Rural Electric Nebraskan

December 2012

OVER THE YEARS, WE’VE SEEN THE USES FOR ELECTRICITY CHANGE. BUT ITS VALUE HASN’T.

www.tristate.coop

If you question the value of electricity, consider its role in your daily life. From the

comforts and conveniences of home to the time-saving tools at work, electricity is vital

to how we live. In 1952, Tri-State was formed as a consumer-owned power provider with

the mission of delivering reliable, affordable electricity throughout the rural West. Today,

we generate and transmit electricity to our 44-member co-ops who, in turn, serve more

than 1.5 million people across a 200,000 square-mile territory. Collectively, we know

we’re delivering more than electricity. We’re delivering quality of life.

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association • P.O. Box 33695 • Denver, CO 80233 • Wholesale power supplier to 44 electric cooperatives in Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska and Wyoming.

December 2012 3

“The Rural Voice of Nebraska”

Volume 66, Number 12, December 2012

Features

Spotter’s guide to Transmission poles and lines 6

Transmission structures and towers carry mass volumes of high-voltage current over large distances across Nebraska.With a lit-tle practice, you can begin to identify devices attached to towersand even guess voltage levels.

The Santa Lady of Eustis 12

Nancy Laier has collected just about everything Santa Clausrelated over the years. She opens her home to visitors each yearto share her collection and the Christmas spirit.

Departments

On the cover

Nancy Laier has been collecting all sorts of Santas since 1966. See relat-ed story on Page 12. Photograph by Wayne Price.

Contents

EDITOR’S PAGE 4

SAFETY BRIEFS — Murphy 16

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS by James Dulley 18

RECIPES 20

ADULT PEN PALS 21

MARKETPLACE/CLASSIFIEDS 22

Staff

Editor

Wayne Price

Editorial Assistant

Kathy Barkmeier

Published by the

Visit us at www.nrea.org

General Manager

Jay Holmquist

President

Gary Dill,

Roosevelt Public Power District

Vice President/Secretary

Randy Papenhausen,

Cedar-Knox Public Power District

Treasurer

Ron Jensen,

Loup Valleys Rural

Public Power District

Published monthly by the Nebraska Rural Electric

Association, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln,

Nebraska 68501, (402) 475-4988.

Advertising in the Rural Electric Nebraskan doesnot imply endorsement for products by theNebraska Rural Electric Association.Correspondence should be sent to Wayne Price,Editor, Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box 82048,Lincoln, NE 68501.

The Rural Electric Nebraskan is printed by JacobNorth Companies, Box 82046, Lincoln, NE68501. Form 3579 should be sent to the RuralElectric Nebraskan, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE68501.

Periodicals postage paid at Lincoln, Neb. POST-MASTER: send address changes to the RuralElectric Nebraskan, 1244 K Street, Box 82048,Lincoln, NE 68501.

Publication numbers are USPS 071-630 andISSN 0193-4937.

Rates: $10 for one year; $15 for two years; $20for three years, plus local and state tax.

n October I attended the 2012Communications and MarketingConference hosted by Tri State G&T in

Westminster, Colo. It is one of the few con-ferences I attend on a regular basis but I tryto go because I know it is important to con-tinue to learn. I want to always be better at what I do.

Attending workshops or conferences is oneway that I can continue to develop andacquire new skills to use on the job.The same goes for the men and women

who serve on the boards of our state’s ruralelectric power districts and cooperatives.These elected directors often make multi-million dollar decisions that can impact theelectric system for many years down theroad. One of the greatest strengths of our rural

electric program is the commitment of direc-tors, managers, and employees to educationand professional development.The National Rural Electric Cooperative

Association (NRECA) offers a multi-parttraining program designed to prepare direc-tors to make wise business decisions in theboardroom.Of nearly 7,000 active directors in the

rural electric program today, nearly sixtypercent have earned their CredentialedCooperative Director Certificate (CCD).These directors and many others are nowfocused on NRECA’s Board LeadershipCertificate (BLC) courses to stay current onsuch important issues as power supply, regu-latory requirements, and environmentalstewardship.Five locally elected directors from electric

cooperatives and public power districts inNebraska received the CredentialedCooperative Director certificate fromNRECA. Eight directors completed theNRECA Board Leadership Program.These individuals were recognized at

NRECA’s Region VII and IX meeting inOctober for their commitment to educationand attainment of the CredentialedCooperative Director certificate before anaudience of more than 1,000 electric cooper-ative and public power officials from 13states.Today’s electric utility environment impos-

es new demands on rural electric utilitydirectors, particularly increased knowledgeof changes in the electric utility business,new governance skills and a working knowl-edge of the cooperative principles. Electriccooperatives and public power districts inNebraska have a commitment to workthrough the Nebraska Rural ElectricAssociation and NRECA to sharpen thisbody of knowledge for the benefit of theirelectric consumer-owners.The NRECA Credentialed Cooperative

