MECA-11935-November_.. - Michigan Country Lines Magazine
Contents
1. Add 4 457 for each exemption over 6 The Winter Protection Plan protects eligible senior and low income customers from service shut offs and high utility bill payments during the winter months Nov 1 March 31 You may enroll between Nov 1 and March 31 If you are an eligible low income customer your utility service will remain on from Nov 1 through March 31 if you pay at least 7 of your estimated annual bill each month and make equal monthly payments between the date you apply and the start of the next heating season on any past due bills When the protection period ends March 31 from April 1 through Oct 31 you must begin to pay the full monthly bill plus part of the amount you owe from the winter months when you did not pay the full bill Participation does not relieve customers from the responsibility of paying for electricity and natural gas usage but does prevent shut off during win ter months You qualify for the plan if you meet at least one of the following requirements are age 65 or older receive Department of Human Services cash assistance including SSI receive Food Assistance receive Medicaid or gt household income is at or below the 150 of poverty level shown in the Income Guide lines chart at left Senior citizen customers 65 or older who participate in the Winter Protection Plan are not required to make specific payments to ensure that their service will not be s2. Kulek Heating amp Air Conditioning 14421 Jeddo Rd Yale MI 48097 810 387 4452 12 NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2015 Kundinger amp Kroll 31 E Main St Sebewaing MI 48759 989 883 2770 Lakeshore Improvements Plumbing amp Heating 7825 Big Gulley Rd Palms MI 48465 989 864 3833 Michigan Energy Services 8445 Main St Whitmore Lake MI 48189 888 339 7700 NRG Control 3690 Washburn Rd Vassar MI 48768 989 670 2543 Newton Johnson Plumbing amp Heating 114 Enterprise Dr Vassar MI 48768 989 823 2341 Orton Refrigeration 31 W Sanilac Rd Sandusky MI 48471 810 648 2252 __2 1 Preferred Heating 7736 Arendt Melvin MI 48454 810 378 5454 Priority Service by Porter amp Heckman 3056 Davison Rd Lapeer MI 48446 810 644 8576 Shetler Plumbing amp Heating 7184 Nitz St Pigeon MI 48755 800 547 3651 Superior Inc 3442 Cemetary Rd Cass City MI 48726 989 872 3305 Thumb Cooling amp Heating 5599 Pochert Rd Port Hope MI 48468 989 428 4948 And 837 South State Caro MI 48723 989 672 4948 Annual Operating Costs o 1 For Average 1 800 Sq Ft Home 000 BTU heating load 20 000 cooling load 3 500 3 175 3 000 2 500 2 000 1 500 1 000 500 A A with Gas LP Gas Baseboard Fuel Heat Pump w Electric Furnace Electric Propane Factors Used Electric
3. visit michigan energy org STATE OF MICHIGAN BEFORE THE MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION NOTICE OF HEARING FOR THE CUSTOMERS OF THUMB ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CASE NO U 17917 Thumb Electric Cooperative requests Michigan Public Service Commission approval to implement a power sup ply cost recovery PSCR plan and a PSCR factor of up to a negative 0 01008 per kilowatt hour kWh to compute member customers bills for the 12 month period ending December 31 2016 The information below describes how a person may participate in this case You may contact Thumb Electric Cooperative 2231 Main Street Ubly Michigan 48475 0157 800 327 0166 for a free copy of its application Any person may review the application at the offices of Thumb Electric Cooperative The first public hearing in this matter will be held DATE TIME December 2 2015 at 9 00 a m This hearing will be a prehearing conference to set future hearing dates and decide other procedural matters BEFORE Administrative Law Judge Martin Snider LOCATION 7109 West Saginaw Highway Lansing Michigan PARTICIPATION Any interested person may attend and participate The hearing site is accessible including handicapped parking Persons needing any accommodation to participate should contact the Commission s Executive Secretary at 517 284 8090 in advance to request mobility visual hearing or other assistance The Michigan Public Service Commission Commission will
4. 276 181 I Percent paid and or requested 9652222 2520 99 5 16 Publication of statement of ownership November 2015 17 Signature and title of editor Gail Knudtson MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 2 4 Thumb Electric Cooperative 2231 Main Street Ubly MI 48475 0157 1 800 327 0166 or 989 658 8571 E mail tec tecmi coop www tecm coop Board Of Directors HURON COUNTY Randall Dhyse Treasurer District 1 Kinde Donald Wolschleger Vice President District 2 Harbor Beach Beth McDonald Secretary District 3 Bad Axe SANILAC COUNTY Kim Nunn Director District 1 Croswell Mike Briolat Director District 2 Cass City Duane Kursinsky Director District 3 Sandusky TUSCOLA COUNTY Louis Wenzlaff President District 1 Kingston Jonathan Findlay Director District 2 Caro Carl Cousins Director District 3 Millington Dallas Braun General Manager PAYMENT STATIONS Huron County Bad Axe Northstar Bank Pigeon Northstar Bank Tuscola County Akron Northstar Bank Caro Northstar Bank Mayville Mayville State Bank Millington Mayville State Bank Sanilac County Sandusky Northstar Bank Visit Thumb Electric s website www tecmi coop Thumb Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2015 Co op Owners for Political Action ACRE arlier this year wrote an article on
