Louisiana Country, Washington St Tammany Electric, March 2026

Louisiana

His Next Chapter

From chef to chain saw artist, Steve Tresvik takes on his second act in life Page 18

Country

With its innovative design, modern comforts, and guest-focused philosophy, American Encore is not just a riverboat, it’s the finest expression of American river cruising ever built. Designed to host just 180 guests, American Encore features more square feet per guest than any other small cruise ship with the largest staterooms globally. Small Ship Cruising Done

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COMMUNICATIONS

Conley Bourgeois, CCC

ACCOUNTING

Beth Fraser

Board of Directors

President Michael Heinen

Vice President Roger Dale DeHart

Secretary/Treasurer Richard Sitman

Mike

Daniel

WIred for growth

Balancing data center demand and reliability

Data centers may feel like a big-city phenomenon, but more of them are showing up in rural communities like the ones we serve—and for good reason. Rural areas offer what data centers need most: affordable land, room to grow and access to transmission lines that can move large amounts of power.

What makes data centers different from other large businesses is their appetite for electricity. These facilities run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Servers must stay online constantly, which means power must be reliable every minute of every day.

For Louisiana’s electric cooperatives, the growth of data centers presents both opportunity and complexity.

On the plus side, data centers have the potential to bring steady, long-term load growth that helps support investments in local grids. With proper planning and policy support, those upgrades—including new substations, stronger lines and smarter technology—could benefit all co-op members and help keep electricity rates steady.

However, providing power to data centers presents challenges, too. These large facilities can be constructed and operating in as little as a year, but ensuring the necessary infrastructure, equipment, and electricity requires longer lead times and significant financial investment. Strategic planning and partnerships—as well as long-term power supply strategies—are essential to the process.

While most data centers operating in Louisiana are served by

investor-owned utilities, co-ops nationwide are fielding requests and inquiries from tech companies.

As member-owned utilities, electric cooperatives have a dual responsibility: to listen to the communities they serve and to provide reliable, affordable electric service to all co-op members.

Balancing those responsibilities is not always simple, especially as new types of large-scale energy users— such as data centers—become part of the local landscape.

Louisiana’s energy landscape continues to evolve, bringing both promise and new challenges. The board and employees of the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperative are committed to continuing to listen, communicate, and work with our member cooperatives, policymakers and community leaders to ensure decisions reflect the best interests of the people and communities we serve.

We encourage cooperative members to stay informed and engaged and to reach out to their local electric cooperative with questions about data centers, electric service or other energyrelated issues. Your voice matters. 

Big Data, Bigger Demands

Many companies are choosing rural areas for their data centers because of cheaper land, available power and potential tax breaks. Data centers require huge amounts of electricity to operate, which presents new opportunities and challenges for electric co-ops.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

HVAC. Constant cooling is needed to ensure servers function properly.

Server racks. Servers run applications and process data 24/7. One server rack can consume enough electricity to power a small home. A large data center can house thousands of server racks.

Power upgrades. Data centers often require new electrical infrastructure to meet their power needs.

Water source. Many large data centers are deploying evaporative cooling, which is more efficient than compressor-based systems.

Love the Boot Week is Louisiana’s largest litter removal and beautification effort, bringing awareness to our state’s litter problem while empowering organizations and individual citizens to clean up litter and beautify spaces in their communities.

This year, we are cleaning up in honor of America’s 250th birthday! Show your love for your country and your community by participating.

In 2025, 26,935 people volunteered a total of 81,852 hours at over 1,408 events, removing a record 514 tons of litter in all 64 parishes.

Let’s surpass last year’s numbers and grow our impact statewide.

WIN A PORTABLE BLACKSTONE GRILL

Make a $1 donation to the Cooperative Youth Leadership Fund to enter a drawing for a new grill. Tickets are available at your cooperative, and proceeds benefit the Louisiana Youth Leadership Council Representative Scholarship.

The prize drawing is held in July at the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives Annual Meeting in Baton Rouge. The winner is contacted by phone.

WASHINGTONST. TAMMANY ELECTRIC OFFICES

Main office

950 Pearl St. (P.O. Box 697)

Franklinton, LA 70438

Phone: 985-839-3562

www.wste.coop

Additional offices

21504 Mire Drive

Abita Springs, LA 70420

13526 Highway 40 Folsom, LA 70437

2081 E. Gause Blvd.

Slidell, LA 70459

GENERAL MANAGER

DANE HOCOTT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr. Francis Cefalu | President

Dennis Glass | Vice President

Olander Smith | Secretary

Glenn Magee | Treasurer

Joe Jarrell Jr.

