Makeover Contest Winners - Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas

SEPTEMBER 2010
Makeover
Contest
Winners
n
Building the
pipeline to victory
n
A greener
tomorrow
Inside this issue
(ISSN 0048-878X) (USPS 472960)
An official publication of
Volume LXIII, Number 11, September 2010
F e a t u r es
Arkansas Electric
Cooperatives, Inc.
Gary C. Voigt, President/CEO
6
Officers
Ronald Moore
Hamburg
Jim Parrish
Trumann
Mitchell Johnson
Fayetteville
Martha Pennington
30
Photographic & Art Credits
Cover Leah Rouse
4 Sheila Yount
6-9 Eugene Horton
10-11 Ouida Cox
28 Carl Horton
30 Ziplock Brand Products
Building the pipeline to victory
10
Looking beyond the horizon to a greener tomorrow
14
Gassville couple wins Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest
30
Make the grade
32
The landscape of reliability
34
Ductless heating and cooling
37
Closing up a vacation home?
39
Biomass: A renewable fuel
41
Auto museum adds Edsel to exhibit
Ouida H. Cox
Editor
Rae Rinehart
Administrative Assistant
Dixie Rogers
Graphic Designer
Chairman
Vice
Chairman
Secretary
Treasurer
6
39
41
10
Dep a r t m en t s
Comments . . . . . . . . . . 3
Contact Information
News briefs . . . . . . . . . . 4
Editorial & Advertising Offices:
1 Cooperative Way
Little Rock, AR
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 510
Little Rock, AR 72203
E-mail: ouida.cox@aeci.com
(501) 570-2200
Capitol Buzz . . . . . . . . 18
Doug Rye Says . . . . . . 20
Family favorites . . . . . . 28
Periodicals postage paid at Little Rock,
AR and at additional mailing offices.
Postmaster:
Send address changes to:
Rural Arkansas
P.O. Box 510, Little Rock, AR 72203
Members: Please send name of your
cooperative with mailing label.
Subscription Price:
$7.00 per year for non-members
Member of
Arkansas Press Association
Acceptance of advertising by Rural Arkansas does
not imply endorsement of the product or services
advertised by the publisher or the Electric
Cooperatives of Arkansas.
2
RURAL ARKANSAS
Reflections . . . . . . . . . . 36
Crossword puzzle . . . . 38
Calendar of events . . . 42
T h e Co ver
Bill and Mary Quilhot of Gassville hold a ceremonial check announcing them
as the grand-prize winners of the 2010 Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest
sponsored by the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.
32
This month’s Rural Arkansas
makeover a “real blessing.”
cover story features Bill and Mary
Last year, we had even more applications to sort through
Quilhot of Gassville, the grandbefore we decided on another deserving couple – Aaron and
prize winners of the 2010 Energy Jerissa Rogers of Wesley. They had electric bills averaging
Efficiency Makeover Contest.
more than $200 a month before the makeover. Even with
The Quilhots are the third family such high bills, their home was still uncomfortable. In the
to receive an energy efficiency
summer, the house wouldn’t stay cool and in the winter, they
makeover as part of the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas’
had to supplement heating with a wood stove.
contest, which began in 2008.
An energy audit of the house, located in Ozarks Electric
Like the previous winners, the Quilhots learned they
Cooperative’s service area, showed that the home had a rate of
had won the makeover when a caravan of officials from the
.90 natural air changes per hour. That means that 90 percent
cooperatives, as well as representatives of companies that are
of the air in the house changed every hour, which, like the
donating equipment and labor to the project, arrived at their
Lutens’ home, was very inefficient. Work on the home began
house. And even though it is the third year, enthusiasm for
Aug. 11, 2009, and included the installation of new siding;
the project has not waned. In fact, it is greater than ever.
RetroFoam insulation; a high efficient 20-SEER- air-to-air
The cooperatives’ makeover is loosely based on the ABC
heat pump; compact florescent lights and Energy star-rated
show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Because the
appliance. In addition, areas of air infiltration were caulked
cooperatives have a tradition of promoting energy efficiency, it and ductwork was sealed.
seemed a natural fit to take a different “makeover”
approach, one that would not focus on cosmetic
changes but on energy use.
The first year, the cooperatives had about
1,100 applications and the grand prize went to
Carroll and Sue Luten of Donaldson. The Lutens’
home, located in South Central Arkansas Electric
Cooperative’s service area, was selected because
it had massive air infiltration, which was making
the home extremely uncomfortable. In fact,
when Bret Curry and Doug White of the Electric
Cooperatives of Arkansas visited the Lutens as part
of the selection process, they found Carroll, who is
disabled, sitting his wheelchair, holding an ice pack
on his chest with ceiling and box fans whirring full
Staff from North Arkansas Electric Coooperative join Bill and Mary
blast. It was 89 degrees in the house and tests later
Quilhot at the makeover announcement.
revealed that the home had a rate of 1.8 natural
air changes per hour. That means that the air in
the house changed almost twice every hour or once every 30
After the makeover, the home had an impressive .39 natural
minutes. Ideally, only about 25 to 30 percent of the air in a
air changes per hour and was a “totally different house,”
house changes every hour.
according to Jerissa. She added that the home was far more
To remedy the problem, the makeover included the instalcomfortable and their electric bill had been cut in half. Also,
lation of a geothermal heating and cooling system; vinyl
the water bill was cut in half because of the energy-efficient
foam-backed siding; energy-efficient windows and doors; new
appliances that were installed.
lighting fixtures and compact florescent lights; additional
On page 14 of this issue, you will find the details of the
cellulose insulation and energy-efficient appliances. In
Quilhot home. It, too, is very deserving of a makeover. We
addition, numerous tubes of caulk and expanding foam were
have no doubt that when the makeover is completed, the
used to seal air leaks throughout the house. After the improve- Quilhots will have similar good results and stories to share.
ments were made, tests showed that the house had .7 natural
We are proud to be able to offer this life-transforming
air exchanges per hour, a reduction of more than 100 percent. project to our members. Our only regret is that we can’t do it
But, even more important than the test results was the
for all who need it. What we can do, however, is to continue
comfort level of the house. Since the makeover, Sue said
to look for ways to help you save energy and to work hard to
their home is comfortable year-round and their electric bill is
keep your electricity safe, affordable and reliable. That is our
lower. Without the makeover, the retired couple had feared
promise to you and if we can keep it, we’ll all be winners.
they wouldn’t be able to stay in their home. She called the
SEPTEMBER 2010
3
comments
Energy efficiency makeover is a winner
news briefs of the month
Uncertainty is nation’s biggest problem, Senate
candidates say
Uncertainty over the state of the nation’s economy, as well
as possible legislation that could raise energy costs and taxes,
is the nation’s biggest issue, Arkansas’ two candidates for the
U.S. Senate told electric cooperative directors on July 26.
“I would say that biggest word to describe, and what has
created so much danger both in our economy and in our
industry and in our ability to create jobs has been the word
‘uncertainty,’” Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., said during a
speech at the directors’ summer conference at the Embassy
Suites in Rogers.
Lincoln, who is seeking re-election to a third term in
the U.S. Senate, faces U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Ark., in
the November election. Lincoln spoke first to the directors,
followed by Boozman.
Uncertainty over proposed energy legislation, which
could lead to higher energy bills, and over such things as the
Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) move to regulate
greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, which Lincoln
opposes, are hurting job creation, she said.
“Uncertain is not a good place to be,” Lincoln said. “
Consumers, farmers, small business don’t know if their
utility bills will skyrocket. Folks just don’t generally feel very
confident about the state of our economy in this country and
that is caused by uncertainty.”
Lincoln said she “stood tall” for rural Arkansas when she
came out against proposed cap and trade legislation that
would have limited emissions of carbon dioxide. She said she
opposed legislation passed in the House in 2009 that would
have established a cap and trade program and fought against
similar proposals in the Senate.
“I made it very clear early on that I would not support
any bill that drastically increased energy costs, burdened rural
consumers and small business or otherwise jeopardized our
fragile economy,” she said.
Lincoln was one of 10 moderate Democrats in the Senate
who signed a letter in 2008 to Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.,
chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and
Public Works, opposing cap and trade. Her stand, and those
of her colleagues, was “absolutely essential and instrumental in
defeating cap and trade in the United States Senate,” she said.
She also has fought against the EPA’s plan to regulate
greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, saying that the
law does not give the agency that authority and that to do so
would have raised electricity bills for consumers nationwide.
She co-sponsored a resolution by Sen. Lisa Murkowski,
R-Alaska, that would have kept EPA from regulating
greenhouse gases.
In addition, Lincoln said she supports the proposed Rural
Star program that would provide funding for a zero-interest
loan program for energy efficiency improvements. Designed
for electric cooperative members, Lincoln said she has been
“pushing hard” for Rural Star.
4
RURAL ARKANSAS
Boozman agreed that uncertainty
over such things as regulations, taxes
and healthcare costs are hurting the
nation’s economy.
“Nobody
knows what
the rules are
going to be,”
he said. “The
only thing that
U.S. Rep. John
the average
Boozman
businessman
knows is that
taxes are going
Sen. Blanche
to go up.
Lincoln
There’s no ifs,
ands or buts,
they are going to go up next year.”
Because of the uncertainty, businesses are refraining from
hiring, which hurts the economy, Boozman said.
“We’ve got to deal with these things and until we deal
with these things, businesses are not going to invest in their
businesses, they are going to continue to leave their money
on the side and they are not going to be employing people,”
Boozman said.
Boozman noted that he voted against the Waxman-Markey
bill, which included a cap and trade program to limit carbon
dioxide emissions.
As for the EPA and its effort to regulate greenhouse gas
emissions, Boozman said the agency is “totally out of control.”
He said the EPA is trying to accomplish what could not be
done in Congress.
“I think one of the great mistakes that has happened and
it has happened on both sides, it is not partisan, it has been
a bipartisan situation where we’ve got these agencies with
tremendous power and very little oversight,” Boozman said.
As for energy issues in Arkansas, Boozman noted that he
continues to support funding for the rehabilitation of the
Ozark-Jeta Taylor Powerhouse, a hydroelectric plant on the
Arkansas River. The powerhouse was built in 1972-74 and is
currently undergoing a major rehabilitation project. Boozman
noted that taxpayers will get paid back for their investment
through the sale of energy.
Boozman also praised the directors for coming to
Washington each May during the cooperative’s Legislative
Conference to visit with members of the Arkansas
Congressional Delegation.
“You’ve got tremendous leadership in the state, you’ve got
good leadership at the national level and that’s all fine, but
there is no substitute for you coming to Washington, looking
me in the face, looking the rest of your representatives in the
face, saying this is important to us,” he said.
AECI elects new officers
New officers were elected at the annual meeting of the board of directors
of Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. They are chairman: Ronald Moore,
general manager of Ashley-Chicot Electric; vice chairman: Jim Parrish, vice
chairman of Craighead Electric; secretary: Mitchell Johnson, president/
CEO of Ozarks Electric; and treasurer: Martha Pennington, a director of
Ashley-Chicot Electric.
T
rivia
.............
• The Liberty Bell got its crack the first
time it was rung.
• Apples, not caffeine, are more
efficient at waking you up in the
morning.
Ronald Moore
Jim Parrish
Mitchell Johnson
Martha Pennington
Bigger isn’t better when it
comes to air conditioning
If your older air conditioning system didn’t keep your home as cool as
you’d like this summer, you might want to replace it before the end of the
year. If you buy an energy-efficient air conditioning system by Dec. 31,
you could qualify for a federal tax credit of up to $1,500.
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when replacing their air
conditioning systems is to believe bigger is better—so they buy one that’s
too big for their home.
When it comes to air conditioning, it’s actually better to err on the
side of smaller. A system that’s too big for your home will leave the air
feeling clammy because it won’t regulate indoor humidity properly. High
humidity indoors can lead to all kinds of problems—and not just with your
comfort. Uncontrolled humidity can invite mold.
An air conditioning unit that’s just the right size for your home will run
long enough to bring your home to the temperature you like, and it will
cycle the moisture out of the air. A unit that’s too big for the home won’t
run long enough to wring out the humidity. It will cool your home too
quickly, and then cut itself off before it has time to deal with the humidity.
So you’ll wind up with cool,
clammy air.
That said, you don’t want to buy
a unit that’s too small, either. An
undersized unit will run all the time
without ever making your home as
cool as you’d like it to be.
Request a manual-J load
calculation from an HVAC professional to determine the right size
for your new air conditioning unit.
You’ll be more comfortable, and
you’ll save money and energy.
• The Arkansas River is the third
longest in the U.S. and the 36th
longest in the world. With its head
near Leadville, Colo., the Arkansas
River’s 1,459-mile length makes it
the longest river flowing into the
Mississippi-Missouri River system.
• An adult lion’s roar can be heard
up to five miles away, and warns
off intruders or reunites scattered
members of the pride.
