M A R C H 2 0 0 9M A R C H 2 0 0 9

One for the agesIce storm crushes power grid

n A more productive kilowatt

n A visit with Granny

2 RURAL ARKANSAS

6 Ice Storm 2009

The Cover

Ice covers the landscape along Arkansas 16 in north Arkansas on Jan. 28.

Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc.

Features

Volume LXII, Number 5, March 2009

An official publication of

I n s i d e t h i s i s s u e

Contact InformationEditorial & Advertising Offices:

One Cooperative WayLittle Rock, ARMailing Address:

P.O. Box 510Little Rock, AR 72203E-mail: ocox@aecc.com

(501) 570-2200

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 72203Members: Please send name of your

cooperative with mailing label.Subscription Price:

$7.00 per year for non-members

Member ofArkansas 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.

Gary C. Voigt, President/CEO

Ouida H. CoxEditor

Rae RinehartAdministrative Assistant

Dixie RogersGraphic Designer

Officers Chairman Larry Hellums Blytheville Vice Charles Burdine Chairman Vendor Secretary Ronald Moore Hamburg Treasurer Jim Parrish Trumann

Photographic & Art CreditsCover Jim Casey

6-9 Gary Bean, Jim Casey Mitchell Johnson 10 Katie Lamar Jackson 14 John Miller 38-39 EPRI 40 Bruce Copher 42 Ouida Cox

Departments

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . 3

News briefs . . . . . . . . . . 4

Capitol Buzz . . . . . . . . . 18

Doug Rye Says . . . . . . . 20

Past-Time. . . . . . . . . . . 24

Family favorites . . . . . . 28

Reflections . . . . . . . . . . 32

Crossword puzzle . . . . 34

Calendar of events . . . . 42

10 Prune properly

14 Purple martins

26 Knee pain - Reduce sodium

38 A more productive kilowatt

40 A visit with Granny

MARCH 2009 3

com

ments

The pages of Rural Arkansas magazine have carried this message for decades – electric cooperatives are committed to the communities they serve. In fact, “commitment to community” is one of the seven business principles that guide cooperatives. And never is this more clearly demonstrated than when a disaster strikes, such as the Ice Storm of 2009.

When ice began coating power lines and trees on Jan. 26, employees of Arkansas’ electric cooperatives, especially those in northern Arkansas, stood at the ready. They hoped for the best, but prepared, as best they could, for the worst. And for many cooperatives, it turned out to be the worst. For cooperatives such as Ozarks Electric Cooperative, Carroll Electric Cooperative, North Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Clay County Electric Cooperative and Craighead Electric Cooperative, it was the worst disaster in their histories. And these cooperatives have seen many storms over the decades.

Once the ice began forming on the trees, it didn’t take long for tree limbs to snap and fall on the lines, causing power outages. Soon, the eerie sounds of tree limbs cracking and blown transformer fuses filled the night air.

The cooperatives bravely turned to their disaster recovery plans to deal with this mammoth storm. And this was one for the ages. More than 32,200 poles had been snapped, thousands of miles of power lines were down and about 210,300 electric cooperative members were without power. Statewide, more than 350,000 people were without power.

As the full scope of the damage became more clear on Jan. 28 and 29, cooperative employees were astonished. They had never seen such devastation. They would have to rebuild electric distribution systems that had taken 70 years to construct. It would be like running a marathon at a sprint pace. Were they ready to face long, tiring hours installing poles and comforting distraught members without power? They remembered well how hard it was in December 2000 when ice storms left Arkansas in the dark and cold for days

and weeks. And just last year, they had endured floods and tornadoes that created major power outages.

Would they be up to the task once again?Well, as always, they proved that they were. Within two

weeks, power had been restored to about 92 percent of electric cooperative members, many of whom live in some of the most rugged, hilly terrain in Arkansas. Systems, virtually demolished by the ice, were rebuilt with a dedicated army of workers from Arkansas and sister cooperatives in other states. Besides working in the field, cooperative employees answered phones and talked to members and media. Some even talked to members in person who came to the co-op offices in search of information. Those who worked in accounting or other back-office jobs traded in their calculators and 10-keys for frying pans to fix breakfast for the crews. Others made sure the line crews’ laundry got done. Operations personnel worked around the clock to determine where the lights were out and how best to get them back on.

It was hard. Setting poles in some areas had to be done by hand because trucks couldn’t navigate the muddy hills and ravines. Talking to members who had been without power for days could be difficult and even heartbreaking at times. One cooperative employee said she wished for a magic wand so she could instantly restore power to those without. Because they live and work in the communities they serve, employees knew many of the people who were calling them. They were their friends and relatives. And they understood their pain because they, too, didn’t have power at home.

Because they take pride in working for the cooperative, it

One for the ages

Continued on next page

As the full scope of the damage became more clear ... cooperative employees were astonished. They had never seen such devastation.

4 RURAL ARKANSAS

com

men

ts

Daylight Saving Time: Energy-saving ideaNoticing that shades were often drawn against the early-morning summer sun, William

Willet suggested a novel change for 1907 England. If the government could move the clock ahead during the spring and summer months, people would rise with the sun rather than blocking it out. He wrote an essay, “The Waste of Daylight,” and Daylight Saving Time was born.

The United States latched onto the idea during World War I, and then dropped it, and later reinstated it during World War II, not to save daylight – but to save energy. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 made Daylight Saving Time consistent throughout the United States except in Hawaii and Arizona.

This year, Americans will set their clocks forward one hour on March 8, the second Sunday in March.The country continues the practice with the hope that longer daylight hours will reduce the need for electric lighting in the

evening. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 even extended Daylight Saving Time, once an April ritual, by a month, so Americans spring forward on the second Sunday in March and fall back on the first Sunday of November.

This year, use the time change to save energy in your own home. Turn off unneeded lights and relish the evening sunlight.While you’re at it, honor another tradition: When you set your clocks ahead, also change the batteries in your smoke and

carbon monoxide detectors.

was difficult to tell members it might take days and weeks, in some cases, to get the power back on. As much as it hurt, though, they were cheered and encouraged by the many members who supported them in this mammoth effort with food and supplies, and best of all, words of encouragement, such as these:

“We would like to say thank you to all those who worked so had to restore power to all of us who were out following the ice storm! We appreciate you!”: Jackie, Prairie Grove.

“As of this writing, I still don’t have power at my house in Cane Hill, but am making it just fine, all the same. … I just wanted to let you know that there are still a few out here that don’t just take the flip-of-a-switch for granted.”: Randal, Cane Hill.

To all the members who endured and are still enduring the aftermath of the great Ice Storm of 2009, we thank you and commend you for your strength, patience and understanding. It is taking everything you have and all we have to get through it. It is taking neighbor helping neighbor, a community working together. And Arkansas’ electric cooperatives are proud to be a part of it.