Chris Graves

Charles Singletary

Nickey Smith

Meet Your Board of Directors

When big investor-owned utilities refused to extend their lines and service to rural, thinly populated areas because those areas didn’t offer large enough profits, community members took power into their own hands. Neighbors worked together to form their own electric companies. Members of rural electric cooperatives are more than consumers: They are owners of their not-for-profit utilities.

One of the many benefits of co-op membership is the ability to elect fellow members to lead the utility. Your co-op’s board consists of neighbors, friends and local business owners who understand the service territory and have members’ best interests in mind when it comes to setting the co-op’s course. Get to know a little about your WSTE directors.

Amite resident Dr. Francis Cefalu has been a WSTE board member for 32 years and has multiple certifications from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association: Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership and NRECA Gold Certificate. He is also an 1803 Electric Cooperative board member.

Dr. Cefalu is married to Connie Sue Holden Cefalu. They have two children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The Southeastern Louisiana University and Louisiana State University School of Medicine graduate completed his residency in internal medicine at Earl K. Long Hospital in Baton Rouge. He owns and operates KC Farms, is medical director of Amite Rural Health Clinic and is chief of medical staff at Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite. He is a member of Sharon Missionary Baptist Church in Amite.

Folsom resident Dennis Glass is board vice president. The owner/ operator of Dennis Glass Construction Co. has been a WSTE board member for 17 years. He is a former president of the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives. His NRECA credentials include Credentialed Cooperative Director and Board Leadership Certification.

Dennis has two children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Dennis is a member of the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association, 4-H and the FFA Youth Fund. He is a board member and former president of St. Tammany Parish Fair Association. He also is an active member at First Baptist Church of Folsom.

Volume 43, Issue 2

Louisiana Country (USPS 473-180) is published bimonthly by the Association of Louisiana Electric Co-ops Inc., 10725 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70816, in partnership with Pioneer Utility Resources.

Annual subscriptions: Members $2.79. Nonmembers $5.

Postmaster: Send form 3579 to 10725 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70816.

Periodicals postage paid at Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821, and additional mailing offices.

The Lucky Account Number Contest continues this month with two winners included in this edition of Louisiana Country. Before you look through this edition for your winning number, find your account number printed above your mailing address. Spot that number anywhere in this issue and win $50. To claim your prize, call 985-839-3562.

Hackley resident Olander Smith has served on WSTE’s board for nine years. His is a Credentialed Cooperative Director and has Board Leadership Certification.

Olander is a former chief of the Franklinton Police Department. He is a former deputy chief of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office in the criminal, civil and detective division. He retired from the Louisiana State Police as major of Region 1.

A 1973 Franklinton High School graduate, Olander earned a degree in history from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1977.

He and wife Elisa Williams Smith have five children, one deceased child, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Olander is a deacon of Water Valley Church of God in Christ in Hackley.

Washington Parish resident Glenn Magee is a 10-year WSTE board member who earned the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director Certification. He is branch manager, senior vice president and director of Citizens Savings Bank, where he worked for 30 years. Glenn previously was at Parish National Bank and First State Bank.

He has a bachelor’s in business administration from Nicholls State University. He attended the Graduate School of Banking of the South and the Louisiana Bankers Association School-Louisiana State University, and the School of Commercial Lending-Vanderbilt University.

Glenn is married to Brigitte Webb Magee. They have two children and four grandchildren. He is a member of First Baptist Church of Covington, St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, Northshore Homebuilders Association and National Rifle Association. He is an affiliate of Ducks Unlimited, National Turkey Federation, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Junior Livestock Association. He is a past member of Franklinton Lions Club. (Account No. 9196602)

Bush resident Joseph “Joe” Jarrell retired from the St. Tammany Sheriff’s Office after 32 years. Joe is an 11-year WSTE board member, former board president and an NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director.

Joe and his wife, April Strain Jarrell, have three children and four grandchildren. He is a member at First Baptist Church Covington. He is a graduate of Leadership West St. Tammany Chamber.

Joe Jarrell

Evans Creek resident Chris Graves is a retired area foreman for St. Tammany Parish Government, where he worked for 32½ years. He has been a WSTE board member for 10 years.

The Pearl River High School graduate earned his NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director Certification.

The father of two is married to Sharon Jones Graves. He is a member of Pine Grove United Pentecostal Church, Texas Trophy Hunters Association, St. Tammany Cattlemen’s Association, Trophy Game Records of the World and St. Tammany Parish Jr. Livestock Association.

Pearl River resident Charles Singletary owns and operates C & J Sewer Treatment System LLC. He previously worked at St. Tammany Public Works and the Walmart distribution center.

Charles has served on the WSTE board for seven years. He is an NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director.