Director, or CCD, program requires atten-dance and demonstrated understanding ofthe basic competencies contained in five corecourses:• Director Duties and Liabilities• Understanding the Electric Business• Board Roles and Relationships• Strategic Planning• Financial Decision MakingDirectors have several opportunities dur-

ing the year to earn their CCD certificate,including NRECA’s pre-annual meetingtraining, pre-annual director’s conferencetraining, summer schools, statewide associa-tion sponsored programs and on-site train-ing. NREA hosts a course in conjunctionwith its annual legislative event in February. The CCD certificate is earned by attending

all five required courses and successfullycompleting a learning assessment for each. The NREA member-system directors that

received the CCD are Charles Carlson andRichard Erwin from Cedar-Knox PPD;Lawrence Franzen from Cornhusker PPD;Bruce Gerk from Highline ElectricAssociation; and Don Heller from StantonCounty PPD who, sadly, passed away earlierthis year.There were eight directors who completed

the NRECA Board Leadership Program.They included: Dwane Piere from BurtCounty PPD; Danny Kluthe from CumingCounty PPD; Rod Zohner from ElkhornRPPD; Randy Rowan and Stan Tuton fromKBR RPPD; Gene Chohon from NiobraraValley EMC; Don Heller from StantonCounty PPD; and Paul Robinson from WheatBelt PPD.Congratulations to all of the directors for

your hard work and dedication.

Rural Electric Nebraskan4

EDITOR’S PAGE

by Wayne Price

Continuing education is critical in our business

I

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Rural Electric Nebraskan6

Transmission Poles and Lines

Transmission Poles and Lines

Spotter’s Guide to Spotter’s Guide to

by Maurice Martin

ransmission structures andtowers are like interstatehighways for electricity, car-

rying mass volumes of high-voltagecurrent over large distances. Thesestructures stand 55 ft. tall or moreand connect power plants to a seriesof substations and tie one bulkpower region of the grid to another.The towering behemoths, surround-ed by cleared land (called right-of-way), seem simple and unadorned. But a closer look reveals interest-

ing details. With a little practice,you can identify devices attached totowers and even guess voltage lev-els.

Volts varyFirst step? Determine what you’relooking at. Higher voltages on powerlines require more space betweeneach other and other objects, allow-ing people, vehicles, and otherequipment to move freely under-neath. For this reason, transmissiontowers usually stand 55 ft. to 150 ft.high. Most are made from steel, butsome are concrete, wood, or evenductile iron. Wooden distributionpoles, found in neighborhoods(unless your lines run under-ground), are generally about 40 ft.tall.Transmission voltages usually

run between 23,000 volts and765,000 volts. Compare that to thevoltage of your home’s electricalsockets: 120 volts for most outlets,240 volts for a clothes dryer or stoverange. Voltages in your home areenough to kill you, let alone whatpower lines carry. Transmission facilities carrying

power for long distances operatebetween 115,000 volts and 765,000volts. Substations reduce power to23,000 volts to 69,000 volts for deliv-ery on smaller transmission lines toyour rural electric system’s distribu-tion grid. There, local substationsstep power down further, normallyto 12,500 volts, so it can be safelycarried by distribution lines to com-munities. A transformer outside ahome or business lowers the voltageto 120 volts or 240 volts.

Knowing wires: conducting andnon-conductingTransmission tower conductors—the energized lines—are made ofsteel-reinforced aluminum cableand are always arranged in sets ofthree. There could one conductor pergroup (three total), two conductorsper group (six total), and sometimesmore. Groups may be arranged in atriangle or laid flat, but there willalways be three (or a multiple ofthree).This three-way grouping helps

electricity travel efficiently.However, if you look at the top of thetower, you may see one or two small-er, solitary wires. These wires go by several

names—overhead ground wire, stat-ic wire, and pilot wire. The wireabsorbs or deflects lightning strikes,conveying excess electricity safely tothe ground. Under normal condi-tions the wire does not carry elec-tricity.Some overhead ground wires are

grouped with fiber-optic cables.

Essentially made of glass, fiber-opticcables cannot conduct electricityand are not affected by lightning.Alternatively, you may notice fiber

optics running a few feet belowtransmission conductors—seeming-ly small, by comparison. Addingtelecommunication lines to utilitypoles gets the most out of the largeinvestment necessary to build trans-mission systems. Fiber-optic linesmay be operated by the rural elec-tric utility or leased to cable orphone companies.

Estimating voltsThe first rule of thumb for estimat-ing volts: the higher the transmis-sion tower, the greater the voltage.Transmission lines can’t touch thetowers that support them—other-wise, the current flows to theground. They’re separated from tow-ers by bell-shaped insulators(known as “bells”). The rule of separation works here

too—higher voltages require moreseparation between conductors andtowers—hence more bells. This table

December 2012 7

Please turn to page 8

T

The conductors—or energized lines—are grouped in threes to transmit electric-

ity more efficiently. Photograph provided by Cooperative Research Network

shows the general correlationbetween bells and voltage.

Sometimes bells are added in casea utility wants to increase voltagelater, so counting bells isn’t a sure-fire way to estimate the strength ofelectricity carried on the wires.

More uses forTransmissionTowersTowering transmission structuresoften double as weather data collec-tors. You may notice spinning cupsof an anemometer measuring windspeed, or other meteorologicalequipment. The potential currentand power sent over a conductorchanges with the weather—if thewind helps cool a line, more currentcan flow through without a danger-ous buildup of heat. Early tower designers discovered

large birds like to build nests on thegirders. Birds can cause an outage ifexcreted waste, which is very con-ductive, lands on an insulator andtriggers a short circuit. Rather thanhave birds nest in random andpotentially dangerous spots, design-

ers include platforms for nests. Ifplatforms attract a nesting pair ofhawks, for examples, they’re easy tospot.

