Makeover Contest Winners - Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas
Transcription
Makeover Contest Winners - Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas
SEPTEMBER 2010 Makeover Contest Winners n Building the pipeline to victory n A greener tomorrow Inside this issue (ISSN 0048-878X) (USPS 472960) An official publication of Volume LXIII, Number 11, September 2010 F e a t u r es Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. Gary C. Voigt, President/CEO 6 Officers Ronald Moore Hamburg Jim Parrish Trumann Mitchell Johnson Fayetteville Martha Pennington 30 Photographic & Art Credits Cover Leah Rouse 4 Sheila Yount 6-9 Eugene Horton 10-11 Ouida Cox 28 Carl Horton 30 Ziplock Brand Products Building the pipeline to victory 10 Looking beyond the horizon to a greener tomorrow 14 Gassville couple wins Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest 30 Make the grade 32 The landscape of reliability 34 Ductless heating and cooling 37 Closing up a vacation home? 39 Biomass: A renewable fuel 41 Auto museum adds Edsel to exhibit Ouida H. Cox Editor Rae Rinehart Administrative Assistant Dixie Rogers Graphic Designer Chairman Vice Chairman Secretary Treasurer 6 39 41 10 Dep a r t m en t s Comments . . . . . . . . . . 3 Contact Information News briefs . . . . . . . . . . 4 Editorial & Advertising Offices: 1 Cooperative Way Little Rock, AR Mailing Address: P.O. Box 510 Little Rock, AR 72203 E-mail: [email protected] (501) 570-2200 Capitol Buzz . . . . . . . . 18 Doug Rye Says . . . . . . 20 Family favorites . . . . . . 28 Periodicals postage paid at Little Rock, AR and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Rural Arkansas P.O. Box 510, Little Rock, AR 72203 Members: Please send name of your cooperative with mailing label. Subscription Price: $7.00 per year for non-members Member of Arkansas Press Association Acceptance of advertising by Rural Arkansas does not imply endorsement of the product or services advertised by the publisher or the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. 2 RURAL ARKANSAS Reflections . . . . . . . . . . 36 Crossword puzzle . . . . 38 Calendar of events . . . 42 T h e Co ver Bill and Mary Quilhot of Gassville hold a ceremonial check announcing them as the grand-prize winners of the 2010 Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest sponsored by the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. 32 This month’s Rural Arkansas makeover a “real blessing.” cover story features Bill and Mary Last year, we had even more applications to sort through Quilhot of Gassville, the grandbefore we decided on another deserving couple – Aaron and prize winners of the 2010 Energy Jerissa Rogers of Wesley. They had electric bills averaging Efficiency Makeover Contest. more than $200 a month before the makeover. Even with The Quilhots are the third family such high bills, their home was still uncomfortable. In the to receive an energy efficiency summer, the house wouldn’t stay cool and in the winter, they makeover as part of the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas’ had to supplement heating with a wood stove. contest, which began in 2008. An energy audit of the house, located in Ozarks Electric Like the previous winners, the Quilhots learned they Cooperative’s service area, showed that the home had a rate of had won the makeover when a caravan of officials from the .90 natural air changes per hour. That means that 90 percent cooperatives, as well as representatives of companies that are of the air in the house changed every hour, which, like the donating equipment and labor to the project, arrived at their Lutens’ home, was very inefficient. Work on the home began house. And even though it is the third year, enthusiasm for Aug. 11, 2009, and included the installation of new siding; the project has not waned. In fact, it is greater than ever. RetroFoam insulation; a high efficient 20-SEER- air-to-air The cooperatives’ makeover is loosely based on the ABC heat pump; compact florescent lights and Energy star-rated show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Because the appliance. In addition, areas of air infiltration were caulked cooperatives have a tradition of promoting energy efficiency, it and ductwork was sealed. seemed a natural fit to take a different “makeover” approach, one that would not focus on cosmetic changes but on energy use. The first year, the cooperatives had about 1,100 applications and the grand prize went to Carroll and Sue Luten of Donaldson. The Lutens’ home, located in South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative’s service area, was selected because it had massive air infiltration, which was making the home extremely uncomfortable. In fact, when Bret Curry and Doug White of the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas visited the Lutens as part of the selection process, they found Carroll, who is disabled, sitting his wheelchair, holding an ice pack on his chest with ceiling and box fans whirring full Staff from North Arkansas Electric Coooperative join Bill and Mary blast. It was 89 degrees in the house and tests later Quilhot at the makeover announcement. revealed that the home had a rate of 1.8 natural air changes per hour. That means that the air in the house changed almost twice every hour or once every 30 After the makeover, the home had an impressive .39 natural minutes. Ideally, only about 25 to 30 percent of the air in a air changes per hour and was a “totally different house,” house changes every hour. according to Jerissa. She added that the home was far more To remedy the problem, the makeover included the instalcomfortable and their electric bill had been cut in half. Also, lation of a geothermal heating and cooling system; vinyl the water bill was cut in half because of the energy-efficient foam-backed siding; energy-efficient windows and doors; new appliances that were installed. lighting fixtures and compact florescent lights; additional On page 14 of this issue, you will find the details of the cellulose insulation and energy-efficient appliances. In Quilhot home. It, too, is very deserving of a makeover. We addition, numerous tubes of caulk and expanding foam were have no doubt that when the makeover is completed, the used to seal air leaks throughout the house. After the improve- Quilhots will have similar good results and stories to share. ments were made, tests showed that the house had .7 natural We are proud to be able to offer this life-transforming air exchanges per hour, a reduction of more than 100 percent. project to our members. Our only regret is that we can’t do it But, even more important than the test results was the for all who need it. What we can do, however, is to continue comfort level of the house. Since the makeover, Sue said to look for ways to help you save energy and to work hard to their home is comfortable year-round and their electric bill is keep your electricity safe, affordable and reliable. That is our lower. Without the makeover, the retired couple had feared promise to you and if we can keep it, we’ll all be winners. they wouldn’t be able to stay in their home. She called the SEPTEMBER 2010 3 comments Energy efficiency makeover is a winner news briefs of the month Uncertainty is nation’s biggest problem, Senate candidates say Uncertainty over the state of the nation’s economy, as well as possible legislation that could raise energy costs and taxes, is the nation’s biggest issue, Arkansas’ two candidates for the U.S. Senate told electric cooperative directors on July 26. “I would say that biggest word to describe, and what has created so much danger both in our economy and in our industry and in our ability to create jobs has been the word ‘uncertainty,’” Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., said during a speech at the directors’ summer conference at the Embassy Suites in Rogers. Lincoln, who is seeking re-election to a third term in the U.S. Senate, faces U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Ark., in the November election. Lincoln spoke first to the directors, followed by Boozman. Uncertainty over proposed energy legislation, which could lead to higher energy bills, and over such things as the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) move to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, which Lincoln opposes, are hurting job creation, she said. “Uncertain is not a good place to be,” Lincoln said. “ Consumers, farmers, small business don’t know if their utility bills will skyrocket. Folks just don’t generally feel very confident about the state of our economy in this country and that is caused by uncertainty.” Lincoln said she “stood tall” for rural Arkansas when she came out against proposed cap and trade legislation that would have limited emissions of carbon dioxide. She said she opposed legislation passed in the House in 2009 that would have established a cap and trade program and fought against similar proposals in the Senate. “I made it very clear early on that I would not support any bill that drastically increased energy costs, burdened rural consumers and small business or otherwise jeopardized our fragile economy,” she said. Lincoln was one of 10 moderate Democrats in the Senate who signed a letter in 2008 to Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, opposing cap and trade. Her stand, and those of her colleagues, was “absolutely essential and instrumental in defeating cap and trade in the United States Senate,” she said. She also has fought against the EPA’s plan to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, saying that the law does not give the agency that authority and that to do so would have raised electricity bills for consumers nationwide. She co-sponsored a resolution by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, that would have kept EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. In addition, Lincoln said she supports the proposed Rural Star program that would provide funding for a zero-interest loan program for energy efficiency improvements. Designed for electric cooperative members, Lincoln said she has been “pushing hard” for Rural Star. 4 RURAL ARKANSAS Boozman agreed that uncertainty over such things as regulations, taxes and healthcare costs are hurting the nation’s economy. “Nobody knows what the rules are going to be,” he said. “The only thing that U.S. Rep. John the average Boozman businessman knows is that taxes are going Sen. Blanche to go up. Lincoln There’s no ifs, ands or buts, they are going to go up next year.” Because of the uncertainty, businesses are refraining from hiring, which hurts the economy, Boozman said. “We’ve got to deal with these things and until we deal with these things, businesses are not going to invest in their businesses, they are going to continue to leave their money on the side and they are not going to be employing people,” Boozman said. Boozman noted that he voted against the Waxman-Markey bill, which included a cap and trade program to limit carbon dioxide emissions. As for the EPA and its effort to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, Boozman said the agency is “totally out of control.” He said the EPA is trying to accomplish what could not be done in Congress. “I think one of the great mistakes that has happened and it has happened on both sides, it is not partisan, it has been a bipartisan situation where we’ve got these agencies with tremendous power and very little oversight,” Boozman said. As for energy issues in Arkansas, Boozman noted that he continues to support funding for the rehabilitation of the Ozark-Jeta Taylor Powerhouse, a hydroelectric plant on the Arkansas River. The powerhouse was built in 1972-74 and is currently undergoing a major rehabilitation project. Boozman noted that taxpayers will get paid back for their investment through the sale of energy. Boozman also praised the directors for coming to Washington each May during the cooperative’s Legislative Conference to visit with members of the Arkansas Congressional Delegation. “You’ve got tremendous leadership in the state, you’ve got good leadership at the national level and that’s all fine, but there is no substitute for you