Charles is married to Buffie Travis Singletary. They have five children (two deceased) and six grandchildren.

He is a graduate of Pearl River High School. He is a member of the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce and is a special membership sponsor of St. Tammany PTA and St. Tammany Little League. He is a member of Jesus Name Apostolic Church.

Franklinton resident Nickey Smith has been a WSTE board member for four years. He owns and operates S & S Farms.

He has earned the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director Certification. He is president of the Washington Parish Farm Bureau Board and the Washington Parish Cattlemen’s Association.

He is a board member of Louisiana’s Farm Bureau Livestock Advisory Committee, Louisiana Beef Industry Council and Board of Animal Health. Nickey is also a member of National and Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association and American and Louisiana Quarter Horse Association.

Nickey is married to Patsy Roberts Smith. They have two children and six grandchildren.

When the lights go out, lineworkers are ready to answer the call, day or night, to safely restore power and keep our communities moving forward. They take pride in powering the places we call home. Today and every day, we thank lineworkers for their service and commitment.

Lineworker Appreciation Day April 13, 2026

ReadyWhen i t Matters Most

OFFICIAL

NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS

WSTE Annual Meeting Scheduled for Saturday, May 2

The Annual Membership Meeting of Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative is at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 2, at Franklinton High School in Franklinton, Louisiana.

This meeting is to act on the following:

1. Report of officers, directors and committees.

2. Unfinished business.

3. New business.

A business session begins at 10 a.m.

Lighting a

Louisiana firefighter Coby Bailey wins ‘The Great American Recipe’

By Cheré Coen

Like many South Louisiana natives, Coby Bailey learned to cook from his parents and grandparents. But it took a fire station to turn it into a passion.

“It really wasn’t until I started as a firefighter that I enjoyed cooking,” Coby says.

That spark turned into a fire that landed Coby on Season four of “The Great American Recipe” show on PBS. After a month of competition, Coby took home the top award Aug. 15, 2025.

“Cajun Country for me is not just food and something to eat but a way of life,” he says. “Everything we do here in South Louisiana is centered around food. I wanted the Cajun culture represented well, and I think I did that.”

inspect their gear and get ready for the day. They’re usually done around 9 a.m. to either train or start cooking for lunch, Coby explains. Sometimes the firefighters make a run to the grocery store to pick up supplies. And yes, they take the fire engine and head off for emergencies when needed.

“We’ve left a lot of groceries in the truck,” Coby says with a laugh.

Back at the station, the fires they attended to were on the stove.

“I was fortunate to have a captain who loved to cook every single day,” Coby says. “He liked to get everyone involved, including other stations or people we liked around the community.”

The firefighters ate well.

“We’d have a great meal,” Coby says. “The other stations would come. We’d tell stories. And we’d always make enough so we’d have supper.”

At the Lafayette Fire Department, the crew arrives early to clean,

When Coby made captain—he’s been at the Lafayette Fire Department for 27 years after serving in the U.S. Navy, including during Desert Storm—he decided to carry on the tradition and teach others at the station to cook. One day, a firefighter approached him about watching his YouTube channel and encouraged Coby to create his own.

“I said, ‘Dude, I watch you every day. I don’t need to know what you do on your day off,’” Coby says with a laugh.

The firefighter challenged Coby to see who could attract the most followers on YouTube. Coby did, and his cooking videos took off. That’s how PBS producers discovered the Lafayette native to invite him to compete on “The Great American Recipe.”

Coby had two requests: He had to bring his own food, and the chief needed to give him a month off to travel to Nashville, where the show is filmed.

“I really didn’t have to sell him,” Coby says of his chief giving permission. “I said, ‘Let’s do it for Lafayette. Let’s do it for the food.’ And he agreed.”

The trick for this Cajun chef was cooking up his recipes with his needed tools in hand. Coby drove to Nashville with a pickup full of his beloved pots and pans, roux spoons and supplies.

Filming began around 6:30 a.m. in a barn where contestants prepared their recipes while telling storie. Filming ended around 8 p.m. The first exercise was for contestants to cook a dish that made them fall in love with cooking. Cody thought of eggs, so he prepared a unique boudin omelet.

“It was important to me to keep the Cajun food and the Cajun tradition in there,” he says.

Other recipes Coby delivered to judges Tiffany Derry, Tim Hollingsworth and Francis Lam were an alligator sauce piquante and seafood gumbo. During one episode, Coby related a heartfelt anecdote about his buddies in Desert Storm. He took the top prize after creating a Cypress knee shrimp po’boy and cornbreadstuffed chicken with andouille cream sauce.

In announcing Coby as the winner, Tiffany said, “This home cook stayed true to who they are through every last one of their dishes that truly represented the heart of their cooking and their great American recipe.” 

