February 2019 - CCPPD

February 2019

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February 2019 3

“The Rural Voice of Nebraska”

Volume 73, Number 2, February 2019

FeaturesThe Spirit of the Unicameral 6

Small Heaters Can Lead To Bigger Bills 14While a good central heating system is designed to meet whole

house needs, sometimes people turn to space heaters foradditional warmth. Writer Derrill Holly warns how theirwidespread use, over extended periods, can boost winter heatingbills.

Departments

On the coverWinter brings a chill to Pawnee State Recreation Area in Lancaster

County. Photograph by Wayne Price

Contents

EDITORIAL PAGE 4

SAFETY BRIEFS — Murphy 14

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS by Pat Keegan 16

RECIPES 20

MARKETPLACE/CLASSIFIEDS 22

StaffEditor

Wayne PriceEditorial AssistantTina Schweitzer

Published by the

General ManagerKim Christiansen

PresidentButch Gray,

Cornhusker Public Power District

Vice President/SecretaryBryan Monahan,

Panhandle Rural ElectricMembership Association

TreasurerA.C. (Pat) Hecox,

Dawson Public Power District

Published monthly by the NebraskaRural Electric Association, 1244 KStreet, Box 82048, Lincoln, Nebraska68501, (402) 475-4988.Advertising in the Rural ElectricNebraskan does not imply endorsementfor products by the Nebraska RuralElectric Association. Correspondenceshould be sent to Wayne Price, Editor,Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box 82048,Lincoln, NE 68501.The Rural Electric Nebraskan is printedby the Aradius Group, 4700 F Street,Omaha, NE 68117. Form 3579 should besent to the Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box82048, Lincoln, NE 68501.Periodicals postage paid at Lincoln, Neb.POSTMASTER: send address changesto the Rural Electric Nebraskan, 1244 KStreet, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501.Publication numbers are USPS 071-630and ISSN 0193-4937.Rates: $10 for one year; $15 for twoyears; $20 for three years, plus local andstate tax.

The Nebraska Legislature is the only unicameral statelegislature in the U.S. Freelance writer Jason Shonerd explainshow the unicameral was designed by Senator George Norris tofoster democracy by enhancing transparency and downplayingparty politics.

Rural Electric Nebraskan4

EDITORIAL PAGE

Follow us @RENeditor

by Wayne Price

inter is a good time to see just howwell your home is sealed from thecold. Pick a day when it’s about 15

degrees Fahrenheit and there is a strongwind blowing outside. You might see yourcurtains moving with each gust of wind. Oryou might notice that your neighbor’s roof iscovered in snow but yours has melted away.Both of these situations are usually theresult of one common problem: infiltration.

Infiltration is the accidental introductionof outside air into a home, normally throughcracks in the building envelope and throughuse of exterior doors. Another term forinfiltration is air leakage. Infiltration can becaused by wind and negative pressurizationof the home.

It is important to make sure your home isas energy efficient as possible. The Allianceto Save Energy offers a number of no-cost/low-cost energy efficiency tips to reducehome heating costs while maintainingcomfort:

• Conduct a “draft check.” Your heatingdollars could be going out your windows,doors and electrical outlets. Check for airleaks throughout your home; check arounddoors, windows, fixtures, electrical outlets,wiring, plumbing and fireplace dampers.Turn it into a family activity. Draft-proofingis the least expensive energy efficiencyinvestment with the biggest payoff.

• Plug those air leaks. Seal leaks betweendoors or windows and their frames withweather stripping and between windowframes and walls with sealant or caulk.

• Install door sweeps on the insides ofexterior doors. Cold air can seep in underdoors. Solution: Door sweeps are cheap andkeep the draft out. No sweeps available?Even a rolled up towel or blanket will help.And consider twin or dual draft guards onboth sides of doors where you feel drafts.

• Open curtains and other windowtreatments on your west- and south-facingwindows during the day to allow sunlight tonaturally heat your home, and close them atnight to make it harder for warm air toescape. If you are purchasing new drapes,consider an insulated lining, which reducesboth heating and cooling bills.

• Freezing by your windows? If that's thecase – and you’ve already plugged thosewindow leaks and can’t afford new high-efficiency windows – consider purchasing akit containing sheets of plastic film to tapeover the insides of your windows. Use a hairdryer to create a tight fit.

• Consider insulating drafty electricaloutlets. Use light switch foam insulationpads and wall jack foam insulation pads onoutlets on colder exterior walls.

• You're not in the South Seas. Don’t turnup the heat so high that you can becomfortable dressed in a T-shirt and goingbarefoot. Even when indoors, dress for winterweather and layer clothing so that you cankeep the thermostat at a reasonable yetcomfortable temperature. It’s a good time towear those holiday sweaters!

• Keep furnace filters clean. Check andchange your filter every month during heavy-use winter months to assist air flow, so yoursystem doesn't have to work harder to keepyou warm.

• Seal your heating and cooling ducts. In atypical house with a forced air system, about20 percent of the air that moves through theduct system is lost due to leaks, holes andpoorly connected ducts. Sealing andinsulating ducts increases their efficiency,lowers home energy bills and can often payfor itself in energy savings. Insulate ducts inunheated areas such as attics, crawlspacesand garages with duct insulation that carriesan R-value of 6 or higher. Also, a well-designed and sealed duct system may makeit possible to downsize to a smaller, lesscostly heating and cooling system that willprovide better dehumidification.

• Let a programmable thermostat“remember for you” to lower the heat whileyour home is empty and/or overnight toreduce heating costs by up to 10 percent –and allow you to come home and wake up toa toasty, comfortable house.

And you know the best thing about thesetips? They will also reduce your summercooling costs!

WDon’t let heating dollars escape through the cracks

February 2019 5

GUEST EDITORIAL

ome say that February is thelongest month. Most of us are“over” winter by the time

February rolls around. Many aretired of the cold, or the snow, or theroad mess on your vehicles. If youare like me, you start looking at theseed catalogs and plan your gardens.February has the fewest days of anymonth but it seems longer than anyother.

