Ruralite, Big Bend Electric Cooperative, April 2026

Ruralite

April 2026 • Volume 73, No. 4

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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Don’t Wait for Perfect

Two words from photographer Bee Bryne have stayed with me since I read this month’s Spotlight feature: Don’t wait.

She was talking about pet photography, but the advice reaches further than that. Bee has watched too many people put off booking a session—telling themselves they have time, that it feels silly, that the dog isn’t perfect enough—only to call her in a panic after a difficult diagnosis.

“You’ll never regret it,” she says, “but you’ll regret it if you don’t.”

That quiet urgency is at the heart of The Tilly Project, an international network of photographers dedicated to capturing the bond between people and their animals before it’s too late. What began in 2021 with one woman’s act of kindness for a grieving friend has become something far larger: a community of photographers who show up, often for little or no pay, in some of life’s most tender moments.

The images they make get framed. They get hung on walls. They get cried over, years later, by people who are deeply grateful someone thought to press the shutter. Read more on Page 12.

The phrase “Don’t wait” also surfaces, in a

quieter way, in our Up Close story about Donnie Fowler.

A Brookings, Oregon, resident approaching his 65th birthday, Donnie has spent decades making custom surfboards. He doesn’t do it to make a living but for the joy of it—for friends and family and the simple pleasure of riding something he built himself.

What caught my attention isn’t his technique, though the boards he’s shaped are remarkable. It’s his refusal to hold anything back.

“I don’t want to hoard what I know,” he says. “I want to help people.”

That kind of generosity, freely offering what cost him years to learn, is its own form of not waiting. Read more on Page 10.

Dave LaBelle invites us to slow down and find the visual music hiding in plain sight—in patterns, repetition and the rhythms we walk past every day without noticing. His reader challenge this month is worth accepting.

What are you waiting to do, make or say? April seems like a good time to start.

Reach me at editor@pioneer.coop.

Until next time, Chasity Anderson Editorial Director

Quest for the Perfect Surfboard

A Brookings, Oregon, man learned to make it himself Up Close, Page 10

Treasured Memories

The Tilly Project offers comfort to grieving pet owners Spotlight, Page 12

Root

In

for

Great Taste

Kitchen, Page 16

Becoming a Lineworker

BBEC’s lineworkers go through thousands of hours of training to build the skills that help them keep the power flowing

By Denise Schuh

April is Lineman Appreciation Month. In our rural communities, reliable electricity isn’t just a convenience, it’s the lifeline that keeps farms running, homes warm and small towns connected. Behind that reliability are the skills and hard work of our electric linemen.

The 18 members of Big Bend Electric Cooperative’s line crews maintain thousands of miles of lines that serve our members. These linemen are the people who when storms hit or a transformer fails on a back road, are often the first to respond, even in the dead of night or the height of winter.

“People are happy to see you, especially in those situations where a storm’s come through and we’re helping to keep the power on,” says BBEC lineman Preston Byington. “Most are positive interactions, and we’re pretty much on a first-name basis with our members because of the size of our co-op.”

Entering the Field

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 20,000 lineworkrelated jobs will be open nationwide in 2026. Entering the field requires a significant amount of work.

“Basically, it takes 7,000 to 8,000 hours in an apprenticeship program, a clean driving record, a strong work ethic and the ability to work on a crew,” Preston says.

For young people in rural areas eyeing this high-demand career, the path is straightforward but disciplined. Most begin with a high school

diploma or GED. Many bring military experience, vocational training, or simply a strong work ethic and physical fitness.

“People who come right out of high school can sometimes have a harder time than when you have some other life/ work experiences,” says BBEC lineman Troy Fulton. “You also need a Class A Commercial Driver’s License, so keep that in mind.”

Lineworker Training

There are a couple of paths to earning the journey-level lineworker ticket, with lineworker school the most common gateway. Programs such as Northwest Lineman College’s 15-week pre-apprentice Electrical Lineworker Program, located in Meridian, Idaho, deliver hands-on training in climbing, rigging, electrical theory and safety.

Also in the Northwest, Vocational Outside Line Training Academy has sites near Astoria, Oregon, and Rathdrum, Idaho. VOLTA offers a 10-week, 400hour intensive for about $8,500. A range of community colleges around the region also provide solid entry-level options, and independent schools, such as Prime Line Academy in Idaho, round out the choices.

Another pathway to becoming a lineworker is working as a pre-apprentice or groundman. This means working in entry-level roles, usually with contractors, before moving into a formal apprenticeship

through a utility, contractor, co-op or union program, such as those affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Once accepted, apprentices enter a paid, structured program with both classroom instruction and on-the-job training. This apprenticeship divides the required hours into seven steps, each with roughly 1,000 hours, with skill requirements and evaluations before moving to the next step. Most apprenticeships last around four years.

“Utility or co-op apprenticeships may move faster because steps are measured every six months or 1,000 hours,” Troy says.

Most utility apprenticeships are around 6,000 hours, while construction apprenticeships are often around 7,000 hours. That 1,000-hour difference means lineworkers frequently finish apprenticeships a half-year faster than construction apprentices.

A linework apprenticeship involves pulling wire, setting poles and troubleshooting. It also includes supplemental classes in safety, CPR, poletop rescue and electrical theory. Milestones include passing step tests, demonstrating climbing proficiency and mastering liveline techniques.

Upon completion, apprentices become journey-level lineworkers. This opens

doors to wherever they want to practice this trade: co-op, utility or contract work. It also allows them to pursue other jobs in the industry, including foreman, serviceman and meterman.

A Day in the Life of a Lineworker

Lineworkers face new challenges every day. At BBEC, lineworkers spend much of their time maintaining and installing underground cable. But there are many variables on a day-to-day basis, including emergency calls.

“We could be doing routine maintenance on overhead lines one day and replacing a pole the next,” Preston says.

Line crews have mandatory monthly safety meetings. Safety is paramount when working near or with energized lines. Crews follow a strict minimum approach distance, using insulated hot sticks, rubber gloves rated for specific voltages and other tools designed to mimic hand work from a safe distance. All equipment is assessed and rated, and proper procedures make a dangerous job safer.

“It’s dangerous, but if the procedures are followed and steps are followed, we can make it pretty safe,” Troy says.

Two of the most important aptitudes of the trade are crews’ ability to work as a team and maintain awork ethic.

“That’s what the apprenticeship is for, learning and maintaining the proper discipline it takes to work with electricity,” Preston says.

Preston and Troy agree on the biggest piece of advice for people interested in the trade: Your decisions before your apprenticeship will lead right into your becoming a journeyman. Work hard, take the trade seriously and know what you’re getting into before starting. n

For more information about the linework trade, check out linemancentral.com.

Staying

Staying Safe

Staying Lineworkers

Staying Safe

Lineworkers

From Head to Toe

Lineworkers have a dizzying array of gear they carry and wear to safely do their climbing hooks and hot sticks, have been around since the early days of electricity, been updated and improved over the years. Others, like wireless headsets and more modern innovations. Here’s a comprehensive (though not exhaustive) look crews use to stay safe.

climbing been updated more modern crews use

have a dizzying climbing hooks and hot been updated and improved more modern innovations. crews use to stay safe.

Lineworkers have a dizzying array of gear they climbing hooks and hot sticks, have been around been updated and improved over the years. more modern innovations. Here’s a comprehensive crews use to stay safe.

Electric linework is dangerous, and crews use a full outfit of protective equipment to stay safe

Lineworkers have a dizzying array of gear they carry and wear to safely do their jobs. Some items, like climbing hooks and hot sticks, have been around since the early days of electricity, though they’ve been updated and improved over the years. Others, like wireless headsets and arc-rated clothing, are more modern innovations. Here’s a comprehensive (though not exhaustive) look at the tools line crews use to stay safe.

By David Herder

Face shield

Keeping the lights on is dangerous work.

resists burning when exposed to an arc flash.

Face shield

can protect the gloves from being damaged during use and prolong their life.

Hard hat

Eye protection

oltageV

Hard hat

Wireless headset

Utility line crews work near—and with— equipment that can carry thousands of volts of electricity, and linework frequently appears on lists of America’s most dangerous jobs.