5. Pets might chew on electrical cords and people might trip and fall DON T ever climb the fence around an electrical substation If a ball or pet gets inside the fence contact your local electric utility for assistance they ll come and get it out for you DON T yank an electrical cord from the wall Pulling on a cord can damage the appliance plug or outlet 5 10 Fly your kite far away from power lines or substations Fly kites and model airplanes in large open areas like a park or a field safely away from trees and overhead power lines If a kite gets stuck in a tree that s near power lines don t climb up to get it Contact your local electric cooperative for assistance The kite and the string may conduct electricity sending it right through you to the ground Ask a grown up for help when you need to use something that uses electricity DO look up and look out for power lines before you climb a tree The electricity can go right through the tree branch and right through you Have a grown up put safety caps on all unused electrical outlets Covering outlets will also help save energy by stopping cold drafts Remind your mom or dad to watch out for power lines when they re using a ladder chainsaw or other outdoor equipment Keep electrical stuff far away from water Water and electricity never mix Use caution before plugging in a radio CD player or any electrical gadget outdoors and keep all e
6. and install and is available for both Apple iOS and Android mobile devices Search for itin the Apple Store or on Google Play SmartHub is not case sensitive but must be entered as one word If duplicates appear the correct app is the one provided by our service partner and product developer the National Information Solutions Cooperative NISC The app is supported using iOS 3 1 and above iPhone and or iPad and the Android 2 1 and above smartphones or tablets platforms For more details visit our website at tecmi coop or call 800 327 0166 m MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 5 Home Heating Assistance Programs 2015 2016 Season Program Winter Protection Plan Contact Your Local Utility Company Income Guidelines 2015 2016 in Household 150 Poverty Guide Maximum Income Sioa 2o OD 50155 AD ONS 48 855 551095 21225 NI Os O1 BS GO RO gt Add 6 240 for each additional member Note All customers 65 are eligible regardless of income Customers are responsible for all electricity and natural gas used At the end of the protection period participants must make arrangements with their utility company to pay off any money owed before the next heating season Program Home Heating Credit Contact Mich Dept of Treasury Max Max Exemp Income Exemp Income 1 12 956 4 26 699 2 18926 5 312 9 22 099 6 35 842
7. beard Frantic she asked him to ride in the parade and with a Ho Ho Ho Deller was hooked Knowing peoples expectations and how important his seasonal duties are Deller strives to be authentic true to tradition The golden rule Don t promise anything Even if the parent is nodding yes tell children will do my best but it will be a surprise What about answers to the BIG questions have a magic key Elves are always watching who s been naughty or nice There is no such thing as a bad cookie And yes the reindeer like treats too Genetics have given Deller the Santa build so a gig impersonating Saint Nick was probably inevitable With a jolly chuckle Deller explained that the beard stays year round because it s too itchy to grow it back So had to ask do kids spot this Santa when he s off duty Of course And this Santa is prepared A mother approached him one day and said her children thought he was indeed Mr Claus You will grow up to be good detectives Deller told the kids and handed each a card with his picture on one side and met Santa Claus on the other But his favorite story involved his own grandchildren Kate and Ryan When they arrived at a function the two ran up and said Hi Santa then Kate hugged him and whispered Don t worry grandpa won t blow your cover Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night A Michael Deller is retired and a member of P
8. hold a public hearing to consider Thumb Electric Cooperative s Thumb September 30 2015 application to implement a power supply cost recovery PSCR plan and PSCR factor of up to a negative 0 01008 per kWh with a 0 06725 per kWh allowance for cost of power supply included in base rates to compute its member customers bills for the 12 month period ending December 31 2016 All documents filed in this case shall be submitted electronically through the Commission s E Dockets website at michigan gov mpscedockets Requirements and instructions for filing can be found in the User Manual on the E Dockets help page Documents may also be submitted in Word or PDF format as an attachment to an email sent to mpscedockets michigan gov If you require assistance prior to e filing contact Commission staff at 517 284 8090 or by email at mpscedockets michigan gov Any person wishing to intervene and become a party to the case shall electronically file a petition to intervene with this Commission by November 25 2015 Petitions to intervene may also be filed using the traditional paper format The proof of service shall indicate service upon Thumb s attorney Shaun M Johnson Dykema Gossett PLLC Capitol View 201 Townsend Street Suite 900 Lansing Michigan 48933 Any person wishing to appear at the hearing to make a statement of position without becoming a party to the case may participate by filing an appearance To file an appearance the individual m
9. of a Murder and There Be Monsters written by Pastotnik who calls it a little fable about how to walk in the woods In 2010 Pastotnik won the prestigious Carl Hertzog Award for Heart of Darkness and he s featured in the PBS television series A Craftsman s Legacy as The Bookmaker Episode 11 It aired last fall but you can find it at craftsmanslegacy com Home Pastotnik hopes his works of art aren t handled with white gloves and parked in display cases however would certainly hope he says my books get read Visit deepwoodpress com to browse all of Pastotnik s titles m MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 17 Santa Claus is Coming to Town By Jack O Malley olidays are a great time for tradition H A favorite in our family was taking the kids to see Santa With so many children all over the world waiting expectantly to meet Mr Claus he welcomes a little seasonal assistance Enter A Michael Deller a graduate of the World Famous Santa Claus School in Midland MI and Santa s helper since 2002 How does one decide to enroll in Santa School Years ago Deller wanted to prove to his son that his beard would grow completely white not salt and pepper And it did But even with a beard as white as snow drifting around Santa s workshop portraying Santa was not on Deller s radar until he visited Livonia City Hall After a volunteer backed out of the holiday parade a staffer at city hall recognized Deller and his