• In parts of Alaska, it’s illegal to
feed alcohol to a moose, and in
Oklahoma, you’re subject to fines
and/or imprisonment for making
“ugly faces” at dogs.
• A bee can travel four million miles
at 7 m.p.h. on the energy it would
obtain from one gallon of nectar.
Bees have five eyes—there are three
small eyes on the top of a bee’s head
and two larger ones in front. Out
of 20,000 species of bees, only four
make honey.
• To clean tarnished copper bottoms
of pots and pans, spread a little
ketchup onto the bottom. Let it sit
for about one minute. Wipe it clean
and rinse.
• The phrase “sleep tight” originated
when mattresses were set upon
ropes woven through the bed frame.
To remedy sagging ropes, one would
use a bed key to tighten the rope.
• “In three words I can sum up
everything I’ve learned about life.
It goes on.” – Robert Frost
SEPTEMBER 2010
5
news briefs of the month
.............
World War II Memories
Last month marked the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II. On Aug. 14, 1945, the Japanese surrendered,
putting an end to the deadliest war in history. Although much has been written about the battles for the Pacific,
another theater – China, Burma and India – has often been overlooked, even though it played a vital role in the defeat
of the Japanese. As part of the World War II Memories series, Rural Arkansas pays homage to those who fought
in the “Forgotten Theater” with the story of Eugene Horton of Newcastle, who helped build a 1,700-mile pipeline
from India to China to transport gasoline to the Chinese in their fight against the Japanese. Horton is a member of
Woodruff Electric Cooperative.
The Forgotten Theater:
building the pipeline to victory
By Sheila Yount
Among the photos of snake charmers, camels and the Taj
Mahal, one yellowed black and white snapshot stands out in
Eugene Horton’s World War II photo album. In it, a young
man is sitting atop a steel tank, squinting in the bright Indian
sun. He is wearing shorts, work boots and a cap with the
brim smartly turned up. Because of the unrelenting heat, he is
shirtless, revealing a lean, muscular frame -- a young man in
his prime.
“I could do it
again,” the now
90-year-old Horton
said during a recent
interview as he
flipped through the
album. “If I were a
little younger.”
The young man
in the photo was
Horton himself,
taken when he
was a 22-year-old
T5 in the U.S.
Eugene Horton takes a break atop
Army’s 700th
a 10,000-barrel fuel storage tank.
Engineer Petroleum
Distribution
Company. Beginning in 1943, he spent two years in India
helping build a pipeline as part of the China-Burma-India
Theater, commonly known as the “Forgotten Theater.”
The pipeline was necessary to help bring much needed
gasoline to the Chinese in their effort to fight the Japanese,
who had taken control of the country’s seaports, as well as
access to the Burma Road, blocking China’s main supply
routes.
“China was landlocked by the Japanese,” Horton said.
“You couldn’t get a thing into China, except over the
‘Hump.’”
Starting in 1942, the Allies began flying transport planes
6
RURAL ARKANSAS
filled with gasoline and supplies across the Himalaya
Mountains from India to China. That perilous route was
known as the “Hump.” To supplement the “Hump” flights,
the U.S. Army set out to build a pipeline to carry gasoline
from Calcutta, India, to Allied airbases in the Assam Valley
of India, where the “Hump” flights originated. Eventually,
the pipeline would stretch all the way to Kunming, China, a
distance of nearly 2,000 miles.
“Smoke ‘em if you’ve got ‘em”
Horton had just graduated from a technical training school
in Memphis where he studied architectural drafting when
America declared war on Japan. He first joined the Navy in
hopes of becoming a fighter pilot but an especially demanding
naval aviation history class proved to be his undoing. After
leaving that program, Horton was drafted into the Army and
left in April 1942 for Little Rock and Camp Robinson.
“I was ordered to go to Camp Robinson so five of us left
Forrest City on an old steam locomotive-driven train and we
got into Little Rock and there were groups coming in from all
across the state,” Horton recalled.
After arriving in Little Rock, Horton climbed in the back
of a “six by six” truck that headed out to Camp Robinson.
Next, he traveled to Fort Custer, Mich., for infantry basic
training. When he arrived there, it was sleeting and snowing.
“They had us outside the next few days, scrubbing down
the wooden walls of the barracks,” Horton said, adding that
the duty only got worse as basic training got into full swing.
The hardest part of basic, he said, was a 30-mile march
with a full field pack. “We marched around that base, I guess
for 18 hours before we got that 30 miles covered,” he said,
adding that during the march, they would occasionally get
breaks to rest and smoke cigarettes. That is where Horton
often heard the saying, “Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em.”
Still more to learn
After 16 weeks of basic training, Horton and several others
learned they would not be going to an infantry group after all.
(Left) Soldiers pass the time
aboard a troop ship.
(Below) Soldiers carry heavy
duffle bags aboard a troop
ship as they head overseas.
Town, South Africa to refuel and restock supplies.
He recalled seeing a Coca Cola sign and Chevrolet
warehouse as the ship came ashore. For the next four
days, Horton and the other troops enjoyed liberty each
day in what Horton said was the “very modern city” of
Cape Town.
After Cape Town, the ship traveled
for another two weeks, finally docking at
Bombay, India. As before, the news of their
destination came unexpectedly over the ship’s
intercom. Once they de-boarded the ship, they
were taken across the country on what Horton
called “small dinky” trains to Calcutta. From
Calcutta, they traveled to an area about 20
miles away where they set up camp. The hard
work was just beginning.
The world’s longest
Instead, they were shipped
pipeline
to Camp Claiborne, La.,
The Army’s Yank magazine in its Dec.
where they were assigned to pipeline companies. There were
3, 1945, issue called the pipeline from India to China the
20 companies with 220 men each. Horton was assigned to
“longest pipeline in the world.” The article praised the soldiers
the 700th Engineer Petroleum Distribution Company.
who built it.
“At the time, we didn’t know where were going or when or
“Longest of its type in the world and running through the
anything else,” he said.
globe’s most rugged terrain, the line is a potential monument
For the next three months, he and his unit would train
to the strength and sweat of the GIs who opened the jungle
out in the “boonies” laying pipe and learning how to build
and put down the pipe. Through the pipeline, fuel flowed
prefabricated tanks that would hold thousands of gallons
rapidly toward fighting fronts in Burma and China during the
of high-octane gasoline. After that, they were sent to Camp
closing months of the war,” the article said.
Patrick Henry at Newport News, Va., where they waited for
The pipeline began
10 days for the arrival of a troop ship that would take them
near Calcutta where
to their still unknown destination. Once it arrived, it took
tankers brought refined
another 24 hours to bring all 5,500 men aboard, Horton
fuel into the port. It was
recalled. Horton was one of 55 men in his unit who boarded
stored in a huge “tank
the Empress of Scotland, a British cruise ship that had been
farm” and then pumped
converted to a troop ship.
along the pipeline as
“We had everything we owned in a duffle bag,” he said,
adding that after they came aboard, they were assigned
Continued on next page
quarters and given meal tickets for the two meals a day
they would receive. They only had two meals because
there were too many men aboard to serve three.
Horton took many photos
For the next month, Horton and his unit cleaned
of the sites in India, such
the front of the ship each day, starting at 5 a.m. They
as this camel at rest.
were usually finished by 7 a.m. and would have the
rest of the day to “lounge around in the sunshine,”
he said. He recalled that a Navy blimp followed the
ship for a couple of hours the first day to monitor for
German submarines. The threat of submarines was
ever present. During the day, the ship’s crew would
take a zigzag course to avoid torpedo fire in case there
were submarines lurking below. The zigzag course
prevented enemy subs from getting a good line of sight
on the ship. “It took a sub (officer) 15 to 20 minutes
to get you lined up in his sights,” Horton said.
For the next two weeks, they saw nothing but sea.
Then, a voice came on the intercom one morning
Map shows the Ledo and Burma Roads, also known as the Stilwell
with the news that the ship would dock in Cape
Road. The U.S. Army built a fuel pipeline adjacent to it.
SEPTEMBER 2010
7
it was built. When the pipeline reached
the Assam Valley where the Army’s Air
Transport Command’s bases were, they
built branches to the various Allied bases.
This gas was used to fuel the transport
planes on their trips across the “Hump.”
Ox carts and snake
charmers were common
sites along India’s streets.
They also carried the
gasoline to China in their
cargo bays, a feat that
further endangered the
crews’ lives.
The pipeline was built
in a “grasshopper” style,
Horton said.
“Our bunch built the first 100 miles out of Calcutta, then
another company built the next 100 and the next and so on,”
Horton said, adding that the work was done with five-man
crews that could build a mile of pipeline a day.
Indian natives were hired to dig the trenches, which were
a foot wide and 18 inches deep. The Army crews would then
take bamboo struts and lay them across the trenches. Then
they would hook the 20-foot pipe sections, which weighed
about 120 pounds, together on the struts.
“You would slide a rubber gasket over one end and then
butt the pipes together,” he said. “You would put the gasket
over the crack and then there were big couplings with threequarter inch bolts. You would slap that on there and with a
wrench, you tighten them up.”
After the pipe sections were connected, the crews would
pull the struts out and drop the pipe into the trenches. As it
was being lowered, the pipe would bend, resembling a huge
snake, Horton said. The natives would then fill the trenches
with dirt.
“It was really hard work. One guy would get on one end
of the joint of the pipe and I would get on the other 120
pounds,” he said. “But I got used to it.”
Conditions were far from ideal. Most of the time it was at
least 100 degrees or more, Horton said, adding at night it was
8
RURAL ARKANSAS
often so hot the men couldn’t sleep until after midnight
when the night air would finally cool down. They would
perspire so much at night that their sheets were soaked
and had a permanent yellow color. To ward off malaria,
they took atabrine every day. Leeches were another
common nemesis.
“If you walked across the field, when you came back to
other side you would check to see if you had a leech stuck
to you,” he said. “I was smoking then and I would take a
lighted cigarette and touch them and they would just fall
off.”
Yank magazine described the work as nothing short of
an engineering miracle.
“To build the pipeline, engineers crossed lowland rice
paddies in floods, worked over the backs of rolling hills
and hacked through green jungle covering steep sides of
mountains. This line curls across the beds of wide rivers
and hangs high in the air over deep mountain gorges.
Touching three countries, it runs from sea level to heights
of 9,000 feet.”
A typical day began at 6 a.m. and would end around 5
p.m. They ate packed lunches at the work site. One day,
Horton said they were working near a little town when
they heard people yelling and arguing.
“The villagers were chasing some lepers out of town,”
Horton said. “They were afraid they would catch it. They
were hollering at them, telling them to get out.”
Horton and his crew were touched by the scene and
decided to pool their lunches and give the food to the lepers,
who were starving. “They acted like they had not eaten in
weeks,” he said. “Later they moved back out into the woods
or wherever they had a place to camp. We never saw them
again.”
Extreme poverty
Although Horton and his crew didn’t endure the rigors
of combat, they saw plenty of death, Horton said. Extreme
poverty and disease were the way of life there.
“Life was just very short there at that time,” he said. “I
think the average life expectancy was about 40 years.”
He recalled seeing an elderly man sitting under a tree, near
death. He was barely breathing and Horton and his crew
didn’t know what to do. The next day, they came back to the
same area and found him dead. His body stayed there for days
and was consumed by vultures. Similar scenes were common
throughout the country, even in the city of Calcutta, Horton
said.
One day, Horton’s crew had a near miss with combat.
Japanese soldiers were heading to the area where they were
working and got within 50 miles of Horton’s crew. But
American, South African and Burmese soldiers turned them
back, stopping their advance into India. Three days later,
Horton’s crew arrived at the scene of the battle and stopped to
visit the temporary cemetery that had been built for the Allied
soldiers who died in the fight. It was an experience he would
never forget.
“One GI had taken some boards off a shell crate and made
The Ledo and Burma
roads snake across the
rugged terrain of India,
Burma and China.
a little sign and took a
paintbrush and wrote,
‘for your tomorrow, we
gave our today,’” Horton
recalled, his voice choking
with emotion.
Pumping gas
After Horton’s
company’s section of
pipeline was completed,
he became a pumping
station operator. The men
would work in shifts and
it wasn’t bad duty, except
during the monsoon
season, Horton said. For
about three months out of
the year, strong electrical
storms and floods would
sweep across the countryside.
“We were kind of uneasy out there on that pumping
station,” he said.
With the high octane gas running through there, one hit
would have knocked the whole station out.”
Horton and his company were lucky not to have any
mishaps in the storms, but others were not. Still, the project
was a huge success. From December 1944 to August 1945,
Allied troops in India, Burma and China received more than
150 million gallons of fuel through the pipeline.
Coming home
When news of the victory in Europe made its way to
Horton, the men were happy but nothing changed in their
daily lives. “We just kept on pumping as if nothing had
happened,” Horton said.
