january 2017 - nrppd.combig pharma execs stand to lose billions as doctors and their patients...

January 2017

Drug Companies Nervous as Doctors and Patients Demand the AloeCureBig Pharma execs stand to lose billions as doctors and their patients abandon drugs like Nexium® and Prilosec®. Drug free remedy could put Big Pharma out of the digestion business.

Drug company execs are nervous. That’s because the greatest health ad vance in de-cades has hit the streets. And analysts ex-pect it to put a huge crimp in “Big Pharma”

So what’s all the fuss about? It’s about a new ingredient that’s changing the lives of people who use it. Some call it “the greatest discovery since penicil lin”! And others call it “a miracle!”

The name of the product is the AloeCure. It’s not a drug. It’s something completely

anyone who wants it, at a reasonable price. But demands may force future prices to rise.

Top Doc Warns: Digestion Drugs Can Cripple You! Company spokesperson, Dr. Liza Leal, a

leading integrative health specialist out of Texas recommends Aloecure before she de-cides to prescribe any digestion drug. Espe-cially after the FDA’s stem warning about

pump inhibitors like Prilosec®, Nexium®, and Prevacid®. In a nutshell, the FDA state-ment warned people should avoid taking these digestion drugs for longer than three 14-day treatment periods because there is an increased risk of bone frac tures. Many people take them daily and for decades.

Dr. Leal should know. Many patients come to her with bone and joint com plaints and she does everything she can to help

help avoid possible risk of tragic joint and bone problems caused by overuse of diges-tion drugs is to take the AloeCure.

The secret to AloeCure’s “health ad-

Acemannan, a polysaccharide extracted from Aloe Vera. But not the same aloe vera that mom used to apply to your cuts, scrapes and burns. This is a perfect strain of aloe that is organically grown in spe-cial Asian soil under very strict conditions. AloeCure is so powerful it begins to ben-

soothes intestinal discomfort and you can

avoid the possibility of bone and health damage caused by overuse of digestion drugs. We all know how well aloe works externally on cuts, scrapes and burns. But did you know Acemannan has many of

Helps Calm Down Painful In� ammation

According to a leading aloe research sci-entist, the amazing Aloe plant has a pow-

sunburn on your skin and in many ways

whether it’s damage that is physical, bacte-rial, chemical or auto-immune, the natural

reducing redness, heat and swelling. Rapid Acid and Heartburn Fix

Aloe has proved to have an astonishing

burn, cramping, gas and constipation be-

soothes the digestive system. But new stud-ies prove it does a whole lot more.

Side-Step Heart Concerns So you’ve been taking proton pump in-

hibitors (PPI’s) for years and you feel just

that chronic PPI use increases the risk of heart attack in general population.

Debilitating brain disorders are on the rise. New studies show PPI’s are linked to an increased risk of dementia. Cutting edge research shows that the health of your brain is closely linked by the state of healthy bac-teria that comes from your gut. The things happening in your belly today might be deciding your risk for any num ber of brain conditions. Studies have been ongoing

taking PPI’s at both low and high dosage also disrupts a healthy human gut!

Sleep Like A Baby A night without sleep really damages

your body and continued lost sleep can

lead to all sorts of health problems. But what you may not realize is the reason why you’re not sleeping. I sometimes call

of acid discomfort that quietly keeps you awake in the background. AloeCure helps

through the night. Celebrity Hair, Skin & Nails

One of the Best-Kept Secrets in Holly-wood. Certain antacids may great ly reduce your body’s ability to break down and ab-sorb calcium. Aloe delivers calcium as it aids in balancing your stomach acidity. The result? Thicker, healthier looking hair ... more youthful looking skin ... And nails so strong they may never break again.

Save Your KidneyNational and local news outlets are re-

porting Kidney Failure linked to PPI’s. Your Kidney extracts waste from blood,

in other important functions of the body. Without it your body would be overrun by deadly toxins. Aloe helps your kidney function properly. Studies suggest if you started taking aloe today you’d see a big

Special Opportunity For Readers of this Magazine

risk-free supply. Readers of this magazine

of product with their order. Take advantage of this special opportunity to try AloeCure

all. ... If you don’t see remarkable chang-es in your digestion, your body, and your overall health ... Simply return it for a full refund less shipping and handling (when applicable).