10. s air conditioning system but provide heating too e Safe e Efficient e Efficiency can exceed 225 e combined with electric amp Clean amp Economical propane or fuel oil furnaces e Reliable e Comfortable Electric Baseboard e Most economical system to install and maintain e 100 efficient e ndividual room control be the choice for you See chart on page 12 for cost details Call for more information to see how Electric Heating could Oo e
11. telling our story because it s a great story to tell m Photos courtesy of the Michigan National Guard MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES Chad Pastotnik Creates Literary Beauty Handcrafted Way Photos Dre Photography Michigan s Bookmaker By John Schneider had Pastotnik s alchemy is half art half toil The fine bookmaker must baby ancient machines negotiate literary translations conduct workshops and fulfill international speaking engagements In a recent blog Pastotnik who runs Deep Wood Press out of his home in the woods near Mancelona wrote Sometimes running a business and being an artist have nothing to do with actually making art Nonetheless the alchemy works Four hundred year old printing and binding techniques weave their magic Pastotnik s lead becomes pure gold make books the old fashioned way Pastotnik says But not quite His limited edition fine press creations are world renowned and sell for up to 3 000 each That was the price tag on a one of a kind deluxe edition of Pastotnik s treatment of Joseph Conrad s famous novel Heart of Darkness Typically Pastotnik s books cost between 100 and 1 000 Pastotnik s type is hand set or cast on a linotype machine from molten lead His pages are printed on obsolete cylinder presses He uses wood engravings and linoleum cuts His handmade cotton paper is tucked into luxurious bindings of fine leather and e
12. your home In summer it extracts heat from your home and transfers it to the ground Contact the energy experts at Thumb Electric Cooperative at 800 327 0166 for honest answers on your energy choices or call any of the trained and certified installers listed here All Temperature Geothermal Systems 1103 E Caro Rd Caro MI 48723 989 673 5557 Ameriheat Justin Faber 2891 E Forester Rd Deckerville MI 48427 810 376 4534 B amp D Heating Cooling amp Plumbing 1148 North Van Dyke Bad Axe MI 48413 800 515 1117 Burkhard Plumbing amp Heating 638 E Huron Ave Bad Axe MI 48413 989 269 7532 Certified Temperature Innovations 3107 Custer Rd Carsonville MI 48419 810 300 7748 ES Sheetmetal Gene Root 9450 Belsay Millington MI 48746 989 871 2067 Geo Renew Systems Inc 3045 Grange Hall Rd 7 Holly MI 48442 248 531 0325 Geomasters Inc Plumbing amp Heating 57 Ward St Croswell MI 48422 810 679 2251 Geothermal Systems of Lapeer LLC 6689 Orchard Lk Rd 188 West Bloomfield MI 48322 810 240 2116 Holland Heating and Cooling 9160 Lapeer Rd Davison MI 48423 810 653 4328 Ingell Refrigeration 1115 Ath St Port Huron MI 48060 810 982 4226 J amp B Plumbing amp Heating 7641 Pigeon Rd Pigeon MI 48755 989 453 3931 Jack McCain Plumbing amp Heating 9651 Weale Rd Bay Port MI 48720 989 453 2277 Kowaleski Heating amp Cooling LLC 3977 Ruppel Rd Port Hope MI 48468 989 428 3371
13. 24 000 personnel who trained there this year tallied 358 000 man days one soldier on the ground for one day a 62 percent increase over 2014 It s a goal of Maj Gen Gregory Vadnais Michigan s adjutant general and director of Military and Veteran Affairs to raise that throughput by marketing Camp Grayling and improving its assets to meet changing demands Vadnais a Lansing native with a bachelor s degree in sociology psychology from Central Michigan University has seen the Guard s role evolve since he started his career with the military in 1970 The National Guard s mission is to fight our nation s wars we are orthern Michigan is a destination for outdoor lovers paddlers campers fishermen and cross country skiers and for military convoys carrying camo clad soldiers to the largest National military detend the homeland and build global partnership something we ve been doing for 23 years he says Michigan s State Partnership Program partners with Latvia and Liberia as well as Canada Denmark Hungary Poland and Estonia and all sent military personnel to Camp Grayling for training this year The Michigan National Guard operates a counterdrug team and responds to national disasters like Hurricane Katrina where Vadnais was Joint Task Force Cyclone commander The Guard s peacekeeping role has grown and since the operational reserve of the United States aT
