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2203_local covers custom.qxp 2/11/22 11:43 AM Page 11
BLESSING BOXES COMFORT ICONIC RECIPES TAKE A FLYING LEAP
cancer SurvivorS oF TexaS inTo The unknown
For Tri-counTy ec MeMberS March 2022
Irons in
the Fire
For millennia, cast iron
has been the ultimate
utilitarian cookware
TRI-COUNTY
EC NEWS
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contents
March 2022
04 currents
The latest buzz
06 tcp talk
Readers respond
18 co-op news
Information
plus energy
and safety
tips from your
cooperative
29 Footnotes in
texas history
The Inside Track
By W.F. Strong
30 tcp kitchen
Texas’ Best
By Megan Myers
34 hit the road
Chomping at
the Trip
By Chet Garner
12
37
08 Cast-Iron Hope in
Focus on texas
Photo Contest:
Comeback a Box
The Texas
Experience
Versatile, time-tested cookware is A breast cancer survivor sends
reclaiming its spot in home kitchens. care packages of recovery aids
to women all over the world.
38 observations
Just Add
Story and photos by Russell A. Graves Adventure
By Laura Tolley By Pam LeBlanc
Photos by Scott Van Osdol
On the COVer
Cast-iron pizza has the perfect crunch.
Photo by Russell A. Graves
AbOVe
Sewing a pocket into the inside of
a shirt for the blessing box Project.
Photo by Scott Van Osdol
t e x ASC O OPPOwer .COm m A rC h 2 0 2 2 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 3
Currents
Rural Reporters
Making Waves more than
i n t e r n at i o n a l w o m e n ’ s Day —March 8—is a global celebration of
women’s social, economic, cultural and political achievements. You can
also mark the occasion March 28, when Writing With Fire airs on PBS.
The documentary, a selection of the World Cinema Documentary Compe-
tition at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, profiles Khabar Lahariya, a news-
200
electric co-ops in the U.s.
are developing or planning
paper in rural India run by an all-women newsroom. The paper, whose name to deploy high-speed
translates to “waves of news,” employs journalists from Dalit, tribal, and internet services for their
members, giving them
Muslim communities, whose members have historically been marginalized.
fi lm Still: bl ACk t iCke t f ilmS | CO urte Sy O f S un dAnCe inSti tu te . Sele nA: mitCh ell G erber | Ge t t y imAGeS. b urGer: mAr A z Am | dre AmStime .COm. b urrO: PilenSPhOtO | StOCk . AdObe .COm
Their coverage of rural issues, corruption and gender violence earned
better access to tele-
a Courage in Journalism Award from the International Women’s Media
Foundation in 2021.
health services, online
“[Khabar Lahariya] has broken barriers to establish women as journalists learning and remote work
in small towns and villages where newsmakers have long been men, upper and attracting new fami-
caste and well-connected to the political system,” the foundation wrote. lies and businesses.
selena on
celluloid
Selena, the film about
the Tejano music star
from Lake Jackson,
came out 25 years ago
this month. Jennifer
Lopez played Selena,
below, in the movie,
released March 21, 1997.
4 T E X AS CO-OP POWER mArCh 2022
Finish this
sentence
THE WOMAN
I ADMIRE MOST Contests and More
IN HISTORY IS ... enter contests at
texascooppower.com
$500 recipe contest
tell us how you would finish that best burgers
sentence. email your short responses Focus on texas photos
to letters@texasCoopPower.com or morning Glory
comment on our facebook post. include recommenDeD reaDinG
your co-op and town. texas independence day is march 2.
A stolen stallion might have doomed
below are some of the responses to mexico during the revolution’s decisive
our January prompt: this year i’m finally battle at San Jacinto in April 1836. read
going to … Old Whip: A Headstrong Texas Hero
from January 2009 for the full story.
build those raised garden beds for
my wife. Or pay one of the grandkids
while i watch and supervise.
r AndAll hAle
fOrt belknAP eC
Olney
travel down different texas roads.
ChuCk burGeSS
heArt Of texAS eC
milAnO
learn to let go of what i can’t change.
bArbArA elliS
V i A fAC e b O O k
Quit smoking, drinking and cussing
while fixing that leak.
JOe treVinO Jr.
bArtlett eC
killeen
make no resolutions—just do the
best i can each day.
lO r A h O rtO n
V i A fAC e b O O k
to see more responses, read
Currents online.
“Wildflowers Burrowing
are the stuff
of my heart!”
Burros
— l a dy B i r d J o h n s o n s c i e n t i s t s h av e r e c o r D e D wild donkeys and horses digging
wells in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona to reach groundwater to
quench their thirst.
The animals use their hooves to carve out holes up to 6 feet
deep, and researchers report in Science that the wells serve as
oases that provide water for dozens of other species, including
songbirds, deer and mountain lions.
m A rC h 2 0 2 2 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 5
TCP Talk
Dead certain
“No Monterey High School grad
would be caught ‘dead’ in a
letter sweater with an L on it.
That was for Lubbock High,
our crosstown rivals.”
