APRIL 2026
Cheshire father and son bond over shared hobby at Superior RC Page 4
Annual Meeting Announcement Page 28
BLEC 2026 Board Candidates Page 29
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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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
A Brookings, Oregon, man learned to make it himself Up Close, Page 10
The Tilly Project offers comfort to grieving pet owners Spotlight, Page 12
Root for Great Taste In the Kitchen, Page 16
Cheshire father and son bond over shared hobby at Superior RC
Story and photos by Craig Reed
The truck creeps up the rough road, boulders on one side and a drop-off on the other.
It’s slow going, but Maverick Newby steers his vehicle up the incline, reaching the top of the grade before enjoying a more gradual descent.
It’s all in the hands for 8-year-old Maverick, who operates the controls of his remote-controlled vehicle on the crawler course at Superior RC in Junction City. His father, James Newby, follows Maverick around the course with his own remotecontrolled truck.
The course is set up for 1:24- and 1:18-scale cars, trucks and crawlers.
The challenges include rocky climbs, narrow bridges and rough roads. It’s not a speed test, but rather a test of patience and control.
“I like the challenge,” says Maverick, a second grader at Territorial Elementary School. “I like to be able to drive without being in a real car. I’m more cautious than fast.”
James describes the activity as family fun.
“It’s a family place and a good group of people to be around,” he says. “It’s a way to have a good, clean time. It’s good competition without having to go out and race a real vehicle.”
James, 40, and his wife, Nicole, live in the Cheshire area with their children, Maverick and Keeley. He works for a property development firm.
James operated his first RC car back in his early grade school days.
“It was some low-end car that I drove around the house,” he says.
As he grew older, his interests changed and his RC car was put on a shelf.
Several years ago, friend Jobi Withers encouraged James to give RC cars another try. Jobi serves as an official for events at Superior RC. He loaned a truck to James and invited him to run the vehicle over the crawler course.
That was three years ago, and James has been hooked on the activity since. Eventually, he brought Maverick and got him a vehicle to drive the course.
James and Maverick prefer the challenge of the crawler course over racing around an oval speedway.
“It’s more expensive on the oval racing side,” James says. “Those cars are going 20 to 30 mph. On the crawler course, it’s maybe 1 mph.”
“I prefer the crawler course because I don’t want to break stuff,” Maverick says of the potential for crashes and damage on the fast track.
James admits he was a little heavy on the throttle when his interest in RC cars returned. But he has since eased up a bit and now his truck isn’t falling off the track nearly as much as it used to.
James says the Superior RC course has hard sections but also some beginner-friendly areas.
“This is a massive playground,” he says. “It provides a special time with my son, something you can do that keeps kids entertained. Anything you’re able to do with your kids where you’re both enjoying it equally is great.”
Troy Fennell, the owner of Superior RC, says operating RC cars is a fun activity for any age.
“I get all ages in here,” he says, adding that practice and patience are needed to improve one’s skill at controlling the vehicles.
Maverick, who also participates in wrestling, soccer and Little League baseball, says enjoying the hobby with his father is “awesome. It’s fun.”
The two have taken their RC vehicles to some other courses around the state and say the Superior RC crawler course is the best.
“We’re very happy, very lucky to have this course here,” James says. n
Superior RC is at 125 E. Fourth Ave., No. 7, in Junction City. For more information, visit superior-rc.com.
PAGE AND ABOVE:
vehicles.
have a dizzying climbing hooks and hot been updated and improved more modern innovations.
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.
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
By David Herder
Face shield
hat
Eye protection
oltageV
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.
resists burning when exposed to an arc flash.
Face shield
Hard hat
Wireless headset
Keeping the lights on is dangerous work. 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 hat
Eye protection
oltageV tester
Hard hat
Wireless headset
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
can protect the gloves from being damaged during use and prolong their life.
Hard hat
Arc-rated and fire-retardant clothing
Neck gaiters
Hoods or hard hat liners
Shirts
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
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.
stick
Shirts
Pants
Rubber sleeves
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
Flame-Resistant
Line hoses and blankets
Hot stick
Hand line
Fall-protection harness
Pole tags
visibility safety vest
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
gloves
Rubber gloves Hot stick
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Hot stick
High visibility safety vest
Rubber gloves
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.
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
If an insulating glove has any leak, cut or pinhole, it opens a path for electricity to shock a lineworker.
Hand line and hoist
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
Hand line and hoist
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
Tool holders and buckpacks
Climbing hooks
Gear bags
Additional cover up and PPE equipment
Climbing hooks
Lineworkers climbing been updated more modern crews use Steel-toe boots
Climbing hooks
Steel-toe
Personal grounding
Steel-toe boots
Personal grounding
Steel-toe boots
Steel-toe boots
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.
Lineworkers have a dizzying array of equipment that keeps them safe.
Here’s a comprehensive—though not exhaustive—look at the tools they use:
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 safe.