Arc-rated and fire-retardant

Neck gaiters

Hoods or hard

Hard Hat, Eyewear and Steel-Toe Boots

Eye protection

oltageV tester

Hard hat

Wireless headset

Hard hat

Hard hats and steel-toe boots give lineworkers extra protection from falling tools, equipment and debris. Lineworkers can also wear insulating helmets that prevent high-voltage shock.

oltageV tester

oltageV

Arc-rated and fire-retardant clothing

Neck gaiters

Hoods or hard hat liners

Shirts

oltageV tester

Every time lineworkers use their highvoltage gloves, they field test them to make sure they are properly insulated. This means doing a visual test to look for discoloration, cuts or holes. Lineworkers can also trap air inside the glove—often by rolling up the bottom to push air into the palm and fingers—to feel and listen for any escaping air.

Hot Sticks

Pants

Fortunately, today’s lineworkers have many tools to help them stay safe. Typically, lineworkers wear about 50 pounds of gear, with much of it designed to insulate against electrical shock and protect against other hazards.

Rubber sleeves

Fall-protection

Hot High visibility safety

Rubber

Hot stick

There are regional regulation differences on which tools to use and when, so a lineworker’s gear varies from state to state.

Eye protection, like face shields and glasses, can protect lineworkers’ vision from bright flashes if a live wire produces a bright arc.

Shirts

Hot stick

Pants

Gloves

Rubber sleeves

Hot stick

Hot stick

Fall-protection harness

From hard hats to boots, hot sticks to gloves and even the clothes they wear, lineworkers’ equipment is designed to ensure everyone goes home safe.

Wire tongs

Line hoses and blankets

High visibility safety vest

Wearing insulated gloves helps prevent electricity from finding a path into a lineworker’s body. Sometimes, crews wear rubber sleeves extending further up the arms for additional protection.

High visibility safety vest

High visibility safety vest

Rubber gloves

Flame-Resistant Clothing

Despite working hard to prevent them, lineworkers can be exposed to arc flashes—when electric current flows through the air between conductors or flows toward the ground.

Pole tags

There are two types of high-voltage gloves. Type I is made from natural rubber, while Type II is made from synthetic rubber. Type II is more commonly used, as it also offers ozone resistance.

Rubber gloves

One way to steer clear of the danger coming from electric equipment is to physically be farther away and work on lines with poles called hot sticks. These tools date back to the 1910s when early lineworkers fashioned them out of wood. Today’s hot sticks are primarily made of fiberglass, a nonconductive material. Hot sticks are often designed to be able to work with lines carrying more than 100,000 volts. They are commonly 6 to 10 feet long, but some can extend to more than 40 feet.

High visibility safety vest

Hand line and hoist Rubber gloves

Rubber gloves

Hand

Hand line and hoist

Standard fabrics can catch on fire during an arc flash. Lineworkers wear clothes made from fabrics that are either naturally flame resistant or have been treated to prevent ignition.

There are two different safety terms for these clothes. Flame resistant means the clothing will not catch on fire when subjected to heat. Arc-rated clothing

Rail boards with bucket

High-voltage gloves are rated in classes of the amount of voltage to which they have been proof-tested. The lowest rating is Class 00—approved to protect workers from 750 volts of direct current. The highest rating is Class 4, which is proofed for 54,000 volts.

Lineworkers use multiple types of hot sticks to accomplish a wide range of jobs. Some have hooks to grab onto lines, while others have claw-like heads that can open and clasp onto lines. Some are always one length, while others telescope to reach farther away.

Fall Protection

Hand line and hoist

If an insulating glove has any leak, cut or pinhole, it opens a path for electricity to shock a lineworker.

To protect these high-voltage gloves, lineworkers often wear an outer pair of leather gloves. The extra layer of leather

Rail boards with bucket lips

Lineworkers spend lots of time up in the air working on power poles and lines. Whether this means climbing poles or using a bucket truck, lineworkers use fallprotection harnesses any time they are working more than 4 feet off the ground. n

Hand line and hoist

Tool holders and buckpacks

Climbing

Climbing hooks

Gear bags

Additional cover up

Steel-toe

Tool holders and buckpacks

Climbing hooks

Gear bags

Additional cover up and PPE equipment

Personal grounding

Climbing hooks

Climbing hooks

Steel-toe boots

Steel-toe boots

Steel-toe boots

Steel-toe boots

Staying Safe

Staying Safe

Lineworkers have a dizzying array of gear they carry and wear to safely do their jobs. Some items, like climbing hooks and hot sticks, have been around since the early days of electricity, though they’ve been updated and improved over the years. Others, like wireless headsets and arc-rated clothing, are more modern innovations. Here’s a comprehensive (though not exhaustive) look at the tools line crews use to stay safe.

A Modern Tool Kit

Lineworkers have a dizzying array of equipment that keeps them safe.

dizzying array of gear they carry and wear to safely do their jobs. Some items, like hot sticks, have been around since the early days of electricity, though they’ve improved over the years. Others, like wireless headsets and arc-rated clothing, are innovations. Here’s a comprehensive (though not exhaustive) look at the tools line

Here’s a comprehensive—though not exhaustive—look at the tools they use:

Face shield

Face shield

Hard hat

Voltage tester

Hot stick

High visibility safety vest

Eye protection

Eye protection

Wireless headset

Wireless headset

Arc-rated and fire-retardant clothing

Arc-rated and fire-retardant clothing

Neck gaiters

Neck gaiters

Hoods or hard hat liners

Hoods or hard hat liners

Shirts

Shirts

Pants

Pants

Rubber sleeves

Rubber sleeves

Fall-protection harness

Fall-protection harness

Wire tongs

Rubber gloves

Wire tongs

Line hoses and blankets Pole tags

Hand line and hoist

Climbing hooks

Steel-toe boots

Rail boards with bucket lips

Rail boards with bucket lips

Tool holders and buckpacks

Tool holders and

Gear bags

Gear

Additional cover up and PPE equipment

Additional

Personal

Personal

Welcome these delicate birds with sources of nectar TEMPT HUMMINGBIRDS TO THE GARDEN

Hummingbirds are garden jewels, as beautiful as they are valuable. Each weighing less than a nickel, hummingbirds play an important role in the garden as pollinators and insect predators.

There are two ways to attract hummingbirds to your garden—by growing nectarproducing flowers and by supplementing natural nectar with sugar-solution feeders.

Hummingbirds need to eat a third to a half of their body weight daily to fuel their high-energy lifestyle, according to Nancy Allen, faculty member in fisheries and wildlife at Oregon State University. Their diet includes nectar for carbohydrates and insects for protein. Protein in their diets is especially important while they are feeding youngsters.

Chances are, your garden already contains elements favored by hummingbirds, because they use a variety of trees, shrubs and vines as shelter and sources of food. Hummingbirds are especially attracted to the color red. Good choices are plants with red or orange tubular flowers, such as fuchsias, red-flowering currant, columbines, coral bells, salvias and penstemons.

They also love bush and vine honeysuckles, hollyhocks, nasturtiums and petunias, as well as blossoms from black locust,

flowering crab apple and hawthorn.

Provide a succession of nectar plants that will bloom from spring to fall, giving hummingbirds a continual source of food through the seasons.

Their attraction to red can get hummingbirds into trouble with electric fences, Nancy says. If you have electric fences with red or orange insulators, she recommends you paint them black or white so they won’t lure hummingbirds to a possibly fatal shock.

Another caution is with hummingbird feeders. It is important that feeders are clean, and the sugar solution is correctly made and always fresh. A hummingbird feeder solution should contain no more than one part sugar to four parts water, which is the highest sugar concentration of most natural flower nectars.

Homemade solutions are more economical and safer than store-bought products. Mix 4 cups water with 1 cup sugar. Microwave or boil the mixture for at least 30 seconds to completely dissolve the sugar and to reduce the chances of fermentation and mold growth. Let the solution cool, then fill your feeder.

Refrigerate any spare solution in a clean jar for up to three weeks.

Do not add food coloring to the solution. Red decorations on the feeder are enough to attract the birds. Do not use honey, as it encourages fungal growth and may contain botulism organisms that can kill hummingbirds. Do not use artificial sweeteners, which contain no real calories and may cause the active birds to starve.

The feeder should be hung where it can be easily reached for filling and cleaning. Space multiple feeders as far apart as possible, as the birds tend to fight over feeders hung close together. Shady spots are best—they keep the sugar solution from spoiling.

Change the syrup once every few weeks in cooler weather and every four to five days during the summer heat. Clean the feeder with hot water and a little vinegar, and rinse well every time you change the syrup.

Have someone keep your feeder filled when you go on vacation, as hummingbirds depend on known sources of nectar. Keep feeders filled year-round. n

For more information, including a list of preferred plants, see “Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden” at tinyurl.com/yfzh6ncu.

