FEBRUARY 2026
Benton REA staff worked around the clock in rough weather to restore power during winter storms Page 4
ALSO INSIDE >> Investing in Reliability, Technology and Resilience
Page 8
Explore Benton REA Rebates
Page 25
Seeking Trustee Candidates for Districts 4, 5 and 6
Page 28
February 2026 • Volume 73, No. 2
CEO Michael Shepard
SENIOR VP OF CONTENT Leon Espinoza
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Chasity Anderson, CCC
DEPUTY EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Noble Sprayberry
SENIOR EDITOR Jennifer Paton, CCC
LEAD CONTENT EDITOR Victoria Hampton, CCC
ASSISTANT EDITORS David Herder, CCC; Sable Riley, CCC; Nina Todea, CCC
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Valeri Saldanha Rosa
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCTION SR. MANAGER
Elizabeth Beatty
SENIOR PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR
Alyssa McDougle
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Sometimes, meaningful discoveries wait just beyond where the crowds gather.
This month’s exploration of the West’s hidden treasures reminds me why I love what we do at Ruralite. While millions flock to the Grand Canyon each year, equally stunning wonders exist in places most travelers never think to visit—Thor’s Well swallowing the Pacific along Oregon’s coast, Alaska’s Wrangell-St. Elias stretching larger than Yellowstone and Yosemite combined or California’s spiritual Mount Shasta rising above ancient caverns.
These destinations share something beyond their beauty: They require intention. You won’t stumble upon the world’s largest Sitka spruce by accident. The City of Rocks won’t appear on your route unless you choose to seek it. These places reward those willing to venture off the main highway, to trust that something extraordinary awaits around the next bend.
The same principle applies to people in our communities. Take Mary Adams, whose pioneering spirit shaped early California in ways that ripple forward to today. Her story isn’t plastered on billboards, but it plays a role in understanding who we are and where we came from.
Even our cold-curing soups reflect this theme.
Each recipe represents generations of knowledge. Italian Penicillin Soup, Avgolemono and Thai curry are comfort foods that traveled far from their origins to warm us on February’s coldest days. Someone had to seek out these flavors, adapt them and share them forward.
Dave LaBelle’s photography column explores how winter’s sharp light creates shadows that reveal rather than obscure. He writes about waiting an hour for the right moment, for someone to walk through a specific frame. That patience, that willingness to seek the perfect shot rather than settle for the convenient one, separates snapshots from art.
Though the shortest month, February can feel longer than the others. The excitement of New Year’s resolutions fades, spring remains distant and gray days test our resolve. But this is precisely when we need to remember that some discoveries—whether places, people or moments— often require us to look beyond the obvious, to seek rather than simply accept what’s before us. What hidden treasures exist in your community? What stories deserve to be told, what places deserve to be celebrated? I’d love to hear about them at editor@pioneer.coop.
Until next time, Chasity Anderson Editorial Director
Aunt Mary’s legacy lives on in Crescent City, California Up Close, Page 10
Destinations worth the detour Spotlight, Page 12
In the Kitchen, Page 16
By Stacey Azure
December’s severe weather in the White Pass area put Benton REA’s electric system—and the people who operate it—to the test in ways few storms ever do.
What began as an atmospheric river quickly escalated into a complex weather event. Heavy rain, rapid snowmelt, saturated ground and strong winds in the mountainous region created extremely challenging restoration conditions for line crews.
Warm temperatures combined with intense rainfall and accelerated snowmelt in the mountains produced significant runoff that overwhelmed established streams and creeks. Banks washed out, new water channels formed and, in some cases, runoff followed Benton REA power line corridors.
As soils became saturated, high winds uprooted trees well outside established rights of way and pushed them into power lines. These impacts damaged poles, crossarms and conductor wire in multiple locations.
Restoration efforts were made even more difficult by limited access. Washed-out roads, unstable ground and steep terrain slowed travel and complicated repair work. In some areas, crews completed repairs only to have additional trees fall before lines could be reenergized, requiring the process to begin again.
Benton REA’s lineworkers responded around the clock, working extended shifts over 10 consecutive days as storm conditions persisted. Crews navigated flooded access roads, shifting waterways and ongoing tree and limb failures—often encountering new damage overnight that erased progress made the day before.
Despite these challenges, line crews continued methodically repairing damaged infrastructure and restoring service as conditions allowed, while maintaining a strong focus on safety.
Benton REA lineworkers wade through swollen creeks while repairing storm-damaged power lines.
While line crews worked in challenging field conditions, Benton REA’s response extended well beyond repair sites. Staff standby teams—including engineering technicians and system engineers— coordinated resources, supported operations and responded to member calls throughout the event.
Engineering staff conducted drone line inspections to locate damage in difficult or inaccessible terrain, significantly reducing patrol time. They also analyzed alternative switching scenarios to restore power to as many members as possible during repairs; monitored and operated the supervisory control and data acquisition system during restoration activities; and coordinated closely with warehouse staff to ensure crews had the materials and equipment needed to complete repairs efficiently.
At the same time, engineering and operations support staff managed outage activity within Benton REA’s outage management system, ensuring members had accurate, up-to-date information on the co-op’s online outage map.
Storm restoration is rarely a straight line, especially in mountainous terrain and rapidly changing weather. The December storms at White Pass required persistence, coordination and steady decision-making across multiple teams and disciplines. Through repeated setbacks and difficult conditions, Benton REA staff worked together to restore power safely and as quickly as possible—demonstrating the importance of teamwork, preparation and adaptability in maintaining reliable electric service. n
By Cathy Cash and Jennifer Paton
Supply chain issues that sprung up during and after the COVID-19 pandemic may be in the rearview for regular consumers, but bottlenecks in the flow of goods and services are challenging electric utilities’ ability to deliver affordable and reliable service. The circumstances squeezing the supply chain for electric utilities are unlikely to ease in the foreseeable future.
From phones to thermostats, daily life is filled with digital devices. To sustain the growing digital economy, data centers with healthy appetites for electricity are sprouting up across rural America and rural electric utility service territories. Electric vehicles and everyday electronics continue to tap into resources as well.
Even in a post-pandemic world, there remains a scarcity of materials, equipment and workers to build new power generation sources. While higher demand for electricity is driving supply issues, supply
of equipment needed to maintain or build more power plants has not kept up. Then there’s a skilled labor shortage to get the job done and tariffs on imported materials. All these things add up to delayed energy projects at increased costs.
In 2020, the pandemic forced manufacturing to shutter for months.
According to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, many experienced employees retired or never returned to their jobs making transformers and other equipment essential to distributing electricity. The supply of some transformers has never been fully replenished, and the lack of a skilled workforce today makes that a constant game of catch-up.
U.S.-based engineering, procurement and construction firms are scrambling to meet work orders for new power projects as there is more demand than they can keep up with, says NRECA Regulatory Affairs Director Stephanie Crawford.
Electric utilities are “finding that these firms cannot respond to requests, they’re charging price premiums or that planning for projects four years out is already ‘too late,’” she says.