The Path of PowerThis “spotter’s guide” helps youunderstand what you’re looking atand provides a better understandingof the electric utility network. Butremember:

• Do not climb utility structures.Stay a safe distance from alldescribed equipment. • These measurements and

descriptions represent common con-figurations; in the real world, designvaries.

Maurice Martin is senior pro-gram manager for theCooperative Research Network,a service of the Arlington, Va.-based National Rural ElectricCooperative Association.

Rural Electric Nebraskan8

Transmission poles & linesFrom page 7

Line Number Voltage of bells

69,000 4

115,000 7

138,000 8

161,000 10

230,000 12

345,000 18**

500,000 22**

**Represents required number of

bells if the conductor is attached

using a “V-String” configuration.

Transmission towers may look like simple structures, but because of the

extremely high voltages of electricity flowing through their wires, engineers take

great care in their design to safeguard people, vehicles—and birds. Photograph

provided by Cooperative Research Network

hopping, decorating, baking,and holiday entertaining areall part of what makes the

holiday season a cherishedtime for family and friends.But these customs can bestressful, so be sure toput safety at the topof your holiday to-dolist with these tipsfrom the ElectricalSafety FoundationInternational, andfor more information,visit holidaysafety.org.• When purchasing a

live tree, check for fresh-ness. A fresh tree will stay greenlonger, reducing the risk of fire. • On artificial trees, look for a

“fire resistant” label. • Always purchase electrical dec-

orations and lights from reputableretailers and check that a national-ly recognized testing organizationlike Underwriters Laboratories(UL) has approved them. Inspectelectrical decorations for damage,such as cracked or frayed sockets,loose or bare wires, and loose con-nections, before use. • Never connect more than three

strings of incandescent lightstogether. • Consider using battery-operat-

ed candles in place of traditionalcandles. • Remember to turn off, unplug,

and extinguish all decorationswhen going to sleep or leaving thehouse. Once you have the safety proce-

dures down, think about givingsafety for the person who alreadyhas everything. Newer smoke andcarbon monoxide alarms providebetter protection than ever beforeand are easy to install. Both typesof alarms should be placed on everylevel of the home and outside sleep-ing areas. Additional smoke alarmsshould be installed inside each bed-room. Tamper-resistant receptacles

easily replace standard outlets to

provide a simple, permanent solu-tion for protecting children fromshock and burns. An electrician can

install arc fault circuitinterrupters (ACFIs) inthe electrical servicepanel to provideenhanced protectionfrom home electricalfires. A home electricalinspection makes agreat gift for peoplewith older homes.

Many potential electri-cal hazards can be identified

during an inspection, allowingthem to be corrected before tragedystrikes. Unlike gifts that may be quickly

forgotten, your loved ones will con-tinue to benefit from the gift ofsafety long after the holidays havepassed.Source: Electrical SafetyFoundation International

Give the gift of safety this holiday season

S

Rural Electric Nebraskan10

olidays can be draining: din-ner at the in-laws; parties atwork and school; buying,

wrapping, unwrapping, and cleaningup. While at the end of a long daythis season it’s nice to fire up the big-screen TV and watch“It’s a Wonderful Life,”note that when you go tobed your TV and homeentertainment systemdoesn’t really take arest.Many of these devices,

as well as your computerequipment, use energyeven when turned off—for example, your HDTV could beremembering the last channel youviewed or the language you speak, ortrying to turn on faster. This powerdraw is commonly called “phantom”or “vampire” load. According toLawrence Berkeley NationalLaboratory, the average home attrib-utes 8 percent of its monthly elec-tricity consumption to these energyvampires.

Fortunately, TVs and DVD playersoften have power saving settings inthe setup menu. Although alteringthe factory settings usually meansthe unit will take a few more sec-onds to start, it’s worth taking a look

if you want to trim your electric bill. If there’s no power saving option,

you can slay that energy vampire byusing a smart power strip. Thistechnology allows you to plugdevices into a specially marked sec-tion of the strip to keep power flow-ing to them while letting you turnoff other items. This way, you canshut off your stereo, DVD player, oraudio system without losing the

ability to record programs to a DVRor VCR or having to reprogram theTV every time you want to watch ashow.Of course, there’s always a catch.

If you unplug your television orcable/satellite receiverbox, it usually has to runits initial setup programwhen switched back on.Depending on the model,it could take up to 20 min-utes for channels to be rec-ognized, and you mayhave to reset preferences.Most of us aren’t willing todo that every day.

The bottom line is the entertainingdoesn’t have to drain your budget.In fact, the money you save by elim-inating the energy vampires in yourhome may even be enough to go outto a movie.

Brian Sloboda is a program mangerspecializing in energy efficiency forthe Cooperative Research Network(CRN).

Use a smart powerstrip to slay thoseenergy vampires.