1-800-328-8921 to take advan-

By David Waxman Seattle Washington:

ADVERTISEMENT

Drug companies are understandably upset since the AloeCure®

THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DIS-EASE. INDIVIDUAL RESULTS MAY VARY ALOECURE IS NOT A DRUG. IFYOU ARE CURRENLTY TAKING A PRESCRIPTION DRUG YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE USE. FOR

January 2017 3

“The Rural Voice of Nebraska”

Volume 71, Number 1, January 2017

FeaturesStepping Up to the Challenge 6 Nebraska’s public power model has served us well, and the valueof public power is apparent in every small town across the state.Your public power district or electric cooperative is not focused onturning a profit. Instead, they’re helping to make power affordablefor you and your neighbor.

Meet Your State Senator 12The first session of the 105th Nebraska Legislature convened onWednesday, January 4th in Lincoln. Seventeen new senators jointhe ranks of the one-house lawmaking body for the 90-daysession. Stay in touch with your state senator using this helpfulguide.

Departments

On the coverThe theme of the Nebraska Capital rotunda is "Virtues of the State". The

eight winged figures in the dome form a celestial rose representing civic andsacred virtues. Photograph by Angela Gottsch

Contents

EDITOR’S PAGE 4

SAFETY BRIEFS — Murphy 16

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS by Pat Keegan 18

RECIPES 20

MARKETPLACE/CLASSIFIEDS 22

StaffEditor

Wayne PriceEditorial Assistant

Tina Schweitzer

Published by the

Visit us at www.nrea.orgGeneral ManagerTroy Bredenkamp

PresidentDavid Keener,

Niobrara Electric Association, Inc.Vice President/Secretary

Butch Gray, Cornhusker Public Power District

TreasurerGreg Weidner,

Elkhorn Rural Public Power District

Published monthly by the Nebraska Rural ElectricAssociation, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln,Nebraska 68501, (402) 475-4988.Advertising in the Rural Electric Nebraskan doesnot imply endorsement for products by theNebraska Rural Electric Association.Correspondence should be sent to Wayne Price,Editor, Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box 82048,Lincoln, NE 68501.The Rural Electric Nebraskan is printed by theAradius Group, 4700 F Street, Omaha, NE 68117.Form 3579 should be sent to the Rural ElectricNebraskan, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501.Periodicals postage paid at Lincoln, Neb.POSTMASTER: send address changes to theRural Electric Nebraskan, 1244 K Street, Box82048, Lincoln, NE 68501.Publication numbers are USPS 071-630 and ISSN0193-4937.Rates: $10 for one year; $15 for two years; $20for three years, plus local and state tax.

Rural Electric Nebraskan4

EDITOR’S PAGE

by Wayne Price

want to try an experiment and I needyour help. Go over and flip the lightswitch on the wall. Did the light turn

off? Now flip the switch again. Is the light onagain? Okay, thanks for participating in theexperiment. You can sit back down. The purpose of the experiment was to showthat you are receiving reliable electricitywhenever you want it. We often take this forgranted because for most of us having thelights turn on with the flip of a switch is allwe’ve ever known. We can forget just howdependent we are on electricity and can’timagine having to survive without it. Ohsure, many of us have dealt with an outagecaused by a winter snowstorm or a tornado,but in reality those don’t happen very often.And they usually don’t last too long. Having low-cost reliable power is a benefitof public power in Nebraska. All electricconsumers want to have the lights workwhen they flip the switch. Now ask yourselfdo you care if that electricity was producedby coal, natural gas, nuclear, wind or solar?Is that important to you? Are you willing topay more for electricity that is generatedusing a certain fuel? Maybe you’re like me and just want yourelectricity to be as cheap as possible. Itdoesn't matter what fuel source is used tocreate those electrons. You just want it to becheap and reliable. Maybe you’re on a fixed budget and arelooking at ways to save money wherever youcan. My electric bill is just one of several Ireceive and pay every month. It’s not themost expensive bill I pay. That honor belongsto my cellular phone bill. And it’s not theleast expensive one either. That one is myInternet bill. I can’t really imagine not having any of theservices I pay for each month. They’ve justbecome part of my family’s daily life. But I dowhatever I can to try to keep them as low aspossible. You might have seen information abouthow privatizing our public power system inNebraska could lower your electric bill. Theypromise to lower the price you pay forelectricity, up to 20 percent in some cases.