Coby Bailey’s Alligator Sauce Piquante

10 alligator legs

¼ cup yellow mustard

Capt. Coby’s Cajun Seasoning

2 cups regular coconut oil, not extra-virgin oil

1 cup flour

1 pound smoked sausage, sliced

2 medium yellow onions, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

2 8-ounce cans tomato sauce

1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles

3 cloves garlic, minced

2-3 tablespoons dry roux

1 pound peeled Louisiana Gulf shrimp, 31-40 count (or best available)

1 bundle green onions, chopped, for garnish

FOR THE GRITS

1 pint heavy whipping cream

3 12-ounce cans chicken broth

2 sticks butter, divided

4 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste

16-ounce box quick 5-minute grits

DIRECTIONS

In a large bowl, apply generous amounts of mustard and Capt. Coby’s Cajun Seasoning to the alligator legs, and mix well. Melt coconut oil in a large cast-iron pot. Toss the alligator legs in flour, then add to pot. Cook until lightly browned. Add sausage, onions and peppers. Cook until browned and all brown bits are lifted from the pot.

Add in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, garlic and dry roux. Let cook for 30 minutes. Stir in shrimp, and let cook for 15 minutes until all flavors come together.

To make the grits, add heavy whipping cream, chicken broth, 1 stick of butter and salt to a pot. Bring to a boil. After liquid comes to a rolling boil, pour in grits. Stir constantly until grits become firm and almost cooked, about 5 minutes. Finish by adding a stick of butter to the grits.

Serve alligator sauce piquante over grits, and garnish with green onions. the

Monarchs

Protecting the

There are ways you can help

By Pamela A. Keene

Over the past several decades, the monarch butterfly population has declined because of habitat loss, increased pesticide use and climate variability.

The decreased availability of milkweed— the sole host plant and food source for monarch caterpillars— is another factor in the dwindling numbers of the colorful migrating butterfly. Deforestation, expanded lawn development and increased pavement contribute to reduced native habitats, putting insects at greater risk.

Monarchs are considered a high-profile species, and their plight is frequently described as a “canary in the coal mine” for environmental health. Studying their migration patterns and pollination activity as indicators of a healthy environment helps scientists better understand broader environmental changes.

“Monarchs are among the most recognizable butterflies in the United States,” says Morgan Christman, pollinator ecologist and assistant professor in the Department of Entomology at Louisiana State University. “Scientists and citizenscientists have been studying monarchs for decades and have seen the overall decrease in their populations, as well as environmental and ecological changes.”

sources, and the use of glyphosate herbicides. In Louisiana, we can plant pollinator gardens and include native milkweed species in place of tropical milkweed. We can promote preserving and constructing natural habitats that include places for shelter, breeding sites and nectar sources.”

Morgan’s lab at LSU researches native and managed pollinators across natural, agricultural and urban landscapes to advance understanding of their ecology, threats and conservation.

“As the first pollinator ecology lab at LSU, we aim to address gaps in pollinator research in Louisiana and to translate that science into educational materials for the public,” she says.

Studying Monarch Migration

Think Diversity for Pollinators

Choose colorful native flowers and foliage and heirloom plants for gardens. Pay attention to providing a range of heights, leaf shapes and plant forms. Combine trees and shrubs with perennials to create an aesthetically pleasing area for pollinators and humans.

Plant flowers of different varieties, colors and bloom schedules that give life throughout the year and attract an array of insects. Plant them in clusters to make it easier for insects to find them.

Colorful perennials, such as black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, asters, coreopsis, blazing star, goldenrod, American yarrow, swamp sunflowers and cardinal flowers, can be complemented by flame azaleas, flowering dogwood and coral honeysuckle.

Monarch Watch, an education, conservation and research program based at the University of Kansas, offers ways for the public to become involved in studying and supporting monarchs. One of its most popular endeavors—the Monarch Watch Tagging Program— encourages individuals, schools, nature centers and other organizations to help study migration by tagging monarchs in the fall. That’s when the butterflies make their long commutes from summer breeding areas in southern Canada and the northern United States to overwinter in the warmth of central Mexico.

While monarchs are not listed as threatened in Louisiana, Morgan says they’re worth studying because the species may soon be considered for protection under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Endangered Species Act.

“It is important that all of us work together to mitigate threats to the monarch population,” she says.

“For instance, we can address the disappearance of habitats, the decrease in the availability of native milkweed and nectar

“The tagging program helps us understand more about the eastern monarch population’s fall migration,” Monarch Watch Director Kristen Baum says. “Since the start of the tagging program, the data we’ve collected with the help of many community scientists has revealed new information about the timing and pace of the migration, how weather can affect the migration, where migrating monarchs come from and more.”