But after Japan surrendered on Aug. 14, 1945, things
would quickly change for 700th Engineer Petroleum
Troops head for one of the many transport planes that
operated in the China-Burma-India Theater.
Distribution Company. In November 1945, they learned they
would be going home and so began the long journey back to
the states. First they flew out of northern India on a transport
plane to what is now Pakistan. Then they waited three weeks
for a troop ship to arrive. Finally, the General Morton,
another British cruise ship converted to a troop ship, arrived
and they set out to sea. This time, however, they could go
through the Suez Canal. On the trip over, it was under siege
and wasn’t safe for travel. By going through the Suez Canal,
they saved a week of travel, Horton said.
While the trip over to India was smooth and uneventful,
the trip home was a different story. This time they endured
two major storms, which left Horton and most others on the
ship seasick. Finally, after nearly a month on the rocky seas,
they arrived in New York harbor where the temperature was a
chilly 18 degrees.
“We saw the old girl wave at us in New York,” Horton
said. “ It was quite emotional.”
An early Christmas present
After de-boarding in New York, they took trains to Camp
Kilmer, N. J. From there Horton took another train to
Jefferson Barracks, Mo., where he was discharged on Dec. 23,
1945.
On his way home from Jefferson Barracks, he got an early
Christmas present when his grandfather, who worked for the
railroad in Wynne, took a passenger train to Poplar Bluff,
Mo., to meet Horton.
“He knew what time I was going to get there from
Jefferson Barracks,” he said. “So he met me and we rode back
to Wynne together. It was a memorable event.”
Upon his return to Newcastle, he went to work for his
father at the country store and the cotton gin. In 1947, he
married Marion Bolin of Shreveport, La., and they had two
sons, Carl and John.
He still lives at Newcastle and stays in touch with some
of his Army buddies. In 2009, he and three buddies had a
reunion in Helena. One of the men he had not seen in 64
years.
Although the
years have faded the
photographs in his
album, his memories are
still clear. And he remains
proud of the accomplishments of his company
and all those who served.
For him, his generation
deserves the moniker, the
“Greatest Generation,”
which was bestowed
upon it by Tom Brokaw
in his book about those
who fought in World
War II.
Eugene Horton enjoys life at his
“It really was,” he said.
family home in Newcastle.
SEPTEMBER 2010
9
Looking beyond the horizon
to a greener
tomorrow
An innovative approach to
dealing with poultry litter
By Penny Storms
10
RURAL ARKANSAS
greener tomorrow
Agriculture is one of the main components of the economy in Arkansas. The poultry industry
makes up a large segment of the agriculture sector, with the largest concentration of this industry
in the rugged terrain of the Ozark Mountains in Northwest Arkansas. Environmentalists as well
as local residents have become increasingly concerned through the years about the proper disposal
of excess poultry litter in the region without affecting the watershed in the process.
For many years, the most common practice in
dealing with poultry litter in Northwest Arkansas,
Special equipment makes
where it is extremely abundant, was to land apply it
handling bales quick and easy.
on the pastures in the Ozarks. This land application
A forklift can also be used to
for the past 50 years was to increase forage growth and
facilitate unloading at the
to enhance cattle production. The practice has created
bales’ destination.
a problem of saturating the land with phosphorus.
High phosphorus soils have been implicated as a
potential water quality problem. The exponential
growth in the volume of litter from the emergent
poultry industry compelled Dr. H.L. Goodwin,
along with other faculty members and scientists at
the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, to intensify
research on the processing of poultry litter to manage
the surplus in Northwest Arkansas, as well as capturing
remaining nutrients for use in crop production.
Though the plant-essential nutrients from this
poultry by-product could be used in the eastern
Arkansas croplands, there were problems to be
considered. The basic transportation problem for raw
poultry litter centers on the relatively low nutrient value of litter
compared with the high transport and handling cost, approximately $3.75 per mile. Raw litter loses nitrogen to the atmosphere
at a steady, predictable rate and this loss creates a reduction in air
quality. Raw litter is a dirty product to handle (it tests 100 percent
positive for E. coli) and requires specialized trailers for transport.
Because of the specialized trailers and sanitary considerations,
truck backhauls are difficult in the use of raw litter. These issues
led Dr. Goodwin and his associates to develop a new method
for handling and transporting the poultry litter from Northwest
Arkansas.
The culmination of years of research led to the development
of a large industrial baler to process poultry litter in
such a way that would address many of the problems
experienced in using raw poultry litter. By baling the litter
in UV-resistant polyethylene, the loss of nitrogen to the
atmosphere, air quality issues, storage costs and leaching
of nutrients are virtually eliminated. The baled product
provided organic nutrients readily available for plant
uptake and cut transportation costs to approximately half
that of raw litter. At the time that Dr. Goodwin
and his team successfully produced an environmentally friendly solution to the excess poultry litter in
northwest Arkansas, there was no poultry aggregator
interested in further developing the concept.
Continued on next page
Bruce Johnson, president
of White River Fertilizer
Supply.
Below: The mammoth
baler is computer
controlled and fully
automatic, with twin rams
that provide 150,000
pounds of compaction force
and can process up to 50
tons of raw litter per hour.
Left: Tracy Argo (left) and Rob Bullock are the driving force behind
the leading poultry litter transfer company in the country. Bales are
stored on-site.
SEPTEMBER 2010
11
The new baler, after baling a few tons of litter, was
microorganisms in the soil, organic fertilizers boost microbial
warehoused where it remained dormant for three years.
activity, which helps to slowly release the nutrients, producing
While on a turkey hunt in western Oklahoma, Tracy Argo
a carryover effect for longer term soil benefits. Plants are able
visited with a group of farmers. The subject of amending
to use 98 percent of the residual nutrients in the litter. Baled
their soil with poultry litter sparked a healthy conversation.
litter is much safer to use than raw litter. University testing
Throughout his professional career, Argo had become known
showed a 99 percent kill ratio on the litter after 110 hours
as a problem solver. The prospect of removing
of baling. Other
the bulk of excess poultry litter from Northwest
extremely positive
Arkansas (where he lived) by using a proprietary
aspects of using baled
baler to make the shipping and handling of the
litter over raw is the
product easier for the farmer was intriguing. This
significant reduction
led to conversations with Bruce Johnson and the
in transportation costs
forging of a partnership that founded White River
to the farmer, no loss
Fertilizer Supply (WRFS) in 2008.
of nitrogen into the
All of Dr. Goodwin’s research proved the
atmosphere and a
feasibility of such a proposition.
60-percent reduction
However putting the plan
in cycle time for
into action took not only
loading the litter
Spreaders for
financial commitment, but
spreading equipment.
application are
personal commitment as
In addition, the baled
available if
well. Both Johnson and Argo
litter has a minimal
needed.
have a genuine concern for
odor.
the environment and love a
Because baled litter
challenge. Tackling an environis a fairly new product
mental issue that has been
in the marketplace, an educational
50 years in the making has
campaign is important to raise
become a passion for them.
awareness. The technology employed
Re-commissioning the giant baler that had been warehoused
is helping to change the way farmers look at poultry litter and
was the first order of business. Anyone who has taken a piece
its effect on the environment. For crop farmers, baled litter is
of motorized equipment out of storage and restored it to
a great augmentation to current fertilizer programs. Chemical
“running shape” has an idea of some of the issues that can be
fertilizer programs have been the standard for many years. The
presented in such an endeavor. In its heyday, the baler had
soils in the Arkansas Delta have become sterilized over years
baled 12 tons of litter in eight hours. It was obvious that a
of chemical fertilization. Exhaustive research has proven that
much greater volume of product must be turned out to make
the use of poultry litter can help restore the health of these
the venture an environmental solution that could be profitable soils over time. However, it is a large hurdle to change the
as well as feasible for farmers who might buy the litter.
mind-set of third, fourth and fifth generation farmers who
Initially, a lot of work was done on the prototype machines
have established fertilization practices. Using baled poultry
to boost production and deal successfully with the volume
litter to reduce the amount of chemical fertilizers needed for
and conditions of the raw litter stock-piling in the warehouse.
proven, optimum crop production can have a profound effect
Within 60 days, WRFS was cranking out 200 tons of product on the farmers’ bottom line as well as the environment. With
in eight hours. In a mere 127 days, after Argo’s first converbaled litter, compared to chemical fertilizer input costs, the
sation in western
Oklahoma, the first
delivery of baled
poultry litter for
WRFS made its way
to a farm in Altus,
Okla.
The baled litter
produced by WRFS
meets USDA
guidelines for
organic fertilizer.
As opposed to
chemical fertilizers
Litter is collected from local growers, delivered to a central transfer station and compacted into bales sealed in
that kill the
polyethylene. Bales are stored on-site for pickup and delivery to farms.
12
RURAL ARKANSAS
same nutrients will cost the farmer
less while supplying micronutrients
and free organic matter at the same
time, research shows.
White River Fertilizer Supply is
the only company baling poultry
litter. The prospect of the positive
impact on the environment, as well as
on the economy in Arkansas as well
as surrounding states is huge. Rob
Bullock has joined WRFS as regional
sales manager and helps to market
the company and its technology.
Direct sales to farmers account for 90
percent of WRFS’s business. “Baler
litter is a renewable, organic soil
enhancer that is a profit generator,”
Bullock said. “Augmenting crop fertilization with litter can mean a 15-20
percent reduction in initial fertilizer
costs and a conservatively estimated
3-5 percent yield increase. It is not
hard to see that a farm can be more
profitable for years to come, while
saving energy and providing environmental solutions at the same time. It
is truly a win-win proposition.”
Much like chemical fertilizer,
baled litter is a year-round product
and can be booked in advance for
delivery at a determined time, as
much as 12-18 months in advance.
Due to the packaging, the litter will
have the same nutrients and organic
matter available at the time of use as
it did when it was baled. By having
the product delivered in advance, it is
available to the farmer for optimum
timing of soil dressing and augmentation. White River will contract the
haulers to deliver the bales and even
spreaders for application if needed.
They have a network of dependable
contractors to aid the farmers in their
use of baled litter.
The future for the company
includes co-blending of litter with
dewatered municipal bio-solids, soil
analysis for specific nutrient blends,
and even export to South America.
The sky, or should we say the horizon
is the limit for White River Fertilizer
Supply.
For more information visit
www.baledlitter.com.
None. Zero. Zilch.
ZERO down •100% financing •No payments for 6 mos
Save thousands in up-front closing costs!
While other builders arrange financing with
local lenders, United-Bilt Homes is the ONLY
on-your-site builder in Arkansas that offers
true in-house financing. That means you can
be in your home, custom built for you, withAspen with Loft - 3 bedroom,
2 bath and over 1,900 sf.
out spending a penny in up-front closing
costs. Come by today and learn how you can
save on a new, custom-built home.
Tour our model homes today!
Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Little Rock
& Texarkana
* With approved credit for qualified land owners.
ubh.com
1.800.756.2506
TOUGH BUILDINGS. DELIVERED.
At Smith Steel, we know that life in the country can be demanding. We
know that you want a building that is not only attractive but built to last. That’s
why since 1950, we’ve been manufacturing some of the toughest and best
looking metal buildings made. We go beyond specs to make sure our structures both stand up to your demands and provide you with a building that looks
good. All of this in an easy to erect package delivered right to your door.
Spec Smith for toughness. Spec Smith for service. Spec Smith
at 800-831-3837.
SPECSMITH.COM
|
800.831.3837
SEPTEMBER 2010
13
Gassville couple wins Energy
Efficiency Makeover Contest
By Sheila Yount
Bill and Mary Quilhot of Gassville are winners of the grand prize of the 2010 Energy
Efficiency Makeover Contest sponsored by the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. The
Quilhots are members of North Arkansas Electric Cooperative.
“I am just totally shocked and blown away and I love it,” an excited Mary said in an
interview on Aug. 6, shortly after learning that she and her husband had won the contest.
More than 2,000 electric cooperative members from across the state applied for the
makeover, which is in its third year.
The couple got the good news when a small caravan of cooperative staff and media
arrived with a ceremonial check, flowers, balloons and television cameras in tow. They
had been informed that they were finalists and would either receive a Marathon water
heater or the grand prize.
A lone North Arkansas Electric Cooperative van first pulled into the driveway, while
the rest of the caravan parked along the highway near the house. When Mary saw the
van, she said she thought they had only won the Marathon. Then, when she saw others
walking to the house, she knew the grand prize was theirs.
“This is unreal,” she said, adding that she and her husband, who retired to the home
15 years ago from a Chicago suburb, could not have afforded to do such improvements
to their home in the aftermath of the recession.
“We have had to stop improving this house,” Bill said.
Electric bills are high
The couple learned about the makeover through Rural Arkansas magazine, produced
by the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. The Marathon water heater prize first caught
Mary’s attention because the couple expected they would soon need to replace
their vintage 1947 Toastmaster water heater. Amazingly, the water heater still
works, but isn’t as efficient as a Marathon.