14. Baseboard Air Source Heat Pump and Geothermal based on TEC s 6 8634 kWh dual fuel rate LP gas based on 2 gal and 90 efficient furnace Fuel Oil based on 3 00 gal and 8096 efficient furnace Natural Gas based on 1 08 therm 9096 efficient furnace including 9 mo service charge Electric baseboard costs do not include air conditioning Contribute to The Heat And Warmth Fund Keep this child and thousands of others like him warm this winter Neighbors helping neighbors in need A family had funeral expenses that caused them to fall behind in their utility bill payments THAW helped to keep the heat and electricity on during this difficult time A senior citizen with an annual income of 7 000 has to pay a large unexpected medical bill and falls behind on utility payments e A 42 year old husband with two children is laid off He can t find another job his unemployment runs out and the utility bills don t get paid These are just some of the people helped by The Heat And Warmth Fund THAW Also visit THAW is a nonprofit organization that provides last resort energy assistance thawfund or P f OFF low income families in Thumb Electric Cooperative s service area THAW has or more o MM T helped more than 75 000 Michigan senior citizens and families more than one information half with children keep their heat and electricity on during the winter months Please make a donation to THAW
15. Thumb Electric Cooperative November December 2015 NM a a 4 2 P IEEE x n 1 J li 1 E i wy SE CU URS 52 Michigan Is To World Class Training Center ACRE for Co op Owners Smarthub Account Management Tool Clean Efficient Electric Heat enmane 1 SS THE 30 FEDERAL TAX CREDIT EXPIRES AT THE END OF 2016 B i E WATERF URNAC E HAS A SMARTER WAY TO LOWER YOUR BILL THIS WINTER You don t have to lower the thermostat to control your heating bills WaterFurnace geothermal systems use the clean renewable energy in your own backyard to provide savings of up to 70 on heating cooling and hot water And because WaterFurnace units don t use any fossil fuels or combustion the EPA calls it the most environmentally friendly and cost effective way to condition our homes And for a limited time you ll receive our Symphony comfort platform FREE with the purchase of select geothermal packages Call your local WaterFurnace dealer to learn how WaterFurnace is good for the environment your budget and the feeling in your toes YOUR LOCAL WATERFURNACE DEALERS Bad Axe Clifford lonia Muskegon Traverse City B amp D Htg Orton Refrig amp Htg Home Experts Adams Htg amp Clg D amp W Mechani
16. Your tax deductible contribution will help someone in your community keep their heat and electricity on this winter Please complete and mail the clip out form below along with your donation to Department 77650 THAW Fund P O Box 77000 Detroit MI 48277 0650 Or make a contribution using VISA or MasterCard by calling 800 866 THAW or 8429 Your gift is tax deductible want to help someone in my community keep their heat and electricity on this 6 winter Enclosed is my check or money order payable to THAW understand my gift is tax deductible J 10 25 50 J Other MAIL TO Dept 77650 Name THAW Fund P O Box 77000 Address Detroit MI 482 0630 City State Zip To make a contribution using VISA or MasterCard call 1 800 866 THAW or 8429 or visit thawfund org GRAYLING By Kath Usitalo Guard training facility in the U S Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center s 147 000 acres sprawl across Crawford Kalkaska and Otsego counties neighboring Hartwick Pines State Park the AuSable River and Lake Margrethe Since 1913 when lumber baron Rasmus Hanson donated 13 000 acres for a state military training grounds the base has grown into a year round facility with a 30 million impact on the community It is utilized by the Army and Air Force National Guard all branches of the military FBI local law enforcement agencies Department of Homeland Security and foreign military units The
17. cal 989 269 5280 989 761 7691 800 457 4554 251 875 2665 231 941 1215 Berrien Springs DeWitt Kalkaska Kiessel Geothermal UPPER WaterFurnace S amp J Htg amp Clg Kalkaska Plmb amp Htg Htg amp Clg PENINSULA Michiana 517 669 3705 251 258 5588 231 747 7509 5 269 473 5667 REOR Grandville Lapeer Portland Great Lakes Big Rapids Total Comfort Porter amp Heckman ESI Htg amp Clg Services Inc Stratz Htg amp Clg Inc Resource LLC 810 664 8576 517 647 6906 906 495 5543 COIS Michigan Center Sunfield Manistique Caro Hart Ludington Comfort 1 Mark Woodman Hoholik Enterprises AllTemp Comfort Inc Adams Htg amp Clg 517 764 1500 Plmb amp Htg 906 541 5065 866 844 4328 231 873 2665 Mt Pleasant 517 886 1138 Carsonville Indian River Walton Htg amp Clg Traverse City Certified Temperature M amp M Plmb amp Htg 989 774 1566 Geofurnace Htg amp Clg Innovations 251 258 7201 251 945 1000 810 500 7748 Get a FREE 600 value Symphony 5 CCRT Get a FREE Symphony 4T Smarter from the Ground Up with select geothermal packages Promotion ends December 18 2015 visit waterfurnace com event EPA study Space Conditioning The Next Frontier Report 430 93 004 2015 WaterFurnace is a registered trademark of WaterFurnace International Inc Michigan s Electric Cooperatives countrylines com November December 2015 Vol 35 No 10 Execut
18. d from left to right are Brigadier General John Slocum 127th wing commander Brigadier General Michael Stone assistant adjutant general for installations Brigadier General Leonard Isabelle commander Michigan Air National Guard Gov Rick Snyder Major General Gregory Vadnais the adjutant general of Michigan and Lieutenant General Raimonds Graube chief of defense for the Country of Latvia Some co op editions have a different cover Photos courtesy of the Michigan National Guard OUR ENERGY 2015 2016 Season SAFETY HOME COOKING Christin McKamey amp Our Readers FEATURE Training Center Kath Usitalo READERS PAGE Santa Claus is Coming to Town Jack O Malley 9 Home Heating Assistance Programs for the Top 10 Rules for Kids About Electrical Safety Easy Chicken Quick to Prep and Make Recipes Camp Grayling Michigan is Home to World Class Statement of Ownership Management amp Circulation Required by U S C 3685 1 Publication Title Michigan Country Lines 2 Publication No 591 710 3 Filing date 10 1 15 4 Issue frequency monthly except August and December 5 No of issues published annually 10 6 Complete mailing address of known office of publication Michigan Electric Cooperative Association 201 Townsend St Ste 900 Lansing MI 48933 7 Complete mailing address of headquarters or general business office of publisher 201 Townsend St Ste 900 Lansing MI 48933 8 Full names and c
