The Power of Connections

Transcription

1 Co-op News SAN BERNARD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE The Power of Connections San Bernard Electric Cooperative MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT/GENERAL MANAGER BILLY MARRICLE HAVE YOU EVER REACHED INTO a pair of jeans and pulled out a hidden $20 bill? Or, removed clothes from your dryer only to find newly cleaned dollar bills? Makes you feel like you hit the lottery, only on a much lower scale. But it s still a great feeling. Now imagine yourself finding almost $200 hiding on your countertop along with your other junk mail that is too important to throw away. Yes we all have this mail. That s exactly what happened to one of our members recently. Seems she put her Co-op Connections card in this stack of mail that she hadn t gotten around to tossing. When she rediscovered the card, she was heading to the pharmacy to refill her medications. On a whim, she decided to check out the card s potential. The medication prescription was for a three-month s supply and usually quite expensive. The first time she used the card, her $300 prescription was reduced to a little over $90. The second time she used the card, she saved an additional $200. I d say that s a pretty good find for this member. The Co-op Connections card can be used for a variety of other things, as well. You can save on dentist visits or hotel stays, among other benefits. The reason I m giving you this information now is because we are including a new Co-op Connections card in every member s bill in November. So, before you toss it out or put in your special junk mail location, you might want to check out the benefits, as they might pertain to you. Who knows, you could possibly be $200 richer yourself. Information about or to answer any questions about your new Co-op Connections card can be found on our website,. Just click on the link, and it should have all the information you need. If not, please don t hesitate to call John Spiess or Lari Samford in our Bellville office. Now, go out and find yourself some money!!!! I want to brag a little bit about a recently retired employee. Bob Hancock, formerly of our Member Services Department was recently bestowed the Texas Member Services Association s Lifetime Achievement Award through Texas Electric Cooperatives. We plan to share pictures of him receiving his award in our January issue. WAY TO GO, BOB! I will not have a column in the December issue of this magazine. Recently, we decided to honor our employees and the board by putting their pictures and Christmas wishes in that edition. So, I want to take the time to wish each of you a happy Thanksgiving and a merry Christmas. I hope you have a blessed and joyous holiday season. Until next time, take care. San Bernard Electric Co-op PRESIDENT/GENERAL MANAGER Billy Marricle BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gus H. Miller Jr., Chairman, District 6 Bruce Pilcik, 1st Vice Chairman, District 3 Karl N. Micklitz, 2nd Vice Chairman, District 2 Sammy Condra, 3rd Vice Chairman, District 5 Charles Matula, Secretary-Treasurer, District 7 Elroy Kiecke, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer, District 4 Frank Pokluda, District 1 Colt Haack, District 8 John Allen, District 9 Contact Us HEADQUARTERS BELLVILLE (979) W. Main St. P.O. Box 1208 Bellville COLUMBUS SERVICE CENTER (979) Highway 71 South P.O. Box 309 Columbus FIELDSTORE SERVICE CENTER (936) or (936) FM 1488 P.O. Box 1367 Magnolia HALLETTSVILLE SERVICE CENTER (361) U.S. Hwy. 90A East P.O. Box 610 Hallettsville FIND US ON THE WEB facebook.com/sbecoop 18 Texas Co-op Power SAN BERNARD EC November 2016

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3 SAN BERNARD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Meet the Newest SBEC Employees GREG ADAMS Length of service: 8 months Job title: Member services energy advisor Responsibilities: Addressing high bill complaints and voltage concerns, doing energy audits, and handling the rebate and surge protection programs are just a few of my job responsibilities. From your list of responsibilities, which do you think will be your favorite? I enjoy energy audits because I get to go out and meet the members and give them ideas on how to make their homes more energy efficient. Family: Wife Felicia; son Dustin, who is a junior at Texas A&M University; and daughter Taylor, who is a freshman at Blinn College Pets: We have four dogs and a cat. Hobbies: I enjoy gardening, woodworking and mechanics. What s one thing about you most people don t know? I am a sentimental guy. I am not a hoarder, but I do like to hold onto things that have meaning to me. Who has had the most influence on you and why? My Grandpa Sliva. He gave me my love of farming, taught me how to work with my hands, the desire to be perfect and get things done the right way. Favorites: a TV show: I hardly watch TV, but if I do, it is usually the History Channel. a Restaurant: I miss the Country Inn in Brenham. a Sport: Fast-pitch softball a Music: Traditional