Now in its 35th year, Monarch Watch sells tagging kits through its website. Each kit contains weatherproof adhesive tags with unique alphanumeric codes, datasheets for recording information about tagged monarchs, tagging instructions and other information. Visit monarchwatch.org for details.

Insects and butterflies seek sources for both pollen and nectar. Make sure to include a good assortment of each. Consider bloom time to ensure a continuous food source.

Pollinators and insects prefer differing flower shapes to accommodate their body types. For instance, butterflies prefer tubular blossoms so they use their proboscis to harvest nectar. Bees are drawn to bowl-shaped flowers, or those where pollen is easy to reach, where they have a place to land.

Remember to include a shallow water source or two, such as a saucer or a bowl that’s filled with small rocks.

Include at least one variety of milkweed. Not only do monarchs thrive on it, but other insects and butterflies are attracted to it as well.

Monarch Watch is a mark-andrecapture program, meaning its data comes from information participants provide when reporting insects’ recovered tags. Tagged monarchs are reported along the migration route, and some are recovered every year from overwintering sites in Mexico. Each year, Monarch Watch compiles and publishes this information for the public to view.

Monarch Waystations and Nectar Sources

Monarch Watch also developed the Monarch Waystation Program to encourage people to create, conserve and protect monarch habitats. The organization provides educational resources to help people establish and maintain Monarch Waystations, the program’s term for monarch habitats, to support butterflies during spring, summer and fall.

It’s easy to create a Monarch Waystation in home gardens, schools, businesses, nature centers and along roadsides. Sometimes all it takes is creating a small space with several nectar-producing plants and a clump of native milkweed. However, it is important to

have a plan to sustain the space, regardless of size.

Good practices include thinning plants, mulching, watering, avoiding insecticides and removing invasive species. It is also helpful to occasionally add more native milkweed plants.

To date, Monarch Watch has recorded more than 54,000 registered Monarch Waystations worldwide.

“The Monarch Waystation Program is celebrating 21 years this year, and it’s been incredible to see how many people have registered their habitats as Monarch Waystations,” Monarch Watch Communications Coordinator Jess Anderson says. “These habitats provide crucial resources for monarchs, and we need to continue planting milkweed and nectar plants. This not only will benefit monarchs but many other pollinators and wildlife.”

Native Milkweed Is Key

As monarchs’ sole host plant, milkweed is crucial to the future of the species.

“We urge people to only plant native milkweed,” says David Mizejewski,

naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation, a nonprofit conservation education and advocacy organization.

In Louisiana, recommended native species include aquatic milkweed, swamp milkweed and butterfly weed.

“We strongly advise against planting tropical milkweed because it is nonnative and it can carry a parasite called OE (Ophryocystis elektroscirrha) that is harmful to monarchs,” David says. “Although tropical milkweed is sold at some retail nurseries, it’s not native to the United States. Its distinctive reddish orange and yellow blooms may be pretty, but they signal, ‘Don’t plant; nonnative.’

“The reason to plant native is that native wildlife and native plants coevolved together over millennia and, as a general

BELOW: Aquatic milkweed, asclepias perennis, is an exceptional native host plant for

rule, rely on each other for survival in a way that nonnative plants often can’t replicate,” he says. “Nonnatives can also become invasive or spread disease to native species.”

OE can be present on all types of milkweed, but it’s most prevalent on the colorful tropical milkweed. Unlike native milkweed, tropical milkweed does not die back seasonally, allowing the parasite to persist year-round.

“The OE parasite’s life cycle on tropical milkweed is not interrupted,” David says. “When the native milkweed dies back, the virus dies with it.”

Debate about milkweed species sometimes stands in the way of taking action.

“Finding native milkweed can be challenging, but it is important to ensure that you’re only planting native,” David says. “Take the extra time to seek out native milkweed at native plant sales at public gardens, arboretums and area native plant societies, such as the

Louisiana Native Plant Society, lnps.org, that maintains a listing of plant sales, workshops and conferences.”

Ray Moranz, pollinator conservation specialist with Xerces Society of Invertebrate Conservation in the central region of the United States, says OE may not be the main issue around preserving monarch butterflies.

“The biggest concerns are the declines in the availability of milkweed and nectar plants,” he says. “Rising temperatures, loss of habitats and the use of pesticides are also some of the other major threats.”

Ray says places for monarchs to feed on nectar, lay their eggs and protect themselves from predators are vanishing as native and natural habitats disappear.