Information courtesy of OSU Extension Service.

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Quest for the

Perfect Surfboard

A Brookings, Oregon, man learned to make it himself

By Vicki Hillhouse

There was no such thing as an internet tutorial when Donnie Fowler set out to build his first surfboard. His reference points came from examining his own board, riding waves and pushing a broomstick. The latter had nothing to do with shaping a surfboard, but it’s how he was introduced to a world of creative possibilities. More on that in a moment.

Donnie didn’t know how to glass a board—the process of fiberglassing and sealing a foam blank. In one of his early but most memorable errors, he used hotcoat resin instead of a lamination coat. Anyone who works with resin can imagine how much sanding it took to correct that mistake after the resin quickly set.

“It took me about a month or so to figure out all that,” Donnie says. “All I had were pictures of the surfboards I had to look at. Really, there was nobody to talk to about how to fix any of this. I had to do a lot of thinking.”

In the more than three decades since, Donnie honed his style as a backyard shaper—often a couple of hours from the ocean. He lost count of the number of surfboards he’s finished long ago. It’s a giant feat in an industry dominated by mass production.

Donnie, who now lives in Brooking, Oregon, makes boards for friends, family and anyone who find out he shapes, driven largely by the joy of creating a customized experience atop the waves of the Pacific.

“I’ve tried doing it for a living, but you don’t make money at it,” he says. “It’s the big facade. Everybody thinks, ‘Oh, you’re a shaper. You make a lot of boards, so you must make money at it.’”

Before his early retirement, Donnie worked at the wood products manufacturer Timber Products in Medford,

Oregon. His career allowed him to finance his hobby and passion, perfecting the longboards he customizes for fast nose-riding.

Donnie turns 65 this month, and he plans to continue making boards. But he also hopes to help others interested in learning the craft.

“I don’t want to hoard what I know,” he says. “I want to help people.”

Valuable Early Lessons

Sharing ideas, resources and knowledge is a concept Donnie picked up at a young age, along with that aforementioned broomstick.

His father made surfboards in Santa Cruz, California, in the 1960s and early ’70s. His surfboards were unusual and innovative—hollow boards meant to be light but ultimately ill-fated in the market. When Donnie was around 7, he’d go to the warehouse with his dad and make a little money cleaning. In the process of sweeping the floors, he’d hear the work buzz about designs, fins and pop outs from preformed molds.

“All this information was coming in to me,” he says. “I had no clue about things. All I knew was I had plenty of surfboards.”

The surfboard vision didn’t pan out, and the family moved north to Medford. Oregon held promise for the next thing, but beach time was not in Donnie’s immediate sights.

“I remember my dad asked me if I wanted to take a bunch of surfboards,” he says. “It was like a 2 1/2-hour drive to the coast. I told him, ‘No way.’”

Donnie didn’t surf regularly for a long time, until years later when his friends got an itch for the sport and pulled him back into it.

As is common in surfing, the wave riding took a toll on his boards. Stress cracks were increasingly common. He turned to his father for help with repairs until one day he was struck by the wisdom of a friend in the group: It’s a lot easier to make a surfboard than to fix one.

Donnie sought guidance from other shapers, but finding others making the same kinds of boards he wanted to make and willing to share their techniques proved tough. So, he took what he could glean and got started.

Discovering His Process

“I found I really have to make the board in my head from the very beginning to the very end first,” Donnie says. “There are so many steps. If you skip a step, then you create more problems down the line.”

He took detailed notes every inch of the way so he could refine the process.

“You know, I didn’t have a lot of money at first,” he says. “I ended up making a lot of my own tools. I had to really think about how to go about making calipers. I tried to experiment with little jigs for making the right angles. It took a lot of learning.”

Donnie attributes his innovative spirit to his father and those overheard conversations about bringing an idea to life.

“I got the experimentation part of trying things from my dad,” he says. “That’s just been my whole life thinking outside the box.”

Donnie’s garage became his work lab, where he experimented with additives to strengthen the polyurethane resin and played with ways to create drag or vary the concave surface of the boards.

Scores of his boards are surfed in the region’s waters. Many are owned by his friends.

For a while, it was hard to tell whether Donnie preferred shaping or surfing more. But in his retirement years,

the answer is easy—surfing on one of his own boards.

“I feel like they’re fast,” Donnie says. “They’re not like any other longboard. The nose has a really sharp edge, then with the chined rail, it creates more lift.

“To me, I feel like my surfboards are alive. They have this comfortable feeling to them. They’re nice and smooth. They react well.” n

Email Donnie at waveriderdwf@gmail.com.

Treasured Memories

Treasured Memories

The Tilly Project photographers offer comfort to grieving pet owners

By Ginger Meurer

In 2021, when a friend faced the impending death of a pet and asked where to find a nice urn, Lauren Kennedy offered her something different: an end-of-life photo session.

Lauren knows the pain of losing a pet. In 1988, she was heartbroken when her cat, Tilly, died. With her friend’s permission, Lauren shared the photos on social media, and the response was overwhelming. She couldn’t handle the hundreds of requests pouring in from pet owners seeking similar sessions, so she created a Facebook page to mobilize other

photographers willing to help.

That was the start of The Tilly Project, which has grown into an international network of photographers determined to capture the love between pets and their owners before it’s too late.

Photographers can apply to join the project, and those approved are listed in a database at thetillyproject.org, where pet parents can search for someone nearby.

The Pacific Northwest has dozens of participating photographers. Following are just a few:

Dre McAuley, of McAuley Photography (mcauleyphotography.com) in Puyallup,

Washington, draws on personal and clinical experience in her Tilly Project sessions. Her inspiration began with the loss of her dog, Valkyrie. The Newfoundland was Dre’s shadow.

When Valkyrie got sick, friends sent Dre to The Tilly Project website, which she says “ignited hope.” Seven days after Valkyrie died, Dre also lost her mother. She applied to graduate school to earn a license in mental health counseling, becoming the person she wishes she’d had to support her through grief.

Today, Dre brings photography and emotional support skills to her Tilly Project sessions. She also provides grief coping fliers and helps people identify resources to navigate difficult moments.

“Especially if they’re elderly or don’t have a lot of support,” she says. “Being, again, that person I thought I needed.”

Dre has captured the final moments of a few pets. One was a 24-year-old horse. Another was a 19-year-old deaf and blind

dog who couldn’t walk or even stand. Dre and the dog’s owner took her for one last visit to the beach. Then, inside the beach house, surrounded by family and friends, Dre captured the dog’s last moments.

Dre navigated those experiences by using skills she learned as a counselor.

Dre navigated those experiences by using skills she learned as a counselor, telling pet owners to take their space and feel what they need to.

“But I needed to be the person that they needed at the time,” she says.

Chelsea Smith, of Thistle & Rose Portraiture (unscriptedphotographers.com/ thistleandroseportraits) in Eugene, Oregon, found The Tilly Project by accident. She saw a social media post seeking help to fulfill a wish for the owner of a threelegged, cancer-diagnosed dog.

End-of-life photography has always interested Chelsea, so she contacted the dog’s owner and offered her photography services. They set up a session for later that week.

The next day, Chelsea received a cancer diagnosis for her own cat. The one-eyed feline had already survived cancer as a kitten. But this time, there was no reprieve.

“I had to euthanize him that day,” she says.

She wondered how she would get through the scheduled photo session.

“I was like, ‘I’m going to be a mess,’” she says. ‘But I’m sure they’re going to understand. It will be fine. I’m just going to do it anyway, even though it’s going to be really raw for me.’ It was very emotional. We were all a mess.”

They made it through and even captured photos of the dog with its veterinarian on the trail. Chelsea shared photos in a virtual photography group, and someone recommended The Tilly Project. Within the week, Chelsea looked it up and joined.

When the distance isn’t great, and she has the time, Chelsea doesn’t charge for sessions. She knows veterinary care and unplanned euthanasia can get expensive.

“It just feels nice,” she says. “It’s a way I can give back. It’s a skill that I have, and I have a huge soft spot for animals. I’ve experienced a lot of loss, and there’s pets in my past I wish I had pictures of.”

Ember Trembley, of Amarantine Photography (ember222.wixsite.com/ amarantine) in Woodland, Washington, offers Tilly Project customers a discount on a case-by-case basis, partly dependent on the amount of travel involved.

“People are welcome to travel to me,” she says. “I live out in the woods. Five minutes away, it’s easy to find a beautiful spot.”

But often Ember goes to her clients.

