United Electric

By Dianna Troyer

It was never about the trophies, Brad “Coop” Cooper insists as he packs up his Minico High School classroom for the 30th and final time before starting summer vacation and retirement.

Whatever door the teacher and legendary wrestling coach exits through, he likely walks past a display case filled with trophies won by his wrestlers.

“It was about the kids, watching them grow up and seeing them light up from their accomplishments, whether on the mat or in the classroom,” says Coop, 57, who worked at his alma mater for 30 years.

Along with coaching, he taught a variety of subjects, most recently U.S. history and physical education.

“I’ve taught and coached the grandkids of my first stu-dents,” Coop says. “I’ve enjoyed watching the generations come through.”

Due to his coaching success, Coop was inducted into the Idaho Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016 and received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award. He also

earned a spot in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Museum in Oklahoma.

“It was a pleasant surprise for me,” says Coop, who has a reputation for shunning the spotlight and instead allowing his record to speak for itself.

Two of his teams won the Idaho 4A State Wrestling Championships, most recently in February and also in 2006. His wrestlers have won nearly 20 district titles and more than two dozen individual state titles.

Coop hopes his lessons about self-discipline, motivation and never giving up carry over to his wrestlers’ lives off the mat.

“I always told them if there’s time on the clock, there’s time to win,” he says.

Each season, Coop usually had about 40 wrestlers and taught them to compete as a team.

“That’s one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from Coop,” says his replacement, Boe Rushton, assistant coach for the past two years. “We won state this past year because every one of our wrestlers got at least one point. Even though it’s an indi-vidual sport, they did their best for the team as a whole.”

Coop’s Unbeatable LegacyMinico’s renowned coach leaves wrestling program in Boe Rushton’s capable hands

Brad “Coop” Cooper led the Minico High School wrestling team to a state title in 2017, the team’s first since 2006.

4 J U N E 2017

Boe was a heavyweight wrestler at Wood River High School in Hailey and Boise State University, and an NCAA All-American wrestler. He heard through friends and a job web-site that Coop needed an assistant.

“I’m excited to be here and to have been able to work with him,” he says.

Coop already retired once, in 2010, but returned five years later when the Spartans needed a coach.

“I agreed to come back for two years on the condition that I could mentor my replacement,” says Coop. “The program is in good hands with Boe.”

Coop promises to return as a fan.“I’ll come back to watch meets and cheer,” he says, noting

he has spent more than half his life at the school—as a stu-dent, teacher and, starting in 1983, a coach.

A 1978 Minico graduate, Coop was known for his aggres-sive wrestling style in the 167-pound weight class. H earned a wrestling scholarship to Idaho State University.

As a coach, he taught wrestlers to take the offense. He often got on the mat to demonstrate techniques.

“I felt I needed to show the moves, but it took a toll on my knees and neck,” says Coop, who has had several knee surgeries.

As wrestlers refined their techniques, Coop scheduled workouts to help them peak at state.

“There’s a fine line between pushing them enough and not pushing them too hard,” he says. “We never encouraged them to lose weight, just to not drink unhealthy carbonated beverages.”

One of his favorite sayings was, “A hungry tiger is a lot tougher than one that just ate.”

Season after season, he relied on his wife, Janet, who helped him after her workday as a teacher at East Minico Middle School.

“I don’t know what I would have done without her,” he says. “She paired up the bouts and matches, ran the concessions and did whatever needed to be done.”

When wrestling season ended, Coop and Boe carried their “all-for-one-and-one-for-all” philosophy to track and field, coaching the Spartans in shot put and discus.

Several wrestlers were also track team members.Juan Ruiz Jr., a heavyweight wrestler who will be a senior

this fall, threw shot put. “During wrestling season, Coach worked us hard with

morning runs and workouts on the mats and in the weight room,” Juan says. “It was his way of helping us to do our best at the meets.”

As a retiree this summer, Coop says he might actually relax a little. During his years at the school, he worked part-time in summer as a seasonal employee for the U.S. Forest Service, working on trails or doing range management while also tak-ing wrestlers to camps and competitions.