Entertaining can be draining

HPower strips can help cut down on “phantom power” draws from many electronics

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Rural Electric Nebraskan12

by Wayne Price

he symbolic figure of SantaClaus, Kris Kringle or St.Nicholas has found a comfort-

able home with Nancy Laier ofEustis, Neb. She has collected allsorts of versions of the man from theNorth Pole and displays them in herhome for hundreds of visitors eachyear. “I have quite a few of them,” she

said, while standing in her livingroom completely surrounded by allshapes and sizes of Santa Claus. “I’vemade a lot of them and have receivedmany of them as gifts.”She’s made Santa figures from a

variety of strange items like animalhooves, shotgun shells and even apig’s ear. She has singing Santas, dancing

Santas, scooter riding Santas, andguitar playing Santas. Even Santaplaying Jazz. She has Santas from allover the world. She has Santa snowglobes and Santa jewelry.

Santa Lady

T

Nancy Laier of Eustis,Neb. opens her hometo more than 300 visitors each year.

Visit the

of Eustis, Neb

December 2012 13

There are many Santa figures fromGermany and a Santa collection byartist Thomas Kincaid.Nancy began collecting the jolly

man in the red suit in 1966 when shewon a stuffed Santa Claus for her sonin a drawing at Pizza Hut in NorthPlatte. She starts unpacking her col-lection to display upstairs beginningin November and puts them awayevery year on February 1. The base-ment collection stays up all year long.

She gives tours of her home to visi-tors from all over the United Statesand to area school groups. More than300 people came to see her Santa col-lection last year. “I’ll give tours as long as I can,” she

said. “I really enjoy it. It works best ifpeople call first.”Nancy has converted different

rooms of the house into special Santathemed rooms: Santa with animals,Santa with kids, and Santa on horse-back to name a few.She is a retired math, social studies

and art teacher at St. Patrick’s inNorth Platte for 14 years.

Clockwise from top: She has Santa playing a variety of musical instruments and

songs. Shelves in her house are filled with figures and ornaments. The Santa

collection in the basement stays up year-round. Rooms are set up with Santa

themes.

If you are interested inseeing Nancy Laier’s collection, call her to

schedule a visit.308-486-4551

Rural Electric Nebraskan14

ome battery energy storagesystems are a convenientalternative or supplement

for emergency generators. But con-sumers should be careful and con-sult their local rural electric utilitybefore buying one.In their simplest form, battery

energy storage systems are largerversions of uninterruptible powersupplies sold to back up home com-puters. Because of the expense topower an entire household during anoutage—especially one that has aheat pump or central air condition-ing—a home battery energy storagesystem usually connects to an isolat-ed “subpanel.” The subpanel, inturn, allows power from the batter-ies to flow to identify critical loads,such as refrigerators, well pumps,home security systems, computers,and TVs.

When the power goes out, batteryenergy storage systems automatical-ly provide generation for appliancesconnected to the subpanel as long asstored energy lasts. Battery setshave the advantage of being quietand extremely reliable but typicallyboast sufficient capacity only for afew hours of load and carry a heftyprice tag—up to 10 times the cost ofan emergency generator.When considering battery energy

storage as a supplement or replace-ment for a generator, it’s importantto select equipment that meetsappropriate UnderwritersLaboratories (UL) standards, and tohave the systems installed andinspected by a licensed electrician.Like emergency generators that runoff gasoline, diesel fuel, or naturalgas, adequate ventilation remainsimportant because even “sealed”batteries can give off harmful gasesif something goes wrong with thecharging process.With the popularity of residential

solar panels and small wind tur-bines increasing, some companiesare combining these “backyard”renewable power systems withinteractive battery storage setups.During an outage, the solar array orwind turbine can be used to extendlife of the batteries.If you are considering a battery

energy storage unit for use duringoutages, or if you have a renewableenergy system you’d like to inte-grate with battery backup, be sureto contact your public power districtor electric cooperative before invest-ing to ensure that the system isapproved and will be hooked up cor-rectly. In many cases, you will needto enter into an interconnectionagreement with your rural electricutility before the device can be putin.

Douglas Danley is a technical liai-son and consultant specializing inrenewable energy for the CooperativeResearch Network (CRN).

H

Stay charged with a battery backup systemBattery backup systems can be viable alternatives to emergency generators

A homeowner checks on her battery backup unit,

which supplies power to critical circuits during an

outage. Photograph provided by Silent Power

by Douglas Danley

egardless of your nostalgic,Christmas-morning-frenzymemories, you’ll quickly

learn that a no-holds-barredapproach doesn’t go over well withyour toddler—especially on themost anticipated morning of theyear. Don’t wing it Christmasmorning. Get a game plan togethernow so that your entire family canenjoy the holidays without goinginto meltdown mode.

Decide on a number ofsweet treats allowed.

With the font of sucrose flowingthroughout the holidays, be asugar-monitor fiend and make sureother house visitors know yourrules. If you have a struggle with,ahem, I-want-to-be-the-favoritegrandmothers, get it out in theopen first rather than commencinga power struggle on Christmas.According to the American HeartAssociation, children should limittheir intake to about 4 teaspoons ofadded sugar each day.

Get to bed early thenight before.

While establishing family tradi-tions for Christmas takes prece-dence over toddler routine, makeyour plans reasonable for theyounger crowd. Try to wrap upChristmas Eve activities early andgive plenty of down time beforegoing to sleep. Junior needs goodrest to enjoy the following morning.He won't get it if he stays up until10:00 with out-of-town visitors.

