Grand Lake BurritoGood food made your way

Your Touchstone Energy Cooperative®

April 2013

Volume 67 No.4

Northeast Connection

Events are published as space permits and must be submitted at least 60 days in advance. Include a telephone number for publication. Send information to Northeast Connection Events Calendar, P.O. Box 948, Vinita, OK 74301. Email: kelly.rush@neelectric.com, or fax: 918-256-9380. Please call ahead to confirm dates and times.

COVER:Grand Lake Burrito in Ketchum has been making burritos, taco salads, nachos and more your way since opening its doors two years ago. Owner Julie Roberts and staff invite you to swing by for a unique lunch or dinner experience in the very near future. Grand Lake Burrito is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

INSIDE:Don’t be dupedAsk the right questions when questionable claims are made about electrical products.3

Have it your wayEnjoy great Tex-Mex and more to order at Grand Lake Burrito in Ketchum.4

Connect with savingsPine Lodge Resort is offering special savings through Co-op Connections Card.6

Great escapeDon’t let your home’s precious conditioned air escape through your dryer vent.7

Cooperative MemoriesSpavinaw’s Annabelle Downumreflects on life withoutelectricity.8

Portable eatsA salad sandwich makes a perfect on-the-go meal for those with busy schedules.10

Co-op crew returns safelyA co-op crew that assisted with service restoration in western Oklahoma is back home.12

APRIL 6 – Langley South Grand Lake Lions Club Grand Dam RunLangley City Park 918-244-0208

APRIL 8 – PryorBunko for LifeMayes County Courthouse918-825-0625

APRIL 11-14 – Grove 11th Annual Grand Lake Cluster Dog ShowGrove Civic Center417-762-2252 or 918-314-4822

APRIL 12-13 – Jay Gigging TournamentGigging Flats at Lake Eucha 918-253-8698

APRIL 13 – Seneca1st Annual Wild Green Onion FeastEastern Shawnee Tribal Annex918-666-2435

APRIL 13-28 – GroveDead Man’s Cell PhoneGrove Community Playmakers918-786-8950

APRIL 19 – MiamiWild Onions & Eggs DinnerOttawa Peoria Building918-541-6443

APRIL 20 – VinitaCowboy Trade DayCraig County Fairgrounds918-244-5802

APRIL 20 – VinitaCCYRA Open Youth RodeoCraig County Fairgrounds918-944-8016

APRIL 20-21 – GroveAntique and Gun ShowGrove Civic Center918-786-9109

APRIL 21 – MiamiThe David Osborne TrioColeman Theatre918-540-2425

APRIL 30 – MiamiNEO Spring Music ConcertNEO Fine Arts Centerneowebcal@gmail.com

MAY 2-4 – MiamiRodeo MiamiOttawa County Fairgrounds918-542-4435

MAY 2-5 – MiamiMiami Little Theatre’s Life with FatherColeman Theatre918-540-2425

Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative announced a change to its meter reading program, effective March 21, 2013.

No longer will meters be read by contractors representing the company known as “Metadigm.” Readers on NEOEC’s system going forward will instead be contracted independently and will perform this service using vehicles owned by the cooperative subsidiary group, Northeast Rural Services, or “NRS.”

Susanne Frost, Office Services Manager for the cooperative, said the reading schedule will remain the same.

“Members of Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative can expect the same high quality of service they have experienced previously from the Metadigm group,” she assured. “While we expect this transition to be seamless, we thank our members for their patience and understanding as these changes are implemented.”

Change announced to meter reading service

April 2013

ConnectionNortheast

Beware the snake oil salesmanEverywhere you turn, someone is peddling a new technology with one fantastic

claim or another. Electric utility customers are often targets for such marketing practices.