As a result, equipment crucial for electricity projects—from new substations to power plant maintenance to post-storm outage repairs—are on delay and coming in at much higher prices.
NRECA reports electric utilities are seeing lag times of up to four years between an order for a transformer and its ultimate delivery. Prices are up 70% to 100% compared to 2020. Lead times for new gas turbines for a power plant can range from three to six years, and the turbines cost 25% more than just three years ago.
“Costs have certainly escalated since COVID across the board,” says Shawn Filice, director of operations and engineering at Roseburg, Oregon-based Douglas Electric Cooperative. “Lead times
have been improving for most goods, except for transmission equipment—e.g., substation transformers, circuit breakers, circuit switchers and high-voltage current transformers. Vehicles have improved from five-year to three-year delivery, but the prices remain high.”
While the lead time for a 40-foot, class 4 wood pole is back to normal, Shawn says the $499.12 price tag in 2022 jumped to $679.61 in 2025.
“Substation rebuild projects increased in cost from $250,000 in 2018 to nearly $800,000 in 2026,” he says.
To maintain reliable and affordable service, publicly owned electric utilities are relying on a principle deeply rooted in their core values: collaboration. Electric utilities are working with equipment suppliers and contractors closer than ever. They are also planning their orders years in advance of construction to work out the snags of the current supply chain.
Knowing their exact inventory and
Electric utilities are seeing lag times of up to four years between orders and delivery of transformers at double the prices compared to pre-pandemic times.
The biggest challenge right now is navigating uncertainty, says ERMCO President and CEO Tim Mills.
“The best path forward is to develop a long-term sourcing strategy and work closely with suppliers to lock in future needs,” Tim says. “We need to embrace a more collaborative model between (electric utilities) and their suppliers.”
physical storage space also helps utilities keep necessary equipment on hand, materials flowing and projects as near to schedule as possible.
“We tend to carry more inventory than we had in the past,” Shawn says. “We issue purchase orders to truck manufacturers five years in advance of the planned replacement of vehicles.”
He says DEC’s substation project designs must be completed years before the physical work is planned to allow for material lead times.
Representing a supplier’s viewpoint is ERMCO, a subsidiary of Little Rockbased Arkansas Electric Cooperatives. The company makes distribution transformers with American-made steel at its facilities in Tennessee and Georgia, and is not experiencing price spikes or delays on the materials it needs. Still, the transformer market is not immune to price pressures affecting other manufacturers reliant on imported cores made with foreign steel.
As public power consumers see rising utility costs reflected in their monthly electricity bills, power providers are working behind the scenes to ensure increases are sensible.
“As a member-owned cooperative, we take a long-term approach to decisionmaking,” says Lindsay Forepaugh, general manager of Wasco Electric Cooperative, based in The Dalles, Oregon. “Adjusting rates thoughtfully and proactively helps us avoid more dramatic increases in the future and ensures we can continue maintaining the electric system that serves our communities. This includes preparing for rising wholesale power costs, maintaining infrastructure, responding to outages quickly and planning for future projects across our service territory.”
By working as a team, electric utilities, manufacturers and their industry partners can improve forecasting their equipment needs, stay ahead of potential demand changes and experience a smoother supply chain. n
By Stacey Azure
As your local power provider, Benton REA’s mission has always been simple: keep the lights on and support the communities we serve.
Behind every switch, every warm home and every business that opens its doors is a complex system that requires constant care in an ever-changing environment. Reliable electricity doesn’t happen by accident. It requires ongoing investment in our local grid through system repairs, maintenance, modernization efforts, upgrades and the integration of new technologies that help us operate smarter and more efficiently with the differing demands placed on the utility.
The demands on the electric grid are growing and evolving. Homes and businesses use more electricity than ever, and that trend will continue. Electric vehicles, advanced HVAC systems, smart appliances and new commercial and industrial facilities moving into our area add load to the local distribution system. As these technologies take hold, grid modernization ensures the system can support increased demand while maintaining the reliability members expect.
The standards we build to today are radically different than the standards that existed when the current distribution and transmission systems were built. Much of our electric system was designed and built decades ago, in an era before computers were part of everyday operations. While the system continues to serve us well, age alone means that components must be repaired or replaced to maintain performance and safety. The need for greater reliability for our members requires ongoing investment and adaptation, especially as we operate in more challenging conditions.
From poles and wires to transformers,
substations and metering equipment, every part of the grid has an end of its useful life. Routine maintenance helps extend that lifespan, but eventually equipment must be updated to meet modern standards. These proactive investments reduce the likelihood of outages, shorten restoration times when disruptions occur and create a stronger backbone for our growing community.
One important component of Benton REA’s grid modernization work is exploring the installation of new metering technology. Many of the meters in use across our system were installed years ago and are nearing the end of their useful lives.
Replacing this aging technology with Advanced Metering Infrastructure, is necessary to keep pace with today’s demands. These meters are the industry standard for accurate billing, outage management and system reliability, and they represent an important step in modernizing technology while continuing to build a reliable electric system for the future.
One of the greatest benefits of AMI is its ability to provide critically important information about system demand. This insight is essential for managing new and growing pressures on the grid. The data helps mitigate rate increases by enabling targeted investments where upgrades are truly needed, rather than blanket improvements across the system.
Benton REA is making strategic upgrades essential to ensuring we can meet the needs of our membership today and in the decades ahead. These projects address system expansion, safety and wildfire concerns. They include the installation
of additional circuit reclosers and line protection fuses to reduce ignition risks and minimize the scope and duration of outages, as well as upgrading existing power lines with advanced materials that increase capacity.
New technology is changing how we operate day to day. Tools such as automated switching devices, drones and advanced monitoring systems allow us to detect problems faster and respond more effectively. Together, these technologies, in conjunction with AMI and the reclosers provide real time solutions, help to isolate problems, reroute power when possible, and provide information that strengthens system planning and maintenance.
Implementing innovative technologies into the grid is not just a convenience—it is a necessity for ensuring reliability in an increasingly complex energy landscape.
While these improvements require thoughtful planning and financial investment, the return is significant. A modernized grid supports economic growth, improves service quality and enhances safety for our crews and community. Most importantly, it ensures the essential power you rely on is available whenever you need it.
Our commitment to reliability runs deeper than infrastructure alone. It reflects our responsibility to the people and communities we serve. Every upgrade, every repair and every technology we deploy is an investment in your daily life—from the comfort of your home to the success of local businesses and schools.
We know powering our community means preparing for the future, not just maintaining the present. Through grid modernization, Benton REA is building the foundation for a brighter, more resilient tomorrow. n
By Cheré Coen
Visitors to the Del Norte County Mural Trail are greeted by a rider on horseback carrying the U.S. mail along the California coastline. The mural, by artist Kathleen Kresa, at Third and First streets in Crescent City depicts Del Norte County pioneer Mary Adams Peacock, who ran the Adams Station on the Crescent City-Grants Pass Stage Road. There she cooked, delivered the mail, and ran a hotel and stage stop.
