Ruralite BENTON REA
OCTOBER 2026
Keeping Pace With the Cost of Service Benton REA is adjusting rates to better align with rising costs and support continued investment in our electrical system Page 4
ALSO INSIDE >>
Affordably Building a Stronger Grid Page 8
Get Ready for Sweater Weather Page 28
Benton REA lineworkers Kaleb Wentz, left, and Willie Yager transfer power lines onto new poles. PHOTO BY DAVID HERDER
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FROM THE PIONEER TEAM
Ruralite October 2026 • Volume 73, No. 10
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
Ruralite (USPS 397-460) is published monthly for members for $6 per year, plus postage, by Pioneer Utility Resources Inc., 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Suite 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124—a not-for-profit Oregon cooperative corporation—to serve the communication needs of 46 consumer-owned electric utilities in Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Nevada and California. Preferred periodical postage paid at Hillsboro, Oregon, 97123 and additional mailing offices. © 2026 Pioneer Utility Resources. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Postmaster: Send address changes to Ruralite, 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Suite 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124-6454
HOW TO CONTACT RURALITE Subscription services: Nonmember subscriptions $15 (U.S.) per year; $25 per year (foreign). Prepayment required. Allow 4-8 weeks for first issue. Be sure to identify which local edition you want to receive. Address changes: Utility members, contact your local utility. Subscribers, call us at 503-357-2105, option 3, or email mailingdept@pioneer.coop.
What We Don’t Know What does it mean to keep going when you can’t be sure of the outcome? Penny Petrina had an answer—though I suspect she’d be the first to say she didn’t fully understand it until she was already miles down the trail. The Idaho nurse who spent four years planning a 3,000-mile horseback journey from the Mexican border to Canada didn’t set out with certainty. She set out with three wild mustangs, a quarter horse named Suzy Q, a goofy dog named Piglet and 160 pounds of freeze-dried food. What Penny found along the way couldn’t have been mapped in advance—the generosity of strangers, nights under the stars, and the particular loneliness and clarity that come from living simply in wild places. “There was a lot of talking to God,” she says. “I learned a lot about myself, how to react to stress, be alone, emotional intelligence.” That’s not the kind of education you find in a classroom. It’s the kind that only arrives when you’ve committed so fully to something that turning back is no longer the easier choice. Cliff Barackman would recognize that feeling. He has spent more than 30 years searching for something he cannot prove exists—and he keeps going anyway.
Our Spotlight this month explores the world of Sasquatch research, which turns out to be far more layered than you might expect. Cliff ’s pursuit isn’t driven by a need for validation or a comfort with ridicule. It’s driven by genuine scientific curiosity and the conviction that enthusiastic, persistent inquiry has always been part of how human knowledge grows. “When you talk about Bigfoot for a living, you tend to be wrong a lot,” he says. “I think you just have to be comfortable with a lack of resolution in some ways.” That’s a harder thing to practice than it sounds. Most of us want to know how the story ends before we agree to be part of it. Cliff has made peace with never knowing—and built something meaningful in that space anyway. Two very different stories have one quiet truth connecting them: You don’t have to see the whole trail to take the next step. Until next time, Chasity Anderson Editorial Director
Got a story idea? We want to hear it. Scan the QR code with your smartphone camera or visit tinyurl.com/SendStoryIdeas.
Trip of a Lifetime
Back issues: Back issues and extra copies are $3. Prepayment required. Supply is limited. Be sure to identify edition, month and year. Call first if ordering back issues to check availability.
Idaho equestrian rides from Mexico to Canada Up Close, Page 10
To contact Ruralite: Ruralite magazine is published by Pioneer Utility Resources, P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133-1306; 503-357-2105; email: info@pioneer.coop. For more information, visit pioneer.coop.
Hiding in Plain Sight The search for Sasquatch goes deeper than footprints Spotlight, Page 12
DISPLAY ADVERTISING INQUIRIES American MainStreet Publications 611 S. Congress Ave., Suite 504 Austin, TX 78704 800-626-1181 or 512-441-5200
A Garden’s Last Hurrah Reader Exchange 18 Great Picture Hunt 22
Marketplace Before You Go
Utility Pages: 4-5, 8, 25, 28-29, 32
26 30
Make the most of the season’s harvest In the Kitchen, Page 16 OCTOBER 2026
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BENTON REA
Keeping Pace With the Cost of Service Benton REA is adjusting residential rates to better align with rising costs and support continued investment in our electrical system As a member-owned cooperative, Benton REA has a responsibility to keep electricity reliable and affordable while making sure we have the resources needed to serve members today and in the future. That responsibility requires us to regularly evaluate what it costs to provide electricity and whether our rates and billing structures can support those needs over the long term.
Over the past year, Benton REA has taken a closer look at its financial position and rate structure. As we previously shared, we hired an independent consultant to conduct a cost of service analysis. The purpose was straightforward: Determine whether the rates and billing structures we use accurately reflect the costs of serving members. The analysis provided valuable insight and highlighted areas where we needed to dig deeper. This work is helping us better understand how costs were allocated across our rate classes and explore how to develop a rate structure that is fair, financially sound and sustainable for the cooperative and its members. It also highlighted the significant gap between our revenues and the costs required to continue serving our members with the services you require.
Understanding the True Cost of Service Providing electricity involves much more than purchasing power and delivering it to a member’s home. Benton REA must maintain poles, wires, transformers, substations and other equipment; operate and maintain our system; invest in technology; provide billing and member services; meet regulatory and safety requirements; and maintain the facilities, vehicles and other resources needed Over the past decade, to operate a Benton REA and other utilities around America modern have seen large spikes electric in the cost of equipment utility. such as poles and trucks.
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Keeping You Informed We want you to have the most up-to-date information about your cooperative. We share the latest information about this rate adjustment in the Resources section of our website, BentonREA.org. We will also publish details in future issues of the High Voltage newsletter and upcoming bill inserts. Taking Action Rather than allowing the gap to grow further, Benton REA is taking action now by adjusting residential rates. The Board is working through a rate adjustment process designed to bring us closer to the actual cost of providing service and meeting future financial needs, aligned with area cooperatives and current industry standards. Years of Rate Stagnation One of the most significant factors driving the need for additional revenue is Benton REA’s history of not adjusting rates as the cost of providing electricity increased. The graph on Page 5 illustrates this disconnect. While many of the costs associated with operating and maintaining the electrical system have increased over the past decade, Benton REA’s rates have remained comparatively stagnant. Keeping rates unchanged can seem like a benefit in the short term, but it does not eliminate rising costs. Over time, inflation has significantly increased the cost of equipment, materials,
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construction and other resources needed to operate and maintain an electric utility. The cost of poles, transformers, electrical equipment and other system components has risen substantially, while technology investments, power costs and operating expenses have also increased. A growing gap between rates and costs can make it increasingly difficult to maintain the level of service and reliability our members deserve. A Need to Invest in Our System Another factor is the level of investment in our electrical system over the years. Our system includes infrastructure that has served members reliably for decades. However, equipment does not last forever. Many of our poles, transformers, meters, electrical equipment, technology and other system components are reaching or have
already passed the end of their useful lives and must be replaced or upgraded. At the same time, the grid is changing. New technology, increasing electricity demand, wildfire risk and evolving reliability requirements mean utilities must continually modernize their systems. Benton REA needs to make the investments necessary to maintain and modernize our electrical system. Developing a sustainable rate structure is an important part of ensuring we have the financial capacity to make those investments while continuing to protect reliability and safely serve members.
Wholesale power is one of the largest expenses for an electric cooperative, generally more than half of our annual budget. When the cost of purchasing power increases, that ultimately affects the cost of providing electricity to members. Benton REA does not control BPA’s rates, but we must account for those costs as we evaluate the rates and billing structures that support the cooperative’s operations.