One such claim is made by manufacturers of those so-called “black boxes.” “We get a lot of questions about black boxes,” said Alan Shedd, director of Touchstone Energy’s residential and commercial energy programs. Shedd cautions cooperative members against investing money in technologies that offer nothing more than money down the drain. He encourages utilities to help members sort the good from the garbage. “In some cases it’s really obvious. All you have to do is look at the website or the promotional material—they don’t have a clue what they’re talking about and they’re charging a premium price for it,” he said. “In other cases, it may be a technology that really does hold some promise.” Making that distinction can be tough, said Ken Black, president of E Source, a company whose mission over the past twenty years has been to help its clients advance the efficient and environmentally sound use and provision of energy. “It is really easy to get duped,” Black said. “These snake oil salesmen are very convincing with their smoke and mirrors and testimonials of why their products work so well.” Black reviewed some of the more popular items being hawked, including transient voltage surge suppressors, which he labeled “notorious.” “Many vendors make this product,” Black said. “These are surge suppressors that are made for helping you control high voltage input—lightning, for example. And they really do work well as a surge suppressor.” But once they start claiming energy savings of 20 percent or more, that’s another story. “Energy savings are impossible with these products,” Black said. “They will not save you one watt of energy.” Also earning Black’s “notorious” label are products marketed to homeowners that promise “power factor correction.” “This is one you really have to watch out for,” Black said. “There are probably 50 or 60 products that fall into this general category.” While commercial members should take appropriate steps to manage loads wisely, Black said these devices are often sold to residential members who don’t face those same challenges. And, Black added, manufacturers of these devices often “make stuff up,” including exaggerated claims and fantastic statements that defy logic. Also flunking the E Source sniff test are polarized refrigerant oil additives, which supposedly result in energy savings of up to thirty percent. “Bottom line, they’re not effective,” Black said. “They’re definitely unsubstantiated.” The secret, Black said, is that while up on the roof, the tech also tunes the HVAC equipment to optimize efficiency. “They have all these testimonials. People say, ‘It works great. I saved 20 percent.’ It’s because of the tune-up, not because of the stuff they’re putting in there,” Black said. “That’s the dupe.” To protect themselves, co-op members are encouraged to ask the right questions of anyone making a questionable claim while promoting a product or service.

Northeast Connection is published monthly as an effective means of communicating news, information and innovative thinking that enhances the profitability and quality of life for members of Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative.

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

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

Grove office: 212 South Main.

Business hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Offices are closed Saturday, Sunday and holidays.

A representative is available 24 hours at:1-800-256-6405

If you experience an outage, please check your switch or circuit breaker in the house and on the meter pole to be sure the trouble is not on your side of the service. If you contact us to report service issues or discuss your account, please use the name as it appears on your bill, and have both your pole number and account number ready.

Officers and Trustees of NEOEC, Inc.PresidentDandy Allan Risman District 5Vice PresidentJohn L. Myers District 4 Secretary-TreasurerBenny L. Seabourn District 2 Asst. Secretary-TreasurerEverett L. Johnston District 3

Harold W. Robertson District 1MemberSharron Gay District 6MemberJames A. Wade District 7 MemberBill R. Kimbrell District 8 MemberJack Caudill District 9 Member

NEOEC Management TeamAnthony DueGeneral Manager

Larry Cisneros, P.E.Manager of Engineering Services

Susanne FrostManager of Office Services

Cindy HefnerManager of Public Relations

Connie PorterManager of Financial Services

Rick ShurtzManager of Operations

4Northeast Connection

Good food made your wayIt was a beautiful day on Grand Lake, a Friday after-

noon full of promise. Unseasonably warm weather signaled that spring’s arrival was not far away.A popular gateway to the lake, the town of Ketchum

was bustling with activity. Several motorcyclists buzzed through town, taking in fresh air and sunshine while they could, as did weekenders anxious to get a jump on some quality time away from the stuffy city.

There’s nothing like 80 degrees to get people moving in March.

Down east on Main Street, owner Julie Roberts was behind the counter at Grand Lake Burrito, taking orders on a couple of late lunch taco salads. Two cyclists had worked up an appetite on the ride up from the Strang area.

While the sun shone bright outside, Julie’s smile was lighting up the inside of the restaurant. She chatted cheerfully as she built the salads. It was as if her customers were old friends.

Julie is a people person in every sense of the word. Her warm personality is a key ingredient in the restaurant’s success. Relating well to people comes naturally to her.

A product of Barstow, California, Julie gathered valuable food service experience working in restaurants as a teenager. Later in life, she directed a Christian daycare center and even owned a home-based daycare.