country music a Song: Amarillo by Morning, George Strait a Read: I love to read just about anything, but I enjoy reading suspense novels the most. a Place and way to relax: I can really relax at the Frio River. It started as a family trip, and over the years we have added friends and more family. LARRY HINTZEL JR. Length of service: 11 months Job title: Lineman helper Responsibilities: My job is to get all the trucks prepared for the crews, and I can work on deadlines. From your list of responsibilities, which do you think will be your favorite? I like operating the equipment. Family: Dad Larry Hintzel Sr.; mom Leslie Tidwell; sister Lisa Brantner Pets: I have two dogs an Australian shepherd named Bandit and a mutt named Butch. Hobbies: I like hunting, fishing and hanging out with friends. If you could spend a day with anybody of your choosing, who would it be? Country singer Gary Stewart Who has had the most influence on you and why? My parents because they have raised me to work hard, motivated me and made me a honest person. Favorites: a TV show: Counting Cars a Restaurant: Sodolak s Beefmasters Restaurant in Bryan a Sport: Houston Texans a Music: Country music Gary Stewart a Song: An Empty Glass a Place and way to relax: Friend s house or at the beach TYLER KUSSAD Length of service: 5 months Job title: Apprentice 2 lineman Responsibilities: I pull the equipment and supplies for the linemen before we go out on the job. I can climb poles and work with de-energized lines. What do you enjoy most about your job? I like climbing poles and the camaraderie among the lineman. Pets: A Catahoula named Annie Hobbies: I enjoy hunting, fishing and dancing. If you could spend a day with anybody of your choosing, who would it be? I would want to hang out with my buddies from Lexington, since I don t get to see them that often. What s one thing about you most people don t know? I m a pretty good cook and cook every night. Who has had the most influence on you and why? My dad and brother because they taught me to work hard. Favorites: a TV show: Cops a Restaurant: Olive Garden a Sport: College football a Music: Old country like Keith Whitley a Place and way to relax: In my recliner at home 20 Texas Co-op Power SAN BERNARD EC November 2016

4 (979) SBEC.ORG Full House? Save Energy, Anyway Dialing before digging will keep you safe during do-it-yourself projects. Know What s Below Dial 811 before you dig SPRING MIGHT SEEM LIKE THE OPTIMAL TIME OF YEAR to create a landscaping masterpiece, but in Texas, Arbor Day is celebrated the first Friday in November. Planting trees and shrubs in early fall gives the plants a head start at establishing roots in the season s cool, moist soil. Or maybe you re planning to build a new deck to enjoy those cool autumn evenings instead of planting. If any of your fall projects require digging such as planting trees or shrubs, or setting posts remember to dial 811 first. Underground utilities, such as buried gas, water, electric or communications lines, can be a shovel s thrust away from turning a fall project into a disaster. Play it safe by dialing 811 a few days before digging to find out where utility lines run on your property. Your call will be routed to a local one call center. Tell the operator where you re planning to dig and what type of work you will be doing, and the affected local utilities will be notified. In a few days, a locator will arrive to designate the approximate location of any underground lines, pipes and cables. These areas will be marked with flags or paint so you ll know what s below. Then the safe digging can begin. Although many homeowners tackling do-it-yourself digging projects are aware of call before you dig services, most don t take advantage of them. A national survey showed that only 50 percent of homeowners called to have their lines marked before they started digging projects, according to the Common Ground Alliance, a federally mandated group of underground utility and damage prevention industry professionals. CGA data also show that an underground utility line is damaged every six minutes in the U.S. because someone decided to dig without first dialing 811. Even simple tasks such as installing a new mailbox post can damage utility lines, which can disrupt service to an entire neighborhood, harm diggers and potentially result in fines and repair costs. Never assume you know the location or depth of underground utility lines. There s no need to guess: The 811 service is free, prevents the inconvenience of having utilities interrupted and can help you avoid serious injury. For more information about local services, visit 811.com. YUNAVA1 ISTOCK.COM EXPECTING A CROWD FOR Thanksgiving dinner? A house full of guests means you ll be using more energy than usual. Here s how to keep it under control: Lower the heat a couple of degrees before company arrives. You ll be using the stove and oven all day, so the house will be warmer than usual, anyway. Plus, people generate heat, so a slightly cooler house will feel more