coming to Washington, looking me in the face, looking the rest of your representatives in the face, saying this is important to us,” he said. AECI elects new officers New officers were elected at the annual meeting of the board of directors of Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. They are chairman: Ronald Moore, general manager of Ashley-Chicot Electric; vice chairman: Jim Parrish, vice chairman of Craighead Electric; secretary: Mitchell Johnson, president/ CEO of Ozarks Electric; and treasurer: Martha Pennington, a director of Ashley-Chicot Electric. T rivia ............. • The Liberty Bell got its crack the first time it was rung. • Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning. Ronald Moore Jim Parrish Mitchell Johnson Martha Pennington Bigger isn’t better when it comes to air conditioning If your older air conditioning system didn’t keep your home as cool as you’d like this summer, you might want to replace it before the end of the year. If you buy an energy-efficient air conditioning system by Dec. 31, you could qualify for a federal tax credit of up to $1,500. One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when replacing their air conditioning systems is to believe bigger is better—so they buy one that’s too big for their home. When it comes to air conditioning, it’s actually better to err on the side of smaller. A system that’s too big for your home will leave the air feeling clammy because it won’t regulate indoor humidity properly. High humidity indoors can lead to all kinds of problems—and not just with your comfort. Uncontrolled humidity can invite mold. An air conditioning unit that’s just the right size for your home will run long enough to bring your home to the temperature you like, and it will cycle the moisture out of the air. A unit that’s too big for the home won’t run long enough to wring out the humidity. It will cool your home too quickly, and then cut itself off before it has time to deal with the humidity. So you’ll wind up with cool, clammy air. That said, you don’t want to buy a unit that’s too small, either. An undersized unit will run all the time without ever making your home as cool as you’d like it to be. Request a manual-J load calculation from an HVAC professional to determine the right size for your new air conditioning unit. You’ll be more comfortable, and you’ll save money and energy. • The Arkansas River is the third longest in the U.S. and the 36th longest in the world. With its head near Leadville, Colo., the Arkansas River’s 1,459-mile length makes it the longest river flowing into the Mississippi-Missouri River system. • An adult lion’s roar can be heard up to five miles away, and warns off intruders or reunites scattered members of the pride. • In parts of Alaska, it’s illegal to feed alcohol to a moose, and in Oklahoma, you’re subject to fines and/or imprisonment for making “ugly faces” at dogs. • A bee can travel four million miles at 7 m.p.h. on the energy it would obtain from one gallon of nectar. Bees have five eyes—there are three small eyes on the top of a bee’s head and two larger ones in front. Out of 20,000 species of bees, only four make honey. • To clean tarnished copper bottoms of pots and pans, spread a little ketchup onto the bottom. Let it sit for about one minute. Wipe it clean and rinse. • The phrase “sleep tight” originated when mattresses were set upon ropes woven through the bed frame. To remedy sagging ropes, one would use a bed key to tighten the rope. • “In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on.” – Robert Frost SEPTEMBER 2010 5 news briefs of the month ............. World War II Memories Last month marked the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II. On Aug. 14, 1945, the Japanese surrendered, putting an end to the deadliest war in history. Although much has been written about the battles for the Pacific, another theater – China, Burma and India – has often been overlooked, even though it played a vital role in the defeat of the Japanese. As part of the World War II Memories series, Rural Arkansas pays homage to those who fought in the “Forgotten Theater” with the story of Eugene Horton of Newcastle, who helped build a 1,700-mile pipeline from India to China to transport gasoline to the Chinese in their fight against the Japanese. Horton is a member of Woodruff Electric Cooperative. The Forgotten Theater: building the pipeline to victory By Sheila Yount Among the photos of snake charmers, camels and the Taj Mahal, one yellowed black and white snapshot stands out in Eugene Horton’s World War II photo album. In it, a young man is sitting atop a steel tank, squinting in the bright Indian sun. He is wearing shorts, work boots and a cap with the brim smartly turned up. Because of the unrelenting heat, he is shirtless, revealing a lean, muscular frame -- a young man in his prime. “I could do it again,” the now 90-year-old Horton said during a recent interview as he flipped through the album. “If I were a little younger.” The young man in the photo was Horton himself, taken when he was a 22-year-old T5 in the U.S. Eugene Horton takes a break atop Army’s 700th a 10,000-barrel fuel storage tank. Engineer Petroleum Distribution Company. Beginning in 1943, he spent two years in India helping build a pipeline as part of the China-Burma-India Theater, commonly known as the “Forgotten Theater.” The pipeline was necessary to help bring much needed gasoline to the Chinese in their effort to fight the Japanese, who had taken control of the country’s seaports, as well as access to the Burma Road, blocking China’s main supply routes. “China was landlocked by the Japanese,” Horton said. “You couldn’t get a thing into China, except over the ‘Hump.’” Starting in 1942, the Allies began flying transport planes 6 RURAL ARKANSAS filled with gasoline and supplies across the Himalaya Mountains from India to China. That perilous route was known as the “Hump.” To supplement the “Hump” flights, the U.S. Army set out to build a pipeline to carry gasoline from Calcutta, India, to Allied airbases in the Assam Valley of India, where the “Hump” flights originated. Eventually, the pipeline would stretch all the way to Kunming, China, a distance of nearly 2,000 miles. “Smoke ‘em if you’ve got ‘em” Horton had just graduated from a technical training school in Memphis where he studied architectural drafting when America declared war on Japan. He first joined the Navy in hopes of becoming a fighter pilot but an especially demanding naval aviation history class proved to be his undoing. After leaving that program, Horton was drafted into the Army and left in April 1942 for Little Rock and Camp Robinson. “I was ordered to go to Camp Robinson so five of us left Forrest City on an old steam locomotive-driven train and we got into Little Rock and there were groups coming in from all across the state,” Horton recalled. After arriving in Little Rock, Horton climbed in the back of a “six by six” truck that headed out to Camp Robinson. Next, he traveled to Fort Custer, Mich., for infantry basic training. When he arrived there, it was sleeting and snowing. “They had us outside the next few days, scrubbing down the wooden walls of the barracks,” Horton said, adding that the duty only got worse as basic training got into full swing. The hardest part of basic, he said, was a 30-mile march with a full field pack. “We marched around that base, I guess for 18 hours before we got that 30 miles covered,” he said, adding that during the march, they would occasionally get breaks to rest and smoke cigarettes. That is where Horton often heard the saying, “Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em.” Still more to learn After 16 weeks of basic training, Horton and several others learned they would not be going to an infantry group after all. (Left) Soldiers pass the time aboard a troop ship. (Below) Soldiers carry heavy duffle bags aboard a troop ship as they head overseas. Town, South Africa to refuel and restock supplies. He recalled seeing a Coca Cola sign and Chevrolet warehouse as the ship came ashore. For the next four days, Horton and the other troops enjoyed liberty each day in what Horton said was the “very modern city” of Cape Town. After Cape Town, the ship traveled for another two weeks, finally docking at Bombay, India. As before, the news of their destination came unexpectedly over the ship’s intercom. Once they de-boarded the ship, they were taken across the country on what Horton called “small dinky” trains to Calcutta. From Calcutta, they traveled to an area about 20 miles away where they set up camp. The hard work was just beginning. The world’s longest Instead, they were shipped pipeline to Camp Claiborne, La., The Army’s Yank magazine in its Dec. where they were assigned to pipeline companies. There were 3, 1945, issue called the pipeline from India to China the 20 companies with 220 men each. Horton was assigned to “longest pipeline in the world.” The article praised the soldiers the 700th Engineer Petroleum Distribution Company. who built it. “At the time, we didn’t know where were going or when or “Longest of its type in the world and running through the anything else,” he said. globe’s most rugged terrain, the line is a potential monument For the next three months, he and his unit would train to the strength and sweat of the GIs who opened the jungle out in the “boonies” laying pipe and learning how to build and put down the pipe. Through the pipeline, fuel flowed prefabricated tanks that would hold thousands of gallons rapidly toward fighting fronts in Burma and China during the of high-octane gasoline. After that, they were sent to Camp closing months of the war,” the article said. Patrick Henry at Newport News, Va., where they waited for The pipeline began 10 days for the arrival of a troop ship that would take them near Calcutta where to their still unknown destination. Once it arrived, it took tankers brought refined another 24 hours to bring all 5,500 men aboard, Horton fuel into the port. It was recalled. Horton was one of 55 men in his unit who boarded stored in a huge “tank the Empress of Scotland, a British cruise ship that had been farm” and then pumped converted to a troop ship. along the pipeline as “We had everything we owned in a duffle bag,” he said, adding that after they came aboard, they were assigned Continued on next page quarters and given meal tickets for the two meals a day they would receive. They only had two meals because there were too many men aboard to serve three. Horton took many photos For the next month, Horton and his unit cleaned of the sites in India, such the front of the ship each day, starting at 5 a.m. They as this camel at rest. were usually finished by 7 a.m. and would have the rest of the day to “lounge around in the sunshine,” he said. He recalled that a Navy blimp followed the ship for a couple of hours the first day to monitor for German submarines. The threat of submarines was ever present. During the day, the ship’s crew would take a zigzag course to avoid torpedo fire in case there were submarines lurking below. The zigzag course prevented enemy subs from getting a good line of sight on the ship. “It took a sub (officer) 15 to 20 minutes to get you lined up in his sights,” Horton said. For the next two weeks, they saw nothing but sea. Then, a voice came on the intercom one morning Map shows the Ledo and Burma Roads, also known as the Stilwell with the news that the ship would dock in Cape Road. The U.S. Army built a fuel pipeline adjacent to it. SEPTEMBER 2010 7 it was built. When the pipeline reached the Assam Valley where the Army’s Air Transport Command’s bases were, they built branches to the various Allied bases. This gas was used to fuel the transport planes on their trips across the “Hump.” Ox carts and snake charmers were common sites along India’s streets. They also carried the gasoline to China in their cargo bays, a feat that further endangered the crews’ lives. The pipeline was built in a “grasshopper” style, Horton said. “Our bunch built the first 100 miles out of Calcutta, then another company built the next 100 and the next and so on,” Horton said, adding that the work was done with five-man crews that could build