond bottom.

OUR 56th YEAR

Beneficial microorganisms. Restore balance in natural and man made surface waters. Increase water clarity. Improve water quality. Eliminate black organic muck.

A 10 lb. bag treats .50 to 1.0 acres $91.00 A 50 lb. bag treats 2.5 to 5.0 acres $327.00

Apply weekly for 4 weeks, then monthly to maintain. No water use restrictions!

FREE SHIPPING!

800-328-9350

KillLakeWeeds.com Order online today, or request free information.

Our 63rd year

AQUACIDE CO.

PO Box 10748, DEPT 573X White Bear Lake, MN 55110-0748

May 2018

May 18_adsPasted.indd 29

4/17/18 9:11 AM

May 2018

WISCONSIN EVENTS 4 Accordion and Concertina Concert—Cadott. ZCBJ Bohemian Hall, 7–10 p.m. Hot beefs, kolache, beer, soda. 715-644-0454.

12 Plant and Garden Sale—Mindoro. Cindy’s parking lot, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Lilies of the Cut.

22 Trike-A-Thon and Silent Auction—Cambria. W1441 Vaughn, 4:30–6 p.m. Fundraiser to support deployed service members.

4–6 Montello Fish-N-Fun—Montello. City Park, all day. Family-friendly citywide event.

12 Glassy Ladies Grand Opening—Cable. Business Center, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Glass fusing, mosaics, demonstrations & classes. 715-934-2220.

23 VetsRoll Welcome Home—Beloit. Eclipse Center, 7:30–11 p.m. Welcome WWII, Korean, and Vietnam Vets home from four-day trip to Washington D.C.

12 Reggae Fest—Trempealeau. Hotel, 2–11 p.m. Enjoy food, drink, & Caribbean music.

25, 26 Rummage Sale—Hustler. Trinity Lutheran Church, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. You name the price, no reasonable offer refused.

14 Discover Wisconsin Premiere Party—Platteville. The BARn, 5–8 p.m. Free evening of celebration as Discover Wisconsin premieres its 500th episode on Platteville.

26 Dairy Breakfast—Adams. Adams-Friendship High School, 7–11 a.m.

5 Flea Market/Craft Sale—Phillips. Municipal Building, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. 5 Howl and Meow—Richland Center. Community Center, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Proceeds to Ocooch Mountain Humane Society. 5 Pancake & Sausage Breakfast—Camp Douglas. Clifton Park Shelter, 7–11 a.m. Adults $5, kids under 12, $3. 5 Pancake Breakfast—Fennimore. Castle Rock Lutheran Church, 7–10:30 a.m. 5 Quilt Show & Salad Luncheon—Holcombe. United Methodist Church, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. 5 Mill Opening Day—Beloit. Beckman Mill, 12–4 p.m. Tours of 150-year-old mill, museum, and concertina music. 608-751-1551. 5 Smelt Fry—Jump River. Fire Hall, 4:30– 8 p.m. All you can eat smelt fry.

18, 19 Thrift Sales—Thorp. Call 715-7730219 closer to date for locations. 18, 19 Yard Sales—Bowler. Citywide, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Maps at JP’s and Kropf’s. 18, 19 Indoor Rummage Sale—New Lisbon. Winding Rivers United Methodist Church, Fri 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sat 8 a.m.–2 p.m. 608-562-3487.

5, 6 Quilt Show—Phillips. High School, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Over 200 handmade quilts. $3 admission, kids under 12 are free.

18, 19 Brat Fry—La Crosse. Ace Hardware, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Wis. Vietnam Vets #7 will serve brats, hot dogs, and chicken breast. Proceeds to high school scholarships and care packages for deployed troops.

6 Potato Pancake Feast and Fundraiser—Tilleda. Community Hall, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Adults $9; children 6–12; $4; children 5 and under are free.

19 Helicopter & Military Vehicle Expo—Neillsville. The Highground, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

6 Pie & Ice Cream Social—Eau Claire. Christ Church Cathedral, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. 715-835-3734.

19 Migratory Bird Day Celebration—Medford. Perkinstown Winter Sports Arena, 6 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Birdwatching, wildﬂower walks, nature games, more. No charges for activities or food. 715-748-3160.

6 Charcoal Chicken Dinner—Greenwood. Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Eat in or drive-thru. $9 for 1/2 chicken and $7 for 1/4 chicken. 715-267-6142. 11, 12 Garage Sales—Chili. Citywide, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. Friday; 7 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday. Maps and food available. 11–13 Garage Sales—Platteville. Citywide, all day. 12 Plant Sale—Lancaster. County Fairgrounds, 8 –11 a.m. Spring sale of plants from local Master Gardener’s gardens.