J oyc e p h i l l i p s
pedernales ec
B Uda
dAnA Smith
Dogs changing lives slice of life traveling texas
Patriot Paws in Rockwall raises and i made the Chicken For my mother’s Christmas Before Bob and Kelli Phillips
trains assistance dogs for disabled and dumpling Soup gift, I treated her to lunch [The Domino Effect, Decem-
military veterans [Furred Responders, [Soups and Stews, at Rebecca Rather’s place in ber 2021], there was Frank
January 2022],
January 2022]. The dogs are trained at Fredericksburg, Emma + Ollie X. Tolbert, who wrote a
and it is incredible.
their kennels and in several men’s and well-deserved first-
[The Alchemy of Egg Whites, column in The Dallas Morn-
women’s prisons. This organization has place winner. November 2021]. Rebecca ing News every week about
changed the lives of so many veterans chatted with Mom and me his travels in Texas called
Cy n t h i A l e i G h
and their families. A m AyA and autographed my copy Tolbert’s Texas, which ran
V i A fA C e b O O k
Lately they have started a program of her meringue recipe from 1946 till his death
where they take some of their dogs and featured in the November in 1984.
puppies to police departments (and any issue. It was a wonderful
don Pryor
organization that requests) to help with Christmas gift for my
bandera eC
stress relief. 85-year-old mom. boerne
Christine davis rhonna Carter
farmers eC hamilton County eC
rockwall Gatesville
correction write to u s
A photo with Aggie Standouts [January letters@texasCoopPower.com
2022] showing texas A&m university’s
Corps of Cadets’ block Aggie t formation editor, texas Co-op Power
AGGieS: e.C. CuShinG ’23 SCrAPbOOk, 1919-1923, CuShinG memOriAl librAry & ArChiVeS, texAS A&m uniVerSity
was incorrectly identified. the 1920 photo 1122 Colorado St., 24th floor
was taken at a football game against Austin, tx 78701
baylor university at the Cow Palace in
waco, not kyle field in College Station. please include your electric
researchers at texas A&m’s Cushing co-op and town. letters may
memorial library & Archives found the be edited for clarity and length.
photo, right, in a 100-year-old scrapbook,
confirming the location. texas Co-op Power
texas electric cooperatives boarD oF Directors texas co-op power Volume 78, number 9 (uSPS 540-560). Texas Co-op Power is published
chair Gary raybon, el Campo • vice chair kelly lankford, San Angelo monthly by texas electric Cooperatives (teC). Periodical postage paid at Austin, tx, and at additional
secretary-treasurer neil hesse, muenster • board members Greg henley, tahoka offices. teC is the statewide association representing 75 electric cooperatives. Texas Co-op Power’s
website is texasCoopPower.com. Call (512) 454-0311 or email editor@texasCoopPower.com.
Julie Parsley, Johnson City • doug turk, livingston • brandon young, mcGregor
subscriptions Subscription price is $4.44 per year for individual members of subscribing cooper-
presiDent/ceo mike williams, Austin atives and is paid from equity accruing to the member. if you are not a member of a subscribing
communications & member services committee cooperative, you can purchase an annual subscription at the nonmember rate of $7.50. individual
matt bentke, bastrop • marty haught, burleson • ron hughes, Sinton copies and back issues for the previous 12 months are available for $3 each.
Gary miller, bryan • zac Perkins, hooker, Oklahoma • John ed Shinpaugh, bonham postmaster Send address changes to Texas Co-op Power (uSPS 540-560), 1122 Colorado St.,
rob walker, Gilmer • buff whitten, eldorado 24th floor, Austin, tx 78701. Please enclose label from this copy of Texas Co-op Power showing
old address and key numbers.
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vice president, communications & member services martin bevins our 30 sister publications in other states, contact elaine Sproull at (512) 486-6251. Advertisements
editor Chris burrows • editor-at-large Charles J. lohrmann • associate editor tom widlowski in Texas Co-op Power are paid solicitations. the publisher neither endorses nor guarantees in any
production manager karen nejtek • creative manager Andy doughty manner any product or company included in this publication. Product satisfaction and delivery re-
advertising manager elaine Sproull sponsibility lie solely with the advertiser. © Copyright 2022 texas electric Cooperatives inc. repro-
communications specialist Alex dal Santo • print production specialist Grace fultz duction of this issue or any portion of it is expressly prohibited without written permission. willie
communications specialist travis hill • Food editor megan myers • communications wiredhand © Copyright 2022 national rural electric Cooperative Association.
specialist Jessica ridge • Digital content producer Chris Salazar • senior Designer
Jane Sharpe • proofreader Shannon Oelrich • Digital media intern Sabrina macias
6 T E X AS CO-OP POWER mArCh 2022 t e x ASC O O P POw e r .C O m
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t e x ASC O OPPOwer .COm m A rC h 2 0 2 2 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 7
Cast-Iron
Comeback
versatile, time-tested
cookware is reclaiming its
spot among home chefs
8 T E X AS CO-OP POWER mArCh 2022 t e x ASC O O P POw e r .C O m
s t o r y a n d p h o t o s B y r U s s e l l a . g r av e s
From inside my home,
I could smell the wood smoke wafting across the lawn. It’s
a delightful blend of post oak and some fruitwood, and just
the aroma makes me hungry.