Her education focused on child development.“I’ve always dealt with the public,” she said. “I think

how you interact with people is very important. Your attitude, your demeanor, how you carry yourself—it’s the basis for everything.”

Julie relocated to northeast Oklahoma 24 years ago with stepmother Linda Hamill. She met husband John, a Ketchum grad. They were married, had children and moved around as his career evolved.

They started out in Norman while he finished a degree at the University of Oklahoma. After graduation, John’s work in the technology sector took them to Texas and then Delaware. Six years ago, they decided it was time to move back home.

Grand Lake Burrito opened its doors two years ago—in May 2011. The idea, Julie said, was to bring something new and different to the area. The restaurant’s style is casual and unique. It could be likened to a made-your-way sandwich shop for Tex-Mex fare.

“Time is limited and everyone is always in a hurry to get somewhere,” Julie said. “I always told my husband that if I opened a restaurant I wanted to offer something that was quick and convenient.”

Orders are filled quickly for burritos, tacos, taco salads, quesadillas, nachos, loaded baked potatoes, loaded homemade fries, chili or tostadas. There are a number of fresh toppings—hot and cold—from which to choose.

Meat choices include ground beef, steak, chicken, pork and fish. There are beans—refried and black. Spanish rice,

Julie Roberts prepares a taco salad at Grand Lake Burrito.

queso, chili, grilled onions and bell peppers round out the list of hot toppings.

Dishes can be topped off with cold ingredients such as lettuce, tomato, onion, shredded cheese, sour cream, green peppers, jalapenos, olives, salsa, guacamole and pico de gallo.

In the mood for a burrito? Start your custom creation with a warm tortilla. There are two sizes—10-inch or 12-inch—and six flavors from which to choose. Go basic with flour or corn, or try one infused with tomato basil, cheddar jalapeno, chipotle or herb and garlic.

Grand Lake Burrito also offers several drink options. There is bottled water, or self-serve tea and soda.

A kids meal combo is available for picky eaters. Youngsters can have a taco, chicken nuggets or cheese quesadilla and round out the combo with a fruit cup, dessert and juice.

Those who like to finish a meal with something sweet may want to try a brownie or a slice of Mexican wedding cake, a delicacy made with coconut milk and toasted coconut. Add a scoop of ice cream to either the wedding cake or brownie for only 99 cents more.

Or, for something completely different, there’s the signature GLB “Twister” (or just “GLBT”), a dessert that combines a scoop of vanilla ice cream, drizzles of chocolate and honey, powdered sugar and a secret ingredient.

Dine in or carry-out at Grand Lake Burrito. There is ample space for inside dining if you have the time—the restaurant will seat 40, but many prefer to get their food on the go.

Julie understands the challenges of owning a business in a small town that experiences a fluctuation in seasonal traffic.

“The locals get us through the winter,” she said. “Without them, we wouldn’t be here. They’re very supportive.”

Added Julie: “There’s a big difference between summer and winter here. Everybody knows what it’s like. It’s not just us. Everyone faces the same challenge. We’re all just trying to make it until the slow season ends.”

It’s nice to have plenty of reliable help when the busy season hits. Julie says she is blessed to be able to count

on daughters Meranda and Virginia, husband John, sister Rondi and sister-in-law Kristi to assist at any given time with running the business.

“They all step up and we do what we need to do,” said Julie.

Julie says good communication is key in helping her know what her customers want and what it is the restaurant is doing right. However, she is not opposed to trying something new.

Grand Lake Burrito offered a breakfast menu at one time and hopes to resume that practice in the near future. You can still find a warm, delicious cinnamon roll on the menu from time to time.

“I’d like to think that we are always getting better at what we do here, in all aspects. But there is always room to improve. There is nothing wrong with learning

and changing. That process should be continual.”Added Julie: “We want our customers to

see that we are putting everything we have into it and that we are always trying to exceed their expectations.”

Hours for Grand Lake Burrito are Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The restaurant will extend its hours for the lake season. Beginning May 7, it will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.

To place a large order or for more information, contact Grand Lake Burrito at 918-257-7114

or visit their facebook page at www.facebook.com/GrandLakeBurrito.

