July 2013

A publication of Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative

Volume 67, No. 7

Your Touchstone Energy© Cooperative

District meetings District meetings coming your waycoming your way

Estate wine vinted in Estate wine vinted in northeast Oklahomanortheast Oklahoma

2 - Northeast Connection

3 District meeting dates set

9 Enjoy summer safely

11 Seal air leaks around your threshold

11 Margins being allocated

13 Linemen keep safety skills fresh through competition

14 Information on notices

15 Egg recipes that will give ‘em something to crow about

16 A poem by American poet Douglas Malloch

JULY 4 GroveCajun FestGrove Civic Center918-786-8896

JULY 4-5 GroveIndependence Day CelebrationHar-Ber Village918-786-6446

JULY 5-6 Pryor74th Annual 4-Way RodeoMayes County Fairgrounds800-639-9002

JULY 5-7 QuapawQuapaw Tribal PowwowQuapaw Tribal Grounds918-542-1852

JULY 3-7 JayHuckleberry FestivalDowntown Jay918-253-8698

JULY 6 MiamiAllied Memorial Remembrance RideOttawa County Courthouse918-541-2288

JULY 19-20 GroveArtisans on Display Quilt ShowGrove Community Center918-786-2466

more inside

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Events are published as space allows and must be submitted at least 60 days in advance. Send information, including phone number for publication, to Northeast Connection Events Calendar, PO Box 948, Vinita, OK 74301. Or, send information by email to kelly.rush@neelectric.com.

3Grapes take rootMack Hayes’ plan took a turn—a winery wasn’t really his vision

4Scholarship recipients selectedMeet the outstanding graduates selected to receive $1,000

7Piecing together historyQuilt guild works to preserve tradition and art

8

On the coverTh e hard-working hand of Mack Hayes shows off a newly-developed grape cluster. Th ese grapes will be ready to harvest in three to four months.

JULY 22-27 VinitaCraig County Free FairCraig County Fair Grounds918-256-7133

JULY 26-28 PryorAmerican Cowboy Trade Day & CelebrationWhitaker Park918-825-0157

JULY 27 MiamiRoute 66 Cruise NightWaylan’s Ku Ku918-542-9693

AUGUST 2-4 ClaremoreGatesway Balloon FestivalWill Rogers Downs918-259-3586

AUGUST 3 GroveEcology & Environment DayHar-Ber Village918-786-6446

AUGUST 3 KetchumBoats, Bikes, Bikinis & BBQArrowhead Yacht Club918-782-3292

Scan this QR Code to visit the cooperative’s calendar of area events.

4

July 2013 - 3

Northeast Connection is published monthly to communicate with the members of Northeast

Oklahoma Electric Cooperative.

Offi cers and Trustees

PRESIDENT - Dandy Allan Risman, District 5VICE PRESIDENT - John L. Myers, District 4

SECRETARY-TREASURER - Benny L. Seabourn, District 2ASST. SECRETARY-TREASURER - Everett L. Johnston, District 3

Harold W. Robertson, District 1Sharron Gay, District 6

James A. Wade, District 7Bill R. Kimbrell, District 8

Jack Caudill, District 9

Management Team

Anthony Due, General Manager Larry Cisneros, P.E., Manager of Engineering Services

Susanne Frost, Manager of Offi ce ServicesCindy Hefner, Manager of Public Relations

Connie Porter, Manager of Financial ServicesRick Shurtz, Manager of Operations

Vinita headquarters: Four and a half miles east of Vinita on Highway 60/69 at 27039 South 4440 Road.

Grove offi ce: 212 South Main.

Business hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Offi ces are closed Saturday, Sunday and holidays.

Available 24 hours at: 1-800-256-6405

If you experience an outage:

1. Check your switch or circuit breaker in the house and on the meter pole to be sure the trouble is not on your side of the service.

2. When contacting the cooperative to report an outage, use the name as it appears on your bill, and have both your pole number and account number ready.

Please direct all editorial inquiries to Communications Specialist Clint Branham at 800-256-6405 ext. 9340 or email clint.branham@neelectric.com.

LUCKY ACCOUNT NUMBER

380381If this is your account number, contact the

co-op at 1-800-256-6405, extension 9332, to claim a $25 credit on your electric account.

4

District Meetings Set

Members register during a 2012 district meeting with help from Manager of Offi ce Services Susanne Frost.

Three members of the Northeast Oklahoma Electric Coop-erative board of trustees are extending invitations to coop-erative members in their respective districts this summer.

As always, the invitation includes freebies like soda and giveaways, along with the chance to win one of three $250 electric credits. Benny Seabourn, Jack Caudill, and James Wade are up for re-election in 2013 for a three-year term on the cooperative board of trustees. Th ey are also seeking a little help from members in their respective districts in conducting the yearly business of the cooperative. Mr. Seabourn will host the District 2 meeting at Christ Church at the Crossroads on Monday, July 22. Th e church is located at 56900 East Highway 59, Fairland. On Tuesday, July 23, Mr. Wade will gather with District 7 mem-bers at the Wickliff e School cafeteria. Th e school is located at 11176 East 470, Salina. Mr. Caudill will convene the District 9 meeting of cooperative members at the Grove Community Center on Th ursday, July 25. Th e community center is situated at 104 West 3rd Street, Grove. Section 4.06 of the cooperative bylaws requires any member to fi le with the cooperative their notice of candidacy for trustee during the fi ling period of July 8-12, 2013. Only pre-qualifi ed can-didates can be nominated at district meetings. Members may register for district meetings from 6-7 p.m. Th ose in line at this time will be given a card ensuring their opportunity to register. Th e meeting will start as soon thereaft er as practical or when all members with cards have registered.