With my smoker keeping a steady temperature of 350 de-
grees, I preheat a seasoned, 9-inch cast-iron skillet. Because
it’s an all-metal piece of cookware, I don’t have to worry
about plastic handles or Teflon coatings getting ruined by
the heat.
Soon I’ve placed some homemade dough, tomato sauce,
cheese and pepperoni in the skillet and back into the smoker.
The woodsmoke-infused pizza will taste great, and the crunch
provided by the cast-iron pan will give the pizza the texture
I’m after.
Fifteen minutes later I have (at least in my estimation)
pizza perfection, and it was made possible by a piece of cast
iron handed down through my family over a couple of gen-
erations.
Cast-iron cookware is the ultimate utilitarian piece for the
home chef, and while it’s been used for nearly 2,000 years in
one iteration or another, the venerated cookware is making
a comeback because of its versatility and durability.
OPPO Site Cast iron gives cornbread
a crust you can’t get in a baking dish.
AbOV e the cookware can be used on
the stovetop or in the oven—paths
to a perfect egg.
t e x ASC O OPPOwer .COm m A rC h 2 0 2 2 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 9
Old Reliable
C
ast iron is a combination of
iron, steel and carbon alloys
blended in a forge to make
iron that’s tough and resilient
enough to last decades.
Once molten, the steel is poured
into a mold of compressed sand,
and when cooled, the sand is shaken
loose to reveal the nearly finished
pan. Once the pan goes through a
process to trim off the excess metal
and polishing, it’s ready for season-
ing and use.
The Chinese first used cast iron
for cooking nearly 2,000 years ago,
and over time the iron casting
process has been used to build
cannons, architectural elements like
bridges, and art. The technology
eventually made its way to the
Americas.
Colonial Americans used cast
iron extensively for cooking, and as
American settlers moved west, the
cookware made its way across the
plains and mountains on the back
of chuck wagons.
“The chuck wagon cook is part of
our Western heritage,” says Kent
Rollins, a chuck wagon cook, educa-
tor and YouTube personality. Rollins
has been a cowboy and cook all his
life, so he’s got the hard-earned bona
fides to have the attention of nearly
2 million subscribers. “If cast iron
was good enough for ol’ Cookie to
take on the trail, it’s good enough for
me. We have some old cast equip-
ment that’s close to 100 years old or
older, and it still holds up. If you take
care of it, it will never wear out.”
As cowboys and cattle peppered
the plains in the great cattle drives of
the 1880s, the need for portable food
preparation was paramount. Camp
cooks used Dutch ovens to prepare
stocks, stews and even bread. Dutch ovens are pots with a iron cooks should start with cornbread to learn to control the
large, flat lid that allows for the even distribution of coals heat from the coals, Rollins advises. Once you’ve mastered
across the top, so that heat comes from both the top and cornbread, other dishes become simple.
the bottom of the vessel. That even heating is essential for The versatility of the Dutch oven makes it a valuable piece of
creating bread and cobblers—a staple of chuck wagon cookware.
cooks everywhere. It’s the same oven that Rollins recom- “You get what you pay for,” Rollins advises. “I always look for
mends to first-time cast-iron cooks. cast iron that’s made in the USA. It’s a bit higher priced than
He says that if you have a 12-inch skillet and a 12-inch cast iron made elsewhere, but it’s a lifelong investment, and it
Dutch oven, you can cook just about anything. New cast- will give you something back every time you cook out of it.”
1 0 T E X AS CO-OP POWER mArCh 2022 t e x ASC O O P POw e r .C O mO PPOSite william Graves, the author’s
brother, slow-cooks red beans in a
cast-iron dutch oven over a campfire.
r iGht new potatoes are seared be-
fore being roasted.
Cooking Up a Story
t
he post-World War II era brought change to American
kitchens. Pans made from newer and lighter materials
and with nonstick coatings were appealing, pushing
cast iron mostly out of favor.
But in the 21st century, cast iron has made a comeback,
earning favor among professional and home chefs every-
seasoning and caring
where. Aside from its durability, cast iron heats more
evenly and holds heat more efficiently than just about
every other type of cookware. The simplicity of its design for cast iron
enhances the material’s functionality.
In years past, the 9-inch frying pan and the Dutch oven B y r U s s e l l a . g r av e s
were among the most common cast-iron pieces. But because there’s something about the flavor when you
of the resurgence, many manufacturers now offer skillets of cook on cast iron that brings food like bacon
all sizes, a variety of Dutch ovens, and myriad accessories and eggs alive. i also love cast-iron cornbread,
and baking pans. As such, the demand for cast-iron cook- which has a great crust on the bottom, and
ware is still a niche of the total cookware market, but it’s
that brings a flavor that you can’t replicate.
indeed gaining steam. Even small manufacturers like the
before you cook on cast iron, there’s one
Fredericksburg Cast Iron Co. see the potential for bringing
simple step required: Season the pan. you may
a new pan to the marketplace.