“I never even looked at what else you could get because, come on, it is a little
unreal. We couldn’t win this,” she said.
However, once she began filling out the application online, she learned more
about the grand prize offerings. “I said, ‘Now I want it (the grand prize),’” she
said, laughing.
The couple’s home has been in the Quilhot family since 1942. It has 1,390
square feet and is cooled with five window air conditioning units. For the past
year, the couple has been using about 2,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per
month. The average electric cooperative member uses about 1,100 kilowatthours per month.
Cooperatives support energy efficiency
The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas have long promoted energy efficiency and the
Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest is a major part of that effort. Although only one
home could win the grand prize, the project is designed to have a much broader impact,
said Doug White, spokesman for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. By documenting
the process of the makeover via the Internet, Rural Arkansas and other media outlets, the
cooperatives can help educate Arkansans statewide about how to make their homes and
businesses more energy efficient, he said.
To be eligible for the contest, applicants had to be members in good standing with
one of Arkansas’ 17 electric distribution cooperatives. Their homes had to be all-electric.
Mobile homes were excluded because their basic designs are not conducive to energy
efficiency retrofits, White said.
The contest was announced in May. All applications were thoroughly reviewed by
cooperative staff. Seventeen semi-finalists, one from each electric distribution cooperative,
were selected. Each semi-finalist will receive an energy-efficient Marathon water heater.
From that list, three homes were selected as finalists. Energy audits were conducted on
14
RURAL ARKANSAS
the homes and a committee then reviewed
reports from the site visits and selected
the winner.
Major air infiltration
When Bret Curry, manager of
residential energy marketing for the
Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas,
performed a comprehensive energy audit
on the Quilhot’s home, it was clear that
the home was energy inefficient. As part
of the energy audit, Curry performed
a blower door test, which removes air
from a house using a large fan placed
inside a door facing. By removing the air,
negative pressure is placed on the house.
When air from the outside begins to
filter in to replace the air that is removed,
energy auditors can determine where air
infiltration is occurring. He then used an
infrared thermal imaging camera to spot
the areas of air infiltration.
The test revealed that the home had
1.42 air changes per hour, which means
that 142 percent of the air in the house
changed with outside air every hour.
Ideally this figure should be 25 to 30
percent, Curry said.
To remedy the situation, the makeover
got under way quickly. On Aug. 11,
workers arrived to begin removing
resistance heat baseboards and other
items. The following tasks will be done:
• RetroFoam insulation will be installed
in the walls and attic.
• A geothermal heating and cooling
system will be installed.
• A high efficient Marathon water heater
will be installed.
• Energy-efficient windows and doors
will be installed.
• Incandescent lights will be replaced
with compact florescent lights.
• Areas of air infiltration will be caulked
and sealed.
• Energy Star-rated appliances will be
installed.
The makeover is valued at up to
$50,000. Much of the work, equipment
and supplies will be donated or
discounted by sponsors. Those are: Rood
Heating and Air of Russellville; BPSI
Foam Insulation/Tommy Gracy; Harry
G. Barr Company; Doug Rye; Marathon
Water Heaters, and Water Furnace.
To watch the makeover in progress,
visit www.smartenergytips.org
LSK Summer Specials
2285 Hampton
Pontoon
2485 Hampton
Trilog Pontoon
90HP Suzuki Fuel-Injected
4-Stroke, Custom Tandem Trailer
21,999
$
LSK Price
Top of the Line, Rear Facing
Lounger, Hyd. Steering, Lifting
Strakes, Changing Room,
140HP Suzuki 4-Stroke
31,999
$
LSK Price
Check Our Full Ne
& Used Inventory w
www.lsklebanon.coat
m
LSK Lebanon
Where We Really Know What We’re Doing!
www.lsklebanon.com
801 N. Jefferson
1-800-542-3846
Lebanon, MO
Offer Ends 9/31/10
SEPTEMBER 2010
15
RuralArkansas:CAFH
6/24/09
8:18 AM
Page 1
FEATURED HOME (1988 PLAN)
Fund Raising
Your School, Church, Club, Team or
Youth Group will work directly with the
manufacturer to make 40% profit.
We want to be the
BUILDER
OF CHOICE
for your
new home!
Members Arkansas
•
•
•
Now Included in the Cost of All Homes:
Appliance Package Included
Most Plans have Garage Included
Energy Package • Heat Pump
System
Insulated Vinyl Windows
Now Serving Central Arkansas
� Most Credit Approved within 24 hours
Your supporters receive a tremendous
value on remarkable kitchen knives, utensils
and gift sets (quick mixes, cookbooks, soy
wax candles and stoneware too)!
� All Homes Custom Built on Your Property
Rada Cutlery’s reputation for Made in
the USA quality is well known. We have
made and sold over 124,000,000 knives
since 1948!
� Over 50 Plans to Choose from Starting as low
as $50 per sq. ft. under Roof
Our proven fund raising system
guarantees your success.
� 100% Financing with No Money Down W.A.C.
� Land Pay-Off and Closing Cost can be Included
� Slab or Pier and Beam Construction
� Select all of Your Colors, Interior and Exterior
� Average Construction Time is 18 to 20 Weeks
Request your FREE catalog
and information packet:
1-800-311-9691
“I’ve got Health Benefits for Only 25 a Month.”
•
� 100% Complete and Ready to Move Into
� 1-Year Builder’s Warranty
3825 Mt. Carmel Rd., Bryant AR, 72022
MAIN OFFICE: 800-379-2090 or 501-315-2022 Fax: 501-778-3909
WEB SITE: www.arfoundationhomes.com
info@arfoundationhomes.com
SUBJECT: Info
NVS 12 Front Porch_Alt_7.875x4.8Page 1 EMAIL:
7/30/09
11:42:03 AM
$or www.RadaCutlery.com
NOTE: Dept A10REM
Find out why our
customers say that
“Rada knives sell
themselves!”
Without health care coverage, one mistake can mean financial
catastrophe. ARHealthNetworks provides a safety net of basiclevel protection at a fraction of the cost you’d normally pay for
health care coverage.
Helping Small Business Stay Healthy in Arkansas
• Basic coverage for most medical issues and for preventive care
• Designed specifically for small businesses
• 90% of enrollees pay only $25 per month
• No penalties for pre-existing conditions or poor health status
• Easy to qualify for the coverage
• Call 1-800-540-7566 for a quick, free quote
1-800-540-7566
16
RURAL ARKANSAS
ARHealthNetworks.com
TDD 1-800-285-1131
Pressed Pillings
To Refusal
Piers To
Stable Clay
DuraSteel Piers
MAPBC
MID-AMERICA
$7,000.00
EST. 1969
Berryville, Ar
SEPTEMBER 2010
17
Renewable energy? Yes, but at what cost?
Back in 1988, Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation
(AECC) completed construction of the Clyde T. Ellis
Hydroelectric Generating Station located on the Arkansas
River near Barling. The unit produces 32.4 megawatts of
power for electric cooperative members.
In ensuing years, AECC licensed and completed two
more hydroelectric generation stations, at Morrilton and
Dumas, with a combined capacity of 105 megawatts. All
of these units are run-of-the-river hydropower plants
that create no environmental problems while producing
electric energy with virtually no cost for fuel. The total
investment for cooperative ratepayers was $350 million,
or about a third of all of AECC’s capital investment.
Today, with continuous talk about the need to do
something about climate change, there are many proposals
on the table about a renewable energy standard, or RES.
Presumably an RES would require a certain percentage
of electric generation to come from renewable sources
by a date certain. Most of the legislative proposals seem
to revolve around 15 percent to 20 percent by 2020, with
energy efficiency counting for a portion of that mix.
Wind power and solar energy get most of the attention,
with bio-fuels also playing a role. Hydropower is not
considered a renewable fuel for congressional purposes,
except for incremental energy created by increased
efficiency in an existing hydropower unit. In other
words, going green back in the 1980s doesn’t count in
today’s world.
Obviously, some regions of the country are better suited
to take advantage of available renewable energy sources.
Certainly the panhandle region of west Texas and
Oklahoma, and Kansas and Iowa have great potential for
wind development. Arizona and the California desert
areas have some opportunities with solar energy. It all
sounds so simple. Put up some windmills and solar
panels. Just make the utility companies do it and the
world will be a better place.
Polls show that most Americans support the development
of renewable energy sources. So do I, especially where
they can be economic for ratepayers. The more energy
we have, the more reliable and cost efficient our power
grid can be.
18
RURAL ARKANSAS
But here’s the rub. Regardless of the type of renewable
energy source, it still has to get to the people who will
use it. That must be done through a transmission
system. Without an adequate transmission system, the
wind in west Texas will not provide electricity to that
farm in Desha County, Ark. And don’t forget that the
wind doesn’t blow all of the time. The hospital in Desha
County needs power all of the time, which means that
somewhere there will always be a need for backup power,
most likely from a fossil fuel source.
At a cost of $5 million per mile, a transmission system is a
costly thing to build. That is if all of the legal multi-state
jurisdictional authorities can agree that it should be built.
Then someone has to figure out how to allocate the costs
correctly so that the people benefiting from the transmission can be charged for its construction and operation.
According to a study commissioned by the National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association, “expanding the nation’s
transmission infrastructure to support a 20 percent wind
energy share may require the construction of up to
15,000 miles of new extra high-voltage transmission lines
involving eight regional planning areas and impacting 30
states in the Eastern Interconnection alone.”
Renewable energy, like so many things, has the ring of
something that is all good with no downside. But, please
remember that the devil is always in the details, and there
are always complicating factors. Wind and solar energy,
at least for now, require a back-up source of energy.
Hydropower is a more reliable source of renewable
energy, but water availability is always a constraint. And
transmission is the cost that most people don’t think
about with renewable energy. Fossil fuel generation can
be sited with minimal concerns for transmission. With
renewable energy, you have to bring the transmission to
the source.
For all these reasons, we believe that incentives, rather
than mandates, are the drivers that will make renewable
energy work for America
WATERFURNACE UNITS QUALIFY FOR THE 30% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT
Wouldn’t it be nice to set the temperature of your house based more on comfort and less on your bank account? As the
temperatures rise and the price of fossil fuels skyrocket, homeowners around the world are finding that a WaterFurnace
geothermal system is a smart way to reduce your carbon footprint and utility bills at the same time. WaterFurnace units
use the clean, renewable energy found in your own backyard to provide savings up to 70% on heating, cooling and hot
water. It’s good for the environment, great for your budget and thanks to a 30% federal tax credit, now’s the best time to
act. Contact your local WaterFurnace dealer today to learn more.
visit us waterfurnace.com
YOUR LOCAL WATERFURNACE DEALERS
Brookland
Nightingale Mechanical
(870) 933-1200
DeQueen
Bill Lee Co.
(870) 642-7127
Hot Springs
GTS, Inc.
(501) 760-3062
Springdale
Paschal Htg, Air & Plmg.
(800) 933-0195
Cabot
Stedfast Heating & Air
(501) 843-4860
Dumas
Mizel Heating & Air
(870) 382-5250
Mountain Home
Custom Heating & Cooling
(870) 425-9498
Van Buren
American Energy Guard
(479) 474-4604
Heber Springs
Lacy Heating & Air Cond.
(501) 362-3023
Russellville
Rood Heating & Air
(479) 968-3131
©2010 WaterFurnace is a registered trademark of WaterFurnace International, Inc. *Based on ARI13256-1 (GLHP - Part Load Ratings)
SEPTEMBER 2010 19
cut your utility bills
Doug Rye says ...
Even more about insulation and
hurray for September
Folks, it was a hot August.
One day last month, it was
107 degrees in Fort Smith,
104 in Little Rock, 101 in Fayetteville and near 100
degrees in most of the rest of the state. I always worry
about our readers whenever we have extreme weather
conditions because I know many will be receiving high
utility bills. For many of you, those bills will be hitting
your mailboxes this month.
my column on the Delta T? The bigger the Delta T,
the more it takes to heat or cool. If there are only
shingles and roof decking between the 173 degrees
and the attic, I think that you would agree that the
attic temperature could easily be 150 degrees. Well,
if the ductwork is in the attic or if you have little or
no insulation, the house will have trouble maintaining
a comfortable temperature. And even if it does, the
electric bill will probably still be high.
I also know that heating/cooling contractors worked
many long hours this summer trying to keep systems
working. I called a couple of those companies last
month and they said that new callers were having to
wait five to six days for service. Both bills and service
are difficult for the consumer during the hot summer or
cold winter.
So what is one to do?
Let’s take a look at what was happening in Little Rock
on Aug. 2. The sky was clear and the temperature was
over 100 degrees for about six hours of the day. Using
an infrared camera, one of our favorite energy tools, we
took this picture of a typical house with red shingles at
1 p.m.