“The most recent session I did, I went to a family’s home, and I didn’t say much of anything,” she says. “I just followed them while they took their dog on a last walk. The vet was coming right after I left. I was a fly on the wall in their home.”

Ember gave a session to her former

driver’s education teacher, Megan AkersWashington. Megan’s dog Charlie, known formally as Charles Tobias, was diagnosed with bone cancer.

“Honestly, I didn’t think the photos were going to mean as much as they did,” Megan says. “Of course, I’m going to choke up while I’m talking about this. We have several of them throughout our house, framed and blown up. He was just something.

“There’s always that one dog that people talk about that they’ve had in their life that was something. And he was definitely that for our family. Taking those photos was such a bittersweet moment because Ember is wonderful. It was peaceful. It was serene. She just let us be around him.

“At the time, I was like, ‘This is cool, thank you.’ And then I got those photos, and I was like,

‘What is this?’

People who have pets deserve to have that same experience.”

Many wait until their pets get a negative diagnosis.

They meant more to me than I ever thought they could. They have touched us in many ways. I’m not lying when I say I probably tear up about that dog once a week. He’s truly missed in our family still.”

Ember says documenting the interactions between people and pets isn’t really ever sad.

“I have had some people break down and start crying,” she says. “And I still photograph that because, even if they don’t want those pictures in the moment, those are always the ones that people come back and say, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m so happy that I have this last picture even though I was emotional.’ But I’d say overall, it’s not really sad for me as a photographer. I look at it as a privilege.”

Bee Bryne, of Tails & Trails Pet Photography (tailsntrailspetphotography. com), near Tacoma, Washington, specializes in adventure photography for animals out of a desire to be outside.

“I live in the Pacific Northwest, and it’s so beautiful here,” she says.

Early on, she was asked to consider excursions for senior dogs who can’t go on big hikes. She responded, “Absolutely.” She searched for tips on senior dog photography, discovered The Tilly Project and signed up right away.

“It’s just been really wonderful the amount of work Lauren and her team put into making that available,” she says.

“It can be really challenging to find a photographer, especially if you live in a smaller town.”

Many Tilly Project photographers work on a reduced rate, but Bee keeps the same rate for all clients.

“They’re still getting that same level of care and time that you would for a full adventure session,” she says. “It just might look different depending on your pet and their specific needs. I spend a lot of time scouting locations that are stunning and look like you’ve done a huge hike and you’re out in the wilderness, and you’re not. You’re like three minutes from your car. I have a cart that I bring for dogs who need a little bit more help, even if it’s a short walk, to a stunning lake location.”

Bee wishes more pet owners would consider photography when their animals are young.

“There’s a lot of, ‘Oh, I have time. I don’t need to do this right now.’ Or, for some people, it sometimes feels silly to do a professional photo shoot with your pet. Who does that? Well, a lot of people, actually,” she says. “I think there’s a shift happening where people are realizing that their pets are family, especially for people who don’t have children. People get family portraits with their kids all the time, and they have these beautiful memories to look back on as their kids are growing up.

“A lot of people realize that they don’t have a lot of photos of them with their pet,” Bee says. “We all take millions of phone pictures, but how often are you in the photos with your dog or your cat?”

Bee says the biggest worry she hears from clients is they’re afraid they will be sad the whole time.

“There are tears a lot of the time,” she says. “But the majority of the time, the people and the dog, they’re so happy.”

Bee says often, an older dog hasn’t been out for fun lately. Sullen moods can lift in the mountains.

“So, their personality comes back a little bit,” she says. “And they get to have a great day, and their humans get to have a great day because their dog is so happy. It ends up being a lot more joyful than people anticipate.”

One pet sticks out for Bee: A tiny Yorkie sprang off a stump he’d posed on.

“Once we realized he was OK, we took a deep breath and couldn’t stop laughing at how ridiculous it was that he was this little old man, and he was just flying off a tree stump, acting like everything is fine,” she says. “He’s like, ‘I’m not sick. I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ It was one of those moments that was really joyful and silly.”

Bee chooses locations where senior dogs can have fun and be safe.

“Because I have senior dogs, too, I understand,” she says. “It’s not just a job for me. I genuinely care about my clients, and I want to help them have a beautiful experience with their pet and have these memories to look back on when they say goodbye, which sometimes is six months later and sometimes is the next day.”

Travel nurse Sereana ScharapenkoTaylor and her husband, Josh, a cybersecurity nomad, move every three to six months. They travel light but schedule photo sessions with their pugs every year.

When the couple’s dog, Tim, was diagnosed with an oral carcinoma, they worried he wouldn’t make it to the next year. So, they searched the web and found Bee. Sereana suggested a session a few weeks away. Bee encouraged them to come that weekend, and Tim died less than 10 days later.

“Had we picked the date I suggested, we never would have made it,” Sereana says.

Tim had been slowing down and didn’t have much of an appetite, but Bee had sardine treats he adored.

“He was just gobbling them up,” Sereana says. “She ended up giving us the whole bag. And she was just so good with him. And he was actually pretty energetic for the shoot.”

Sereana says Bee checked in on them.

“Especially being from out of state, it meant a lot to us,” she says. “We didn’t

have a lot of people.”

Seattle fiber artist Leslie Barber had long considered getting studio photos with her dog, Ramona, but was anxious about having her inside.

When the vet suggested the growth on Ramona’s heart looked cancerous, Leslie searched for a photographer and “stumbled upon Bee’s diamond of a website and just instantly knew I wanted her to do our photos,” she says.

“It’s quite impossible to describe Ramona without crying,” Leslie says. “She was just such a sweet girl. We used to— and continue to—joke that she used to love people more than she loved other dogs. She would sometimes give such long eye contact that made you feel so seen. She was so incredibly playful and smart and brought such immense joy into our lives.”

Bee encourages people to hire a professional, and she hires one herself once a year so she can be in the photos. Even if you can’t afford a session, Bee says get in the photos with your pets. She believes all pets deserve photos.

“A lot of people are like, ‘Oh my dog’s not perfect. They’re hyper, or they bark a lot or they won’t sit still.’ And I like to remind them your dog, your pet, your cat, your horse, they’re perfect the way they are,” Bee says. “Animals are going to be animals, and the best part about having a photo experience with them is you get to capture their personalities—silly, sweet, naughty, all the above.

Pets don’t need to be perfect to deserve beautiful photos. Just like humans don’t

need to be perfect to deserve beautiful photographs. Just be in the photos. Have the experience. You’ll never regret it, but you’ll regret it if you don’t.”

Photographing pets at the end of their lives is a heartbreaking job, “but it’s also the honor of my life to get to capture these last moments with people and their pets,” Bee says. “And it’s a job that I take very seriously. I would want that with my own animals. My pets are my babies.” n

Root for Great Taste

TURN SWEET POTATOES INTO THE HEADLINER

Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili

1 tablespoon avocado or extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 yellow onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 jalapeno, minced

2 15-ounce cans black beans, drained and rinsed

2 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

24-ounce can diced tomatoes

1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 teaspoons salt

3 cups spinach, chopped

2 cups cooked brown or white rice, prepared to package instructions

1/3 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped

Warm oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Once hot, add onions, garlic and jalapeno. Saute for 3-5 minutes or until onions have softened. Add beans and 1 cup of water. Stir until well combined. Stir in diced tomatoes, sweet potato, cumin, chili powder and salt. Cook for 20 minutes or until sweet potatoes are tender. Stir in spinach. Cook for another 5 minutes. Season chili to taste. Serve over rice, and garnish with cilantro.

Chorizo and Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into half-inch chunks

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

Sea salt, plus more for seasoning

Freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Heat oven to 450 F.

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

4 precooked chorizo links, diced into 1/2-inch pieces

4 cups kale, roughly chopped

10-ounce bag frozen cauliflower rice

4 large eggs

1 avocado thinly sliced

Cilantro, for garnish

Fresh lime juice, to taste

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place potatoes in a large bowl. Toss with one tablespoon oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and smoked paprika. Roast potatoes for 25 minutes or until browned and crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.

While potatoes cook, prepare remaining components. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, and add a tablespoon of oil. Add chorizo to skillet. Cook, stirring, until thoroughly browned. Remove to a plate, and cover to keep warm.

Lower heat to medium. Add kale. Saute and season with salt and pepper, then add to plate with chorizo. Saute cauliflower rice until just softened. Set aside. Add remaining oil to skillet. Cook eggs to preference, and season with salt and pepper. To assemble bowls, arrange layers of potatoes, chorizo, kale and rice. Top with avocado, lime juice and eggs. Garnish with cilantro.