Investing in Reliability— and Our Members’ Future The decision to adjust rates is not about responding to one single expense or Higher Wholesale Power Costs decision. It is about recognizing that Benton REA continues to face higher the cost of providing electric service has costs for the power we purchase from the changed significantly while our rates have Bonneville Power Administration, our not kept pace. primary power supplier. An extended period without significant rate adjustments—combined with inflation and rising equipment and operating costs, the need to replace aging infrastructure and technology, and higher wholesale The cost of operating and maintaining an electric system has increased significantly over the power costs—has contributed to the past decade, but Benton REA’s rates have not followed the same path. financial picture we face today. The graph shows how costs for materials, equipment, labor, power and other expenses have We are the stewards of your cooperative, increased from 2016–2026, while Benton REA’s rate changes have remained comparatively and we are committed to making the stagnant. This growing gap means the cooperative’s current rates no longer fully reflect the investments necessary to keep your electric increasing cost of providing reliable electric service. system safe, reliable and sustainable for Adjusting rates provides an opportunity to begin closing that gap and better align what generations to come. n Comparison of Rates and Cost Increases Over 10 Years members pay with the actual cost of serving them.
Rates Have Not Covered Rising Costs
200%
~200%
180% 160% 140% 120% ~105%
100% 80% 60%
~60% ~50% ~40%
40%
~31% 20% 0%
15.53%
2016
2017
Total Distribution Plant
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2018
2019
Poles, Towers & Fixtures
2020
2021
Line Transformers
2022 Labo r
2023
2024
Rate Changes
2025 Po wer Co st
2026 CPI
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PLUGGED IN
BEWARE OF SCAM SC Artificial intelligence creates real problems for scam victims
ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY TETE_ESCAPE, BUSSARIN
By Cathy Cash Artificial intelligence doesn't always seem so artificial, which can lead to real problems. AI technology can create realistic text, voices, images and websites in seconds. Those capabilities make many everyday tools more useful, but they also make it easier for scammers to impersonate family members, banks and even local electric utilities. Through friendly chatbots and website agents, AI monitors online behaviors so it can efficiently make recommendations on entertainment or other online goods and services. Although this personalization provides convenience, it is important to stay vigilant. Scammers use computerlearning software for theft and extortion. Scammers are applying AI to mimic familiar voices and change videos and emails to appear authentic in urgent online or phone requests for credit card and bank account numbers, electronic money transfers and personal information. One well-known scenario attempts to convince an unwitting person their adult child or grandchild is in legal trouble 6
and needs a large sum of money wired immediately. That phone scam has made the rounds. Then there are investment or getrich-quick scams, where criminals bully their victims via emails, websites or calls promising a big payout if they pay up now. Website spoofing is also on the rise. Everything looks genuine on the surface, but when consumers hit “submit” after entering their credit card number and other personal info, they are handing over valuable data to a cybercriminal. “AI can help scammers produce polished, convincing messages and build fake websites that closely mimic a bank or even an electric co-op,” says Carter Manucy, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association senior director for cybersecurity. Scammers have been known to build sites and communications that resemble an electric utility and contact consumers with high-pressure calls or emails demanding instant payment via gift cards, wire transfer and cryptocurrency or risk their power being shut off. Anyone who finds themselves in this situation should first stop and make sure
the contact is legitimate. They should treat any unexpected demand for immediate payment as a scam and contact their electric utility directly using the phone number on their bill. “Call back using a number you already know, never one the caller provides,” Carter says. “Any message that pressures you to act immediately is the top red flag, no matter how real it sounds. Real family, banks and utilities let you take a breath.” As AI makes scams more difficult to spot, it also equips these rip-off artists with ways to boost their output and victimize thousands of people in just a few clicks. AI allows criminals to create, personalize and distribute convincing scams at a scale that once required far more time and people. “Criminals can generate thousands of tailored attacks cheaply, so more scams reach consumers’ phones and inboxes more often,” Carter says. As a result, scammers are collecting unprecedented payouts. Americans reported nearly $900 million in AI-assisted scam losses in one year, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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THE PASSWORD MYTH
Why longer, not more complex, is stronger in the new digital era By Carter Manucy
SCARES
“Those figures capture only complaints that were reported and identified as AI related, so they do not show the full scope of the problem,” Carter says. Here are some tips to help protect against today’s AI scams: • Distrust urgency of a request for money or personal data. • Verify requesting parties through a trusted channel, such as a phone number on your bill. • Before you click, check the website address for veracity. • Set a family code word not shared online and ask for the code word if you receive an emergency call. A cloned voice won’t know it. • Protect yourself when paying for goods and services online. Reject requirements for gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency as these payments are difficult—and sometimes impossible—to recover. • Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. “AI has changed the tools scammers use, but not the trick behind them,” Carter says. “Every scam still depends on getting people to act fast, before they stop and think. Pause and verify remains the single best defense.” n
During National Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October, one of the easiest ways to protect yourself is by updating how you think about passwords. Many of us learned password rules that are now outdated. We were told adding strange characters strengthened our password. It turns out the length of your password protects you more than inserting characters. A short password packed with symbols, such as P@ss1!, can be cracked by a computer in seconds. A longer password made of several unrelated words is far harder to break. Computers crack passwords by guessing, and modern ones try billions of combinations every second. Every extra character multiplies the guesses a hacker must make. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, which sets the standards many companies follow, now recommends longer passwords and has dropped the old rules that forced a mix of symbols and numbers. Why the change? Because those rules often backfire. When told to add symbols, people use predictable symbols, such as ending with a “1” or an “!.” Hackers know these tricks and check for them first. The rules made passwords harder for humans to remember but easier for criminals to guess. Instead, when logging into your electric utility’s consumer portal, online banking account, healthcare provider or favorite shopping site, take these steps to build strong, secure passwords: X Think in passphrases, not single words, such as "Sailboat lemon thunder pillow." Pick words that have nothing to do with each other. Aim for at least 15 characters. X For websites that require a number or a symbol, work the extra character into a spot you will remember, such as "Sailboat7 lemon thunder pillow." Avoid tacking on “1” or “!” to the end. X Avoid personal details, such as your birthday, address or pet’s name. X Use a different password for every account. When a person or company gets hacked, criminals try stolen passwords on other sites. X If remembering numerous passwords is overwhelming, use a password manager. X Turn on multifactor authentication whenever it is offered. X Passkeys are worth using whenever a site offers one. This newer option lets you sign in with your face, fingerprint or a PIN instead of a password. A longer password or passphrase is one of the most effective steps you can take to protect yourself online. Pick a phrase you can remember, keep it unique for every account and you will be much harder for criminals to target.