Stop by and visit with Julie and the gang at Grand Lake Burrito and find out what’s new at the lake. No need to ask about a daily special because, like Julie says with a smile, “our regular prices are already pretty special.”

April 2013 5

Stop in and see Julie and the gang at GLB today!

6Northeast Connection

Need an escape from the daily grind? Owners Art and June Box invite you to leave your cares behind and re-connect with nature at beautiful Pine Lodge

Resort on Grand Lake. Enjoy a crackling fire in your cabin fireplace on a crisp evening, soak in the hot tub on your own private deck, or take a stoll through the lovely wooded property. These are all part of the soothing experience at Pine Lodge. Art and June are making it even easier for you to decompress in 2013. They want you to experience Pine Lodge and it’s cozy cabins — again or for the first time — because they are confident you’ll want to keep coming back time and time again. From now through the end of the year, guests who mention the Co-op Connections Card when they book a stay at Pine Lodge Resort will save 20 percent on nightly cabin rentals (please note this promotion cannot be combined with other offers and excludes holiday stays). Pine Lodge is tucked away amongst 25 acres of wooded hills on the western shores of Grand Lake. Wildlife abounds amid the peaceful setting. All is quiet, save for the occasional chirping squirrel. Scattered throughout the resort are ten quaint, log cabins—some at water’s edge—that rent on a nightly basis. The private cabins sleep up to four people. Each has a queen bed and a fold-out. Cabins are equipped with many of the comforts of home. Each has a full bathroom, shower, refrigerator, satellite television, dining area, wood-burning fireplace, and a hot tub outside on the deck. “We furnish the wood for the fireplaces, and the hot tubs are always ready. Guests can just kick back and relax when they arrive,” Art said. Centrally located within the heart of the resort is a large clubhouse that contains space sufficient to host a large gathering. It also houses a lounge area, full kitchen, and games such as table tennis and foosball. Pine Lodge Resort invites you to consider use of its clubhouse for your next family reunion, business meeting or holiday celebration. Art and June moved to Grand Lake in 1992 from the Tulsa area. They built a home and broke ground on the neighboring resort in 2002. They have made many friends over the years who have enjoyed the serenity of Grand Lake during a getaway stay in one of the resort’s cozy cottages. Pine Lodge Resort is a popular destination for people seeking an escape from stress, regardless of the season. “We’re open year around,” Art said. “People aren’t necessarily staying with us because of the lake. They’re

Get away to Grand Lake and savePine Lodge Resort offering special promotion

coming here to get away from it all.” Pine Lodge is located just a couple of miles east of Ketchum on Highway 85A. The resort offers a complimentary shuttle service, which is perfect for those flying in to nearby South Grand Lake Regional Airport. Art and June also have an RV park and manage the Harwood House, an accommodation suited perfectly for larger groups and located at nearby Arrowhead Point. To book a stay or for more information, call Pine Lodge Resort at 918-782-1400 or visit online at www.pinelodgeresort.com. Be sure and mention the Co-op Connections Card to take advantage of the special 20% discounted rate on nightly cabin rentals. If you visit online, you can take a vitual tour and watch the featured video segment produced by Discover Oklahoma. Pine Lodge Resort was recognized as an award-winning destination in 2009 by the Oklahoma Department of Tourism. More recently, the resort was selected as a 2012 recipient of the prestigious Red Bud Award from the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. “Accepting the Red Bud Award was a great way for the resort to celebrate its ten-year anniversary,” said June with a smile. For a complete list of local Co-op Connections Card deals, visit www.neelectric.com. Scroll down and click on the link found on the bottom portion of the homepage.

Pine Lodge owners Art and June Box celebrated the resort’s 10-year anniversary with a 2012 Red Bud Award.

Helping members make their homes more com- fortable and energy efficient is a duty I take seri- ously. It is very rewarding.