4,40055,448

8008,348

Power outages

51,00064,421

57,50085,313 30,500

35,574

12,78812,800

25,00027,935

3,5004,492

8,30081,982

13,00019,304 3,500

5,376

1,30019,120

Top number is estimated peak outages

Bottom number is total meters served

Jan. 26 - 28

MARCH 2009 5

Trivia• Presidents born with March birthdays

are James Madison, Andrew Jackson, John Tyler & Grover Cleveland

• The world’s tallest suspension bridge opened to traffic in 1998. The 3,911-meter (12,831feet) Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is 580 meters (1,900 feet) longer than the Humber Bridge in England, the previous record holder.

• Insectivores are animals that eat insects.

• No two spider webs are the same.

• With life spans up to 200 years, bowhead whales are among the largest and longest lived animals on earth.

• Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people do.

• Only about four percent of Irish people have red hair.

• There are no clocks in Las Vegas casinos.

• Tapeworms range in size from about 0.04 inches to more than 50 feet in length.

• Why is March so windy? Part of the reason is that as the days grow longer and the sun warms the earth’s surface more rapidly than the air above it, the air becomes increasingly unstable. This instability causes deep atmospheric turbulence that brings strong gusts of wind.

• What’s good luck on Saint Patrick’s Day? Finding a four-leaf clover (double good luck), wearing green and kissing the Blarney Stone. Here’s an Irish blessing to take with you: May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face, and the rain fall soft upon your fields, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.

news b

riefs of the m

onth

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . Two electric cooperative directors die

Milton R. Thomas, 87, of Beedeville, a member of the Farmers Electric board of directors since 1980, died January 27 at Newport. He was a farmer and a board member of Arkansas Farmers Union for 37 years, serving as president 12 years and the Farmers Union Insurance Company for 43 years. A member of the Beedeville Church of Christ, he served on the boards of Eightmile Cemetery and Eightmile Drainage District. He was preceded in

death by his first wife, LaVora (Womack) Thomas. Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Elwanda (Williams) Thomas, one daughter, Brenda (Sam) Casey of Salem, two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The funeral was at 2 p.m. January 30 at the Beedeville Church of Christ with burial in Eightmile Cemetery by Jackson’s Funeral Home.

Jimmy Rowe, 72, of Arkadelphia, a retiree with 43 years of service at South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative and a cooperative director since 1998, died February 3. His father, the late Harry Austin Rowe, was a former general manager of South Central Arkansas Electric. He was a member of Mt. Bethel Baptist Church, Arkadelphia Masonic Lodge and Clark County Cattlemen’s Association. Survivors include his wife of 54 years,

Nancy (Greeson) Rowe, one daughter, Paula Rowe, one son, Dennis (Patricia) Rowe, one sister, Judy (Don) Roberson, one brother-in-law, Billy Morgan, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. The funeral was at 10:00 a.m. February 6 at Third Street Baptist church with burial in Mt. Zion Cemetery by Welch Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Mt. Bethel Baptist Church Building Fund, C/O Darlene Fendley, 99 Helms Road, Arkadelphia AR 71923 or Davidson Campground, C/O Tommie Lou McCauley, 4756 Hwy. 182W. Okolona, AR 71962.

Your hot tub doesn’t have to drain energy

Your hot tub doesn’t have to be an energy drain. Operate your spa more efficiently this year.

• Invest in a hard-foam, insulated cover that fits snugly around the tub. The cover should have an insulation value of at least R-12.

• Install fencing or landscaping around the hot tub. In addition to adding privacy, they serve as windbreaks.

• If your tub is more than 10 years old, consider buying a new one. Better construction, increased insulation and more efficient operation make newer models twice as efficient as older hot tubs.

• Maintain the water’s chemical balance carefully to avoid having to drain it as often-used hot tubs should be drained every three to four months.

• Turn down the thermostat. Many tubs have factory settings of 104 degrees; reducing the temperature to 102 degrees is cheaper and safer.

• Choose a tub that uses an LED – a light-emitting diode – as an interior light. They use less energy and last longer.

6 RURAL ARKANSAS

Ice Storm 2009Thousands are left without power after ice crushes electric systems

MARCH 2009 7

Continued on next page

A catastrophic ice storm swept across northern Arkansas on Jan. 26-28, coating trees and power lines with up to three inches of ice

in some areas and leaving about 210,300 electric cooperative members without power.

As of press time in mid-February, power had been restored to 98 percent of cooperative members and linemen were continuing to work to restore power in the most massive power restoration effort in the cooperatives’ history. Linemen from the Gulf Coast who came to Arkansas to assist in the power restoration effort said the damage rivaled that left by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.

The storm eclipsed the devastating ice storms of December 2000 that paralyzed much of Arkansas, a feat many cooperative employees didn’t think possible. Although the 2000 storms affected a wider geographic area in Arkansas, more than twice as many cooperative members lost power in the January storm than in either of the 2000 storms, and monetary damage to systems is expected to far exceed the $47 million the cooperatives sustained in 2000.

“In all of my years, I have never seen anything that compares to the damage this storm has caused,” said Mel Coleman, president and chief executive officer of

North Arkansas Electric Cooperative based in Salem.

The storm’s wrath was not limited to Arkansas. It started Jan. 26 and swept across eight states, leaving about 1.3 million homes and businesses without power, including about 350,000 in Arkansas. At least 17 deaths in Arkansas were blamed on the storm. President Obama declared federal disaster areas in Arkansas, Kentucky and Missouri.

In addition to the staggering number of outages, some of Arkansas’ electric cooperative systems had nearly 100 percent of their systems off line after being demolished under the weight of ice, fallen trees and limbs. About 32,200 poles were downed across

the systems.

Twelve of the state’s 17 electric cooperatives were affected. They were: Ozarks Electric Cooperative, Fayetteville; Carroll Electric Cooperative, Berryville; Craighead Electric Cooperative, Jonesboro; Clay County Electric Cooperative, Corning; Mississippi County Electric Cooperative, Blytheville; Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative, Ozark; North Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Salem; Petit Jean Electric Cooperative, Clinton; First Electric Cooperative, Jacksonville; Rich Mountain Electric Cooperative, Mena; Woodruff Electric Cooperative, Forrest City and Farmers Electric Cooperative, Newport.

The storm moved into Arkansas on Jan. 26 and by the evening of Jan. 27, tree limbs were popping and cracking under the weight of the ice. “Just opening the door to the outside sounds like a war zone with the continuous sounds of trees and limbs breaking … like gunshots over the next hill,” Coleman said at the time.

Mitchell Johnson, president and chief executive officer of Ozarks Electric Cooperative, told reporters at a Feb. 2 news conference that the storm was the most devastating in the cooperative’s 70-year history.

“We are rebuilding a system that took decades to build,” Johnson said.