“We initially introduced a 10-inch skillet with a smooth,
wonder why. it’s pretty simple: when you sea-
hand-seasoned nonstick cooking surface, which is created son a cast-iron pan, you help protect the metal,
using a handcrafted method of finishing and polishing,” and add a little bit of nonstick properties to the
says Jay Mallinckrodt, founder of the boutique crafter of cast iron. So as you use your pans over and
cast-iron skillets that was established in 2021. “This new over, the cookware becomes more and more
approach resulted from the frustration of using so-called seasoned.
modern cookware that wore out quickly and a desire to to start the process, a good washing is in
avoid intimidating rough, coarse and sandpaperlike cast- order. i use a stiff dishwashing pad and scrub it
iron surfaces that proliferate the ironware market. Our as best i can. you’ll hear some people say that
result is heavy-duty cast-iron cookware that is 100% made
you shouldn’t put soap and water on a cast-iron
in Texas and can last for generations.
pan, and while that’s true after they’ve been
“Very few high-quality cooking products in the market
seasoned, when refurbishing a pan, you’ll want
today can be purchased for less than $200,” Mallinckrodt
says. “A good cast-iron pan will not only cook your meal, but
to try to get all the dirt and grime off it.
it will also bring families and friends together. That pan also After a good washing, place the pan on a
becomes an heirloom piece and will last for generations.” stovetop set to medium heat to evaporate all the
Wild game chef Jesse Morris, who has cooked in high-end water. After a slow cooldown, wipe the pan with
restaurants and hotels in Dallas, swears by cast iron. He a towel to make sure all the moisture is gone.
advises that any protein you cook in cast iron benefits from next, use some sort of cooking oil (i use
the controlled crisping and searing that it provides. Beyond shortening) and rub down the entire pan. while
that, he says, cast iron adds to the story of a meal. coating, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
“There is an allure of cooking with well-made pans,” when the pan is coated, place it in the oven
Morris says. “Cooking is full of romance, and it tells a story.
on the middle rack and let it heat evenly for a
When you take the time to make something special and
couple of hours. Once the pan is cooled, you
you’re using a grandparent’s old skillet or Dutch oven that
should have a properly seasoned pan. regular
has been well seasoned and made smooth from years of
stirring, it helps add to that story.” D
use will continue the seasoning process, and
the pan will darken over time.
to clean cast iron, simply wipe it down with a
enter online to win a
skillet from fredericksburg dry towel. if you need to scrub the pan, just
Cast iron Co. reseason it in the oven.
t e x ASC O OPPOwer .COm m A rC h 2 0 2 2 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 1 1poWer of oUr people HOPE IN ♥ A BOX
B y l a U r a t o l l e y • p h o t o s B y s c o t t va n o s d o l
To keep busy, Compton started knitting caps for women
who lost their hair during chemotherapy. As she worked on
each one, she prayed for the person who would wear it.
When she found out she would have to undergo a double
mastectomy, she scoured the internet for information
about what to do after the operation.
She found instructions for making a special shirt to wear
A breast cancer survivor and a pillow. The oversized men’s shirt called for adding
sends care packages two pockets on the inside to hold lengthy drains that are
attached to the breast removal site. The long pillow “hugs”
of recovery aids to women the upper torso, providing comfort as the patient sleeps,
all over the world rides in vehicles and does other activities.
“I just started out making a couple of pillows to keep my
sanity,” she says. “Now, it’s my life.”
T
he large, unadorned box that arrived on Kim Compton also found support through Facebook pages for
Carpenter’s doorstep contained just a few women undergoing breast cancer treatment. After posting
simple items—a big shirt with inside pockets, about the two shirts and pillow she made for herself, she
a long pillow, personal notes of encouragement. got a private message from a Fort Worth woman asking if
But it meant the world to her. she would do the same for her. Compton did and sent it to
Carpenter had just been through several grueling months the woman in a box. The woman thanked her online, which
of chemotherapy for her breast cancer and was about to prompted several more requests.
undergo a double mastectomy. She felt lost and confused. Compton kept sewing, and the requests kept coming in.
“Then you see that box and open it. It’s exciting because While unloading boxes one day at the post office, a friend
you know somebody cares enough to send you something asked her what she was doing. Compton explained, and
that will be helpful,” Carpenter says, choking back tears as the woman offered to help, as did others. Her first sewing
she recalls that day in January 2021. “It is a blessing, even group met in nearby Nelsonville.
though it’s just a pillow and a shirt and a few other things. “We thought we were knocking the world apart doing
It’s hope in a box.” 50 boxes that day!” she says.
Carpenter, who lives in Brookshire, west of Houston, is Her “pink sewing tribe” has since grown and meets on
one of more than 6,700 women who have received a care alternating Saturdays at churches in Bellville and Hemp-
package from the Blessing Box Project, founded by breast stead to make items for Blessing Boxes. On one Saturday,
cancer survivor Dawn Compton, a San Bernard Electric the women met to assemble contents for 125 boxes. They
Cooperative member who lives in nearby Bellville. And ended up filling 132.
the community of supporters is growing. “Everybody just does their own thing,” Compton says.
Compton’s work is rooted in her own experience. She “I couldn’t do this by myself anymore.”
recalls crying all the way home from the doctor after learning She gets help from beyond her sewing posse. Thrift
she had breast cancer in March 2018. Through the tears, she stores donate collared men’s button-down shirts. Volun-
prayed, asking for the strength to help others in their fights— teers in several other states make pillows and mail them to
though she wasn’t exactly sure what that meant. She says her, and an elderly woman in nearby Industry contributes
she’s always been a helper. Her motto: Do as much as we can about 30 handmade pillows a month. The owner of a dry
for as many as we can for as long as we can and then rest. cleaner has even pressed shirts for the project.