“It’s up to all of us to be aware of the monarch’s dwindling population and to each do our part to help them survive and thrive by creating pollinator gardens with plants that haven’t been sprayed with insecticides, reduce our use of pesticides and help preserve native habitats,” he says. 

Helpful Resources

Reputable organizations in Louisiana can provide a wealth of information about native plants and sources, monarch butterflies and pollinators. Here are a few resources:

 Louisiana Native Plant Society—Find native plant lists, plant seeds and sources, plus information about area-specific Native Plant Society Chapters; lnps.org

 Louisiana State University Agricultural Center—Provides Louisiana-specific recommendations and information about pollinators and monarch butterflies; lsuagcenter.com and lsuagcenter.com/ topics/lawn_garden/native-plants

 Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries—Offers the Louisiana Native Plant Resource Guide; wlf.louisiana.gov

 Xerces Society—Is dedicated to protecting monarch butterflies; xerces.org/monarchs

 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service— Home of the Save the Monarch initiative, fws.gov/initiative/pollinators/save-monarch

 Monarch Watch—Offers ways to support monarchs; monarchwatch.org.

WSTE Offers academic scholarship program

Scholarship Program Eligibility Requirements

 The applicant must be a Washington-St. Tammany member, child or legal ward of a member for at least 12 consecutive months as of May 2, 2026, and currently in good standing.

 The applicant must be a high school senior or already enrolled in an institute of higher education. Only one scholarship is awarded per membership, per family and per year.

 A student can only receive the WSTE scholarship once. It is not negotiable. The term of the scholarship is for one continuous academic year beginning with the 2026 fall semester.

 Scholarships can be used by students to attend on a full-time basis any Louisiana-accredited institute of higher learning.

 A first-time college student applying for the scholarship must have upon graduation from high school a 2.0 GPA, on a 4.0 scale.

 A continuing student seeking the scholarship must have achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale on all prior college work.

 The scholarship funds are paid to the recipients at the beginning of each semester upon presentation of an official receipt for the payment of full-time tuition. To receive the next semester or quarter payment, in addition to a tuition receipt, students must provide evidence that they successfully completed the previous semester or quarter on a full-time basis with a GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

 Recipients are chosen at a random drawing May 2 at the WSTE Annual Meeting.

 Those whose names are drawn must provide the cooperative with an official transcript verifying their eligibility within 30 days after the close of the school year.

 Each scholarship awarded shall be up to a total of $1,000, payable in two semesters.

 The applicant or their sponsoring member does not need to be present to win.

 The application must be returned by 4 p.m. May 1 to the WST Franklinton office.

 Washington-St. Tammany employees, directors and their immediate family members are not eligible. An immediate family member is defined as spouse, child or dependants.

WSTE Scholarship Application (Print or type)

Name: ___________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________

Student’s email: ___________________________________________

Parish: __________________________________________________

Telephone: _______________________________________________

Birthdate: ________________________________________________

High school attended: ______________________________________

GPA: ____________________________________________________

WSTE member name: ______________________________________

WSTE member address: ____________________________________

WSTE account number: _____________________________________

Member’s relationship to applicant: ___________________________

University planning to attend: ________________________________

Area of study: _____________________________________________

Planned credit hours per semester: ___________________________

I have read and understand all the listed requirements at left and agree that any rights to said scholarship will be forfeited should any of the requirements fail to be met. Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Student’s signature: ________________________________________

Member’s signature: _______________________________________

Return to: WSTE, Attn: Coylean Schloegel/Scholarship, P.O. Box 697, Franklinton, LA 70438, or email the application with the subject “2026 Scholarship Application” to cschloegel@wste.coop. Application must be received by 4 p.m. Friday, May 1, 2026.

C�r�i�g O�tHis Next Chapter

By Mimi Greenwood Knight

Many of us dream of a second act. An encore performance. A reimagining of who we are and what we can offer the world once we retire. Steve Tresvik actually pulled it off.

Born and raised far from the St. Tammany he now calls home, Steve spent his boyhood in a rural hamlet in upstate New York running through the backwoods with his three brothers, climbing trees, catching critters and developing a love of nature that’s never left him.

Toward the end of the Vietnam War, he entered the U.S. Navy hoping to become a Navy Seal. When a medical condition precluded that dream, it also set the stage for his eventual career. Assigned to kitchen duty, Steve was surprised to discover he had a knack for cooking. When he left the Navy, he enrolled in the prestigious Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park in his home state.

After school, Steve landed a job with the Hyatt Hotel chain where he worked as a chef and caterer for the next four decades. The job that took him to 13 major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, New Orleans, Seatle and Tampa.

As he catered events for different Hyatt hotels, he began trying his hand at creating ice sculptures, although he admits his first few attempts were pedestrian at best. His lack of training left him with bloody, raw hands.