Members from districts 2, 7, and 9 to meet

4 - Northeast Connection

Th e original plan was to grow enough grapes to satisfy the growing demand of the state’s budding wine industry. Six years ago, Mack Hayes broke ground on a 25-acre plot in the Ozark foothills of northeast Oklahoma. A lush vineyard soon began to take shape on the sprawling family homestead located near the Wickliff e Community in east-ern Mayes County. Everything Mack had heard about Oklahoma’s wine in-dustry was telling him that more grapes were needed. With a grape-grower right in their own backyard, he surmised, wine producers in the region would not need to seek out-side grapes to replenish depleted inventory. “We heard there was a need for Oklahoma-grown grapes,” Hayes said. “We didn’t say a whole lot to anyone. We just came home and went to planting.” To ensure the success of his vineyard, Hayes sought ex-pertise anywhere it could be found. He did his homework. He studied the fi ner points of grape-growing. He researched carefully the work of experts. Vineyard soil was prepared for planting following a blueprint laid out by Dr. John Clark from the University of Arkansas. Only hardy varieties recommended by Dr. Clark were selected for planting—strains designed to tolerate un-predictable Midwestern climate and fl ourish in rocky, native soils. Success did not come cheap. Nor was it without adver-sary. Hayes knew his vineyard would require a steady supply of water during those long summer stretches when Oklaho-ma skies turn dry. He spent over $150,000 on wells, pumps, irrigation equipment and pipe. “We’ve got three holes 1,500 feet to the Roubidoux Aquifer,” he said. “Below all the shallow water. Down to the commercial water zone. We’re at 600 gallons a minute at

the bottom. You can’t get 600 gallons a minute at a hundred feet.” Added Hayes: “With water you have potential. Without water you only have dreams.” Opposition to the vineyard’s success lurked in the shad-ows. Intruders from the woods nearby soon discovered the vineyard and began infl icting damage. Wild hogs made themselves right at home in the vineyard. Relative new-comers to the area, the hogs began rooting the soft ground around the vines and tearing at delicate root systems. Hun-gry deer devoured the vine’s soft buds throughout those fi rst winter seasons. Hayes was forced to take drastic measures to protect his precious crop. He fenced the entire perimeter of the 25-acre vineyard with an eight-foot fence at a price tag of $25,000. Th e fence is by no means an impenetrable barrier. Hayes said determined hogs still tunnel under and younger, more athletic deer clear eight feet with little eff ort. Hayes, however, maintains a unique perspective when it comes to dealing with opposing forces. “Without adversaries in your life you’ll never grow,” he said. “You’ll never amount to anything. No matter where you go you are going to have them. Without resistance you will never stand the test of time.” All of Hayes’ hard work should have paid dividends as soon as the fi rst crop of grapes was harvested in July of 2010. However, his investment didn’t pay off at all like he imagined. When he informed a local winery that he would have fruit for sale, the response was disappointing. “When it got to be grape time, I had about forty ton hanging on the vine. But they only wanted four ton,” Hayes said. “So, I had to fi gure out what to do with the rest of it. I asked if they could help me sell to other wineries, but they

HomegrownHomegrown by Clint Branham, Communications Specialist

July 2013 - 5

had their hands full. Th ey didn’t have time to mess with my grapes.” Th ere Hayes stood with the biggest patch of grapes in the state—at least that’s what the agricultural department told him—and he was at a loss to fi nd a buyer for the bulk of his crop. He was only able to sell fruit here and there in small amounts to other wineries. He even sold fresh fruit at farmers markets and in roadside stands. Th e remainder rotted in the fi eld. Th e grape business was already turning sour for Hayes. Th e only way to save his investment was to start making wine him-self. “We didn’t plan on building a winery,” Hayes said. “I wound up in this business to save my fruit. I had to preserve it in wine.” When life hands you grapes, you make wine. And so that is what Mack Hayes did. He rolled up his sleeves and went to work building a winery. Th e resourceful Hayes was able to keep overhead low by re-purposing dairy equipment. You’ll never see equipment like this at any other winery. But, to the untrained eye, the thou-sand-gallon stainless steel “zero” milk tanks look right at home. “Most everything here is milk plant equipment,” said Hayes. “We use a 1,000-gallon pasteurizing tank from a milk plant, and these old zeroes are just leaker tanks that wouldn’t hold a charge of freon. Th ey wouldn’t cool. We put cooling jackets in them and converted them into wine tanks. We keep our indebtedness down by using a hundred-dollar tank instead of a ten-thousand dollar tank. Sure, there are some specialized items required for the op-eration. Th e crusher, for instance, is Italian-made. Hayes also had to purchase a fi lter and a set of pumps. But most everything else is just a product of Hayes’ ingenuity—like the cheese-press-turned-grape-press. Even a forklift described by Hayes as an “antique” has found new life at the winery. “It still runs and does its job,” Hayes laughed. “It ain’t better than a new one, but it’s better than spending money on a new one.” Th ose fi rst harvests were handled by a mechanical picker designed for blueberries. Hayes found the pre-owned machine on the cheap and had it trucked in from North Carolina. Insulated semi-trailers—or “reefers,” as they are otherwise known in the trucking industry—provide an ideal solution for the storage of bottled product awaiting distribution. Add a cus-tom air-conditioning unit and the Chemline reefers are perfect for the winery’s cold storage needs. “Th ey are the cheapest building you can have if you need refrigeration,” said Hayes. “You can’t build ‘em any better.” Said Hayes with a smile: “We crushed over 6,000 cars right here at one time. I’ve done a little of everything in my lifetime. I used to be in the junkyard business. Now this place is a damn winery.” Th e farm still operates a full-time dairy. Twice a day, forty head of either Jersey and Guernsey-cross cows are milked. ➤