“I was crying and I said: This is not my choice, so it’s yours. Supporters make other items for the boxes: One crafts
I will do what I’m supposed to do,” Compton says she told God. pocket crosses with a short Bible verse, and another makes
“I will open every door I’m supposed to go through. Put me small prayer quilts. Compton also gets pens, socks, key-
in front of whoever needs me, who needs to hear my story.” chains and more. “I send out whatever comes in,” she says.
Compton declines payment for the items, but she will
accept postage costs if the recipient can cover it. Some pay
ClOCk wiSe frOm tOP lef t blessing box Project founder more. People donate items, prompting Compton’s daughter
dawn Compton, who often gets help from volunteers. to create an Amazon wish list for donations.
Gabby Smith irons for blessing box. tinley malota, Comp-
Compton has shipped the boxes all over the United States,
ton’s granddaughter, and tinley’s aunt, madi Compton,
sew shirts. belle Ary helps ready a shipment. kim Carpenter, to Puerto Rico and to several other countries, including
a recipient of a blessing box, sews for the cause. South Africa, Afghanistan and Australia.
t e x ASC O OPPOwer .COm m A rC h 2 0 2 2 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 1 3how to he lp
to send donations or find other
ways to help the blessing box Project,
go to blessingboxproject.com.
power oF our people
to nominate a co-op member
who makes a difference in your
community, email details to
people@texascooppower.com.
“What has really struck me is the kindness I see,” she
says. “People have no one, then they open their box and
“People have no one, then
they are moved to tears because someone cares. It’s the they open their box and they
difference between walking alone scared to death and
knowing somebody is behind you saying you can do this.”
are moved to tears because
Carpenter felt cared for when she received her box. someone cares.”
After her surgery, it hurt to lower her arms all the way
down to her sides. But the pillow eased her pain by wrap-
ping around her front and tucking under her arms so she
didn’t have to close them against her body. The shirt held
the drains that she called annoying.
Carpenter also was moved by the personal messages
written on the pillow and the pockets inside the shirt. The
notes told her people were praying for her and that she was
strong enough to make it through this ordeal. All Blessing
Box Project shirts and pillows have similar messages.
Now, after chemo, surgery and radiation, Carpenter says
she’s doing great and helps out when she can with Blessing
Boxes—mostly stuffing pillows since she isn’t a seamstress.
“It’s neat to have a bunch of women together working
to bless other ladies,” Carpenter says. “It’s amazing what
Dawn has done with this project. She’s motivated; she’s
hardworking.”
Compton is well known around Bellville for her passion
for and commitment to the Blessing Box Project and other
community activities, said John Spiess and Lari Samford,
employees of San Bernard EC.
“She is extremely active and supportive of a lot of things
in our community,” Samford says.
Spiess’ wife, daughter and granddaughter volunteer with
the Blessing Box Project.
“Dawn is very much a strong Christian woman, and she
puts that into her Blessing Box effort. It’s like a ministry [for
her],” says Spiess, who has known Compton since they were
tOP Cancer survivor Susan Scott revels
in school together. “She was always real sweet, very humble in the company of other volunteers while
and passionate about what she does. What you see is what sewing pillows. AbOVe erika Guerrero
you get—beautiful on the inside as well as the outside.” D adds pillows to blessing boxes.
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Spring Time is Here
T H E S T A R T O F M A R C H means spring is just around the corner, and many people have a new-found energy
for being outdoors and working in the yard. The sun is shining, birds are singing, the grass is starting to
green up and trees are budding leaves.
Perhaps you’re making plans for a new garden or a lawn makeover. However you’re planning to revamp
DARRYL your backyard escape, remember to keep safety in mind for all projects—especially those that require
SCHRIVER
digging near underground utility lines.
PRESIDENT/ Most of us never think about the electric, gas, water and other utility lines below ground, but hitting any
CHIEF of those while digging is not the reminder you’ll want—trust us! We want to remind all members who plan a
EXECUTIVE digging project to call 811 at least three business days before starting. Or you can submit a request online by
OFFICER visiting texas811.org. 800835392
If you plan to plant a new tree, it is also important to look up and not plant near an overhead electric line.
Do some homework before selecting a tree to know how tall it will grow to ensure that when it is fully grown
it will not touch the lines. Following these tips will help you and your family stay safe around electricity.
Governance
The Tri-County Electric Co-op Board of Directors is the governing and regulatory body of the co-op.
The board is comprised of nine excellent directors who are members just like you and live throughout our
service territory. They work tirelessly to make decisions in your best interests. Over the past few years, the
board has approved numerous items for your benefit, including:
e New director nomination process. Eligible members interested in serving on the board of directors
have two easy paths to the ballot. You can learn more about the director nomination process and this
year’s nomination cycle on the next page.
e Scholarship and Youth Tour programs. Starting with the class of 2019, we are helping graduating
seniors pay for college or trade school with $4,000 and $2,000 scholarships. Additionally, we send
high school sophomores and juniors to Washington, D.C. on a history-enriched tour and provide a
$2,000 scholarship for college or trade school.
e Putting Power in your Hands. Members can now sign up for a low-cost energy audit to understand
electric use and learn where you can make home improvements to help you save. Learn more about
the Home Audit Program on page 20.
e Online Elections. We partnered with Survey and Ballot Systems to conduct our elections starting in
2020. The partnership allows members to vote online or by mail, which many of you have requested in
prior years.