Imagine (or remember) how longFebruary would be if your electricservice were unreliable? How longwould this last full month of winterbe if you had no service?

The electric industry talks a greatdeal about the necessary trinity forelectricity: safe, affordable andreliable electricity. That makessense. All three of those componentsare important. A failure on anysingle component would have a hugeimpact on you, your family and yourway of life.

Safety is always a high prioritywith electricity. Safe electricity isnecessary. We all know that powercan cause severe injury or eventragic death. Without a high measureof safety, electricity would never beusable. I cannot imagine usingelectricity if the threat of burningdown your house was high- or ifevery time you flipped a light switchyou got an electric shock. Our NREAmembers spend a great deal of timeand effort to ensure your energy isprovided safely to your home andbusiness. Employees spend hoursworking on honing skills. NREAprovides safety training to ourmembers. There are seminars,classes and on-the-job trainingopportunities. This aids your ruralelectric provider to get the powerback on after a storm as safely andquickly as possible.

We also provide consumer safetyinformation. Simple tips like do notclimb power poles and never touch a

downed power line seem intuitive-but they bear repeating. Youngercitizens may not always know orunderstand the dangers that cancome from not following basic safetyaround electricity. Losing a focus onsafety can impact the price you payfor electricity with added downtime,legal and medical fees, and otheradded costs. If you want moreinformation, review this and pastissues of Rural Electric Nebraskan orfollow NREA on Facebook.

Affordability is another keyconcept. Nebraska is ranked as the5th most affordable electricity in thenation by some surveys. InSeptember 2018, the US EnergyInformation Administration dataindicated Nebraskans paid anaverage of 12.28 cents per kWh forresidential service. Our fellowAmericans in Alaska paid almostdouble, at 22.76 cents. Hawaiianspaid a whopping 32.29 cents perkWh or almost triple our cost.Moreover, according to the WorldAtlas, our friends in Germany pay 35cents per kWh. The Nebraska

electric industry has worked hard tokeep your electric service affordable.

Perhaps the most important of thethree concepts is reliability. One ofmy coaches once told our team itdidn’t matter how fast you were, orhow smart you were, or how well youcould do anything if you couldn’t bedepended on to show up and play.That’s reliability, the last of the “big3” concepts. How frustrated wouldyou be with electric service that“flickered” on and off- even if only fora few minutes every day? How muchfun would it be to watch only parts ofyour favorite TV programs becausethe electricity went on and offfrequently? Imagine your fanrunning for only minutes an hour oryour air conditioning only working atnight on hot days?

Reliability has made electricity theessential tool it is today. We rely onflipping that switch. Even more, werely on our local PPD or cooperativesto get the power back on quicklyafter a major snowstorm or atornado. In 2018, US News andWorld Report ranked Nebraska #1 inpower grid reliability. That rankingis based on the hard work anddedication your local PPD orcooperative has made to ensuringyour lights come on AND stay on.

Yes, February is a long month. Iplan to spend it in front of my TV,looking at gardening catalogs,basking in the glow of the lights andheat from Nebraska’s high achieving,safe and reliable electric industry.

by Kim ChristiansenNREA General Manager

SReliability is an important part of public power


hen framing the UnitedStates Constitution in1787, a compromise was

made in an attempt to structure aconstitution that would be ratified bythe states united under the Articlesof Confederation. The “New JerseyPlan,” as it would be called, was theproposal for a one-house Legislaturein which all states would have anequal number of votes, similar to theArticles of Confederation already inuse, in keeping the former coloniesunified together. The plan wouldeventually be scrapped andcompromised with our currentfederal government plan, abicameral Legislature with a lowerhouse and upper house, a House ofRepresentatives and the Senatecopied from British Parliament’sHouse of Commons and House ofLords at the time. After theratification of the federal

constitution by the states, stateconventions began to form their ownconstitutions under the new federalone, in the process duplicating theidea of a bicameral Legislature intotheir state constitutions.

Nebraska, like all states of theunion, established its bicameral firstin its territorial government, andthen in 1867 when their stateconstitution was ratified. The pushfor a unicameral form of governmentin Nebraska was first introduced in1913 by a state senator named JohnNorton from Polk. He suggested astudy commission to research a freshapproach in improving thelegislative body of the state. In 1915,the commission suggested there was“no need to retain a second house torepresent the wealthy class or thearistocracy in a democratic state.”The Legislature declined to put theinitiative in favor of a unicameral on

The Spirit of theUnicameral

by Jason Shonerd

Senator George Norris was prepared to initiate an amendmentto the Nebraska constitution for a unicameral government and tocampaign to promote signatures for petitions to adopt theamendment independent of the Legislature, a right reserved forthe people in the Nebraska Constitution. He argued that theamendment would not purge corruption from government, norwould it be a promise to be the most perfect form of government,but it would make the local government easier for the commonman to follow and hold their representatives accountable.

W Charles Warner was elected tobe the first Speaker of the Houseof the newly created Unicameral.

February 2019 7

the ballot in 1915 and 1917 leavingthe citizens of Nebraska noopportunity to voice their opinions.At the 1919-1920 constitutionalconvention, Norton again nudged fora one-house Legislature in Nebraskaand proposed that it be included withthe forty-one other amendmentsrecommended for the stateconstitution. It was, however,defeated with a 43-43 tie. This wouldlead Norton to pursue a petitiondrive for a unicameral in 1923, butthat failed to garner enoughsignatures to be put on the ballot.Coincidently, on January 28, 1923the New York Times published “OneBranch Legislature For State WouldImprove Results,” a piece written byGeorge W. Norris, U.S. Senator fromNebraska. In the article Norrisadvocated for a one housegovernment to curb corruption byeliminating the conference

committee designed to amend billsbetween the two houses ofgovernment to pass them. Norris alsoproposed increased salaries forlegislators claiming that, “a memberof the Legislature ought to be paid asufficient salary so that he coulddevote his time to the duties of hisoffice. This would not only attractbetter men for the position but itwould enable good men to performbetter service.” He also suggestedthe abolition of partisanship, and anelimination of corruption inlegislative proceedings.