Packaging wine for shipment

Wine storage inside the winery

Cheryl Matlock, Mack Hayes, and Ausline Palmer stand with the Italian-made grape chrusher

6 - Northeast Connection

Th e class takes a welcome pizza break before enjoying a demonstration of a bucket truck.

Hayes doesn’t go it alone. His girlfriend, Ausline Palmer, as well as Cheryl Matlock and Doug Magness, all pitch in to help wherever they are needed. “We’re all like family. If we need more we call for rein-forcements. You’ve got to have help,” said Hayes. “We’re working folk. We still milk cows, bale hay and plow the ground. Every day is a hard day. It ain’t like we’re doing this for fun. We’ve been milking here for forty years and my family has been here in this section for a hundred

years. I was raised right here on this dirt. My dad grew up here on this dirt.” Said Hayes proudly: “Th is place sets on patent land. You’re not going to fi nd another winery sitting on patent land. Th e patent came from the Cherokee Nation back during the original allotment and we’ve kept it updated.” Mack’s grandfather, Silas Hayes, moved his young family to Indian Territory from Boone County, Arkansas, in 1893. A short time later, the family relocated from Nowata County to Mayes County. Mack’s father, Coy Hayes, spent his forma-tive years blazing trails around the same Ozark foothills that Mack explored as a youngster. Mack remembers as a teenager helping his grandmother make wine using traditional family recipes that dated back to the 1800s. He uses versions of those same recipes today. “I’ve been making wine since I was 14, just not on this scale,” he said. “We just made it for fun. My grandmother taught me how. Th e recipes are pretty close to the same, maybe just a little bit diff erent here and there.” A late freeze canceled out Hayes’ 2011 crop, but the 2012 crop made and was, in fact, bountiful. Th e fi rst bottle of OkeOzark wine sold last fall. Ten diff erent wines from ten diff erent grape varieties are

now available to purchase under the OkeOzark label, rang-ing from sweet to dry. Harvest Moon and Sweet Caroline are customer favorites. Mars, Jupiter, Reliance, Chancellor, Cayuga, Riesling Cross, Fredonia and Chambourcin grapes are among those proven producers recommended by Dr. Clark growing in Hayes’ vineyard. “Every one of our wines is signature,” said Hayes. “Th ey’re all OkeOzark. We are as proud of one as we are another. Each has its own unique fl avor.” In addition to the 20-acre vineyard, Hayes has a fi ve-acre orchard of fruit trees and shrubs—including plums, peaches, apples, cherries, apricots, blackberry, blueberry and elder-berry—from which he makes wine. “We’ve got a little bit of everything. More than we need, for sure,” Mack chuckled. “We put it all in at about the same time, but it takes the trees longer to mature.” Th e enterprising Hayes and his staff of family and friends are proud of their business. OkeOzark is unique among state wineries in that it is farm-direct. “We are homemade and home-grown. We go from the vineyard to the winery right here on the farm. I don’t think there is another one like us in the state,” Hayes said. “We are farm direct to you the customer. No one else has that.” Also, unlike larger wineries that blend, use concentrate or process grapes past the point of exhaustion, OkeOzark takes a one-and-done approach. “You won’t fi nd any second-hand stuff here,” said Mack. “It’s all straight run. We don’t recycle our grapes three or four times to wash out everything you can get. Commercial wineries dry out the fruit aft er it has already been squeezed, reconstitute it, re-process it, put a little coloring in it and they’ve got another cheap product off the pulp. People need to realize that we make wine just as well here in Oklahoma as they do in California. It’s as good as you’ll fi nd anywhere else.” Blending is also a no-no at OkeOzark. Not every winery can say that. “Th e grape always calls the taste,” Hayes said fi rmly. “However God made it is the way we sell it. We don’t blend this with that. We only bottle what we grow. If I don’t grow it, I don’t bottle it. We don’t buy anything but sugar and bottles. Whatever the label says is what is in the bottle.” Hayes describes himself as a “realist.” He is working hard-er on becoming a “people person.” But he refuses to sacrifi ce authenticity for the sake of a dollar. “I don’t sell advice, just wine,” said Hayes. “I’m not a tour-ist trap person. Th is isn’t a winery junk store. We don’t have souvenirs, trinkets or arrowheads at our place. We do one thing only—wine. If you can’t do it in reality, you’re nothing but an imitation.”