“At one point, I was lucky to work with a professional chain saw artist from Japan,” Steve says. “He was nice enough to teach me and guide me in buying professional ice sculpting tools.”

With experience, his skills evolved and he began to make real works of art: angels, mermaids, mountainscapes with deer, tigers, seahorses with champagne spouting from their mouths, corporate logos, and almost anything he was asked to create.

Word got out and before long, Steve was creating ice sculptures for events for Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, the ambassador of Japan and six Super Bowls. He catered dinners and created ice sculptures for the East Room of the White House and the Nixon Library. He catered Richard Nixon’s funeral with five living U.S. presidents in attendance. (Account No. 9999998901)

After 40 years, Steve retired from the Hyatt Corp., hung up his apron, put away his ice carving tools and wondered what life had in store for him next. He and his wife, Maria, had enjoyed their time in Louisiana so much that they decided to return and make it their home.

“My passion for carving was in hibernation for about 15 years,” he says. “But I couldn’t help wondering whether I could transfer

Steve has carved bears, alligators, owls and more.

the things I’d learned carving ice into carving wood.”

He hopped on YouTube and found videos of woodcarving on all levels, from amateurs carvers to celebrity chain saw artists.

“I studied everything I could find and started buying the tools I needed,” he says. “I kept watching videos, continued to study and began to practice.

“One thing I’ve found is, no matter how much you know, there’s always more to learn. There’s always somebody who knows more than you and is willing to teach you.”

He began by carving bears, then branched out into alligators, raccoons, pelicans, owls, eagles, foxes, deer, wild boar and fish. He set up his workshop on Highway 25 between Covington and Folsom, and the community quickly took notice. Before long, he wasn’t just selling the pieces he’d made and displayed outside his workshop, he was receiving commissions—lots of them.

Steve received requests for signs and benches for businesses and hunting/fishing camps. People asked for religious statues, memorial tributes and lighthouses. He even made a Sasquatch. There were lots of alligators, which his chain saw depicts in action or in repose, to scale or larger than life, friendly looking or ominous. And with Folsom being such a horse-friendly place, he’s carved many an homage to the equine lifestyle.

When several trees died at The Paddock outdoor music venue in Folsom, Steve and his chain saw were able to leave them right where they are and carve eagles taking flight from their trunks, a mother owl and her young peeping out of the wood, a fox lying nestled inside it, and even a rearing stallion that’s the logo of the adjoining Giddy Up Coffee House.

Soon Steve was accepting commissions from Louisiana Bayou Country and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, for public parks, businesses and private homes throughout Washington and St. Tammany parishes.

From the day he set up his roadside workshop, people began offering him trees to carve.

“I love to carve in white oak and cedar but will take most anything I’m offered as long as the (wood is) in good condition,” Steve says. “I can carve into a log that’s been felled or leave the tree where it is and carve it like I did at The Paddock. A lot of people think I’m not carving anymore because they don’t see anything at my workshop on (Highway) 25. It’s just that most of my jobs are on-site now.”

No matter where he’s working, Steve brings an arsenal of nine different chain saws for various parts of each project, plus safety equipment, including protective chaps on his legs, goggles for his eyes and noise-canceling headphones to block the din of the chain saw.

He begins with a design on paper, then blocks out a rough shape with a large chain saw.

“Once it’s blocked out, I sketch it onto the wood,” he says. “If I mess up, I can usually sand it off and start again.”

As the project comes together, Steve advances to smaller and smaller chain saws for more precise cuts, completing the final touches with hand tools and using a blowtorch to create depth and color. (Account No. 42087600)

“Sometimes I paint the finished product but often the natural wood looks better, so I just seal it to preserve the wood,” he says. “I recommend people keep their pieces inside or at least on their porch. If it’s outside, they’ll need to reseal it fairly often. I tell people, ‘Take your dining room table, stick it out in the yard, and see how long it will last.’ It’s the same with a wood carving.”

Steve’s work has been so popular that he could be a lot busier—if he chose to.

“People have found their way to me through word of mouth or by driving by and seeing my work, (but) I’ve never advertised,” he says. “As it is, I usually have 10 or 15 projects backed up at any given time. But I’m retired and this is a hobby, not a new career. I work a few hours each day, and that’s how I like it.

“I do enjoy seeing my work around town, and I never want to stop learning from others and getting better at what I do. I’m a very lucky man.” 

You can commission your own Steve Tresvik original by calling 225-772-1853 or speak with him about browsing some of his existing pieces.