Sweet Potato Taco Bowl

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon sweet smoked paprika

1 tablespoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1- to 2-inch cubes

Heat oven to 400 F.

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 pound extra-lean ground beef

14-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup corn

Optional garnishes: sliced avocado, sour cream, sliced jalapenos, sliced green onion, chopped cilantro, lime slices

In a small bowl, mix chili powder, paprika, cumin, salt, oregano, garlic power, onion powder and cayenne pepper. Toss potatoes with vegetable oil and half the seasoning mixture from the small bowl, about 2 tablespoons. Bake for 15-20 minutes until tender and cooked through.

Meanwhile, cook beef over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes until cooked through. If necessary, drain any large quantities of fat from skillet, leaving about 1 tablespoon. Add beans, corn, tomatoes and remaining seasoning mixture. Toss to fully coat beans and beef with seasoning. Continue to cook until beans and corn are heated through. To serve, place a layer of potatoes in a bowl. Add beef, bean and corn mixture. Top with desired garnishes.

Sweet Potato Chowder

3 ounces thinly sliced pancetta

5 tablespoons butter, divided

1 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped carrot

1/2 cup chopped celery

2 garlic cloves, minced

21/2 pounds medium sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1-inch cubes

5 cups chicken broth

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon dried sage leaves

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1 cup half-and-half, warmed

3 cups chopped fresh kale

Roasted pepitas

Minced fresh sage

Heat a Dutch oven to medium heat. Cook pancetta until browned and crisp, 4-5 minutes. Remove to a paper towellined plate.

Add 2 tablespoons butter, onion, carrot and celery to pot. Cook, stirring often, until softened and lightly browned, 9-10 minutes. Add garlic. Cook until fragrant, 30-60 seconds. Transfer mixture to a bowl, and set aside.

Add remaining butter to pot. Stir in potatoes. Cook until slightly soft, 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in broth, salt, sage, thyme, paprika, red pepper, black pepper, cooked vegetable mixture and 2 tablespoons pancetta. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook until potatoes are tender, 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Whisk about 1/4 cup of hot broth into half-and-half. Slowly add mixture to soup, stirring constantly. Stir in kale. Simmer until wilted, 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Ladle soup into bowls. Top each with remaining pancetta, pepitas and sage. Serve immediately.

Sweet Potato Parsnip Bisque

2 cups sweet potato cubes

2 medium parsnips, peeled and chopped

3 tablespoons grapeseed or coconut oil, divided 2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon ginger, minced

14-ounce can cannellini beans

Heat oven to 375 F.

21/2 cups coconut milk

2 cups water

1 bouillon cube

1 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Fresh arugula, cilantro or parsley for garnish

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss potatoes and parsnips with 1½ tablespoons oil. Spread evenly on baking sheet. Roast for 30 minutes, until tender.

Once vegetables are cooked, heat remaining oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Add garlic and ginger. Saute until garlic turns slightly golden. Add roasted vegetables and beans, reserving a handful for garnish.

Stir in coconut milk and water. Bring to a boil, then stir in bouillon. Reduce heat to a low simmer. Cook for 10 minutes. Remove pot from heat. Stir in black and cayenne peppers. Use an immersion blender to puree soup until smooth. Alternatively, allow soup to cool before transferring it to a blender and blending smooth.

Serve bisque garnished with herbs and reserved beans.

READER EXCHANGE

Crafts/Hobbies

Greetings from Northeast Oregon. My family loves to spread Christmas joy, so we participate in a service project called Operation Christmas Child. It involves packing shoeboxes with simple gifts and sending them to children around the world. Thanks to readers and church friends, we were able to pack more than 600 last year. We’re already gearing up for our 2026 boxes, so we’re accepting donations of brand-new, child-friendly items for 2to 14-year-olds. Items include toys, school supplies, clothing, hats, etc. Please send any new donated items to the address below by Nov. 1. Used items are not permitted because they can cause issues at customs. Thank you. Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/HargroveShoeboxPacking.

Brittany Hargrove 704 Foster St. Cove, OR 97824 hargroveshoeboxpacking@gmail.com

Milestones

Please join us in wishing our mom a happy 94th birthday this month. She is a mom of five, grandma of nine, great-grandma to 27 and great-great-grandma to eight. You may know her from Orchard Lanes/Strike & Spare, where she worked for more than 40 years, or maybe you know her from when she and her husband owned the old stock car racetrack in north Lewiston. She’s always a positive person and is one of the best friends you could ask for. We all feel turning 94 is a great accomplishment and hope you can spare a moment to send her a card. Thank you in advance for all the happy tears she’ll shed opening her mailbox. Dorothy Anderson, 1407 Birch Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501.

Terri Sinclair Weippe, Idaho

Our gram, Leita, will be 94 this month. We think she is still a “spunky spring chick.” She grew up on a farm with more than 5,000 chickens and still has a little coop. She enjoys loving on her family, including children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She enjoys baking and sharing all sorts of goodies. She has outdoor flowers, a garden and a fish pond. Please send her a card with well wishes and a bit about yourself to Leita H., 16340 Lower Harbor Road, STE 1 PMB 525, Brookings, OR 97415.

Ralph Gonzales and Loved Ones Brookings, Oregon

My sister, Marilyn, turns 90 this month. I’d love to see her mailbox stuffed with cards from readers. As the baby of the family, I can tell you she is the best—a role model and loving individual. Send cards to Marilyn Lloyd, 360 E. 35th Ave., Spokane, WA 99223.

Gini Cunningham Winnemucca, Nevada

My mom is celebrating her 95th birthday this month. She came from Scotland in 1951 and moved in 1960 to Vancouver, Washington, where she has been ever since. She would enjoy hearing from others as her five children, 10 grandchildren, six greatgrandchildren and one great-great-grandson celebrate her. Please send cards to Joy Chamberlain, 14904 NE 24th St., Vancouver, WA 98684.

Donna Spraycar Eugene, Oregon

Odds

I recently found a chainsaw on Jan. 20 close to Jones Creek off Highway 6. If someone has lost a chainsaw matching that time and area, they can contact me with a complete description. I will see they get it back.

Jim Lippert 344 SE Boulevard Way Estacada, OR 97023 lippertjim@gmail.com

Would anyone be able to identify people in a photo of Paulouse, Washington, high school students? I believe it is the 1926 senior class.

Phyllis Strong 1020 Strong Lane Potlatch, ID 83855

Submitting Requests Is Free

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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.

Sacred Stone of the Southwest is on the Brink of Extinction

Centuries ago, Persians, Tibetans and Mayans considered turquoise a gemstone of the heavens, believing the striking blue stones were sacred pieces of sky. Today, the rarest and most valuable turquoise is found in the American Southwest–– but the future of the blue beauty is unclear.

On a recent trip to Tucson, we spoke with fourth generation turquoise traders who explained that less than five percent of turquoise mined worldwide can be set into jewelry and only about twenty mines in the Southwest supply gem-quality turquoise. Once a thriving industry, many Southwest mines have run dry and are now closed.

We found a limited supply of turquoise from Arizona and purchased it for our Sedona Turquoise Collection . Inspired by the work of those ancient craftsmen and designed to showcase the exceptional blue stone, each stabilized vibrant cabochon features a unique, one-of-a-kind matrix surrounded in Bali metalwork. You could drop over $1,200 on a turquoise pendant, or you could secure 26 carats of genuine Arizona turquoise for just $99.

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you aren’t completely happy with your purchase, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price.

The supply of Arizona turquoise is limited, don’t miss your chance to own the Southwest’s brilliant blue treasure. Call today!

Jewelry Specifications:

• Arizona turquoise • Silver-finished settings

Sedona Turquoise Collection

A. Pendant (26 cts)

$299 * $99 +s&p Save $200

B. 18" Bali Naga woven sterling silver chain $149 +s&p

C. 1 1/2" Earrings (10 ctw) $299 * $99 +s&p Save $200 Complete Set** $747 * $249 +s&p Save $498

**Complete set includes pendant, chain and earrings.

Visit forest waterfalls at Southern Oregon’s

Barr Creek Falls

What Is It?

A road trip through Southern Oregon offers much of nature’s best, including forests, a caldera and waterfalls. When near Prospect, Oregon, or heading toward Crater Lake National Park, consider visiting Barr Creek Falls.

A three-tier waterfall totaling more than 240 feet tall, it is one of Oregon’s tallest waterfalls.

