June 2011

Jay County
REMC
484 S 200 W
P.O. Box 904, Portland, IN 47371
PHONE NUMBERS & HOURS
Local..........................................260-726-7121
Toll Free.................................... 800-835-7362
Fax............................................ 260-726-6240
[email protected]
Website.......................... www.JayREMC.com
To report an outage or emergency
Call 260-726-7121 or
800-TEL-REMC (835-7362)
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Be ready to provide the following information:
1. Name under which the electric service
is listed. 2. Map location number. 3. Your
phone number in case we need to call you
back. 4. The type of problem you are experiencing, e.g., flickering lights, complete power
outage, etc. 5. Hang up when all information
has been recorded — other members may be
trying to contact the REMC, too.
Office hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Monday-Friday
CO-OP NOTES
$50 bill credit drawing winner
The $50 drawing winner for the month of
March was Stephen McBride of Jay County.
Read Electric Consumer for your chance to
win a $50 bill credit.
Concert ticket winner
Max Reinhard of Adams County was the winner of Tony Orlando concert tickets courtesy
of Bearcreek Farms. Congratulations!
CALL BEFORE YOU DIG!
Diggy Piggy says every
time you dig without first
calling the national 811
“Call Before You Dig”
hotline, you are putting
yourself in extreme
risk. You could hit 120/240 volt underground
electric lines. It is required by Indiana state
law to call at least two days before you dig
any depth. By calling 811, Holey Moley will
come out and mark underground electric,
gas, telephone, cable, water and sewer lines.
Taking this required precaution will make digging safe and will prevent you from causing
interruption in your service. If you plan to dig,
be sure to call 811.
Information from your electric cooperative
June is National Safety Month
T
he National Safety Council and Jay County
REMC are on a mission to prevent unintentional
injury and death by educating and influencing
people to adopt and maintain safe and healthy
practices in the workplace, on our roads and
highways, and in our homes and communities.
Unintentional injuries and deaths in the
United States are at unacceptable levels. Motor
vehicle crashes, falls and overexertion remain
leading causes of preventable death and injury.
Unintentional deaths reached an estimated
128,200 in 2009, compared with the revised 2008
estimate of 125,800. The 2009 estimate — the
highest on record — is 47 percent greater than
the 1992 total of 86,777 — the lowest annual
total since 1924.
The cost of unintentional injuries to Americans and their employers exceeds $693 billion
nationally, or $5,900 per household, and causes
great suffering among individuals and their
families.
Summer safety
The goal of National Safety Month is to raise
public awareness of safety. June also is an appropriate month to focus our efforts on public
safety, as the summer season traditionally is a
time of increased unintentional injuries and
fatalities. Each week in June, the National Safety
Council will focus on a safety issue that affects
our communities.
June 5-11: Preventing overexertion. Being
overexerted is the third leading cause of unintentional injuries in the United States, accounting
for about 3.3 million emergency room visits.
Whether at work or home, you can take steps
to prevent overexertion. Ergonomics can lessen
overexertion injuries. The demands of the job
must match the capabilities of the worker. This
may require training so you know how to perform a job safely.
Routine exercise and stretching can help prevent overexertion. Strength training to maintain
a strong core also can be beneficial. Use these
safe lifting techniques:
• Stretch and warm up before lifting.
• Keep your back straight.
• Bend your knees.
• Never bend or twist your back when lifting.
• Never lift with arms extended.
• Make sure your footing is solid with your feet
shoulder-width apart.
• Keep the load being lifted close to your body.
• Lift with your legs, not your back.
• Limit the amount of weight you carry.
• Get help to carry heavy, bulky or large loads.
• Keep pathways clear to avoid tripping.
June 12-18: Teen driving safety. Each day,
there are more than 15 crashes involving drivers
between the ages of 15 to 20. You do not need to
have a teen driver in your home to be affected.
In fact, two out of three people killed in crashes
involving teen drivers are people other than the
teen driver — including passengers of teen drivers, occupants in other vehicles, motorcyclists,
bicyclists and pedestrians according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
What parents can do to keep teen drivers safe:
• Set a nighttime driving restriction.
• Set a passenger restriction.
• Ban cell phone use while driving.
• Prohibit alcohol.
• Make seat belts mandatory.
June 19-25: Preventing slips, trips and falls.
These scenarios are one of the leading causes
of unintentional injuries in the United States,
accounting for approximately 8.6 million visits
to the emergency room. Adults 55 and older are
more prone to becoming victims of falls, and
the resulting injuries can diminish the ability
to lead active, independent lives. The number
of fall deaths among those 65 or older is four
times the number of fall deaths among all other
age groups. Here are some fall-proofing tips for
work and home:
• Clean up spills immediately.