Herculean taskWith hundreds of miles of line

and thousands of poles on the ground, Arkansas’ electric coopera-tives faced a Herculean task in restoring power. Much of the cooperatives’ terrain is hilly and rugged and many members live in remote, isolated areas. Because the cooperatives have fewer customers per mile than do other utilities

that serve mostly urban areas, it often takes longer for the cooperatives to restore power than it does its counter-parts. In some cases, the cooperatives had to rebuild several miles of line to restore power to only two or three homes. The average number of members per mile of line for Arkansas cooperatives is about six, compared to 15-50 for utilities serving more densely populated

urban areas. After

preliminary damage assessments were made, the power restoration effort was in full swing by Jan. 29 as the affected cooperatives sought help

8 RURAL ARKANSAS

MARCH 2009

from sister cooperatives in Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, South Carolina, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa and Oklahoma. Hundreds of contract workers were also brought in to rebuild the systems.

And it wasn’t easy.In some of the most rugged, remote areas of Ozarks

Electric Cooperative’s territory, workers were setting poles, which weigh about 1,300 pounds, by hand because vehicles could not reach the downed lines. In fact, Ozarks’ service area is so hilly and rugged, much of it was originally built using mules.

“Getting there is half the battle,” said Don Pinkley, lineman and job training safety coordinator for Ozarks Electric Cooperative.

While the linemen were in the field, other employees worked to provide meals for the crews, to answer members’ calls, and handle media inquiries. Many members also came to the aid of their cooperatives by providing meals, as well as encouraging words and smiles to the workers. The cooperatives especially appreciated the patience of their members, many of whom waited two weeks or longer for power to be restored.

By Feb. 10, about 91 percent of the outages had been restored, but high winds and thunderstorms that evening slowed the restoration process. Some cooperatives even lost ground as the winds caused additional outages. As of Feb. 19, four cooperatives still had outages with the most being in the hard hit service areas of Clay County Electric Cooperative and Craighead Electric Cooperative.

Truckloads of suppliesTo sustain such a monumental restoration

effort, the cooperatives relied heavily on Little Rock-based Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (AECI), a statewide service organization owned by the state’s 17 electric distribution systems. AECI operates supply warehouses with multimillion-dollar inventories of supplies needed to rebuild and

repair electric distribu-tion systems, such as transformers, wire, fuselinks, automatic splicers and poles. In the aftermath of the storm, AECI workers began operating around the clock to provide truckloads of supplies to Arkansas’ cooperatives. In addition to Arkansas’ cooperatives, AECI serves electric cooperatives in other states and played a major role in providing supplies for the Gulf Coast following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

“This looks to be bigger than the Katrina-Rita hurricanes,” Pat McClafferty, vice president of AECI’s Utility Sales and Services Division, said of AECI’s sales. “All indications are this will be a record month for Utility Sales. At this time, transformers sales are over 8,000 and pole sales are over 15,000.”

9

10 RURAL ARKANSAS

Prune properly Pruning plants can be an exercise

in self doubt. Will I cut too much or too little? Will I snip the right limbs at right locations? Will I get so clip-happy that my shrubs are bald?

Relax. Pruning doesn’t have to be an onerous task.

The first rule of prudent pruning is to have a plan and a goal before you make the first cut. Decide in advance if you are pruning to reshape a plant, remove dead or diseased limbs, rejuvenate a neglected plant or induce more blooms or fruit.

The second rule is to remember that pruning is good for most woody plants. It stimulates growth, removes dead or dying limbs and allows for better air movement and light penetration into a plant’s interior.

The third rule is to remember that more is less, and less is more. Frequent, light pruning is usually more effective for trees, plants and shrubs (and even some annual flowers that benefit from deadheading or pinching back to promote better growth and blooming) than occasional extreme pruning.

There are two basic types of pruning procedures – thinning and heading. Thinning allows you to remove select limbs and shoots from inside and outside the plant canopy so that plants look more kempt, but still retain their natural form. You take out entire limbs and stems, cutting then right where they join other limbs or the trunk, but doing so selectively so the general shape of the plant is not altered.

Heading, on the other hand, usually involves cutting the tops (and

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sometimes sides) off of plants to greatly reduce their size and volume. This promotes more vigorous regrowth than thinning, but also causes the plant to form a dense, compact growth habit that changes its natural shape. Heading is often the best way to rejuvenate plants that have gotten too big and gangly or simply need a fresh start. It is also the basic premise used to hedge shrubs along walkways and in formal garden settings.

Regardless of whether you thin or head your plants, follow the “rule of thirds” – reduce the size of the plant or the number of stems on a plant by no more than one-third each time you prune.

The next big issue is the timing of your pruning activity. You can prune dead or diseased limbs at any time during the year, but more extensive pruning should be done at fairly specific times of year depending on the plant. Timing varies depending on local climates, so it’s always safer to check with local plant experts for a local timetable. Generally, though, flowering or fruiting shrubs can be pruned after they finish blooming or fruiting, while many fruit trees are best pruned when they are dormant.

Finally, always use sharp pruning tools so the cut will be clean and try to cut into live wood or stem but avoid injuring the bark around the remaining branches. And do not use pruning paints or dressings. Research has shown these do not promote healing and may even trap bugs or diseases in the stem.

Once you get the hang of it, pruning can be an almost artistic exercise. Who knows, you may be the next Edward Scissorhands.

Katie Lamar Jackson is a writer, editor and photographer for the Alabama Agricultural Experimental Station and Auburn University school of agriculture, with more than 27 years of experience reporting on science, agriculture and the environment. She is author or coauthor of three national gardening books, and countless newspaper and magazine articles.

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Purple Martins In the birding world, few species

generate more excitement than does the “Purple Martin,” a swallow that is arriving now in Arkansas.

Purple martins are totally dependent on man-made housing – often a multi-compartment bird house or a rack of nesting gourds – and faithfully return to the same locations each year from wintering grounds in South America.

Purple martins usually begin arriving in southern Arkansas after about Feb. 15. The first wave consists of the older martins – at least three years old – followed in a few weeks by two-year-olds. The adult males sport full dark-purple color. Females are a bit drab, with a gray breast.

Some arrive dangerously early and may perish when cold tempera-tures clear the air of flying insects. Fortunately for the martins, many landlords today offer supplemental feeding of thawed crickets, live mealworms or even small bits of scrambled eggs flung into the air from a plastic spoon – and after martins learn the drill.

Many Arkansas residents host martins, which are among birds that actually prefer to live near humans, perhaps because there are fewer predators.

A generation ago, many people erected purple martin houses in the belief that these birds consumed mosquitoes, however, martin’s diet is diverse and includes many kinds and sizes of insects, from leafhoppers, flies and beetles to dragonflies, bees, wasps and grasshoppers.