Limit gift opening toa small number.

Three is good. This will be thehardest part of your holiday experi-ence. Regardless of your convic-

tions, the gift-giving fever kicks inat Toys 'R Us and you go crazy buy-ing, wrapping—and still more buy-ing—several days ahead ofChristmas. Even this late in theseason you can nab holidaycoupons from sites likeCouponSherpa.com for one or twospecial gifts—open them earlier inthe week rather than all at once onChristmas morning.

Wrap up with quiettime and a nap.

After opening a few presents andenjoying time with visiting family,give your toddler plenty of time todecompress alone in a quiet space.Review the fun times of the morn-ing with her and read a specialbook to help calm her down. Be onthe lookout for overstimulation—nasty meltdowns, hyperactivity,and avoiding eye contact should bea red flag to flee the scene andrecover.

Plan a Christmasmorning activity.

In the throngs of gift-wrap thrash-ing, laughing and emotion, kidswith a typically predictable routinecan become stressed out by theabsence of normal. If your toddleris particularly sensitive to bigevents, make sure you have asmall, soothing activity planned—like watercolor Christmas trees orlacing boards of holiday charac-ters—to keep your little oneanchored.

Space out openingChristmas gifts.

You'll probably feel enormous pres-sure for your kid to open every gift,respond with enthusiasm and thengive a huge, grateful "thank you" tothe recipient. It just won't happenif you rush through the gift open-ing. Some moms prefer to open onegift every other day for the week

leading up to Christmas—a god-send when winter storms hit andthe family is stuck indoors. Keep inmind that your preschooler willenjoy his offerings much more if hehas time in between opening toplay with the goodies.

Construct all toysthe night before.

Most parents learn this the hardway after their first Christmaswith kids. Kids don’t want to openup a box, especially the preschoolcrowd. They will either get frus-trated while you sweat over ascrewdriver and instructions writ-ten in Mandarin or lose completeinterest. Skip the $5.99 for wrap-ping paper and tie a simple bow onyour ready-to-play toys. Start put-ting them together now so youaren’t up past midnight, blearyeyed with a wrench, on ChristmasEve.

Don’t stress your kidswith posed photos.

Get candid with these fantastic tipsfrom Photography Blog! A surefireway to send your toddler into defi-ance is demanding he smile in apicture with his hand-knittedsweater. Even though Aunt Jeanmay get a little ticked off that shecan’t see Junior with her wovencreation Christmas morning, it’snot worth the struggle. Opt insteadfor unposed, spontaneous smiles.

Ashley Grimaldo comes from a longline of penny pinchers and enjoysblogging on money-saving tips andadvice for frugal-minded parents.She lives with her husband andthree children in Bryan, Texas.Ashley has been featured amongsuch media outlets as Redbook, TheChicago Tribune, Time.com, andCBS News-Houston.

December 2012 15

1

2

3

4

5 8

6

7

8 toddler pitfalls to avoid on Christmas morning

by Ashley Grimaldo

R

Rural Electric Nebraskan16

SAFETY BRIEFS

he leading cause of deathduring winter storms istransportation accidents.

Preparing your vehicle for the winterseason and knowing how to react ifstranded or lost on the road are thekeys to safe winter driving.Before winter arrives install good

winter tires. Make sure the tireshave adequate tread. All-weatherradials are usually adequate for mostwinter conditions. However, somejurisdictions require that to drive ontheir roads, vehicles must beequipped with chains or snow tireswith studs.Have a cell phone handy.Keep a windshield scraper and

small broom for ice and snowremoval.Maintain at least a half tank of gas

during the winter season.Plan long trips carefully. Listen to

the radio or call the state highwaypatrol for the latest road conditions.Always travel during daylight and, ifpossible, take at least one other per-son.Dress warmly. Wear layers of loose-

fitting, layered, lightweight clothing.Carry food and water. Store a sup-

ply of high energy "munchies" and

several bottles of water.If you become trapped in your vehi-

cle during a winter storm, stay in thecar. Do not leave the car to search forassistance unless help is visible with-in 100 yards. You may become disori-

ented and lost is blowing and driftingsnow.Display a trouble sign. Hang a

brightly colored cloth on the radioantenna and raise the hood.Occasionally run engine to keep

warm. Turn on the car's engine forabout 10 minutes each hour. Run theheater when the car is running. Also,turn on the car's dome light when thecar is running. Beware of carbonmonoxide poisoning. Keep theexhaust pipe clear of snow, and opena downwind window slightly for ven-tilation.Watch for signs of frostbite and

hypothermia. Do minor exercises tokeep up circulation. Clap hands andmove arms and legs occasionally. Trynot to stay in one position for toolong. If more than one person is inthe car, take turns sleeping. Forwarmth, huddle together. Use news-papers, maps, and even the remov-able car mats for added insulation.Avoid overexertion. Cold weather

puts an added strain on the heart.Unaccustomed exercise such as shov-eling snow or pushing a car can bringon a heart attack or make other med-ical conditions worse. Be aware ofsymptoms of dehydration.