You may have noticed a new addition to the Texas Co-op Power magazine called a Seat at the Board Table.
This feature is published periodically as a letter from the board to you, the members, to transparently
communicate co-op updates and issues. Tri-County Electric Co-op is your co-op, and the board wants to
keep you engaged. 4450500001
I am honored to work with the board and carry out their strategic direction to serve our co-op. It is an
exciting time to be a Tri-County Electric Co-op member thanks to your board of directors.
Brazos Bankruptcy Update
Brazos Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., (Brazos), our wholesale power supplier, filed for Chapter 11
bankruptcy protection on March 1, 2021. By the time this publication reaches your mailboxes, Brazos will
have been in bankruptcy for twelve months. This has been a long and fluid process that is far from over.
When I first began communicating Brazos’s decision to file for bankruptcy, I pledged transparency to the
membership and stated that we would leave no stone unturned as we do our best to protect you, the Tri-
County Electric Co-op members – the ratepayers who could ultimately be affected by this bankruptcy.
As of this writing, there are many decisions and important hearings quickly approaching in the
bankruptcy court that will have a defining impact on the trajectory of Brazos’s exit from bankruptcy. The
Tri-County Electric Co-op board and staff are doing everything we can to ensure your voice is heard and
your best interests are represented throughout the process. We will provide a full update of the pending
hearings in next month’s publication. We are in this together. D
1 8 TEX AS C O - OP POWER MARC H 2022 T RI- C O U NT Y E L ECT R I C CO-OP
March Pages.indd 18 2/9/2022 12:50:46 PMFinal Call: Director Nominations
Deadline to apply - 5 p.m., Thursday, March 10
TRI-COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE’S 2022 director nomination process is open for director districts 5, 7 and 9.
DISTRICT 5, suburban district
DISTRICT 7, rural district
DISTRICT 9, urban district
Members in these districts interested in serving on the Tri-County Electric
Cooperative Board of Directors may seek nomination through the Committee
on Nominations and Qualifications or by member petition. 800890476
Nomination through Committee
Members seeking nomination through the Committee on Nominations and
Qualifications must submit the following by 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 10,
2022, for a complete application:
e Complete Director Nomination Application Packet - The checklist
outlines all requirements to assist applicants.
e Conflict of Interest Certification and Disclosure Form
e Background Check Consent Form
e Petition, with at least 25 signatures from members within your district
- We highly encourage candidates to collect additional signatures in the
event a membership cannot be verified.
e $50.00 application fee 800788571
e Candidate Biography - Requirements are listed in the Election Policy and
Procedures under Section 6.2.1.
Nomination through Petition
Members seeking nomination through member petition must submit the
following by 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, 2022, for a complete application:
e Complete Director Nomination Application Packet - The checklist
outlines all requirements to assist applicants.
e Conflict of Interest Certification and Disclosure Form
e Background Check Consent Form
e Petition, with at least 50 signatures from members within your district
- We highly encourage candidates to collect additional signatures in the
event a membership cannot be verified.
e $100.00 application fee
e Candidate Biography - Requirements are listed in the Election Policy and
Procedures under Section 6.2.1.
Full director nomination and election details, including the director
nomination application packets, the Election Policy and Procedures and co-op
bylaws, can be found at tcectexas.com/director-elections.
Please submit questions related to the director nomination process via email at memberrequests@tcectexas.com.D
Committee on Nominations and Qualifications
Meeting Notice | Monday, March 14 | 5:00 pm
The Committee on Nominations and Qualifications will meet at 5:00 pm on Monday, March 14, 2022, at the co-op’s
Aledo office to accept and review applications from candidates seeking nomination through the committee and by
petition for districts 5, 7 and 9. The committee will report back to the membership with a slate of nominees by director
district published in the June Texas Co-op Power magazine.
TCE CT E X AS.COM • (817) 444-3201 MA RC H 2022 T E X AS C O -OP POW ER 1 9
March Pages.indd 19 2/9/2022 12:50:48 PMSaving Energy Hits Home
My first-hand experience with the
Home Audit Program
B Y B O B B U C K E L , C O M M U N I C AT I O N S & M E D I A R E P R E S E N TAT I V E
THE WORD “AUDIT” doesn’t inspire positive vibes for most people (think IRS…).
But an energy audit, like those now offered to Tri-County Electric Cooperative members through the Home Audit Program, is
not only painless – it’s helpful, enlightening, even pleasant.
It’s helpful because homeowners get the straight story on energy losses. Generic advice is plentiful, but there’s no substitute for
someone coming to your house, walking through with an infrared camera and a smoke pen, and showing you exactly where the
air leaks are. 800786481
That’s what the guys from Swift Energy Partners, Tri-County Electric Co-op’s energy audit partner, do. I know, because they
did it at my house as part of the Home Audit Program soft launch.