• Stay off freshly mopped floors.
• Secure electrical and phone cords out of
traffic areas.
• Remove small throw rugs or use non-skid
mats.
• Keep frequently used items in easily
reachable areas.
• Wear shoes with good support and slipresistant soles.
• Arrange furniture to provide open walking pathways.
• Keep drawers and cabinet doors closed
at all times.
• Never stand on a chair, table or other
surface on wheels.
June 26- 30: On the road, off the phone. Cell
phone use behind the wheel is a growing concern.
According to CTIA – The Wireless Association,
in 1995, cell phone subscriptions covered only
11 percent of the U.S. population. By 2010, that
number grew to 93 percent. As the number of
cell phone users continues to increase, so does
the number of drivers distracted by cell phones.
The Jay County REMC and National Safety
Council hopes you have a warm and safe summer.
ELECTRIC CONSUMER • JUNE 2011 • 7B
Jay County REMC
Refrigerator and Freezer
Recycling Program
Free Pickup
No Paperwork
$35 REWARD
No Purchase
Necessary!
Up To 2 Rebates
Per Household
Must Be On
Jay County
REMC Lines
Area youngster
wins award for art
Olivia Kunkler, daughter of
Jay County REMC members
Brian and Becky Kunkler, was
a winner of the 2012 Cooperative Calendar of Student Art
Contest.
Her artwork will represent the month of April in the
2012 calendar. The calendars
will be available at our office in
October.
In the next Electric Consumer, we will find out more
about Kunkler and her winning
entry. Congratulations, Olivia,
on a job well done!
To schedule a pickup of a
refrigerator or freezer for
recycling, call 877-395-5537.
Does your home have a window air conditioner?
Make sure that your window unit is properly
weatherstripped, and clean the filter monthly.
Keep “fresh air” vents on window A/C units
closed.
8B • ELECTRIC CONSUMER • JUNE 2011
How not to be killed by lightning
M
yth or truth?
If it’s not raining and it isn’t cloudy, I’m safe
from lightning.
You should never touch a lightning victim or
you will also be electrocuted.
If I’m in a house, I’m safe from lightning.
If trapped outside and lightning is eminent,
lie flat on the ground.
All of the above are common misconceptions.
As part of its new “Teach Learn Care” TLC
campaign, Safe Electricity urges everyone to be
sure their loved ones are aware of the dangers
associated with lightning and how to protect
themselves.
Often underrated, lightning kills more people
per year than either tornados or hurricanes
and causes billions of dollars in damage. Given
these statistics, it’s extremely important to take
lightning seriously and to stay educated on
lightning safety.
“Plan outdoor activities around the weather and
be prepared to seek shelter if the weather turns
threatening.” said Molly Hall, Safe Electricity’s
executive director. “If thunderstorms and lightning
are approaching, the safest location is indoors away
from doors and windows with the shades drawn.
Avoid water, electric appliances and other objects
that could conduct electricity. Use only cordless or
cell phones to make emergency calls.”
Phone use is the leading cause of indoor
lightning injuries in the U.S. A direct strike is
not necessary for lightning voltage to enter your
home through phone lines, electrical wires, cables
and plumbing. Other recommendations to avoid
lightning shock and damage include:
• Turn off and unplug appliances well before a
storm nears — never during. Don’t expect a surge
protector to save appliances from a lightning
strike, unplug it as well.
• Stay away from electrical outlets, appliances,
computers, power tools, and TV sets. Take off
headsets and stop playing video games.
• Turn off your air conditioner to protect
the compressor from a power surge and avoid a
costly repair job.
• Avoid water and contact with piping, including sinks, baths and faucets. Don’t wash dishes,
shower or bathe during a thunderstorm. Also
avoid washers and dryers since they not only
connect with the plumbing and electrical systems, but also contain an electrical path from
the outside through the dryer vent.
• Do not lie on the concrete floor of a garage
as it likely contains a wire mesh.
• Basements typically are a safe place to go
during thunderstorms, but avoid concrete walls
that may contain metal rebar.
• Don’t forget your pets. Dog houses are not
lightning-safe and dogs chained to trees can easily
fall victim to a strike.
Lightning can strike up to 10 miles from the
area in which it is raining and you do not have
to see clouds. This means that if you can hear
thunder, you’re within striking distance. A good
idea is to use the “30-30 Rule.” According to this
rule, if you count less than 30 seconds between
a lightning flash and the thunder following it,
you should seek shelter. When the storm is over,
wait 30 minutes after the last lightning strike you
see before going back outside.