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BENTON REA
SUTTERSTOCK PHOTO BY RAWPIXEL.COM
Affordably Building a Stronger Grid: How Data Centers Can Be Part of the Solution Written by Ryan Redmond, CEO of Benton REA
Whenever large data center proposals make headlines, community conversations understandably follow. Questions about land use, water and local zoning are crucial, and we fully support local planning agencies and neighbors continuing to ask hard questions and examine those matters closely. Our focus at Benton REA is strictly on electric utility operations and power supply: how we keep your power reliable, safe and affordable in an evolving energy landscape. Headlines often highlight worst-case scenarios, but the day-today reality of utility planning tells a different story. Decades ago, the Pacific Northwest’s robust transmission and hydro system was built largely because major industrial customers, like aluminum smelters, carried the financial weight of that build-out. Today, those foundational industries are largely gone, while the electrical grid we inherited has reached capacity and the end of its useful life. Replacing and upgrading this aging infrastructure before it fails requires significant capital. Without large industrial partners to share the load, those costs fall directly on families, farms and small businesses through sharp rate increases. Hyperscalers, like data centers offer a way forward as multibillion-dollar infrastructure partners. Of course, this partnership does not come without risks that must be actively managed. To address those risks head-on, Benton REA applies a consistent, board-approved policy with every hyperscaler that approaches us. Stated simply: they must pay their own way. Under our policy, data centers requesting service must procure 8
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and fund their own dedicated power supply. This ensures they do not tap into our low-cost Bonneville Power Administration allocation or add risk to regional hydropower. Furthermore, they must pay for 100% of the substations, lines and system reinforcements required to serve them. This model does far more than just protect existing members. It actively strengthens our cooperative. The additional infrastructure funded by these projects expands capacity and bolsters regional grid reliability, directly benefiting all types of members, whether residential, family farms or small local businesses. At the same time, high-load-factor commercial loads can provide diversified utility revenues that double down on grid safety, equipment modernization and overall system reliability, while mitigating rate increases to other rate classes. Independent research backs this up. A recent study by energy consulting firm Energy + Environmental Economics found no evidence that data centers drive up residential power rates. Instead, by spreading fixed transmission and distribution costs over a larger base and generating net surplus revenues beyond the cost to serve them, responsible data center partnerships help mitigate future rate increases for everyday members. Additionally, tech companies are providing the private capital driving advanced nuclear, geothermal and next-generation carbonfree generation forward. By requiring large loads to solve their own power needs while investing in our delivery network, we can protect our members, reinforce our electric grid and secure our energy future together. Benton REA
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UP CLOSE
Trip of a
Lifetime
Idaho equestrian rides from Mexico to Canada By Cheré Coen It all seemed like a great adventure. Collect three wild mustangs, a quarter horse and a dog for company and then ride 3,000 miles from the Mexican border to Canada on horseback. The application and execution for Patricia “Penny” Petrina, of Sandpoint, Idaho, however, was a different story—a tough monthslong ride full of terrain changes and challenges. It is an experience she will never forget. Planning the Ride Penny graduated from nursing school in 2021, one of the toughest times for those in the medical field. Her first job out of school was working in a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. “My first job was pretty rough,” she says. She had read a book about long-distance horseback riding and watched “Unbranded,” a documentary about four men riding 16 wild mustangs 3,000 miles through the American West. Her wheels began to turn, and Penny decided she wanted a “magical adventure with horses” while she was young. “More than anything, I wanted to see if I could do it,” Penny says. Penny owned a quarter horse named Suzy Q, but she considered buying wild mustangs, many of which are auctioned off by the Bureau of Land Management starting at only $124. Penny used savings to bid on the horses and was surprised when she won the auction, ending up with three wild mustangs. 10
“It was a whole thing at that point,” she says. By fall 2021, she started learning how to pack, studying routes from Mexico to Canada where she and her horses could ride through as many public lands as possible and access water and grass daily. Her horses needed 20 gallons of water a day, so water sources were essential. Penny packed the food for the journey—she carried 160 pounds of food for herself and two days of food for the horses—but finding natural feed for the horses would help lighten her load. She needed trails that were nationally established and allowed her to tackle a reasonable amount of mileage per day. Elevation gain and loss were also a consideration. It took her four years to plan it all, including spending eight months freezedrying 600-plus meals such as oatmeal and mac and cheese for her two-meal-per-day allowance. “I was hoping the meals would last the six months,” Penny says. Penny asked friends and relatives if they wanted to join her, but most couldn’t take months off from work. So, she enlisted a dog named Piglet to be her companion. “She was my compromise,” Penny says. “Having a companion really helped. She’s a goofy dog, so she was like comic relief.” After hauling her herd to the Mexican border in Southern Arizona, Penny made her way north in March 2025. She hoped to reach Montana and the Canadian border by fall.
The Ride Arizona offered trails on public lands, but traveling through other states included urban areas and highways. Most of the time, Penny camped at water sites so she could water the horses by night and again in the morning before heading off. For four nights, she slept out under the stars, including at the Grand Canyon and south of Bryce Canyon. “It was the most amazing experience to live outside,” Penny says. Even though she slept in a tent during most of her ride, a few times she acquired more conventional accommodations. In Jacob Lake, Arizona, for instance, she couldn’t find water for her horses. She spied a pond on private property and asked the owner for access. The owner agreed and sweetened the deal by letting her stay at his guest cabin.
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Patricia “Penny” Petrina, of Sandpoint, Idaho, traveled from Mexico to Canada with her adopted mustangs, a quarter horse named Suzy Q that she rode, and her faithful dog Piglet. PHOTOS COURTESY OF PENNY PETRINA
About once a week, if Penny was close to a town, she would stop at a feed store to restock. This also gave her a chance to eat something other than freeze-dried foods. “Sometimes we had a few walkthroughs in the drive-thrus,” she says with a laugh. “You definitely get some stares.” Penny averaged 18 to 20 miles a day, some of them crossing harsh terrain. One day, when her horse Findley was heavy with pounds of food, he stumbled, fell and was pulled down by the pack 150 feet off the trail. Another time, one horse developed colic. For assurance, family and friends tracked her progress by GPS. The satellite app she used updated Penny’s location every 30 minutes. If she disappeared off the app due to remote locations, her father texted to make sure she was all right.
Penny ended her ride at the Canadian border in September 2025 but then rode back to her hometown of Sandpoint, another 250 miles. She didn’t announce her arrival, but many friends, family
members and residents of the community met her as she rode into town. Penny insists the trek was “a pretty big adventure” but also a tough undertaking. “It was a very simple life but also very stressful,” she says. “I would never call it fun. Most of the trip was work, but it was a very satisfying feeling. “There was a lot of talking to God. I learned a lot about myself, how to react to stress, be alone, emotional intelligence. You live in the moment and then move on so you can keep going. But mostly it was a really cool trip.” Penny’s advice for anyone considering an adventure of this magnitude? “Don’t let the big picture stop you from trying or don’t listen to what people say,” she says. “It’s possible. I was blessed to be able to do this, and it was a once-in-alifetime experience.” n OCTOBER 2026
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Hiding in Plain Sight
The search for Sasquatch goes deeper than footprints By Drew Woolley Cliff Barackman’s fascination with Sasquatch didn’t start with an encounter in the woods or even a fuzzy video but, rather, in the library. While studying music at California State University, Long Beach, he came across a collection of scholarly articles on the cryptids. Growing up, Cliff was enamored with the weird and eccentric, reading about Atlantis, crystal skulls and the search for mysterious creatures. But the articles in the university library approached the subject from an anthropological angle. They drew throughlines from Indigenous stories of Sasquatch-like characters to ape research later pioneered by Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey. A book by Grover Krantz, Ph.D., even argued that casts of reported Sasquatch footprints differed significantly from human footprints. 12
“Once I started being exposed to the actual scientific work and evidence that was available at the time on these animals, I started to piece together that, wow, they might actually be real,” Cliff says. That’s exactly what Cliff believes he is searching for—not a mythological individual or a supernatural species but an undiscovered animal somewhere between apes and humans. Already keen on camping and backpacking, he immediately took to local forests in hopes of collecting his own evidence. That journey led Cliff to a position as one of the hosts and investigators on the Animal Planet show “Finding Bigfoot” and later to establishing the North American Bigfoot Center in Boring, Oregon. But more than that, he saw an opportunity to be part of important scientific work.
“The most logical explanation for what I read was a biological reality behind all the mythology and hubbub,” Cliff says. “I thought, amateur astronomers are the ones who discover the vast majority of new comets. If professional anthropologists and primatologists are not taking this seriously, it might be up to enthusiastic nerds like me to do something about it.” Campfire Stories Cliff is just one of many Sasquatch researchers around the country hoping to find definitive proof of the elusive creatures. Driven by true believers, skeptics and gawkers alike, the ongoing hunt has produced hit TV shows like Cliff’s, museums and festivals that bring people together from every corner. Many of those enthusiasts draw on
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SPOTLIGHT
Cliff Barackman owns an
COURTESY OF CLIFF BAR
extensive collection of
ACKMAN
footprint casts. PHOTOS
These stories are how we can take something that is unknown and unknowable and still find ways to talk about it.”