Senator George Norris, “TheGentle Knight of Progressive Ideals,”was born in 1861 in Ohio, moved toNebraska following completion of hislaw degree, and came to be known asthe old wise sage of Nebraska duringa career of forty years in the national

More on Page 8

George Norris at his home inMcCook, Nebraska, ca 1938.Photographs provided byNebraska State Historical Society

Norris's influence, theDepression and theother ballot issuessummoned enough

supporters for anoverwhelming

decision to makeNebraska's the only

one-house Legislaturein the country.


level as progressive representative in the federalgovernment. A devout Republican when he entered thecongressional arena in 1903 as the Congressman fromNebraska’s Fifth District, he remembered beating theincumbent supported by both democrats and populists bya mere 181 votes out of 29,673 ballots cast. Thus beganhis forty-year career as a federal representative for thestate of Nebraska with five consecutive terms as aCongressman and five consecutive terms as Senator.During his time in public life, always progressive minded,he gradually became distrusted by Republican partyleaders for the pushing of his progressive ideals even afterthe Progressive Era in American politics had come to passwith a “return to normalcy” in the 1920’s. Norris remaineda progressive idealist, however unpopular with nationalpolitics, until they came back into fashion in the late1920’s with the stock market crash and the ensuing GreatDepression, before FDR won the presidency in 1932.Norris’ achievements as Senator from Nebraska includehis fight to modernize the country by pushing for ruralelectrification, including sponsoring the Muscle ShoalsBill that authorized the damming of the Tennessee Riverto create federally generated power for the people. Thiswas vetoed by President Coolidge and President Hooverbut put back in place by the creation of the TennesseeValley Authority as a part of the New Deal under FDR,making power public for the people. Norris alsosuccessfully sponsored the Twentieth Amendment to theconstitution creating fresh start dates for terms to thecongress, moving Congressional start terms from March4, to January 3, and the Presidential start date fromMarch 4, to January 20.

After publishing his article in the New York Times,Norris, ever the progressive thinker, continued tocontemplate and create theories about how a one-houselegislature should and ought to work. Norris’ publicservice was during a time in which more and more powerwas being handed to the people. When Norris was electedto the U.S. Senate, the Seventeenth Amendment, givingthe power to directly vote for Senators and cutting outstate Legislature’s hand in the matter, had not yet beenproposed. However, Nebraska’s state Legislature hadadopted what was commonly called the “Oregon Plan,”allowing state legislatures to put Senatorial candidateson the ballot if they so wished and voting in accordancewith the people. Norris defeated his democratic opponent,and despite a democratic majority in the stateLegislature, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1912,promoting the future Seventeenth Amendment andseeing it ratified in 1913. Norris was also present in theSenate during the passing and ratification of theNineteenth Amendment giving women the right to vote,

even more power bestowed onto the people. Norris wasprepared to initiate an amendment to the Nebraskaconstitution for a unicameral government and tocampaign to promote signatures for petitions to adopt theamendment independent of the Legislature, a rightreserved for the people in the Nebraska Constitution.

In 1933, with the Great Depression in full swing, aneditor of a small weekly newspaper in Lincoln, Nebraskanamed George W. Kline began organizing a campaign inhopes of circulating petitions to put the amendment onthe 1934 ballot. Kline hoped that Norris would send aletter to be read or even speak on the amendment’s behalfat a banquet being held in early 1934 at the CornhuskerHotel in Lincoln. On February 22, 1934, Norris and otherspeakers from both major parties did indeed attend thebanquet that afternoon. In his speech, Norris gave whatcame to be known as “The Model Legislature” speech tothe 800 men and women present from every part of thestate, and it was aired on two broadcast networks so thatNebraskans from all over the state could hear. Norris

Nebraska LegislatureFrom page 7

Senator George Norris promoted the unicameralLegislature in Nebraska, approved by voters in 1934.Photographs provided by Nebraska State HistoricalSociety

February 2019 9

concluded the speech with a showing of self-awarenessthat the amendment proposed would not purge corruptionfrom government, nor would it be a promise to be the mostperfect form of government, but it would make the localgovernment easier for the common man to follow and holdtheir representatives accountable.

“To get good government, and to retain it, it is necessarythat a liberty-loving, educated, intelligent people shouldbe ever watchful, to carefully guard and protect theirrights and liberties. The proposed amendment is notoffered with the idea that it is perfect. It is not offeredwith the idea that it will eliminate wrong entirely, or thatit will make it unnecessary for the people of the State toalways keep a watchful eye upon their servants, but it willenable them to know and to find out what is wrong. It willenable them to get better laws enacted and better meninto office, and to this extent it will be a guidepost alongthe road to human advancement and a highercivilization.”

In Nebraska’s bicameral government, if one-house

passed a bill and sent it to the other and an amendmentwas added and passed to the bill, it would be sent to aconference committee, which was “the greatest evil of atwo-house Legislature,” according to Norris. Thecommittee would be comprised of four or five high rankingmembers of both houses that would in some casescompose an entirely different bill to be sent back to thetwo houses for a simple yes or no vote. There were nomore amendments and no more debate—just a simple yesor no. Furthermore, these committees would be off therecord and would be entirely undemocratic in nature dueto the leaders of the houses themselves got to decide whowas to be on the committee that would be rewriting theselaws. Norris crusaded against the use of the conferencecommittee by legislators in order to shirk responsibilityowed to the constituents, holding the legislators moreaccountable in the unicameral. During the campaign forthe unicameral amendment in the fall of 1934, Norrisconcluded a letter to Kline favorable to the unicameralbefore his speaking tour stating, “the two-houseLegislature enables men to shift responsibility – a one-house Legislature makes it impossible. A two-houseLegislature, after it has passed the buck two or threetimes, and then referred to a conference committee, has,in a parliamentary manner, covered up the tracks so thatnobody but an expert can tell just what has happened. Ina one-house Legislature this will be impossible.”