19. el E LE id Maj Gen Gregory Vadnais Michigan s adjutant general and director of Military and Veteran Affairs 9 11 it s been mobilized to combat terrorism and put boots on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan These duties require specialized training and Vadnais cites Camp Grayling s competitive package including a counter improvised explosive device training area firing and tank ranges a Simulation Center with state of the art virtual trainers and one of the newest Combined Arms Training facilities in the country We ve got 26 buildings designed for units to come in and train in an urban setting to replicate the sights sounds smells and environment that our soldiers would face in actual combat Sheer size is a plus It s 50 miles from north to southwest Vadnais explains We can put units at the doctrinal distances that they would actually be experiencing in actual combat We have a large airspace particularly with the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center Another advantage Camp Grayling has over facilities in southern climates winter training conditions The base can bed 8 000 soldiers in the summer and 4 000 in the winter Several times a year Camp Grayling under Installation Commander Col Tom Perison opens its gates for public tours The outreach is important says Vadnais The Grayling community is a part of that installation They live with it They ve been great partners love
20. en pan Pour sauce over Cover with foil Bake at 350 for 1 hours Serve over rice Serves 4 Artichoke Chicken Marie Mercier Tustin 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves e 14 oz can artichoke hearts well drained and chopped e 34 c grated Parmesan cheese e 34 c mayonnaise dash garlic powder In a bowl combine artichoke hearts cheese mayonnaise and garlic powder Place chicken in greased 7 x11 pan Spread with artichoke mixture Bake uncovered at 375 for 30 35 minutes or until chicken juices run clear SUBMIT YOUR RECIPE Thanks to all who send in recipes Please send in your favorite Gluten Free recipes by Dec 1 Pasta recipes by Jan 1 and Side Dish recipes by Feb 1 Enter your recipe online at countrylines com or send to handprinted or typed on one side please Country Lines Recipes 201 Townsend St Suite 900 Lansing MI 48933 Please note the co op from which you receive your electric service Contributors whose recipes we print in 2015 will be entered in a drawing and Country Lines will pay the winner s January 2016 electric bill up to 200 MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 9 humb Electric Cooperative s Energy basis through the EO Farm Services Program Optimization EO program is now offering one A 20 rebate is available for additional timers free engine block heater timer to its farming For more information or to claim your device members This essential device allows you to star
21. free phone service operating 24 hours daily to provide information about help that may be available in a particular area with utilities and other needs Learn more at UWnmich org 2 1 1 Program Medical Emergency Protection Contact Local Utility Company You are protected from service shut off for nonpayment of your natural gas and or electric bill for up to 21 days possibly extended to 63 days if you have a proven medical emergency You must provide written proof from a doctor public health or social services official that a medical emergency exists Contact your gas or electric utility for details Program Shut off Protection for Military Active Duty Contact Local Utility Company Program Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Emergency Grant Program Contact MI Veterans Trust Fund Program MI Energy Assistance Program Contact Utility or 2 1 1 in late November If you or your spouse has been called into active military duty you may apply for shut off protec tion from your electric or natural gas service for up to 90 days You may request extensions You must still pay but contact your utility company and they will help you set up a payment plan The Trust Fund provides temporary assistance to veterans and their families facing a financial emergency or hardship including the need for energy assistance Michigan Veterans Trust Fund at 517 284 5299 or michiganveterans com Agency assistance
22. hut off between Nov 1 and March 31 However seniors are encouraged to pay whatever they can during the winter so they will not have large unmanageable bills when the protection ends You can apply for a Home Heating Credit for the 2015 tax year if you meet the income guide lines listed at left or you qualify based on alternate guidelines including household income exemptions and heating costs Additional exemptions are available for seniors disabled claimants or claimants with 5 or more of their income from unemployment compensation If you qualify you may receive assistance to help pay for your winter heating bills Forms are available mid to late January wherever tax forms are provided or from the Michigan Dept of Treasury 517 636 4486 michigan gov treasury Home Heating Credit claim form must be filed with the Michigan Dept of Treasury no later than Sept 30 each year Program Earned Income Credit Contact 0 5 Treasury Dept Internal Revenue Service irs gov EITC Michigan Dept of Treasury michigan gov treasury Program Crisis Assistance Program Contact Local Michigan Department of Health and Human Services DHS michigan gov mdhs Program Low Income Home Weatherization Contact Local Community Action Agency Program United Way Contaci 2 1 1 org2 1 The Earned Income Credit EIC is refundable federal income tax credit for low income working individuals and families who mee