Lovingly known as “Aunt Mary,” this remarkable woman was also a dressmaker and earned national recognition for her hotel. Aunt Mary taught school and studied botanical species along the mail route. Two native plants that grow along that route, anemone adamsiana—commonly known as Adams’ windflower—and valeriana adamsiana, are named for her.
In addition, a bridge across the Smith River on U.S. Highway 199 near Gasquet is called The Mary Adams Peacock Memorial Bridge. It was the first bridge in California to be named
for a woman. The plaque erected by the Women’s Club of Crescent City in 1932 reads: “Dedicated to Mary Adams Peacock, a Pioneer.”
“Perhaps no other person in Del Norte County more truly symbolized the pioneer spirit of the West than Mary Adams Peacock,” wrote the Del Norte Triplicate of Crescent City.
Mary Adams was born in 1861 in Waldo, Oregon, where her Irish immigrant father ran a hotel.
Mary briefly studied dressmaking in San Francisco and started a dressmaking business with a friend in Grants Pass, Oregon. But when runaway horses killed her father in the 1880s, Mary’s mother moved to Gasquet, and Mary began working as a housekeeper and cook for an area resident.
In 1898, following Horace’s death, Mary secured a 22-acre land patent near the Gasquet post office and established Adams Station, which served as a stage coach station and hotel. She earned a reputation as a mule driver and delivered mail between Grants Pass and Crescent City for 10 years.
Mary’s hotel served home-cooked meals, such as roast beef dinners and fruit pies for dessert, earning a Duncan Hines mention—which acted as a “stamp of approval” for travelers seeking reliable food in an era before widespread inspection.
For many years, Mary was also the only nurse between Waldo and Crescent City.
A July 30, 1898, announcement in the Del Norte Record said this of her establishment: “Miss Mary Adams, who some three years ago began to build a home and resort near Gasquet, has succeeded wonderfully in a short time. Miss Adams has a nice house, large enough for all present demands of tourists and offers fine accommodations to those who wish to spend an outing in the region.
“Trees and flowers in profusion are being planted, and in a few years the place bids to rival Gasquet’s hostelry, which for years has been the favorite rendezvous for Crescent City people,” the newspaper continued. “All who may visit that section are assured of courteous treatment by Miss Adams and a pleasant time.”
Mary married one of her hotel lodgers, Peter Peacock, in 1908, increasing her land holdings. Despite the change in
Mary’s surname upon marriage, the stage stop continued to be known as Adams Station.
In 1938, National Geographic magazine writer J.R. Hildebrand had dinner with the Peacocks for his article on “California’s Coastal Redwood Realm.”
“In the article, the author appropriately referred to Aunt Mary as ‘the heroine of mining days who was a cook,’” writes Esther Ruth Smith in “The History of Del Norte County, California.” “Her kindness to the lonely wayfarer and the reputation of her heavily laden tables were always recalled by those who stayed at Adams Station.”
Mary died in 1946 at her home in Gasquet.
The Art Mural Trail of Del Norte County spotlights the region’s heritage, wildlife and Native American culture. There are more than 40 art murals in Crescent City, Smith River and Klamath, made possible by the Redwood Mural Society and the artists. Tourism agency Visit Del Norte County offers an online map and addresses of the murals, including the one honoring Mary, at visitdelnortecounty.com. n
Story and photos by Cheré Coen
Visit the Grand Canyon on any given day, and you'll hear many languages spoken. One of the country’s most visited national parks attracts visitors from around the world, many of whom plan road trips to explore several natural masterpieces of the West.
This time of year, the gloom of winter can dishearten even the strongest adventurers and turn many of us into hermits inside our homes. But the western United States is home to some of the world’s most spectacular natural features and plenty of off-the-beaten-path wonders. So, while you’re snuggling by the fire, now is the perfect time to make plans to explore the outdoors when warm weather arrives.
We’ve compiled a few destinations worth adding to your spring bucket list.
California
There’s something spiritual happening in Northern California near Redding. Folks seeking ethereal guidance and comfort flock to the region to take in several natural sites believed to be connections to another world.
The largest and most popular is Mount Shasta, a 14,179-foot volcano that rises dramatically from the surrounding landscape and is the second-highest peak in the Cascade Range. The mountain formed over hundreds of thousands of years as magma generated by the subduction of oceanic tectonic plates beneath the North American Plate built up successive layers of volcanic rock.
Local tribes credit the mountain in creation stories, and spiritual seekers believe it to be a portal to other worlds. UFO sightings have been reported here, and some people believe there is a hidden or supernatural city inside the mountain.
In the shadow of the mountain, visitors stop at Mount Shasta Park, where underground springs bubble up to the surface and form the headwaters of the Sacramento River. Many quench their thirst with the cold, clear water and some believe they receive spiritual sustenance as
well. Nearby, there are many hiking paths and campgrounds on the mountainside, including the high-elevation alpine meadow, Panther Meadows, where supernatural beings are said to appear.
An hour northeast of Mount Shasta lies breathtaking natural beauty that also holds spiritual significance. Theodore Roosevelt called the magnificent 129-foot Burney Falls “the eighth wonder of the world.” The falls, fed by underground springs, are considered sacred to the Pit River Tribe and attract thousands of visitors to McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park every year.
Farther south along Interstate 5, about 20 minutes north of Redding, visitors can take a boat across Shasta Lake, then ride a bus up a mountainside to visit Shasta Caverns.
The caverns reopened last spring after a major lighting renovation decreased its power consumption by nearly 80%. The new LED system limits unnatural algae growth in the cave, helping protect its bat population.
These caverns were once home to the Wintu tribe, and both Native Americans and modern spiritual seekers consider them sacred.
“We get visitors from around the world,” General Manager Matthew Doyle says.
Most visitors come to Shasta Caverns to see the limestone formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, columns and flowstone and the dramatic light show made possible by the upgraded lighting. An added feature is the wildlife many guests spot, from bats inside the caverns to bobcats, bears and deer on the ride up the mountain.
One spot to include on any trip to the area is Shasta Dam, where it’s possible on clear days to spot Mount Shasta to the north and the peaks of Lassen Volcanic National Park to the east. The manmade Shasta Lake, an engineering marvel, reflects surrounding mountain peaks.
Travel writer Heidi Brandes enjoyed a natural tour of Idaho and came away with many amazing adventures, including riding massive Class IV rapids through Hells Canyon on the Snake River. One of her favorite spots was City of Rocks National Reserve near Almo in the southern region of the state, about 45 minutes from the Utah border.
“City of Rocks National Reserve stands as one of the state’s most spectacular hidden treasures, where heart-stopping scenery and otherworldly geological architecture create a landscape that feels both ancient and alien,”
Heidi says. “This backcountry natural area captivates visitors with its towering granite formations featuring dramatic arches, natural windows, mysterious panholes and soaring spires that rise like stone cathedrals from the high desert floor.”
Heidi cites the park’s transformation throughout the day as what sets City of Rocks apart. The natural landscape changes shape when fierce storms roll in, she says, “casting dramatic shadows across the bizarre rock formations.”
At night, visitors are treated to crystalclear skies, untouched by light pollution, revealing a glittering tapestry of stars overhead.