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
Rubber gloves
Wire tongs
Line hoses and blankets
tags
Hand line and hoist
Wire tongs
Line hoses and blankets Pole tags
Climbing hooks
Steel-toe boots
Rail boards with bucket lips
Rail boards with bucket lips
Tool holders and buckpacks
Tool holders and buckpacks
Gear bags
Gear
Additional cover up and PPE equipment
Additional cover up and PPE equipment
Personal grounding
Personal
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,
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)
Set
* $99 +s&p Save $200
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Eyes®
with absolute
NIKON D810 180mm lens ISO 100 f/6.3 at 1/1600
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
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.
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 MIKE TEEGARDEN
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.
Dear Member,
A lawsuit spearheaded by the state of Oregon could equate to a 6% wholesale rate increase for Blachly-Lane Electric Co-op in the future.
For generations, hydropower from the Columbia and Snake rivers has served as the backbone of the Northwest’s energy system, providing our co-op with affordable, reliable, and carbon-free electricity. Today, management of this vital system is again the target of litigation focused on mandating federal dams to spill more water over spillways, to ostensibly assist fish passage, rather than sending that water through turbines to generate electricity.
In fact, the federal district court in Oregon recently issued an order mandating increased water spill, drawing down reservoirs and reducing the amount of electricity the hydroelectric system can generate.
The proposal to drastically increase spillage that advanced in the state’s litigation has not been scientifically proven to help salmon and other fish species. However, the economic and operational consequences are certain: higher electricity costs for families and regional businesses, along with an increased risk of blackouts.
These financial pressures and reliability impacts arrive at a time of tightening power supplies and the growing risk of insufficient power to meet consumer demand across the West. The reliability of hydropower is more critical than ever for grid stability.
Recently, I joined other electric co-op leaders in sending a letter to Gov. Tina Kotek asking to meet with us to find a balanced path forward—one that honors our commitment to fish recovery without punishing consumers who rely on reliable, affordable hydropower to sustain their communities.
We still believe it’s time to talk and not fight. This is not an all-ornothing game. We can have healthy salmon populations and low-cost, reliable hydropower, but it’s not going to happen via the courtroom. Too much is at stake for the state of Oregon to stay in prolonged legal battles and leave rural communities behind. It is important that policymakers hear and understand how these decisions affect the people and communities who rely on this system every day.
We encourage members to stay informed about this and other issues affecting the Northwest hydropower system and the role it plays in keeping electricity reliable and affordable for rural communities.
Jeff Jones General Manager
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
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
As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, we are reminded that the principles of self-governance, independence, and representation remain as important today as they were in 1776. For 89 years, Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative has reflected those same ideals, giving members a voice, local control, and a direct role in guiding their cooperative. Together, we continue a proud tradition of democratic participation and communitypowered service.
We are pleased to welcome ORECA Executive Director Ted Case as our guest speaker at the annual meeting. In addition, Board President and District 3 Director Beverly Mattheisen and General Manager Jeff Jones will share highlights from 2025, reporting on the cooperative’s major initiatives.
Once again, the annual meeting will be offered in a hybrid format, so members may take part in the way that works best for them: online, by phone, or in person at the cooperative’s office.
Preregistration is required. Members must preregister by 5 p.m. Thursday, April 23, 2026, to attend the annual meeting. Information on how to register is included in the Official Meeting Notice mailed to all members the last week of March.
This year, members are voting on directors for Districts 2 and 4, and for the 2025 Draft Annual Meeting Minutes.
Members should complete and return their 2026 Official Ballot to make sure their voice and their vote are heard.
Members may cast their votes in one of three ways:
• Mail your ballot in the postage-paid envelope provided. Mailed ballots must be received by Thursday, April 23, 2026, to be counted. Mail early to ensure delivery by this date.
• Deliver your ballots to the ballot box at the BLEC office. Ballots delivered to the office must be received by 5 p.m. Thursday, April 23, 2026, to be counted.
• Deliver your ballot at the annual meeting. Ballots delivered to the meeting must be placed in the ballot box before the meeting is called to order to be counted.
Election results will be announced during the annual meeting and published on the Blachly-Lane website, www.blachlylane.coop, after the meeting is adjourned on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Results will also be published in the June edition of Ruralite magazine.
Members who wish to comment during the annual meeting are asked to sign up in advance. Please email blec@blec.coop or call 541-688-8711 to be added to the member comment period.
The 2025 Annual Report will be available at www.blachlylane.coop by Monday, April 20, 2026, and published in the May issue of Ruralite magazine. We encourage all members to read the report to learn more about how Blachly-Lane delivers safe, reliable and cost-based power.
Be sure to vote. All members who vote will be automatically entered into a drawing for one of five $75 bill credits.