Falling Water

Spring and early summer can be the best time to visit Barr Creek Falls, as it is when water flows are highest. To visit the falls, visit the Mill and Barr Creek falls trailhead at Prospect State Scenic Viewpoint. The easy hike is about 1.5 miles round trip. On their way, hikers pass Mill Creek Falls, a second waterfall more than 170 feet tall.

Avenue of the Boulders

Barr Creek Falls is just southwest of what was once a cluster of volcanoes known as Mount Mazama. Roughly 7,700 years ago, Mazama had an explosion large enough it caused the summit to collapse on itself, creating a caldera. Just a few hundred feet from the Mill and Barr Creek falls trailhead, visitors can visit Avenue of the Boulders and see ancient, car-sized boulders from the eruption.

Crater Lake

When in the area, visit Oregon’s only official national park: Crater Lake. No rivers flow into or out of the 4,000-feetdeep Mazama Caldera. Over time, it collected water reaching depths of almost 2,000 feet and forming Crater Lake. It is the deepest lake in the United States. In part because the water is so pure—fed only by rain and snow—the lake is known for its visibility, where visitors can often see 100 feet deep.

More Information

Be sure to check weather reports before heading out for hikes. If you’re visiting Crater Lake, checking the weather is extra important. Crater Lake’s Rim Village has an elevation of more than 7,000 feet, and weather is often significantly different than it is in surrounding areas.

But When Driving, These Sunglasses May Save Your Life!

The sun rises and sets at peak travel periods, during the early morning and afternoon rush hours and many drivers find themselves temporarily blinded while driving directly into the glare of the sun. Deadly accidents are regularly caused by such blinding glare with danger arising from reflected light off another vehicle, the pavement, or even from waxed and oily windshields that can make matters worse. Early morning dew can exacerbate this situation. Yet, motorists struggle on despite being blinded by the sun’s glare that can cause countless accidents every year.

Not all sunglasses are created equal. Protecting your eyes is serious business. With all the fancy fashion frames out there it can be easy to overlook what really matters––the lenses. So we did our research and looked to the very best in optic innovation and technology.

Sometimes it does take a rocket scientist. A NASA rocket scientist. Some ordinary sunglasses can obscure your vision by exposing your eyes to harmful UV rays, blue light, and reflective glare. They can also darken useful vision-enhancing light. But now, independent research conducted by scientists from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has brought forth ground-breaking technology to help protect human eyesight from the harmful effects of solar radiation light. This superior

lens technology was first discovered when NASA scientists looked to nature for a means to superior eye protection— specifically, by studying the eyes of eagles, known for their extreme visual acuity. This discovery resulted in what is now known as Eagle Eyes

The Only Sunglass Technology Certified by the Space Foundation for UV and BlueLight Eye Protection. the most advanced eye protection technology ever created. The TriLenium ® Lens Technology offers triple-filter polarization to block 99.9% UVA and UVB—plus the added benefit of blue-light eye protection. Eagle Eyes® is the only optic technology that has earned official recognition from the Space Certification Program for this remarkable technology. Now, that’s proven science-based protection.

The finest optics: And buy one, get one FREE! Eagle Eyes® has the highest customer satisfaction of any item in our 20 year history. We are so excited for you to try the Eagle Eyes® breakthrough technology that we will give you a second pair of Eagle Eyes® Navigator™ Sunglasses FREE––a $59.95 value!

That’s two pairs to protect your eyes with the best technology available for less than the price of one pair of traditional sunglasses. You get a pair of Navigators with stainless steel black frames and the other with stainless steel gold, plus one hard zipper case and one micro-fiber drawstring cleaning pouch are included. Keep one pair in your pocket and one in your car.

confidence, knowing your eyes are protected with technology that was born in space for the human race.

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you are not astounded with the Eagle Eyes® technology, enjoying clearer, sharper and more glare-free vision, simply return one pair within 30 days for a full refund of the purchase price. The other pair is yours to keep. No one else has such confidence in their optic technology. Don’t leave your eyes in the hands of fashion designers, entrust them to the best scientific minds on earth. Wear your

with absolute

NIKON D810

180mm lens ISO 100 f/6.3 at 1/1600

Making

Visual Music

By Dave LaBelle

Saying something more than once for emphasis is a powerful tool to get attention. It’s true with words, and it can be true with photographs.

While a poet might use repeating words or phrases, photographers and artists recognize the power of repeating forms—objects, lines, tones, shapes or actions—to produce patterns and rhythm.

Repeating tones, lines, shapes or actions in a photograph can produce a visual melody, just as repeating notes in a musical composition creates an audio melody.

For example, while one giant wind turbine alone on a hillside might be eye-catching, hundreds of them working side by side is a very different visual experience. It feels almost otherworldly.

Similarly, one elk walking alone through an open field can be beautiful and serene, but a herd of elk racing across that same field— hundreds of heads and legs kicking up dust or grass—creates a powerful pattern.

Repeating forms in a composition creates patterns and can make your photos come alive with visual music. n

Reader Challenge

Slow down, make time to notice the patterns around you, from designs found in nature to human-made structures. See if you can capture an image that produces a visual harmony.

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.

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.

Summer-Ready Salad Cookbook

Ready for a fresh take on the summer salad? This cookbook offers reader-recommended options for your table. Try the Breakfast Salad, Hot Chicken Salad, Snicker Salad and much more. More than 250 recipes are in an 8½-by-11-inch indexed book for only $8 (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

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.

BY

Everybody’s Favorites

Nothing brings family together like food, but what are our readers’ favorite dishes? Check out nearly 300 recipes for appetizers, drinks, main dishes and desserts from our 2013 contest. The 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

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.

Your Lawn Care Electrify

By Miranda Boutelle

Electric lawn equipment has seen drastic improvements in cost, motor efficiency and battery power in recent years. From hedge and string trimmers to leaf blowers, chain saws, and push and riding mowers, there are lots of options for electric lawn equipment.

Electric equipment is quieter than its gas-powered counterpart and typically needs less maintenance. There’s no more mixing fuel, changing spark plugs or worrying about gas going bad over the winter. Advances in rechargeable battery technology eliminate having to lug around a heavy extension cord to get your work done. Just pop in a battery and go.

Most popular lawn equipment brands offer battery-powered options, along with newer brands that specialize in electric tools. If you need multiple tools, buying the same brand with the same battery type allows you to swap batteries among different pieces of equipment. That also means fewer battery chargers to store or keep on your workbench.

Opt for equipment with brushless motors. They are more efficient, more powerful and have a longer lifespan than traditional brushed motors.

A brushed motor transfers electricity using physical brushes, which can wear down over time. The friction caused by the

brushes makes equipment run hotter and noisier. A brushless motor uses electronic commutation with less friction, which makes it more powerful, extends the lifespan and allows you to get more done on a single charge.

A brushless motor typically costs more but is worth the improved efficiency.

Just as gas-powered lawnmowers require safe storage and handling of gas and oil, battery-powered equipment requires proper maintenance, charging and disposal. Always use the manufacturer’s original charging equipment. Charge batteries on hard surfaces away from anything flammable, and store chargers in a cool, dry place.

Most manufacturers recommend charging batteries only until they reach full capacity instead of leaving them on the

charger until you are ready to use them. This helps prevent damage to the battery from overcharging and heat buildup and reduces potential fire hazards. Unplug chargers when not in use to avoid wasting energy.

Similar to gas and oil, old or damaged batteries should not end up in household garbage and landfills, where they can ignite fires and leak toxic chemicals into soil and groundwater. Instead, recycle them at a big-box store or at a waste management site.

If you’re looking for a quieter, more efficient, lower maintenance lawn care routine, rethink your equipment options and consider electric models. If you decide to make the switch, check with your electric utility or state agency for electric lawn equipment rebates. n

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 43 years in business. btlliners.com. 541-447-0712. 0426

Strong and dependable 20-year-old female ag. graduate (May 2026) of Feather River College seeking ranch hand employment, preferably with cattle. Lilly, 916-717-9981. 0426

Antiques and Collectibles

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. 0926

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. 0526

Buying older baseball cards, collections, from the 1960s and older. Will pay cash or via Paypal. budandvicky@msn.com; 541-430-6900. 0626

WC Collectibles. We buy comic books. Local to Inland Northwest. Willing to travel. WCCollectiblesCheney@gmail.com; 509-496-1835.