a mile of pipeline a day. Indian natives were hired to dig the trenches, which were a foot wide and 18 inches deep. The Army crews would then take bamboo struts and lay them across the trenches. Then they would hook the 20-foot pipe sections, which weighed about 120 pounds, together on the struts. “You would slide a rubber gasket over one end and then butt the pipes together,” he said. “You would put the gasket over the crack and then there were big couplings with threequarter inch bolts. You would slap that on there and with a wrench, you tighten them up.” After the pipe sections were connected, the crews would pull the struts out and drop the pipe into the trenches. As it was being lowered, the pipe would bend, resembling a huge snake, Horton said. The natives would then fill the trenches with dirt. “It was really hard work. One guy would get on one end of the joint of the pipe and I would get on the other 120 pounds,” he said. “But I got used to it.” Conditions were far from ideal. Most of the time it was at least 100 degrees or more, Horton said, adding at night it was 8 RURAL ARKANSAS often so hot the men couldn’t sleep until after midnight when the night air would finally cool down. They would perspire so much at night that their sheets were soaked and had a permanent yellow color. To ward off malaria, they took atabrine every day. Leeches were another common nemesis. “If you walked across the field, when you came back to other side you would check to see if you had a leech stuck to you,” he said. “I was smoking then and I would take a lighted cigarette and touch them and they would just fall off.” Yank magazine described the work as nothing short of an engineering miracle. “To build the pipeline, engineers crossed lowland rice paddies in floods, worked over the backs of rolling hills and hacked through green jungle covering steep sides of mountains. This line curls across the beds of wide rivers and hangs high in the air over deep mountain gorges. Touching three countries, it runs from sea level to heights of 9,000 feet.” A typical day began at 6 a.m. and would end around 5 p.m. They ate packed lunches at the work site. One day, Horton said they were working near a little town when they heard people yelling and arguing. “The villagers were chasing some lepers out of town,” Horton said. “They were afraid they would catch it. They were hollering at them, telling them to get out.” Horton and his crew were touched by the scene and decided to pool their lunches and give the food to the lepers, who were starving. “They acted like they had not eaten in weeks,” he said. “Later they moved back out into the woods or wherever they had a place to camp. We never saw them again.” Extreme poverty Although Horton and his crew didn’t endure the rigors of combat, they saw plenty of death, Horton said. Extreme poverty and disease were the way of life there. “Life was just very short there at that time,” he said. “I think the average life expectancy was about 40 years.” He recalled seeing an elderly man sitting under a tree, near death. He was barely breathing and Horton and his crew didn’t know what to do. The next day, they came back to the same area and found him dead. His body stayed there for days and was consumed by vultures. Similar scenes were common throughout the country, even in the city of Calcutta, Horton said. One day, Horton’s crew had a near miss with combat. Japanese soldiers were heading to the area where they were working and got within 50 miles of Horton’s crew. But American, South African and Burmese soldiers turned them back, stopping their advance into India. Three days later, Horton’s crew arrived at the scene of the battle and stopped to visit the temporary cemetery that had been built for the Allied soldiers who died in the fight. It was an experience he would never forget. “One GI had taken some boards off a shell crate and made The Ledo and Burma roads snake across the rugged terrain of India, Burma and China. a little sign and took a paintbrush and wrote, ‘for your tomorrow, we gave our today,’” Horton recalled, his voice choking with emotion. Pumping gas After Horton’s company’s section of pipeline was completed, he became a pumping station operator. The men would work in shifts and it wasn’t bad duty, except during the monsoon season, Horton said. For about three months out of the year, strong electrical storms and floods would sweep across the countryside. “We were kind of uneasy out there on that pumping station,” he said. With the high octane gas running through there, one hit would have knocked the whole station out.” Horton and his company were lucky not to have any mishaps in the storms, but others were not. Still, the project was a huge success. From December 1944 to August 1945, Allied troops in India, Burma and China received more than 150 million gallons of fuel through the pipeline. Coming home When news of the victory in Europe made its way to Horton, the men were happy but nothing changed in their daily lives. “We just kept on pumping as if nothing had happened,” Horton said. But after Japan surrendered on Aug. 14, 1945, things would quickly change for 700th Engineer Petroleum Troops head for one of the many transport planes that operated in the China-Burma-India Theater. Distribution Company. In November 1945, they learned they would be going home and so began the long journey back to the states. First they flew out of northern India on a transport plane to what is now Pakistan. Then they waited three weeks for a troop ship to arrive. Finally, the General Morton, another British cruise ship converted to a troop ship, arrived and they set out to sea. This time, however, they could go through the Suez Canal. On the trip over, it was under siege and wasn’t safe for travel. By going through the Suez Canal, they saved a week of travel, Horton said. While the trip over to India was smooth and uneventful, the trip home was a different story. This time they endured two major storms, which left Horton and most others on the ship seasick. Finally, after nearly a month on the rocky seas, they arrived in New York harbor where the temperature was a chilly 18 degrees. “We saw the old girl wave at us in New York,” Horton said. “ It was quite emotional.” An early Christmas present After de-boarding in New York, they took trains to Camp Kilmer, N. J. From there Horton took another train to Jefferson Barracks, Mo., where he was discharged on Dec. 23, 1945. On his way home from Jefferson Barracks, he got an early Christmas present when his grandfather, who worked for the railroad in Wynne, took a passenger train to Poplar Bluff, Mo., to meet Horton. “He knew what time I was going to get there from Jefferson Barracks,” he said. “So he met me and we rode back to Wynne together. It was a memorable event.” Upon his return to Newcastle, he went to work for his father at the country store and the cotton gin. In 1947, he married Marion Bolin of Shreveport, La., and they had two sons, Carl and John. He still lives at Newcastle and stays in touch with some of his Army buddies. In 2009, he and three buddies had a reunion in Helena. One of the men he had not seen in 64 years. Although the years have faded the photographs in his album, his memories are still clear. And he remains proud of the accomplishments of his company and all those who served. For him, his generation deserves the moniker, the “Greatest Generation,” which was bestowed upon it by Tom Brokaw in his book about those who fought in World War II. Eugene Horton enjoys life at his “It really was,” he said. family home in Newcastle. SEPTEMBER 2010 9 Looking beyond the horizon to a greener tomorrow An innovative approach to dealing with poultry litter By Penny Storms 10 RURAL ARKANSAS greener tomorrow Agriculture is one of the main components of the economy in Arkansas. The poultry industry makes up a large segment of the agriculture sector, with the largest concentration of this industry in the rugged terrain of the Ozark Mountains in Northwest Arkansas. Environmentalists as well as local residents have become increasingly concerned through the years about the proper disposal of excess poultry litter in the region without affecting the watershed in the process. For many years, the most common practice in dealing with poultry litter in Northwest Arkansas, Special equipment makes where it is extremely abundant, was to land apply it handling bales quick and easy. on the pastures in the Ozarks. This land application A forklift can also be used to for the past 50 years was to increase forage growth and facilitate unloading at the to enhance cattle production. The practice has created bales’ destination. a problem of saturating the land with phosphorus. High phosphorus soils have been implicated as a potential water quality problem. The exponential growth in the volume of litter from the emergent poultry industry compelled Dr. H.L. Goodwin, along with other faculty members and scientists at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, to intensify research on the processing of poultry litter to manage the surplus in Northwest Arkansas, as well as capturing remaining nutrients for use in crop production. Though the plant-essential nutrients from this poultry by-product could be used in the eastern Arkansas croplands, there were problems to be considered. The basic transportation problem for raw poultry litter centers on the relatively low nutrient value of litter compared with the high transport and handling cost, approximately $3.75 per mile. Raw litter loses nitrogen to the atmosphere at a steady, predictable rate and this loss creates a reduction in air quality. Raw litter is a dirty product to handle (it tests 100 percent positive for E. coli) and requires specialized trailers for transport. Because of the specialized trailers and sanitary considerations, truck backhauls are difficult in the use of raw litter. These issues led Dr. Goodwin and his associates to develop a new method for handling and transporting the poultry litter from Northwest Arkansas. The culmination of years of research led to the development of a large industrial baler to process poultry litter in such a way that would address many of the problems experienced in using raw poultry litter. By baling the litter in UV-resistant polyethylene, the loss of nitrogen to the atmosphere, air quality issues, storage costs and leaching of nutrients are virtually eliminated. The baled product provided organic nutrients readily available for plant uptake and cut transportation costs to approximately half that of raw litter. At the time that Dr. Goodwin and his team successfully produced an environmentally friendly solution to the excess poultry litter in northwest Arkansas, there was no poultry aggregator interested in further developing the concept. Continued on next page Bruce Johnson, president of White River Fertilizer Supply. Below: The mammoth baler is computer controlled and fully automatic, with twin rams that provide 150,000 pounds of compaction force and can process up to 50 tons of raw litter per hour. Left: Tracy Argo (left) and Rob Bullock are the driving force behind the leading poultry litter transfer company in the country. Bales are stored on-site. SEPTEMBER 2010 11 The new baler, after baling a few tons of litter, was microorganisms in the soil, organic fertilizers boost microbial warehoused where it remained dormant for three years. activity, which helps to slowly release the nutrients, producing While on a turkey hunt in western Oklahoma, Tracy Argo a carryover effect for longer term soil benefits. Plants are able visited with a group of farmers. The subject of amending to use 98 percent of the residual nutrients in the litter. Baled their soil with poultry litter sparked a healthy conversation. litter is much safer to use than raw litter. University testing Throughout his professional career, Argo had become known showed a 99 percent kill ratio on the litter after 110 hours as a problem solver. The prospect of removing of baling. Other the bulk of excess poultry litter from Northwest extremely positive Arkansas (where he lived) by using a proprietary aspects of using baled baler to make the shipping and handling of the litter over raw is the product easier for the farmer was intriguing. This significant reduction led to conversations with Bruce Johnson and the in transportation costs forging of a partnership that founded White River to the farmer, no loss Fertilizer Supply (WRFS) in 2008. of nitrogen into the All of Dr. Goodwin’s research proved the atmosphere and a feasibility of such a proposition. 