17–19 Garage Sales—Fennimore. Citywide, 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Maps at convenience stores.

19 Plant and Bake Sale—Holmen. Lewis Valley Lutheran Church, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. 608-769-1509. 19 Wildflowers for Wildlife—Horicon. Marsh Visitor Center, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. 19, 20 Nation of Patriots Ride: Destination Celebration—Fennimore. Fire Station, 2–6 p.m. Parade and community celebration on Saturday. Pancake breakfast on Sunday. 20 Classic Car Show—Menomonie. Dunn County Recreation Park. 715-505-3182.

27 Car and Motorcycle Show—Millston. Ball Park, 8 a.m. 608-386-1371. 27 All You Care to Eat Breakfast—Phillips. St. Therese Church, 8 –11:30 a.m. 27 Museum Opening for Season—Fennimore. Doll & Toy Museum, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 27 Barn Dance and Silent Auction—Spirit. Darrel & Luann Lind Dairy, 7–11:30 p.m. Square dance teaching, pie, ice cream, coffee, and lemonade. 28 Plant Sale—Hayward. Sports Center, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Many varieties, shade to full sun established plants at reasonable prices. 715-634-8917. 28 Memorial Day Ceremony—Neillsville. The Highground, 3–6 p.m.

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

Upload your June events by May 9. Wisconsin Events is a public service for our readers. Submissions should be received early in the month prior to the month in which the event will occur. 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.

Upload events to wecnmagazine.com

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

30_0005 2018.indd 1

4/17/18 8:50 AM

May 18_adsPasted.indd 31

4/5/18 12:01 PM

$5.00 Free Gift!

10 FOR

6 FOR

PECIALS

se ri es

3 FOR

$ .00

ey c r e

$ 5.00 S

2 FOR

$ .00

Pick Your Own

ou y l l i w h c i W h hoose? c

$ .00

N7820 Eye of Tiger Dutch Iris - B7958 Bi-Color Asiatic Lilies - N6770 Red Bud Tree - Blooms N6869 English Lavender - Fragrant Dramatic two-tone dutch iris. Multi- Easy to grow! Excellent for cut early spring. Fast growing. Reaches blooms from June to autumn. A faplies rapidly. flower arrangements. 25′ tall. vorite dried flower. Grows 18″ tall.

2 FOR

$ .00

10 FOR

4 FOR

$ .00

N6857 Color Changing Tree Hydrangea - Breathtaking sight and huge N4083 Ozark Beauty Strawberry - N7306 Hummingbird Vine - Large, N7302 Double Hollyhocks - Award blooms mid-summer to fall. Bloom col- Continuous crops of large, juicy ber- showy flowers attract humming- winning hollyhocks bloom for weeks! birds! Reaches 20′+. 5-7′ tall. Plant 12-18″ ors change from white to pink to purple. ries all summer! Heavy producer. 20 Grows 5-7 12-18″ apart.

1 FOR

$ .00

N5102 Rainbow Butterfly Bush Butterfly magnet with multi colored blooms. Blooms summer to fall. Plant 4-6 ′ apart. Grows 6-8′ tall.

Choose any one of these

$5 Specials for FREE

with a $10 minimum order.

Fill out the row next to “FREE” in the order form to claim your

FREE $5 Special! Cannot be combined with other offers Limit 1 Free $5 Special per household. Offer Expires 7/1/2018

May 18_adsPasted.indd 32

3 FOR

$ .00

1 FOR

$ .00

N7751 Walk on Me - This crimson carpet grows almost anywhere! N3544 Snowball Bush - Big “snow- N5543 Sugar Sweet Cherry - Extra Flowers in the summer with evergreen ball” clusters in spring. Grows 8-10′ sweet and delicious. Plant 2 for best leaves. Grows 3″ tall. Plant 6-12″ apart. tall. pollination.

HONEYCREEK NURSERIES 1804 E. Hamilton Road, DEPT. 915-9096

Bloomington, Illinois 61704-9609

Please indicate the items to send below. HOW MANY Item #

ITEM NAME

COST

FREE ($5 Value)

Name __________________________________________ Address ________________________________________ City _____________________________ State _________ Zip ______________ Phone ________________________ Email __________________________________________

❒ Check or Money Order enclosed. ❒ Mastercard ❒ VISA Credit Card # ____________________________________ Expiration Date __________________________________ Signature _______________________________________

5.99 u Shipping & Processing $_______ Thank Yo r! SUBTOTAL $_______ e rd for Your O IL Residents add 6.25% Sales Tax $_______ TOTAL ENCLOSED OR CHARGED $_______

3/29/18 1:15 PM