“This remote preserve offers opportunities for rock climbing, camping, hiking and stargazing, while also serving as a portal to American history where Oregon and California Trail emigrants once carved their names into Register Rock,” Heidi says. “For travelers seeking Idaho’s wild heart, bring camping gear, plenty of water and prepare for an experience that will redefine your understanding of the American West’s raw beauty.”
A large natural phenomenon exists just south of the small hamlet of Yachats. Drive the Oregon Coast Highway into the Siuslaw National Forest to find Thor’s
Well, a phenomenon that appears to be a bottomless sinkhole.
“The Well,” as it’s known to locals, is estimated to be about 20 feet deep, but the illusion created by crashing waves make it appear to swallow seawater into a deep rocky chasm. When the tide rolls in, the disappearance of seawater offers a spectacular display.
“It’s such a cool example of the Oregon Coast—rocky and lots of tide pools,” says Stephen Hoshaw, senior director of tourism marketing at Travel Lane County, which represents the central Oregon Coast. “You can hike to the water and watch the waves flow, churn and then spout. Thor’s Well is a great example of that because it’s a huge chasm.”
To view Thor’s Well, start the roundtrip hike from Cape Perpetua Visitor Center. The paved trail takes visitors through coastal woods, an old Civilian Conservation Corps camp and Native American shell middens on the way to the coastal tide pools.
The best time to view Thor’s Well in action is near high tide or slightly before to watch the formation fill up. Keep your distance—the natural rock formation can be highly dangerous, and large sudden waves, called “sneaker waves," can sweep visitors into the ocean.
“Watch it, check it out, but don’t go near it,” Stephen says.
For more seafaring fun, head south to visit the picturesque Heceta Head Lighthouse, sea lion caves and the largest stretch of dunes in North America.
Washington
Trees grow large in the Pacific Northwest, but one spruce remains the father figure of them all. The world’s largest Sitka spruce—with a circumference of 58 feet, 11 inches, and reaching 191 feet into the sky—rests on the shore of tranquil Lake
Quinault. And it’s not alone. This massive beauty is one of several trees claiming world status in an area known as Valley of the Giants. There are enormous western red cedars, Douglas firs, mountain hemlocks, and the country’s largest yellow cedar and western hemlock.
Folks visiting the worldrenowned Sitka spruce, as well as nearby coastal and inland sites within the Olympic National Forest on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, often use Lake Quinault Lodge as a base camp. This rustic lodge was built in 1926 and visited by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937. The lodge sits near 15 hiking trails that run through the temperate rainforest of these silent giants.
Another unique Sitka spruce lies 45 minutes north, near Kalaloch Campground in Olympic National Park. Erosion displaced soil beneath the tree’s center roots, but its outlying roots keep it alive like outstretched arms over empty space. Because of its exposed roots and tenuous life, the spruce is dubbed the Tree of Life and is an inspiration for many.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and
Preserve is the nation’s largest national park, stretching from the Gulf of Alaska to an elevation of 18,000 feet. It has the distinction of sharing park space with a Canadian national park and containing a historic copper mine from the early days of Alaska settlement.
A park the size of Yellowstone, Yosemite and Switzerland combined can present transportation challenges. Visitors who would rather not rough it may travel by car along Edgerton Highway and McCarthy Road or by plane to the small town of McCarthy near the base of the Wrangell Mountains. Accommodations are available at Kennecott Glacier Lodge.
Kennecott was once a bustling copper mining village alongside a massive glacier. Visitors can explore the early-1900s mine and the buildings that once supported the industry and hike the countryside. A trail along nearby Root Glacier’s enormous moraine—an accumulation of the glacier’s rock and dirt—takes visitors to the edge of the ice field.
Visitors are warned about stepping onto the ice, which can be unstable, but most accept the challenge. Some even dip their toes into the depressions holding frigid glacier water. To explore on the safer side, schedule a glacier tour with one of the companies near the visitor center and Glacier Lodge.
The world-renowned Grand Canyon remains one of the most visited national parks in the country. One of the least visited in Arizona—which attracts only a fraction of its big brother—revolves around a dead forest. That's what makes it fascinating.
Located near the New Mexico border, between Interstate 40 and U.S. Highway 180, Petrified Forest National Park not only contains remants of an ancient forest, but an ancient village occupied by the ancestral Puebloan people and petroglyphs more than 600 years old.
The park is open only during the day, and does not offer camping or lodging. Visitors can learn about the process of wood petrification at Rainbow Forest Museum, then hike prairie and woodlands with pauses to enjoy dramatic views of the Painted Desert.
Italian Penicillin Soup
1 onion
2 carrots
2 celery sticks
4 garlic cloves
6 cups chicken stock
1 Parmesan rind
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1 cup acini de pepe pasta
Optional garnishes: chopped parsley, drizzle of olive oil, fresh-ground black pepper, fresh-grated Parmesan, ¼ teaspoon turmeric, ¼-inch minced ginger, tempered egg and/or a squeeze of lemon
Roughly chop the onion, carrots, celery and garlic cloves.
Pour the stock into a large pot. Add the chopped vegetables and Parmesan rind. Season well with salt and black pepper. Cover. Simmer for about 20 minutes over medium-high heat.
Using a fork, check if the vegetables are cooked. They should be soft and tender. Remove the rind, then strain out the vegetables using a slotted spoon.
Add the cooked vegetables to a blender with ½ cup of water. Blend until smooth. Pour the blended vegetables back into the pot with the vegetable broth. Stir, then taste for seasoning.
Bring soup back to a boil. Add pasta. Stir every minute or so to ensure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot. Alternatively, cook pasta separately and add to soup bowl with broth when ready to eat. Top with garnishes of choice before serving.
8 ounces rice noodles
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 zucchini, diced
1 onion, chopped
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
15-ounce can light coconut milk
2 tablespoons fish sauce
2 tablespoons red curry paste
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 tablespoons fresh basil, julienned
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves
Cook rice noodles according to package directions. Set aside.
In a stockpot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add zucchini and onion. Cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes.
Add chicken broth, coconut milk, fish sauce and curry paste. Simmer until zucchini is soft, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add chicken, lime juice and cooked rice noodles. Simmer until heated through.
Garnish with basil and cilantro before serving.
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup finely chopped carrots
1 cup finely chopped celery
1 cup finely chopped green onions
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
8 cups chicken stock
2 bay leaves
1 cup rice
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 cooked boneless chicken breast pieces, shredded
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 large eggs
Fresh parsley, for garnish
In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat olive oil on medium-high heat. Add carrots, celery and green onions. Toss together to saute briefly, then stir in the garlic. Add the chicken stock and bay leaves. Raise the heat to high. Once the liquid has come to a rolling boil, add the rice, salt and pepper. Turn the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender. Stir in the cooked chicken.
Whisk together the lemon juice and eggs in a medium bowl. While whisking, add 2 ladles full of stock from the cooking pot to help temper the eggs. Once fully combined, add the sauce to the chicken soup. Stir. Remove pot from the heat immediately.
Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup chopped fennel
1 leek, cleaned and sliced
3 cups chopped carrots
1 cup chopped butternut squash
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon grated ginger
1 tablespoon turmeric powder
Salt and pepper, to taste
3 cups vegetable broth
14.5-ounce can light coconut milk
Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or saucepan. Add the fennel, leek, carrots and squash. Saute for 3 to 5 minutes until the veggies start to soften. Add the garlic, ginger, turmeric, salt and pepper. Saute for a few more minutes.
Add the broth and coconut milk. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
Once the soup is cooked, add it to a blender, and blend until creamy. Alternatively, use an immersion blender.
6-ounce package long grain and wild rice blend, quick-cooking version with seasoning packet
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups chicken broth
2 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cubed
3/4 cup butter
1 cup diced carrot
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced onion
3 cups half-and-half
Open rice. Remove seasoning packet, and set aside.
In a small bowl, combine pepper and flour. Set aside.
In a large pot over medium heat, combine broth and chicken. Bring to a boil, then stir in rice. Cover, and remove from heat.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add carrots, celery and onion. Saute for 5 minutes. Stir in contents of seasoning packet. Continue cooking vegetables until softened, about 5 minutes. Add seasoned flour gradually while constantly stirring to form a roux. Saute roux for 3 to 4 minutes.
Whisk in half-and-half, a little at a time, until fully incorporated and smooth. Cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir cream mixture into broth and rice. Cook over medium heat until heated through and rice is done, about 15 to 20 minutes.
I would like your unwanted pennies. I am working on a cool project. Thanks in advance. I also have some unwanted buttons if anyone is interested.
Rosaline Ferry 109 Raven Lane Careywood, ID 83809-0074 idarose33@yahoo.com
Our mom turns 96 this month. She and Dad raised nine children, teaching us to farm, garden and work hard. Mom loves painting flowers and visits from her many friends and relatives. Please send your thoughts to Marie Holdener, 1301 67th, #12A, Auburn, WA 98092. Thank you.
Diana Cole Graham, Washington
We would like to have our dear uncle acknowledged for his 95th birthday early this month. He is the sweetest, soft-spoken gentleman one could ever meet. He has taken care of two wives until their passing, as well as his sister, and he was very good to his parents and everyone around him. He served our country for many years in the U.S. Air Force. Now he is living in a rest home. He rarely needs glasses, has a full head of beautiful white hair and attends Bible study twice a week. It would surprise him to no end to receive birthday cards on his special day. He never asks for anything or complains. Send cards to Aubrey Ledbetter, 2221 S. Real Road, No. 125, Bakersfield, CA 93309-5233.
Kath Smotherman Roseburg, Oregon
Our dear friend, Alice Dresel, turns 100 years young this month. She has been a chapter member of Beta Sigma Phi, an international women’s organization in cultural and community service, since 1949. For 76 years, she has supported numerous community programs and raised needed funds for families in crisis, Christmas for children, sober graduations, and more. She is a shining light and a kind and memorable lady. We would love to have her receive birthday wishes for this milestone. Please send birthday cards to Alice Dresel, 925 Cherry Terrace, Susanville, CA 96130.
Karen Fletcher Janesville, California
My aunt turns 91 this month. She is the kindest person you will ever meet. She was never married and lives with her sister, Elda, who turned 88 in January. It would be wonderful for her to receive birthday wishes from some great folk. Send to Maralyn, 550 Larkspur, Apt. J132, Ponderay, ID 83852.
Susan Tarr Portland, Oregon
My mother turns 85 early this month. Please help brighten her day by sending her cards. My mom retired from the Forest Service and loves to spend time in her beautiful yard full of flowers, gardening, decorating her house and yard for all the holidays, and finding different recipes to try out. Please send cards to Elnora “Noanie” Graham, 4292 SW Runnion Court, Pendleton, OR 97801.
Shannon Franklin Pendleton, Oregon
My mom, Dandy, and I want to thank readers for sending her about 300 birthday wishes. She received a few dollars and some small gifts as well to help her celebrate turning 92. Your thoughtful generosity really brightened her birthday month.
Vicki Johnson Hines, Oregon
To all of the readers who sent materials to us on Anderson Island in Washington for our Operation Christmas Child Shoebox project, we thank you with grateful hearts. If any of you are planning to send materials, please use the following address: Barb Hummel, 10309 Matthews Way, Anderson Island, WA 98303. Thank you for your generous hearts.
Peggy Hodge Anderson Island, Washington
Send your request (no attachments) to readerexchange@ruralite.org or mail to Reader Exchange, 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Suite 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Fill in the subject line with Reader Exchange.
Acceptance, scheduling and editing are at the editor’s discretion. Single requests only, please. No duplicates. If replying to a reader submission, please only send what is requested.
Submissions are handled first-come, first-served as space allows. We cannot honor every request.
Please affirm you have authorization from all appropriate parties before submitting. By submitting, you indemnify Reader Exchange, Pioneer Utility Resources Inc., its officers, directors, employees, utility clients and insurers from all legal liability incurred by the publication of information. We no longer accept pen pal requests. You may submit a pen pal request as a Marketplace ad (pricing applies).
When submitting a milestone request, please send it at least two months before the milestone.
Phone numbers are not published. Email addresses are if they are part of the ad, but you must include a postal address.
Requests must include the name and address of the electric utility that provides your magazine.
Pass mountains and waterfalls on your way to one of the world’s best collections of hydrothermal features—such as hot springs and geysers—at Yellowstone National Park. The park covers more than 2.2 million acres across Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Multiple historic volcanic eruptions shaped the park’s landscape. Today, magma still heats water, creating the park’s geysers.
First National Park Yellowstone became a national park in 1872—before Idaho, Montana and Wyoming were even states. Native Americans knew the area well—the governor of the Louisiana Territory wrote in 1805 that he’d been shown a map with a volcano on the Yellowstone River. After the Civil War, Americans made more formal expeditions to Yellowstone. The most influential is the 1871 Hayden Expedition, which included botanists, a zoologist, an ornithologist and more. Photographs and art from the trip convinced Congress to make Yellowstone a national park.
More than half of the world’s active geysers are in Yellowstone— between 500 and 700 erupting every year. The most famous is Old Faithful, which expels more than 3,700 gallons of water every 90 minutes, on average. The park has so many hydrothermal features because magma gets close to the Earth’s surface here, heating water and creating hot springs. Geysers are hot springs with constrictions that prevent heat from escaping. As water heats, steam forms and expands, eventually building enough pressure to erupt.
Yellowstone is home to 67 different species of mammal. Visitors may see both grizzly and black bears. A 2024 count found more than 1,000 grizzlies living in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. The park is also home to bison, bighorn sheep and martens—a small, furry, weasellike mammal. When wildlife watching, be sure not to approach wild animals—they can be dangerous—and stay on boardwalks and trails, especially in thermal areas. Always check the park’s current conditions to learn about closures that impact what parts of the park you can visit.
Yellowstone can get significant amounts of winter weather, with snow and ice sometimes shutting down parts of the park. Now is a good time to start planning late spring or summer trips. To learn more, call 307-344-7381 or visit www.nps.gov/yell.