— ROBERT DOBLER, PROFESSOR OF FOLKLORE AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY
a Cliff has
counte
close en
atch” at
“Sasqu r with a
l.
a festiva
ADOBE STOCK AI IMAGE BY TINGTING/MODIFIED
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ABOVE: Jason Younker shares the Coquille story of Sasquatch during an event with University of Oregon students. LEFT: Leila Okahata, left, and Assistant Professor Danny Pimentel test the augmented-reality experience built around it. PHOTOS BY JEREMY HENKELMAN-PARKER
Indigenous stories as evidence. But Jason Younker, Ph.D., former chief of the Coquille Indian Tribe and assistant vice president at the University of Oregon, worries they are missing the point by removing those traditions from their cultural context. “We told all kinds of stories, whether they were about the seagulls, the clams, the otters or Sasquatch,” he says. “Sasquatch was the one that made the hair stand up on the back of your neck. He’s the one you heard in the distance but didn’t know where the sound came from. Adults told kids these stories so they wouldn’t stray too far from the fire.” There’s one story Jason loves to tell to Coquille kids around the fire at youth 14
camp. When Sasquatch grabs someone in the story, he throws myrtlewood leaves onto the flames, causing them to shoot up. He may even have people in the surrounding woods make noise or throw sticks at key points to keep his audience on edge. As those oral traditions fade with more Native people choosing to live off reservations, Jason has worked with University of Oregon students to preserve the Coquille story of Sasquatch using tools like augmented reality. But he still believes attempting to take those stories out of their original environment and apply them to sightings across the country is a fool’s errand. “It leads to people treating one story as more authentic than another, and it dilutes them,” Jason says. “When I see people going out into the woods and foreign places—places where they haven’t grown up—looking for something they’ve never seen, it makes me question whether they understood the intent of those traditional
stories. They’ve taken the character out of that story and are trying to find them.” For Robert Dobler, a professor of folklore at Indiana University, the lasting power of these stories is fundamentally human. “I think it’s human to need to think about things outside of the everyday or the mundane,” he says. “We’re interested in these creatures that exceed language as often as they exceed categories. These stories are how we can take something that is unknown and unknowable and still find ways to talk about it.” But that doesn’t mean they are entirely false. “A lot of skeptics think these claims are made for attention,” Robert says. “But the reality is most people know they are vulnerable and subjecting themselves to potential ridicule. They’re usually reluctant to talk about it and kind of careful about who they tell.” Living With Uncertainty As a television personality, Cliff has rarely had that luxury. “When you talk about Bigfoot for a living, you tend to be wrong a lot,” he says.
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“I think you just have to be comfortable with a lack of resolution in some ways.” When it comes to firsthand sightings, those unresolved moments are what he struggles with the most. More than 30 years into his search for Sasquatch, Cliff believes he has seen the creatures twice. Both are what the Bigfoot Field Research Organization would categorize as Class B sightings, ones where there is significant room for error. The first was in Washington in February 2011 while filming an episode of the show. Through thermal imaging, he spotted a figure walking on two legs that registered as a single color from head to toe, suggesting that it was not wearing any clothing, which would be unlikely for a person at that time of year. The second was while being driven through Tyler, Texas, in 2017. Even though he was traveling at speed, Cliff believes he spotted a figure covered in uniformly dark hair step out of the trees while swinging its arms for a couple of seconds. While you might expect those moments to be exciting for someone who has spent their life looking for Sasquatch, he says the brief glimpses are mostly frustrating. “They were bewildering,” Cliff says. “You basically have time to wonder ‘What am I looking at?’ and then it’s over. You’re stuck with the same question for the rest of your life, and that bugs me.” In fact, the moments that have brought him the most joy as a researcher are those that are less direct but last long enough to appreciate, such as vocalizations, tree knocks or even having rocks thrown at him. Many of those moments were captured on “Finding Bigfoot.” “Those trips were basically two nights to get something with a million people watching,” Cliff says. “It was a lot of pressure for the researchers and the production company. It probably worked 40% of the time, which is pretty good. If you’re batting that well in baseball, you’re a Hall of Famer, and finding Bigfoot is way harder than baseball.” Leaving Footprints Once “Finding Bigfoot” concluded in 2018, Cliff had time to consider what direction his research efforts should take
Making the Grade
The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization has been collecting reports of Bigfoot for more than 30 years. But not all sightings are equal. Class A—Clear sightings that occur in circumstances where misinterpretation or misidentification of other animals is unlikely. This can include documented footprints that can be confidently ruled out as another animal. Class B—Any incidents where a Bigfoot was observed at a great distance or in poor lighting, or was only heard. These are not considered less credible but do have a greater possibility of misidentification. Class C—Any second- or third-hand reports with untraceable sources. Because of the high potential for inaccuracy, the BFRO keeps archives of these reports but rarely includes them in the public database.
SEARCHING FOR BIGFOOT
Ready to track down your own sighting? The Bigfoot Mapping Project has you covered. The website tracks reported encounters all over the country, with filters for locations where footprints, vocalizations and tree knocks are part of the accounts. Visit bigfootmap.com to find the location of your next adventure.
next. Speaking with friends who run the Expedition: Bigfoot museum in Georgia and the International Cryptozoology Museum in Maine, he was surprised to learn the Pacific Northwest did not have a similar museum of its own. The idea of having a place to teach others about the creatures that have captured his imagination immediately appealed to Cliff. In 2019, he opened the North American Bigfoot Center. His goal is to educate the public on the evidence for Sasquatches, continue to support field research and preserve the collections of past researchers. Ultimately, Cliff sees that last objective as the most important. “I think, after the recognition of the species, we’re going to have a lot to learn from our mistakes and our successes,” he
says. “Once the academics get involved, all of this prediscovery history is going to be of great historical interest, and only a few people seem to care.” When that moment comes, Cliff believes it will vindicate him and his fellow researchers and demystify the subject of Sasquatch for hobbyists and hardcore researchers alike. It may even give a new perspective of the world. “The big thing for me is that Sasquatches are a perfectly normal species of animal,” he says. “They’re here, and they’re already real, whether it turns out that we discover them or not. Their reality doesn’t need to change anything for us, except perhaps realizing we share the planet with an animal so much like us. It could, ironically, help us leave a smaller footprint.” n OCTOBER 2026
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IN THE KITCHEN
A Garden's Last Hurrah MAKE THE MOST OF THE SEASON'S HARVEST
Easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles 12 pickling cucumbers 4 cups water 2 cups white vinegar 2 tablespoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon sugar
Recipes by Gertrude Treadaway ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY OLEG
16
1 bunch fresh dill 1 head garlic, skins removed, cloves smashed 1 tablespoon peppercorn kernels
Sanitize three quart-size mason jars or 4 to 6 pint-size Mason jars by running them through the dishwasher. Thoroughly wash pickling cucumbers. Slice them into 1/4-inch-thick slices or spears. Set aside. Separate dill from thick stems. To make the brine, combine water, white vinegar, salt and sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil. Stir the contents to ensure the sugar and salt dissolve. Remove the pan from heat and cool to room temperature. Evenly divide the cucumbers, dill, garlic and peppercorn kernels into the Mason jars. Do not pack them super tight to leave room for the brine. Finish by adding enough brine to cover the cucumbers. Seal with an airtight lid and store in the refrigerator. The flavor is best if cucumbers are stored for at least one week, but they can be eaten at any time. Pickles should be good for at least 4-6 weeks after that.
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9/22/2026 8:29:15 PM
Tomato Peach Salad With Creamy Basil Sauce Creamy Cucumber Salad 4 English cucumbers, thinly sliced 2 small red onions, thinly sliced in half rounds Kosher salt 1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar 1/2 cup minced fresh dill 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, divided
Mix cucumbers, onions and 11/2 tablespoons salt in a bowl. Pour mixture into a colander and suspend it over a bowl. Wrap bowl and colander with plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator to drain for at least 4 hours. Discard liquid that collects in the bowl. When cucumbers are ready, roll them up in paper towels or a kitchen towel. Press towel lightly to remove most of the liquid. Place cucumbers in a large bowl with sour cream, vinegar, dill, 2 teaspoons salt and 11/2 teaspoons pepper. Toss well. Refrigerate for a few hours to allow flavors to blend. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Serve chilled.