TBe prepared for a safe winter driving season

Frostbite is a severe reaction to

cold exposure that can permanently

damage its victims. A loss of feeling

and a white or pale appearance in

fingers, toes, or nose and ear lobes

are symptoms of frostbite.

Hypothermia is a condition

brought on when the body tempera-

ture drops to less than 90 degrees

Fahrenheit. Symptoms of hypother-

mia include uncontrollable shivering,

slow speech, memory lapses, fre-

quent stumbling, drowsiness, and

exhaustion.

If frostbite or hypothermia is sus-

pected, begin warming the person

slowly and seek immediate medical

assistance. Warm the person's trunk

first. Use your own body heat to

help.

Source: FEMA

Frostbite and Hypothermia

December 2012 17

our fireplace creates awarm, cozy atmosphere dur-ing wintry weather, but

don’t let it add unnecessary dollarsto your electric bill.Fireplaces heat the room they’re

in but at the expense of the rest ofthe house. Most of the heat in tradi-tional fireplaces goes up the chim-ney instead of warming living space,and the draft pulls heat from otherrooms. So if your thermostat islocated away from the fireplace, itwill work harder to maintain roomtemperatures for the rest of thehouse.Fireplace “inserts” help boost

energy efficiency. However, emis-sions from old inserts and fireplaceswithout inserts are up to 20 timesworse than using U.S.Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)-certified wood stoves, pelletstoves, or gas/oil furnaces. So lookfor an EPA-certified insert if youwant to supplement your home’sheating. Contact a local retailer to learn

about efficient stoves and insertsthat will circulate hot air into aroom to help lower heating costs.But keep in mind the disadvantagesof using high-maintenance fires asheat sources, including constantattention and ash disposal.If you don’t have an efficient

insert but love a crackling fire, fol-low these measures for safety andimproved efficiency. • Seal those cracks. While sealing

drafts around your home, don’t for-get to check the chimney. Smoke andheat that escape through cracks canpose a fire hazard. It’s best to hire aprofessional to fix cracks in high-heat areas.• Fight the draft. If you plan on a

long-lasting fire, lower the thermo-stat to save energy—just be pre-pared to wear a sweater in otherrooms—and resist the temptation to

crank the temperature back up afterthe fire goes out.• Clean sweep. A National Fire

Protection Association standard sug-gests having your chimney and fire-place inspected once a year, andcleaned or repaired when necessary.Even if you don’t use your fireplaceoften, an annual inspection will findany blockage from animal nests orother deterioration.• Batten down the hatch. Keep the

chimney flue closed when not usingyour fireplace to prevent conditionedor heated air from escaping.• Choose your wood wisely. Wood

that’s dried at least six months pro-vides the best heat, so avoid anythat’s wet or newly chopped. Andthe harder the tree species, thelonger your fire will burn. Thismakes ironwood, rock elm, hickory,oak, sugar maple, and beech goodchoices. Store wood off the groundand away from your house toremove the threat of termite infes-tation, and cover the top to lessenmoisture but leave the sides openfor circulation. Sources: U.S. Department of Energy,Consumer Reports, U.S.Environmental Protection Agency,Chimney Safety Institute of America

Y

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Photograph by Kelly Trapnell

by Kelly Trapnell

Rural Electric Nebraskan18

: Our house walls need moreinsulation for efficiency and per-

haps better soundproofing. We arealso planning to add a bedroom. Willinsulation make the existing roomsquieter and the new room moresoundproof?

: Adding wall insulation can bean expensive project and above

the skill level of most do-it-your-selfers. In many older houses, partic-ularly ones with masonry wall, thereis little space inside the walls foradditional insulation. In many cases,it’s worthwhile to spend more oninsulation with the highest R-valueper inch, which is a number showingthe ability of insulation to resist thetransfer of heat. Higher R-valuesindicate more effective insulation.Any type of insulation you add to

save energy will help somewhat to

soundproof the walls, but you needadditional improvements for signifi-cant noise dampening because soundtravels mostly through the wallstuds. For your new room addition, care-

fully installing fiberglass batt insula-tion boosts your home’s energy effi-ciency. The key word is “carefully”because fiberglass batts don’t provideprotection from gaps at the walljoists—it’s up to you to make surespaces are caulked or spray foamedbefore insulating. Every crack andgap reduces the overall efficiency ofthe new wall. It’s difficult to eliminateall the air gaps in your existing walls,but having foam insulation injected iseffective because it fills in spaces toeliminate air leakage.Another option is to build a second

insulated wall against the insideexisting wall. You’ll lose only about

four inches of floor space for the newwall, which you can frame with 2 ft.-by-4 ft. pieces of lumber, insulate withfoil- or kraft paper-faced fiberglassbatts, and then cover with drywall.This method is particularly effectivefor older houses with full masonrywalls.If your windows are old, installing

new ones makes the greatestimprovement in saving energy andblocking outdoor noise. The airtightquality helps, but most new windowsalso use heavy inert gases in the gapbetween the panes that furtherreduces sound transmission.In fact, simply caulking and weath-

er stripping your old windows canhave a dramatic effect on reducingnoise, and it improves the energy effi-ciency of your house by keeping heat-ed or cooled air from leaking out andoutside air from seeping in. In turn,your heating and cooling systemwon’t need to work as hard and use asmuch energy.When planning your new bedroom,