23. ive Editor Casey Clark Editors Christine Dorr Gail Knudtson Publisher Michigan Electric Cooperative Association Design and Layout Ciesa Design Michigan Country Lines USPS 591 710 is pub lished monthly except August and December with periodicals postage paid at Lansing MI and additional offices It is the official publication of the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association 201 Townsend St Suite 900 Lansing MI 48933 Subscriptions are authorized for members of Alger Delta Cherryland Cloverland Great Lakes HomeWorks Tri County Midwest Energy Ontonagon Presque Isle and Thumb electric cooperatives by their boards of directors POSTMASTER SEND ALL UAA TO CFS Association officers are Robert Schallip Cloverland Electric Cooperative chairman Mark Kappler HomeWorks Tri County Electric vice chairman and Eric Baker Wolverine Power Cooperative secretary treasurer Craig Borr is president and CEO CONTACT US Michigan Country Lines 201 Townsend St Suite 900 Lansing MI 48933 248 534 7358 cdorr meca coop The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised Change of Address Please notify your electric cooperative See page 4 for contact information ON THE COVER Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center is the largest National Guard training center in the country and is a member of Great Lakes Energy Cooperative Picture
24. ives you another option to report an outage without waiting and it may help you avoid possible busy signals on the telephone system TEC s staff and answering service will always be available to speak to members during a storm and after hours but due to high call volumes it may take a while to get through SmartHub is also a powerful account management service tool that offers much more than a quick way to pay your bill It s convenient two way communication platform that allows you to access your electric service account and track energy use information from either a computer or mobile device Join the 4 991 members that are currently using SmartHub to Report an outage View or pay their bill View payment and billing history Check their monthly kilowatt usage and view related graphs Activate a paperless billing option Set markers to track home improvement upgrades and their impact on electric use Record a meter reading Whether you prefer to pay your bill online or not you can still register and use SmartHub to check your electric use report a service related matter and more The registration process for new users is simple and fast but you will want to have your electric bill handy so you can quickly enter the account number To get the process started and enroll visit tecmi coop and click on the My Account Pay Bill Meter Reading button on the home page The SmartHub app is free to download
25. lectrical appliances at least 10 feet away from hot tubs pools ponds puddles and wet surfaces MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 7 ASY CHIC Keiha 4 x Salsa Chicken Renee Possett Middleville jd 2 65 fresh or frozen Af chicken breasts e 1 can black beans rinsed u p I e 1 16 oz jar salsa 54 e 1 15 oz can corn drained pa mi e 1 of 1 25 oz pkg 2 taco seasoning Place chicken the bottom of a crockpot Sprinkle taco seasoning onto chicken A Pour salsa then beans then e corn over the chicken Turn 4 crockpot on high and leave for about 6 8 hours low Shred chicken and place on tortillas taco shells or tortilla chips for nachos Serve with shredded cheese sour cream shredded lettuce ah a T sae 4 n D 3 hb taco sauce or more salsa d Ln 1 a 4 amp c me E i 4 F 1 I n d d iS e Ji me N J 6 FA PT il WW d b JH b iy i Photos 831 Creative 1 31 ail n z m pnm Chicken Spinach Pasta pictured Renee Coyer Cooks e 8 oz rotini or penne pasta 10 oz pkg frozen spinach rinsed dried fresh works fine too e 2 flour 74 t salt t paprika optional 8 oz boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into thin strips 2 T olive oil c Italian salad dressing K
26. olling them during on peak hours when the cost of wholesale energy is the highest Our national organization and ACRE was successful in getting this law overturned Thumb Electric currently has 5 000 members participating in our controlled electric water heater program This program has allowed your cooperative as a whole to save hundreds of thousands of dollars and has put money directly back in the pockets of those members that are in the program As a direct result of the efforts by our national organization and ACRE Thumb Electric Cooperative and its members you can continue this program This is just one example of how supporting ACRE helps preserve the services and programs that are a value to you Thumb Electric Cooperative rolled out its ACRE Co op Owners program at our 2014 annual meeting To date we have 10 out of 12 200 members participating It is my hope that this number continues to grow as there will be more political issues to fight in the future thank those that have taken an interest in their co op and have joined and encourage others to give it serious consideration For more information on how to make a difference and join ACRE call our office or visit our website m Mother Nature Leave You in the Dark Theres an App for That hen Mother Nature causes damage in your area and you need to report an outage did you know that you can report it through TEC s smart phone app called SmartHub app g