Kelly Harpole is a friendly, family-oriented professional serving as the Assets Manager for Stewardship Development Company. In her role with the company, she manages low-income apartment communities throughout Oregon, where she finds great fulfillment in the work she does. Kelly truly enjoys helping people become more independent and supporting them in becoming the best they can be. She is excited about this chapter in her career and looks forward to continuing to grow her knowledge while contributing to a company she believes in.
Kelly has been married for 33 years to her hardworking and loving husband, Scott. Together they have two sons. Garret is a Police Officer for the City of Eugene and is married with two sweet boys. Their younger son, Gannon, is graduating from Oregon State University with a degree in Bioengineering.
Kelly’s time serving on the Blachly Lane Electric Board has been both challenging and rewarding. She has worked hard to learn everything she can in order to make the best decisions possible for the members. She values thoughtful leadership, responsibility, and service to her community.
She has a deep love for animals and enjoys the balance they bring to her life. Kelly describes herself as conservative-minded with an open and balanced perspective of life and business. She values integrity, growth, strong relationships, and doing things the right way.
Kelly Harpole
541-729-0104
Dear friends and neighbors:
I am writing to ask you to re-elect me to a final term as Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative’s (BLEC) District 4 board member. In past communications I’ve written of my nearly 30 years of professional experience at customer owned utilities, and why my family chose to live on the district’s beautiful Lightning Ridge these past decades.
As I approach this election as a one-term, seasoned BLEC board member, I am working to keep electricity rates as low as possible for all members. I’m also working to ensure that BLEC’s members have safe, fair, and reliable long-term power supply options.
Lofty goals. But what can one Board member do to make this a reality for BLEC member-owners?
Nothing.
No one person can make this happen. But working as an active and responsive team member with other Board representatives, competent staff, utility peers and colleagues at regional utilities, responsive legislators, and the participation of member-owners allow me to continue to make a contribution that makes a difference to shared interests.
Thank you for your continuing interest in our utility and your support of my work as your BLEC District 4 representative.
Mary Ann Rhodes
541-998-2630
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 Chronograph
$399
Blachly-Lane
Electric Cooperative
90680 Highway 99 N. Eugene, OR 97402
541-688-8711
800-446-8418
blec@blec.coop blachlylane.coop
Our Mission: To empower our members with safe, reliable, cost-based electricity.
Board of Directors
District 1
Ernie Jacksch, Secretary/Treasurer 541-927-3466
District1Director@blec.coop
District 2
Kelly Harpole, Vice President 541-729-0104
District2Director@blec.coop
District 3
Beverly Mattheisen, President 541-998-3704
District3Director@blec.coop
District 4
Mary Ann Rhodes, Director 541-998-2630
District4Director@blec.coop
District 5
Eric Imbler, Director 541-954-1949
District5Director@blec.coop
General Manager
Jeff Jones jonesj@blachlylane.coop
OR-17
Dear Member,
Providing reliable, safe electricity to your home and business while carefully managing costs is Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative’s most important responsibility. We understand the cost of living is up across the board, and every rate change matters to our members. Blachly-Lane regularly reviews costs to ensure our rates remain fair, sustainable and aligned with the cost of providing electric service in today’s market, while maintaining and improving our system to ensure reliability for years to come.
As we shared last month, the board reviewed Blachly-Lane’s 2026 cost study at its January meeting and approved rate updates that took effect April 1. Members will first see these updated rates reflected in bills dated May 5.
For more information about 2026 rates, see Page 8, where we explain what is changing and why. We know our members count on us, and we are committed to keeping you informed and providing clear information about how cooperative rates are set.
While many factors influence electric rates, one important piece of the picture is the Northwest’s hydropower system. Because hydropower plays such a significant role in our region’s electricity supply, changes affecting the federal dams can directly impact electric cooperatives and the members we serve. On Page 25, you can read about a lawsuit brought by the state of Oregon that has implications for the future cost of power in our region.
I’d also like to invite you to Blachly-Lane’s annual meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 25. Members may attend in person or remotely, making participation easy. The annual meeting is an important opportunity to hear updates about your cooperative, learn about key industry issues and participate in the democratic process that guides our co-op.
You’ll find meeting details on Pages 28–29, as well as in the ballot package mailed to all members the last week of March. Even if you can’t attend the annual meeting, you can still participate by completing and returning your annual election ballot.
Also, be on the lookout for the 2025 annual report, available on our website by April 20 and included in the May issue of Ruralite. The report provides a great snapshot of BlachlyLane’s operations over the past year.
Thank you for your membership. It’s a privilege to serve this community, and we appreciate the trust you place in Blachly-Lane.
Jeff Jones General Manager
The board took the following actions:
h Reviewed and approved various expenses.
h Reviewed the 2026 Rates and Cost of Service Analysis and established rates for 2026.
h Approved an “Up To” election for a
h Authorized execution of a Maintenance and Support Agreement.
h Approved Policy 160 Records Management and Retention, Policy 1410 Power Sales Agreements NLSL and Policy 1411 Power Sales Agreements NLL.