From left , Mack Hayes, Cheryl Matlock, and Ausline Palmer welcome visitors to the winery.

See WINE on page 10

July 2013 - 7

Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative is proud to introduce you to the 2013 recipients of the cooperative’s college scholarships. Th e cooperative

off ers four $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors in its four-county service territory. Th e scholarship may be used for any university or college of the students choosing. Th e job of selecting only four from the many outstand-ing applicants is a diffi cult task undertaken by the cooper-ative’s scholarship committee. Th eir selections are Bethyne Lewis of Chelsea, Lauren Lindsey of Grove, K. C. Jones of Fairland, and Hunter Parsons of Adair. Join us in congratu-lating these outstanding and deserving graduates.Bethyne Lewis Bethyne Lewis represents the Craig/Rogers County area in accepting a 2013 cooperative college scholarship. Th e daughter of Chris and Phoebe Lew-is plans to attend Connors State Uni-versity and study nursing. Bethyne grad-uated from Chelsea High School with a 3.29 grade-point average and ranked 17th in her class. Nursing seems a perfect fi t as Bethyne has a history of helping others through mission trips with her church. Says Howard Hill, principal of Chelsea High: “Chelsea High School students participate with the local organizations to help those in need. Bethyne has been one

of our actively involved students . . . a reliable and responsible leader.” Bethyne has managed her successes while maintaining a busy schedule. Selected to attend Girls State in 2012, she also participated in soft ball, bas-ketball, track, Fellowship of Christian athletes (class leader since freshman year), and served as the student activ-ity coordinator for student council.

Lauren Lindsey Th e daughter of Kevin Lindsey, Lauren Lindsey has been selected as the Dela-ware County recipient of the scholarship. She is a graduate of Grove High School and plans to attend Northeast-ern Oklahoma A & M College, studying Food and Human Dietetics. Lauren is dedicated to success, maintaining a 3.95 GPA while taking advanced placement courses in English literature, composition, language, American history, and calculus. Linda Fracek, advanced placement instructor at Grove, states, “[Lauren] has challenged herself to our most demanding courses at Grove High School . . . Lauren is a motivated young woman who has a bright, well-planned future in the nutrition fi eld.” Lauren put her leadership skills to work in and out of the classroom, participating in band, teen court, Character Counts, the school’s color guard, and Interact Club. During her senior year, she served as the band president, as well as the captain of the color guard. K. C. Jones Hailing from Ottawa County, K. C. Jones is a recipi-ent of a cooperative scholarship. K. C. is the son of Doug and Tanya Jackson and a graduate of Fairland High School. Hav-ing maintained a 3.9 GPA, K. C. plans to attend Austin College in Sherman, Texas, and study biomedical engineering and pre-med courses. During high school, K. C. held offi cer positions in National Honor Society, FFA, and student council. He was

Board member Jack Caudill presents Lauren Lindsey with a scholarship.

Board secretary-treasurer Benny Seabourn congratulates K. C. Jones.

Making The GradeFour deserving students selected for scholarships

Board vice president John Myers enjoys meeting Bethyne Lewis.

See GRADE on page 10

Scan here to learn more about applying for this scholarship.

8 - Northeast Connection

Just an old blanket, you say? Nay, that quilt on the shelf in grandma’s closet is much more than a mere blanket. Th at quilt is a symbol of American heritage. Quiltmaking at its very core is, in fact, quintessential Americana. It’s true that some in today’s modern world may take a lesser view of quilts. To them, quilts are old-fashioned. Th e fabric isn’t microfi ber, so it isn’t “plush.” Th e style may be considered dated by some standards and, too, perhaps the designs and colors. Quilts do not always fi t with contempo-rary décor, so they are stowed away for years in closets and attics, never to be retrieved. For those among us who have lived long enough to ap-preciate their usefulness during leaner times—times when people were forced to “make do with what they had”—quilts may carry a particularly special meaning. Th ey mean even more the further back in history you go. Th e quilt as we know it was once a strictly utilitarian arti-cle, born from necessity. It was a warm topper for a bed or a covering for a draft y door or window. Imported textiles were limited and money was scarce during the early years of American colonization. Times were diffi cult. Colonial women became creative in their use of available materials; they had to fi nd the simplest, most expedient solutions to problems. Th ey used what they had on hand to keep their families warm during the long, cold, winter months. Early settlers could not always aff ord to simply discard well-worn clothing and items of fabric. Necessity required careful use of resources. When clothing became worn, it was patched. When blankets became tattered, they were combined with other blankets or used as fi ller for quilts. Th ese were not carefully constructed heirlooms. Rather,

