April - Boone Electric Cooperative

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Serving our members since 1936.
Integrity
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When the power goes out, they do too.
Boone Electric joins electric co-ops across the U.S. in celebrating
National Lineman Appreciation Day.
C
arrying a 30-pound toolbelt, he uses
the "hooks" attached to his boots
and safety strap around his waist
to climb a 35-foot wood pole. With
only a spotlight from the hood of his truck, he
battles the wind-blown rain and closely monitors distant lightning.
You're sound asleep at home. It's after
midnight. But a late-night storm knocked out
power to your neighborhood. Without your
blinking alarm clock come morning, you
would likely have no evidence of a power outage. When the power goes out, our linemen go
out, too, despite weather conditions or time of
day. They are the first responders of the electric
cooperative family. Their No. 1 priority, aside
from safety, is to keep power flowing to your
home or business every minute of every day.
A day of recognition
Commitment to Community
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gerous conditions to build, maintain and repair
the electric distribution infrastructure.
Morse Telegraph line creator and Cornell University founder Ezra Cornell was America's first Your co-op linemen
lineman. Since 1879, with the perfection of the
Here at Boone Electric Cooperative, 27 lineEdison lightbulb, linemen have been constructmen maintain nearly 3,000 miles of line, with
ing, maintaining and restoring electric service.
close to 2,000 miles overhead. With electric
Today, linemen in the U.S. are responsible
service available to our members 99.998
for more than 9 million miles of wire supportpercent of the time, our linemen build and
ed by more than 170 million wood poles.
maintain one of the best systems around.
America’s electric cooperatives have desigThey're also quick to respond to calls for
nated the second Monday of April each year as
help from cooperatives in Missouri and other
National Lineman Appreciation Day. On April
states following a disaster. Take a moment this
13, Boone Electric Cooperative honors the hard- month and #ThankALineman.
working men and women who often work in
challenging conditions to keep your lights on.
Placing their lives on the line
every day to keep the power on,
CONNECT WITH
linemen often work under danHarold's Doughnuts
owners Michael and Karli
Urban on EXTRA page 3.
April 2015
Boone Electric linemen respond to the scene of a tree that took down
several utility poles following a storm last spring.
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www.BooneElectric.coop
Guest Message to Members by Don Shaw
A message from our
power supplier:
The Evolution of Your Electric System
I
t began as a new technology to improve
the way homes and streets were illuminated. Candles, kerosene, whale oil and
gas were commonly used for lighting and
all shared the fact that light was produced from
a burning flame. Thomas Edison perfected the
electric light bulb in 1879 and incorporated
The Edison Electric Illuminating Company of
New York on December 17, 1880. The company
began operating in New York in 1882 and has
evolved today as Consolidated Edison (“Con
Ed”) with more than three million customers. The use of electricity grew rapidly as city
after city embraced the much safer, reliable and
flameless source of light that could also power
motors and factories.
The new-fangled electricity system used
generating plants to produce power and wires to
distribute it. In cities, this meant that relatively
short lines could reach many customers, so city
residents early in the 20th century were able to
enjoy the benefits of “central station” electricity.
Unfortunately for their country cousins,
the short lines that helped electricity expansion in the cities virtually eliminated its use in
rural areas because of the long distances from
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the generating plants to farms.
Electricity for farms was slow in
coming and was almost never
available until the creation of the
Rural Electrification Administration (REA) in 1935.
Enter now Boone Electric
Cooperative, and others like it.
With the formation of BEC and
the construction of lines to farms
and businesses in rural areas, the
enormous benefits of electricity became available
to the vast majority of rural residents. This meant
electric water pumps, washing machines, grain
augers, feed mills and lights were now available at
affordable rates. The daily farm chores could now
be done with electric power instead of man or
animal power.