“During summer, I’d put 9,000 miles on a vehicle,” Coop says. “We drove to Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota and Colorado. For the past two summers, Boe has done a great job organizing the camps.”

Without wrestling commitments this summer, Coop says he plans to fish along the Oregon Coast and throughout Idaho.

In the future, he says he hopes Boe’s wrestlers will continue to win individual titles and team championships and keep filling the school’s trophy cases. n

Above, Coop, who also coached track, gives Juan Ruiz Jr. pointers about his shot put form. Right, Boe Rushton will take over Minico High School’s wrestling program when Coop retires.

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United Electric

Call 811 Before You DigSummer is a great time to start those outdoor projects you have been thinking about. Whether it is building your dream deck, installing a fence or sprucing up your landscaping, calling 811 is a must.

Although it is easy to see where power lines are located above ground, there are buried gas, water and electrical lines underground you cannot see. By call-ing 811 at least two business days before your project, local utilities can mark nearby lines.

Do not guess where lines are located. It is free to call 811. If a utility line is damaged while digging, it could disrupt service to an entire neighborhood, cause serious injuries or death, and cost you.

You also can visit the Dig Line website at www.dig-line.com, and submit an online locate request.

Office ClosureUnited Electric will be closed Tuesday, July 4. There will be a crew on call in case of emergencies. The emergency crew can be reached at (208) 679-4444.

Nontraditional Scholarship AvailableApplications for the $500 nontraditional scholarship will be accepted until Friday, June 9, at 5 p.m. The application is available in the office or online at www.uec.coop.

The scholarship is given to an adult or nontraditional student whose life circumstances differ from traditional students. Applicants do not need to be members of United Electric.

Go to www.uec.coop for more information.

$5 Credit for Going PaperlessSign up for paperless billing before June 30 to receive a one-time $5 credit on your United Electric account and be entered in a prize drawing.

Memberships that have been signed up for elec-tronic billing any time during the previous six months are ineligible for the prize drawing of $5 credit.

See page 25 for more details. n

United Electric Announcements

The Trade-A-Tree program helps mem-bers remove trees from areas where they could pose a hazard to primary high-voltage overhead power lines. The aim is to replace taller trees with shorter trees that will not grow up into the lines.

For each tree removed, United Electric will reimburse up to $50 of the cost of the replacement tree as long as it fits within the guidelines.

To find out how you can participate in the Trade-A-Tree program o to www.uec.coop or call the office, (208) 679-2222.

Be sure to check out the back page in this issue of Ruralite to find out more about the Trade-A-Tree program. n

Trade-A-Tree

8 J U N E 2017

United Electric

Do you want to reduce your at-home clutter? Receive your bill quicker? Get a one-time $5 credit on your account?

Sign up for paperless billing to achieve all that and have access to all the benefits SmartHub has to offer. Members who sign up for paperless billing by June 30 will receive a one-time $5 credit on their account and be entered for a chance to win a $50 gas card or an iPad mini.

Memberships that have been signed up for electronic billing anytime during the previous six months are ineligible for the drawing or $5 credit.

Signing up is easy.• Go to United Electric’s website, www.uec.coop,

and click on the SmartHub icon at the top left side of the screen.

• Log in with your email address and password, or create a new account by clicking “New User” at the bottom of the screen.

• After accessing your SmartHub account, click on the “My Profile” tab and choose “Update My Printed Bill Settings.”

• Click “Off” under Printed Bill Status and choose “Yes” to confirm going paperless. n

Save Time and Money With Paperless Billing

Energy Savings Made EasySaving energy does not have to mean being uncomfortable or investing a lot of money. It is as simple as making improvements in how you use electricity.

Heating and cooling tends to use the most energy, but hot water runs a close second. Because water and appliances are used year-round, small changes can add up to big savings.

To maximize heating and cooling systems, arrange furniture to allow air to flow freely. Regularly clean filters in your furnace and have your heating/air-conditioning system tuned up annually so it runs efficiently.

When using the oven, prepare several items at the same time, if possible. Cover

pans and use as little liquid as possible to cook food faster. For best heat transfer, use pans that fully cover the burner. Avoid warped pans on electric burners.