First of all, you can add cellulose ceiling insulation
as discussed last month, which will help in both the
summer and the winter. Another solution would be to
add a radiant barrier at the roof slope, which would
lower the attic and ductwork temperature greatly in the
summer. Or you can spray the entire roof deck with
foam, which essentially means that there is no longer an
attic at all. The space that used to be the attic is now
just an odd-shaped room overhead. In most cases this
is probably the best answer but it is usually the most
expensive.
You can learn a lot more about foam insulation and its
installation by visiting www.smartenergytips.org.
Here you can see work that is being done on the home
of Bill and Mary Quilhot of Gassville, the 2010 Energy
Efficiency Makeover Contest winners. (See page 14 of
this issue to learn more about the makeover winners).
As we have written many times, the problem will not
go away until you do something about it. Our goal is
to help you know what to do. For now, let’s just be
thankful it is September and cooler. See you in October
when it would be a perfect time to make your improvements.
Notice that the shingle temperature was 173 degrees.
If the temperature in the house is 75 degrees, there is a
98-degree temperature difference. Do you remember
20
RURAL ARKANSAS
P.S. I know that some you were wondering about the
temperature for other shingle colors. Photos of white,
black and brown shingles were also taken and revealed
similar temperatures ranging from 164 to 173 degrees.
So you can’t say that one color is significantly cooler
than the other!
SEPTEMBER 2010
21
SEPTEMBER 2010
th
19
AL
ANNU
Buck
Truckload
200
250OFF
Up $
To
WOOD OR GAS STOVES, INSERTS, FIREPLACES & GAS LOGS
Plus
receive up to $1,500
qualifing tax credit for
approved wood stoves & inserts.
Top Quality • American Made
(Model 91) Stove or Insert
ALL IN STOCK
PATIO
FURNITURE
50% OFF
19650 I-30 • Benton AR • 316-4328 • 1-(800)-421- 4447
Monday - Saturday 8-6
Do YoU NeeD moNeY...
Because your health or your child’s health
is in such poor condition that you are
unable to work
soCIaL seCUrItY DIsaBILItY
may be your answer if a physical or mental condition prevents you from working. Unfortunately,
many people are unaware of the financial and
medical assistance available to them through the
social security Disability Program.
For a Free phone consultation and informative brochure, call 24 HoUrs a DaY,
7 DaYs a WeeK
1-888-350-1247
assoCIatIoN oF
DIsaBILItY aDVoCates, INC.
24
RURAL ARKANSAS
Keep it Simple.
Keep it Heritage.
PFLIL>CPE8@C=LE>LJ:8E9<>FE<
A farmer’s needs haven’t changed much.
What has changed is the technology and
equipment that’s available. At Heritage, we’re
constantly evolving to meet your needs
head-on. Whether you’re in the market for
a large building to protect your tractors, or
something smaller to keep your livestock
%0, <
(+<J GFJK8>
CL;
@E:
sheltered, we can help. Today’s farmer has
never had so many options. Call us today
to learn more about metal building
solutions that best suit your farm.
>L8I8EK<<;
1.800.643.5555
HeritageBuildings.com
A
DVANTAGE
STEEL BUILDINGS
10HBS000 Rural Arkansas_2-125x4_bw_fnl.indd 1
@]pflnXekXjX]\#eXkliXc
nXpkfY\i`[f]l^cpeX`c
]le^lj#fli]fidlcXnfibj%%%
5/7/2010 9:45:32 AM
l\jk`fej6
H
:_\ZbfliH8Ylkkfe#
fek_\EX`c=le^ljgX^\
f]flin\Yj`k\%
nnn%Cfe^:i\\b?\iYj%Zfd
DXafi:i\[`k:Xi[jGXpGXc8ZZ\gk\[
;\XiA`dCfe^#
È@_Xm\ki`\[\m\ipfm\ik_\Zflek\i
gif[lZkdX[\kfZli\eX`c]le^ljfeYfk_
dpY`^kf\j#]fifm\i+'p\Xij%@_Xm\lj\[
pfliEX`cJfXb]fi-dfek_jXe[`kcffbj
c`b\fe\fiknfdfi\eX`cZc`gg`e^jXe[`k
n`ccXccY\^fe\@ZXeefkY\c`\m\`k%Pfli
gif[lZk_Xj^`m\ed\_\Xck_p#e\neX`cj%
@ZXe\eafpk_\jldd\i`ejXe[XcjfeZ\
X^X`e%K_XebpflÉ%%%;Xm\9%#KE
J\e[(+%0,kf1
Cfe^:i\\b?\iYj
G%F%9fo().$I
9cl\<p\#DF%-,-((
G_fe\1+(.$..0$,+,'
G_fe\jXejn\i\[Dfe%$=i`%/$,:\ekiXc
Quality Buildings at Affordable Prices
30' x 50' x 10' .................. $6,990
$8,806
40' x 60' x 12' .................. $10,289
$12,565
50' x 75' x 14' ................. $15,115
$18,966
$44,986
80' x 120' x 16' (M-1).......... $35,570
$11,610
Minis - 30' x 100' with 20 10' x 15' units - $14,740
1.877.657.8335
w w w. a d va n t a g e s t e e l b u i l d i n g s . c o m
“Quality You Can Count On”
Along These Lines, CO, FL & Iowa
2.25 xsPeCIaLs!
2
!BUILDING
PoLe BarNs
any size - BIG Discounts
Statewide Service
Quality Builders
1-800-787-5778
With an eye to the sky, and a crop under foot, you know the value of a good harvest of corn,
cattle or beans, and a quality metal building, like those made by SBI Metal Buildings, in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
For equipment sheds, barns, outbuildings, garages, and everything else under the sun, you can count on SBI
Metal Buildings for competitive pricing and timely delivery of complete, precision fabricated building systems.
SBI is a single source manufacturer of all the major components for our
pre-engineered metal buildings. Our quality control leads to superior quality, and that quality
can also be found in our components, metal roofing panels, cee's, zee's and trim.
When you want the best, you want SBI.
www.stilwell-const.com
1-800-814-3311
www.sbimetalbuildings.com
Hot Springs, Arkansas
SEPTEMBER 2010
25
GRAVETTE
RED IRON SHOP
METAL SALES
ALL STEEL
40 x 50 x 12
$13,835
Steel Building Supplies and Components
Hay Barns • Commercial Buildings • Large Shops
Other sizes available
Building Special
32 x 40 x 10
$4,750 steel truss
Custom Steel BUildings &
I Beam Trusses Available
30x75x16
“Red Iron Hay
Barn Special”
All Steel I-Beam
Construction
26 Ga. Metal
$8,960
24 x 30 x 8
$5,600
plus tax, delivery
FREE ESTIMATES!
2 miles south of Gravette, AR • Right on Hwy 59
479-787-5784 • gravettemetalsales.com
1-800-297-3157
VISA M - F 8-5 • Sat. by appointment
*Prices may change without notice
all steel
clear span
truss
MASTER
CARD
• Residential &
Commercial Roofing
• Mini Storage Units
• Insulation
• Doors in Stock
• Steel Purlings
Our Best...For Less...In a Day
BASIC DENTURES (SET)...$295
BASIC CROWN (UNIT).....$425
Family Dentistry • Check Ups
CareCredit® Financing
We accept Delta Dental Insurance &
200+ Other Dental Insurance Providers
DENTAL CENTERS
Dr. Hildreth & Associates
2 Locations:
MiD-AMERiCA DENTAL &
HEARiNg CENTER-HWY.
1050 W. Hayward Drive • Mt. Vernon, MO 65712
1-800-354-1905
MiD-AMERiCA DENTAL &
HEARiNg CENTER-LOOP
558 Mt. Vernon Blvd. • Mt. Vernon, MO 65712
1-800-372-4554
www.midamericadental.com
Dr. Hildreth & Associates are Missouri licensed General Dentists. They are not
licensed in Missouri as specialists in the advertised dental specialty of Prosthetics.
THE PHONE CONNECTION
• Been Disconnected?
• No Credit Check!
• Owe a Big bill?
• No Deposit Required!
$39.95 per month / unlimited local calls
FREE 100 minutes long distance
each month.
1-877-375-2255
Licensed by Arkansas/Oklahoma/Florida/Missouri Public Service Commission
26
RURAL ARKANSAS
Health notes
Balance good and bad
for healthy arteries
It’s odd to think of something like
cholesterol having a split personality,
but it’s true. Cholesterol can be good
or bad, and the right balance of these
levels could tip the scales in your
favor when it comes to your risk of
heart disease.
September is National Cholesterol
Education Month, a good time to get
your blood cholesterol checked. High
blood cholesterol—partially resulting
from too much bad, low-density
lipoprotein (LDL)—affects more
than 65 million Americans. Lowering
cholesterol levels by increasing good
high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
lessens your risk for developing heart
disease and reduces your chances of
having a heart attack or stroke.
How does cholesterol cause
heart disease?
When there is too much LDL (a
fat-like substance) in your blood, it
builds up in the walls of your arteries.
Over time arteries become narrow
and restrict blood flow to the heart.
Blood carries oxygen to the heart, and
if enough blood and oxygen cannot
reach your heart, you may suffer chest
pain. If the blood supply to a portion
of the heart is completely cut off by a
blockage, the result is a heart attack.
High LDL levels do not cause
symptoms, so many people are
unaware that their cholesterol level
is too high. So it’s important to find
out what your cholesterol numbers
are because lowering cholesterol levels
that are too high lessens the risk for
developing heart disease and reduces
the chances of a heart attack.
By the numbers
The National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute suggests everyone
age 20 and older should have their
cholesterol measured at least once
every five years. A lipoprotein profile
blood test taken after a 9- to 12-hour
fast provides:
H&H
• Total cholesterol
• LDL (bad) cholesterol – the
main source of cholesterol
buildup and blockage in the
arteries
• HDL (good) cholesterol – which
helps keep cholesterol from
building up in the arteries
• Triglycerides – another form of
fat in your blood
HDL protects against heart
disease, so higher numbers are
better. A level less than 40 mg/
dL is low and considered a major
risk factor. HDL levels of 60 mg/
dL or more help lower your risk
for heart disease. Triglycerides can
also raise heart disease risk. Those
with total cholesterol levels that
are borderline high (150-199 mg/
dL) or high (200 mg/dL or more)
may need treatment.
To keep your cholesterol under
control:
• schedule a screening
• eat foods low in cholesterol and
saturated fat and free of trans fat
• maintain a healthy weight
• be physically active • follow your healthcare professional’s advice
To learn more, visit
www.nhlbi.nih.gov, keyword:
cholesterol.
Source: National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute, American
Heart Association
*Cholesterol levels are measured
in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol
per deciliter (dL) of blood.
Construction & Supply
1- 479-754-4999
Fax: 1-479-754-4899
1-800-607-4999
$6,89500
$13,65000
$5,150.00
CARING CASKETS
Sky-blue
$885
$35/Mo w.a.c.
0 down
SAVING YOU MONEY
ON CASKETS, URNS and MONUMENTS
Delivering to all funeral homes • Prepurchase plans
Entering our 11th year of Business
1-888-443-6414 • Call for brochure
Caskets made in the U.S.A.
www.caringcaskets.com
28 S. College, Suite 17, Fayetteville, AR 72701
Town & Country Florist – Huntsville, AR
ASK ABOUT A FAMILY FUNERAL PLANNING GUIDE PACKET
SEPTEMBER 2010
27
family favorites
Recipes from Leslie’s kitchen
Ann Long, a native of Brinkley and graduate of Ouachita Baptist University, is a
retired art teacher of Brinkley High School. Married to Carl Long, a farmer in Lee
County, Ann has one daughter, Lisa, and three stepchildren: Justin, Jared and Karly
and a grandson, Kade. She is owner of Harlow’s Completely Unique Shop located
south of Brinkley on the family farm. She enjoys working in her shop, gardening
and cooking for her family
CHOCOLATY ICE BOX PIE
2 ½ cups milk
1 1/3 cups sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon butter or margarine
7 tablespoons cornstarch
6 teaspoons water
3 extra large egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1 baked 9-inch pie shell
Sweetened whipped cream (Cool Whip)
Chocolate curls or shavings
In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups milk, sugar, cocoa, and
butter. Bring to boil over medium heat. In a medium bowl, mix
cornstarch and water until cornstarch is completely dissolved.
Stir in remaining ½ cup of milk. Whisk in egg yolks and vanilla
until well blended. Gradually add to mixture in saucepan, about 2
minutes or until mixture is thickened and smooth. Add marshmallows and stir until marshmallows melt and mixture is smooth.
Pour into pie shell wrap directly onto filling. Refrigerate at least
2 hours. Remove plastic wrap, top with Cool Whip or whipping
cream and garnish with chocolaty curls.
SISTER’S COCONUT CAKE
1 yellow cake mix
1 large can crushed pineapple
1 large can cream of coconut
Mix and bake cake using three round cake pans. While cake is
cooling, drain pineapple; mix cream of coconut and sweetened
condensed milk. Take cake out when done, let cool about 5
minutes. When you can handle first layer; put on cake plate.