comfortable. Keep an eye on the refrigerator and freezer so you ll know the doors are snugly closed. Doors that aren t sealed will send cold air into the kitchen. Wait until the leftovers cool off a bit before placing them in the refrigerator. The appliance works harder to cool down hot food than cool food. Place lids on pots and pans as you use them for cooking. The lids keep heat in, so food cooks more quickly. Heat up whatever you can in the microwave instead of on the stovetop or oven. A microwave uses about half the energy that an oven uses. Fill your oven with as many different dishes as you can fit, and cook them all at once. As long as the recipes call for temperatures that don t vary by more than 25 degrees, everything should cook or bake evenly. Cooking several dishes at once can save time and energy. GERENME ISTOCK.COM November 2016 SAN BERNARD EC Texas Co-op Power 21

5 SAN BERNARD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Treating Electrical Shocks and Burns IN MOST SITUATIONS, BUILT-IN SAFEGUARDS keep us isolated from the dangers of electricity. Because of accidents, equipment failure or poor decision-making, our bodies can come into contact with electricity, sometimes leading to tragic results. If someone has received an electric shock, the injuries are not always obvious. Some of the symptoms to look for include changes in alertness; headache; problems with vision, swallowing or hearing; irregular heartbeat; muscle spasm and pain; numbness or tingling; and breathing problems. Electrical burns are different than burns from chemicals, heat or fire. Unlike typical burns, electrical current passing through a body can cause serious and lasting damage below the surface of the skin. Anyone who is involved in an electrical accident should be seen by a doctor to check for internal injuries. If you encounter an accident situation in which you believe someone is in contact with electricity or has just suffered an electrical shock, here are some safety guidelines: a Look first. Do NOT touch the injured person if they are still in contact with the electrical current. That person, the area around them and other items in contact with the current might be energized. Touching the victim or surrounding area can cause the current to pass through you. If there are others nearby, make sure they do not touch the person, either. If there is an accident involving a vehicle and downed lines, keep your distance and keep others away. Tell anyone in the vehicle to stay put to avoid electric shock. a Call 911 immediately to have first responders and the cooperative notified. a Turn off the source of electricity if known and if safely possible (i.e., circuit breaker or box). If you are not sure, wait for help from emergency responders. a Only once the source of electricity is off, check the person for signs of circulation (breathing, coughing or movement). Then provide any necessary first aid. a Prevent shock. Lay the person down, and, if possible, position the head slightly lower than the trunk of the body, with the legs elevated. a Do not move a person with an electrical injury unless the person is in immediate danger. If an accident involves overhead power lines that have fallen, remember that the wire does not have to be sparking or arcing to be live. Always assume a power line is energized, and never touch or approach it. Call 911 immediately to notify first responders and the utility. a If you come upon an accident scene involving a vehicle and downed lines, stay back and warn others to stay away. Make sure the occupants of the car stay inside the vehicle until the cooperative has arrived to de-energize the lines. BRIAN NOLAN ISTOCK.COM Veterans Day November 11 San Bernard EC sends gratitude to all our country s veterans. MIE AHMT ISTOCK.COM Happy Thanksgiving from San Bernard EC Our offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 24 25, to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. &#169 MORGANL ISTOCK.COM 22 Texas Co-op Power SAN BERNARD EC November 2016

6 (979) SBEC.ORG Tips for a Safe and Healthy Thanksgiving HERE ARE SOME TIPS from San Bernard Electric Cooperative to help keep your Thanksgiving Day celebration a little safer, healthier and more energy efficient. Preparing the Feast Thawing a turkey? Planning ahead can make a big difference. a Put the still-wrapped bird on a tray to keep fluids from contaminating food in the refrigerator. a Thaw it in the refrigerator one day for every 4 pounds. That means you ll have to start thawing a 20-pound gobbler the Saturday before Thanksgiving. a Clean your stove and oven before you start cooking your holiday meal. a To take advantage of residual heat, use the self-cleaning mode on your oven just after you ve used it. a Make the kitchen off-limits to kids who aren t helping with the meal. This lessens chances of an accident. a Don t wear dangling jewelry or loose long sleeves while cooking. They could catch fire or snag pot handles. a Keep Thanksgiving decorations and kitchen clutter away from sources of direct