While generations of Americans have hosted purple martins – the custom adopted from Native Americans who hung out gourds.

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18 RURAL ARKANSAS

The recent ice storm has served to remind everyone just how precious electricity is and what an important role it plays in our lives. It is not a luxury. Rather, it is one of life’s necessities. If you have been living two weeks or more in a cold dark cave, i.e. your house, without electricity in single-digit temperatures, you probably don’t care whether your electricity comes from gas, hydropower, coal, nuclear or renewables. You just want your power back on.

While ice storm victims in Arkansas and Kentucky have been thawing out, the folks in Washington have begun discussions about global warming and our energy choices. Renewable forms of energy are the flavor du jour this time around and that is a mixed blessing. America needs every form of energy it can get to add to the fuel mix and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. But will we be able to afford it?

As we continue the clean-up from the January ice storm and start to assess the financial damage to our businesses, now is not the time to forget about the cost of electricity. Please note that policymakers are certainly thinking about that in Washington and are getting ready to make decisions that will affect our pocketbooks.

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources met on Feb. 11 to consider energy legislation to place a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) on utilities. Depending on what version you are looking at, a utility could anticipate a requirement to produce 15 percent of its electricity from renewable resources by 2015. A noble goal, perhaps, but not very realistic.

If the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas were to meet that goal by 2015 it would require $340 million in capital costs each year for five years based on conservative cost estimates and current consumption. That nets to $1.7 billion, more than the entire capital investment in cooperative generation in Arkansas that has been made during the last 50 years in Arkansas.

If you eliminate existing hydropower as a renewable resource, which all of the energy bills considered during the last decade have done, biomass and wind power are the only options in Arkansas and much of the southeast U.S. Wind power, because of its unreliable nature, must be backed up with other forms of generation. At peak times, wind typically can provide only 10 percent of its installed capacity. And there are not many places in Arkansas where wind is sufficient to be a viable option.

Biomass is not a commercially proven option yet and the legislation under consideration does not allow the use of biomass in fossil fuel plants. For both wind and biomass, the costs for needed transmission make the stakes even higher.

Arkansas’ senators, Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor, are considered moderates on many issues and they continue to be sensitive to costs to Arkansans. We commend Sen. Lincoln, in her role as a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, for asking the right questions in recent hearings: “Why doesn’t hydropower count as a renewable resource?” and “What would be the costs Arkansans could expect to see on their bills if an RPS was adopted?”

Fortunately, at this stage anyway, the legislation under consideration would not impose an RPS on utilities with less than 4 million megawatts of retail sales. None of the 17 distribution cooperatives in Arkansas is at that threshold.

Your electric cooperatives invested about $340 million in hydropower back when renewable energy wasn’t cool. Cooperatives have the only green power program in Arkansas. Here’s hoping that our senators keep their focus on helping America’s economy rebound by remembering what thousands of Arkansans have just learned during the ice storm: There’s no substitute for affordable and reliable electricity.

Renewable energy...at what cost?

If you have an issue that you would like Carmie to address, mail it to: P.O. Box 194208, Little Rock, AR 72219-4208 or e-mail chenry@aeci.com

MARCH 2009 19

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20 RURAL ARKANSAS

I wish I had the power to command no more ice

storms. But, of course, I don’t. Well, I say, springtime, yes, ice storms, no. I am aware that many of our readers have been affected by the January ice storm. In fact, the Ice Storm of 2009 was the worst that I have ever seen. When this happened, it just made me really aware of how much we depend on this wonderful product we call electricity.

Let me take this opportunity to say to every single person who worked so many hours to restore electric distribution systems that originally took many years to build – thank you, thank you, thank you.

But, as always, life goes on and it is still important that you make your home more energy efficient, especially with summer on the way. In just a few weeks, the temperature will start rising and attics will become much hotter. Well, I say, “cool it.” The worst-case scenario for home energy efficiency is to have a roof without shade, inadequate attic insulation and ductwork in the attic. The attic could easily be 140 degrees on a hot summer day. How would you like to sit in that attic and try to make homemade ice cream? Most likely you would keel over before the ice cream was ready. Now you understand why it is better not to place any part of your cooling system in the attic. For years I have been teaching this but most still install the cooling system in the worst possible environment.

So, let’s look at a solution. If you will install a radiant barrier on both the roof rafters and the west or southwest gable end of the attic, you can reduce the 140-degree temperature by about 30 degrees. From a cooling cost standpoint, this is huge. The attic is 30 degrees cooler, the insulation is 30 degrees cooler

and the ductwork is 30 degrees cooler. Basically, this radiant barrier is a strong, reinforced aluminum foil and should be installed on the bottom of the rafters. It comes in 1,000-square-foot rolls. Check with your local home center for availability or call me at 501-653-7931 and I will help you. For new construc-tion, the radiant barrier can simply be a part of the roof decking.

I look forward to writing this column every month. And I think that you can tell my heart is in it. Many of you have told me at my seminars, on my radio show and at my office, that you have implemented my suggestions and that they work. Actually, I never even think about them not working because they always do. They always have a payback and once again, they are good investments.

About a week ago, my wife and I were at our favorite sandwich shop to order a toasted turkey sandwich. A family of four was in line ahead of us. The wife just kept looking at us and finally she just blurted out, “Are you Doug Rye?” To which I replied, “Does that scoundrel owe you money, too?” She grabbed her husband’s arm and said, “Honey, Doug Rye is here, right behind us.” I have to admit that I like it when this happens. He shook my hand and told me that he was so glad that a subcontractor suggested that he order the Doug Rye New House video before they started construction. He and his wife watched the video every night for several nights to be sure that their house was built correctly. Actually, his words were, “We did it and it worked.” He then thanked me. Isn’t that great? I was able to help another family, just like I help you with these columns. Now, I was hoping he would offer to buy me a sandwich with the money he saved. Oh well … I guess I better “cool it.”

D o u g R y e says ...Energy Efficiency Commandment No. 3: “Thou shalt cool it”

Doug Rye, a licensed architect living in Saline County and the popular host of the “Home Remedies” radio show, works as a consultant for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas to promote energy efficiency to cooperative members statewide. To order Doug’s video, or for more information, call 1-888-653-7931. More energy efficiency tips can also be found at www.ecark.org

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MARCH 2009 21

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24 RURAL ARKANSAS

Past-TimeHistorical notes from the files of Rural Arkansas

20 years ago v March 2009

MARCH 2009 25

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26 RURAL ARKANSAS

Pain in the kneecap area is a common problem. The medical term is patellofemoral pain, and it may be due to a number of factors. Often recovery includes strengthening the muscles that support the knee as well as stretching tight muscles and tissues in the legs. You wonder about the cause.