The demand for more electricity by BEC
and its contemporaries led to the formation of
cooperative-owned generating plants and highvoltage transmission lines that could reliably
deliver the growing electricity needs of their
rural cooperative members. In 1949, BEC and
other cooperatives in central Missouri formed
Central Electric Power Cooperative. CEPC,
along with five other
generation-and-transmission cooperatives now
own generation facilities
capable of producing more
than 5,000 megawatts and
in excess of 9,000 miles of
high-voltage electric lines.
The cooperatives are now
successfully operating
one of the largest, most
complicated, most affordable, most reliable electric
networks in existence.
But, the future holds
many real challenges.
Since 55 percent of every
BEC members’ electric bill
helps pay for the generating plants and the fuel
that makes the electricity,
anything that creates more
costs at these plants has a
direct impact on electric
bills. The existing-powerplant environmental compliance cost burden will
likely increase even further
as new regulations are proposed for carbon dioxide
emissions, disposal of coal
ash, nitrous oxide emis-
Central Electric Power Cooperative
substation in Harrisburg, Missouri.
sions, water emissions and so on. Plus, there are
new rules for OSHA compliance. We have already
invested millions of dollars into our power plants
well ahead of these proposed regulations. Furthermore, we've also voluntarily added renewable
generation resources to our fuel mix in Missouri.
Another factor pushing up the cost of electricity is the need to rebuild the aging electric
grid components like transformers, poles and
wire. Some of these components have been
in service more than 60 years and are near or
beyond their service life. Roughly speaking,
the investment in a rebuilt transmission line or
distribution line will be about 10 times as much
as the original cost. Therefore, fixing the aging
infrastructure will cause electric bills to rise.
So, the wonderful technology perfected
by Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla that made
life so much better for city dwellers and rural
people will be reliably available for the future,
but likely at a higher cost. Be assured that the
electric cooperatives, like BEC and CEPC, are
keenly aware of how important it is to do everything they can to keep electricity reliable and
affordable. These cooperatives have been very
successful at taking care of their members since
1936, and they have every intention of doing the
same to 2036 and beyond.
About the author
Don Shaw has been in the electric utility industry
for more than 43 years — 41 of those with Central Electric Power Cooperative, Boone Electric's
exclusive wholesale power supplier. His cooperative career began in 1973 as an electrical engineer.
Since 1992, Shaw has served as the CEO/General
Manager of CEPC.
He also served on numerous statewide
cooperative boards and as a board member of the
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
He currently serves as a Director on both the Associated Electric Cooperative and Association of
Missouri Electric Cooperatives boards.
Shaw will retire from CEPC later this spring.
We appreciate his years of service and valuable
contributions to the electric utility industry. Please
join us in wishing him well in retirement.
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www.BooneElectric.coop
CONNECT WITH Michael and Karli Urban
Attacking a dream
Local entreprenuer follows in the footsteps of his late grandfather.
M
exican hot chocolate, piña colata, and But when he learned an important lesson — that
teaching was not his calling — Harold moved his
maple and bacon — these are just
family to the small town of New Haven, Missouri,
some of the doughnut flavors you'll
and opened his own Western Auto store.
find at Harold's Doughnuts, a new
Incredibly smart and detail-oriented, Harold
craft doughnut shop in Columbia. Every doughalso cared genuinely about the needs of others.
nut — including the white chocolate-red velvet,
Michael recalls stories of his grandfather taking
Boston creme and traditional glazed — is made
his family into St. Louis around Christmastime
from scratch.
and purchasing goods to resell at his store. For
It all started on a cold, snowy December day
most of the people living in New Haven, the
about six years ago when a bored Michael and
120-mile round-trip journey to the city was not
Karli Urban were thumbing through some old
possible.
family cookbooks. The couple,
Noticing a local need, Harold
in their first home together,
provided those families with the opporbaked their first doughnuts
tunity to purchase gifts at his store. He
together. Savoring the pastries
was fascinated with Wal-Mart as it was
with their also homemade
forming, trying to create its microcosm
chocolate and vanilla glazes,
in New Haven.