they were functional items whose sole purpose was to keep people warm. Since even small cloth remnants could be used in patch-work quilts, every scrap of fabric and usable portion of worn garments was saved. Th e block-style, pieced quilt was an example of this functional approach to design. Only in later years, when manufactured fabrics were becoming more common and aff ordable, freeing women from the work of making their own yarns and fabrics, did a more artistic form of quilting become more widespread. Quilting evolved into a social event. Fine handwork became a source of pride and status. Members of rural communities oft en joined together to help neighbors with big projects such as barn building. In much the same way, ladies would pitch in and help a friend fi nish a quilt. Quilt-ing bees allowed groups to fi nish in a single day what may have otherwise taken one individual weeks or even months. For hard-working farm women, these gatherings no doubt provided welcome relief from the drudgery of everyday life. It is no wonder that quilts are cherished as precious heirlooms and occupy honored places in homes and muse-ums. Th ey have become a powerful reminder of our past, a means of expressing national pride and achievement. Th e history of America can be seen in the history of quilts—in the rich heritage left us by those thrift y, self-suf-fi cient women who helped settle this land, in the families whose history is sewn into quilts one patch at a time.

Tradition Unfolds in Grove A proud American tradition will be on display this month during the 28th Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees Quilt Show. Whether you love to quilt or simply admire skilled hand-

Fabric

By Clint Branham,Communications Specialist

See FABRIC on page 12

of ourLives

July 2013 - 9

When the weather gets hot, we head outdoors for sun and fun. Keep in mind these tips from the Electrical Safety Foundation International

to make sure everyone has a safe summer.Water and electricity don’t mix

Summer is the season for swimming and boating, and awareness of electrical hazards around water can prevent deaths and injuries. Water and electricity don’t mix.

• Sailboats oft en have masts of 30 feet or more, which are dangerous when they come into contact with overhead power lines. Look up as you get close to shore, and stay at least 10 feet away from overhead lines. Coming into contact with an energized power line causes serious and sometimes lethal electric shock.

• Use covers on outdoor power outlets, especially near swimming pools. Keep cords and electrical devices away from the water, and never handle electrical items before you’ve dried off .

• Use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to help prevent electrocutions and electrical shock injuries. Th ese devices interrupt the fl ow of power when they sense a surge. Portable GFCIs require no tools to install and are available at prices ranging from $12 to $30.

Lightning and stormsLightning strikes are fatal in 10 percent of victims,

and 70 percent suff er serious long-term eff ects, according to the National Weather Service. Because lightning can travel sideways for up to 10 miles, blue skies are not a sign of safety. If you hear thunder, take cover.

• If weather conditions indicate a storm, stay in-side—away from doors and windows—or seek shelter in a low-lying area away from trees and any metal, including sheds, clotheslines, poles, and fences. If you’re near water, stay as far away as possible.

• If you’re in a group, spread out—don’t stand close together.

• Indoors, unplug electronics before the storm ar-rives, and don’t use corded phones.

• Avoid plumbing—sinks, bathtubs, faucets.• Don’t forget about your pets. Doghouses are not

safe from lightning, and chained animals are easy targets.

• If your home is fl ooded during a storm, don’t turn on appliances or electronics until given the okay by an electrician. If there’s laying water, don’t go inside. Th e water could be energized.

Working with large appliancesIf your air conditioner goes out, keep a few things in

mind before you start poking around. Large appliances, such as air conditioners, are responsible for almost 20 percent of consumer-product electrocutions each year.

• Understand your electrical system—know which fuse or circuit breaker controls each switch, light, and outlet.

• Make sure circuits are turned off before starting work and take measures to ensure they’re not turned back on while working.

• Use a circuit tester—always test before you touch. Find more safety tips at www.esfi .org.

Summer SafetyElectrical Safety Foundation International &NRECA

10 - Northeast Connection

selected for Boys State and the President’s Education Awards Program. K. C. is also an accomplished athlete, being a state medalist in track, was named quarterback of the year, as well as a basketball and baseball all-conference player. K. C.’s regard for others is clear as Alisha Brodick, English teacher for Fairland, describes him: “I have watched K. C. grow from an athlete who loves the game, into an athlete who loves the game and wants to share it with the younger gen-eration.” Ms. Brodick points out K. C. has taken the time to coach and umpire Little League baseball and football, as well as serve as a mentor for younger children during summer youth programs. “In looking up to K. C., they are looking up to someone who cares and will be there for them. He always responds in a caring way with every child, even those that may be diffi cult.”Hunter Parsons Th e Mayes Coun-ty scholarship recipi-ent is Hunter Parsons of Adair High School. Hunter is the son of Angela Dodson. He graduated with a 3.8 GPA, while serving as the vice president

for both the senior class and FFA. Hunter plans to attend Oklahoma State University to study Agricultural Engineering. His interest and talent in agriculture are evidenced in his high school activities which include livestock judging, cattle grading, and showing cattle and sheep. Hunter is also a member of the following agricul-tural organizations: American Angus Association, American Shorthorn Association, and the American Maine-Anjou Association. He was honored with an Oklahoma State FFA Degree in 2013, was a member of the 2012 American Royal Reserve Champion Livestock Judging Team, and received a silver medal on the National Farm Business Management Team in 2011. With all the time Hunter dedicates to his agricultural en-deavors, he hasn’t forgotten to take time to help others. Says Reverend Th omas Ballard of First Free Will Baptist Church in Pryor of Hunter: “I have had the privilege to observe his leadership skills, team building qualities and his can-do attitude toward all the projects he has undertaken. Hunter’s leadership and energy goes beyond the walls of the church and is seen in his community and school involvement.”