The knee is a hinge, lever and shock absorber. The knee’s patella aids the efforts of strong front thigh (quadriceps) muscles. The quadriceps help control the amount of knee bending and help push you up from a chair. They also help control side-to-side motion of the patella. The knee joint has four bones held together by ligaments. The top part of the joint is the large thigh-bone (femur). The lower leg bones are the tibia and fibula. The patella is the fourth. It slides in a groove in the front of the femur as the knee bends and straightens, much like a train on a track. A combination of factors keep the patella on track, including the femur and various muscles, tendons and ligaments. If the patella’s balance in the groove is upset, it can lead to increased stress between the patella and the femur. In that case, the more activity you do over time, the more likely you’ll experience pain.

Often, several factors contribute to the slight misalignment of the patella. These may include flat feet, weak hip muscles – which cause the femur to move out of its precise alignment under the patella – leg-length differences, tight muscles on the front and back of the upper leg, weak quadriceps, or tight tendons. If osteoarthritis affects the knee, this also can cause pain.

Effective treatment for patella-femoral pain usually involves treating the cause and modifying activity. To relieve pain, ice the knee for 15 to 20 minutes several times daily and take acetaminophen (Tyenol, others) as directed. A knee sleeve may help hold

Health notesKnee pain

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the patella in place. Avoid activities that cause pain.

Your doctor or physical therapist may direct you to do specific exercises. Some work for most people. Doing them twice daily for as long as four to six weeks is generally suggested. Beyond that, continue doing the exercises three or four times a week to keep the knee stable.

Reduce sodium

It’s high time for Americans to kick their heavy sodium habit to help lower blood pressure. The effort goes way beyond reducing table salt (sodium chloride) consumption. The American Medical Association (AMA) says a successful effort will depend heavily on restaurants and companies that process food by reducing the amount of sodium they add to food.

It’s estimated that nearly 80 percent of sodium in the U.S. diet comes from processed and restaurant foods. Salt added at the table only accounts for about 6 percent of daily intake for most people. The upper limit of daily intake to prevent or treat high blood pressure is 2,400 milligrams (mg) of sodium. But according to the AMA statement, it’s not uncommon for one serving of processed food to contain 1,000 mg or more of sodium.

Restaurant meals typically run the sodium tally up to 2,300 mg, and even as high as 4,000 mg. Based on estimates, a 50 percent reduction in sodium intake nationwide would translate to a 20 percent lower prevalence of high blood pressure (hypertension). Deaths due to heart disease would decrease by 9 percent and stroke deaths by 14 percent.

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28 RURAL ARKANSAS

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A native of Texarkana, Ann Honeycutt has worked for Southwest Arkansas Electric since December 1972. Her four children are David Honeycutt, Steve Honeycutt, Kevin Honeycutt and Linda Clingan. There are seven grandchildren and one great grandchild completes the family. An active member of Christ United Methodist church, she teaches an adult Sunday School class. She enjoys visiting with family and friends. Her hobbies include traveling, reading and she is an avid Razorback fan.

pOunD CAKe

Cream butter and sugar; add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Add soda to buttermilk, add flour and milk alternately; add lemon extract. Bake in greased tube pan at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until done.

eGG CuStARD pIe

Mix sugar, eggs and salt well. Add milk, butter and nutmeg. Pour into a 9-inch unbaked pie shell. Sprinkle nutmeg over filling. Bake 7 minutes at 425 degrees, then 20 to 25 minutes at 350 degrees or until it shimmers.

MARInAteD VeGGIeS

Drain beans, corn and peas, mix celery, bell pepper and onions with the vegetables. Add salt and pepper. Pour vinegar, sugar and oil over vegetables, mix well and refrigerate at least 5 hours.

pOtAtO SALAD

Boil the unpeeled potatoes until done. Place in refrigerator until cool. Peel and cut into small cubes. Chop green onions, green pepper, celery, olives and pimento. Mix all together.

tACO SOup

If using beef or turkey, brown with onion and drain. If using chicken, cook and cut into chunks. Combine with all other ingredients; simmer for 30 minutes on low.

COCOnut ButteRMILK pIe

Mix and pour into unbaked pie shell. Cook at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

GInGeRBReAD

Cream butter, sugar and syrup until creamy then add eggs, spices and baking powder to flour. Add soda to buttermilk. Add buttermilk and flour alternately to mixture, mix well. Cook in muffin pan.

FuDGe

Melt butter, milk and sugar. Stir well and cook exactly 6 minutes. Add chocolate chips and vanilla, stir well and pour on greased platter.

CHICKen VeRMICeLLI

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a Dutch oven, cover hen with water. Bring to a boil and cook until chicken is tender. Drain (saving chicken broth), remove bones and skin from chicken and cut into small pieces; set aside. In a skillet, sauté peppers and onions in margarine. Cook vermicelli in chicken broth; drain. Add Rotel and 1/2 of reserved Rotel liquid, Worcestershire sauce, sautéed vegetables, peas, mushrooms and cheese. Stir until cheese has melted and add chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Bake at 350 degrees in a greased 2-1/2 quart casserole dish for 25 minutes or until bubbly. Serves 12 to 14.

CHeeSy CHICKen & SquASH CASSeROLe

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large saucepan, bring water and salt to a boil. Add squash and onions. Reduce heat, cover and cook until squash is crisp-tender – about 6 minutes. Drain well and set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine soup, sour cream, stuffing and the contents of seasoning packet, chilies, salt and pepper; mix well. Fold in cooked squash and chicken. Pour into greased 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Serves 6 to 8.

Recipes from Ann’s kitchen

3 sticks butter or margarine 5 eggs 1 cup buttermilk 3 cups flour

3 cups sugar 1 teaspoon lemon extract 1/2 teaspoon soda

1 cup sugar pinch of salt 2 cups milk

4 to 6 eggs 2 tablespoons butter Nutmeg to taste

1 can French-style green beans 1 can shoe peg corn 1 can Lesueur small peas 1 cup chopped celery 1 cup chopped bell pepper

1 cup chopped green onions 1 cup vinegar 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup Crisco oil 1 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon salt

12 potatoes, unpeeled 1 cup green onions 1 cup green peppers 1 cup celery 1 small bottle olives

1 small jar pimentos 1 bottle Kraft coleslaw dressing 8 oz. carton sour cream Juice of 1 lemon

1 1/2 cups sugar 4 eggs 1/2 cup buttermilk

1 cup coconut 1 stick margarine 1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup sugar 1 cup syrup less 2 tablespoons 1/2 cup shortening 1 teaspoon cloves 1 cup buttermilk 2 eggs

1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon ginger 2 1/2 cups flour 1 teaspoon soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt

2 lbs. chicken breasts, ground beef or turkey (I use chicken) 15 oz. can tomato sauce 1 small chopped onion 1 pkg. taco seasoning 1 can corn, undrained