The proposal for a unicameral government was widelyopposed by Nebraska politicians, four-to-one in the houseand two-to-one in the senate, as well as newspapers, ledby the Omaha World Herald. The only papers to supportthe amendment were the Lincoln Star and the HastingsTribune. The amendment had the support of organizedlabor, former State Senator, U.S. Congressman, andoriginal supporter of the unicameral in Nebraska JohnNorton, former Governor Adam McMullen, currentGovernor Charles W. Bryan, and chairman of the politicalscience department at the University of NebraskaLincoln, Dr. John P. Senning. Though described byuniversity chancellor E. A. Burnett, as being “ratherliberal,” Senning advocated for the unicameral, puttinghis reputation and career on the line, by helping to createa citizen’s committee that drafted the amendment.Senning advised the committee with his personal libraryand long time studying of legislatures throughout hiscareer.

From October 8, until the election on November 6, 1934,Norris delivered thirty-nine speeches and covered anestimated 5,000 miles in the state of Nebraska, “nearlywearing out [his] automobile.” He spoke to a conservativeestimation of constituents between 20,000 and 30,000,starting in Hastings and speaking in every corner of thestate from Omaha to Chadron. In every location hisspeech, while extemporaneous, was generally the samepattern, exposition of the amendment and the legislative

More on Page 10

Top: Norris, left, and Professor John Senning, whowas an important ally of the single-house system. Above: Nebraska Governor Charles Bryan alsosupported the idea of the unicameral Legislature.


procedures to his own personalarguments for the amendment to aconclusion of personal appeal. Norrisrelied on his humor and folksylikeable charm in his speeches inorder to connect to the common manin his appeals. He was able to showNebraskans he was still the sameman who challenged his firstcongressional opponent to a cornhusking competition to prove he wasa man of the farming class andtherefore a man of the people.

On November 5, 1934, Nebraskanpoliticians and newspaper editorswent to bed confident theamendment would not pass. Oncethe votes were tallied, theamendment for a unicameralgovernment in Nebraska passed,286,086 for to 193,152 against.Eighty-five of ninety-three countiesvoted in a majority for theamendment, much to the surprise ofpoliticians and newspapers acrossthe state. While public polling hasshown time and time again to notalways be accurate, in 1934 a publicopinion poll showed the amendmentwas failing with three-to-twoopposition against it, when in fact itwon with three-to-two in support ofthe amendment passing with 59.6percent of the vote. Looking back,the years of 1933 and 1934 shouldhave indicated a larger initiative forchange amidst the Great Depression,the Dust Bowl, which was one of themost severe droughts the state hadexperienced, and the New Deal beingpushed by FDR. Dr. Senning alsoobserved another reason forNebraskan discontent in 1933. Hewrote that with FDR’s landslidevictory in the 1932 election, thiscaused the democratic party to wingreatly across ballots across thecountry. This, in turn, lead to a nearcomplete transformation in the 1933legislature, that largely comprised of“men that allowed their names onballots with little expectation that

they would be members of the statelawmaking body.” It made for adisappointing legislative sessionamid some of the largest crises thecountry had faced, being representedby inexperienced men with nopromise of improvement inlawmaking in the future. The 1933legislators fought frequently andpublicly, claimed they would talklittle and pass little legislation, andended up with the longest session onrecord. This session set thegroundwork for a collection ofNebraskans “in a resentful mood andready to try something new.”

The 1935 legislative session nowhad much to tackle following the1934 vote, including the redrawing ofdistrict lines due to therepresentation reduction theamendment brought with it. TheNebraska Legislature housed 133representatives within its twohouses prior to the initiation of theunicameral in 1937, the amendmentpassed called for only 30-50legislators. Dr. Senning workedtirelessly, on top of his duties to theuniversity, to redraw the newpotential district lines for the newgovernment. During negotiations,the district number was set at forty-three, arguing that a Legislature offifty members would give greatinfluence to the eastern third of thestate giving them eighteen moremembers than the western third, andwith fewer than forty-three membersthe scales again tipped in favor of theeast.

The first unicameral session beganJanuary 5, 1937, presided by Norris

himself, addressing them by stating,“You have an opportunity to render aservice to your fellow citizens that noother Legislature has ever had.” . The1937 session held true to its principleof nonpartisanship while technicallystill holding a democratic majority byelecting Republican Charles Warnerto be their first Speaker of the House.Speaker Warner told the LincolnStar, “We owe no allegiance to anyparty or to any group. Ourresponsibility is to the whole peopleof Nebraska,” remaining loyal to thecommitment of representing thepeople and not special interests. Theunicameral has remained technicallynonpartisan to this day, coming closeto returning partisan ship to theLegislature in a bill that made itthrough committee and to the flooronly to be stopped by a rule requiringa three-fifths majority to amend thestate constitution. The original votewas only two votes short of the thirtyrequired to add the amendment.

Now in its eightieth year, theunicameral government in Nebraskais still the only state to continue thispractice and the only state with anonpartisan Legislature. Theunicameral even exceededexpectations its biggest supporterNorris had for it. “In four regularsessions of a two-house Legislaturein Nebraska, coupled with onespecial session in 1935, a total of3.960 bills were introduced, of which754 passed. In four regular sessionsof the unicameral Legislature,coupled with a special session in1940, 2,703 bills were introduced, ofwhich 794 were passed. Thereduction in number of bills was1,897- eliminating the waste ofprinting, the waste of time andenergy of committees, and the wasteof the people’s money.” Despite itsearly opposition and criticism, theunicameral in Nebraska hasexceeded all expectations in makinglegislation in the state more efficientand more economically feasible.

Jason Shonerd is freelance writerand history buff. He lives in Lincoln,Neb.

Nebraska LegislatureFrom page 9

Nebraska is currently the onlystate with a nonpartisanunicameral Legislature.


o industry is immune fromthe threat of disruptivetechnologies. New companies

are creating innovative variations ofproducts and services that build uponprevious models to offer more costand time savings. As a result, peopleare flocking to these technologiessimply because they improve theirlives. A prime example is the electricairplane.