60-percent reduction However putting the plan in cycle time for into action took not only loading the litter Spreaders for financial commitment, but spreading equipment. application are personal commitment as In addition, the baled available if well. Both Johnson and Argo litter has a minimal needed. have a genuine concern for odor. the environment and love a Because baled litter challenge. Tackling an environis a fairly new product mental issue that has been in the marketplace, an educational 50 years in the making has campaign is important to raise become a passion for them. awareness. The technology employed Re-commissioning the giant baler that had been warehoused is helping to change the way farmers look at poultry litter and was the first order of business. Anyone who has taken a piece its effect on the environment. For crop farmers, baled litter is of motorized equipment out of storage and restored it to a great augmentation to current fertilizer programs. Chemical “running shape” has an idea of some of the issues that can be fertilizer programs have been the standard for many years. The presented in such an endeavor. In its heyday, the baler had soils in the Arkansas Delta have become sterilized over years baled 12 tons of litter in eight hours. It was obvious that a of chemical fertilization. Exhaustive research has proven that much greater volume of product must be turned out to make the use of poultry litter can help restore the health of these the venture an environmental solution that could be profitable soils over time. However, it is a large hurdle to change the as well as feasible for farmers who might buy the litter. mind-set of third, fourth and fifth generation farmers who Initially, a lot of work was done on the prototype machines have established fertilization practices. Using baled poultry to boost production and deal successfully with the volume litter to reduce the amount of chemical fertilizers needed for and conditions of the raw litter stock-piling in the warehouse. proven, optimum crop production can have a profound effect Within 60 days, WRFS was cranking out 200 tons of product on the farmers’ bottom line as well as the environment. With in eight hours. In a mere 127 days, after Argo’s first converbaled litter, compared to chemical fertilizer input costs, the sation in western Oklahoma, the first delivery of baled poultry litter for WRFS made its way to a farm in Altus, Okla. The baled litter produced by WRFS meets USDA guidelines for organic fertilizer. As opposed to chemical fertilizers Litter is collected from local growers, delivered to a central transfer station and compacted into bales sealed in that kill the polyethylene. Bales are stored on-site for pickup and delivery to farms. 12 RURAL ARKANSAS same nutrients will cost the farmer less while supplying micronutrients and free organic matter at the same time, research shows. White River Fertilizer Supply is the only company baling poultry litter. The prospect of the positive impact on the environment, as well as on the economy in Arkansas as well as surrounding states is huge. Rob Bullock has joined WRFS as regional sales manager and helps to market the company and its technology. Direct sales to farmers account for 90 percent of WRFS’s business. “Baler litter is a renewable, organic soil enhancer that is a profit generator,” Bullock said. “Augmenting crop fertilization with litter can mean a 15-20 percent reduction in initial fertilizer costs and a conservatively estimated 3-5 percent yield increase. It is not hard to see that a farm can be more profitable for years to come, while saving energy and providing environmental solutions at the same time. It is truly a win-win proposition.” Much like chemical fertilizer, baled litter is a year-round product and can be booked in advance for delivery at a determined time, as much as 12-18 months in advance. Due to the packaging, the litter will have the same nutrients and organic matter available at the time of use as it did when it was baled. By having the product delivered in advance, it is available to the farmer for optimum timing of soil dressing and augmentation. White River will contract the haulers to deliver the bales and even spreaders for application if needed. They have a network of dependable contractors to aid the farmers in their use of baled litter. The future for the company includes co-blending of litter with dewatered municipal bio-solids, soil analysis for specific nutrient blends, and even export to South America. The sky, or should we say the horizon is the limit for White River Fertilizer Supply. For more information visit www.baledlitter.com. None. Zero. Zilch. ZERO down •100% financing •No payments for 6 mos Save thousands in up-front closing costs! While other builders arrange financing with local lenders, United-Bilt Homes is the ONLY on-your-site builder in Arkansas that offers true in-house financing. That means you can be in your home, custom built for you, withAspen with Loft - 3 bedroom, 2 bath and over 1,900 sf. out spending a penny in up-front closing costs. 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SPECSMITH.COM | 800.831.3837 SEPTEMBER 2010 13 Gassville couple wins Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest By Sheila Yount Bill and Mary Quilhot of Gassville are winners of the grand prize of the 2010 Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest sponsored by the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. The Quilhots are members of North Arkansas Electric Cooperative. “I am just totally shocked and blown away and I love it,” an excited Mary said in an interview on Aug. 6, shortly after learning that she and her husband had won the contest. More than 2,000 electric cooperative members from across the state applied for the makeover, which is in its third year. The couple got the good news when a small caravan of cooperative staff and media arrived with a ceremonial check, flowers, balloons and television cameras in tow. They had been informed that they were finalists and would either receive a Marathon water heater or the grand prize. A lone North Arkansas Electric Cooperative van first pulled into the driveway, while the rest of the caravan parked along the highway near the house. When Mary saw the van, she said she thought they had only won the Marathon. Then, when she saw others walking to the house, she knew the grand prize was theirs. “This is unreal,” she said, adding that she and her husband, who retired to the home 15 years ago from a Chicago suburb, could not have afforded to do such improvements to their home in the aftermath of the recession. “We have had to stop improving this house,” Bill said. Electric bills are high The couple learned about the makeover through Rural Arkansas magazine, produced by the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. The Marathon water heater prize first caught Mary’s attention because the couple expected they would soon need to replace their vintage 1947 Toastmaster water heater. Amazingly, the water heater still works, but isn’t as efficient as a Marathon. “I never even looked at what else you could get because, come on, it is a little unreal. We couldn’t win this,” she said. However, once she began filling out the application online, she learned more about the grand prize offerings. “I said, ‘Now I want it (the grand prize),’” she said, laughing. The couple’s home has been in the Quilhot family since 1942. It has 1,390 square feet and is cooled with five window air conditioning units. For the past year, the couple has been using about 2,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month. The average electric cooperative member uses about 1,100 kilowatthours per month. Cooperatives support energy efficiency The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas have long promoted energy efficiency and the Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest is a major part of that effort. Although only one home could win the grand prize, the project is designed to have a much broader impact, said Doug White, spokesman for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. By documenting the process of the makeover via the Internet, Rural Arkansas and other media outlets, the cooperatives can help educate Arkansans statewide about how to make their homes and businesses more energy efficient, he said. To be eligible for the contest, applicants had to be members in good standing with one of Arkansas’ 17 electric distribution cooperatives. Their homes had to be all-electric. Mobile homes were excluded because their basic designs are not conducive to energy efficiency retrofits, White said. The contest was announced in May. All applications were thoroughly reviewed by cooperative staff. Seventeen semi-finalists, one from each electric distribution cooperative, were selected. Each semi-finalist will receive an energy-efficient Marathon water heater. From that list, three homes were selected as finalists. Energy audits were conducted on 14 RURAL ARKANSAS the homes and a committee then reviewed reports from the site visits and selected the winner. Major air infiltration When Bret Curry, manager of residential energy marketing for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, performed a comprehensive energy audit on the Quilhot’s home, it was clear that the home was energy inefficient. As part of the energy audit, Curry performed a blower door test, which removes air from a house using a large fan placed inside a door facing. By removing the air, negative pressure is placed on the house. When air from the outside begins to filter in to replace the air that is removed, energy auditors can determine where air infiltration is occurring. He then used an infrared thermal imaging camera to spot the areas of air infiltration. The test revealed that the home had 1.42 air changes per hour, which means that 142 percent of the air in the house changed with outside air every hour. Ideally this figure should be 25 to 30 percent, Curry said. To remedy the situation, the makeover got under way quickly. On Aug. 11, workers arrived to begin removing resistance heat baseboards and other items. The following tasks will be done: • RetroFoam insulation will be installed in the walls and attic. • A geothermal heating and cooling system will be installed. • A high efficient Marathon water heater will be installed. • Energy-efficient windows and doors will be installed. • Incandescent lights will be replaced with compact florescent lights. • Areas of air infiltration will be caulked and sealed. • Energy Star-rated appliances will be installed. The makeover is valued at up to $50,000. Much of the work, equipment and supplies will be donated or discounted by sponsors. Those are: Rood Heating and Air of Russellville; BPSI Foam Insulation/Tommy Gracy; Harry G. Barr Company; Doug Rye; Marathon Water Heaters, and Water Furnace. To watch the makeover in progress, visit www.smartenergytips.org LSK Summer Specials 2285 Hampton Pontoon 2485 Hampton Trilog Pontoon 90HP Suzuki Fuel-Injected 4-Stroke, Custom Tandem Trailer 21,999 $ LSK Price Top of the Line, Rear Facing Lounger, Hyd. Steering, Lifting Strakes, Changing Room, 140HP Suzuki 4-Stroke 31,999 $ LSK Price Check Our Full Ne & Used Inventory w www.lsklebanon.coat m LSK Lebanon Where We Really Know What We’re Doing! www.lsklebanon.com 801 N. Jefferson 1-800-542-3846 Lebanon, MO Offer Ends 9/31/10 SEPTEMBER 2010 15 RuralArkansas:CAFH 6/24/09 8:18 AM Page 1 FEATURED HOME (1988 PLAN) Fund Raising Your School, Church, Club, Team or Youth Group will work directly with the manufacturer to make 40% profit. We want to be the BUILDER OF CHOICE for your new home! 