do some research regarding the STC(sound transmission class) rating forvarious types of wall construction. Atypical uninsulated interior wall withdrywall on each side of 2-by-4 fram-ing has an STC of about 34.If there are common heating ducts

and holes for electrical outlets andphone jacks, the STC of that interiorwall may be only 25. Keep in mindthat these openings are also culpritsfor drafty rooms, so using an inexpen-sive outlet insulation kit is one moreway to improve energy efficiency.Adding insulation inside the wallincreases the STC by very little—nor-mal conversation would still be easilyheard. At the other extreme, with anSTC of 66, yelling is barely audible inadjacent rooms.As with outdoor walls, your first

step in soundproofing interior walls isto get out the caulk gun and seal anygaps in the walls and at joints. Itwon’t help energy efficiency much,but it does block the vibrations thatcreate sound.Another consideration is the type of

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS

Soundproof for peace, quiet, and efficiency

by James Dulley

Q

A

This is a design of a wall with STC 66 soundproofing properties. This design

uses double decoupled walls with special soundproofing panels on each side

underneath the drywall. Illustration provided by Homasote

December 2012 19

noise you want to block. If it’s normalhousehold sounds and voices, manystandard soundproofing methods areeffective. If you want to block deepbass vibrations from music or a hometheater, a thicker wall is best. Youcan create that by installing two lay-ers of drywall or using a high-densitywallboard. If using drywall, you cannail them tightly together or leavethem slightly separated for the bene-fits of decoupling.Decoupling the two surfaces of a

wall is critical to block sound trans-mission. That means drywall on oneside is not attached to the same wallstuds as the drywall on the adjacentwall. One simple method is to installa second layer of drywall over theexisting one. Make sure not to screwit into the wall studs or very tightlyto the existing drywall so it staysdecoupled. This method also increas-es the thickness of the wall for block-ing bass vibrations. Another methodis to stagger the studs on wider head-ers and footers in the wall cavity. Thedrywall on each wall is attached toevery other stud so there is no directpath for the sound to travel.You can also try installing thin

resilient metal strips over the studs.The new drywall is attached to thesestrips and not directly to the studs.Strong soundproofing board made ofrecycled materials, such asHomasote 440, installed over thestuds is another option. Screw thedrywall or resilient channels to thisboard.The following companies offer wall

soundproofing products: Acoustic Sciences, (800) 272-8823,

www.asc-soundproof.com;Certainteed, (800) 782-8777,

www.certainteed.com; Homasote, (800) 257-9491,

www.homasote.com; Owens Corning, (800) 438-7465,www.owenscorning.com; and

Serious Energy, (800) 797-8159,www.quietrock.com.

Send inquiries to James Dulley, RuralElectric Nebraskan, 6906 RoyalgreenDr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visitwww.dulley.com.

Rural Electric Nebraskan20

DOWN HOMERECIPES

1 boneless beef chuck shoulder,arm or blade pot roast (2-1/2 to 4pounds)1-1/2 teaspoons chipotle chili

powder1 tablespoon vegetable oil1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced toma-

toes with green chiles, undrainedPrepared cornbread or corn

muffins

Press chili powder evenly ontoall surfaces of beef pot roast. Heatoil in stockpot over medium heatuntil hot. Place pot roast in stock-pot; brown evenly. Pour off drip-pings.Add tomatoes; bring to a boil.

Reduce heat; cover tightly andsimmer 2 to 3 hours or until roastis fork-tender.Remove roast; keep warm. Skim

fat from cooking liquid. Return liq-uid to stockpot; bring to a boil.Cook 8 to 10 minutes or until sauceis reduced to 2 cups.Carve roast into thin slices; top

with sauce. Serve with cornbread.

Smoky Chipotle PotRoast with Cornbread

Ground Venison Stew

Sausage Stuffed Onions

Caramel DrizzledPumpkin Poke Cake

Doris Rempe, Lawrence, Nebraska

Cut up vegetables into 1 inch chunks. Brown venison with onions. Addrest of vegetables and seasoning and bring to a boil, then simmer untilvegetables are done and juice is almost gone. Serve with hot rolls.

Linda Bogus, St. Paul, Nebraska

Peel onions, cook in boiling salted water 20 minutes. Drain and cool.Remove centers to form cups, reserving center portions, Cook sausageuntil brown; drain off fat. Combine with bran flakes, seasonings, milk andreserved onion, chopped. Fill onion shells. Place in shallow baking dishwith enough water to cover bottom of dish. Bake in oven at 350 degrees 45minutes. Pass the catsup or tomato sauce.

Darlene Hrouda, Stanton, Nebraska

1 lb. ground venison4 large potatoes6 large carrots6 stalks celery3 large onions

2 cups tomatoes or juice1/2 teaspoon garlic powderSalt and pepper to tasteWater as needed

6 medium Bermuda, or otheronions

1 pound sausage1/2 cup bran flakes

1 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon sageDash of pepper3 tablespoons milk

1 box Betty Crocker Supermoist yellow cake mix

1 cup canned pumpkin1/2 cup water

1/3 cup vegetable oil4 eggs2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Topping: 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensedmilk

2 (12 oz) jars hot fudge topping

1 (12 oz) can fluffy white frosting1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted (optional)

Caramel topping for drizzling

Recipe provided by theNebraska Beef Council

Heat oven to 350 degrees (325 for dark or nonstick pan). Spray or grease bottomof 13 x 9 inch pan. In large bowl, beat cake mix, pumpkin, water, oil, eggs andpumpkin pie spice with electric mixer on low speed until moistened. Beat 2 min-utes on medium speed. Pour into pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until cake springsback when touched lightly in center. Immediately poke cake every inch with han-dle of wooden spoon halfway into cake.