One of the first things I recommend homeowners check is the exterior clothes dryer vent. My experience has

shown that seven out of ten homes have an issue with how the dryer exhausts to the outdoors. Some vents have flaps that won’t close

completely and some have lost their flaps altogether. Still others don’t have an exhaust vent at all. Any of these conditions will allow unwanted air to enter your home, causing your climate control system to cycle more often and costing you additional energy dollars. The situation becomes even worse when the wind is blowing. Air infiltration is considered a double-edged sword because you can lose even larger quantities of conditioned air when your climate control unit is in operation. If your system is running, your home is pressurized. Air can be drawn into the home or forced out through a dryer vent that isn’t functioning properly. How do you fix this problem, you ask? First, open the flap and look for lint that may have built up in and around the opening. Remove what you can by hand. An old toothbrush comes in handy for cleaning the little nooks and crannies. Concentrate on the areas of the hinges and the rims of the flap and housing. When you are finished, make sure the flaps close completely.

If the flap is gone or will not close all the way, you will need to replace the vent. You can go to the local hardware store and purchase a model similar to the original, but I have a better idea. Why not get one with no flaps at all? Vent models manufactured by Lambro, Heartland or Deflect-O are very similar in that they are cylindrical in shape and offer a unique and effective way of exhausting clothes dryer air, using a cup that “floats.” This mechanism opens the passageway when the dryer is in operation and seats itself to seal the passageway when the unit is finished drying. The good air stays in and the bad air stays out. Plus insects, rodents and other critters are kept at bay. My mother bought a newer home a couple of years ago and the dryer vent was in bad shape. I went surfing

and found the Heartland vent with good reviews. It installed as easy as the conventional types. It has stayed intact and works like a charm. I have not found the Heartland or Lambro brands at any store locally, but you can go online and find them quite easily. Amazon has them but the prices can vary quite a bit. The one I installed for my mom was about $30. I purchased a second one later for demonstration purposes and it was only $16 dollars. Ace Hardware carries the

Deflect-O Ultra Seal Dryer Vent for under the $30 price point. You can purchase one online and have it shipped free to an Ace dealer near you for pick-up if you can’t find it in stock.

April 2013 7

Is there a hole in the side of your house?

LuckyAccountNumber

Check your copy of Northeast Connection each month and see if you are thelucky winner of a $25 electric bill credit. Match the number in the box below

to the account number on your monthly statement,then call 1-800-256-6405 ext. 9340 to claim yourprize. This month’s winning account number is: 886424

Craig Hendrickson

ResidentialEnergy Auditor

Need to vent? There is a better way.

Northeast Connection8

Spavinaw resident recalls days pastW

I grew up during the Great Depression on a farm four miles north of Salina near the beautiful Grand River. My parents were Lige (short for “Elijah”) and Ethel Cagle. I was the eldest of their six children.

Being older than my siblings meant I had to help a lot with household chores, as well as work in the fields.

Wash day was really a work day. First, we had to draw water from the well, build a fire outside and heat the wash water. Then came the “rub-a-dub” on the wash board. We usually used homemade lye soap or P&G soap. Rinsing the clothes required us to draw more water.

Bedsheets and all whites were placed in a large copper kettle and boiled in lye water to get them really white. When they were rinsed a few drops of bottle bluing was put in the water to help the whitening process.

Ironing the clothes was quite another chore. We had two irons that were heated on the stove. We ironed with one until it got cool, then put it back on the stove and used the other one. Being the oldest, I did a lot of ironing.

It was a great relief when rural electricity came to our community. The first thing we got was a washing machine. Next came an electric pump. Those additions sure changed wash day. Another prized possession was our electric radio. Having this meant we could do away with our battery-powered radio.

Most of us who had cattle milked them by hand and turned a cream separator (a device that separated the milk from the cream). The handle on the cream separator was difficult to turn, so it was really nice when we finally

acquired an electric version.Having an electric separator, however, didn’t eliminate

the chore of cleaning the machine. It had about thirty discs and a lot of other small parts that required scrubbing after each use.

On Saturdays, all the farmers (there were a lot of them back then), took their cream and eggs to town and sold them to buy groceries and other items that couldn’t be produced on the farm.

We’d get tickets from the stores, based on how much we spent. In the afternoon, everyone in town would gather in a vacant lot for a drawing for money or groceries. Sometimes there would be a traveling salesman attend the drawing. He would be selling liniment or perhaps some

other product.I graduated Salina High

School in 1942 and, after working in a store several months, moved to Tulsa and went to work for Spartan Aircraft. I attended six weeks of sheet metal school and became a “Rosie.” I did some riveting but my job basically consisted of drilling holes for the rivets on the wings of B-24 bombers.