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In ensuing years, AECC licensed and completed two more hydroelectric generation stations, at Morrilton and Dumas, with a combined capacity of 105 megawatts. All of these units are run-of-the-river hydropower plants that create no environmental problems while producing electric energy with virtually no cost for fuel. The total investment for cooperative ratepayers was $350 million, or about a third of all of AECC’s capital investment. Today, with continuous talk about the need to do something about climate change, there are many proposals on the table about a renewable energy standard, or RES. Presumably an RES would require a certain percentage of electric generation to come from renewable sources by a date certain. Most of the legislative proposals seem to revolve around 15 percent to 20 percent by 2020, with energy efficiency counting for a portion of that mix. Wind power and solar energy get most of the attention, with bio-fuels also playing a role. Hydropower is not considered a renewable fuel for congressional purposes, except for incremental energy created by increased efficiency in an existing hydropower unit. In other words, going green back in the 1980s doesn’t count in today’s world. Obviously, some regions of the country are better suited to take advantage of available renewable energy sources. Certainly the panhandle region of west Texas and Oklahoma, and Kansas and Iowa have great potential for wind development. Arizona and the California desert areas have some opportunities with solar energy. It all sounds so simple. Put up some windmills and solar panels. Just make the utility companies do it and the world will be a better place. Polls show that most Americans support the development of renewable energy sources. So do I, especially where they can be economic for ratepayers. The more energy we have, the more reliable and cost efficient our power grid can be. 18 RURAL ARKANSAS But here’s the rub. Regardless of the type of renewable energy source, it still has to get to the people who will use it. That must be done through a transmission system. Without an adequate transmission system, the wind in west Texas will not provide electricity to that farm in Desha County, Ark. And don’t forget that the wind doesn’t blow all of the time. The hospital in Desha County needs power all of the time, which means that somewhere there will always be a need for backup power, most likely from a fossil fuel source. At a cost of $5 million per mile, a transmission system is a costly thing to build. That is if all of the legal multi-state jurisdictional authorities can agree that it should be built. Then someone has to figure out how to allocate the costs correctly so that the people benefiting from the transmission can be charged for its construction and operation. According to a study commissioned by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, “expanding the nation’s transmission infrastructure to support a 20 percent wind energy share may require the construction of up to 15,000 miles of new extra high-voltage transmission lines involving eight regional planning areas and impacting 30 states in the Eastern Interconnection alone.” Renewable energy, like so many things, has the ring of something that is all good with no downside. But, please remember that the devil is always in the details, and there are always complicating factors. Wind and solar energy, at least for now, require a back-up source of energy. Hydropower is a more reliable source of renewable energy, but water availability is always a constraint. And transmission is the cost that most people don’t think about with renewable energy. Fossil fuel generation can be sited with minimal concerns for transmission. 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Contact your local WaterFurnace dealer today to learn more. visit us waterfurnace.com YOUR LOCAL WATERFURNACE DEALERS Brookland Nightingale Mechanical (870) 933-1200 DeQueen Bill Lee Co. (870) 642-7127 Hot Springs GTS, Inc. (501) 760-3062 Springdale Paschal Htg, Air & Plmg. (800) 933-0195 Cabot Stedfast Heating & Air (501) 843-4860 Dumas Mizel Heating & Air (870) 382-5250 Mountain Home Custom Heating & Cooling (870) 425-9498 Van Buren American Energy Guard (479) 474-4604 Heber Springs Lacy Heating & Air Cond. (501) 362-3023 Russellville Rood Heating & Air (479) 968-3131 ©2010 WaterFurnace is a registered trademark of WaterFurnace International, Inc. *Based on ARI13256-1 (GLHP - Part Load Ratings) SEPTEMBER 2010 19 cut your utility bills Doug Rye says ... Even more about insulation and hurray for September Folks, it was a hot August. One day last month, it was 107 degrees in Fort Smith, 104 in Little Rock, 101 in Fayetteville and near 100 degrees in most of the rest of the state. I always worry about our readers whenever we have extreme weather conditions because I know many will be receiving high utility bills. For many of you, those bills will be hitting your mailboxes this month. my column on the Delta T? The bigger the Delta T, the more it takes to heat or cool. If there are only shingles and roof decking between the 173 degrees and the attic, I think that you would agree that the attic temperature could easily be 150 degrees. Well, if the ductwork is in the attic or if you have little or no insulation, the house will have trouble maintaining a comfortable temperature. And even if it does, the electric bill will probably still be high. I also know that heating/cooling contractors worked many long hours this summer trying to keep systems working. I called a couple of those companies last month and they said that new callers were having to wait five to six days for service. Both bills and service are difficult for the consumer during the hot summer or cold winter. So what is one to do? Let’s take a look at what was happening in Little Rock on Aug. 2. The sky was clear and the temperature was over 100 degrees for about six hours of the day. Using an infrared camera, one of our favorite energy tools, we took this picture of a typical house with red shingles at 1 p.m. First of all, you can add cellulose ceiling insulation as discussed last month, which will help in both the summer and the winter. Another solution would be to add a radiant barrier at the roof slope, which would lower the attic and ductwork temperature greatly in the summer. Or you can spray the entire roof deck with foam, which essentially means that there is no longer an attic at all. The space that used to be the attic is now just an odd-shaped room overhead. In most cases this is probably the best answer but it is usually the most expensive. You can learn a lot more about foam insulation and its installation by visiting www.smartenergytips.org. Here you can see work that is being done on the home of Bill and Mary Quilhot of Gassville, the 2010 Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest winners. (See page 14 of this issue to learn more about the makeover winners). As we have written many times, the problem will not go away until you do something about it. Our goal is to help you know what to do. For now, let’s just be thankful it is September and cooler. See you in October when it would be a perfect time to make your improvements. Notice that the shingle temperature was 173 degrees. If the temperature in the house is 75 degrees, there is a 98-degree temperature difference. Do you remember 20 RURAL ARKANSAS P.S. I know that some you were wondering about the temperature for other shingle colors. Photos of white, black and brown shingles were also taken and revealed similar temperatures ranging from 164 to 173 degrees. 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Lowering cholesterol levels by increasing good high-density lipoprotein (HDL) lessens your risk for developing heart disease and reduces your chances of having a heart attack or stroke. How does cholesterol cause heart disease? When there is too much LDL (a fat-like substance) in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries. Over time arteries become narrow and restrict blood flow to the heart. Blood carries oxygen to the heart, and if enough blood and oxygen cannot reach your heart, you may suffer chest pain. If the blood supply to a portion of the heart is completely cut off by a blockage, the result is a heart attack. High LDL levels do not cause symptoms, so many people are unaware that their cholesterol level is too high. So it’s important to find out what your cholesterol numbers are because lowering cholesterol levels that are too high lessens the risk for developing heart disease and reduces the chances of a heart attack. By the numbers The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute suggests everyone age 20 and older should have their cholesterol measured at least once every five years. A lipoprotein profile blood test taken after a 9- to 12-hour fast provides: H&H • Total cholesterol • LDL (bad) cholesterol – the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries • HDL (good) cholesterol – which helps keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries • Triglycerides – another form of fat in your blood HDL protects against heart disease, so higher numbers are better. A level less than 40 mg/ dL is low and considered a major risk factor. HDL levels of 60 mg/ dL or more help lower your risk for heart disease. Triglycerides can also raise heart disease risk. Those with total cholesterol levels that are borderline high (150-199 mg/ dL) or high (200 mg/dL or more) may need treatment. To keep your cholesterol under control: • schedule a screening • eat foods low in cholesterol and saturated fat and free of trans fat • maintain a healthy weight • be physically active • follow your healthcare professional’s advice To learn more, visit www.nhlbi.nih.gov, keyword: cholesterol. Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, American Heart Association *Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. Construction & Supply 1- 479-754-4999 Fax: 1-479-754-4899 1-800-607-4999 $6,89500 $13,65000 $5,150.00 CARING CASKETS Sky-blue $885 $35/Mo w.a.c. 0 down SAVING YOU MONEY ON CASKETS, URNS and MONUMENTS Delivering to all funeral homes • Prepurchase plans Entering our 11th year of Business 1-888-443-6414 • Call for brochure Caskets made in the U.S.A. www.caringcaskets.com 28 S. College, Suite 17, Fayetteville, AR 72701 Town & Country Florist – Huntsville, AR ASK ABOUT A FAMILY FUNERAL PLANNING GUIDE PACKET SEPTEMBER 2010 27 family favorites Recipes from Leslie’s kitchen Ann Long, a native of Brinkley and graduate of Ouachita Baptist University, is a retired art teacher of Brinkley High School. Married to Carl Long, a farmer in Lee County, Ann has one daughter, Lisa, and three stepchildren: Justin, Jared and Karly and a grandson, Kade. She is owner of Harlow’s Completely Unique Shop located south of Brinkley on the family farm. She enjoys working in her shop, gardening and cooking for her family CHOCOLATY ICE BOX PIE 2 ½ cups milk 1 1/3 cups sugar 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa 1 teaspoon butter or margarine 7 tablespoons cornstarch 6 teaspoons water 3 extra large egg yolks 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup miniature marshmallows 1 baked 9-inch pie shell Sweetened whipped cream (Cool Whip) Chocolate curls or shavings In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups milk, sugar, cocoa, and butter. Bring to boil over medium heat. In a medium bowl, mix cornstarch and water until cornstarch is completely dissolved. Stir in remaining ½ cup of milk. Whisk in egg yolks and vanilla until well blended. Gradually add to mixture in saucepan, about 2 minutes or until mixture is thickened and smooth. Add marshmallows and stir until marshmallows melt and mixture is smooth. Pour into pie shell wrap directly onto filling. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Remove plastic wrap, top with Cool Whip or whipping cream and garnish with chocolaty curls. SISTER’S COCONUT CAKE 1 yellow cake mix 1 large can crushed pineapple 1 large can cream of coconut Mix and bake cake using three round cake pans. While cake is cooling, drain pineapple; mix cream of coconut and sweetened condensed milk. Take cake out when done, let cool about 5 minutes. When you can handle first layer; put on cake plate. Bottom side up and punch holes using a drinking straw about every one inch all over layer. Using a small measuring cup put 1/3 of cream of coconut cream mixture over the top; put 1/3 of pineapple on this layer. Do the same on next two layers, to ice the cake, mix, cool whip and 1 ½ cups of powdered sugar with hand mixer. Spread over cake. Put coconut on cake using both hands letting it fall on sides of cake pressing it on the icing. Refrigerate two days before serving. MY MOTHER’S SOUR CREAM POUND CAKE 2 cups butter or margarine softened 3 cups sugar 6 large eggs 3 cups all purpose floor ¼ teaspoon baking soda 8 oz. sour cream 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon almond extract 1 package frozen coconut Beat butter at medium speed about 2 minutes or until soft and creamy. Add sugar, beat eggs in one at a time. Sift flour and soda and add to mixture alternately with sour cream. Stir in flour and add coconut. Put in tube pan and bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 20 minutes. GRAPE SALAD 2 cups sugar 8 oz. cream cheese 8 oz. sour cream light 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 lb. green seedless grapes 1 lb. red seedless grapes ½ to 1 cup brown sugar ½ cup chopped nuts Mix first four ingredients until smooth. Wash and dry grapes. Put grapes in a long baking dish. Pour mixture over grapes and sprinkle with brown sugar. Cover with ½ cup chopped nuts and chill. BLACK AND PINTO BEAN SALAD 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained 1 can pinto beans, rinsed and drained ½ cup red bell pepper, diced ½ cup green onions, diced 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons cilantro, minced ½ to ¾ cup Italian dressing Salt and pepper Combine all ingredients and refrigerate for 2 hours before serving. 28 RURAL ARKANSAS 12 or 16 oz. Cool Whip 1 ½ cups powdered sugar 1 package frozen coconut 1 can sweetened condensed milk MOTHER’S CINNAMON CHOCOLATE CAKE 2 cups sugar 2 cups flour 2 sticks butter 4 tablespoons cocoa 1 cup water 2 eggs ½ cup buttermilk 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon soda Pinch salt Mix sugar and flour; set aside. In pan, let butter, cocoa and water come to a boil, pour over flour and sugar. Add eggs, buttermilk, cinnamon, soda and salt; mix together and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Icing 1 stick butter 4 tablespoons cocoa 7 teaspoons evaporated milk 1 box powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla Bring first 3 ingredients to a boil, then pour over powdered sugar add vanilla and pour over cake. CORN AND RICE CASSEROLE 2 cups cooked rice 1 stick butter 1 medium onion, chopped ½ bell pepper or celery, chopped ¾ cup milk 3 eggs 1 teaspoon sugar 1 can cream style corn or fresh corn cut up 2 cups Velveeta cheese 1 cup mild cheddar cheese Salt and pepper to taste Brown onions and bell pepper/celery in butter, add salt and pepper to taste, pour into rice; add cheese, eggs, milk, corn and sugar, mix well. Pour into 9x12 baking dish; cook 30 minutes at 350 degrees. You can add more cheddar cheese to the top if you desire. Ozark Folk Center ✤ SAM BUSH September 3 • $15 ✤ MARTY STUART September 4 • $20 ✤ TOMMY EMMANUEL l manue Tommy Em October 2 • $20 ss oggu Suzy B ✤ SUZY BOGGUSS October 30 • $15 Marty M O U N T A I N V I E W, A R K A N S A S Stuar t For tickets, call (870) 269-3851 or visit OzarkFolkCenter.com Cabins at Dry Creek Reser vations: 800-264-3655 • Information: 870-269-3851 • OzarkFolkCenter.com Building crews also available The Pole Outlet Rison New Treated Poles (Penta & CCA) All Lengths Up To 45’ Great For Pole Barns 870-329-7653 SEPTEMBER 2010 29 Make the Grade wi t h E asy B ack -To-Schoo l Reci pe s ! 3/4 6 1 1⁄2 1 1 1/2 1/2 Chicken Tortilla Roll-ups cup sour cream spinach tortillas or flour tortillas (8 inches) cups ready-to-use grilled chicken breast strips or cubed cooked turkey cup (4 oz.) finely shredded cheddar cheese cup shredded lettuce cup chopped ripe olives cup chunky salsa Spread 2 tablespoons sour cream over each tortilla. Top with chicken, cheese, lettuce, olives and salsa. Roll up each tortilla tightly; wrap in plastic wrap or store in a covered container. Refrigerate until serving. 6 servings. Classic Meatballs Motoring Munchies 1 1 1 1 1 2 pkg. (18 oz.) granola without raisins can (12 oz.) salted peanuts pkg. (15 oz.) raisins pkg. (14 oz.) milk chocolate M&M’s pkg. (14 oz.) peanut M&M’s pkg. (7 oz. each) mixed dried fruit In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients. Store in a zip-top gallon bag. Happy Face Cupcakes 1 pkg. (18-1/4 oz.) yellow cake mix 1 can (16 oz.) vanilla frosting Assorted candies of your choice Prepare and bake cake according to package directions for cupcakes. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Frost cupcakes. Decorate with assorted candy to create smiley faces. 2 dozen. 30 RURAL ARKANSAS 3/4 1/4 1/2 1/2 2 1 2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1 lb. beef ground chuck lb. bulk sweet Italian sausage (skin removed) cup bread crumbs cup grated parmesan cheese cloves garlic, minced large egg tablespoons minced fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley teaspoon dried oregano teaspoon salt teaspoon freshly ground pepper cup tomato sauce Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large mixing bowl combine beef, sausage, bread crumbs, parmesan, garlic, egg, parsley, oregano, salt and pepper by hand. Form into 16 meatballs approximately 1 1/2-inch in diameter (can be made a day ahead, stored in refrigerator). Coat bottom of a 9 x 12-inch baking dish with tomato sauce and line with meatballs. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes. Turn each meatball upside down and bake an additional 10-15 minutes. Use an instant read thermometer to confirm meatballs are fully cooked. (160° F internal temperature) Serves 4 Meatball Hoagie 16 Classic Meatballs (see recipe) 4 hoagie rolls 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese 1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese Preheat broiler. Open hoagie rolls and lay flat on cookie sheet. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle evenly with oregano and parmesan cheese. Broil open face until crisp and golden. In a large saucepan or frying pan combine spaghetti sauce and meatballs. Cook over medium heat until meatballs are warm throughout. Spoon four meatballs onto one half of each hoagie with desired amount of sauce. Top with mozzarella and serve. Is your computer password “password”? How about “123456?” Change it! Study after study shows that those are among the most common passwords— so common that they’re the first ones a hacker tries while trying to steal information from the sites where you do online banking. Maybe that’s even the password you use to log on to your e-mail or use your ATM card. Others among the obvious: qwerty (the first six letters on the upper left of your keyboard); abc123; letmein; monkey, myspace1; password1; and the user’s first name. Sound familiar? Use these guidelines for choosing a password that’s hard to figure out. The more unique your password is, the harder the bad guys will have to work to hack into your bank account, read your private documents or steal your identity. The longer the better. Password analysts recommend using at least 14 characters. Don’t repeat characters. Use the entire keyboard to create your password, not just the characters you use most often. Combine letters, numbers, punctuation marks and symbols. Mix capital letters with lowercase letters. Create complexity. Example: Capitalize only letters in the first half of the alphabet. Avoid the obvious, including your name, birthday, anniversary, house address, phone number or favorite color Check your password with a secure online password checker for an indication of whether it’s weak or strong. Change your password every three to six months. And some “don’ts”: Don’t write any part of your name: forward, backward, interrupted by numbers, doubled—nothing. Avoid words altogether. Random letters, numbers and characters that don’t “spell” anything are harder to crack. Don’t even use a word spelled backward. Don’t use numbers or letters in sequence, like 123456 or abcdef or 777777, or adjacent letters on your keyboard, like qwerty. When you change your password, don’t use one that you’ve used in the past.  SEPTEMBER 2010 31 The landscape of reliability Vegetation management programs keep power flowing safely to homes By Megan McKoy-Noe Trees may seem harmless on a calm, sunny day. But add a bit of wind or ice on a stormy night and those towering pillars may threaten your home’s electric supply. A great majority of storm outages are related to trees contacting power lines. Regular trimming of trees and brush along power lines helps cut down on the number of outages, as well as annoying blinks. Electricity interruptions can occur when branches break and fall across power lines, or when trees tumble onto power lines. When strong winds blow, limbs growing too close to power lines may sway and touch wires. These momentary power disruptions (commonly called “blinks” or ‘blips”) aren’t just mild annoyances—they can damage computers and other sensitive electronic equipment and leave digital clocks flashing. And then there’s arcing—when electricity uses a nearby tree as a path to the ground. That action poses hazards to anyone in the vicinity and could spark a fire. To fight these potential problems, utilities wage a neverending war. Crews work, in some cases, year-round to clear growth away from power lines as a way of reducing potential outages and safety risks. Your local electric cooperatives are committed to providing safe, reliable, and affordable power, and the vegetation management program is key to fulfilling that promise. Vegetation Management/tree/right-of-way crews look for foliage growing under lines, overhanging branches, leaning or other types of “danger” trees that could pull down a power line if they fall, and trees that could grow into lines. As a rule of thumb, 25 feet of ground-to-sky clearance should be available on each side of utility poles to give power lines plenty of space. This job never ends. By the time crews finish clearing trees and brush from hundreds or even thousands of miles of lines, it’s time to go back to the beginning to clear away new growth. Vegetation management programs have met with widespread success. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), which oversees reliability of the transmission system that blankets the United States, most of Canada, and one Mexican state, tracks bulk power supplyrelated outages. The group lists the period between July and September as “high-risk” for outages due to seasonal tree and shrub growth. Aggressive upkeep has led to a drop in vegetation problems. For the first time ever, no summertime transmission outages were reported last year. “Managing vegetation along North America’s 350,000 miles of transmission lines is an ongoing challenge,” acknowledges Rick Sergel, NERC president & CEO. “I commend transmission owners and operators for this achievement, which clearly demonstrates the industry’s dedication to improving performance in this area.” Making the cut Typically, a utility will not remove trees. Instead, errant limbs and branches too close to power lines are trimmed away. “The Tree Care Industry Association [TCIA, formerly the National Arborist Association] receives a lot of calls from 32 RURAL ARKANSAS homeowners complaining that their utility company ‘drastically’ cut trees near power lines,” said Tchukki Andersen, TCIA staff arborist. Your co-op respects your property, and decides how to trim trees based on the amount of clearance needed around wires, voltage coursing through lines, the tree’s growth rate, and the right-ofway maintenance cycle (how frequently trimming along the line is performed). Most lineworkers and crews are hired to treat trees with care, often following TCIA guidelines. “When evaluating the quality of such activities, consider that a utility’s primary objective is to prevent outages as well as electrical hazards,” explains Andersen. For long-standing trees that have grown too close to overhead lines, several trimming options are employed. A V-cut prunes branches back toward the