heat. Fry the Turkey, Not Yourself Deep-frying a turkey can result in a juicy, crispy treat. The production also can go very wrong. Here are some tips to consider: a Don t try to deep-fry a turkey indoors. Use a propanefired burner and deep pot made for frying. a Set the propane tank upwind away from the burner. a Position the fryer in an open area away from structures or fences. Don t fry in a garage, carport or porch that can catch fire. a Make sure turkey skin is completely dry to prevent spatter burns. Ease the turkey into and out of the hot oil. a Keep a close eye on the oil temperature and turn off the burner if the oil begins to smoke. a If the oil catches fire, call 911 immediately. DO NOT try to put out the fire with water, which will only spread the flames. Going to Memaw s? If you re taking a toddler to a home that s not childproof: a Take medicines off bedside tables and out of unlocked drawers. Store them in a locked box or on a high shelf. Iron pills or iron-fortified vitamins can pose a poisoning risk. a Bring along one or more safety gates to block little ones from danger. a Make sure bathroom doors stay closed or block them off with a gate. a Watch out for small objects such as coins or batteries that a curious youngster might swallow. If it can fit through a toilet paper tube, it s a choking hazard. a Traveling by plane? Don t forget the car seat! Have a Serving of Energy Savings With added holiday expenses, saving a little energy and money can be a big help. a Replace your lightbulbs with compact fluorescent or light-emitting diode bulbs. Your guests won t notice a difference in lighting, but you ll see a difference in your bill. a Cook at least one dish from start to finish in the microwave, which uses about a third of the electricity of a conventional oven. Slow cookers can help trim costs, too, and they don t add as much heat to the room as the oven. a Load the dishwasher completely full. With a mountain of dinner plates, using the dishwasher will be more efficient than hand-washing. MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES ISTOCK.COM November 2016 SAN BERNARD EC Texas Co-op Power 23

7 SAN BERNARD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE TRADING POST FOR SALE SEWING MACHINES. National 2-spool; Singer electric sewing machine; Keen Edge sewing machine; Heatorola wood heater. Call (979) VARIOUS ITEMS. Antique sewing machine, $100; 12-cu. ft. freezer, $125; round table & chair, antique, $100. Call (361) SEWING MACHINES. Top-of-the-line Kenmore w/cabinet and accessories, white Superlock serger, both $50 OBO; Kubota B1550 HSD tractor, diesel, 17 hp, 4-wheel drive, w/tiller and bush hog, $2,000. Call (281) TRACTOR, 3600 Ford, $400. Call (979) VARIOUS MACHINES. Shredder, 5-ft. bush hog, 3-pt. hookup, $550; air compressor, 60 gal., 3 hp, cast iron pump, needs motor, $150; child s 4-wheeler, needs clutch, $100; child s battery-operated car, blue, needs battery, $30; Cub Cadet riding lawn mower, 20 hp, 46-in. deck, deck needs repair, $50. Call (979) VARIOUS ITEMS. Lawn mower, John Deere 320, 48-in. cut, hydrostat drive water-cooled engine, $1,000; Maytag washer, $125; GE electric dryer, $125; Kenmore 19.5-cu.-in. Coldspot, frostless upright freezer, avocado color, $50. Call (936) ENGINE EQUIPMENT. 2-ton folding hoist; 1,000- lb. engine stand; 1,200-lb. engine load leveler, barely used, all $225. Call (979) VARIOUS ITEMS. Tanning bed, Sun Dash, $650 OBO; 1948 Chevy; 1953 Packard; two 1947 Packards; 1949 Cushman 3-wheeler; 1966 Mercedes Coupe; antique brass/iron bed, unique. Call (979) BARBECUE PIT, 10-ft. length, 30-ft. width, 10-ft. prep table, new tires, single-axle trailer, bumper-pull, 2-in. wrap hitch. Call (979) or BUILDING to be moved, 18x24 ft., on 2 double 2x10-in. wooden skids, 24-in. long cement pads, 3 average-sized windows, 1 picture window, white vertical draw shades with valance, white/beige wood paneling, beige carpet floors, metal roof w/attic fan, AC & wall heater, ceiling lights, 11 electrical 4-prong outlets, nice closet/shelves, enclosed porch w/5-ft. wide steps, very clean and sturdy. $6,500, make offer. Call (979) KITCHEN APPLIANCES, Whirlpool 4-burner electric stove w/self-cleaning oven, black, $150; Whirlpool Quiet Partner II dishwasher, black, $75. Call (713) ACRES in Vienna, 1 BR/1 BA; or 39 acres, partial, no cottage. Call (281) CAMPER, pop-up, good condition, good tires and AC. Call (979) VEHICLE, 1994 Olds., 4 doors, motor not good, selling for parts, $200. Call (979) BULL, Black Angus, 4 yrs. old, gentle. Call (713) VARIOUS ITEMS. Shingles, asphalt, 10 bundles; white bricks 8x5x3 ft.; classic 1959 Buick, 2-door, 51,000 miles, $8,900; classic 1993 Buick Riviera, white leather, landau top, $5,200. Call (979) Advertise in the TRADING POST VARIOUS ITEMS. Franklin wood stove, matte black, cast iron, w/heat shields, tools, interior piping 30Wx28Dx32H in., never been used, $1,500; Magnavox console AM/FM stereo w/turntable, diamond needles, 4 legs, 25Hx17Dx50W inches, $150. Call (979) or (979) MOBILE HOME, 1978, double-wide, 