If you are caught outdoors during a thunderstorm and are unable to seek shelter, take the
following precautions:
• Try to take shelter in a vehicle with a solid
metal roof. Close the windows and avoid contact
with electrical conducting paths, such as the
steering wheel, ignition, gear shift, or radio.
• Avoid water, high ground, or open spaces.
• Do not seek shelter under tall, solitary trees;
canopies; small picnic or rain shelters; or in any
open-frame vehicles such as Jeeps, convertibles,
golf carts, tractors or mowers.
• Do not stand near power, light or flag poles;
machinery; fences; gates; metal bleachers; or even
other people. If you are in a group, spread out
so that you are at least 20 feet apart.
• If your skin tingles or your hair stands on
end, lightning may be about to strike. Squat down
low to the ground with your head between your
knees, making yourself the smallest target possible.
If a person is struck by lightning, call 911
and care for the victim immediately. You are not
in danger of being electrocuted by the victim.
Ninety percent of lightning victims survive with
timely medical treatment.
More information on lightning safety can be
found at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration website at www.lightningsafety.
noaa.gov.
Safe Electricity is an electrical public awareness
program created and supported by a coalition of
several dozen organizations, including Indiana’s
electric cooperatives. For more information, visit
its website at www.SafeElectricity.org.
What Old Glory represents
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America, and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
June 14 is Flag Day — a day to fly
our colors proudly in honor of our
country, and learn more about our rich heritage.
Old Glory is the readily recognized symbol
of freedom. As you know, the 50 stars represent
the 50 states of our country and the red and
white stripes represent the 13 original
colonies. But do you know what the stars
and stripes, and the very colors of the
flag also represent?
The red stripes symbolize hardiness
and valor. The blue field behind the stars
represents vigilance, perseverance and
justice. The stars represent the heavens and the
divine goal to which man has aspired from time
immemorial. The stripes themselves are symbolic
of the rays of light emanating from the sun.
$50 monthly bill credit drawing
50
$
NAME:__________________________________________________________________________
ACCOUNT NO.:___________________________________________________________________
PHONE NO.:_____________________________________________________________________
Note: To be eligible for the drawing, your coupon and payment must be in the office by 4:30 p.m.
on the last working day of the month.
Happy Father’s Day
from all of us at
Jay County REMC!
ELECTRIC CONSUMER • JUNE 2011 • 9B
Beat those high summer bills
Don’t let warmer weather turn into “summertime
blues” when your monthly electric bill arrives.
Here are some energy-saving tips courtesy of
Indiana’s electric cooperatives.
• Adjust the thermostat. As TogetherWeSave.com demonstrates, lowering a thermostat
in winter can save as much as $85 per year. During warmer months, raising the thermostat a few
degrees can save money, too. Set the temperature between 78-80 F, and you could save up to 8
percent on monthly cooling bills.
Programmable thermostats make it easy to
save by offering four pre-programmed settings to
regulate a home’s temperature throughout the
year. Contact your local electric cooperative to
learn more.
• Be a “fan-atic.” While they don’t replace air
conditioners or heat pumps, fans move air and
help you feel more comfortable. On milder days,
fans can save as much as 60 percent on electric
bills. Fans cool people, not rooms, so turn them
off when you leave.
• Regular maintenance is essential. It’s
recommended that co-op members have their
HVAC systems serviced annually by a NATE (North
American Technician Excellence)-certified technician. This HVAC professional will check your entire
system to make sure it runs efficiently. This will
help to extend the system’s life and save money.
• Look for ENERGY STAR® equipment. When
it’s time to replace your cooling system, TogetherWeSave.com recommends replacing it with an
ENERGY STAR-qualified model. Doing so could reduce your energy costs by as much as 30 percent.
Tax credits and rebates on qualifying ENERGY
STAR appliances may be available so check with
your electric cooperative for more information.
• Bigger isn’t always better. Too often,
cooling equipment isn’t sized properly and leads
to higher electric bills. A unit that’s too large for
your home will not cool evenly and might produce
higher humidity indoors. That’s why it is important to talk to energy efficiency experts at your
local electric cooperative.
Instead of getting burned this summer by high
energy bills, visit energysavers.gov or TogetherWeSave.com for more money-saving ideas. Or call
the energy experts at your electric cooperative.