Pasta With Blistered Cherry Tomato Sauce
1 ounce (about 1 cup) fresh 1 pound dry pasta basil leaves, roughly Kosher salt chopped 4 medium cloves garlic, Freshly ground black pepper thinly sliced Parmesan cheese, 6 tablespoons extra-virgin for serving olive oil, divided 11/2 pounds cherry tomatoes
Place pasta in a large skillet or saute pan. Cover with water and a big pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Boil until just shy of al dente, about 1 minute less than package instructions recommend. Meanwhile, heat garlic and 4 tablespoons olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Stir frequently until garlic is softened but not browned, about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes. Cook, stirring, until tomatoes begin to burst, about 10 minutes. Help them along by pressing on them with the back of a wooden spoon as they soften. Continue to cook until sauce is rich and creamy, about 5 minutes more. Stir in basil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. When pasta is cooked, drain, reserving 1 cup pasta water. Add pasta to sauce and increase heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring and tossing constantly and adding reserved pasta water as necessary to reach desired consistency. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and top with Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
2 medium heirloom tomatoes, sliced into wedges 1 cup peaches, sliced thin 1 cup corn kernels
1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, slivered
Sauce 1 medium clove garlic, cut into several pieces 1 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves
1 cup mayonnaise ½ teaspoon fine salt Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
In a bowl, combine tomatoes, peaches, corn, olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss lightly. Set the bowl aside. Combine all sauce ingredients in a blender. Process until smooth. Spread a generous amount of basil sauce onto a serving plate. Top the sauce with salad, and garnish with basil leaves before serving.
Zucchini Cheddar Chicken Noodle Casserole 4 tablespoons salted butter, divided 1 yellow onion, chopped 3/4 pound boneless chicken breasts, cut into cubes Salt, to taste Pepper, to taste 2 green onions, sliced 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, plus extra for serving 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 cups chicken stock 11/2 cups whole milk 1 pound bite-sized pasta 2 zucchini or yellow summer squash, sliced 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese 11/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided Fresh basil, slivered, for serving
Heat oven to 425 F. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Add remaining butter, green onions, thyme, paprika, garlic powder and cayenne. Cook until chicken is golden and reaches an internal temperature of 165 F, about 6-8 minutes. Add stock and milk. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Add pasta and squash, and season with salt and pepper. Stir frequently until pasta is al dente and broth has been absorbed, about 8 minutes. Stir in Parmesan and 1 cup Monterey Jack. Transfer everything to an oven-safe casserole dish. Scatter remaining cheese over top of the casserole. Bake for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown. Serve warm, with additional thyme and fresh basil garnish. OCTOBER 2026
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9/22/2026 8:29:17 PM
READER EXCHANGE Crafts/Hobbies I am looking for whimsical (cute, funny) frog designs for counted cross-stitch, willing to purchase. Thank you. Betty Mercado 820 E. 10th St. The Dalles, OR 97058 bettym@centurylink.net
I’m decorating scrapbooks for family pictures. I’m putting them together for my grandchildren. If you have used or new unwanted scrapbook supplies, I would appreciate them. Thank you. P.L. Mazzi 315 W. Johnson St. Burns, OR 97720
I recently read a Reader Exchange about someone needing broken jewelry parts for projects. I couldn’t help them then, but I can now and would like to. If the person contacts me, I can send them these parts free of charge. Kathleen Kenna 117 Winding Canyon Lane Folsom, CA 95630 kamkmom@yahoo.com
Milestones My uncle, Gary, is celebrating his 82nd birthday at the end of this month. He is a veteran who proudly served our country. He spent 24 of his 28 years of Army service in Germany. He was awarded many medals, but he is most proud of his “Meritorious Medal.” He would love to hear any stories you are willing to share. Please help us celebrate his birthday by sending cards to Gary Cavender, 941 River Mist Path, Twin Falls, ID 83301. Annie and Kevin Patterson West Richland, Washington
Our mom, Joan Anderson, will be 90 years young at the end of this month. She enjoys hanging out with family and her dog, Shadow. She also enjoys beating all of us at pinochle. I know she would be thrilled and appreciate any birthday wishes that come her way. Please send them to Joan Anderson, 1601 3rd St., Umatilla, OR 97882. Thank you. Diana Picard Umatilla, Oregon
The children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of my mom, Erma Larson, are looking forward to celebrating her milestone 90th birthday at the beginning of November. She and my dad, a retired pastor, have servant hearts and are always looking for a way to help someone. Mom is one of eight children, and my dad had 12 siblings. They have spent their lives loving families, especially babies. Mom ran an in-home daycare for years, and besides raising their own four, they have been foster parents to many children. A few months ago, they relocated to a retirement home and are adjusting to that lifestyle. Mom has joined a cornhole team called The Monarchs and has made many friends. We would love it if the community would surprise her with 90 birthday cards. Please mail them to Erma Larson, 605 Broadway St., Apt. 264, Longview, WA 98632. Lorrie Leno Walla Walla, Washington
Thanks I would like to thank everyone who sent a card to my father-inlaw, Elisardo “Alex” Camarillo. He received more than 120 cards for his 100th birthday. He could not believe people would send him cards when they don’t even know him. He said he received cards from places he has never heard of or been to. From Oregon to Tennessee, from Alaska to California, from Idaho to Arizona and Utah, he really enjoyed reading them all. Sharon Camarillo Heppner, Oregon
Thank you so much to all 441 of you thoughtful reader exchange folks who sent me a birthday card. I was so surprised and overwhelmed by the love and care shown to me. It gave me muchneeded encouragement. Special thanks for the laughter and happy tears. Adelia Anderson Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Happy Halloween!
Submitting Requests Is Free
Send your request—no attachments, please—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. Marketplace 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 published if 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. 18
O C T O B E R 2026
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9/22/2026 11:15:17 AM
This Stone of the Century Is Quickly Disappearing 1,000 times rarer than diamonds! “Tanzanite is the most beautiful blue stone to be discovered in 2,000 years.” —Henry Platt, President of Tiffany & Co.
St
Impo auer s Was sible Price $599 , Now ®
99 T
his exquisite necklace features over 8 carats of vivid tanzanite, a gemstone so rare and breathtaking that Henry Platt, former president of Tiffany & Co., hailed it as the “stone of the century.” Discovered only in 1967 near Mount Kilimanjaro, tanzanite is found in a single location on Earth — just a few square kilometers in Tanzania. Already 1,000 times rarer than diamonds, experts warn that the mines are rapidly depleting, making tanzanite one of the most finite gemstones in the world. Its mesmerizing violetblue hue places it alongside diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds as one of the five truly precious gemstones. This necklace isn’t just a stunning accessory — it’s a piece of geological history and a treasure whose rarity grows with each passing year. As one of the world’s leading tanzanite experts, Stauer is uniquely positioned to offer this extraordinary piece at a remarkable value.
A modern marvel, destined to become tomorrow’s heirloom. Backed by our satisfaction guarantee, you can revel in its beauty risk-free for 30 days. Should it fail to dazzle, return it for a full refund of the item price.
Jewelry Specifications:
• 8-1/2 carats total weight • Rhodium-finished, silver-clad setting • 43 oval 3 x 4 mm tanzanite • 18.5" necklace w/2.5" extender and lobster clasp
Tanzanite Lariat Necklace (8 ctw) $599 $99* + S&P Save $500
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1-800-333-2045 Your Insider Offer Code: TLN144-01
14091 Southcross Drive W. | Dept. TLN144-01, Burnsville, MN 55337 | www.stauer.com
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pp19 October2026.indd 4
9/17/2026 4:59:21 PM
ADVENTURE AWAITS
See a mountain jut a mile into the sky in Southeast Oregon at
Steens Mountain
Drive Steens Loop
What Is It? Like a steep cliff, Steens Mountain in Southeast Oregon rises more than a mile above Alvord Desert. The mountain peaks at 9,738 feet and has many beautiful valleys carved out by glaciers. 20
One of the best ways to take in Steens Mountain is Steens Mountain Loop Road, a nearly 60-mile road trip that typically takes 3 to 5 hours. The loop starts west of the mountain in Frenchglen and climbs the mountain’s gentle slope. On the way up, visitors can stop at Kiger Gorge, a half-mile-deep glacial valley. The road is the highest road in Oregon, peaking at more than 9,700 feet. The road is typically open July through mid-to-late October.