While in Tulsa I met and married 1st Sergeant Raymond Whalen. He was raised on a farm in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He had served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s and joined the U.S. Army in September 1940.

Raymond and I decided early on that we didn’t want to

farm, so a few months after his discharge, he got a job at a steel plant in St. Louis, Missouri. A few months later, the workers’ union went on strike and the steel plant closed. We came back to Oklahoma and rented a small farm and orchard back in the woods. Our closest neighbors lived two miles away.

Ray began farm training school, sponsored by the nation’s G.I. Bill of Rights. The official title was the “Servicemen’s Readjustment Act” and President Franklin

A 1958 photo depicting Annabelle (then Whalen) with husband Raymond and children (in order of age) Marsha, Mike and Sandra.

e reflect once again on life before electricity as we continue to celebrate our 75th year of service here in northeast Oklahoma. In this installment of Cooperative Memories, 87-year-old Spavinaw resident Annabelle Downum shares with us her recollection of days past.

April 2013 9

D. Roosevelt signed it in 1944, even before the war ended. By that time, we had two small children, Mike and Sandra.

We lived kind of like pioneers there for four years. For awhile we carried water up a long hill from a spring in the hollow—until we fixed up an old well where a house had been many years before, about a quarter-mile from our home.

I would go to the laundromat in Salina once a week and do laundry. I would bring the clothes home to dry and what I couldn’t hang on the clothesline I would hang on the fence around our yard.

We had an ice box and would buy large blocks of ice when we were in town about twice weekly. That would keep our milk, butter and other foods cool.

One very cold, snowy, windy morning—the exact date was February 1, 1951—when Ray was at the barn milking, I noticed the house was burning. We were able to remove only a few things. They had a benefit pie supper for us at the Center Hill School and REC came and showed a movie for entertainment. Mr. Bennet Kay was the general manger of the cooperative at that time. There was a big turnout and we appreciated the help.

In April of that same year (1951), we were able to get a G. I. loan and buy our farm here in the Wickliffe Community. We didn’t have electricity, but we did have running water in the house. I would go down to the well house and pump the handle of the pump until I was almost “give out” and that would fill the tank. When we used up what was in the tank, we’d have to do it again.

We used battery-operated radios, kerosene lamps, gasoline irons. After using an ice box for so many years, we finally sold our wood cookstove and bought a propane

cookstove and refrigerator.After we were here for two or three years, a few of the

neighbors joined us in trying to get electricity. We got it. It was very nice to have lights in every room, an electric pump, radio, a washing machine and an electric cream separator.

We built a Grade A dairy barn in 1958 and were named Mayes County Farm Family of the Year later that year. By that time, we had another daughter. Marsha was born in 1956. Another son, Preston, came along in 1968.

We were without electricity for more than a week when we had the big snow in March of 1968. Lines were down everywhere. Ray figured out a way to power the electric milkers with an old pickup we had, but we were sure glad to get the electricity turned on again. Thank God for rural electricity.

Our kids attended school at Wickliffe rural school in the 1950s and Bennet Kay would come to events now and then and show movies—usually “The Three Stooges.”

My husband Ray passed away in 1991. I remarried in 1993. Bob

Downum had been a high school friend. He was a retired engineer. We lived there on the farm and, with the help of my son Preston, ran a cow and calf operation. Bob passed away in 2008.

In April 2013, I will have been here 62 years and Preston and I still have a cattle operation. He takes care of the cattle and I see that they have feed and run the business end of it.

Although I live on the farm, I’ve been involved in a lot of other activities—like serving 28 years on the Mayes County Election Board and as finance clerk for Wickliff School for 14 years. One of the most interesting is when REC started Operation Round-Up. I served several years on that board and then-general manager Mark Brown and I presented the very first checks from the fund at the 1998 annual meeting in Grove.

Hope White was working at the cooperative then and she would pick me up and take me to present

the checks to the various recipients. When she left, Craig Hendrickson and I would go. Pictures of me presenting the checks were printed in area newspapers.