Board member Sharron Gay makes a scholarship presentation to Hunter Parsons.

GRADE continued from page 7

You can fi nd OkeOzark wines at over fi ft y locations throughout northeast Oklahoma, from Tahlequah to the Kansas border and from the Tulsa metro area to the Arkan-sas border. You can also purchase direct from the winery. Calling (918) 688-2891 for more information or visit online at www.okeozarkwinery.com. Supplies of OkeOzark wine are limited. While more

wine-friendly, neighboring states like Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas allow production of up to 100,000 gallons, Oklahoma law prohibits smaller state wineries from producing more than 10,000 gallons. A license from the state to produce up to an additional 40,000 gallons carries with it a pro-hibitive $50,000 price tag. “Th ey have a cap on what we can

make,” Hayes said. “You go over that and it’s a $10,000 fi ne. So I am sitting here pretty well maxed out.” For Hayes, you can just add the politics of wine-making in Oklahoma to his list of challenges. “I’ve always been an uphill man. I’ve always hoed my own row of corn. I’ve never minded going where other people have never been or I wouldn’t be here today. Th is isn’t your average roadside joint. We’re out here in the sticks compared to most of them,” said Hayes. “We have come up one step at a time, but we have come from solid rock. What you see is what you get.”

WINE continued from page 6

Scan here to visit Oke-Ozark’s website.

So you suspect one of your exterior doors leaks. You feel a draft when you pass by so you open the door and notice the weather

stripping is in bad shape. Th e next time you are in the hardware store you pick up some new lengths of weather stripping and take them home for a quick install. You breathe a sigh of relief and con-gratulate yourself on a job well done. But wait a minute. Are you really fi nished? Did you inspect the threshold for a leak? Gaps around thresholds can be a major source of air infi ltration into and from your home costing you some major energy dollars. Harsh outdoor air can be forced into your home by blowing Okla-homa winds. Th e nice climate-controlled air you pay to condition can be sucked outdoors through the same gap. When your air con-ditioner is operating, the inside of your home becomes pressurized and the air seeks a place to escape. To see if your work is really done, get on the fl oor during daylight hours and lower your head to peek eye level along the

threshold. Peel back the fl ap if one is in place. (A fl ap may slow down the draft a little but it will not stop it.) If you see light along the length of the threshold there is defi nitely a leak. If you do not see light there could still be a leak. To test, on a windy day tape thin strips (1/2 inch wide) of tissue paper at various places along the threshold. Make sure the climate control system is not operating and ceiling fans are off . Even a small amount of wind will move the tissue and indicates air infi ltration. Most of the time you can replace the rubber seal of the thresh-old to solve the problem. Th e rubber seal will be directly on top of the threshold or attached to the bottom of the door. Sometimes the rubber seal is in good shape and all you need to do is adjust the threshold. Your threshold may not be adjustable, but if it is look for caps along the top. Pry open the caps and use a screwdriver to turn the screw heads to raise the threshold to meet the rubber seal.

Threshold of Pain

with Craig Hendrickson Residential Energy Auditor

ENERGY EFFICIENCYAROUND THE HOUSE

July 2013 - 11

Cooperative businesses are unique because they are owned by the members they serve and because they are guided by a set of seven principles that refl ect the best interests of

those members. One of the seven guiding principles is Members’ Economic Participation.

Economic participation means simply that members con-tribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. Th e cooperative does not issue stock, and surpluses are margins, not profi ts.

Margins exceeding what is required to operate the cooper-ative are allocated to member patronage accounts. Th e success of the cooperative is shared with its members through an annual patronage allocation.

Your electric cooperative trustees recently allocated 2012 margins totaling $5,417,053 to member patronage accounts. To the average member using 1,300 kilowatt-hours per month during 2012, the amount represents an annual allocation of $143.32.

To calculate your allocated capital credits, simply multiply the allocation factor of $0.00918727 by your total annual kilo-watt-hours of service for 2012. Th is will give you the 2012 margins allocated to your member patronage account.

Current members of the cooperative were provided the amount of their allocation on their June 2013 electric bill under

the account details section. Th is amount will remain in your patronage capital account until a future patronage retirement is made.

Your cooperative management is honored to serve you and to have the opportunity to share the success of 2012 with you. If you have questions about how capital credits are allocated, or if you would like to know the total amount in your member patron-age account for this year and previous years, feel free to contact the cooperative toll-free at 1-800-256-6405, extension 9313.