Why Does It Look Like That? Steens Mountain is a fault-block mountain more than 30 miles long. Millions of years ago, layers of basalt volcanic rock accumulated. The area then went through geologic stress, expanding and compressing, with some areas sinking and creating the high desert’s basins. This is why the east face of the mountain is very steep, while the west is a softer slope.
Alvord Desert If you head just east of Steens Mountain, you can visit Alvord Desert and its cracked salt flats. The 12-by-7mile desert is a playa—a dry lake bed—that averages just 7 inches of rain a year. With very little light pollution in the desert, it is a popular stargazing location. The desert is made of fine clay sediment, so do not drive anywhere that looks even slightly wet, as it can quickly turn to mud, and vehicles can easily get stuck.
ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY CAVAN
More Information Steens Mountain and Alvord Desert are very remote, with limited cell service, and the nearest gas station is many miles away. Bring a full tank of gas, as well as extra water and other supplies. For more information or to start planning your trip, visit tinyurl.com/SMCMPA.
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9/23/2026 9:04:32 AM
Upper Class Just Got Lower Priced Finally, luxury built for value— not for false status
U
ntil Stauer came along, you needed an inheritance to buy a timepiece with class and refinement. Not any more. The Stauer Magnificat II embodies the impeccable quality and engineering once found only in the watch collections of the idle rich. Today, it can be on your wrist. The Magnificat II has the kind of thoughtful design that harkens back to those rare, 150-year-old moon phases that once could only be found under glass in a collector’s trophy room. Powered by 27 jewels, the Magnificat II is wound by the movement of your body. An exhibition back reveals the genius of the engineering and lets you witness the automatic rotor that enables you to wind the watch with a simple flick of your wrist. It took three years of development and $26 million in advanced Swiss-built watch-making machinery to create the Magnificat II. When we took the watch to renowned watchmaker and watch historian George Thomas, he disassembled it and studied the escapement, balance wheel and the rotor. He remarked on the detailed guilloche face, gilt winding crown, and the crocodile-embossed leather band. He was intrigued by the three interior dials for day, date, and 24-hour moon phases. He estimated that this fine timepiece would cost over $2,500. We all smiled and told him that the Stauer price was less than $100. A truly magnificent watch at a truly magnificent price! Try the Magnificat II for 30 days and if you are not receiving compliments, please return the watch for a full refund of the purchase price. The precision-built movement carries a 2 year warranty against defect. If you trust your own good taste, the Magnificat II is built for you.
The Stauer Magnificat II is powered by your own movement
Stauer Magnificat II Timepiece $399* Offer Code Price
$99 + S&P SAVE $300!
You must use the offer code to get our special price.
1-800-333-2045
Your Offer Code: MAG692-08
Stauer
Rating of A+
14091 Southcross Drive W.,
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Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com † Special price only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code.
pp21 October2026.indd 4
• Luxurious gold-finished case with exposition back • 27-jeweled automatic movement • Croc-embossed band fits wrists 6¾"–8½" • Water-resistant to 3 ATM
Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®
9/17/2026 5:00:57 PM
THE GREAT PICTURE HUNT Mary White Henderson, a cousin of Louis J. Nacke II, closes her eyes and folds her hands in prayer during a moment of silence Sept. 11 at the 25th anniversary observance at Flight 93 National Memorial. Louis was among the 40 passengers and crew members killed when hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 crashed on Sept. 11, 2001, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
NIKON D810 | 300mm lens ISO: 200 | f/5 at 1/500
Reader Challenge
Search for memorials in your area or state. This is a chance for you to make a photograph that honors those for whom the memorial was created and maybe its designer as well. The events of 9/11 affected the whole nation. Because of that day, we have been forever changed. Also, Veterans Day is coming up, offering opportunities to photograph those who have served and are serving our country. As always, consider time of day and direction of light.
Memorials for the Living Story and photo by Dave LaBelle I’ve written about photographing monuments and memorials in the past. However, after returning from Shanksville, Pennsylvania, for the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, crash of United Airlines Flight 93, I felt it was important to revisit the subject. On Sept. 11, 2001, as the photography editor for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, I directed the newspaper’s visual coverage, primarily for the Flight 93 crash. That spot, that event and those people will forever be part of who I am today. My direction began in the first days after the unfathomable crash, when the Boeing 757 jet dove into the earth at more than 500 mph, leaving a blackened crater nearly 35 feet deep. I remember the crude memorials erected in the following days—pictures stapled to sticks, fastened to fences and hay bales. I can 22
still hear the whimpers and occasional wailing as the wind carried the painful sounds of grieving family, friends and strangers across the fields. Now, 25 years later, thanks to the efforts and sacrifices of so many, the beautiful Flight 93 National Memorial stands at the site. Whether a pile of stones or an elaborate structure of metal, memorials remind us that something remarkable happened, something we should never forget. After all, memorials are for the living, to remind us and teach us. In fact, most memorials are testaments to the worst and best of mankind, where ambition, cruelty and hatred are answered by courage, bravery and uncommon love. Nearly 3,000 souls left this life Sept. 11, 2001—passengers, crew, first responders and strangers sacrificing their lives to try to save others. As with many disasters, 9/11 brought out the worst and best of humankind. n
Email your best image—just one— with caption information and an explanation of how it affects you to gph@pioneer.coop. We may share submissions on our website and social media channels.
Internationally renowned author, photographer and lecturer Dave LaBelle has captured special moments for more than half a century. He has shared photo tips and life perspectives with readers since 2009. For more of his writings, visit davidlabelle.com and bridgesandangels.wordpress.com.
O C T O B E R 2026
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9/14/2026 3:16:38 PM
This Necklace is NOT for Sale … It’s yours for FREE* NEVER
Imposs ib Buy NO le Price W, pay
*
No kidding. Only Stauer can give you 200 carats of genuine amethyst for NOTHING.
Y
ou may think you understood the concept of “priceless” jewelry. For years, “priceless” meant “astronomically expensive.” That is, until now ... Stauer smashes the luxury status quo with the release of our FREE* 200-Carat Lusso Amethyst Necklace. That’s right, we said FREE ... as in “priceless.” No charge.* ZERO dollars.* Call now and we’ll send you this impressive helping of genuine amethyst (independently appraised at $295) for FREE. We cut the price 100%. You only pay $24.95, our regular charge for shipping and processing. We’ll even pay you back with a $30 discount certificate –– that’s our Better Than Free Shipping!
A collection of purple perfection. Your Lusso Amethyst Necklace is a 200-carat symphony of smooth purple genuine gemstones. Each gemstone’s shape and translucence ignites the velvety, violet hues. The polished amethysts are hand-strung on double-knotted jeweler’s thread, and the stunning 18" necklace (with 2" extender) secures with a gold-finished lobster clasp. Too good to pass up. Too good to last long. Amethyst is one of the world’s most coveted gemstones and our supply is extremely limited. We can only offer such an outrageous deal for a short time every few years. Over 30,000 thrilled customers were lucky enough to get this promotion last time.
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Your Insider Offer Code: LAN631-05
* This offer is valid in the United States (and Puerto Rico) except in TX, FL, CO, OK, RI, NH, WV, OR, SC, VA, CA and ID. These state residents will be charged one cent ($.01) + shipping & processing for the item. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Offer subject to state and local regulations. Not valid with any other offers and only while supplies last. This offer is limited to one item per shipping address. ** Free is only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code. † For more information concerning the appraisal, visit www.stauer.com/appraisedvalues.asp.
Stauer, 14091 Southcross Drive W., Dept. LAN631-05, Burnsville, MN 55337 | www.stauer.com
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pp23 October2026.indd 4
9/17/2026 5:03:06 PM
Got a Story Idea? We Want to Hear It.