3 BR/2 BA, remodeled, to be moved, Frelsburg area. Call (979) or (979) ACRES w/2 ponds, 2 water wells, septic tank, older model manufactured home, deer, hogs, turkey, 1997 CR 106, Columbus. Call (956) FURNITURE. King-size bed, Bassett solid wood bookcase headboard, dresser, $275; queen bed, $50; sectional sofa w/bed, $75; 4-drawer chest, $30; wood table w/4 chairs, $150; small metal desk, $20; end tables $25 $35; table lamps, $10 $25; coffee table w/cabinet, $50; various chairs; swivel bar stools, $25 $35; wood cabinet w adjustable shelves, $60; various wood shelves, $5 $20; bumper pool table, $25; vacuum, $20; soft toolbox, $50; and lots more. Call (417) VARIOUS ITEMS. Crutches, stainless steel, never used, $11; folding aluminum walker, $10; Rollator, drive adjustable, foldable, locking hand brakes, $50; 13-in. Sylvania TV/VCR; Sharp VHS VCR, Total Vision 10-in. TV; Symphonic VHS VCR, Panasonic cassette recorder, SBEC members are invited to submit ads for the Trading Post to P.O. Box 1208, Bellville, TX However, no commercial business ads will be accepted. Ads are placed on a first-come, first-served basis, and we reserve the right to refuse any ad. Please submit your ad by the 20th of each month. (If you submit an ad by November 20, it will be in the January issue). Your ad will be published in two consecutive issues then deleted. If you want the ad to run another two months you must resubmit the ad. The ad will not exceed four consecutive months. HEADER: HEMERA THINKSTOCK 24 Texas Co-op Power SAN BERNARD EC November 2016

8 (979) SBEC.ORG GE cassette recorder; Kenmore vacuum, tank, barely used, $50; treadmill, self-propelled, adjustable height, $60; head titanium metal tennis racquet-stringing machine, extra strings, instructions, $100; hutch, 6 1/2x2 ft.x8 in., glass doors, 2 middle drawers, 2 glass bottom spaces, $100; Troybilt trimmer/vac, 4-wheel, Tecamsen engine, $125; Jack LaLanne Power Juicer, fruit and vegetable juices, salsa, sauces and dressings, no peelings, never used, $50, Magnolia area. Call (936) TRADE RV, 32 ft., water damaged, for a fence, a circular driveway, finish work on an unfinished house. Call (936) WANTED RIDING HORSES, 2 gentle, and western saddles. Call (281) FREE WILD HOG REMOVAL. Use dogs, well-experienced, willing to travel. Call (832) TIME TO FALL BACK! DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME Set your clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, November 6. MARTINWIMMER ISTOCK.COM Avoid Kitchen Dangers Make holiday preparations safely ALTHOUGH CREATING HOLIDAY FAVORITES IN THE KITCHEN can be fun with the family and soothing for the soul, it can be brutal for the body. Consider the following: Playing With Fire The Federal Emergency Management Agency reports that cooking equipment most often a range or stovetop is the leading cause of reported home fires and related injuries in the U.S. The agency offers some tips to avoid becoming a statistic: a It s easy during holiday chaos to do too many things at once and forget projects that you started. If you are simmering, frying, grilling, broiling, baking, roasting or boiling food, check it regularly. Remain in the kitchen while the food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you re cooking. a Keep anything that can catch fire towels, potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, towels, or curtains away from your stovetop. a Keep the stovetop, burners and oven clean. a Keep pets off cooking surfaces and nearby countertops to prevent them from knocking things onto a burner or other heat source. a Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when During the holidays, be sure to keep young children away from hot surfaces in the kitchen. cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire if it comes into contact with a gas flame or electric burner. a Keep young children at least 3 feet away from cooking appliances. a Make sure ground-fault circuit interrupters are installed in all outlets in areas that might come into contact with water, such as at the kitchen sink. Keep countertop appliances and their cords as far away as possible from the sink and any other water sources. Contact Burns From Equipment The oven is modern magic, but all that heat combined with metal components and cookware can lead to burns. a Always use oven mitts (not a wet towel) to handle hot dishes or pans, and replace mitts when they re old. a Don t reach into the oven to check baked goods; instead, always pull out the rack to test a dish. a Stir simmering food with a wooden spoon, not a metal one, which will get hot. a Keep metal objects out of appliances. If a piece of toast gets stuck in the toaster, for example, never use a metal knife to retrieve it. Unplug the toaster, allow it to cool, and use a plastic or wooden utensil to remove the toast. a Only plugs should go into outlets. Sticking fingers or other objects into outlets could result in an electrical shock and possibly a fire. LIBORTOM ISTOCK.COM November 2016 SAN BERNARD EC Texas Co-op Power 25