Drizzle condensed milk evenly over top of hot cake. Spread with knife to get milkinto holes. Let stand until milk has been absorbed into cake, about 5 minutes.Meanwhile place hot fudge topping into medium microwavable bowl. Microwave,uncovered, on high 15 to 20 seconds or until smooth. Spoon and spread over cake,spreading into holes. Run knife around sides of pan. Cover and refrigerate about2 hours or until chilled. Spread frosting over top of cake. Sprinkle with pecans.Just before serving, drizzle caramel topping over each serving of cake. Store cakeloosely covered in refrigerator. Makes 20 servings.

December 2012 21

To appear in print

The Rural Electric NebraskanAdult Pen Pal Service is exclusivelyfor member-readers ages 18 and over.To be considered for use, submissionsmust: (1) Identify rural electric sys-tem providing magazine; (2) Include$6 to cover mail forwarding costs; (3)Be 25 words or fewer; (4) Include fullname and mailing address (will notbe used in magazine); and (5) Be firstperson, submitted directly by personto receive responses. Acceptance,editing and issue scheduling is at edi-tor’s discretion.Address all submissions to Rural

Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen PalService, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE68501. All responses received by theAdult Pen Pal Service are routeddirectly, postage paid, to the responsenumber assigned to each submission.

To write

To respond to one of the adult penpal requests, write letter, place inenvelope, seal and affix first classpostage. Address to full, correctresponse #, c/o Rural ElectricNebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service,P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501.Your letter will be forwardedunopened. Do not send money oradditional postage; forwarding is pre-paid. Enclose your full mailingaddress for return correspondence.Once again . . . it is very important

that all responses carry the fullresponse number—both month andnumber—to be properly forwarded.

Abbreviation CodeC — Christian; C/W — Country-western;D — Divorced; F — Female; M — Male; NS — Non-Smoker; ND — Non-Drinker;R&R — Rock and roll; S — Single;W — White; Wid — Widowed

DEC - 1: WCF, NS, 50s, centralNebraska, educated city gal lookingfor correspondence with 45 and upgentleman. Got to LOVE P.U.’s,J.D.’s, and Cadillacs.

DEC - 2: DWM, 53, NS, live insouth central Nebraska looking fora kind fun loving lady, who enjoysthe simple things in life, who isdown to earth and has family ties.Send photo and phone number.

DEC - 3: DWM, 60+, centralNebraska, hyperactive with no badhabits, great shape and a free spirit.Looking for someone in their 60swho doesn’t think they are old. Yourphoto gets mine.

DEC - 4: DWM, NS, ND, from cen-tral Nebraska would like to meet a62-68 country cowgirl that likes out-doors, horses, horse sales, rodeos,ranch rodeos, steer roping, and teamroping. Please no pets – cats, dogs,pot-bellied pigs or snakes. Photoand telephone number.

DEC- 5: DWF, NS, mid-50s, longdark hair, dark eyes, 5’7”, 150 lbs,central Nebraska “farmers daugh-ter” cowgirl is looking for a 50-60s,NS, farmer/rancher to enjoy life &good times. I love horses, rodeos,trail rides, camping, fishing, countyfairs, concerts, C/W and old rock &roll music, dancing, kids, and ani-mals. Photo & phone number.

DEC - 6: DWF, 60s, from centralNebraska, like being outside, listento the birds, watch animals or peo-ple. Enjoy cooking and family. Iwould like to meet a Christian gen-tleman to share things with andmaybe turn into something special.

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Gascosage Electric Cooperative (GEC) seeks General Manager

Headquartered in the city of Dixon, Missouri, the cooperative serves approximately 9,700 consumers located in Pulaski, Miller, Maries, Phelps, and Camden counties. The city of Dixon, with a population of 1,547, is located 45 minutes from Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks, the Midwest's premier lake resort destination that offers world-class boating, golfing, shopping and fishing and a wide variety of lodging, restaurants, state parks, and other recreational activities.

The General Manager of GEC is responsible for the day to day management of the cooperative and reports directly to a board of directors.

Applicants should possess a broad knowledge of rural electric cooperative distribution system management with an emphasis in the areas of long-range planning, financial management, budgeting, human resources, and fostering positive long-term relationships with the GEC board of directors, members and the public at large.

Applicants should hold a bachelor’s or advanced degree from a four-year accredited college, or alternatively, have at least 10 years experience at a senior staff/managerial level. The successful candidate will have a minimum of 5 years experience in the rural electric cooperative industry sector at a senior staff/managerial level.

Please provide a complete application package, including cover letter, resume and recent salary history, along with 6 verifiable business and 3 personal references, no later than March 1, 2013 to:

Andrew Sporleder Johnson & Sporleder, LLP 304 E. High St., Suite 200

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