Zunum Aero is an aviation startup,backed by Boeing and JetBlue, whofound a niche in short-haultransportation. Founded in 2013, thisWashington state company expects toroll out their 12-passenger, hybrid-electric planes by the early 2020s.Just like a hybrid car, their airplanewill rely on both batteries and anengine to fly. The forward-thinkingcompany recognizes that batteryenergy storage is advancing quiterapidly and once it matures, theairplanes are expected to be fullyelectric.

The early Zunum Aero planes willbe able to travel an estimated 720miles from take-off to landing, which

is roughly a trip from Milwaukee,Wisconsin to New York, and by 2030,they’re expected to reach flightdistances of more than 1,000 miles.Nevertheless, the startup believesthat the majority of trips will bemuch shorter, which will reduce faresbetween 40 and 80 percent.

According to their websiteZunum.aero, a flight from Memphisto New Orleans would drop from$240 to $126. The price reduction is aresult of a variety of differenteconomic factors. As expected, theplanes use less fuel, which equals costsavings. The time it takes to fuel upis also reduced which means quickerturnaround for the aircrafts. Timeequals money. The smaller airportsare also significantly less congestedwith planes and people. For theMemphis to New Orleans trip,estimated door-to-door time for apassenger would be reduced from 5hours and 28 minutes to 2 hours and17 minutes. Convenience andaffordability are key to Zunum Aero’ssuccess.

This goal of efficient, regional

travel will shake up the airlineindustry when it comes to fruition.Zunum Aero poses that there are13,500 under-utilized airports in theUnited States. Of these 13,500airports, just 1 percent serviceroughly 96 percent of all air traffic.This means that the smaller, regionalairports, built when air travel firstboomed, have been largely left behindas air traffic concentrated to regionalhubs like Atlanta and Dallas. Thecompany’s co-founders, Matt Knappand Ashish Kumar, hope to leveragethese smaller airports, avoidcongestion of large airports and usetheir planes to connect communitiesacross America. With greatermobility comes greater connection.

For more information, visithttp://zunum.aero

Kaley Lockwood writes onconsumer and cooperative affairs forthe National Rural ElectricCooperative Association, the nationaltrade association representing morethan 900 local public power districtsand electric cooperatives.

N

Landing soon in a town near youThe Electric Airplane:

by Kaley Lockwood

February 2019 13

Michelle Pastor, education programadvisor for Tri-State Generation andTransmission Association, is seekingparticipants for the National EnergyEducation Development (NEED)Project.

TEACHERS Wanted

The NEED Project offers a three-day summerenergy conference for 4th-12th grade teachers.During this event educators receive personaldevelopment credit, STEM curriculum trainingand a classroom kit to keep. The conference willtake place June 18-20 at Tri-State headquartersin Westminster, Colorado, and most expenses arecovered. Nebraska teachers who are or who teachpublic power district or electric cooperativeconsumers in Tri-State’s association can apply atwww.tristate.coop/NEEDapplication.

Tri-State Offers Summer Conference for Members

For more informationcontact Michelle Pastor:

303-254-3187

[email protected]


uring winter, for many of us,comfort at home means heat.While a good central heating

system is designed to meet wholehouse needs, sometimes consumersturn to space heaters for additionalwarmth. Some people use one toboost temperatures for a single roomwhere the available heat isinadequate, but their widespreaduse, over extended periods, can boostwinter heating bills.

“In some cases, small space heaterscan be less expensive to use if youonly want to heat one room orsupplement inadequate heating inone room,” according to analysts atthe U.S. Department of Energy(DOE). “However, a space heater isnot necessarily an economical sourceof long-term warmth. It is not analternative to a whole-home heatingsystem.”

Right Type for the JobAccording to DOE, two types of spaceheaters are generally available forthe residential market.

Most can deliver between 10,000Btu and 40,000 Btu of heat per hourand commonly run on electricity,propane, natural gas or kerosene.Wood and pellet stoves are alsoincreasingly available for manyapplications.

Convective heating circulates airwithin an enclosed space, whileradiant heating transfers warmingenergy directly to objects or peoplewithin close proximity to its source.

If central heating is unavailable orinadequate, a convective heatingunit can distribute heat relatively

evenly throughout an enclosed space.For garages, workshops, workoutrooms or laundry areas, used for afew hours a day or each week, aconvective heater could be a good fit.

Many convective electric heaterscontain some type of sealed heattransfer liquid. They allow heatgenerated by the devices to storeenergy as heat, so they cycle lesswhile providing consistentperformance.

Radiant electric heaters typicallyinclude infrared heating elements.Nearby surfaces, including peopleabsorb the heat. Air in immediateproximity to the unit’s enclosure orcabinetry also aids in the transfer ofconductive warmth.

Safe Not SorrySpace heaters get seasonal use, butthey are responsible for 25,000residential fires a year, according tothe U.S. Consumer Product SafetyCommission, which pegs the annualmortality rate at 300 a year. Burninjuries associated with surface

by Derrill Holly

D

Small Heaters

Bigger Billscan lead to

Learn why a space heater is not necessarily an economical source of long-termwarmth and is not an alternative to a whole-home heating system.

The key is using spaceheaters in smaller rooms

that are occupiedinfrequently, in

conjunction with lowerthermostat settings onyour central system.

February 2019 15

contacts with room heaters sendabout 6,000 people to emergencyrooms every year, and most of thoseincidents don’t result in fires.

Because the devices are designedto give off heat, they should alwaysbe set in locations clear of allflammable materials and out ofreach of small children, pets oranyone with impaired mobility.

In recent years, many spaceheaters have been designed with tip-over safety features, whichautomatically shut off the powersource in the event that the unit tiltsbeyond its upright position.

Because space heaters aredesigned specifically to produce heat,they should be plugged directly intoa wall whenever possible. If anextension cord is used, it should beheavy duty, and made of 14-gaugewire or larger.

Given a choice between high,medium and low, or an adjustablethermostat, choose the latter. A unit

that heats your space to the desiredtemperature will cycle less, savingyou energy, and never overheat theroom.