Ruralite is a magazine about the people, places and moments that make the region home, and nobody knows those stories better than you. Whether it’s a hidden gem in your community, a local hero worth celebrating or an organization doing great work in your area—we’re listening. Scan the QR code or visit the link to submit your story idea. Our editors read every submission. Thanks for reading.
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O C T O B E R 2026
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Scan the QR code with your smartphone camera or visit tinyurl.com/SendStoryIdeas.
ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY MDURSON
9/22/2026 5:40:05 PM
BENTON REA
OCTOBER 2026
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9/21/26 11:05 AM
MARKETPLACE Agriculture
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 45 years in business. btlliners.com; 541-447-0712. 0427 Organic frozen blueberries. Call for price and delivery possibilities. Sold in 1-gallon bags. 503-314-0145. 1026 Antiques and Collectibles 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. WC Collectibles. We buy comic books. Local to Inland Northwest. Willing to travel. WCCollectiblesCheney@gmail.com; 509-496-1835. 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. 0327 Metal Chevrolet cars approximately 3x5.” 20 cars, some out of original display box. $200 for all. 208-882-7842. Moscow, ID. 1026 Boats 18-ft. handmade cedar canoe. Photos available. $2K, firm. Excellent condition. Contact Jim, jimdeArrieTa@gmail.com or 775-721-0390. 1026 Community Events “The Things I Create Between Naps,” by Tom Novak; “My Journey,” by Aaron Akers. Through Oct. 24. Art Center East, La Grande, OR. artcentereast.org. 1026 Fill Your Pantry Corvallis, OR. Preorder in bulk from local farmers 10/17-11/1; pick up and shop 11/15, Benton County Fairgrounds. tenriversmarketplace.com. 1026 Education Long Creek Virtual Learning Acellus Academy. Free in OR, online, accredited, K-12 education. Contact Long Creek School for info and to sign up. longcreekschool.com; 541-508-9164. 1226 Farm Equipment Water trailer. Around 400 gallons, Homelite pump, on heavy-duty, ex-military trailer. Photos, no title. Pump not started since before COVID-19. Near Dayton, WA. 208-284-5073.
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Quick, Affordable: How to Place an Ad
Ads 25 words or fewer are $35 per month. An ad of up to 35 words is $50 per 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. 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 deadline (in our office): December issue—Oct. 30 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 a check or money order payable to Ruralite. We accept credit card payments for ads submitted 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.
1940s Caterpillar D-2, hydraulic blade up/ down, full canopy, many photos. My late father’s. Diesel engine stuck so asking only $3.5K, OBO. Near Dayton, WA. 208-284-5073. For Rent, Lease New, large 3-bd, 2-ba home. $1.9K. Large lot, large two-car garage. All amenities and state-of-the-art appliances. Text or call 619-890-8068. Miscellaneous Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. For more info: Joe, highdesertmemorials@gmail.com or 541-815-8906; highdesertmemorials.com. Attention, landowners. Grants available now. Wildland fire fuel reduction service. Steep ground, remote, rocky, small lot, big acreage—no problem. Blue Mountain Defensible Space LLC. 509-399-3473 or Bluemountainbrush@gmail.com; bluemountainbrush.com. 1126 Pets American Eskimo/mini-husky stud available. White. Photos available. No puppies available. Central OR. Contact Liz, 360-901-1291. 1026
Pools Stay warm and healthy this winter. Custom outdoor saunas built and delivered to you from La Grande, OR. saunahublg.com; 541-805-1318. 1026 Real Estate 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. $11.9M. John Gill, 541-480-9161 or johngill@landandwildlife.com. Land and Wildlife brokerage. 1026 Seven solid well-built homes on 10 acres on the Coast Range of OR. Private country setting, off road, gated, paved road system and parking. Great spring water, good sun, perfect garden community. Homes are 3 bd, 1.5 ba, with garage or carport. Good fishing, hunting, hiking. Near the small town of Alsea, OR. Bargain at $1.7M. 541-456-4481 or 541456-4461. 1026 Incredible panoramic views. Custom home on 162 acres. 6 bd, 3 ba, shop, guest home. $1.49M. 4 Rivers Realty, Inc. 541-987-2363; ddwr@ortelco.net. 1026
Your ad could be here in November. See instructions above for details.
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Local cash buyer for all real estate and homes. Any condition or situation. No agents, no repairs, no waiting. Ready with serious offers. AJ, 509-530-1182. 1126 Private 20-acre retreat with mature timber, a custom 2019 home, guest quarters, garage, orchard and view. Price reduced to $990K. Bordering timberland, this Siletz, OR, property offers comfort, privacy and country living. 541-961-1889. 1026
Crosscut saws. Please donate/sell your old crosscut saws so they can be restored and sharpened for hardworking wilderness trail crews. Angela, cowcreekcrosscuts@gmail.com.
100% Guaranteed Protective Sleeves
SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO BY BRENT HOFACKER
San Felipe, Baja, Mexico. I have 3 lots for sale. Each 12x24 meters. Titles free and clear. Owner, Barry Jay: 702-339-1602. 1026 Recreational Rentals Sunshine and sand—book your summer dreams at WaveCatcher for 2026. Oceanfront cottage with direct beach access, on the spectacular Central OR Coast. Sleeps 6. Petfriendly. All house amenities. Winter closure November-March. Reservations, information: email relax@wavecatcherbeachrentals.com or text 541-740-2846. 1026 Thanksgiving week at Eagle Crest, Canyon Rim. Nov. 20-27. Contact Jerry, jerry.sunfurn@gmail.com. 1026 Services 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; 509-399-3473; bluemountainbrush.com. 1126 Old West Coffins. Simple, dignified, traditional. Pine coffins, made-to-measure in the USA. Live the cowboy way, leave the cowboy way. oldwestcoffins.com. 530-640-1940. 1126 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. 1226 Mel’s Furniture Restoration. Repair, rebuild and restore. Rescuing family heirlooms. Serving OR from Bend since 1975. Frank, 541-382-8316; mfrankspiecker@gmail.com. Want to Buy 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; send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com. 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 Old carpenter tools, planes (wood/metal), levels, chisels, slicks, adzes, axes, hatchets, handsaws, old rulers, spokeshaves, wrenches, shipwright tools, old tool chests. 503-659-0009 or 971-666-0659. 1026
Holiday Favorites
More than 300 recipes are featured in this 2004 contest cookbook—from tried-and-true family favorites passed down through generations to tempting new recipes to add flavor to the holidays. The 8½-by-11-inch indexed book is $10 (plus $3 shipping for any size order).
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
•Prevents Cuts & Scratches •Durable Soft Leather •Adjustable Air-Flow
a r m c ha p s. c o m 6 5 1- 492-4830
Soup, Stews and Chowders
Get more than 220 recipes in a bound 8½-by-11-inch indexed book for $10, plus $3 shipping for any size order. BY MAIL: Send payment and number of cookbooks wanted, along with your name and address, to Ruralite Cookbooks, P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133. BY PHONE: Call 503-357-2105 to pay with VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. ONLINE: Visit ruralite.com.
TO PAY BY PHONE: Call 503-357-2105 for credit card payments with VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. TO ORDER ONLINE: Visit ruralite.com. Please allow two to three weeks for delivery. OCTOBER 2026
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PHOTO BY NEW AFRICA
BENTON REA
GET READY FOR
Sweater Weather Historically, temperatures in early October are mild. But as we move into the latter part of the month, boy, does it get chilly. Take advantage now and get your home ready for sweater weather. Chad Smith, Benton REA’s Energy Efficiency manager, has some tips to help you transition into the cold winter months. “I like to remind members that this is the perfect time to get some of those DIY projects done around the house before it’s too cold,” he says. “Take this time to go into the attic, replace a window if needed and get your HVAC system serviced.” See What’s Happening in Your Attic If you haven’t looked in your attic recently, we recommend doing an inspection. Look for a lack of insulation and ensure there are no exposed areas. If you have blown-in fiberglass insulation, today’s standards suggest a minimum thickness of 16 inches. You’ll also want to look into the rafters for signs of water getting through. If you aren’t comfortable going into your attic, 28
contact Benton REA’s energy-efficiency advisors for help. We can send one of our experts to your home for a consultation.