We hear you, we understand why thatsounds wonderful. But they don’t explainthat you’re likely to see an increase in yourother costs, which could actually increaseyour monthly electric bill. Several stateshave been operating under deregulation butare returning to regulation because costshave shot through the roof. The privatepower companies that are providingelectricity have increased the customercharges to maintain revenue. In Nebraska we rely on coal to generate alarge portion of the electricity we use everyday. While the cost of coal is cheap, the costto deliver it is what is expensive. All theinfrastructure to get it to the power plant iswhat costs the most. The tracks, thelocomotives, the people who work to run thesystem, all come with a cost. The same goes for the electric industry.People need to understand that theinfrastructure is what costs. We have to putpoles in the ground, run the wires, buy utilitytrucks and equipment, and keep the systemoperating around the clock. We do this byusing a diverse mix of fuel sources andworking hard to keep all our costs as low aspossible. I watch those HGTV shows where peoplebuild a tiny house and plan to use a few solarpanels to meet their electric needs. If thatsolar roof top unit is going to provide yourpower 24/7, then good luck and God bless.But in reality it won’t work for most of us.Most solar operates at about 20 percent of itscapacity. And while the price to install solarhas come down over the years, installing aunit with enough capacity to meet all ourhousehold needs is quite expensive.Ultimately the cost per kilowatt-hour will behigher than the cost your local public powerdistrict or electric cooperative will chargeyou. The reliability of your electricity willdepend on how cloudy it is that day. So when you hear someone say “Trust me,I can do it cheaper,” remember that mightnot actually be the case.

ITrust me, I can do it cheaper

January 2017 5

alk into any sporting goodsor camping store and youwill be faced with several

types of water repellents that can beapplied to boots, tents and othertypes of gear to keep it dry. What ifyou could apply a similar substanceto power lines that would preventthem from accumulating ice andfalling down? This technology couldbe here sooner than you think. Traditionally, chemists havereferred to water repelling moleculesas “hydrophobic.” A new generationof materials that repel waterespecially well has been dubbed“superhydrophobic.” Three differentresearch groups in North Americaare investigating the development ofsuperhydrophobic materials, andtheir work holds great promise forutilities that lose millions of dollarsin damages caused by ice or (incoastal areas) seawater.

The potential applications for thisnew material are numerous. Primarybeneficial applications are to powerlines, insulators and equipment,including high-tension power linesand pylons. Other applications mayinclude conductors and exposedelectrical equipment at substations.The coating could also be applied toother power grid surfaces andstructures where ice accumulationdue to normal or super-cooled watercontact with subfreezing surfacesoccurs. The invention could evenprove beneficial for renewableenergy applications, such as windturbines and solar panels. Every winter, ice and freezing raincause power lines to snap andequipment to short out. In coastalareas, sea spray coats distributionand transmission equipment withcorrosive salt. These harshconditions cost electric utilities––and

consequently, consumers––millionsof dollars every year in equipmentdamage. A superhydrophobic coatingcould prevent these problems andimprove service reliability. Through the National RuralElectric Cooperative Association(NRECA), electric cooperatives havefunded the testing of asuperhydrophobic coating incooperation with the NationalElectric Energy Testing, Research &Applications Center (NEETRAC) atGeorgia Tech. NRECA and ruralelectric utilities are actively involvedin other trials to further thedevelopment of these materials. The materials need further testingand additional field trials, but onecan only imagine the savingssuperhydrophobic materials willoffer in preventing ice storm andseawater damage to utilityequipment.