And buy the right size heater forthe right size space––too small andthe warming results could bedisappointing, too large or powerfuland you’ll be uncomfortable. Anytime you open doors or windows tovent away warm air, you are wastingenergy you’ve already consumed toproduce heat.

Getting More for Less“Space heaters are not the idealsolution for heating homes,” saidBrian Sloboda, a senior programmanager for the National RuralElectric Cooperative Association. “Forevery unit of electricity that isconsumed by these devices, theyproduce one unit of heat.”

While adding several space heatersto supplement your central heatingsystem is also likely to drive up your

energy costs, selective use can helpyou save money.

According to analysts at theEnvironmental Protection Agency, thekey is using space heaters in smallerrooms that are occupied infrequently,in conjunction with lower thermostatsettings on your central system.

Lowering thermostat settings from70 to 65 degrees and using athermostat-controlled space heater toheat 10 percent of a home’sconditioned floor space will save aheat pump user $67 a year. But theEPA cautions that space heaters aremost efficient when used in smallspaces for limited periods and canactually waste energy if consumerstry to heat too much area with thedevices.

There are currently no spaceheaters among the EPA’s list ofEnergyStar-rated products. Agencyofficials said they have evaluatedseveral models but have no plans toinclude such products in the labelingprogram in the near future.

Still, high-end space heaters areheavily marketed during the autumnand winter months.

“Most of these units are verysimilar in design, but the cabinetry orpackaging, are major selling points,”said Sloboda. “Consumers shouldconsider the wide range of heatersavailable, and their own taste infeatures and design before buyingone.”

An energy expert at your publicpower district or electric co-op canhelp determine if a space heater isright for your home.

“They may suggest otheralternatives, like sealing air leaks,adding insulation or tuning up yourheating system so it operates moreefficiently,” said Sloboda. “Those arejust a few of the options that won’tincrease your overall energy use.”

Derrill Holly writes on consumer andcooperative affairs for the NationalRural Electric CooperativeAssociation, the national tradeassociation representing more than900 local public power districts andelectric cooperatives


SAFETY BRIEFS

Winter storms can bring the danger of downed power lineseing aware of the dangers ofdowned power lines remainsimportant as another season

of winter storms gets underway,according to Nebraska Public PowerDistrict.

High winds, heavy snow and icebuild-up can cause power lines tobreak or falter.

“Anytime someone sees a powerline down on the ground or blowingin the wind, we encourage people tostay clear of the area and notify theirlocal power provider immediately,”says NPPD Distribution SupervisorRay Boston. “Broken power lines canhave an electrical charge and arevery dangerous if not handled by aprofessional. At no time should thepublic attempt to move a downedpower line.”

Winter storms can bring a fewdifferent threats to power linesincluding galloping, downed, andfloating wires. Galloping wires occurwhen high winds force two adjacentpower lines to hit each other, whichmay cause an outage. Floating wiresconsist of power lines that have beenbroken and are blowing in the windor are not long enough to contact the

ground. If a powerline falls on a roadway,

motorists should not try to drive overthe line or move it from the roadway.This could result in serious injury. Ifa power line were to fall on top of adriver’s vehicle, the occupants shouldremain inside, call for help, and waitfor a professional to deenergize theline.

“If a power line has fallen on yourvehicle, and a fire, or some otheremergency, is forcing you to exit thevehicle, you want to take a couple of

precautions,” added Boston, “get tothe edge of your vehicle and leap asfar away as possible, landing on twofeet and never touching the groundand vehicle at the same time. Thenshuffle at least 35 feet away fromyour vehicle. Although you may notbe touching the power line directly,the ground and other objects in thearea could be carrying an electriccharge.”

Remember, if you see a downedpower line, contact your local ruralelectric utility.

B


: It’s great to read about all theways energy efficiency

improvements to the home can savemoney, but what about folks like mewho are renting or don’t have a lot ofmoney to spend? Are there things Ican do to reduce my energy bills?

: That’s an excellent question.Not everyone can replace their

furnace with an air-source heatpump, whether they’re renting, ortheir budget won’t allow it. Here areseven low-cost efficiency tips thatcan help you reduce your energybills.1. Mind the thermostat. You

might be able to trim your energy billby carefully managing thetemperature in your home. TheDepartment of Energy suggestssetting your thermostat to 68degrees F on winter days. If that’s toocool, try other ways to stay warm likelayering with an extra sweater. Youcan save more energy by turningdown the thermostat even lower atnight or when no one is home. Thesame principle works in reverseduring summer months. Just set thethermostat higher to reduce yourenergy use for air conditioning.2. Go programmable. If you don’t

always remember to adjust yourthermostat manually, you couldbenefit from a programmable model.In the right situation, set correctly,programmable thermostats can save$150 a year. Some programmablethermostats can be managed fromyour smart phone or other devices.Before you purchase one, make sureyour landlord approves. 3. Try zone heating. If you don’t

mind less-used rooms being colder,you might be able to save energy(and money!) by zone heating.

Electric baseboards make it easybecause they typically havethermostat settings on the units or

in each room. Portable electric spaceheaters can also be a good tool forzone heating if they are used safelyand wisely in the area you spend themost time. Keep in mind, if you’reusing space heaters, you’ll need toreduce the heating you’re supplyingto the rest of the home. Spaceheaters that are used incorrectly canbe dangerous and increase energycosts. If your heating system needs tobe replaced, you can talk to yourlandlord about installing a mini-splitsystem, which is perfect for zoneheating and cooling, and easier toinstall than a new duct and furnacesystem.4. Stop air leaks. Small gaps

around windows, doors, wiring and

plumbing penetrations can be majorsources of energy loss. This problemcan be alleviated with a littleweather stripping and caulk, but youshould check with your landlordbefore you get started. Better yet,convince the landlord to do the work!A $10 door draft stopper (also knownas a “door snake”) is a simple way toblock gaps underneath exteriordoors. Sealing air leaks around yourhome could shave up to one-fifth ofyour heating and cooling bills. 5. Manage your windows. Your

windows may be letting heat outduring the winter and letting heat induring the summer. Windowcoverings like medium or heavy-weight curtains and thermal blindscan help. On cold winter days,window coverings can keep warmthinside and improve comfort. Openingup window coverings when you’rereceiving direct sunlight is a ‘passivesolar’ technique that can help cutyour heating costs. You can alsocover windows with clear plastic toreduce heat loss and air leaks.During the summer, keep windowcoverings closed to block the sun andto keep windows from heating thecooler indoor air.6. Look for energy wasters.