27. omplete mailing address of publisher editors and executive editor Craig Borr Gail Knudtson Christine Dorr Casey Clark 201 Townsend St Ste 900 Lansing MI 48933 9 Owner Michigan Electric Cooperative Assoc 201 Townsend St Ste 900 Lansing MI 48933 10 Known bondholders mortgagees and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds mortgages or other securities None 11 Tax status Has not been changed 12 Issue date for circulation data below Sept 2015 13 Extent and nature of circulation Avg of copies each issue Actual of copies of single issues during preceding 12 mo published nearest to filing date AV CODICES M oe cr Mt DIU 276 181 ByrPaid and requested cireulation 2 COO 274 768 C Total paid and requested cr 274 768 Dy Eres distibutionieoyima 405 2 Free distribution outside mail eere plo ee Seeker 1 008 Totales oie 1 413 ee IO OUT 2AN gu cse 276 181 G Copies notdistibutedh a a a a tent oe Dns rete 0 IE TTE NOE OO Tc ETE oz den 55
28. raft Zesty is our choice chicken broth c finely chopped onion 2 T lemon juice 2 T dry sherry can be omitted 7 shredded Parmesan cheese 1 chef style mozzarella cheese or six cheese Italian Cook pasta until nearly done Stir in spinach cook additional 1 minute Drain and set aside Combine flour salt and paprika in a plastic bag Add chicken strips and shake to coat evenly Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat Add chicken Cook chicken 4 minutes or until no longer pink Add dressing broth onion lemon juice sherry and remaining flour mixture cook and stir over medium heat for 5 minutes or until hot and bubbly Add drained pasta and spinach to skillet Toss and heat through Remove from heat stir in Parmesan cheese and c mozzarella Transfer to plates and top with remaining cheese Oven BBQ Chicken Linda Ackerman Thompsonville 1 whole chicken cut up 1 c ketchup stick butter cider vinegar c Worcestershire sauce brown sugar 2 T yellow mustard e juice from 2 lemons e 1 yellow onion chopped e 2 salt 9 1 t coarse ground black pepper e 1 t cayenne pepper Optional 1 green pepper seeded and cut into strips 1 carrot peeled and cut into chunks Combine all ingredients except chicken and pepper carrot if using in saucepan stirring to combine Bring to a boil and let simmer covered 5 10 minutes Place chicken and pepper carrot in ov
29. resque Isle Electric amp Gas Co op 8 Jack O Malley Where in Michigan is This electric co op 18 NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2015 Every co op member who identifies the correct location of the photo at left by Dec 10 will be entered in a drawing to win a 50 electricity credit from their We do not accept Mystery Photo guesses by phone Enter your guess at countrylines com or send by mail to Country Lines Mystery Photo 201 Townsend St Suite 900 Lansing MI 48933 Include the name on your account address phone number and name of your co op Our Mystery Photo Contest Winner from the September 2015 issue is Adrian Jentoft an Ontonagon co op member who correctly identified the photo as Whitefish Point in Paradise MI on Lake Superior KEEP AA mn eu E N YOUR 8 EU LIII Whore House GENERATOR SYSTEMS Now AVAILABLE FROM GENERAC u GLE NEW Product by AMERICAN METAL ROOFS 044 638 2916 Thumb Electric Cooperative www tecmi coop Heating and cooling costs got you down TEC s Energy Efficient What Type Electric Heating Program are Considered may be your answer Electric Heat Geothermal Heat Pumps e Use constant temperature of the earth e Ultra efficient air conditioning Heat domestic hot water There are many ADVANTAGES e Efficiency can exceed 400 e e e e Air S to Electric Heat including that it
30. t certain requirements and file a tax return Those who qualify will owe less in taxes and may get a refund Even a person who does not gener ally owe income tax may qualify for the EIC but must file a tax return to do so If married you must file jointly to qualify File Form 1040 or 1040A and attach the EIC You may claim a Michigan earned income tax credit for tax year 2015 equal to a percent age of the federal earned income tax credit for which you are eligible Visit the website or see the 2015 MI tax booklet for details State Emergency Relief Program SER michigan gov mdhhs You do not have to be a DHHS client to apply for help with a past due bill shutoff notice or the need for deliverable fuel through the SER This program available Nov 1 May 31 provides most of its utility assistance during this crisis season However limited assistance is available outside the crisis season If you receive a DHHS cash grant you may vendor part of it towards heat and electric bills Contact your local DHHS or call the Home Heating Hotline 855 275 6424 You may be able to receive help with weatherizing your home to reduce energy use if you meet low income eligibility guidelines 200 of poverty guidelines shown above and funding is available Weatherization may include caulking weatherstripping and insulation Contact your local Community Action Agency for details Visit mcaaa org to find one in your area 2 1 1 is a
31. t visit michigan energy org heatertimer or your engine heater just a few hours before you need call 877 296 4319 to operate your equipment instead of running it throughout the entire night saving you energy and money Engine block heater timers are used in the winter months to increase the chances that a vehicle s engine will start and warm up the interior of a truck or tractor faster in extremely cold weather A 1 000 watt heater operated for 10 hours uses 10 kilowatt hours kWh of electricity per day while a heater operated on a timer uses only about 2 kWh The 8 kilowatt hours you can save equates to about 1 per day in energy cost savings Contact us today to receive a free engine block heater timer on a first come first served Last minute energy savings You ve made your list and checked it twice But have you completed your energy efficiency improvements for 2015 Purchase a programmable thermostat an efficient furnace or spoil yourself or a loved one with a new ENERGY STAR flat screen TV Energy efficiency is the gift that keeps on giving for years to come ENERGY TIP Submit your Energy Optimization rebate form by December 31 to qualify for 2015 incentives ONLINE michigan energy org PHONE 877 296 4319 gp E 4 Energy Optimization programs and incentives are applicable to Michigan service locations only Other restrictions may apply For a complete list of participating utilities