WPromising technology to survive ice storms

Rural electric utilities are currently testing superhydrophobic materials to help prevent damage to power lines, whetherfrom accumulating ice or damage from seawater. Every year, electric utilities lose millions of dollars from damage causedby ice and corrosion. Photograph provided by National Rural Electric Cooperative Association


cross the country, publicpower districts and electricco-ops are stepping up to the

challenge to keep electricityaffordable. In looking out for theirmembers, public power districts andelectric co-ops lead the utilityindustry in implementing energyefficiency programs and supplyingpower from a diverse mix ofgeneration resources, includingrenewable energy and othertechnologies still in development. “Rural utilities are on the cutting

edge when it comes to testing anddeploying new technologies, such ascarbon capture and storage, plug-inhybrid electric vehicles, andadvanced meter reading devices,”notes Troy Bredenkamp, NebraskaRural Electric Association generalmanager. “They are also recognizedindustry leaders in promoting energyefficiency to help consumers reduceelectricity consumption and savemoney.”There is no simple, single solution

to tackling our nation’s energychallenge, and even exciting newtechnologies like renewable energyresources aren’t a silver bullet. Forexample, to fully utilize the potentialof renewable energy, at least 30,000miles of high-voltage transmissionlines (230 kV and greater) will need

to be constructed to move energygenerated at remote wind farms andother facilities to urban load centers.This will cost billions alone.Siting and erecting transmission

towers has long been a struggle.Planning and permitting approvalstake many years and run a gauntletof not only federal, state, and localgovernments but also citizen andenvironmental activists.

Nebraska’s rates are cost-basedToday, we are fortunate our existinggenerating resources produce some ofthe cheapest electricity in thecountry. Gerald Gentleman Station,Nebraska Public Power District’slargest power plant located nearSutherland, Neb., meets allenvironmental requirements and hassome of the lowest input costs in thecountry.

Nebraska’s utilities will continue toinvest in new wind generation overtime and if the price is right. Butadding or removing power plants isn’tlike buying or selling vehicles. Avariety of strategic factors must betaken into account when consideringthe proper time to add to or replacethese multi-million dollar, iron-in-the-ground facilities.Why? Because as a public power

entity, it’s our main goal to keepelectric rates as reliable andaffordable for customers as possible.Our rates are cost-based, there are noprofits built into your electric bill.There are no shareholders makingdecisions about the rates you will payfor electricity. Our focus is simplydelivering an affordable and reliableproduct to you, period.When you consider customers in

Nebraska can get a full day’s worth ofelectricity to power all of their newmobile devices, appliances, heat andcool their home, etc., for less than thecost of a dozen donuts, it seems asthough public power is doing a goodjob.Affordable electricity is a great

benefit to rural economicdevelopment. The lower the energybill, the more a company can invest intheir business and employees.Job growth is one measure of the

Stepping up to the challengeA

January 2017 7

success of economic developmentefforts. According to the NebraskaDepartment of Labor, manufacturingemployment growth in non-metropolitan Nebraska has increased7.5 percent since 1990, while thenational average has decreased 33.1percent. Nebraska’s economy is strongand growing. This is due, in part, toNebraska’s affordable electric rates.

Keeping rates affordableAffordable electricity benefits allNebraskans. In our state ahomeowner can meet all of theirelectrical needs for about $3.56 perday. This is less than the cost of adrive-thru meal to keep your home ata comfortable temperature, your lightson, and your appliances running.Nation-wide, Nebraska’s electric ratesare 15 percent below the nationalaverage and we rank in the top 15among all states for the lowest electricrates.At a time when prices on everything

seem to be climbing, public powerremains a great value. In fact, since1936 electric rates in Nebraska haveonly gone up five cents per kilowatthour. Just one nickel’s change sincethe Great Depression and thebeginning of the Rural ElectrificationProgram which brought electricity tosome of Nebraska’s most rural farms. Infrastructure upgrades, increased

fuel prices, and federal regulation areall driving forces in increasing electricrates. To keep rates as low as possible,rural public power providers have hadto work diligently to keep overheadcosts at a minimum. In fact,Nebraska’s rural electric systems onlyemploy one individual for every 239customers, and nearly 70 percent ofyour electric bill is the cost ofwholesale power to rural powerdistricts. This means the delivery ofelectricity and all of the worknecessary to keep your lights on onlymakes up about 30 percent of yourmonthly charges. Nebraska’s public power model has