There are also small steps you cantake every day to reduce your energyuse. Water heaters should be kept atthe warm setting (120°F). Washdishes and clothes on the mosteconomical settings that will do thejob and always wash full loads. Usethe microwave instead of the ovenwhen possible.7. Landlords can help.Hopefully

these tips will help you reduce yourenergy bills and increase yourcomfort, but consider talking to yourlandlord about additional ways tosave, like installing betterinsulation, energy efficient windowsor heating systems. Many landlordsmake these types of investments toadd appeal to their rental properties,which ultimately improve the valueof the property.

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS

Seven low-cost energy tips for renters by Pat Keegan

Q

A

Get the most out of your hot wateruse by only washing full loads ofdishes. Photograph provided byPixabay.com

Millions are expected to benefit from a new technology that could relieve years of severe joint discomfort; reprograms the body to block slow burning inflammation instead of creating it

Good News for Americans, Bad News for Pain Drugs

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THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE. RESULTS MAY VARY.

By Casey Law, Health News CorrespondentNATION- Several of the major drug companies behind popular pain relievers may take a nancial hit as manufacturing of a new pill is

now complete. Using a new technology, the pill could be

safer and more effective than many store bought brands.

The pill, VeraFlex, was developed in May of this year by a private company in Seattle.

Functioning primarily as an immune mod-ulator, the pill targets the body’s immune system which can decrease pain in the body.

The Science Behind ReliefResearch shows that the joint stiffness,

soreness and discomfort associated with arthritis is caused by in ammation which attacks healthy cartilage and protective tissue.

And according to leading medical scien-tists, this in ammation is caused by two in ammatory enzymes released by the body’s immune system.

Remarkably, the active ingredients in VeraFlex help to block the production of both these enzymes, resulting in a dramatic decreasing in swelling, in ammation, and discomfort.

Right now, the leading over-the-counter pills are only able to block one of these enzymes!

It’s why so many sufferers fail to ever nd relief.

Years of Discomfort Relieved in 5 Days“VeraFlex users can generally expect

more exibility in three days...their joint pain alleviated in ve days...and in just seven days, a tremendous improvement in overall joint function that may help them move like they did years prior” explains Dr. Liza Leal, developer and spokesperson for VeraFlex.

“It’s an incredibly powerful little pill. And with the addition of a patented absorption enhancer, it packs an even greater punch. That’s why I’m so excited to be the rst to share these results. It’s giving sufferers their life back.”

A Safer, More Effective Avenue to Amazing Relief

Its widely accepted through the medical community that in ammatory enzymes are the primary cause of pain and suffering in millions of Americans. It’s why most pre-scriptions and even nonprescription pills are designed to block them.

However, what most people don’t know is that even the most advanced ones can’t block both!

And yet, that’s exactly what VeraFlex is designed to do and why it works so well.

“Top pharma companies have struggled to create a drug that blocks COX and LOX; the medical names for the two in ammatory enzymes in the body. Consider the top seller Celebrex, it only blocks one variation of the COX enzyme” explains Leal.

“And that’s because they have focused on using chemicals instead of natural substances like VeraFlex.”

“Every VeraFlex capsule contains an ultra-high dose of a patented plant extract which has been clinically shown to block both enzymes, bringing relief to every joint that hurts!

“The kind of relief most people have never experienced. I often say two enzymes, twice the relief. People think I’m kidding until they try it.”

Piling on the Clinical ResearchRemarkably, the key ingredient in VeraFlex

is protected by 8 patents that spread from the US into Canada. And as would one guess, it’s backed by an enormous amount of research, including two patient clinical trials.

In the rst, 60 participants with rheumatoid arthritis and/or osteoarthritis were randomly placed into four groups.

Two groups were given the patented in-gredient in VeraFlex, one was given the drug Celecoxib, and the last group a placebo. The results were monitored at 30, 60, and 90 days.

The data collected by researchers was stunning.

The groups taking the VeraFlex ingredient saw staggering improvements in arthritis symptoms such as exibility, discomfort and function.

And even more astonishing they experienced a dramatic reduction in pain by the 30-day mark that was even better than Celecoxib, a powerful drug!

A second study was conducted to ensure the data was accurate and again the results partici-pants experienced taking the VeraFlex compound blew away researchers.

This time it beat out the drug Naproxen. Shockingly, both men and women experienced a reduction in joint stiffness two days faster than when using Naproxen.

“I have to admit I was surprised when I read the initial ndings” explains Leal. “But when you look at the science it just makes sense. It’s

going to change everything.” Faster Delivery, Maximum

AbsorptionVeraFlex is mainly comprised of two

patented ingredients: Univestin, a power-ful immune modulator which blocks the enzymes which cause your joints to hurt and BiAloe, an absorption enhancer (accel-erator) that ensures maximum potency.

Research shows that severe joint discom-fort arises when the immune system goes haywire and releases COX and LOX into your blood stream, two enzymes that caus-es tremendous swelling and in ammation around cartilage and protective tissue.

Over time, this in ammation overwhelms the joint and it begins to deteriorate result-ing in a daily battle with chronic pain.

Unfortunately, modern day pain pills are only able block only one of these enzymes, resulting in marginal relief and continued suffering.

The Univestin in VeraFlex is one of the only known substances which has been proven successful in blocking both en-zymes, resulting in phenomenal relief from the worst kinds of discomfort.

The addition of BiAloe, a unique aloe vera extra, maximizes the delivery of the plant based Univestin extract to every joint in the body because it is proven to improve nutrient absorption for maximum results.