Bottom side up and punch holes using a drinking straw about
every one inch all over layer. Using a small measuring cup put
1/3 of cream of coconut cream mixture over the top; put 1/3 of
pineapple on this layer. Do the same on next two layers, to ice the
cake, mix, cool whip and 1 ½ cups of powdered sugar with hand
mixer. Spread over cake. Put coconut on cake using both hands
letting it fall on sides of cake pressing it on the icing. Refrigerate
two days before serving.
MY MOTHER’S SOUR CREAM POUND CAKE
2 cups butter or margarine softened
3 cups sugar
6 large eggs
3 cups all purpose floor
¼ teaspoon baking soda
8 oz. sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 package frozen coconut
Beat butter at medium speed about 2 minutes or until soft and
creamy. Add sugar, beat eggs in one at a time. Sift flour and soda
and add to mixture alternately with sour cream. Stir in flour and
add coconut. Put in tube pan and bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour
and 20 minutes.
GRAPE SALAD
2 cups sugar
8 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. sour cream light
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 lb. green seedless grapes
1 lb. red seedless grapes
½ to 1 cup brown sugar
½ cup chopped nuts
Mix first four ingredients until smooth. Wash and dry grapes.
Put grapes in a long baking dish. Pour mixture over grapes and
sprinkle with brown sugar. Cover with ½ cup chopped nuts and
chill.
BLACK AND PINTO BEAN SALAD
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
½ cup red bell pepper, diced
½ cup green onions, diced
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons cilantro, minced
½ to ¾ cup Italian dressing
Salt and pepper
Combine all ingredients and refrigerate for 2 hours before
serving.
28
RURAL ARKANSAS
12 or 16 oz. Cool Whip
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 package frozen coconut
1 can sweetened condensed milk
MOTHER’S CINNAMON CHOCOLATE CAKE
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
2 sticks butter
4 tablespoons cocoa
1 cup water
2 eggs
½ cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon soda
Pinch salt
Mix sugar and flour; set aside. In pan, let butter, cocoa and water
come to a boil, pour over flour and sugar. Add eggs, buttermilk,
cinnamon, soda and salt; mix together and bake at 350 degrees
for 35 minutes.
Icing
1 stick butter
4 tablespoons cocoa
7 teaspoons evaporated milk
1 box powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Bring first 3 ingredients to a boil, then pour over powdered sugar
add vanilla and pour over cake.
CORN AND RICE CASSEROLE
2 cups cooked rice
1 stick butter
1 medium onion, chopped
½ bell pepper or celery, chopped
¾ cup milk
3 eggs
1 teaspoon sugar
1 can cream style corn or fresh corn cut up
2 cups Velveeta cheese
1 cup mild cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Brown onions and bell pepper/celery in butter, add salt and
pepper to taste, pour into rice; add cheese, eggs, milk, corn and
sugar, mix well. Pour into 9x12 baking dish; cook 30 minutes at
350 degrees. You can add more cheddar cheese to the top if you
desire.
Ozark Folk Center
✤ SAM BUSH
September 3 • $15
✤ MARTY STUART
September 4 • $20
✤ TOMMY EMMANUEL
l
manue
Tommy Em
October 2 • $20
ss
oggu
Suzy B
✤ SUZY BOGGUSS
October 30 • $15
Marty
M O U N T A I N V I E W, A R K A N S A S
Stuar
t
For tickets, call (870) 269-3851 or visit OzarkFolkCenter.com
Cabins at Dry Creek Reser vations: 800-264-3655 • Information: 870-269-3851 • OzarkFolkCenter.com
Building crews also available
The Pole Outlet
Rison
New Treated Poles
(Penta & CCA)
All Lengths Up To 45’
Great For Pole Barns
870-329-7653
SEPTEMBER 2010
29
Make the Grade
wi t h E asy B ack -To-Schoo l Reci pe s !
3/4
6
1 1⁄2
1
1
1/2
1/2
Chicken Tortilla
Roll-ups
cup sour cream
spinach tortillas or flour tortillas (8 inches)
cups ready-to-use grilled chicken breast strips or cubed cooked turkey
cup (4 oz.) finely shredded cheddar cheese
cup shredded lettuce
cup chopped ripe olives
cup chunky salsa
Spread 2 tablespoons sour cream over each tortilla.
Top with chicken, cheese, lettuce, olives and salsa.
Roll up each tortilla tightly; wrap in plastic wrap
or store in a covered container. Refrigerate until
serving. 6 servings.
Classic Meatballs
Motoring Munchies
1
1
1
1
1
2
pkg. (18 oz.) granola without raisins
can (12 oz.) salted peanuts
pkg. (15 oz.) raisins
pkg. (14 oz.) milk chocolate M&M’s
pkg. (14 oz.) peanut M&M’s
pkg. (7 oz. each) mixed dried fruit
In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients. Store
in a zip-top gallon bag.
Happy Face Cupcakes
1 pkg. (18-1/4 oz.) yellow cake mix
1 can (16 oz.) vanilla frosting
Assorted candies of your choice
Prepare and bake cake according to package
directions for cupcakes. Cool for 5 minutes
before removing from pans to wire racks to cool
completely. Frost cupcakes. Decorate with assorted
candy to create smiley faces.
2 dozen.
30
RURAL ARKANSAS
3/4 1/4 1/2 1/2 2
1
2
1/2 1/2 1/2 1
lb. beef ground chuck
lb. bulk sweet Italian sausage (skin removed)
cup bread crumbs
cup grated parmesan cheese
cloves garlic, minced
large egg
tablespoons minced fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley
teaspoon dried oregano
teaspoon salt
teaspoon freshly ground pepper
cup tomato sauce
Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a large mixing bowl combine beef, sausage,
bread crumbs, parmesan, garlic, egg, parsley,
oregano, salt and pepper by hand.
Form into 16 meatballs approximately 1 1/2-inch
in diameter (can be made a day ahead, stored in
refrigerator). Coat bottom of a 9 x 12-inch baking
dish with tomato sauce and line with meatballs.
Bake uncovered for 20 minutes. Turn each
meatball upside down and bake an additional
10-15 minutes. Use an instant read thermometer
to confirm meatballs are fully cooked. (160° F
internal temperature)
Serves 4
Meatball Hoagie
16 Classic Meatballs (see recipe)
4 hoagie rolls
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese
Preheat broiler. Open hoagie rolls and lay flat on
cookie sheet. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle
evenly with oregano and parmesan cheese. Broil
open face until crisp and golden.
In a large saucepan or frying pan combine
spaghetti sauce and meatballs. Cook over medium
heat until meatballs are warm throughout.
Spoon four meatballs onto one half of each
hoagie with desired amount of sauce. Top with
mozzarella and serve.
Is your computer
password “password”?
How about “123456?” Change it!
Study after study shows that those are
among the most common passwords—
so common that they’re the first ones
a hacker tries while trying to steal
information from the sites where you do
online banking. Maybe that’s even the
password you use to log on to your e-mail
or use your ATM card.
Others among the obvious: qwerty (the
first six letters on the upper left of your
keyboard); abc123; letmein; monkey,
myspace1; password1; and the user’s first
name.
Sound familiar? Use these guidelines for
choosing a password that’s hard to figure
out. The more unique your password is,
the harder the bad guys will have to work
to hack into your bank account, read your
private documents or steal your identity.
The longer the better. Password analysts
recommend using at least 14 characters.
Don’t repeat characters. Use the entire
keyboard to create your password, not just
the characters you use most often.
Combine letters, numbers, punctuation
marks and symbols.
Mix capital letters with lowercase
letters.
Create complexity. Example: Capitalize
only letters in the first half of the alphabet.
Avoid the obvious, including your
name, birthday, anniversary, house
address, phone number or favorite color
Check your password with a secure
online password checker for an indication
of whether it’s weak or strong.
Change your password every three to
six months.
And some “don’ts”:
Don’t write any part of your name:
forward, backward, interrupted by
numbers, doubled—nothing.
Avoid words altogether. Random
letters, numbers and characters that don’t
“spell” anything are harder to crack. Don’t
even use a word spelled backward.
Don’t use numbers or letters in
sequence, like 123456 or abcdef or
777777, or adjacent letters on your
keyboard, like qwerty.
When you change your password, don’t
use one that you’ve used in the past. 
SEPTEMBER 2010
31
The landscape of reliability
Vegetation management programs keep power flowing safely to homes
By Megan McKoy-Noe
Trees may seem harmless on a calm, sunny day. But add a
bit of wind or ice on a stormy night and those towering pillars
may threaten your home’s electric supply.
A great majority of storm outages are related to trees
contacting power lines. Regular trimming of trees and brush
along power lines helps cut down on the number of outages,
as well as annoying blinks.
Electricity interruptions can occur when branches break
and fall across power lines, or when trees tumble onto power
lines. When strong winds blow, limbs growing too close to
power lines may sway and touch wires. These momentary
power disruptions (commonly called “blinks” or ‘blips”) aren’t
just mild annoyances—they can damage computers and other
sensitive electronic equipment and leave digital clocks flashing.
And then there’s arcing—when electricity uses a
nearby tree as a path to the ground. That action
poses hazards to anyone in the vicinity and could
spark a fire.
To fight these potential problems, utilities wage a neverending war. Crews work, in some cases, year-round to clear
growth away from power lines as a way of reducing potential
outages and safety risks.
Your local electric cooperatives are committed to providing
safe, reliable, and affordable power, and the vegetation
management program is key to fulfilling that promise.
Vegetation Management/tree/right-of-way crews look for
foliage growing under lines, overhanging branches, leaning or
other types of “danger” trees that could pull down a power
line if they fall, and trees that could grow into lines. As a
rule of thumb, 25 feet of ground-to-sky clearance should
be available on each side of utility poles to give power lines
plenty of space.
This job never
ends. By the
time crews finish
clearing trees
and brush from
hundreds or even
thousands of miles
of lines, it’s time
to go back to the
beginning to clear
away new growth.
Vegetation
management
programs have
met with widespread success. The North American Electric
Reliability Corporation (NERC), which oversees reliability of
the transmission system that blankets the United States, most
of Canada, and one Mexican state, tracks bulk power supplyrelated outages. The group lists the period between July and
September as “high-risk” for outages due to seasonal tree and
shrub growth.
Aggressive upkeep has led to a drop in vegetation problems.
For the first time ever, no summertime transmission outages
were reported last year.
“Managing vegetation along North America’s 350,000
miles of transmission lines is an ongoing challenge,” acknowledges Rick Sergel, NERC president & CEO. “I commend
transmission owners and operators for this achievement, which
clearly demonstrates the industry’s dedication to improving
performance in this area.”
Making the cut
Typically, a utility will not remove trees. Instead, errant
limbs and branches too close to power lines are trimmed away.
“The Tree Care Industry Association [TCIA, formerly
the National Arborist Association] receives a lot of calls from
32
RURAL ARKANSAS
homeowners complaining that their utility
company ‘drastically’ cut trees near power
lines,” said Tchukki Andersen, TCIA staff
arborist.
Your co-op respects your property,
and decides how to trim trees based on
the amount of clearance needed around
wires, voltage coursing through lines,
the tree’s growth rate, and the right-ofway maintenance cycle (how frequently
trimming along the line is performed).
Most lineworkers and crews are hired to
treat trees with care, often following TCIA
guidelines.
“When evaluating the quality of such
activities, consider that a utility’s primary
objective is to prevent outages as well as electrical hazards,”
explains Andersen.
For long-standing trees that have grown too close to
overhead lines, several trimming options are employed. A
V-cut prunes branches back toward the center of the tree’s
crown, basically carving a V-shape through the middle to
provide proper line clearance.
If limbs grow too close to lines on one side of a tree,
side trimming takes place—branches on the entire side are
removed. Finally, the notch method clips limbs on one side of
a tree from the top to a safe area underneath, leaving a canopy
that will not cause any problems.
If you want to remove a tree near a power line, your
cooperative will work with you. Contact the office before
tackling the project for more information.
In general, tall-growing trees or varieties
boasting wide canopies shouldn’t be placed
near utility poles. A local nursery can
generally provide information outlining
how tall and quickly a tree will grow.
Trees are a valued part of every yard’s
landscaping, and with proper planning
your trees can grow to their full potential
without causing power line woes. Several
guides are available for prospective
planters; to learn more visit the Arbor Day
Foundation at www.arborday.org.
Safety plays a big role in your utility’s
right-of-way trimming practices. Children
climbing trees could come into contact
with a live wire if trees are too close to
power lines. Notice any dead, dying, or severely leaning trees
near power lines in your area? Be sure to alert your local
electric cooperative. And don’t worry—if high winds or heavy
layers of ice bring down trees and power lines near your home,
local co-ops have line crews on call 24 hours a day, seven days
a week to respond.