center of the tree’s crown, basically carving a V-shape through the middle to provide proper line clearance. If limbs grow too close to lines on one side of a tree, side trimming takes place—branches on the entire side are removed. Finally, the notch method clips limbs on one side of a tree from the top to a safe area underneath, leaving a canopy that will not cause any problems. If you want to remove a tree near a power line, your cooperative will work with you. Contact the office before tackling the project for more information. In general, tall-growing trees or varieties boasting wide canopies shouldn’t be placed near utility poles. A local nursery can generally provide information outlining how tall and quickly a tree will grow. Trees are a valued part of every yard’s landscaping, and with proper planning your trees can grow to their full potential without causing power line woes. Several guides are available for prospective planters; to learn more visit the Arbor Day Foundation at www.arborday.org. Safety plays a big role in your utility’s right-of-way trimming practices. Children climbing trees could come into contact with a live wire if trees are too close to power lines. Notice any dead, dying, or severely leaning trees near power lines in your area? Be sure to alert your local electric cooperative. And don’t worry—if high winds or heavy layers of ice bring down trees and power lines near your home, local co-ops have line crews on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond. Sources: NRECA, National Arbor Day Foundation, North American Electric Reliability Corporation Branching out While trees and branches remain the primary cause of outages, other offenders abound—vehicles running into poles or animals getting too close to pole-mount transformers or equipment in substations. Electrical components can also be damaged by lightning and even drifting balloons. Cooperatives, with a focus on keeping electricity reliable, have a number of programs geared towards reducing power interruptions. A 2009 study by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-forprofit electric cooperatives, found 89 percent of cooperatives across the nation operate aggressive tree trimming programs. Lightning arrestors are used by 83 percent of co-ops, and another 82 percent have field personnel patrol distribution facilities to look for potential trouble spots. Animal guards, mainly used to protect against squirrels, are installed by 81 percent of co-ops. Your part Although a tree-lined street may sound ideal, trees planted too close to power lines will be trimmed to prevent power fluctuations and outages. So get your yard off to a good start—keep utility poles in mind when planting trees. SEPTEMBER 2010 33 Ductless heating and cooling Could save you $250-$450 annually By Eric Cody and Brian Sloboda Inside walls, along ceilings, and under the floors of many homes lies a highway system of ductwork that delivers cool air in summer and warm air during winter. But even in the best of systems, as much as 15 to 20 percent of the hot or cold air never reaches your living space. That’s because conditioned air must first warm or cool the duct before air at the right temperature comes out. In addition, seams and joints allow conditioned air to leak into wall cavities while bends and turns hamper air flow. While sealing and insulating ductwork will help, the vast majority of the highway remains hidden behind walls and not easily accessible. Alternative to traditional ducted systems A proven alternative around this issue exists—ductless heat pumps (DHPs), also called “mini-split” heat pumps because they are suitable for conditioning smaller areas and consist of a separate outside compressor and one or more inside air-handling units. A complete DHP system includes these main components: • An outside compressor unit • One or more indoor air handling units mounted on a wall or ceiling • Refrigerant line(s)—insulated copper tubing—running from a compressor to air handling unit(s), generally running along the outside of a wall • A handheld wireless remote or wall-mounted control unit with programmable thermostat After decades of use in Asia, Europe, and in American commercial buildings, DHPs may be poised to gain a share of the U.S. residential market. These devices use an estimated 50 to 60 percent less energy than electric resistance heating systems. There are claims that they may even exceed the efficiency of ducted heat pump systems by more than 25 percent, although comparative performance data does not yet exist. Reduce monthly bills Ductless heat pumps cost more up-front but will save homeowners money compared to electric resistance heating systems, such as baseboard or radiant ceiling heat. They even offer some advantages when compared to conventional air-source heat pumps. DHP features include: • Elimination of duct-related losses, typically in the range of 15 to 20 percent. • Inverter technology, allowing compressor and fans to run at variable speeds, contributing to improved energy efficiency by avoiding on-off cycling losses. • Different comfort levels in different zones, unlike centralized systems that have only offer a single temperature set point. This feature contributes to savings by avoiding heating or cooling of spaces not being used. • Some current DHP models produce as much as 60 percent of full heating capacity at outside air temperatures as low as 17 degrees Fahrenheit, making the need for a supplemental heating system less essential. Range of residential applications Ductless heat pumps may find greatest use in niche applications, including • Retrofits: Full or partial replacement of an existing zonal electric heating system, especially in housing such as manufactured homes or vacation homes where space is unavailable to run ducts. • Additions: New rooms or attic/garage conversions, where existing ductwork or heating system piping would otherwise have to be extended to provide heating and/or air conditioning. DHPs cool small areas more efficiently than ducted heat pump systems. • New construction: DHPs can offer homeowners greater environmental control and lower operating costs than other heating and cooling systems. In new construction, a multi-zone DHP can be fully integrated into the architectural design and floor layout. Ductless heat pumps are not cheap. For new homes, a DHP may cost as much as 30 percent more than a ducted system. The total installed cost of a 1.25-ton DHP system for heating and cooling a single zone typically runs about 34 RURAL ARKANSAS $4,000. Costs are in a state of flux and vary considerably depending on specific installation factors and competition among contractors. But consumers can expect to save between $250 and $450 per year compared to electric resistance heating. In addition to the initial cost, the primary drawback associated with DHPs may be aesthetics. The indoor air handling unit must be mounted on a wall or ceiling in each room. The refrigerant line typically runs along the outside of the home and enters a room through a small hole. The line continues along the inside of the wall until it reaches the wall-mounted unit. As with any purchase, contact a reputable contractor and talk to someone who has installed a ductless heat pump. Right: This bedroom features a split-ductless M-Series system from Mitsubishi Electric Cooling and Heating. Source: Mitsubishi Electric Cooling and Heating Solutions SEPTEMBER 2010 35 Far left: Hannah and Trevor “making a big splash!” – Ilene McCandlis, Viola Near left: Huge tomato worm “caught in the act of eating plants” – Timothy and Lindsey Ralston, Gravel Ridge Far left: Our boxer was adopted by a lost fawn – Gatti and Rudy Buchanon, Lincoln County Near left: James Ridge with Nala and Pete, that he raised by a bottle – Martha Hagler, Wynne Below: Emma says, “Think it’s going to rain?” – Laura and Wesley Evans, Highfill Reflections Last of summer in Rural Arkansas Far left: Nicholas “ready to ride the Deere” – Melissa Chapman, Monticello Near left: Kale enjoying the pool –Thomas and Joyce Hinkle, Hindsville Far left: Identical twins Jacob and Jaxon taking a ride on Butterscotch -- Jamie Ivy, Heber Springs Near left: “I’m not ready for this” – Wyatt and Makenzie, Shirley 36 RURAL ARKANSAS Closing up a vacation home? It’s a given that you’ll lock the doors and arrange to forward your mail before you close up your summer home for the winter. Here are nine precautions you might not have thought of for keeping your empty house safe while you’re away. 1. Weatherstrip around windows and doors. Bugs will squeeze their way into the house through any gaps they can find. 2. Schedule some maintenance for your roof. Raised shingles can lead to leaks during storms, and so can cracks or holes in flat roofs. 3. Secure TV antennas, shutters, awnings, doors, patio furniture and playground equipment so off-season storms won’t knock them over or send them flying through a window. 4. Add a whole-house surge protector to your main electrical panel to protect your electronic equipment. As an extra precaution, you might want to unplug expensive equipment. 5. Set the thermostat at 55 degrees, and open the cabinet doors under sinks in the kitchen and bathroom. This should keep the place just warm enough to prevent your pipes from bursting. 6. Leave your refrigerator turned on with the door closed. If you turn it off and the door happens to shut, it could be full of mold by the time you return. Also, turn off the ice maker so it doesn’t overproduce. 7. If your home doesn’t have a security system, borrow a sign from a neighbor. Security signs and stickers could deter would-be burglars who would rather not take the chance with an alarm. 8. Label your circuit breakers with red and green stickers once you figure out which ones you should turn off (bedroom lights, stove, clothes dryer) and which ones you should leave on (security system, outdoor lights on timers). The colored tape will make it easy to flip the right switches when you return. 9. Take pictures of every room in your house. Open the kitchen cabinets and bedroom closets, and photograph the contents. Record all of your electronics. If you need to make an insurance claim, the photos will help you prove what you had. SEPTEMBER 2010 37 crossword puzzle 4 GARDenInG pRODuCtS Mobile Home Roof Problems? • Leaking • Rumbling • Having Expensive Utilities Permanent Steel re-roof SolveS the Problem! Mobile Home Owners: ROOF KING Mobile Home Super Insulated 26 and 29 Gauge Steel in 10 Colors 2” and 3” Insulation 12” overhangs Roof Over Systems LIFETIME WARRANTY 40 Year Warranty Factory Direct From Roof King Serving Arkansas 1-800-748-0645 1-877-230-6874 www.roofking.net Custom steel Roofing 38 RURAL ARKANSAS MUSCADINES half-dollar size muscadines and blackberries. 200 varieties fruits, nuts, and berries. Free color catalog. Ison’s Nursery, PO Box 190, Brooks, GA 30205, 800-733-0324. August Puzzle Biomass: A renewable fuel By Scott Gates “Biomass” consists of any biological material that can be burned as fuel to produce electricity, and it’s everywhere. A quick drive down a country road provides a virtual tour of this renewable energy resource: trees, grasses, crops, livestock waste, and even landfill gas. Recent advances in technology have made it possible to use tried-and-true biomass in more efficient ways. Today, the U.S. boasts almost 11,000 MW of biomass generating capacity, making it the third largest source of renewable energy behind hydropower and wind. So it plays an important role in keeping your lights on every day. How it works The basic premise behind this power source is simple. Burning actual biomass feedstock or the gases produced by decomposition of organic material—in whatever form—creates steam, which then spins a turbine and generates electricity. Given the wide variety of biomass resources available, questions on what to burn and in what manner can be answered in a number of ways: • Direct-fired systems: This remains the most straightforward, time-tested means of producing electricity with biomass. Quite simply, material (like wood “slash” from timbering operations) gets shoveled into a boiler to produce heat and steam. Residual heat from the process can be piped off to heat buildings or reused in other ways, increasing plant efficiencies. • Co-fired systems: This method adds biomass to existing fossil fuel plants, mixing wood chips with coal, for example. In this way, fossil fuel plants can lower emissions while maintaining the same electrical output. • Gasification: Slightly more complex, this process converts biomass to a gas through superheating. The resulting synthetic gas (syngas) can be burned in a conventional boiler or used as a substitute for natural gas. Above: Sugarcane is being studied as a possible biomass crop. One of its great advantages is a short rotation; plants re-grow after each harvest, allowing multiple harvests without having to replant. Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Wood chips can be mixed with fossil fuels and burned to reduce emissions while maintaining the same output of electricity. Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory • Pyrolysis: This techy term describes changing solid biomass into a different form. If biomass is superheated in an area void of oxygen, it will not catch fire, but will instead liquefy. The resulting oil can be burned to generate electricity or used in making plastics, adhesives, and other products. • Anaerobic Digestion: Instead of burning biomass as fuel, this method amounts to piling up waste and waiting. As the name implies, bacteria (anaerobes) literally digest molecules in waste—be it livestock manure or garbage—and produce methane as a byproduct. The gas is then captured and burned to make electricity. Leftover material, in many cases, can be used as compost. The future of biomass Biomass has come a long way from putting a log on a fire. Applications continue to develop, many of which involve converting biomass to other forms to supplement petroleum use. New sources of electricity and fuel production are being researched every day, and soon waste such as corn stover (stalks, leaves, and husks) and wheat straw will be added to the mix. Non-food crops such as trees and grasses are also being researched for their energy-producing potential, especially in liquid form. For more information on the future of biomass and current uses, visit the U.S. Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Lab at www.nrel.gov, and search for “learn biomass.” SEPTEMBER 2010 39 the farm market The Farm Market Per Word, One Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.34 Per Word, Six Times at 1.06 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6.39 MINIMUM: $26.93 for one time; $127.55 for six ads at six times rate. WORDS IN CAPITALS: $1.96 per word. 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GROWBIZ, Box 3738-AR 09, COOKEVILLE, TN 38502, www.growbiz-abco.com SPIRAL STAIRS & ORNAMENTAL IRON custombuilt, allsteel, excellent quality, craftsmanship, over 22 years experience.Brochures, quotes available at [email protected] or 479-451-8110. Pea Ridge, AR Chicken Litter Fertilizer Call 870-370-1078, Steve Scott NATURAL FERTILIZER Grow more hay-pasture, crops and vegetables! For less than $40.00 per acre. Convenient liquid concentrate. Approved for organic agriculture. More info 800-583-1645 [email protected] OUTSIDE WOOD HEATER $1595.00, forced air system, houses,mobiles,shops, cheap shipping,easyinstall. Ozark, MO. www.heatbywood.com 417-581-7755 Restore and Reprint Old Photos – by experienced photo team at Jclare Photography Studios in Mountain Home Arkansas. Toll free 877-506-2005. jclarestudios.com OZARK MILLWORKS World’s Most Economical Sawmill, Fifteenth year. Box 505, Monette, AR 72447, 870-486-2705 [email protected] BLUEBERRY PLANTS. Fall planting works best. Northern and Southern Highbush varieties. Free catalog. Highlander Nursery, PO Box 177, Pettigrew, AR 72752. 888-282-3705 or 479-677-2300 Put your old home movies, photos, slides or tapes on DVD. Call 888-609-9778 or visit my website www.transferguy.com Join or order AVON www.youravon.com/gpage 1-800-4116323 FREE: Introducing Bible Basics, P.O. Box 1049, Sumner, Wa. 98390. Read how to study the Bible for yourself. Write today. I BUY FISHING TACKLE, Lures, Reels, Boxes, etc. 479-5864548 Northwest Arkansas. Thanks! CASH for your standing walnut timber & logs. Walnut is at a record high and now it the time to sell. Long Valley Timber LLC has been featured in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette and is ready to serve you. We are members of the Arkansas BBB & the Arkansas Timber Producers Assoc. We travel and are now signing contracts for the fall harvest. www.LONGVALLEYTIMBER.com Call 479-871-1164 or 479-232-5811 LLAMAS for Sale - gentle pets, livestock guardians, breeding or show quality. All colors - Easy to keep - small acreage ok. Ft. Smith 479-207-0811, Mena 479-234-2650. LLAMAS! Sales, boarding, breeding. Pets, packers, show quality. Delivery and ongoing consultations included. Osage Llamas in NW Arkansas. Visitors welcome. 479 643 2899. FOR SALE: Commerical and Registered Gray Brahman Bulls ages 1 to 3 years. Gentle. Howe, Ok 74940 Call Chad (918) 647-7932 1-800-509-4949 www.accessiblebuildings.com Help Wanted AGRICULTURAL OPPORTUNITY – We have appraisers earning over $80,000/yr part time. If you have an agricultural background you may be qualified to become a certified livestock or farm equipment appraiser. Classroom or Home Study courses available. For information call the American society of Agricultural Appraisers (800) 488-7570 or visit www.amagappraisers.com INDIVIDUAL HOME SEWAGE TREATMENT SINGULAIR by NORWECO ® ODOR FREE FREE ESTIMATES 501-517-7198 CLEAR FLOW CABOT, AR 25-year warranty PARSONS DISTRIBUTING, INC. P.O. Box 1524 Mountain View, AR 72560 Call 870-269-2102 for more details. 40 RURAL ARKANSAS Auto museum adds Edsel to exhibit The Museum of Automobiles atop Petit Jean Mountain has recently added a 1959 Edsel Ranger to it’s display. This Edsel is equipped with a 200 hp – 292 cubic inch V-8 engine, along with a three speed manual transmission. It is an all original car, having been driven only 67,583 miles. The original base price was $2,692.00. Sept. 4, 1957, was an important day in the history of Ford Motor Company. Henry Ford II celebrated his 40th birthday. It was also the day Ford introduced a new automobile, one named to honor Henry Ford II’s Father, Edsel. The Edsel was short-lived, built only three years 1958-1960. In 1955, when the Edsel was developed, sales of lower-medium-price cars were booming. By the time Edsel appeared in late 1957, the market had bottomed out. New car sales were in a slump. The Edsel Division started with a goal of selling 100,000 of the first year 1958 models. Instead, it produced only a little over half that amount by the end of calendar year 1957. In calendar year 1958, only 26,563 Edsels were built. From there it was all downhill. Production was less than 30,000 vehicles in 1959, and it disappeared for good by the end of November that year. The last Edsel produced was a 1960 model which was built at the Kentucky facility on Nov. 30, 1959. This vehicle was donated to the Museum by Ron Fuller of Little Rock, in memory of his Father Lloyd L. Fuller. It is now a part of the Museum’s permanent collection. The Museum of Automobiles is open seven days a week year round. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional information contact Buddy Hoelzeman at The Museum of Automobiles, 501-727-5427. Score More News with the Rural Arkansas Living E-Newsletter The Rural Arkansas Living e-newsletter contains up-to-date cooperative news between Rural Arkansas issues. This e-newsletter brings you a preview of upcoming magazine articles, recipes, important information about cooperative issues and much more. Subscribe Today: www.ecark.org SEPTEMBER 2010 41 Calendar of Events Oct 1-2: Oct 1-4: Oct 1-31: Oct 2: Oct 2: Oct 2: Oct 2: Oct 2: Oct 2-3: Oct 2-3: Oct 2-3: Oct 2-3: Oct 2-3: Oct 2-3: Oct 2-4: Oct 3: Oct 3: Oct 3: Oct 3: Oct 8-10: Oct 8-10: Oct 8-10: Oct 9: Oct 9: Oct 9: Oct 9: 42 Outlaw Trail Ride, Hamburg, 870-853-6188 Corvette Weekend, Eureka Springs, 417-862-7232 Peebles Farm Fall Festival, Augusta, 870-919-6162 Live@5, Pine Bluff, 870-536-3375 Flying Jam Music Festival, Marshall, 870-448-5809 FIRE FEST, Newcastle, 870-633-1238 City Wide Rummage Sale, Portland, 870-737-4259 Wing Ding Festival, Jacksonville, 501-982-1511 Musicfest XXII, El Dorado, 870-862-4747 Herb Harvest Fall Festival, Mtn. View, 870-269-3851 Rock and Roll Highway 67 Music Festival, Pocahontas, 870-758-1875 Timberfest, Sheridan, 870-942-3021 Wild Duck Festival, Truman, 870-930-6918 Gun & Knife Show, Berryville, 870-423-2658 Arkansas Apple Festival, Lincoln, 479-466-7743 Reception for Ouachita Expressions Show, Mena, 479-234-3104 Post Familie & Gaston’s Free Wine Tasting, Lakeview, 807-431-5202 Mt. Magazine Frontier Day Festival, Paris, 479-963-2244 High Cotton on the Bayou, Scott, 501-351-0300 Carnegie Library Fall Book Sale, Eureka Springs, 479-253-8754 Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival, Helena-West Helena, 870-338-6583 Ouachita Art Trails Studio Tour, Mena, 479-234-3104 Pea Ridge Mule Jump, 479-451-1122 Fall Fest, Augsburg, 479-331-3483 CabotFest, 501-843-2136 Fall Festival, Crawfordsville, 870-823-5822 RURAL ARKANSAS Oct 9: Yesterdaze Festival, Elm Springs, 479-248-2852 Oct 9-11: Montgomery County EHC Quilt Show, Mount Ida, 80-326-4442 Oct 10: October Daze, Booneville, 479-675-2666 Oct 10: Fire on the Mountain: Hammerfest, Mtn. View, 870-269-3851 Oct 11: Mustang & Ford Show, Hot Springs, 501-262-4209 Oct 13-17: Spanker Creek Farm Arts & Craft, 479-685-5655 Oct 14-16: Carnegie Library Book Sale, Eureka Springs, 479-789-8754 Oct 14-16: Arts & Crafts Festival, Bella Vista, 479-855-2064 Oct 15: Quilt & Crafts Show, Mtn. Home, 870-425-3807 Oct 15: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Forrest City, 870-633-4480 ext 352 Oct 15-18: War Eagle Mill Arts & Crafts Fair, Rogers, 866-492-7324 Oct 16: A Nite @ the Races at Golden Living, 479-209-1551 Oct 16: Basic Bonsai Class, Van Buren, 479-474-9225 Oct 16-18: Eureka Springs Chamber Arts & Crafts Faire, 479-253-8737 Oct 16-18: Arkansas Antique Dealer Assoc. Show & Sale, Little Rock, 501-529-5907 Oct 17: Junior Fishing Derby, Star City, 870-628-4714 Oct 17: Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra, Bentonville, 803-260-3523 Oct 22-23: Autumn in the Ozarks Arts & Craft Festival, Marshall, 870-448-4758 Oct 23: Bluegrass Festival, Berryville, 870-670-5614 Oct 23-31: Boo At The Zoo, Little Rock, 501-661-7203 Oct 24: Rice Festival, Hazen, 870-255-3072 Oct 29-Nov 14: Hamlet, The Rep Little Rock, 501-378-0405 Oct 30: Iron Mountain Festival, Walnut Ridge, 870-886-3232 FOR A LIMITED TIME RECEIVE: 24 e Fre regular price $39.99 $ 99 a month for 12 months over 120 channels locals Activation ($99 Value) e Fre & included! (where available) HD FREE life! for ement) (with agre 18 channels for 3 mo. (with agreement) e Fre 2 Room HD-DVR Upgrade 1 HD-DVR + 1 SD-DVR ($6/mo DVR service fee applies) e Fre Up to 6 Room Installation Watch every touchdown from every game! 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Your Visa® gift card will arrive in approximately 6-8 weeks. InfinityDISH charges a one-time $49.95 non-refundable processing fee. Indiana C.P.D. Reg. No. T.S. 10-1006. SEPTEMBER 2010 43 POWERING the Future Planning for the future has always been a driving force for Arkansas’ electric cooperatives. For more than 70 years, cooperative leaders have made tough choices and taken bold positions to make sure we can continue to provide our members’ power needs. Today, those leadership principles are more important than ever. The cooperatives will continue to make decisions and take a stand to support efforts for energy policies that are fair and in the best interest of electric cooperative members. We’re committed to providing abundant, reliable, affordable and local electric power. With over 22 years of experience in renewable hydroelectric generation, we take environmental stewardship very seriously. And while nobody knows what the future holds in store, rest assured we’re already exploring new and emerging generation technologies, including additional renewable energy resources. We've always been here for you, and will be for generations to come. www.ecark.org