Annabelle Cagle in 1943,shortly after graduatinghigh school at Salina.

Annabelle Downum (right) presents a grant check in 2000 as a member of Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round-Up Trust Foundation board of directors.

Northeast Connection10

When thunder roars, go indoorsStay safe from lightning

The National Weather Service says an average of 58 fatalities are attributed to lightning strikes each year in the United States, with permanent injuries to hundreds of others. More than 300

people were injured by lightning in 2008. With an estimated 25 million lightning flashes annually in the US, a great potential exists for injury. Protect yourself and your family from lightning with a safe storm strategy. Be aware of weather forecasts and watch for developing thunderstorms, which occur in greater frequency as spring temperatures begin to rise. As the air is heated by the sun, energy is created with air movement, and lightning typically comes from towering storm clouds. Lightning can strike many miles ahead of a storm front. If you hear thunder, seek shelter immediately, because that indicates lightning is within 10 miles of you. If you are outside, go inside a building. If you are at a park, do not seek shelter at an open pavilion. A building is safest. Lightning will typically seek something tall, such as a tree, building, or flagpole, but can also strike at lower objects. That was the case at Kenosha, Wisconsin in March of 2011, when 7 deer were grazing in an open field and were killed by a lightning strike. There have been reports of livestock huddling under a tree during a storm and being killed when lightning hit the tree. Do not seek shelter under trees. If you are inside a building, the National Weather Service advises you to stay off corded telephones, or away from any electrical device that could carry an electrical surge if lightning were carried into your home through wiring. Turn off or unplug such appliances, stay away from television sets, and do not depend on surge protectors to absorb a lightning strike. Conductors can also include the plumbing in your house. Since water is an excellent conductor of electricity, lightning is particularly dangerous for anyone in a swimming pool or engaged in water recreation. Swimmers, boaters, fishermen, and others on lakes and rivers should seek shelter if storms are threatening and lightning is seen or thunder is heard. Authorities warn against outdoor activity until 30 minutes after the last clasp of thunder is heard. 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.

Is YourHOME

PROTECTED?

Call 1-800-256-6405 or visit us at www.neelectric.com to learn more

about our whole-house surge protection

With spring activities and busy schedules on the horizon, it is nice to have a ready-made meal that can hit the road. Salad sandwiches are refreshing, satisfying, and quick to assemble. They can be served on bread, inside a pita pocket, rolled in a tortilla or a plain lettuce leaf. These recipes offer ideas to please every taste in your household.

tDevilish Ham Salad2 cups chopped ham1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper

p ppp pp

1/4 cup nely diced onion p ppp pp

1 nely diced jalapenop yp y

3 tablespoon mayonnaisey j py

3 tablespoon mustardp yp y

p ppSalt and pepper to tastep ppp pppp

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until everything

g

is well combined, but not smooth. p p yp p y

Taste and adjust salt and pepper ifneeded. Serves 4.

j

tUltimate Chicken SaladBreast meat from 1 rotisserie chicken1 small shallot or white of 3 green onions, minced4 ounces Swiss cheese, diced1 cup red seedless grapes, halved1 granny smith apple, diced1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted1 cup mayonnaise1 tablespoon cider vinegar1 tablespoon Dijon mustard1/2 teaspoon kosher salt1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

Remove skin from the chicken breast. Cut meat into small cubes and move to a mixing bowl. Add shallot, cheese, grapes, apple, and almonds to chicken; toss to combine. In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper. Pour over chicken mixture and toss to combine. Refrigerate one hour before serving. Serves 6.

tTuna Verde Salad1 can water-packed tuna, drained1 ripe avocado3 tablespoons nely chopped onion3 tablespoons nely chopped celery3 tablespoons diced tomato1-2 tablespoons lemon juice or cider vinegar1 tablespoon nely chopped pickled jalapeno

In mixing bowl, mash together tuna and avo-cado. Fold in remaining ingredients. Add a few fresh spinach leaves to your sandwich to bump up the green. Serves 2.

tBacon and Eggs Salad12 hard-boiled eggs, peeled1/2 cup light mayonnaise1/2 cup low-fat sour cream1/4 teaspoon paprika3 tablespoons Dijon mustard2 tablespoons prepared horseradish2 tablespoons chopped red onion1/4 cup crumbled, cooked baconSalt and pepper to taste

In a mixing bowl, chop eggs in small pieces. Fold in remaining ingredients and serve immediately or refriger-ate until ready to serve. Serves 8.