Automotive

1970 GMC fleetside short box, new built 383 stroker. Saginaw 4-speed. $18K. Tri city-WA area. 509-830-2511. 0426

1991 HD-FXRSLR 80 cubic inches. Immaculate. Brandywine, cream. Leather saddlebags. Windshield. 13,650 original miles. $6K. 541-263-1009 (leave message); himtns@gmail.com. 0426

1990 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer 4x4. One owner, well cared for. $7.5K. LaGrande, OR. 541-963-2585. 0426

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. 0426

Community Events

Long Creek, OR, Emergency Services Appreciation Dinner, April 25. Live auction items include fire engine, flat utility trailer, Hamley saddle and firewood. Dinner reservations 541-421-3601. Visit cityoflongcreek.org for more info. 0426

Quick, Affordable: How to Place an Ad

„ Ads 25 words or fewer are $35 a month. An 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.

„ 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): June issue—April 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 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.

New exhibits. Annual EOU Student Exhibit and Inaugural Ceramics Open Exhibit. Opening April 3 at Art Center East in La Grande, OR. artcentereast.org. 0426

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

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.

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.

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 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 full hookup provided, plus stipend. 509-382-2759. 0426

The Wheat Lands Communities’ Fair in Ritzville, WA, is currently seeking a reliable and responsible summer groundskeeper/ camp host. Responsibilities include mowing, watering, general maintenance, overseeing the campground and other duties as needed. Would ideally be onsite by early May through late September. Full hookup provided and end-of-season stipend paid. Interested people can contact Dan at 360-521-2495. 0426

Livestock, Supplies

Live bees by Dick Turanski. New large supplier of 5 frame nucs in nuc box. Available 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 9. Nucs with your choice of queens as follows: Italians, Carniolans or Buckfast (Buckfast is NEW, starting with a limit of 2 nucs per customer). Introductory low price of $200 per nuc or more than 10 at $195 per nuc. Order via email, to dick.turanski@glorybee.com. Mail checks to RPT & Associates, P.O. Box 41294, Eugene, OR 97404. Deadline for checks must be postdated April 30, 2026. Pick up location in the gravel yard next to GloryBee’s Distribution Center, 29548 B Airport Road, Eugene (directly off Hwy 99). Stop by the pop-up tent to check in. 0426

Miscellaneous

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. Bluemountainbrush@gmail.com; bluemountainbrush.com; 509-399-3473. 1126

Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. For more info: Joe, highdesertmemorials@gmail.com or 541-815-8906, highdesertmemorials.com. 0426

Local commercial fisherman sells summer catch of preserved freshness by blast freezing at sea, gourmet canned tuna on internet. Sept.June. 100% guaranteed the best canned tuna you ever tasted. Original, jalapeno and garlic flavors available. To order: twofisherstuna.com or 206-799-1082. 0526

Nuisance trapper retiring. Selling cage and solid traps for raccoon, skunk, bobcat, squirrel, bird, fox, otter. Also, single and multi-catch mouse traps. Louise, 541-399-4593. 0426

Pets, Supplies

Havanese puppies in Rainier, OR. Hypoallergenic, great for all ages. Raised by our family as quality pets for you. Visit www.happeninhavanese.com or call Rebecca, 503-728-6241. 0426

Real Estate

Thriving turnkey all-inclusive business in Seneca, OR. Bear Valley Store. $425K. Duke Warner Realty, ddwr@ortelco.net, 541-987-2363. 0426

320 acres east of Adel, OR. Borders Hart Mountain views, Steens Mountain and Beaty Butte. Landowner tags, very rural. Reduced price: $145K. For maps: 541-659-1573; thejugglingman3@gmail.com. 0426

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; johngill@landandwildlife.com. Land And Wildlife brokerage. 0426

Mobiles to mansions. Cabins to castles. Brookings, OR, area Principal Broker Pat Piper, Century 21 Agate Realty. Helpful. Educated. Caring. 28 years of area experience. 541-251-2152; patpiperbroker@gmail.com.

20 acres for sale in northeastern NV, 10 miles east of Montello. Includes 26-ft. camp trailer, 20-ft. Conex, tools and equipment. $16K. geopup58@gmail.com. 0526

For sale/rent: 20 acres developed land, 3,600sqft. shop with “barndominium” potential. Weddings/events, horse property, RV hookups, creek, views. $575K. Seller financing. Goldendale, WA. 509-378-5886. 0426

“Tiny home,” 2014 Fleetwood single-wide MH. 784 sqft. 14’x56”. 2 bd., 1 ba. Open concept kitchen/living room, partially furnished. Garage included. $30K. 541-444-1394. 0426

Private 10-acre wild tree farm near Sandpoint, ID, with older 3-bd. mobile home, county maintained road, good building sites. $395K. Steve, 208-290-6505. 0526

For sale by owner in Baker City, OR. 2- to 3-bd. home, move-in ready. Many new upgrades. Well on the property. Fruit trees. Mountain view of Elkhorns. Call 307-321-1232 for appointment.

Recreational Rentals

Enjoy your ideal Maui getaway. This updated 2-bd., 2-ba. condo sleeps 4 and features a charming “surf shack” design. Just half a block from a beautiful beach, it’s perfect for morning strolls and sunsets. Plus, you’re steps away from shops and restaurants at Azeka Plaza. tinyurl.com/MauiGetaway. 0526

Ocean view Maui vacation rental. For the months of May-Oct. $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. 0626

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. Pet friendly. All house amenities. Winter closure Nov.-March. Reservations, info: relax@wavecatcherbeachrentals.com or text 541-740-2846.

Recreational Vehicles

2004 Fleetwood Flair, 34 ft., like new, 2 slideouts, Triton V-10, 5500 Onan, 2 AC. Garaged except when traveling since 3/09. $22.95K. tlhayward@bendbroadband.com. 0426

RV FOUR-A.C.E. 29.2. Immaculate, very livable. Low milage. $25K. New tires. $15K, safety upgrades. Stabilizer/etc. Towing package. Queen walk-around bed. Shower. Oven/microwave. $45.5K. 360-370-5292. Rvtrader.com. 0426 Services

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. 0526

Sheidler Bookkeeping. Wrangling those books so you don’t have to. QuickBooks and Xero certified. Valia, 541-519-9005; sheidlerbookkeeping@gmail.com for free consultation. 0726

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

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

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. 0426

Situations Wanted

Attractive, active 60-year-old Christian gentleman in Umpqua, OR. Business owner, loves hot rods, smooth jazz, beach. Seeks financially stable, adventurous woman, 40–60. grailgolf@hotmail.com. 0626

Elderly gentleman 6’3”, 175 lbs., seeks educated male 55 to early 60s for companionship in the Gold Beach/Brookings/ Coos-Curry area. No smoking or drinking. I’m open-minded and liberal. I love classical music, art and sci-fi. David, 29917 Harbor Way #742, Gold Beach, OR 97444-9700. 0426

Want to Buy

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. 0426

Any older Corvette 1953-63 any condition, cash. Call or text 702-296-2289 or a62vette@yahoo.com. Even if you’re thinking about selling or just talk. 0426

Everyone Plays a Role in Lineworker Safety

Preventable safety risks can result in fatal consequences

By Victoria Hampton

In 2021, Josh Sears and his crew were 24 hours into windstorm recovery on a spring day that almost became his last. Outage repairs on a remote stretch of power lines in Western Montana were routine. Yet a hidden danger, sparked by an improperly installed generator backfeeding on a power line, awaited contact.

Josh raised the bucket to make final repairs to a distribution line serving nearby homes. As he reached down to check wires torn from the pole, his hand was electrocuted.

“Electricity is silent until it’s given the potential to show you it’s there,” says Josh, journeyman lineman for Northern Lights Inc., based in Sagle, Idaho.

Josh clung to consciousness as he fought to separate himself from the wire. Within seconds, he was confronted with the aftermath of a near-death experience.

“I didn’t want to look at my hands,” Josh says. “I know what happened. I don’t want to take my gloves off and see what happened.”

Josh was surprised to find his hands intact, marked with only signs of the electricity’s path—eraser-sized burns on each hand.

“This is not a normal scenario, how this played out,” Josh says, reflecting on his recovery. “(Electricity) eats you from the inside out. That’s how electrical burns work.”

Safety is everything for lineworkers like Josh. Continual safety training, essential equipment stocked in utility vehicles and layers of safety gear ensure lineworkers have the skills and tools to keep power flowing and return home safely every day. Yet humancaused dangers pose threats outside of a lineworker’s control.

“We can train them to control electricity, lifting, rigging and grounding, but I can’t control what the general public is doing on the roadways or in work areas,” says Kristin Burge, Northern Lights engineering and operations manager.