Try to run full loads in the dishwasher, using the shortest wash cycle possible. Avoid the rinse-and-hold cycle. It uses about 8 gallons of water just to pre-rinse dishes. Pre-rinse only if food particles are dried on.

Set the refrigerator to between 38 and 40 degrees. Place a thermometer near the thermostat to check the setting. Set stand-alone freezers to 0 degrees. Cool food before putting it in the refrigerator, and cover all liquids to stop evaporation.

Set your water heater to 120 degrees.

Six hours later, hold a meat or candy thermometer under running hot water to check the temperature. Adjust, if necessary.

Run full loads in the clothes washer and dryer, or use lower water level settings for smaller loads. Instead of using hot water, wash with warm or cold water, following the garment care label. Washing with cold water can reduce energy costs to 5 cents or less per load. Rinse all loads with cold water.

Make sure your windows are double-paned. When replacing them, choose the most efficient available. During the winter, consider using inexpensive storm windows made of clear vinyl or plastic. n

J U N E 2017 25

A&T Construction194 E 200 S, Rupert 436-07385 percent off labor.

Animal Medical Clinic284 S 600 W, Heyburn 679-45505 percent off all cash services.

Arby’s 594 N Overland Ave., Burley 678-842610 percent off purchase.

Barclay Mechanical Services Inc.100 S 490 W, Paul 438-81085 percent off metal purchase.

Barry Equipment & Rental159 W Hwy 30, Burley678-736810 percent off daily rates; 15 percent off select Walker and Bobcat parts.

Clayville Insulation250 E 100 S, Burley 678-97915 percent off existing residential insulation.

Clegg’s Service ’n RepairBrad Clegg, owner703 W Main, Burley 678-7697, Cell (208) 670-7624$10 off full lube and service.

Columbia Electric Supply Co.1027 Normal Ave., Burley 878-9035slockner@cesburley.comWholesale pricing on cash sales.

Connections Credit Union510 21st St., Heyburn233-5544New members receive a free welcome gift and $5 deposit.

D.L. Evans BankNorth Burley BranchSouth Burley BranchRupert Branch

• Free small business checking. • Complimentary Visa check debit/ATM card. • No annual fee Visa with a business checking account (upon approved credit). • Free introductory checks.Member FDIC

Farmers Corner202 S Highway 27, Burley 678-5130Free pop with gas purchase.

Greener Valley Computer2853 Overland Ave., Burley 678-09645 percent off in-store software.

Larry’s Electric & Heating1133 Albion Ave., Burley 678-4071 www.larryselectric andheating.com10 percent discount on filters and light bulbs bought in the store.

Lee’s Furniture Clearance Outlet459 Overland Ave., Burley 878-4433Receive up to a 5 percent discount on purchase.

Marble-N-Counters1321 E Main, Burley 878-60425 percent off marble jobs.

Mind & Body Wellness Center2207 Overland Ave., Burley 878-941820 percent off any services, 15 percent off nutrition. Free consultation for Ideal Protein Weight Loss program.

Mini-Cassia Chamber of Commerce1177 7th St., Heyburn679-4793www.minicassiachamber.com25 percent discount on all Idaho gifts and jewelry items, excluding consignment and sale items.

NAPA Auto Parts501 Overland Ave., Burley 678-83117 percent discount on regularly priced items.

Ponderosa Golf320 Minidoka Ave., Burley 679-5730$1 off green fees, Monday through Friday before 4 p.m.

Pro Paint Inc.1116 Overland Ave., Burley878-0856$5 off a $50 purchase.

Quality Tire Factory822 S Onieda, Rupert 436-39006 percent off regularly priced items.

Sears Burley2338 Overland Ave., Burley 878-8004Owned and operated by Ron and Judy Fowler10 percent off any regularly priced merchandise.

Skaggs FurnitureOverland Shopping Center, Burley 878-5100Discount of up to 50 percent on regularly priced items.

Snake River Bowl725 Minidoka Ave., Burley 679-269510 percent off regularly priced bowling, food or merchandise (league and tournament bowling excluded).

Stars Ferry Building Supplies20 S 300 W, Burley 678-5562Free hat with $100 cash purchase.