1 can pinto beans, undrained 1 1/2 cups water 4 oz. can chopped green chilies 28 oz. can tomatoes, chopped & undrained 1 pkg. dry ranch dressing mix

1 small can pet milk 2 cups sugar 3/4 stick butter or margarine

1 teaspoon vanilla 1 pkg. chocolate chips pecans (optional)

5 lb. hen 2 large green peppers, chopped 2 large onions, chopped 3/4 cup margarine, 7 oz. package vermicelli pasta 10 oz. can Rotel tomatoes, drain, save juice

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 17 oz. can green peas, drained 8 oz. can sliced mushrooms, drained 2 lbs. Velveeta cheese, cut into chunks Salt & pepper to taste

3/4 cup water 1/4 teaspoon salt 6 cups sliced yellow summer squash I small onion, chopped 10 oz. can cream mushroom soup I cup sour cream

6 oz. package chicken flavored stuffing mix 4 oz. can chopped green chilies, drained Salt & pepper to taste 1 1/2 cups cooked, chopped chicken I cup shredded cheddar cheese

MARCH 2009 29

30 RURAL ARKANSAS

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Pistachio Chicken with Coconut-Chili-Ginger Sauce

Coconut-Chili-Ginger Sauce 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 2 shallots, minced 2 blades lemongrass, chopped 3 (1/2-inch) pieces, fresh ginger, thinly sliced 1 cup sweet white wine 2 cups chicken broth 2 tablespoons Thai red curry paste

2 tablespoons Chinese black bean chili sauce 1 (8-oz) can coconut milk 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened and cut into pieces Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Pistachio-Crusted Chicken 4 boneless chicken breasts 1 quart buttermilk 1 lb. salted pistachios, shelled and toasted 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup fresh thyme 1/3 cup chopped fresh rosemary 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 2 cups all-purpose flour Salt and freshly ground black pepper Grapeseed oil to taste

LoMein Noodles 4 large shiitake mushrooms, cleaned, stems removed and julienned 4 stalks asparagus, cleaned, blanched and julienned 1/2 cup julienned yellow squash 1/2 cup julienned zucchini squash 1 tablespoon canola oil 2 teaspoons sweet and sour sauce 1/4 teaspoon sriracha chile paste Salt and pepper to taste 8-12 oz fresh lo mien noodles (found in refrig- erator section of an Asian grocery store)

For the sauce: In a med. saucepan heat the tablespoon of butter, shallots, lemongrass, ginger slices and wine. Reduce to half. Add the broth, red curry paste and Chinese black bean chili sauce and reduce to half again. Add the coconut milk and reduce to half a third time. Remove from heat and whisk the bits of butter into the sauce until all the butter has been incorpo-rated. Season with salt and pepper. If you reheat, do not allow the sauce to boil or the butter will separate.For the chicken: Cut the chicken breasts in half. With a meat mallet pound until 1/4-inch thick and place in a nonreactive bowl. Pour the buttermilk over the chicken, cover, and let sit for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. In a food processor, place half of the pistachios, half of the Parmesan cheese, and half of the herbs. Pulse 5 or 6 times until the mixture is finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl. Repeat this step with the rest of the pistachios and combine with the other pistachio mixture. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.Place the flour in another bowl and season it with salt and pepper. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and prepare it for assembly. Preheat a large nonstick sauté pan over medium-low heat with a thin coating of grapeseed oil. Remove one breast, shake off any excess buttermilk and dust the breast with flour on each side. Dip only one side of the chicken breast in the buttermilk and press pistachios onto that side. Repeat that step with all of the chicken. Place the chicken in the sauté pan, pistachio side down, and cook for 2-3 minutes. Turn and cook the other side for 2 to 3 minutes. Place in the oven to finish cooking for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove, let rest for 5 minutes and then slice to serve with the Coconut-Chile-Ginger Sauce and the prepared noodles.For the noodles: Place the canola oil in a preheated sauté pan with the julienned vegetables and sauté for 1 minute. Add the sweet and sour sauce, srirracha chile paste and lo mien noodles. Continue to cook until the noodles are just hot and season to taste with salt and pepper.

MARCH 2009 31

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64969X-64970X-64971X:Layout 1 1/29/09 10:33 AM Page 1

32 RURAL ARKANSAS

Far left: Harrison loves to hide in spring flowers – Cindy Sweat,Newport

Near left: Kadence Willard visits the Jonquil Festival at Old Washington – Diane Johnston, Genoa

Far left: Cohen and the smell of spring – Rhonda Smith, Rogers

Near left: My Harley Davidson with lil stow-a-way Jaxon – Gabe Mizell, Booneville

Below: Ginavieve Hunter and her rabbit, Fluffy – Marie Gramlich, Mulberry

ReflectionsSeasonal scenes in Rural Arkansas

Far left: Emma Lea Nolen discovering the jonquils – Terri Worthington, Nashville

Near left: Madison Jacinto, a smart kid – Dana Wilkerson, Mountainburg

Far left: Thomas Launius breaking up ground – Hunter Anderson, Nashville

Near left: Chloe ready to tiptoe through the tulips – Anne Morgan, Harrisburg

MARCH 2009 33

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01_B_I_V = Live Area: 7 x 10, 7x10 Magazine Master, 1 Page, Installment, Verticle

©2008 BGE 01-04799-001-BI

RESERVATION APPLICATIONTHE BRADFORD EXCHANGE_______________________________________9345 Mi lwaukee Avenue · N i les , IL 60714-1393

YES. Please reserve the “Always With You” crystalline sculpture for me as described in this announcement. Limit: one per order. Please Respond Promptly

*Plus a total of $7.99 shipping and service. A limited-edition presentation restricted to 295 casting days. Please allow 4-8 weeks after initial payment for shipment. All sales are subject to product availability and order acceptance. Crystalline is a unique combination of resin materials chosen for its brilliance and clarity.

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“Always With You”

Artist Greg Olsen’s inspiring vision

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Blessed be the word of the Lord…Bathed by a heavenly radiance, Jesus sits on a hill-top in a moment of private refl ection. It is a moment such as this that reminds us all of the power of prayer, for each time we clasp our own hands and pray to the Lord for guidance, we know He is watching over us from the kingdom of Heaven.

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34 RURAL ARKANSAS

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Grass Seed IsFor The Birds! Stop wasting money, timeand work sowing new grassseed each spring, only to see birds eat the seed – or rain wash it away – before it can root. Plant agenuine Amazoy™ Zoysialawn from our living Plugsonly once… and never plant a new lawn again!

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©2009 Zoysia Farm Nurseries, 3617 Old Taneytown Rd, Taneytown, MD 21787

Not shipped outside the USA or into WA or OR

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Rural Ark Mar x5336:Rural Ark 12/10/08 11:42 AM Page 1

36 RURAL ARKANSAS

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Arkansas Ad:Layout 1 1/9/09 1:08 PM Page 1

38 RURAL ARKANSAS

By Scott Gates

In many ways, energy efficiency doubles as an untapped source of power. For example, take a homeowner with three 100-watt incandescent lightbulbs that need replacing. By swapping them with equivalent energy-efficient compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs), which use one-third less electricity, that consumer retains the same amount of lighting while lowering his or her electric bill.