P.O. Box 1306
North Plains, OR 97133
By Dave LaBelle
Above all, photography is about light and shadow—literally and metaphorically.
God provides the light, man adds the content.
The way we see and use light changes the way we feel and see the world.
One of the things I like best about winter is the clear, crisp sky that creates sharp shadows, contrasting landscapes and eyecatching silhouettes. Then there are the breathtaking sunset silhouettes, captured as an orange ball melts into a glimmering ocean.
Too many gray, sunless days wear on me emotionally. And while these shadowless, overcast days are wonderful for portrait photography, I need to see the sun, especially in winter. Because of this recognition, I have chosen not to settle in the Pacific Northwest, a part of the world I truly love.
I waited at least an hour for something or somebody to pass through this road along the seawall in historic Maysville, Kentucky, one of the underground railroad locations. Shadowy shapes of historic riverfront hotels and buildings from the Civil War era are cast on the seawall built to keep the Ohio River from flooding the town. For me, this is not just a silhouette of a man walking. It’s someone walking through history, through a community where brave people risked their lives to help other humans struggle to get to freedom.
PHOTO
BY
DAVE LABELLE
See if you can make a photograph that captures the extremes of light and dark. Remember to make your exposure for the highlights not the medium tones, which allows the shadows to stay as dark, rich tones. A dark foreground against a light backdrop can create depth, scale and even mystery.
Email your best image—just one—with caption information, including an explanation of how it affects you, to gph@pioneer.coop. We may share submissions on our website and social media channels.
Photographer, author and lecturer Dave LaBelle has captured special moments for more than half a century, sharing photo tips and life perspectives with readers. For more of his writings, visit davidlabelle.com and his blog at bridgesandangels.wordpress.com.
I realize photographing someone in silhouette, especially from a distance, does impersonalize or objectify them. They become a graphic element, a softer shape against a sharper backdrop.
While I am a believer in talking with subjects, often after I photograph them, there are times I don’t feel like talking to anybody. Instead, I appreciate nameless forms becoming part of the compositional furniture, adding scale, contrast and life to a lifeless scene.
Often, it’s that anonymous figure that’s needed to compliment or complete a photograph.
While the art of photography is about using and recording highlights, medium tones and shadows, sometimes it’s fun to purposely expose for the highlight areas and allow the shadows to stay dark, rich tones. n
If you have a home office, look for opportunities to save energy in your workspace. Use Energy Star-rated equipment, which consumes up to 50% less energy than standard models.
Set printers, scanners and similar equipment to automatically switch to sleep or energy-saver mode when not in use. In addition to saving energy, the equipment will stay cooler, helping extend its life.
Another way to save energy in your home office is to use efficient lamps for task lighting. Replace any older bulbs with energy-saving LEDs.
Source: energy.gov
Benton REA offers free energy efficiency consultations for members who want to learn more about rebates and identify opportunities to improve their home’s energy performance. An energy efficiency consultation is often the best first step before making major energysaving upgrades.
To learn more about rebates or to schedule a consultation, call Benton REA’s energy efficiency department at 509-786-2913.
Making energy-efficient upgrades to your home doesn’t just improve comfort—it can also put money back in your pocket. Benton REA offers a variety of rebates designed to help members lower their energy use while reducing the cost of improvements.
Whether you’re replacing appliances, upgrading insulation, or installing new heating and cooling equipment, rebates can make energy-smart choices even more affordable. Before starting an energy efficiency project, we encourage members to contact Benton REA’s energy efficiency advisors to confirm eligibility and program requirements.
Members can receive rebates for purchases of Energy Star-certified washers and dryers. We offer a rebates of $38 for top-load washers and $44 for front-load washers. For dryers, we offer a rebate of $50. These high-efficiency appliances use up to 25% less energy than standard models, helping reduce monthly utility bills while still delivering excellent performance.
Energy-efficient window upgrades are eligible for rebates of $8–$10 per square foot. Members must contact Benton REA’s energy efficiency advisors prior to purchase and installation to review program requirements. This rebate has been updated to include eligible vinyl-framed windows.
Rebates are available for traditional exterior entry doors and sliding glass doors. Upgraded doors help reduce drafts and heat loss, improving home comfort and efficiency. Members can receive $40 for qualifying exterior entry doors and $8 per square foot for eligible sliding glass doors.
These user-friendly, Wi-Fi-enabled devices automatically adjust heating and cooling settings to optimize comfort and energy savings. Rebates worth $140 are available for qualifying smart thermostats.
These systems warm water by pulling heat from surrounding air, rather than generating heat directly, making them up to three times more efficient than conventional electric water heaters. Members can receive rebates ranging from $1,000 to $1,200 for qualifying heat pump water heaters.
Heat pump rebates range from $300 to $1,560, depending on your current heating source and the type of heat pump being installed. Heat pumps provide heating and cooling and are one of the most efficient options for year-round comfort.
A $920 rebate is available for qualifying ductless heat pump systems. These systems are ideal for smaller homes or rooms that need extra comfort control. Ductless systems are highly efficient and allow homeowners to heat and cool specific areas as needed.
Insulation rebates range from $0.08 to $2.00 per square foot, depending on the project.
Before adding insulation, members should schedule a preinspection with Benton REA’s energy efficiency advisor. Proper insulation depth and installation are essential for maximizing energy savings and keeping indoor temperatures stable year-round.
Reinforced custom-sized pond liners (39 cents/sqft). Hay covers, greenhouse covers, any width and length. Truck tarps and more. High puncture and tear strength. Best price guaranteed. Celebrating 43 years in business. btlliners.com; 541-447-0712. 0426
Reforestation tree seedlings for sale: Doug. Fir, Ponderosa, W. Larch and Aspen. $1.75 each. Discounts available on 250-plus quantity per species. 208-997-9572, DearyAcres@gmail.com. Deary, ID. 0226
Buying antiques and collectibles: advertising signs, porcelain signs, gas pumps, beer signs, antique toys, cast-iron coin banks, neon signs and more. Jason, 503-310-3321 or tjabaughman@yahoo.com. 0326
Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo jewelry, blankets, rugs. CA/AZ baskets and beadwork. Quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com.
Buying older baseball cards, collections, from the 1960s and older. Will pay cash or pay via PayPal. budandvicky@msn.com; 541-430-6900.
2005 Ford F-150 Pickup; Auto; 6 cylinders; 6 ft. box; good condition; $3K, OBO. 541-517-9867; dalekamrath@yahoo.com. 0226
2010 GMC #2500; 2WD; 8 cylinders; automatic; 8 ft. utility box w/lumber rack; runs great; $12.5K, OBO. 541-517-9867; dalekamrath@yahoo.com. 0226
1986 Chevy ¾-ton pickup; 8 cylinders; automatic; 4WD; runs good; needs body love; 8 ft. box; $3.5K, OBO. 541-517-9867; dalekamrath@yahoo.com.
2003 #2500 extended cab pickup; automatic; 8-cylinder 400; 4WD; runs great; good condition; 8 ft. box; $10K, OBO. dalekamrath@yahoo.com; 541-517-9867.