What nearly killed Josh was preventable. Following are steps everyone can take to keep lineworkers safe and prevent power interruptions.

Safely Operate Generators

Incorrectly installed backup generators pose a life-threatening risk to lineworkers and residents.

“Improperly connected generators can create serious safety risks for lineworkers who may be working to restore power under the

assumption that lines are deenergized,” says Sarah Johnson, chief operating officer for Clatskanie PUD, based in Clatskanie, Oregon.

Backfeed occurs when improperly connected generators feed electricity back into the local power grid. During an outage, lineworkers may not know a downed or damaged power line is receiving power from an external source. This can result in electrocution. Backfeeding can also cause a generator to explode or catch fire, which puts everyone inside or near the home at risk.

To ensure permanently installed standby generators are safe, they need a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician.

“I know it’s not always financially easy for people, but use the right equipment or, when equipment is faulty, take the time and money to upgrade it,” Josh says. “What they choose to do or not do can have a big effect on us.”

Portable generators should never be plugged into a home’s wall outlet or connected to a building’s wiring. Instead, plug appliances and other devices into the portable generator based on its capacity.

Read all safety instructions before operating a generator. Because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, portable generators need to be operated in dry, well-ventilated areas away from homes or garages. Use proper extension cords and unplug appliances before turning off a portable generator. Before refueling, turn off the generator and allow it to cool.

Keep Electrical Equipment Clear

A meter on the side of a house or a pad-mounted transformer near a driveway must remain accessible to utility crews. Keep utility equipment clear of plants, outdoor decor and structures.

When planting a tree, consider the mature tree’s height and plant a safe distance away from overhead lines. Before removing a tree near a power line, contact the utility for help. Property owners can be held responsible for damaging electrical equipment when felling a tree.

While power poles may seem like an ideal location to advertise a garage sale or mount a satellite dish, attaching anything to them with staples or hardware can snag equipment and clothing.

“That can create a hazardous condition if a lineman needs to climb that pole or work on it,” Kristin says.

Keep clear of substations—the facilities that adjust high-voltage electricity to lower levels to deliver to homes and businesses. Never enter the fenced area or tamper with equipment.

Report All Hazards

Report anything affecting power equipment to the electric utility. Crews want to know about impacts to power lines and poles, transformers, meters, substations and any electrical equipment.

The public is encouraged to leave damaged equipment alone. For instance, if a tree falls onto power lines and blocks a roadway, call the electric utility for help. Don’t attempt to move or cut the tree or power equipment. There is no way for a person to know if the power line is still energized, so always assume it is. Contacting a live line can be fatal.

Have Questions? Contact the Electric Utility

When crews are working on nearby power lines, it’s tempting to take the opportunity to ask them questions. Instead, pick up the phone and call the electric utility.

“Coming in the work zone causes distractions to what we’re doing,” Northern Lights Inc. Journeyman Lineman Josh Sears says. “We don’t want to be unfriendly, but at the same time, when we’re in the bucket or up on the poles climbing, it is not a good time to approach the work area.”

Whether on the ground, climbing a pole or in the bucket, lineworkers are focused on the task at hand during every step of a project. During tailboards, a safety briefing before each project, lineworkers receive crucial information and talk through how they can safely get the job done. Another common sight is crew members in a bucket truck patrolling lines, often assessing damage for grid maintenance and outage restoration.

Instead of interrupting crews, contact the electric utility for more information. Employees are prepared to answer questions and provide updates. Ask about signing up for outage notifications.

“If the member wants to be helpful, tell other people to stay away from it and don’t go anywhere near it yourself,” Kristin says. Stay at least 30 feet away from a downed line, and never drive over one. If a line falls on a vehicle, stay inside and wait for emergency services, unless there is fire or smoke. To exit the vehicle in an emergency, open the door, stand on the threshold with feet together, jump clear of the vehicle without touching it, and shuffle or bunny hop to safety.

Respect Work Zones

Working along roadways and highways is dangerous. Line crews must pay close attention to control electricity and equipment while remaining aware of passing vehicles. Risks increase when drivers speed by, pass too close or distract crews from the task at hand. In some states, drivers are required by law to slow down and move over for utility vehicles. It’s also important to secure pets when crews are working near homes.

“If you see a crew out working, remember to slow down,” Kristin says. “Those are people’s husbands, dads and kids out there working. We need to keep them safe.”

In the best conditions, lineworkers’ jobs are difficult. During severe weather and extended outages, conditions become hazardous. Lineworkers are prepared with the training and equipment they need to safely restore and maintain power. Every person can do their part to keep lineworkers safe by letting them work without interruption or external risks.

“At the end of the day, we don’t want anyone to get hurt,” Kristin says. “We want to keep the electricity on, but we absolutely need to do it safely.” n

Mostly Clear Skies

Since the 1360s, when the rst mechanical clocks crowned Italian towers and piazzas, timekeeping has been treated as both science and spectacle. Now that legacy lives on in the Grotto Azzurra Chronograph — a timepiece inspired by one of Italy’s most dazzling natural wonders.

Its deep midnight-blue dial re ects the luminous glow of Capri’s legendary Blue Grotto — mysterious, romantic, unforgettable. Set against a gold- nished band, the look is pure Italian drama: striking, sophisticated, unapologetically bold.

But this isn’t just beauty.

ree precision subdials track seconds, minutes and hours with chronograph accuracy. A reliable movement powers the stopwatch function, while a stainless steel caseback and crown ensure durability. Water-resistant to 5 ATM and tting wrists up to 8 inches, it’s built for daily wear — and second glances.

e Grotto Azzurra Chronograph delivers oldworld Italian romance without the old-world price. Only Stauer makes heritage this attainable. Claim yours today. Because time this captivating shouldn’t wait.

Watch Speci cations:

• Made in Italy

• Precision Chronograph Movement

• Stainless steel caseback, crown, and band

• Stopwatch and chronograph subdials for seconds, minutes, and hours

• Water-resistant to 5 ATM

• Fits wrists up to 8"

Grotto Azzurra

BIG BEND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC.

P.O. Box 348

Ritzville, WA 99169

Ritzville office 509-659-1700

Toll-free 866-844-2363

Pay by phone 855-938-3645

For after-hours emergencies

866-844-2363

www.bbec.org

TRUSTEES

President Stacy Kniveton

Vice President Greg Galbreath

Secretary Branden Spencer

Treasurer Kallie Harder

Burl Booker

Lanny Hayes

Sheldon Horst

Ken Story

Dennis Swinger Sr.

GENERAL MANAGER/CEO

John Francisco

LEGAL COUNSEL

Sonyalee R. Nutsch

Lineworkers: Ready When It Matters Most

As General Manager of Big Bend Electric Cooperative, I have the unique privilege of seeing firsthand what it truly takes to keep the lights on for our members. In April, we take time to pause and recognize the brave men and women who make that possible every single day—our lineworkers.

When storms impact our communities and outages occur, many people experience the inconvenience, but our lineworkers see a call to action. Our crews are always ready when it matters most—leaving family dinners, working through the night and heading into challenging conditions to restore power as safely and quickly as possible. That readiness is not accidental. It comes from rigorous training, deep experience and a shared commitment to serving others.

What makes lineworkers especially remarkable is that they aren’t just restoring power to a system—they’re restoring power to their own communities. They live here. They raise their families here. They understand that electricity is more than a convenience; it’s essential to daily life, to local businesses, to schools, farms and emergency services. Powering the places we call home is personal to lineworkers.

Electric cooperatives were built on the principle of neighbors helping neighbors, and our lineworkers embody that spirit every day. They are the first to respond and the last to leave, often working long hours behind the scenes. At times, serving our neighbors means going beyond our own service territory through a process known as mutual aid. During major outage events, Big Bend Electric crews stand ready to assist neighboring co-ops—sometimes close to home, and sometimes across state lines—to help restore power. This spirit of mutual aid strengthens all cooperatives and ultimately benefits the members we serve.

We understand any time the lights go out can be frustrating, bringing everyday life to a halt. We are incredibly grateful to our members for your patience and encouragement during these times. Linework is demanding, physical, and at times, it can be dangerous. Our crews approach each job with a focus on safety and teamwork. They take pride in their craft and in the trust our members place in them.

On April 18, 2026, we will celebrate Lineworker Appreciation Day, but one day is hardly enough. Every day, we thank lineworkers for their service and dedication, which are the backbone of our cooperative. John Francisco