Applied industry-wide, energy efficiency measures like this could go a long way toward making the electricity we use do more. At a time when building new power plants is increasingly difficult due to increased construction costs and pressures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, energy efficiency can help bridge the growing gap between the electricity being generated and what’s used.

“Energy efficiency has two primary aspects – energy consumption and power demand,” explains Tom Reddoch, manager of energy utilization at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), a non-profit, utility-sponsored consortium based in Palo Alto, Calif., whose members include electric

co-ops. “If you reduce energy consumption, then you reduce your carbon footprint. If you reduce demand, then you avoid having to produce more power.”

As a whole, U.S. electricity consumption by residential, commercial, and industrial consumers is projected to climb at an average yearly rate of 1.07 percent between now and 2030, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In other words, every year we will use 1.07 percent more electricity than the previous 12 months.

For the nation’s electric co-ops, many of which serve rapidly growing parts of the country, electricity consumption is projected to grow more than twice that rate, or by 2.4 percent annually. If that figure holds, by 2030 electric co-op power requirements will increase 73 percent, compared to a 26 percent boost for the U.S. as a whole.

In an effort to help electric cooperatives and other electric utilities trim surging power demand, EPRI launched a research project two years ago aimed at testing the latest in energy efficiency concepts.

A more productive Kilowatt

MARCH 2009 39

“We established the Living Laboratory in Knoxville, Tennessee, to create a smart system to evaluate technolo-gies and make energy efficiency a sustainable activity,” says Reddoch. “More than 100 engineers and scientists at the facility test everything from cutting-edge lightbulbs to consumer electronics. The laboratory provides a controlled environment to evaluate products and processes before we put them in the field for more study.”

Among the promising new gadgets EPRI is kicking the tires of are “hyper-efficient” appliances, LED street lights, and residential ductless heat pumps, which move heated or cooled refrigerant through insulated lines to room-based fan units.

Electric cooperatives have long seen the importance of energy efficiency, and nearly all have launched initiatives over the past few decades to promote its advantages. Presently, 92 percent of co-ops offer some kind of energy efficiency consumer education program.

“Unlike investor-owned utilities, not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric co-ops aren’t motivated to sell more kilowatt-hours from a business standpoint,” comments John Holt, senior principal for generation & fuel with the Arlington, Va.-based National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). “As a rule, co-ops strive to maximize use of existing resources and infrastructure. Efficiency has always been a natural part of that business model.”

In keeping with this, 77 percent of all electric co-ops offer residential energy audits, giving consumers a personalized guide to improving efficiency in their home. Almost half of all co-ops go an extra step, offering financial incentives that enable members to tackle those improve-ments, according to NRECA.

State and federal assistance is also available, although additional government help could expand on what co-ops already have in place and allow homeowners to make even more money-saving upgrades, argues NRECA CEO Glenn English.

“Many co-op consumers are feeling the pinch these days – there’s not always extra money available to go towards energy efficiency upgrades. Electric cooperatives advocate providing $2,500 in direct federal energy efficiency assistance to the poorest 20 percent of households, or those who earn too little to take advantage of existing tax incentives. This could enable more folks to install adequate insulation;

replace or upgrade windows; and buy new Energy Star appliances, efficient lighting, and HVAC systems, to name a few.”

The payoff from such a policy and others like it could be substantial. Increasing energy efficiency in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors could reduce the rate of growth for electricity consumption by 22 percent over the next two decades, according to EPRI. Total energy savings could mount to 236 billion kWh by 2030. That’s a lot of power, equivalent to the electricity used in a year by 14 cities the size of New York.

Some of those potential reductions lay in what’s called “peak demand”– the electric grid’s equivalent of rush hour traffic when consumption spikes (such as hot, humid summer weekday afternoons or evenings after school and work) and power costs skyrocket. Half of all electric co-ops have the ability to curb peak demand through demand-response, also called load management, programs. These enable co-ops to directly control energy-guzzling appliances, like electric water heaters, by remotely switching them off for short periods in the homes of volunteer consumers.

If co-ops continue to develop these demand response programs, they could cumulatively reduce peak demand by 7,364 MW – roughly the capacity of a dozen or so coal-fired power plants – according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

“Energy efficiency remains key to how electric co-ops will keep electricity affordable in the face of rising energy prices,” concludes English. “Co-ops are putting their expertise to work in developing innovative programs that will help their members get the most out of every kilowatt. When consumers can reduce their electricity bills and free up kilowatts for co-ops to distribute elsewhere, that’s a win-win situation.”

Sources: Electric Power Research Institute, U.S. Department of Energy, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

(Left) A test rack for the lighting lab located at the EPRI “Living Laboratory” research facility in Knoxville, Tennessee. EPRI tests various types of lamps, which are cycled on and off automatically on a predetermined schedule to determine their lifetime. This rack is specifically designed for testing CFLs.

An engineer uses a spectrum analyzer to measure the frequency of transmitted signals in the Shielded Room at the EPRI “Living Laboratory” research facility in Knoxville, Tennessee. The room is shielded with solid copper to prevent any electric or magnetic fields from passing through. This allows precise field measurement without background noise or interference.

40 RURAL ARKANSAS

By Bruce CopherOne of your recipients of the Rural Arkansas magazine is A.C. and Claudine Copher of Mena. They have been getting

the Rural Arkansas magazine for many years. A.C. went home last year, but Granny (Claudine) is still on the farm and in charge. If you don’t believe it, I dare you to ask her.

On a recent weekend, I went there along with my dad, Gerald Copher, to meet his brother, Lt. Col. “Skip” Copher, USAF ret., to work the cows through the pen. My uncle is living there to take care of his mother and oversee the farm operation. I came back to the house half way through working the cows to start the pots we had ready for a slow-cooking lunch.

Granny at 98.4 years old was sitting at the back door, as it has better light, quilting up a storm. She said something about a new lady had moved into the community and the ladies at Big Fork were making her a quilt.

I set the timer on the camera to get in the action with her while the gettin’s good. One picture has the first daffodils to bloom there. Another is a story about the calf that got turned around in the chute and didn’t want to go through the right way, so I pulled her through backwards. As the story goes, like a good fisherman, we’ll catch it however it wants to be caught.

The picture of the house was taken last year. To me, this is what rural Arkansas is all about – a little slice of heaven on earth, and by extension, what the cooperatives are all about. Not just power to the people, so to speak, but power where power needs to go.