Cooperative Allocating 2012 Margins

work, you won’t want to miss this event. Th e show will take place July 19-20 in Grove. Th e Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees Quilt Guild will host the event at the Grove Community Center, which is located at 104 West Th ird Street in Grove. Show hours are Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. Th e 2013 event, themed “Artisans on Display,” will feature not only a judged show but also certifi ed quilt appraisals, an artisans shop, a Saturday bed turning, classes and demon-strations, wearable art, several vendors and hourly door prizes. Vendors will have a range of fabrics, notions, kits and tools of the trade available to purchase. A new award category, “Pelican Pride,” has been added this year to recog-nize area quilters who have received both local and national acclaim for their work. “We are so delighted with the variety of quilts and other items that will be on display at this year’s show,” said guild chairperson Glo Reherman. “We would like to encourage the public to attend the show. We are certain they will enjoy and admire the many talented artists in our area.” Of particular interest this year is the “Heart to Hands” quilt, made by guild members. Tickets to win this “grand prize” quilt will be available for purchase during the show. Th e winning ticket will be drawn Saturday at 5 p.m. Several award-winning quilters have blocks in this beautiful 71” x 80” quilt. Each block has a theme of bird, basket and fl ower. Monies raised during the bi-annual shows help further boost the guild’s generous benevolent eff orts within the community. Funds are donated to local charities and service organizations. Th ey are also used for educational purposes that further the knowledge and art of quiltmaking. One of the many worthwhile projects adopted by the guild is “ConKerr Cancer Miles of Pillowcase Smiles,” which

donates brightly colored, cotton pillowcases to children who are hospitalized while undergoing cancer treatment or bat-tling life-threatening illness. For these young patients, the cheerful pillowcase may be the only bright object in a room fi lled with frightening machines. Th e Oklahoma Chapter of ConKerr Cancer has made over 25,000 pillowcases since undertaking this cause. ConKerr (as in “conquer”) Cancer was a project started by Cindy Kerr in 2005. When Kerr’s 16-year-old son Ryan was diagnosed with cancer, she spent her days in the hospi-tal sewing fun, brightly-colored pillowcases to comfort him and lift his spirits. Ryan asked that she make cases for other kids on the ward, which she did. “Before Ryan passed away, he asked that she continue making cases for other kids. And that is how ‘ConKerr Cancer’ began,” explained Cindy Reynolds, a guild member since 2008. “It is now nationwide. We provide pillowcases to area children’s hospitals. We sent cases to Sandy Hook fam-ilies and, more recently, to families aff ected by the Moore tornado. For some kids, a cheerful pillowcase may be the only fun thing they see in a treatment room. It is the fi rst thing they see and it is theirs to keep.” Since its inception in 1976, the Grand Lake O’ the Cher-okees Quilt Guild has dedicated itself to bringing quilters together to share, enjoy, teach and learn the art of quilting. Th e group meets the fi rst Friday of each month at the Grove Community Center for a short business meeting, followed by a program and lunch. Th e guild is 97 members strong and continues to grow. “Almost every month a new visitor comes to our meet-ing and decides to become a new member,” said Reynolds. “What is gratifying is that we are getting more younger members, meaning the love of quilting will continue for years to come.”

FABRIC continued from page 8

12 - Northeast Connection

July 2013 - 13

Practice makes perfect—and when working with electricity, perfection can mean the diff erence between life and death. To keep lineworkers’ skills honed, competitions dubbed “linemen’s

rodeos” have sprung up around the country. Rodeos involve bucking power transformers, not broncos. Line-workers from electric cooperatives, investor-owned utilities, and municipal electric systems tackle complex speed- and safety-based challenges while hundreds of family, friends, and co-workers cheer them on. “We’re making good linemen better,” notes Maxie Rozell, Director of Safety & Security at Rappahannock Electric Cooperative of Freder-icksburg, Virginia, and chairman of the Gaff -n-Go Lineman’s Rodeo & Expo, an event held every April that’s sponsored by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives. “Educa-tion and training are critical. We use the program to sharpen skills.” Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative is proud to have had past rodeo participants. Linemen and apprentices have traveled to Texas and Kansas City to compete and judge other competitors. Rodeo competitions typically take place atop 40-foot utility poles. For safety reasons, power lines do not carry an electrical charge, but competitors are judged as if every aspect is real. Lineworkers perform a variety of tasks scored by a team of judges. Attention to detail remains key. Each team or apprentice is judged not only on the time it takes to perform an event but, more impor-tantly, on the safe and effi cient methods with which the job is accom-plished. Participating rodeo-ers train for months, oft en on their own time. Th e payoff ’s not only seen in the results, though. Many electric co-op executives credit rodeos for keeping lineworkers on their toes in what can be a dangerous profession. “Our line crews are among the best trained, most dedicated, and hardest-working folks you will ever meet,” says Rick Shurtz, Man-ager of Operations. “Th ey must work in and around high-voltage power lines in the toughest weather conditions and oft en in the dark to restore power to their neighbors’ homes. Th e rodeo gives them the chance to pit their skills against their peers. While preparing, it opened up some discussions about safety that were very benefi cial.” More than a dozen states host state or regional rodeos. Men and women from around the world congregate each fall at the Internation-al Lineman’s Rodeo in Bonner Springs, Kansas. To learn more about this event and the challenges linemen face, visit www.linemansrodeokc.com.

Playing it Safe Co-op lineworkers participating in ‘rodeos’ hone safety skills By Megan McKoy-Noe

Megan McKoy-Noe writes on consumer and cooperative aff airs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profi t electric cooperatives.

Phil Hendrix securesa dummy during pole-top rescue practice.