SIDELINES
Courtesy of Jay County Chamber
of Commerce, Arts Place and
Bearcreek Farms.
June 1-4: Dunkirk 45th Annual
Glass Days Festival. Glass museum tours, factory tours, food, free
entertainment, amusement rides. Parade
on Saturday at 3 p.m. Dunkirk City Park. Roberta
Garringer, 765-369-2767 or 260-726-0551.
June 1-4: Friends of the Dunkirk Library and
Glass Museum Book Sale. 765-768-6872.
June 5: Jay County Conservation Club Fish Fry.
4-7 p.m. Club House. 219-726-2804.
June 5, 18 and 19: Jay County Historical Museum
Open House. No admission charge. Saturday, 9
a.m.–4 p.m. Sunday, 1-4 p.m.
June 9–12: Ernie Haase and Signature Sound
Bearcreek Farms. 260-997-6822.
June 11: Crown City Cruisers Car Show. Dunkirk
City Park. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Sponsored by Harmon
Classic Chevrolet and Dunkirk Fire Department.
Tom Brosher, 765-768-6002, or Max Weaver,
765-768-1280.
June 11–12: 8th Gathering of Great Lakes Nations Pow Wow. Tri-State Gas Engine Grounds.
Saturday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.–5
p.m. Grand entries — 1 and 6 p.m., Saturday, and
noon, Sunday. Admission charge. Kay, 765-4263022, or [email protected].
June 16-17: Red Hot and Blue. Rated number
1 in Branson, Mo. Bearcreek Farms. 2 and 7:30
p.m. 260-997-6822.
June 18: Ray Price. Bearcreek Farms. 2 and 7:30
p.m. 260-997-6822.
June 18: Lance Corporal Andrew F. Whitacre
Memorial Ride. Portland Moose Lodge. All
money goes to support the troops, USO, Wounded
Warriors and more. Registration, 10 a.m.-noon.
First bike out at noon, last bike in at 5 p.m. Food,
auction, and door prizes after the ride. Entry fee:
$15 rider, $5 passenger. Supper served at 4:30
p.m. 260-729-2575.
June 21: Jay County Historical Society Monthly
Program. 7 p.m. Free admission.
June 22: Chelsea House Orchestra. Bearcreek
Farms. 2 and 7:30 p.m. 260-997-6822.
June 23: Branson On The Road. Bearcreek Farms.
2 and 7:30 p.m. 260-997-6822.
June 24: Salamonia Days Centennial Celebration
Various activities. Special Sunday dinner. Bruce
Smith, 260-335-2655.
June 25: Jay County Walk Against Cancer 10th
Anniversary. Jay County High School. Balloon
launch, survivors’ dinner, themed laps and cake
walk, luminary ceremony, and raffle drawing.
Pledge cards may be picked up at Jay County
Hospital, Jay County Library or on the Jay County
Chamber’s website. Bev, 260-726-4641, or Carol,
260-414-1242.
June and July: School Supplies For Kids. Sponsored by Bearcreek Farms. Donate all kinds of
school supplies to be given to area kids in need
for the fall school year. 260-997-6822.
Courtesy of Art Association of Randolph County
and Winchester Chamber
June 1: Artist Workshop — Watercolor and Ink
Process, Part 1. Featuring Anderson artist Janet
Gregory-Trisler. Pre-registration requested. 765964-7227.
June 11: Gourmet Gala 2011. AARC adult
fundraiser. Ticketed event. Artist reception for
Pat Rayman and Janet Ravas will be held during
this event. Charity art auction from 7–10 p.m.
765-964-7227.
June 18: Artist Workshop — Watercolor and
Ink Process, Part 2. Featuring Anderson artist
Janet Gregory-Trisler. Pre-registration requested.
765-964-7227.
June 25: The Art of Gardening Series 103 —
“Garden Art from Junk.” Featuring professional
artist Lynn Orr of Winchester. Includes a takehome-today project. Pre-registration requested.
10 a.m.–noon. 765-964-7227.
Courtesy of Berne Chamber and Tourism
June 21: Berne Chamber Golf Outing. Golf Club
of the Limberlost, Geneva. noon. 260-589-8080.
Congrats 2011 grads!
Jay County REMC salutes all the graduating seniors of 2011 in Adams, Blackford, Delaware, Jay, and Randolph
counties.
You have the power to make the
future brighter!
A special congrats to Denney Child number 6 — we did it!
Photo courtesy of Honeywell
A simple step, such as raising your thermostat,
can help you reduce your electric bill this summer.
10B • ELECTRIC CONSUMER • JUNE 2011