The last picture is Granny overseeing the poke salit as dad and “Jerld” rinse lather, repeat, rinse lather from the poke weed to get all the bugs out before boiling and putting up the poke salit for future consumption. There isn’t much that goes

on that she does not personally oversee. Claudine is a Rich Mountain Electric member. For giggles sometime, read the following link: www.geocities.com/bigforkark/claudine.htm

A visit with Granny

MARCH 2009 41

It can be hard to find time every day to tell your precious daughter just how much she means to you. Now you can make sure she neverspends a day without a cherished reminder of your love. Presenting ...the “A Year of Wishes” Musical, a premiere treasure exclusively fromArdleigh Elliott.

A gift of love that keeps on giving.

This all-new musical shaped like an elegant ginger jar holds 365 wishes,blessings and inspirations for your daughter inside, to celebrate the special bond you share! Crafted of Heirloom Porcelain® with shimmeringplatinum, Swarovski crystals and faux jewels, this unique treasure is agift that truly keeps on giving! It plays the heartfelt melody of “Have ITold You Lately That I Love You?” as a perfect finishing touch.

An exceptional value...satisfaction guaranteed.

Available exclusively from Ardleigh Elliott, the “A Year of Wishes” Musicalis premiere priced at just $49.98*, payable in two easy installments of$24.99 each. And your satisfaction is completely guaranteed for one fullyear. Urgent Notification: Availability Is Strictly Limited!* We arealready experiencing heavy demand for this unique expression of lovefor your daughter. Send no money now! Return the ReservationApplication today.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

-B (7x10-Master)

9204 Center for the Arts Drive

Niles, IL 60714

Please Respond Promptly

Signature ________________________________

Mr. Mrs. Ms._______________________________Name (Please Print Clearly)

Address __________________________________

City _____________________________________

State ___________ Zip ______________________*Plus a total of $8.99 shipping and service. Please allow 4-6 weeks after initial payment fordelivery. A limited-edition presentation restricted to 95 firingdays. Subject to product availability and order acceptance.

YES. Please reserve the “A Year of

Wishes” Musical as described in this

announcement.

RIP & SHIPArdleigh Elliott AD Process PageARDLEIGH #07-00275-001-BI YMCK

07-00275-001-E02491

RESERVATION APPLICATION

©2007 Ardleigh Elliott 07-00275-001-BI

Shown smaller than actual

size of about 7 inches tall

Plays the tender

melody of

“Have I Told

You Lately

That I Love

You?”

Inside are 365 individual

wishes for your daughter—

one for every day of the year!

A gift for your daughter every day!A gift for your daughter every day!

“A Year of Wishes”

“A Year of Wishes”

“A Year of Wishes”

Inside are 365 individual

wishes for your daughter—

one for every day of the year!

42 RURAL ARKANSAS

Apr 3: Gallery Walk, Hot Springs, 501-624-0550

Apr 3-4: Rummage & Bake Sale, Halley, 870-538-9352

Apr 4: City Wide Yard Sale, Piggott, 870-598-3167

Apr 4: Spring Home & Garden Show, Dewitt, 870-946-3231

Apr 4: Fairgrounds Flea Market, Salem, 870-895-5565

Apr 4: Railroadiana Show & Sale, Pine Bluff, 870-535-8819

Apr 4-5: Gaston’s White River Fly School, Lakeview, 870-431-5202

Apr 7: Lyon College Concert, Batesville, 870-307-7242

Apr 10-11: Hogskin Holidays Festival, Hampton, 870-798-2100

Apr 11: Pettigrew Day, Pettigrew, 479-750-8165

Apr 16: CARTI Ragin’ Cajun Bash, Little Rock, 501-296-3202

Apr 16-18: StarDaze Festival, Star City, 870-628-6400

Apr 17: Antique Walk, Hot Springs, 501-624-4083

Apr 17: Denim and Diamonds, Mountain Home, 870-508-6105

Apr 17-18: Carving In The Ozarks, Eureka Springs, 479-253-2080

Apr 17-18: Dogwood Days, Horseshoe Bend, 870-670-5433

Apr 17-18: “Great Cotter Trout Festival” 870-321-1243

Apr 17-19: National Basketball Tournament, Little Rock, 800-844-4781

Apr 17-19: Scottish Festival, Batesville, 870-307-7242

Apr 17-19: Folk Festival, Mountain View, 870-269-8068

Apr 17-19: The Artisans Market on the Square, Mountain View, 870-269-8397

Apr 17-May17: Symphony Designer House XX, Little Rock, 501-666-1761

Apr 18: EAS RazorFest, Fayetteville, 479-582-2008

Apr 18: “Spring in Saline” Flower Show, Benton, 501-303-5672

Apr 18: Red-White Spring Game, Fayetteville, 800-982-4647

Apr 18: Kite Day, Siloam Springs, 479-524-5779

Apr 18: Mustang Show, Eureka Springs, 479-253-2364

Apr 18: Gumbo Fest, West Memphis, 870-735-1134

Apr 18-19: Spring Arts & Crafts Fest, Hardy, 870-856-3571

Apr 20-25: Cotton Belt Festival, Fordyce, 870-352-2055

Apr 23-26: Wild Hog Musicfest & Motorcycle Rally, Helena-W. Helena, 870-572-3408

Apr 24: “Taste of Heber” and Artist Walk, Heber Springs, 501-362-2444

Apr 24-26: Twin Rivers Festival, McNab, 870-722-4154

Apr 24-25: Swap Meet, Gateway, 479-656-3929

Apr 24-26: Dogwood Festival, Siloam Springs, 479-524-6466

Apr 24-May 10: The Elephant Man, Little Rock, 501-378-0405

Apr 25: Kids’ Fishing Derby, Greenbrier, 501-679-2098

Apr 25: Flower Show, Hardy, 870-856-3811

Apr 25: Crawfish Boil & Motorcycle Poker Run, Smackover, 870-725-3521

Apr 25: Flatland Hillbilly Hoedown, West Memphis, 901-619-6411

Apr 25: Farm, Flower & Garden Show, Berryville, 870-423-3704

Apr 25: Harbor City Fest & Gumbo Cook-Off, Pine Bluff, 870-536-0920

Apr 25-26: Springfest, Heber Springs, 501-362-2444

Apr 29: “Don Quixote” Warfield Concerts, Helena-W. Helena, 870-572-3408

Calendar of Events

MARCH 2009 43

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There’s something special about the spirit of Arkansas’ people. We’re patient. We’re resourceful. We’re quick to help our neighbors. These traits sustained us all during the adversity from the recent ice storm.

Your Electric Cooperative employees want you to know how much we appreciate your patience and support.

As devastating as this ice storm was, it demonstrated the true meaning of community. It also served as a reminder of why we’re so proud to be an Arkansas company.

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We’ve Never Been So Proud To Be An Arkansas Company