PLUGGED IN

Home Lighting 101

By Abby Berry

Lighting is something most of us don’t think much about—until it’s wrong. Maybe the living room feels too dim for reading or the kitchen lights cast an odd glow. We often grab whatever bulb or fixture looks good without considering how it will perform. With a little planning, your home can be brighter, cozier and more energy efficient.

Watts vs. Lumens

When shopping for light bulbs, it’s easy to focus on wattage, but that only measures how much energy is used. When it comes to brightness, what matters is the lumen count.

Lumens measure the actual light output. For example, an 800-lumen LED bulb gives off about the same amount of light as an old-fashioned 60-watt incandescent bulb.

You’ve likely replaced all incandescent bulbs with long-lasting, energy-efficient LEDs. If not, it’s time to make a switch.

A rule of thumb: The higher the lumens, the brighter the light while lower watts result in less energy consumed. Check wattage ratings for fixtures and install bulbs that meet the fixture’s wattage safety requirements.

Color Temperature and Consistency

Light bulbs vary in color temperature. This detail is often overlooked—until you replace one bulb and notice the new light

doesn’t match the others.

Consider installing bulbs of the same brand and wattage at the same time. That way, the look stays consistent, and you won’t be stuck hunting for a perfect match later.

Dimmers and Switches

Installing dimmers in place of on/off switches can be a game changer. Dimmers give you more control over brightness, help save energy and create a more comfortable atmosphere. Not all bulbs are dimmable, so double check labels before buying.

While thinking about light switches, consider whether you have enough of them and whether they’re in the right places.

A light you can only turn off from one end of a hallway becomes annoying. For installations or upgrades, it’s best to hire a licensed electrician to ensure everything is wired safely and efficiently.

Form Meets Function

Bulbs are only part of the equation—fixtures matter, too. Each type serves a purpose.

Ambient lighting from sconces or glasscovered ceiling fixtures provides general illumination. Task lighting—provided by pendants, desk lamps or track lighting— focuses light where you need it most.

When choosing a fixture, think beyond looks. Does the light provides the right amount of brightness for the space? A beautiful chandelier might look perfect over

the dining table but leaves the rest of the room too dim. Alternatively, an oversized fixture could flood the room with more light than needed, wasting energy and money.

Energy Efficiency Meets Convenience

Smart lighting adds a layer of control, but the real magic is convenience. With smart bulbs, you can adjust brightness and colors, and set schedules from your phone or an assistant such as Alexa or Google Assistant.

Want the lights to dim automatically for movie night or to turn on before you get home? Smart bulbs make it easy.

Smart lighting also personalizes your space. You can go classic with warm, white tones or experiment with colors to set the mood—anything from a soft glow for winding down to vibrant hues for a party.

Smart bulbs rely on power from a wall switch, which needs to stay in the “on” position for remote controls to work. If you prefer using a physical switch, consider pairing smart bulbs with a smart light switch. Many of today’s smart switches also come with motion detectors, adding another level of efficiency and convenience.

Good lighting makes your home look better and feel better. You can create spaces that are welcoming, functional and energy efficient. Whether you stick to traditional bulbs and fixtures or explore the flexibility of smart lighting, thoughtful choices today will brighten your home for years to come. 

A Word About Water

Tap Into Water Heating Savings

If your home is like most, you and your family use about 64 gallons of water each day. If your water heater is electric, that probably accounts for about 18% of your power bill.

That makes your water heater the second-largest energy expense in your home. Why not use less electricity to heat it?

Today’s high-efficiency water heaters use much less energy than older models, so you don’t need to give up comfort for energy savings. That’s good news for your power bill.

There is a newer option to consider: an electric heat pump water heater. These units give you the hot water you need by pulling heat from the surrounding air to heat the water—like a refrigerator in reverse. Because they do not directly produce heat, electric heat pump water heaters are two to three times more energy efficient than standard units.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a family of four can save about $550 a year on water heating costs, which adds up to $5,610 over the lifetime of the unit.

A heat pump water heater may cost a bit more upfront than other models. However, according to the DOE, most people see a payback in less than three years due to the unit’s lower operating costs and energy savings. Look for the Energy Star label when shopping for a water heater.

Tankless electric water heaters are another option, but carefully weigh the benefits and drawbacks. These smaller units quickly heat water to provide it when called upon, but can use eight times more electricity than a standard water heater.

This high demand increases your co-op’s cost of purchased power, which plays an important role in how much you pay for electricity. In some cases, people who use electric tankless water heaters must upgrade their home’s wiring to support the greater demand for electricity.

Other ways to lower your energy costs include setting your water heater’s thermostat to no higher than 120 degrees, fixing leaks, installing low-flow fixtures, and using energy-efficient dishwashers and washing machines.

Helping you save energy and money is another way your co-op is always here for you. n