Aloe Vera also is proven to support the body’s immune system which manages in ammation, further supporting relief. How to Claim a Free 3-Month Supply

Of VeraFlex Due to the enormous interest consumers

have shown in VeraFlex, the company has decided to extend their nationwide savings event for a little while longer. Here’s how it works...

Call the VeraFlex number and speak to a live person in the US. Callers will be greeted by a knowledgeable and friendly person approved to offer up to 3 FREE bot-tles of VeraFlex with your order. VeraFlex’s Toll-Free number is 1-800-235-7807. Only a limited discounted supply of Veraflex is currently available.

Consumers who miss out on the current product inventory will have to wait until more becomes available and that could take weeks. They will also not be guaran-teed any additional savings. The company advises not to wait. Call 1-800-235-7807 today.


ew things go together quitelike cold weather and comfortfoods. However, those hearty

dishes that are typically craved onblustery days are usually notclassified as “healthy.”

With the right approach, though,you can put a better-for-you twist onsome of your favorite dishes that cankeep you cozy and satiated duringthe winter season. For example, youcan put a grown-up twist on grilledcheese and tomato soup with thisrecipe for Creamy Tomato andRoasted Pepper Soup with CheddarCracker Melts.

Pairing flavorful seasonal disheslike soups and stews with awholesome snack cracker likegluten-free, Crunchmaster TuscanPeasant Crackers can help satisfythose comfort food cravings whilealso contributing to a healthylifestyle. With 20 grams of wholegrains per serving, these crunchy,robust baked crackers are alsocholesterol-free, allowing you to takea back-to-basics approach to yourdiet using simple ingredients and noartificial flavors or colors.

For other seasonal recipes,coupons, and cooking tips, visitcrunchmaster.com.

Down Home Recipes

Fight the cold with hearty comfort foods

F

2 tablespoons olive oil 1 onion, chopped1 carrot, chopped 3 cloves garlic, chopped1 teaspoon salt, divided

1/2 teaspoon pepper1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 pinch chili flakes4 cups organic no-salt-added

vegetable broth1 can (28 ounces) no-salt-added

diced tomatoes1 cup chopped prepared

roasted red peppers2 bay leaves

1/3 cup 35 percent heavy cream2 tablespoons finely chopped

fresh chives, divided1 teaspoon cider vinegar

Cheddar Cracker Melts:24 Crunchmaster Tuscan

Peasant Fire Roasted Tomato Basil Crackers

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In Dutch oven or large saucepanover medium heat, heat oil. Cookonion, carrot, garlic, 1/2 teaspoonsalt, pepper, paprika and chili flakesabout 5 minutes, or until vegetablesare slightly softened.

Stir in broth, tomatoes, roasted redpeppers and bay leaves; bring to boil.Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer15-20 minutes, or until vegetablesare tender. Discard bay leaves. Letcool slightly. Transfer to blender;puree in batches until smooth. Stir incream, remaining salt, 1 tablespoonchives and vinegar.

To make Cheddar Cracker Melts:Heat broiler to high and positionrack in center of oven. Arrangecrackers on parchment paper-linedbaking sheet. Sprinkle with cheese.Broil 1-2 minutes, or until cheese ismelted.

Divide soup among six bowls.Sprinkle with remaining chives andserve with Cheddar Cracker Melts.

Creamy Tomato and Roasted Pepper Soup

February 2019 21

Reader Submitted Recipes

3 tsp vegetable oil3/4 lb lean ground beef

2 cups tomato sauce1 cup ricotta cheese1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley1 bag Crunchmaster Tuscan

Crackers

Preheat oven to 375°F.Heat oil in skillet set over medium-

high heat; cook beef, breaking up witha spoon, for 8 to 10 minutes or untilbrowned and cooked. Stir in tomatosauce; simmer for about 5 minutes oruntil slightly thickened. Transfer to 8-inch square baking dish.

Spread ricotta over beef mixture;sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bakefor about 15 minutes or until heatedthrough and bubbling. Sprinkleparsley over top.

Serve warm with crackers.

Lasagna Dip

Pepperoni Pinwheels1 tube refrigerated pizza crust1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese1 cup chopped pepperoni

1/2 cup spaghetti sauce, warmed

Arlene Miller, St. Paul, Nebraska

Sweetheart Meat Loaf

Kathleen Jensen, Stanton, Nebraska

Hugs “N” Kisses Cookies

Roberta Ann Marshall, Beaver City, Nebraska

In a blender combine carrots, celery, green pepper and onion and puree.In a large bowl combine the eggs, mustard, ketchup, cracker crumbs andvegetable puree. Crumble meat over the mixture and mix well. On agreased broiler pan, pat meat mixture into a heart shape, about 1 inchthick. Cover and bake at 350 for 40 min. Uncover and top with ketchupand bake an additional 20 min. longer.

Cut cookie dough into 1/4 inch slices. On a floured surface, roll each sliceinto a 6 inch rope. Cut half of the ropes in half width-wise. Form into “X’s”on ungreased baking sheets. Seal edges and flatten slightly. Shaperemaining ropes into “O’s” on ungreased baking sheets. Seal edges andflatten slightly. Sprinkle with red colored sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for8 to 10 minutes, until edges are lightly browned. Cool for 3 minutes.Remove from baking sheets and place on wire racks to cool completely.Makes 5 dozen.

2 med carrots, cut into chucks2 celery ribs cut into chucks1 small green pepper cut into chucks

1/4 cup chopped onion2 eggs2 Tablespoons prepared mustard2 Tablespoons ketchup1 cup crushed saltine crackers (about 30)2 pounds ground beef1 pound ground turkey (or all beef)

Additional ketchup

1 package (18 oz.) refrigerated sugar cookie doughRed colored sugar

On floured surface roll dough into a 16” X 10” rectangle. Sprinkle withcheese and pepperoni. Roll up jelly roll style, starting with long side. Cut2 inch slices. Place cut side down on greased 15” X 10” baking sheet, lightlypress down to flatten. Bake 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or untilgolden brown. Serve with spaghetti sauce over them. Makes 10 rolls.


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February 2019 - CCPPD

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