Please support these businesses that participate in the Co-op Connections Card program

Co-op Connections Card

United Electric

28 J U N E 2017

Sweetheart ManorOverland & 42nd St., Burley 678-869210 percent off invitations or 30 percent off if Sweetheart Manor is used for receptions and tuxedo rental.

Ted’s Diesel Electric1141 South Hwy 30, Heyburn 878-499110 percent discount once a month on any rebuilt starter, alternator or generator.

The Gathering Place524 6th St., Rupert436-045510 percent off purchases, excluding kits, batting and quilting machines.

Tony’s Barbershop1607 J St., Heyburn (208) 219-0666Special price for seniors and children.

Ward’s Cleaning & Detail1131 E 18th Lane, Burley 878-510510 percent off carpet and upholstery cleaning; 5 percent off auto detailing.

Wilson Bates Appliance & Furniture2560 Overland Ave., Burley 678-1133Additional 5 percent off the best sale price of any furniture, Burley location only.

everyday savings

THAT'S THE POWER OF CO-OP MEMBERSHIPSavings on everyday items. Like up to 85% off prescription drugs at

participating pharmacies nationwide.

Connections.coopFind all the ways to save at

J U N E 2017 29

ID-29

UnitedElectricCo-op Inc.Directors President Bruce BeckVice President David PhillipsSec./Treas. Cordell SearleBrent BowenDean Nielsen Ronald Osterhout George TonerJohn R. West

General ManagerJo Elg

Engineering and OperationsTrevor Parke

Line SuperintendentDan Kidd

Executive AssistantPenny West

Manager of Finance and Admin.Curtiss Peterson

Community Relations ManagerChris Seibold

Mailing address:1330 21st St.Heyburn, ID 83336Phone: (208) 679-2222Fax: (208) 679-3333Email: uec@unitedelectric.coopWebsite: www.uec.coopOffice hours: Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.Friday, 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.

After Hours: (208) 679-4444

On the Wire at United ElectricClean, drain, drySummer boating season is finally here! It is time to get out and water ski, fish or just enjoy a nice lei-surely boat ride in the afternoon sun.

Perhaps you are planning a family boating vaca-tion at Lake Havasu. If you take your boat there, you will want to be careful before returning to Idaho waters. The invasive quagga mussel has been found in Lake Havasu.

The zebra and quagga mussels wreak havoc wherever they call home. These pests deplete nutrients in water where they exist, upsetting the local ecosystem. They can colonize on hulls of boats, recreational equip-ment and water intake infrastructure, affecting irrigation and hydroelectric power plant operation. And they reproduce like wildfire.

Zebra and quagga mussels have not been found in Idaho waters yet. In an effort to protect Idaho waterways, the Idaho Department of Agriculture has set up a watercraft inspection station program focused on inspecting boats as they cross the state line. Since the beginning of the 2017 boating season, there have been nine occurrences of mussel-infested watercraft identified through the inspection program. In eight of the nine incidents, the watercraft had been in Lake Havasu prior to arriving in Idaho.

Watercraft inspection stations are the first line of defense against the introduc-tion and spread of aquatic invasive species, according to the Idaho Department of Agriculture, which manages the invasive species program in Idaho. More than 400,000 inspections have been conducted in Idaho since 2009, finding more than 165 mussel-infected watercraft.

To pay for the cost of the invasive species program, a law enacted in 2009 requires an Idaho Invasive Species Fund sticker to be displayed on all watercraft to legally launch in Idaho. The law includes motorized boats and all non-motorized watercraft such as canoes, kayaks, rafts and drift boats. The sticker for a motorized boat is $10 annually—a small price to pay to fight an infestation in Idaho waterways.

What else can you do to keep these pesky creatures from moving in? Clean. Drain. Dry. Clean any visible mud, plants or animals from your boat. Drain all water, includ-ing from the lower outboard unit, ballast and livewell. Dry all areas of your boat, your equipment and your gear.

Summer boating season is here. Go ahead and enjoy the water—just don’t move a mussel. Clean. Drain. Dry.

Quagga mussels can quickly damage local ecosystems.Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife

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