Michael suddenly had a taste
“Harold has always been a part of
for entreprenuership.
my life, even though he wasn't physically
Starting a business was
present,” says Michael. “And his sweet
only a dream. Michael had a
Mexican Hot Chocolate
tooth was a lot like mine, too.”
good marketing job that he
Michael and Karli agreed on naming their
enjoyed. With many opportunities to travel the
business after the man who inspired them to chase
country with his job, Michael and Karli began
a dream. And Harold's Doughnuts was born.
visiting bakeries and cafés thinking, “this would
be fun to bring to Columbia.”
Love your craft.
The not-so-serious dreamers continued mak- One of most important things when starting a
ing a wish list based on these visits. Michael still
business is having passion for what you do. “Harold
insists today it was just for fun. “No one in our
absolutely loved what he did,” says Michael. Passion
family knew what we were thinking,” he says. “It
is definitely not lackingg at Harold's Doughnuts. In
was just something fun Karli and I had together.”
January, less than a baker's
ker's dozen months into
Toward the end of 2013, Michael asked Karli,
his doughnut catering venture, Michael iced
“Is it time to attack the dream?” This fun idea would his cake — or doughnutt in this case — and
not go away. Removing future regret from his life,
opened a retail shop on
n Ninth Street in
Michael said, “Let's just do it!” and quit his job.
Columbia.
To test the water and see how Columbia reLacking a true culinary
inary backsponds to this craft doughnut concept, the Urbans ground, Michael sought
ht an
started a catering business from home.
hef. He
extraordinary bakery chef.
What's in a name?
Naming your business is not always an easy task.
The Urbans considered their 3-year-old daughter's name but thought, “What if we have another
child? Will we need to start another business?”
Fairly certain more kids were on the menu, they
turned to one of the most significant people in
Michael's life — a man he barely knew — his
grandfather.
Michael was only 3 years old when Harold
Meyer died, but his childhood was filled with stories from his grandmother, mother and two aunts.
Those stories of Harold and how much he loved
what he did reminded Michael of why his idea of
starting his own business made sense.
Harold began his career as a school teacher.
made from
scratch.
Although
much more
convenient
and economical, absolutely no mixes are used at
Harold's. “Our process takes hours and hours and
hours,” says Michael of the 12-hour process. “We
talk about loving our craft; we don't deviate from
that at all. We are truly crafting.”
Always thinking outside the box of ordinary
doughnuts, Michael and his crew keep their customers on their toes. They feature several exciting
flavors each week during their Doughnut Bar. On
Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings doughnut lovers can be adventurous with flavors like
mudslide, BLT and a recent favorite Taconut — a
creation in collaboration with local taco vendor
Boss Taco that features a taco wrapped in a donut
shell. Saturday mornings offer special features for
kids.
By doing things the hard way, Michael and
Karli believe they are building a business that will
outlast a trend.
Save $1 on a dozen doughnuts with
your Co-op Connections Card.
Boone Electric
Cooperative
members Karli
and Michael Urban
g, who is
found, Melissa Poelling,
described as a doughnut
ut magician. She keeps things rolling
in the kitchen.
Michael and Karli
take pride in what sets
their doughnut shop
apart from others. "Wee
make everything from
scratch," says Michael.
And he means everything. Harold's
kitchen is a place
where every dough,
glaze, topping and
even sprinkles are
The finishing touches
are made to the popular
white chocolate-red
velvet doughnuts.
www.haroldsdoughnuts.com
Touchstone Energy® Community Calendar
Night at the Theater
April 2015
Co-op makes donation to school and hosts
trivia contest during intermission.