14 - Northeast Connection

Members struggling to pay utility bills may qualify for additional notice or provi-sions prior to disconnection of service

for non-payment. Rules governing disconnection of service for non-payment are established and enforced by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC), a state agency established to protect the interests of Oklahoma’s residents. Th ese rules provide require-ments for special notice, deferred payment plan, and special provisions that may delay disconnection. Here, we address a few of these requirements.

Special Notices Elderly and disabled members may qualify for special notice from the OCC regarding pending disconnection of service. To qualify, a member must be age 65 or older or have a disability or impairment that substantially limits their ability to pay for utility service. Members must submit a written request and com-plete a verifi cation form to qualify for the additional notice from the OCC.

Deferred Payment Plan Members may contact Northeast Oklahoma Elec-tric Cooperative to enter a payment arrangement, referred to by the cooperative as a “one-time agree-ment,” before being disconnected for non-payment. If service is disconnected, the member may have to pay the full amount owed, including disconnect and reconnect fees, and provide a deposit before being reconnected.

Special Provisions Weather may create a special provision under which disconnection of service is delayed. On days the heat index is predicted to be 101° F or higher, the cooperative will suspend disconnection activity. Residential members who have applied for and are awaiting fi nancial assistance from a federal, state, or local service agency may qualify for a delay in the disconnection of service. Th e agency involved must provide the cooperative verifi cation of the application for assistance.

It is important to remember that qualifying for a delay in disconnection or additional notice does not absolve a member from the full payment of their bill. Th e cooperative gladly complies with rules out-lined by the OCC. To learn more about these and other requirements of the OCC, contact the coopera-tive member services department at 1-800-256-6405 or the Consumer Services Division of the OCC at 1-800-522-8154 or by mail to Consumer Services Division, P. O. Box 52000, Oklahoma City, OK73152.

Additional Notice AvailableElderly and disabled members may qualify for more notice on delinquent bills

July 2013 - 15

With new ways to use the extras from summer gardens addressed last month, we thought we would help you out with all those busy hens. Eggs are one of the most versatile foods, creating savory and sweet dishes per-

fect for any time of day.

Eggs Florentine9 eggs 1 pint cottage cheese 1 cup grated Swiss cheese 1 cup crumbled Feta cheese 4 tablespoons soft ened butter 2 cups chopped spinach (fresh is best, if using frozen be sure to thaw and drain completely)1 teaspoon nutmeg Sautéed red or yellow peppers to garnish (op-tional)

Whisk eggs slightly, add cheeses, butter, and nutmeg and mix well. Stir in spinach. Pour into greased ramekins or 9x13 glass casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Serves 8.

Chocolate Custard1 cup whipping cream1/3 cup milk6 ounces high-quality semi-sweet chocolate, chopped4 egg yolks

Place cream and milk in heavy 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture just comes to a boil. Immediately remove from heat. Add chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth. Whisk yolks in large bowl just to blend. Gradually whisk warm chocolate mixture into beaten yolks. Return choco-late mixture to same saucepan. Cook over medium heat 8-10 minutes, stirring con-stantly, until mixture thickens and just begins to bubble. Do not boil. Pour custard evenly among 6 (3-ounce) custard cups. Cool completely. Cover; chill 1 hour.

Make it Egg-stra Special

Spanish Tortilla3 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided1 small onion, thinly sliced1 cup precooked diced red potatoes1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika6 large eggs4 large egg whites1/2 cup shredded Jack cheese3 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until translucent, 3 to 4 min-utes. Add potatoes, thyme and paprika and cook for 2 minutes more. Lightly whisk eggs and egg whites in a large bowl. Gently

stir the potato mixture into the eggs along with cheese, spinach, salt and pepper until combined. Wipe the pan clean; add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil and heat over me-dium heat. Pour in the egg mixture, cover and cook until the edges are set and the bottom is browned, 4 to 5 minutes (it will still be moist in the center). To fl ip the tortilla, run a spatula gently around the edges to loosen them. Invert a large plate over the pan and turn out the tortilla onto it. Slide the tortilla back into the pan and continue cooking until completely set in the middle, 3 to 6 minutes. Serve warm or cold.

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDTULSA, OKPermit 2171

16 - Northeast Connection

They do not make them anymore,For quilts are cheaper at the storeThan woman's labor, though a wifeMen think the cheapest thing in life.But now and then a quilt is spreadUpon a quaint old walnut bed,A crazy quilt of those old daysThat I am old enough to praise.

Some women sewed these points and squaresInto a pattern like life's cares.Here is a velvet that was strong,The poplin that she wore so long,A fragment from her daughter's dress,Like her, a vanished loveliness;Old patches of such things as these,Old garments and old memories.

And what is life? A crazy quilt;Sorrow and joy, and grace and guilt,With here and there a square of blueFor some old happiness we knew;And so the hand of time will takeThe fragments of our lives and make,Out of life's remnants, as they fall,A thing of beauty, after all.

ACrazyQuilt

Douglas Malloch, American poet

(1877-1938)

You could win this beautiful quilt made by Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees Quilt Guild members. Tickets to win this quilt will be available for purchase during the quilt show at the Grove Commu-nity Center, July 19 & 20.