Replace or Repair Leaky Windows If you have a window that is cracked, has damaged seals or has gaps around it, now is the time to repair or replace it. These seals are important in preventing mold, water damage and heat loss. Drafty windows can cause your home to lose heat in the winter, resulting in high energy bills. If you are thinking of replacing windows, Benton REA offers a rebate with qualifying guidelines. Before you start your window replacement project, call our energy-efficiency advisors. Take Care of Your HVAC System Regular maintenance can identify issues before your heating system fails. It’s important to look over your owner’s manual to determine how often maintenance is required on your unit.
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Change your furnace filters monthly or as recommended by the manufacturer. This is the easiest way to ensure your heating system is running efficiently as you head into fall. A clean air filter allows your system to move air efficiently, reducing energy use and extending your furnace’s life. If you are planning to make energy-efficiency improvements to your home this fall, our advisors can suggest the improvements that will make the biggest impact on your energy savings and possibly earn you a rebate. We can also help you find an approved contractor and even get you approved for a low-interest loan through Benton REA, if you need it.
SCHEDULE AN ENERGYEFFICIENCY CONSULTATION
If you have high bills, a drafty house or don’t know where to start with energy-efficiency upgrades, call our energy-efficiency advisors. They will come to your home for a consultation, identify areas for improvement and help you through the project. Benton REA Energy-Efficiency Consulting Program 509-786-8265
Income Based Discounts and Levelized Billing Can Help with Bills this Winter
PHOTO BY DAVOR GEBER
As temperatures begin to cool, you may notice your electric bill increase as your heating system runs more often to keep your home comfortable. For members on a fixed income or living with a disability, those seasonal increases can add extra pressure to the household budget. Income Based Senior & Disability Discount Benton REA offers a $33 monthly discount to qualifying lowincome seniors and members with disabilities. If you think you may qualify, visit bentonrea.org to learn more and apply for the discount. Under Payment Services, you’ll find information about our discounts and payment assistance options, including eligibility requirements, income guidelines and the application.
Levelized Billing The Levelized Billing program can help make monthly electric bills more predictable. Your payment is based on an average of your recent billing history. This can help reduce the impact of higher bills during periods of increased heating or cooling use. Levelized Billing does not reduce the amount of electricity you use or the cost of your energy. It simply spreads your costs more evenly from month to month, making it easier to plan and budget for your electric bill. A little help can go a long way, especially as colder weather arrives. Benton REA is committed to offering members programs that can help make managing energy costs easier.
OCTOBER 2026
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BEFORE YOU GO
Captured and Cherished
The sun sets over a bean field on Randy Munn’s farm just north of Paterson, Washington. “I rushed home to grab my camera and was lucky enough to capture a remarkable sunset, resulting in one of my favorite farm photos,” he says. PHOTO BY RANDY MUNN
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.
Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation Required by 39 USC 3685 Filed with the USPS on 9-18-26 Ruralite (publication number 397-460) is published monthly at 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Twelve issues are published annually with a subscription price of $9.89 paid by utility members in their electric bills. The name and complete mailing address of the publisher are: Pioneer Utility Resources, 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. The name and complete mailing address of the editor are: Chasity Anderson, 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. The owner is Pioneer Utility Resources (PUR). There are no known bondholders or other security holders. PUR is a nonprofit organization mailing under DMM Section 423.12. Its purpose, function and nonprofit status for federal income tax purposes have not changed in the preceding 12 months. No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months a. Total No. Copies (net press run) ................................................. 327,826 a. Total No. Copies (net press run) ................................................. 322,242 b. Paid Circulation b. Paid Circulation (1) Outside County.......................................................................320,299 (1) Outside County....................................................................325,944 (2) In-County ................................................................................... -0(2) In-County .................................................................................... -0(3) Sales Through Dealers ............................................................ 1,635 (3) Sales Through Dealers ..............................................................1,559 (4) Other Classes .............................................................................-0(4) Other Classes ..............................................................................-0c. Total Paid Circulation c. Total Paid Circulation (Sum of 15b(1) through 15b(4)) ...............................................321,934 (Sum of 15b(1) through 15b(4)) ................................................327,503 d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (1) Outside County ...........................................................................-0(1) Outside County ............................................................................-0(2) In-County .................................................................................... -0(2) In-County ...................................................................................... -0(3) Other Classes ..............................................................................-0(3) Other Classes ...............................................................................-0(4) Outside the Mail ......................................................................... -0(4) Outside the Mail ........................................................................... -0e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (Sum of 15d(1) through 15d(4)) ...................................................... -0(Sum of 15d(1) through 15d(4)) ....................................................... -0f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e) .................................... 321,934 f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e) .....................................327,503 g. Copies Not Distributed ....................................................................308 g. Copies Not Distributed .....................................................................323 h. Total (Sum of 15f and 15g) ........................................................ 327,826 h. Total (Sum of 15f and 15g) ........................................................322,242 i. Percent Paid (15c divided by 15f times 100) ................................... 100% i. Percent Paid (15c divided by 15f times 100) .................................. 100% I certify the statements made by me are correct and complete. Chasity Anderson, Editorial Director 30
O C T O B E R 2026
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WA-07
West Richland Office 2121 Cooperative Way West Richland, WA 99353
Prosser Office
402 7th St. Prosser, WA 99350
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 5330 West Richland, WA 99350
Report an Outage: Contact the Office: Website:
509-786-2913 509-786-2913 BentonREA.org
Board of Trustees Scott Fisher, President, District 6 Mike Freepons, Vice President, District 2 Bill Shibley, Secretary/Treasurer, District 8 Dan Plung, District 1 Ryan Munn, District 3 Connie Krull, District 4 Tim Grow, District 5 Ted Wallace, District 7 Ronald Hall, District 9 Board Meetings, Agendas & Minutes The board of trustees meets 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.
Management Staff Ryan J. Redmond, CEO Troy L. Berglund, Deputy General Manager Iris Fawcett, VP of Member Relationships Andrew Gould, VP of Engineering/COO Lynn Latendresse, VP of Energy & Finance
Facing the Rising Costs of Providing Power
I try to spend as much time as I can connecting with our members and speaking on issues facing the electric industry. My message has not changed. We must modernize our electrical system, safeguard against wildfires, keep up with the rising cost of materials, and continue to advocate for the power resources needed to meet our member’s energy demands now and in the future. I am forthcoming that the amount you pay for power is driven by all these expenses and rates will need to increase to serve our members reliable power. A recent cost-of-service analysis backed up this message. The finding is that our rates are over 20% lower than they need to be just to maintain existing service levels. That means even if we didn’t invest in large projects to maintain the health of our system—our rates are still too low. You may hear online that rate increases are driven by data centers, our new West Richland Complex or AMI meters. But the root cause is much broader: the cost of doing business has surged, and our rates have not kept pace. As outlined on page 4, during the past decade the Consumer Price Index rose over 40%, while our rates increased around 15%. For years, Benton REA worked to cushion members from rising costs. Throughout COVID-19, global supply chain disruptions and economic turbulence we used funds from the Yakama Power sale to avoid raising rates. That decision helped you get through hard times, but we absorbed cost increases that could not be deferred forever and put off important improvements required to keep our system reliable. Like we say on pages 4-5, when rates remain stagnant for too long, the gap between what it costs to provide service and what rates recover becomes increasingly difficult to close—and we must now act on closing the gap. To be good stewards of your system, we are running as efficiently as possible. We are automating software systems, prioritizing critical maintenance, restructuring internal departments and making difficult decisions to reduce staff. Major investments like our metering rollout are strictly vetted through business cases to reduce long-term costs. Furthermore, we are seeking grant funds and thinking out of the box to grow our revenues while assuring new large loads will pay the costs of serving them—existing members will not subsidize that growth. In the end, our mission remains unchanged: to deliver safe, reliable electricity at a fair price, while delivering reliable service now and for years to come.
Ryan J. Redmond, CEO 32
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