Thursday, April 9 - Saturday, April 11
Event:
Location:
Time:
Contact:
COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY
Garage Sale
Hallsville United Methodist Church, 11700 N. Rte. B
Thurs./Fri. - 7 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sat. - 8 a.m. - noon
www.hallsvilleumc.org
Saturday, April 11
Event:
Location:
Time:
Contact:
Native Plant Sale and Education Day
Bradford Research Center, Columbia
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
573-884-7945, bradford.cafnr.org
Saturday, April 11
Event:
Location:
Time:
Contact:
Quilting Fun for Kids
Columbia Public Library
2 - 3 p.m. (Please call to register. Ages 7 - 12, parents welcome.)
573-443-3161; www.dbrl.org
Friday, April 17 - Saturday, April 18
Event:
Location:
Time:
Contact:
Garage and Bake Sale
Oakland Christian Church, Oakland Church Rd.
Fri. - 7 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sat. - 8 a.m. - noon
Shirley Walters, 573-474-2767
Saturday, April 18
Event:
Location:
Time:
Contact:
27th Annual Habitat for Humanity Garage Sale
Broadway Christian Church, Columbia
8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Dixie Fisher, Co-Chair, 573-474-3417; Church, 573-445-5312
Saturday, April 18 - Sunday, April 19
Event:
Location:
Time:
Contact:
Mid-Missouri Home Show
Parkade Plaza
Sat. - 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sun. - Noon - 4 p.m., FREE admission
573-443-8622; columbiahba.com
Saturday, April 25
Event:
Saturday, May 9
“The Rock Bridge Review”
Rock Bridge High School
Send us your community event...
Share your special event, meeting, fair or festival with members. Due to
printing deadlines, information must be received well in advance. Space is
limited. Please visit our website at www.booneelectric.coop for a complete
list of events.
Submission Deadline
Publication Date
April 20, 2015
June 2015
May 20, 2015
July 2015
June 20, 2015
August 2015
20
&
Required Information
Name of Event:
Date:
/
Join us for a night at the theater during one the performances listed
below:
Friday, May 8
“The Battle Review”
Battle High School
Community Champions Dinner & Silent Auction
(benefit for Fun City Youth Academy)
Progressive Missionary Baptist Church
5:30 - 8 p.m.
Consuela, 573-256-1436
Location:
Time:
Contact:
I
n addition to the successful Touchstone Energy® Night at the Ballgame events, Boone Electric introduced Touchstone Energy Night
at the Theater last month. This concept was developed as a way to
include the three Columbia high schools, with each Fine Arts Department receiving a $1,000 donation from the Co-op. These evening
events are similar to the basketball shootouts, with a contest during the
intermission of the high school plays.
The first Night at the Theater event took place on March 6 at Hickman High School. The Kewpies showcased their talents in the comedy
"The Addams Family." During intermission, three contestants competed on stage in a trivia game about "The Addams Family" play and
television show. The winner exited the stage with $150. Our runners up
took home $75 and $25, respectively.
"Thank you for your generosity in supporting the Fine Arts at
Hickman High School," says Hickman High School Vocal Music Director Robin Steinhaus. "The check you presented us will go a long way in
helping us continue to offer theatrical opportunities for our students."
Wood Chip Days
Bring your trucks or trailers to Boone Electric
and receive a free load of wood chips courtesy
of our Right-of-Way Department. Our crews
will do all the work. All you need to do is
drive through. Come to the south entrance to
our property on Rangeline Street and follow
the signs.
Saturday, April 11
Saturday, April 25
8 a.m. - noon
Wood chips may include anything that grows wild
in and around trees near power lines.
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Boone Electric Cooperative • 1413 Rangeline St. • Columbia • 573.449.4181
Time:
Location:
Contact Information:
Mail to:
Boone Electric Cooperative, Attn: Communications Dept.,
1413 Rangeline St., P.O. Box 797, Columbia, MO 65205
E-mail to: [email protected]
&
1413 Rangeline Street, P.O. Box 797 • Columbia, MO 65205
Web: www.booneelectric.coop • Email: [email protected]
Phone: 573-449-4181 • Toll Free: 800-225-8143