Sources: NRECA, National Arbor Day Foundation, North
American Electric Reliability Corporation
Branching out
While trees and branches remain the primary cause of
outages, other offenders abound—vehicles running into poles
or animals getting too close to pole-mount transformers or
equipment in substations. Electrical components can also be
damaged by lightning and even drifting balloons.
Cooperatives, with a focus on keeping electricity reliable,
have a number of programs geared towards reducing power
interruptions. A 2009 study by the National Rural Electric
Cooperative Association (NRECA), the Arlington, Va.-based
service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-forprofit electric cooperatives, found 89 percent of cooperatives
across the nation operate aggressive tree trimming programs.
Lightning arrestors are used by 83 percent of co-ops, and
another 82 percent have field personnel patrol distribution
facilities to look for potential trouble spots. Animal guards,
mainly used to protect against squirrels, are installed by 81
percent of co-ops.
Your part
Although a tree-lined street may sound ideal, trees planted
too close to power lines will be trimmed to prevent power
fluctuations and outages. So get your yard off to a good
start—keep utility poles in mind when planting trees.
SEPTEMBER 2010
33
Ductless heating and cooling
Could save you $250-$450 annually
By Eric Cody and Brian Sloboda
Inside walls, along ceilings, and under the floors of many
homes lies a highway system of ductwork that delivers cool air
in summer and warm air during winter. But even in the best
of systems, as much as 15 to 20 percent of the hot or cold air
never reaches your living space.
That’s because conditioned air must first warm or cool
the duct before air at the right temperature comes out. In
addition, seams and joints allow conditioned air to leak into
wall cavities while bends and turns hamper air flow. While
sealing and insulating ductwork will help, the vast majority
of the highway remains hidden behind walls and not easily
accessible.
Alternative to traditional ducted systems
A proven alternative around this issue exists—ductless heat
pumps (DHPs), also called “mini-split” heat pumps because
they are suitable for conditioning smaller areas and consist
of a separate outside compressor and one or more inside
air-handling units. A complete DHP system includes these
main components:
• An outside compressor unit
• One or more indoor air handling units mounted on a
wall or ceiling
• Refrigerant line(s)—insulated copper tubing—running
from a compressor to air handling unit(s), generally running
along the outside of a wall
• A handheld wireless remote or wall-mounted control
unit with programmable thermostat
After decades of use in Asia, Europe, and in American
commercial buildings, DHPs may be poised to gain a share
of the U.S. residential market. These devices use an estimated
50 to 60 percent less energy than electric resistance heating
systems. There are claims that they may even exceed the
efficiency of ducted heat pump systems by more than 25
percent, although comparative performance data does not yet
exist.
Reduce monthly bills
Ductless heat pumps cost more up-front but will save
homeowners money compared to electric resistance heating
systems, such as baseboard or radiant ceiling heat. They
even offer some advantages when compared to conventional
air-source heat pumps. DHP features include:
• Elimination of duct-related losses, typically in the range
of 15 to 20 percent.
• Inverter technology, allowing compressor and fans
to run at variable speeds, contributing to improved energy
efficiency by avoiding on-off cycling losses.
• Different comfort levels in different zones, unlike
centralized systems that have only offer a single temperature
set point. This feature contributes to savings by avoiding
heating or cooling of spaces not being used.
• Some current DHP models produce as much as 60
percent of full heating capacity at outside air temperatures as
low as 17 degrees Fahrenheit, making the need for a supplemental heating system less essential.
Range of residential applications
Ductless heat pumps may find greatest use in niche applications, including
• Retrofits: Full or partial replacement of an existing zonal
electric heating system, especially in housing such as manufactured homes or vacation homes where space is unavailable to
run ducts.
• Additions: New rooms or attic/garage conversions,
where existing ductwork or heating system piping would
otherwise have to be extended to provide heating and/or air
conditioning. DHPs cool small areas more efficiently than
ducted heat pump systems.
• New construction: DHPs can offer homeowners
greater environmental control and lower operating costs than
other heating and cooling systems. In new construction, a
multi-zone DHP can be fully integrated into the architectural
design and floor layout.
Ductless heat pumps are not cheap. For new homes, a
DHP may cost as much as 30 percent more than a ducted
system. The total installed cost of a 1.25-ton DHP system
for heating and cooling a single zone typically runs about
34
RURAL ARKANSAS
$4,000. Costs are in a state of flux and vary considerably depending
on specific installation factors and competition among contractors.
But consumers can expect to save between $250 and $450 per year
compared to electric resistance heating.
In addition to the initial cost, the primary drawback associated
with DHPs may be aesthetics.
The indoor air handling unit
must be mounted on a wall
or ceiling in each room. The
refrigerant line typically runs
along the outside of the home
and enters a room through
a small hole. The line
continues along the inside of
the wall until it reaches the
wall-mounted unit.
As with any purchase,
contact a reputable contractor
and talk to someone who
has installed a ductless heat
pump.
Right: This bedroom features a split-ductless M-Series
system from Mitsubishi Electric Cooling and Heating.
Source: Mitsubishi Electric Cooling and Heating Solutions
SEPTEMBER 2010
35
Far left: Hannah and Trevor “making a
big splash!” – Ilene McCandlis, Viola
Near left: Huge tomato worm “caught in
the act of eating plants” – Timothy and
Lindsey Ralston, Gravel Ridge
Far left: Our boxer was adopted by a
lost fawn – Gatti and Rudy Buchanon,
Lincoln County
Near left: James Ridge with Nala and
Pete, that he raised by a bottle – Martha
Hagler, Wynne
Below: Emma says, “Think it’s going
to rain?” – Laura and Wesley Evans,
Highfill
Reflections
Last of summer in Rural Arkansas
Far left: Nicholas “ready to ride the Deere”
– Melissa Chapman, Monticello
Near left: Kale enjoying the pool –Thomas
and Joyce Hinkle, Hindsville
Far left: Identical twins Jacob and Jaxon
taking a ride on Butterscotch
-- Jamie Ivy, Heber Springs
Near left: “I’m not ready for this” – Wyatt
and Makenzie, Shirley
36
RURAL ARKANSAS
Closing up a
vacation home?
It’s a given that you’ll lock the doors
and arrange to forward your mail before
you close up your summer home for the
winter. Here are nine precautions you
might not have thought of for keeping
your empty house safe while you’re away.
1. Weatherstrip around windows and
doors. Bugs will squeeze their way into the
house through any gaps they can find.
2. Schedule some maintenance for your
roof. Raised shingles can lead to leaks
during storms, and so can cracks or holes
in flat roofs.
3. Secure TV antennas, shutters,
awnings, doors, patio furniture and
playground equipment so off-season
storms won’t knock them over or send
them flying through a window.
4. Add a whole-house surge protector
to your main electrical panel to protect
your electronic equipment. As an extra
precaution, you might want to unplug
expensive equipment.
5. Set the thermostat at 55 degrees, and
open the cabinet doors under sinks in the
kitchen and bathroom. This should keep
the place just warm enough to prevent
your pipes from bursting.
6. Leave your refrigerator turned on
with the door closed. If you turn it off
and the door happens to shut, it could
be full of mold by the time you return.
Also, turn off the ice maker so it doesn’t
overproduce.
7. If your home doesn’t have a security
system, borrow a sign from a neighbor.
Security signs and stickers could deter
would-be burglars who would rather not
take the chance with an alarm.
8. Label your circuit breakers with red
and green stickers once you figure out
which ones you should turn off (bedroom
lights, stove, clothes dryer) and which
ones you should leave on (security system,
outdoor lights on timers). The colored
tape will make it easy to flip the right
switches when you return.
9. Take pictures of every room in your
house. Open the kitchen cabinets and
bedroom closets, and photograph the
contents. Record all of your electronics. If
you need to make an insurance claim, the
photos will help you prove what you had.
SEPTEMBER 2010
37
crossword puzzle
4
GARDenInG pRODuCtS
Mobile Home Roof Problems?
• Leaking • Rumbling
• Having Expensive Utilities
Permanent Steel re-roof
SolveS the Problem!
Mobile Home
Owners: ROOF KING
Mobile Home
Super Insulated
26 and 29 Gauge Steel in 10 Colors
2” and 3” Insulation
12” overhangs
Roof Over Systems
LIFETIME WARRANTY
40 Year Warranty
Factory Direct From
Roof King
Serving Arkansas
1-800-748-0645
1-877-230-6874
www.roofking.net
Custom steel Roofing
38
RURAL ARKANSAS
MUSCADINES half-dollar size muscadines and blackberries. 200 varieties
fruits, nuts, and berries. Free color
catalog. Ison’s Nursery, PO Box 190,
Brooks, GA 30205, 800-733-0324.
August Puzzle
Biomass:
A renewable fuel
By Scott Gates
“Biomass” consists of any biological material that can be
burned as fuel to produce electricity, and it’s everywhere. A
quick drive down a country road provides a virtual tour of
this renewable energy resource: trees, grasses, crops, livestock
waste, and even landfill gas. Recent advances in technology
have made it possible to use tried-and-true biomass in more
efficient ways.
Today, the U.S. boasts almost 11,000 MW of biomass
generating capacity, making it the third largest source of
renewable energy behind hydropower and wind. So it plays an
important role in keeping your lights on every day.
How it works
The basic premise behind this power source is simple.
Burning actual biomass feedstock or the gases produced
by decomposition of organic material—in whatever
form—creates steam, which then spins a turbine and generates
electricity.
Given the wide variety of biomass resources available,
questions on what to burn and in what manner can be
answered in a number of ways:
• Direct-fired systems: This remains the most straightforward, time-tested means of producing electricity with
biomass. Quite simply, material (like wood “slash” from
timbering operations) gets shoveled into a boiler to produce
heat and steam. Residual heat from the process can be piped
off to heat buildings or reused in other ways, increasing plant
efficiencies.
• Co-fired systems: This method adds biomass to
existing fossil fuel plants, mixing wood chips with coal, for
example. In this way, fossil fuel plants can lower emissions
while maintaining the same electrical output.
• Gasification: Slightly more complex, this process
converts biomass to a gas through superheating. The resulting
synthetic gas (syngas) can be burned in a conventional boiler
or used as a substitute for natural gas.
Above: Sugarcane is
being studied as a possible
biomass crop. One of its
great advantages is a short
rotation; plants re-grow
after each harvest, allowing
multiple harvests without
having to replant.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Wood chips can be mixed with
fossil fuels and burned to reduce
emissions while maintaining the
same output of electricity.
Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Pyrolysis:
This techy term describes
changing solid biomass into a different form. If biomass is
superheated in an area void of oxygen, it will not catch fire,
but will instead liquefy. The resulting oil can be burned to
generate electricity or used in making plastics, adhesives, and
other products.
• Anaerobic Digestion: Instead of burning biomass as
fuel, this method amounts to piling up waste and waiting.
As the name implies, bacteria (anaerobes) literally digest
molecules in waste—be it livestock manure or garbage—and
produce methane as a byproduct. The gas is then captured
and burned to make electricity. Leftover material, in many
cases, can be used as compost.
The future of biomass
Biomass has come a long way from putting a log on a fire.
Applications continue to develop, many of which involve
converting biomass to other forms to supplement petroleum
use.
New sources of electricity and fuel production are being
researched every day, and soon waste such as corn stover
(stalks, leaves, and husks) and wheat straw will be added to the
mix. Non-food crops such as trees and grasses are also being
researched for their energy-producing potential, especially in
liquid form.
For more information on the future of biomass and current
uses, visit the U.S. Department of Energy National Renewable
Energy Lab at www.nrel.gov, and search for “learn biomass.”
SEPTEMBER 2010
39
the farm market
The Farm Market
Per Word, One Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.34
Per Word, Six Times at 1.06 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6.39
MINIMUM: $26.93 for one time; $127.55 for six ads at six times rate.
WORDS IN CAPITALS: $1.96 per word.
DEADLINE: All advertising must be in by the 5th of the month
preceding publication. Prepaid only.
40 x 50 x 10 = $8,437.00
40 x 60 x 12 = $9,362.00
50 x 75 x 12 = $14,350.00
60 x 80 x 14 = $16,953.00
100 x 150 x 14 (M-1) = $45,824.00
ALL SIZES MINI-STORAGE!
COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL
SHOP • FARM
CALL TODAY FOR
BUILDING QUOTE!
Miscellaneous
For Sale
Become an Ordained Minister, Correspondence study.
Founded in 1988. Free info. Ministers for Christ Outreach,
7549 West Cactus #104-207, Peoria, Arizona 85381
http://www.ordination.org
PLAY GOSPEL SONGS BY EAR. Piano, keyboard. 10
easy lessons $12.95. “Learn Gospel Music.” Cording, runs,
fills-$12.95. Both $24. Davidson, 6727RA Metcalf, Shawnee
Mission, Kansas 66204.