But be ready. This walk-through may take you to some unexpected places in your own home. That back porch you converted
into a sunroom a few years ago? It may not have occurred to you that builders generally do not insulate over porch ceilings. Now
that it’s part of your house, that uninsulated space is eating up as much as 15 percent of your monthly electric bill.
That spot between the French doors where you can see daylight? Yeah. Air gets through, too.
That laundry room add-on? Cold air is pouring in through the ceiling and the dryer vent.
In addition to the usual suspects – doors and windows – baseboards, corners, can lights, electrical outlets and light switches are
all potentially areas where cold air leaks in. Insulation, caulking or weatherstripping in areas like this can have a real impact on
your bill.
Most of us don’t have a gaping hole in the roof – but we can still achieve big savings by stopping a lot of small leaks. Think bunt
singles, not home runs. 800783167
An audit through the Home Audit Program comes with results and recommendations, both in conversation as you walk
through with the guys, and in a follow-up email a few days later. The infrared images that show cold and hot spots, accompanied
by standard photographs that help you pinpoint the area in the image, are especially helpful.
They put tools in your hands to make your home more comfortable, and lower your electric bill.
Enlightenment comes from good advice, again based on first-hand observation. When this appliance wears out, replace it with
the highest Energy-Star rated model available. When these light bulbs burn out, replace them with LED bulbs that last longer and
use substantially less power. 800610103
And if your thermostat is programmable, program it. It will save you some energy while you’re away or asleep.
The enjoyable part is that these are good guys. Co-owner Jacob Gustainis accompanied technician Mike Rust to our house, and
between them, they had the answer to every question I asked. Jacob is an engineer, and Mike’s background in HVAC is especially
helpful. Both of them came across as knowledgeable without being cocky. They were friendly and listened as much as they
talked.
And they left us with a good news-bad news scenario. The bad news? I have a lot of energy leaks to deal with. The good news? I
know exactly where they are, and what to do to stop them. That’s a pretty good spot to be in, coming out of an audit. D
2 0 TEX AS C O - OP POWER MARC H 2022 T RI- C O U NT Y E L ECT R I C CO-OP
March Pages.indd 20 2/9/2022 12:50:48 PMThe Home Audit Program
As your trusted energy advisor, Tri-County Electric Cooperative is working with
Swift Energy Partners to help you manage your electricity. We strive to provide the
best possible service and experience, so we are offering discounted energy audits
to members. Tri-County Electric Co-op is subsidizing the cost of the standard and
advanced audits because we believe every member should have a full understanding
of your electric consumption and where you can save energy and money. 2211888001
A home energy audit is a process that helps you identify where your home is losing
energy and what steps you can take to improve efficiency and save money. The Home
Audit Program is the best way for members to become wise energy consumers, which
Win A Free Home
in turn lowers monthly bills, conserves energy and reduces your carbon footprint. Audit!
Whether you are looking for simple steps to save energy, or need to thoroughly
understand where energy is leaking out of your home, we have you covered.
Tri-County Electric Cooperative is
Standard Audit kicking off the Home Audit Program by
The Standard Audit includes an inspection of most typical energy consuming giving away two Standard Audits and
devices, such as appliances and HVAC equipment. This is followed up with an one Advanced Audit!
in-depth thermal camera review of the entire home, including doors, windows, light
fixtures, baseboards, and HVAC ducts. After evaluating everything in the home, the
Swift energy audit technician will provide a detailed report, including pictures from Contest Rules
the thermal camera and a list of recommendations to lower your energy use.
1. Visit www.tcectexas.com/home-
As a member, you will pay $50 for the Standard Audit. The total cost is $150, but
audit-program and submit your entry.
Tri-County Electric Co-op is offering an instant $100 when scheduling your audit.
2. Entry form closes Wednesday,
Advanced Audit March 23.
The Advanced audit includes everything in the Standard Audit, as well as a blower 3. Winners will be announced in the
door test. The blower door test will give us readings of airtightness, or pressure, May Texas Co-op Power magazine.
so we can evaluate possible air leaks. The Swift energy audit technician will use a
4. To be eligible, entrants must be
smoke pen to identify the location, size and severity of the air leaks. After evaluating
an active Tri-County Electric Co-op
everything in the home, the Swift energy audit technician will provide a detailed
member with an active account.
report, including pictures from the thermal camera, blower door test and a list of
recommendations to lower your energy use.
The member cost is $150 for the Advanced Audit. The total cost is $350, but Tri-
County Electric Co-op is offering an instant $200 when scheduling your audit. D
ABOVE: Mike, the energy audit technician,
performing an audit.
PICTURED ON BOTTOM: Photos from the
audit report showing cold and hot areas
taken from the thermal gun.
TCE CT E X AS.COM • (817) 444-3201 MA RC H 2022 T E X AS C O -OP POW ER 2 1
March Pages.indd 21 2/9/2022 12:50:48 PMBecome
more
energy
efficient!
Tri-County Electric Co-op has
partnered with Swift Energy
Partners to provide home energy
audits to our members!