Books, Magazines, Videos
Book restoration. Bibles, cookbooks, cherished family heirlooms. Beautiful work. We give renewed life, more durable than original, to last for generations. 775-537-7066; salacanstudio@gmail.com. 0226AR
Business Opportunities
For sale: quaint hardware store in Maupin, OR. Inventory and interior store recently updated and refreshed. See ad on bizbuysell.com or email Maupincountrystore@gmail.com. $129K.
Ads 25 words or fewer are $35 a month. An extended ad of up to 35 words is $50 a month. Contact information is included in the word count. Phone numbers and emails count as one word.
Longer ads may be placed. Contact 503-357-2105 or info@pioneer.coop for pricing information.
Ads are for customers of member co-ops, public utility districts and municipals only. Subscribers and nonmembers may inquire about pricing at 503-357-2105 or info@pioneer.coop.
Ads must be direct and in first person, and are subject to approval and editing.
Closing deadlines (in our office): April issue—March 2
If submitting ad by mail, send appropriate payment with your name, address, email, phone number and the name of the electric utility that provides your magazine to: Marketplace, P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133. Make check or money order payable to Ruralite.
We accept credit card payments for ads submitted by email. Send ad to info@pioneer.coop.
Call 503-357-2105 to pay by credit card.
Advertisements are accepted in good faith. Pioneer Utility Resources is not liable for interactions between buyers and sellers.
Community Events
10th annual Fiber Arts & Jewelry Exhibit, with featured artist Megan McGuinness: Feb. 6-March 28 at Art Center East in La Grande, OR. artcentereast.org. 0226
Free Items
Free materials—church/government unite. National Sunday Law. TBSM, P.O. Box 374, Ellijay, GA 30540. tbsmads@yahoo.com; 1-888-211-1715. 0426AR
Help Wanted
Camp hosts/caretakers wanted for the Tucannon River RV Park, a small (33 sites), modern RV Park located in rural SE WA on the Lower Tucannon River. Prefer active, retired couple able to meet and greet, take reservations, pull hoses, mow, general maintenance. RV required, with FHU provided, plus stipend. Call 509-382-2759 with questions. 0226
Miscellaneous
Celestron NexStar 8SE telescope with tripod, computer and carrying case for sale. Includes eyepiece and filter set. Like new. Retail price for both more than $1.6K. Asking $1.1K. 541-239-7219; moyerrob@outlook.com. Located in Eastern, OR. 0226
Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. For more info: highdesertmemorials.com; Joe, 541-815-8906 or highdesertmemorials@gmail.com. 0226
Attention landowners. Grants available now. Wildland fire fuel reduction service. Steep ground, remote, rocky, small lot, big acreage are no problem. Blue Mountain Defensible Space LLC. Bluemountainbrush@gmail.com; bluemountainbrush.com; 509-399-3473. 1126
Animal and human wilderness tracking school materials. Writings, slides, physical displays, teaching materials and books. Enormous collection for anyone interested in tracking. Dave, fairbanksaircraft@comcast.net. 0226
Tulsa 3-stage planetary gear reduction, bought surplus from Link Belt Crane, utilized as final drive for P&H and LB 100-ton crawler cranes. Best use 4-ft. tunnel drill using ROTEK turntable bearing, $5K. 6 truck tires, 50% tread, Patagonia mud and snow. LT215/R8516, 60% tread. $600. Ted, 458-910-3727. 0326
Real Estate
Custom home on 5-plus acres up Canyon Creek. Private, architectural accents, 3/3. $395K, #1177. Duke Warner Realty, 541-987-2363; ddwr@ortelco.net. 0226
320 acres east of Adel, OR. Borders Hart Mountain views, Steens Mountain and Beaty Butte. Landowner tags, very rural. $147K. Quick sale, due to injury. For maps: 541-659-1573; thejugglingman3@gmail.com.
Let me help you buy or sell ranch, farm and recreation property in OR. Fourth-generation Oregonian, prior ranch owner. For sale: Deschutes Canyon Mountain views, 118 acres, riverfront. $14.9M. John Gill, 541-480-9161; johngill@landandwildlife.com. Land And Wildlife brokerage. 0226
For sale: 5-bd., 2-story home built in 1880s. Original stain glass windows, newer metal roof, garage. Granite, OR. $395K. 541-755-5016.
Private 10-acre wild tree farm near Sandpoint, ID, with older 3-bd. mobile home, countymaintained road, good building sites. $395K. Steve, 208-290-6505. 0226
Mobiles to mansions. Cabins to castles. Brookings, OR, area Principal Broker Pat Piper, Century 21 Agate Realty. Helpful. Educated. Caring. 28 years area experience. 541-251-2152; patpiperbroker@gmail.com.
For sale/rent: 20-acre developed land, 3,600sqft. shop with “barndominium” potential. Weddings/events, horse property, RV hookups, creek, views. $575K. Seller financing. Goldendale, WA. 509-378-5886. 0226
27 acres forested with pasture; approved hilltop view building site; adjacent historic Unity covered bridge in Lowell, OR. well; power; 2 sheds. $559K. PamDietz@kw.com; 541-729-9217. 0226
20 acres in northeastern NV. 26-ft. Mallard travel trailer. 20-ft. Conex, welder, generator and tools go with it. Off-grid living. $18K. geopup58@gmail.com. 0226
Recreational Rentals
Sunshine and sand—Book your summer dreams at WaveCatcher for 2026. Oceanfront cottage with direct beach access, on the spectacular Central Oregon Coast. Sleeps 6. All house amenities. Winter closure November-March. Reservations, information email: relax@wavecatcherbeachrentals.com, or text 541-740-2846 or 541-740-9953. 0226
Oceanview Maui vacation rental. Spring break for the month of March. Was $210, now $185. One-time cleaning: $150, 2 TVs, king-size bed, queen-size sofa bed. Beach chairs and umbrellas. Great view. 503-812-6689.
Recreational Vehicles
2022 Newmar Dutch Star 3736 Class A motorhome. Excellent condition. 14.7K miles. 1½ ba., 450 Cummins, solar, 10K lbs. towing, heated floors. Zero issues. No pets and nonsmokers. $349K. Can send pics. 541-815-3753; kmarshall@ykwc.net. 0226
Dawn Till Dusk Masonry. Brick, block, stone and pavers. Small jobs and repairs welcome. dawntillduskconstructionmasonry.com; 541-388-7605; 541-410-6945. License #245760 bonded and insured. La Pine, OR. 0226
Blue Mountain Defensible Space LLC Wildfire Fuel Reduction: clearing brush, thinning trees, animal habitat enhancement. Expert service. Grant money available OR, WA, ID. Bluemountainbrush@gmail.com; 509-3993473; bluemountainbrush.com.1126
Attention rural property owners: Are you looking out at large, leaning, aging or damaged trees on your property? In rural settings, a single failing tree can pose a significant danger to your home, cabin and outbuildings. Don’t wait for a storm to create a disaster— be proactive. Call Blue Mountain Defensible Space for a free hazard tree estimate. bluemountainbrush.com; 509-399-3473. OR, ID, WA. 0226
Forest Management and Logging consulting, also do logging jobs too small for larger operators. 50 years of experience in forestry, log marketing and logging management. References available, free on-site estimates. 541-430-6900; budandvicky@msn.com. 0626
Gold, silver, coins/currency, buy, sell. Collections wanted. Fair prices paid. 45 years in retail store. Baker City, OR. 800-556-2133; garrymclin@aol.com. 1026
Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo jewelry, blankets, rugs. CA/AZ baskets and beadwork. Quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com.