NEW! GROW EXPENSIVE PLANTS, 2000% PROFIT, Earn
to $50,000, free information. GROWBIZ, Box 3738-AR 09,
COOKEVILLE, TN 38502, www.growbiz-abco.com
SPIRAL STAIRS & ORNAMENTAL IRON custombuilt,
allsteel, excellent quality, craftsmanship, over 22
years experience.Brochures, quotes available at
brayironworks@gmail.com or 479-451-8110. Pea Ridge, AR
Chicken Litter Fertilizer Call 870-370-1078, Steve Scott
NATURAL FERTILIZER Grow more hay-pasture, crops and
vegetables! For less than $40.00 per acre. Convenient liquid
concentrate. Approved for organic agriculture. More info
800-583-1645 kemo@wellsit.net
OUTSIDE WOOD HEATER $1595.00, forced air system,
houses,mobiles,shops, cheap shipping,easyinstall. Ozark, MO.
www.heatbywood.com 417-581-7755
Restore and Reprint Old Photos – by experienced photo
team at Jclare Photography Studios in Mountain Home
Arkansas. Toll free 877-506-2005. jclarestudios.com
OZARK MILLWORKS World’s Most Economical Sawmill,
Fifteenth year. Box 505, Monette, AR 72447, 870-486-2705
jdmcafee@rittermail.com
BLUEBERRY PLANTS. Fall planting works best. Northern
and Southern Highbush varieties. Free catalog. Highlander
Nursery, PO Box 177, Pettigrew, AR 72752. 888-282-3705
or 479-677-2300
Put your old home movies, photos, slides or tapes on DVD.
Call 888-609-9778 or visit my website www.transferguy.com
Join or order AVON www.youravon.com/gpage 1-800-4116323
FREE: Introducing Bible Basics, P.O. Box 1049, Sumner,
Wa. 98390. Read how to study the Bible for yourself. Write
today.
I BUY FISHING TACKLE, Lures, Reels, Boxes, etc. 479-5864548 Northwest Arkansas. Thanks!
CASH for your standing walnut timber & logs. Walnut is
at a record high and now it the time to sell. Long Valley
Timber LLC has been featured in the Arkansas Democrat
Gazette and is ready to serve you. We are members of the
Arkansas BBB & the Arkansas Timber Producers Assoc. We travel and are now signing contracts for the fall harvest. www.LONGVALLEYTIMBER.com Call 479-871-1164 or
479-232-5811
LLAMAS for Sale - gentle pets, livestock guardians, breeding
or show quality. All colors - Easy to keep - small acreage ok.
Ft. Smith 479-207-0811, Mena 479-234-2650.
LLAMAS! Sales, boarding, breeding. Pets, packers, show
quality. Delivery and ongoing consultations included. Osage
Llamas in NW Arkansas. Visitors welcome. 479 643 2899.
FOR SALE: Commerical and Registered Gray Brahman
Bulls ages 1 to 3 years. Gentle. Howe, Ok 74940 Call Chad
(918) 647-7932
1-800-509-4949
www.accessiblebuildings.com
Help Wanted
AGRICULTURAL OPPORTUNITY – We have appraisers
earning over $80,000/yr part time. If you have an agricultural
background you may be qualified to become a certified
livestock or farm equipment appraiser. Classroom or Home
Study courses available. For information call the American
society of Agricultural Appraisers (800) 488-7570 or visit
www.amagappraisers.com
INDIVIDUAL HOME
SEWAGE TREATMENT
SINGULAIR
by NORWECO
®
ODOR
FREE
FREE
ESTIMATES
501-517-7198
CLEAR FLOW
CABOT, AR
25-year warranty
PARSONS DISTRIBUTING, INC.
P.O. Box 1524
Mountain View, AR 72560
Call 870-269-2102 for more details.
40
RURAL ARKANSAS
Auto museum adds
Edsel to exhibit
The Museum of Automobiles atop
Petit Jean Mountain has recently
added a 1959 Edsel Ranger to it’s
display.
This Edsel is equipped with a 200
hp – 292 cubic inch V-8 engine,
along with a three speed manual
transmission. It is an all original car,
having been driven only 67,583 miles.
The original base price was $2,692.00.
Sept. 4, 1957, was an important
day in the history of Ford Motor
Company. Henry Ford II celebrated
his 40th birthday. It was also the day
Ford introduced a new automobile,
one named to honor Henry Ford II’s
Father, Edsel.
The Edsel was short-lived, built
only three years 1958-1960. In
1955, when the Edsel was developed,
sales of lower-medium-price cars
were booming. By the time Edsel
appeared in late 1957, the market had
bottomed out. New car sales were in
a slump.
The Edsel Division started with a
goal of selling 100,000 of the first year
1958 models.
Instead, it produced only a little
over half that amount by the end of
calendar year 1957.
In calendar year 1958, only 26,563
Edsels were built. From there it was
all downhill.
Production was less than 30,000
vehicles in 1959, and it disappeared
for good by the end of November that
year.
The last Edsel produced was a
1960 model which was built at the
Kentucky facility on Nov. 30, 1959.
This vehicle was donated to the
Museum by Ron Fuller of Little
Rock, in memory of his Father Lloyd
L. Fuller. It is now a part of the
Museum’s permanent collection.
The Museum of Automobiles is
open seven days a week year round.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For
additional information contact Buddy
Hoelzeman at The Museum of
Automobiles, 501-727-5427.
Score More News with the
Rural Arkansas Living E-Newsletter
The Rural Arkansas Living e-newsletter contains up-to-date cooperative news
between Rural Arkansas issues. This e-newsletter brings you a preview of
upcoming magazine articles, recipes, important information about cooperative
issues and much more.
Subscribe Today: www.ecark.org
SEPTEMBER 2010
41
Calendar of Events
Oct 1-2: Oct 1-4: Oct 1-31: Oct 2: Oct 2: Oct 2: Oct 2: Oct 2: Oct 2-3: Oct 2-3: Oct 2-3: Oct 2-3: Oct 2-3: Oct 2-3: Oct 2-4: Oct 3: Oct 3: Oct 3: Oct 3: Oct 8-10: Oct 8-10: Oct 8-10: Oct 9: Oct 9: Oct 9: Oct 9: 42
Outlaw Trail Ride, Hamburg, 870-853-6188
Corvette Weekend, Eureka Springs,
417-862-7232
Peebles Farm Fall Festival, Augusta,
870-919-6162
Live@5, Pine Bluff, 870-536-3375
Flying Jam Music Festival, Marshall,
870-448-5809
FIRE FEST, Newcastle, 870-633-1238
City Wide Rummage Sale, Portland,
870-737-4259
Wing Ding Festival, Jacksonville,
501-982-1511
Musicfest XXII, El Dorado, 870-862-4747
Herb Harvest Fall Festival, Mtn. View,
870-269-3851
Rock and Roll Highway 67 Music
Festival, Pocahontas, 870-758-1875
Timberfest, Sheridan, 870-942-3021
Wild Duck Festival, Truman, 870-930-6918
Gun & Knife Show, Berryville, 870-423-2658
Arkansas Apple Festival, Lincoln,
479-466-7743
Reception for Ouachita Expressions
Show, Mena, 479-234-3104
Post Familie & Gaston’s Free Wine
Tasting, Lakeview, 807-431-5202
Mt. Magazine Frontier Day Festival,
Paris, 479-963-2244
High Cotton on the Bayou, Scott,
501-351-0300
Carnegie Library Fall Book Sale, Eureka
Springs, 479-253-8754
Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival,
Helena-West Helena, 870-338-6583
Ouachita Art Trails Studio Tour, Mena,
479-234-3104
Pea Ridge Mule Jump, 479-451-1122
Fall Fest, Augsburg, 479-331-3483
CabotFest, 501-843-2136
Fall Festival, Crawfordsville, 870-823-5822
RURAL ARKANSAS
Oct 9: Yesterdaze Festival, Elm Springs,
479-248-2852
Oct 9-11: Montgomery County EHC Quilt
Show, Mount Ida, 80-326-4442
Oct 10: October Daze, Booneville, 479-675-2666
Oct 10: Fire on the Mountain: Hammerfest,
Mtn. View, 870-269-3851
Oct 11: Mustang & Ford Show, Hot Springs,
501-262-4209
Oct 13-17: Spanker Creek Farm Arts & Craft,
479-685-5655
Oct 14-16: Carnegie Library Book Sale, Eureka
Springs, 479-789-8754
Oct 14-16: Arts & Crafts Festival, Bella Vista,
479-855-2064
Oct 15: Quilt & Crafts Show, Mtn. Home,
870-425-3807
Oct 15: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder,
Forrest City, 870-633-4480 ext 352
Oct 15-18: War Eagle Mill Arts & Crafts Fair,
Rogers, 866-492-7324
Oct 16: A Nite @ the Races at Golden Living,
479-209-1551
Oct 16: Basic Bonsai Class, Van Buren,
479-474-9225
Oct 16-18: Eureka Springs Chamber Arts &
Crafts Faire, 479-253-8737
Oct 16-18: Arkansas Antique Dealer Assoc. Show
& Sale, Little Rock, 501-529-5907
Oct 17: Junior Fishing Derby, Star City,
870-628-4714
Oct 17: Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra,
Bentonville, 803-260-3523
Oct 22-23: Autumn in the Ozarks Arts & Craft
Festival, Marshall, 870-448-4758
Oct 23: Bluegrass Festival, Berryville, 870-670-5614
Oct 23-31: Boo At The Zoo, Little Rock,
501-661-7203
Oct 24: Rice Festival, Hazen, 870-255-3072
Oct 29-Nov 14: Hamlet, The Rep Little Rock,
501-378-0405
Oct 30: Iron Mountain Festival, Walnut Ridge,
870-886-3232
FOR A LIMITED
TIME RECEIVE:
24
e
Fre
regular price $39.99
$
99
a month
for 12 months
over 120 channels locals
Activation
($99 Value)
e
Fre
&
included!
(where available)
HD FREE
life!
for
ement)
(with agre
18 channels for 3 mo.
(with agreement)
e
Fre
2 Room
HD-DVR Upgrade
1 HD-DVR + 1 SD-DVR
($6/mo DVR service fee applies)
e
Fre
Up to 6 Room
Installation
Watch every touchdown from every game!
CALL TODAY
1•877•622•5090
Visavati®on
$25
ti
d with ac
gift car rtain conditions apply)
(ce
WWW.INFINITYDISH.COM
WE ARE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 8 AM – MIDNIGHT EST • SUNDAY 9 AM – MIDNIGHT EST • OFFER ONLY GOOD TO NEW DISH SUBSCRIBERS • SE HABLA ESPAÑOL
Digital Home Advantage plan requires 24-month agreement and credit qualification. If service is terminated before the end of agreement, a cancellation fee of $17.50/month remaining applies. Programming credits apply during first 12 months. Free HD for life of current
account; requires Agreement, AutoPay with Paperless Billing. HBO/Showtime offer requires AutoPay with Paperless Billing; credits apply during first 3 months ($72 value); customer must downgrade or then-current price applies. Requires continuous enrollment in AutoPay
and Paperless Billing. Free Standard Professional Installation only. All equipment is leased and must be returned to DISH Network upon cancellation or unreturned equipment fees apply. Limit 6 leased tuners per account; lease upgrade fees apply for select receivers;
monthly fees may apply based on type and number of receivers. HD programming requires HD television. HD channel availability will vary based on package. 200 HD channels require subscription to additional packages and ViP® 922 receiver. All prices, packages and
programming subject to change without notice. Local channels may not be available in all areas. Offer is subject to the terms of applicable Promotional and Residential Customer Agreements. Additional restrictions may apply. First-time DISH Network customers only. Offer
ends 9/28/10. HBO® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc. SHOWTIME and related marks are registered trademarks of Showtime Networks Inc., a CBS Company. $25 Visa® gift card requires activation and $2.95 shipping and handling
fee. You will receive a claim voucher within 3-4 weeks and the voucher must be returned within 30 days. Your Visa® gift card will arrive in approximately 6-8 weeks. InfinityDISH charges a one-time $49.95 non-refundable processing fee. Indiana C.P.D. Reg. No. T.S. 10-1006.
SEPTEMBER 2010
43
POWERING
the Future
Planning for the future has always been a driving force for
Arkansas’ electric cooperatives.
For more than 70 years, cooperative leaders have made
tough choices and taken bold positions to make sure we can
continue to provide our members’ power needs. Today,
those leadership principles are more important than ever.
The cooperatives will continue to make decisions and take
a stand to support efforts for energy policies that are fair
and in the best interest of electric cooperative members.
We’re committed to providing abundant, reliable, affordable
and local electric power. With over 22 years of experience
in renewable hydroelectric generation, we take environmental
stewardship very seriously. And while nobody knows what
the future holds in store, rest assured we’re already exploring
new and emerging generation technologies, including
additional renewable energy resources.
We've always been here for you, and will be for generations
to come.
www.ecark.org