April 2013 11

With spring activities and busy schedules on the horizon, it is nice to have a ready-made meal that can hit the road. Salad sandwiches are refreshing, satisfying, and quick to assemble. They can be served on bread, inside a pita pocket, rolled in a tortilla or a plain lettuce leaf. These recipes offer ideas to please every taste in your household.

tDevilish Ham Salad2 cups chopped ham1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper

p ppp pp

1/4 cup nely diced onion p ppp pp

1 nely diced jalapenop yp y

3 tablespoon mayonnaisey j py

3 tablespoon mustardp yp y

p ppSalt and pepper to tastep ppp pppp

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until everything

g

is well combined, but not smooth. p p yp p y

Taste and adjust salt and pepper ifneeded. Serves 4.

j

tUltimate Chicken SaladBreast meat from 1 rotisserie chicken1 small shallot or white of 3 green onions, minced4 ounces Swiss cheese, diced1 cup red seedless grapes, halved1 granny smith apple, diced1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted1 cup mayonnaise1 tablespoon cider vinegar1 tablespoon Dijon mustard1/2 teaspoon kosher salt1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

Remove skin from the chicken breast. Cut meat into small cubes and move to a mixing bowl. Add shallot, cheese, grapes, apple, and almonds to chicken; toss to combine. In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper. Pour over chicken mixture and toss to combine. Refrigerate one hour before serving. Serves 6.

tTuna Verde Salad1 can water-packed tuna, drained1 ripe avocado3 tablespoons nely chopped onion3 tablespoons nely chopped celery3 tablespoons diced tomato1-2 tablespoons lemon juice or cider vinegar1 tablespoon nely chopped pickled jalapeno

In mixing bowl, mash together tuna and avo-cado. Fold in remaining ingredients. Add a few fresh spinach leaves to your sandwich to bump up the green. Serves 2.

tBacon and Eggs Salad12 hard-boiled eggs, peeled1/2 cup light mayonnaise1/2 cup low-fat sour cream1/4 teaspoon paprika3 tablespoons Dijon mustard2 tablespoons prepared horseradish2 tablespoons chopped red onion1/4 cup crumbled, cooked baconSalt and pepper to taste

In a mixing bowl, chop eggs in small pieces. Fold in remaining ingredients and serve immediately or refriger-ate until ready to serve. Serves 8.

Northeast Connection12

Mutual aid crew returns home safelyWe are pleased to report the safe return of the

Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative crew members who assisted in the aftermath of the

winter storm that struck the western half of the state February 25-26.

The storm knocked out power to some 30,000 cooperative members in western Oklahoma, packing sustained winds of 25-35 miles per hour with gusts of up to 45 miles per hour. Snowfall of nearly two feet was reported in many areas with drifts of up to five feet. These conditions slowed restoration by creating hazardous travel conditions. As the snow melted, efforts to restore electric service were challenged by deep mud.

NEOEC sent a crew of five individuals, including Jared Campbell, Troy Dingman, Shaun Heiller, Clinton Nigh and J. P. Northcutt. The crew provided restoration assistance to the members of Alfalfa Electric Cooperative in Cherokee through the cooperative mutual aid assistance program. Alfalfa reported as many as 4,000 members without power at one point.

The NEOEC linemen left the morning of February 27 and returned March 5. We thank them for their willingness to assist a neighboring cooperative and are glad to have them back home and safe.

Above, the NEOEC crew of (from left) Jared Campbell, Troy Dingman, Clinton Nigh, J. P. Northcutt and Shaun Heiller helped restore service for Alfalfa Electric Cooperative members after the February winter storm.

P.O. Box 948, Vinita, OK 74301 • www.neelectric.com

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDTULSA, OK Permit 2171

NORTHEAST OKLAHOMAELECTRIC COOPERATIVE