32. this same topic Sometimes it is worth repeating the same message for a variety of reasons Maybe you missed the previous article maybe the article wasn t written clearly enough or maybe you forgot that Thumb Electric Cooperative offers an opportunity for all TEC members to help preserve the co op service you value It is called the ACRE Co op Owners for Political Action program Dallas Braun General Manager The Action Committee for Rural Electrification ACRE is the Political Action Committee PAC for the nation s 900 electric cooperatives In 1966 the co ops formed ACRE their own political action group that allows co op employees and directors to participate Electric co ops like many other industries rely on support from political leaders to ensure programs that benefit our industry and our members remain intact A few years ago in an effort to motivate the 42 million people served by electric cooperatives ACRE expanded this PAC to allow all co op owner members to participate Those that join receive current information on legislative and political issues affecting local cooperatives and their members Earlier this year a law backed by the Department of Energy that would prohibit the production and sale of large storage electric water heaters was set to go into effect Many cooperatives throughout the nation including Thumb Electric have used these water heaters for decades as a way to reduce their energy costs by contr
33. through MEAP which includes services that will enable participants to become self sufficient including assisting participants in paying their energy bills on time budgeting for and contributing to their ability to provide for energy expenses and being energy efficient Shut off protection is provided Nov 1 April 15 for all residential customers regardless of income Dial 211 for information heating other human services programs help rg A Py NE REC SM ORL KE 6 7 AL AF l Top 10 Rules for Kids About Electrical Safety home electrical fires injuries and electrocutions lectricity is a dynamic power source Many can be prevented when we understand and practice electrical safety This is especially true for our youngest co op members Remember the rules for using electricity the right way 1 DON T plug a bunch of stuff into one outlet or extension cord It could damage the electrical system in your house or even cause a fire Show children how plugs work and let them know that even if they are curious about the slits of an electrical outlet nothing else should be placed inside Our reliance on electronics and gadgets is a risk when family members overcrowd electrical outlets continue to use frayed wires place devices near liquids or leave electronics on for long periods of time Make sure all electric cords are tucked away neat and tidy
34. ust attend the hearing and advise the presiding administrative law judge of his or her wish to make a statement of position All information submitted to the Commission in this matter becomes public information thus available on the Michigan Public Service Com mission s website and subject to disclosure Please do not include information you wish to remain private Requests for adjournment must be made pursuant to the Commission s Rules of Practice and Procedure R 460 17315 and R 460 17335 Requests for further information on adjournment should be directed to 517 284 8130 A copy of Thumb s request may be reviewed on the Commission s website at michigan gov mpscedockets and at the office of Thumb Electric Cooperative For more information on how to participate in a case you may contact the Commission at the above address or by telephone at 517 284 8090 Jurisdiction is pursuant 1909 PA 106 as amended MCL 460 551 et 1919 PA 419 as amended MCL 460 54 et seq 1939 PA 3 as amended MCL 460 1 et seq 1982 PA 304 as amended MCL 460 6j et seq 1969 PA 306 as amended MCL 24 201 et seq and the Commission s Rules of Practice and Procedure as amended 1999 AC R 460 17101 et seq MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 11 Renewable Geothermal Heat Geothermal is a simple technology that uses the earth s renewable energy to provide high efficiency heating and cooling In winter the system draws heat from the ground and transfers it to
35. xotic cloth The finished product A piece of art that functions as a book By Pastotnik s estimate only 50 to 70 other people in the U S do what he does Pastotnik is grateful that his ancient equipment one of his presses was built in 1911 is surprisingly reliable Fortunately it s built much better than most things are nowadays Born in Cadillac Pastotnik made his escape from northern Michigan as a young man couldn t wait to leave he says Then couldn t wait to get back On a fly fishing trip to Antrim County around 1990 Pastotnik came upon a small fishing cabin on the Cedar River that was for sale The bucolic setting struck a chord He moved In 1992 the cabin became the home of Deep Wood Press Pastotnik studied printmaking at Grand Valley State University His first venture into hand made books came in Chicago Pastotnik says get to share my wonderful life with my wife Kathryn and our two children Being able to raise a family in such an amazing environment is something we re thankful for every day Pastotnik confesses that he loves fly fishing as much as making books Some recent titles The Trout in Winter by Jerry Dennis for example reflect a blending of the two passions It s a good excuse for business meetings on the stream he says Among Pastotnik s other recent books The Intruder by Robert Traver the pen name of John Voelker the Upper Peninsula author of Anatomy
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