Old carpenter tools, planes (wood/metal), levels, chisels, slicks, adzes, axes, hatchets, handsaws, old rulers, spoke shaves, wrenches, shipwright tools, old tool chests. 503-659-0009; 971-666-0659. 0226
Watchmakers, estates wanted. Buying watchmakers, estates and watch collections. 541-760-1050. Will travel. 0226
Choose from among more than 400 recipes—including Maui Mango Pie, Chocolate Drop Cookies and Turtle Cake—in this booklet from the 1996 recipe contest. The 8½-by-11-inch indexed book is $10 (includes postage).
TO ORDER BY MAIL:
Submit payment with cookbook title, your name, address and number of cookbooks wanted to:
Ruralite Cookbooks
P.O. Box 1306
North Plains, OR 97133
TO PAY BY PHONE:
Call 503-357-2105 for credit card payments with Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.
TO ORDER ONLINE:
Visit www.ruralite.com.
Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.
Benton REA is governed by nine trustees who each represent a member district. Trustees serve three-year terms.
In 2026, the incumbent Benton REA trustees whose terms expire are Connie Krull, District 4; Tim Grow, District 5; and Scott Fisher, District 6.
Members who meet the candidate qualifications can be placed on the ballot for the Benton REA board of trustees.
Members interested in running should contact Benton REA’s executive assistant at 509-781-6719 or dbarnes@bentonrea.org by March 1.
Background checks are performed on all board of trustee candidates to ensure they meet the general qualifications to be a trustee.
X Have the capacity to enter legally binding contracts.
X Be an individual who receives electrical service from the Benton REA at his or her primary residence; which must be located in the district represented by such trustee or trustee candidate.
X Not be a convicted felon.
X Not be an incumbent elected public official or a candidate for an elective public office in connection with which a salary is paid.
X Not a current or previous employee or agent of either Benton REA or a subsidiary of Benton REA.
X Not closer in consanguinity than the third degree or less to an incumbent trustee or to an employee of either the Benton REA or a subsidiary of Benton REA.
X Must fulfill any other reasonable qualifications as determined by the board of trustees
District #1: West Richland/Paradise north to Van Giesen
Represented by Trustee Dan Plung - Term expires 2028
District #2: Prosser Area
Represented by Trustee Mike Freepons - Term expires 2028
District #3: Horse Heaven and East Roza Vacant - Term expires 2028
District #4: West side of West Richland
Represented by Trustee Connie Krull - Term expires 2026
District #5: White Pass/Grandview
Represented by Trustee Tim Grow - Term expires 2026
District #6: Mabton south to Patterson
Represented by Trustee Scott Fisher - Term expires 2026
District #7: West Richland, Bird Hill south of Paradise
Represented by Trustee Ted Wallace - Term expires 2027
District #8: Red Mountain and south West Richland
Represented by Trustee Bill Shibley - Term expires 2027
District #9 - East West Richland
Represented by Trustee Ronald Hall - Term expires 2027
Nature surprises us through sunsets, picturesque landscapes and even by friendly wildlife visits to our backyards.
Ann Brown got an early start to the day, only to be greeted by a summer sunrise along the Snake River in Idaho.
To submit your photo, email a JPEG to photos@pioneer.coop. Include “Before You Go” in the subject line and share a bit about what inspired you to make your photo. n
St. Jude patient Keeton blood cancer pictured with his mom, Ginna
Keeton’s family didn’t give up. We won’t either.
When Keeton was found to have blood cancer, his family was referred to St. Jude for treatment, where he’s undergoing two-and-a-half years of chemotherapy. “St. Jude means everything to me,” said Keeton’s mom. “They’re saving my baby’s life.” Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it first opened more than 50 years ago. We won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.
Prosser Office
402 7th St. Prosser, WA 99350
509-786-2913
Mailing Address:
Report an Outage:
Contact the Office: Website:
West Richland Office
6095 W. Van Giesen St. West Richland, WA 99353
509-786-2913
P.O. Box 1150 Prosser, WA 99350
509-786-2913
509-786-2913 www.BentonREA.org
Scott Fisher, President, District 6
Mike Freepons, Vice President, District 2
Bill Shibley, Secretary/Treasurer, District 8
Dan Plung, District 1
Vacant Position, District 3
Connie Krull, District 4
Tim Grow, District 5
Ted Wallace, District 7
Ronald Hall, District 9
The board of trustees meet the last Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. unless otherwise scheduled.
The board agenda for the upcoming meeting is available to members upon request no earlier than six days prior to the board meeting. Minutes of prior board meetings are available to members upon request. To request board agendas or minutes, visit a Benton REA office, call 509-781-6719 or email priorityrequests@bentonrea.org.
Ryan J. Redmond, CEO
Troy L. Berglund, Deputy General Manager and VP of Member Experience
Iris Fawcett, VP of Member Relationships
Andrew Gould, VP of Engineering/COO
Justin Waldron, VP of Support Services/CFO
Electric service today looks very different than it did a decade ago. The way our members live, work and use energy is changing rapidly, and expectations for safe, reliable power have never been higher. Meeting those expectations requires more than maintaining our current system—it means preparing for the future. That preparation is what grid modernization is all about.
As a cooperative, we know these investments are funded by our members, so we approach modernization thoughtfully and with a long-term view. The goal is simple: reduce outages, improve restoration times, strengthen safety and ensure the system can support future demand without unnecessary costs.
System upgrades benefit members in ways that may not always be visible but are felt every day. New equipment and materials increase the capacity and resilience of power lines, helping prevent overloads during extreme weather or peak energy use. Protective devices, such as reclosers and fuses, allow us to isolate problems so fewer members experience outages and service is restored faster.
Modern technology also helps us operate more efficiently. Automated switching and system monitoring allow crews to pinpoint issues quickly, often before members notice a problem. These tools improve safety, reduce wear on equipment and help control costs by enabling proactive maintenance.
Replacing aging technology before it becomes a liability is another key part of preparing for the future. One example is your electric meter. Older meters can’t communicate outages, require manual maintenance and become less accurate over time. Modern, industry-standard meters provide more accurate data, quicker outage detection and better information about electricity use. For the cooperative, they provide the data needed to manage growing demand and maintain reliable service.
The benefits extend beyond individual homes. A modern grid supports economic development, schools, health care facilities and essential services that rely on uninterrupted power. It also positions Benton REA to adapt as new technologies emerge. Grid modernization is not about change for its own sake—it is about stewardship. It is about honoring the trust our members place in us by building a system that is dependable, resilient and ready for what comes next.
Ryan J. Redmond, CEO