Visit To Learn More
https://www.tcectexas.com/home-audit-program
How It Works
Initial Consultation Metrics & Reports Implementation &
Energy Savings
Our trained professionals After the consultation we
evaluate your home to will show you with images Our goal is to identify
find energy inefficiencies and metrics how you can energy saving solutions
or air leaks save energy (lowering that would lower your
costs) energy usage decreasing
your monthly costs
2 2 TEX AS C O - OP POWER MARC H 2022 T RI- C O U NT Y E L ECT R I C CO-OP
March Pages.indd 22 2/9/2022 12:50:49 PMDid you know you can sign up
for text and email notifications? I Work for You
Members can sign up to receive text and emails to stay up-to-date on your account
or to receive special alerts.
Signing up is as easy as 1 - 2 - 3!
1. Log in to your online member portal or TCEC Connect
2. Go to “Notifications”
3. Set up your preferences for text and emails
Notification options:
e Daily Usage
e Bill Creation Notification DANIELLE VOSS
Communications Specialist
e Payment Receipt
When Danielle Voss came to Tri-County
e Due Date Reminder
Electric Co-op last February, she was
e Special Alerts coming home. She’s a 2012 Aledo High
School graduate who earned bachelor’s
e And More!
and master’s degrees at Texas Tech
before going to work in the sports
Never miss an update on your account with this
business – most recently for the San
member benefit.
Antonio Spurs.
Her first day at Tri-County Electric
Co-op was the day the historic Winter
Storm Uri hit. She was here as the
co-op’s system operators executed
rotating outages and linemen worked
through sub-freezing temperatures to
keep members from freezing.
“It was pretty exciting, getting thrown
right into the deep end,” she laughs.
Over the past year, she has helped the
Communications department slip into
high gear, putting her imprint on dozens
of projects and initiatives. She helped
bring back the employee newsletter,
create a retiree newsletter, redesign
am Youth Tour documents, establish
consistent email signatures, film and
edit the virtual Annual Meeting and even
revamp engineering spec sheets.
“I just love designing,” she says. “I love
art in general, and I’m a very visual
person. Whether it’s photography, digital
design, videos – I find it fascinating. I’m
happy I ended up on this route.”
After living at home for nearly a year,
a personal milestone in January was
getting her own apartment, 15 minutes
from work, which she shares with her
cat., Meezer. D
TCE CT E X AS.COM • (817) 444-3201 MA RC H 2022 T E X AS C O -OP POW ER 2 3
March Pages.indd 23 2/9/2022 12:50:50 PMTri-County Electric
Cooperative
C ON T A C T U S
200 Bailey Ranch Road
Aledo, TX 76008
Phone 817-444-3201
Email customer_service@tcectexas.com
Web tcectexas.com
President/CEO
Darryl Schriver
Board of Directors
Max Waddell, District 9 - Chairman
Scholarship Applications Due Night of Giving John Killough, District 6 - Vice Chairman
March 4 April 9 Margaret Koprek, District 2 - Secretary/Treasurer
Kevin Ingle, District 1
Jorden Wood, District 3
Your Co-op’s Jerry A. Walden, District 4
Steve V. Harris, District 5
Community Calendar Larry Miller, District 7
Michael Sivertsen, District 8
March April 24/7 For information and
to report outages, please
contact us.
4 7 Outage
Scholarship Application Deadline
tcectexas.com/scholarship
Sanctified Hope Old West Round
Up Fundraiser
Reporting Online: oms.tcectexas.com
App: TCEC Connect
sanctifiedhope.org Phone: 817-444-3201
8 9
Tarrant County Junior Livestock
Show Community Storehouse Night of ABOUT T R I - COUNT Y EL ECT R IC C O - O P
tcjls.org Giving Tri-County Electric Co-op owns and maintains
communitystorehouse.org more than 9,600 miles of line to provide electric
10 22
service to more than 100,00 members in Archer,
Baylor, Denton, Foard, Haskell, Hood, Jack, King,
Director Nomination Application Knox, Palo Pinto, Parker, Stonewall, Tarrant,
Deadline Sporting Clay Shoot Throckmorton, Wilbarger, and Wise counties.
tcectexas.com/director-elections springtownchamber.org
OF F I CE L OCAT I ONS
Leaders in Government Series Aledo
24 granburychamber.com 200 Bailey Ranch Road, Aledo 76008
Little Black Dress Fashion Show Azle
unitedwayofparkercounty.org 600 NW Parkway, Azle 76020
29 Granbury
25 29th Annual Golf Classic
christshaven.org
1623 Weatherford Highway, Granbury 76048
16th Annual Clay Shoot Keller
azlechamber.com 4900 Keller-Hicks Road, Fort Worth 76244
30 Seymour
419 N. Main, Seymour 76380
14th Annual Crawfish Krawl
kellercrawfishkrawl.com
I T PAY S T O S T AY I NF OR MED
Find your account number in pages 18-25 of
Texas Co-op Power, and you will receive a $20
credit on your electric bill. Simply contact one of
the offices listed above and make them aware of
your discovery!
NOTE: Events are subject to postponement or cancellation due to COVID-19 guidance. Please
check the event resource for updates.
V I S I T US ONL I NE
Interested in promoting your event in the next issue of Texas Co-op Power? tcectexas.com
Email pr@tcectexas.com with the event name, date and where readers can find Facebook.com/TCECTexas
more information.
2 4 TEX AS C O - OP POWER MARC H 2022 T RI- C O U NT Y E L ECT R I C CO-OP
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