served us well, and the value of publicpower is apparent in every small townacross the state. Your public powerdistrict or electric cooperative is not

focused on turning a profit. Instead,they’re helping to make poweraffordable for you and your neighbor.On a national average, public power

rates are lower than those of otherinvestor-owned utility companies.That’s because local, not-for-profitutilities have the power to put theirneighbors first. Keeping energy costsaffordable serves every community’slong-term needs, and that’s whatpublic power is all about. Locallyowned utilities achieve affordabilityby setting their rates using citizen-controlled boards that hold publicmeetings.

“Working for Nebraska”Affordability plays a key role inNREA’s “Working for Nebraska”education awareness campaign. Theeffort focuses on educating Nebraska’selectric consumers about the need tocraft energy and climate changepolicies that will support a diverse mixof power generation while keepingelectricity reasonably priced.“We’ve always counted on our

consumers being part of the solution,”said Bredenkamp. “It’s not a casewhere you can sit back and expectsomebody to take care of you. It’s acase in which we’ve all got to work

together. Rural electric consumersprovide a tremendous amount ofpolitical strength that helps us take alot of rough edges off of legislation.There may be regulations we have toencourage our friends in theLegislature to change, and that willrequire a great deal of politicalstrength.”The communications strategy

campaign also looks for rural electricconsumers to ask their U.S.representative and senators ifCongress will work with public powerdistricts and electric cooperatives tomake sure reliable power is availableat a price consumers can afford.“If consumers don’t get engaged,

then obviously electric bills are goingto be far higher than they should beand people will suffer,” he said.“Without our consumers’ help, localelectric utilities will not be able to stopit. Consumers could even findthemselves in a situation wherereliable electric power may not be soreliable. The stakes are enormous,both from a standpoint of affordabilityand from a standpoint of availability.”Learn more about public power at

www.workingfornebraska.org.Sources: U.S. Energy InformationAdministration, NRECA, NPPD

Norris Public Power District linemen Mike Wiltze, left, and Trevor Nitzel arepart of the system that keeps the lights on in Nebraska.


or the second year in a rowGROW Nebraska and AIMhave teamed up to bring a

nationally-acclaimed expert toCentral Nebraska. On March 16,2017, Luria Petrucci takes the stageas the keynote speaker at theMarkeTech Conference, Nebraska’spremier conference on marketingand technology for businesses. Luriawill reveal how you can marketeffectively, build an audience,increase engagement, and usetechnology to increase revenue. Luria Petrucci has worked in thefield of Live Streaming for over 11years. She has created over 3500videos and has over one billion views.Because of her success, she’s beenasked to share her expertise on CNN,FOX, NBC, MSNBC, ABC and BBC.She has also worked with top brandsincluding AT&T, Samsung, VerizonFiOS, Bausch + Lomb, MonsterProducts, DISH Network andPanasonic. Now, Luria is coming to share herknowledge and insight with

Midwestern business owners. “Weare thrilled to have a conference ofthis caliber in Nebraska. We wantNebraska businesses to beempowered to reach national andglobal markets through the amazingtechnology that we have availableright now, and we want to show themhow,” said Janell Anderson Ehrke,CEO of GROW Nebraska.

Breakout sessions will featurepassionate, successfulentrepreneurs, business owners, andresource providers who haveharnessed the power of marketingand technology. Their inspirationaltalks are geared to help attendeesexpand their use of digitalmarketing, eCommerce,mCommerce, and emergingtechnology. Every session will havekey takeaways that business ownerscan implement immediately. “The goal is to offer success storiesthat can be implemented by theattendees. We want them to leavethe conference with the knowledge toknow that they can do this,” saidKandace Miller, CEO for AIM. The MarkeTech Conference, whichhas been an annual event for the last8 years, has expanded over the years.Christy Freihage, from Hoover’sJewelers in Kearney attendedMarkeTech for the first time in 2016to learn about eCommerce and tohear from experts like Lydia Pearsonfrom The Buckle. “I love this

FNationally-Acclaimed Live Streaming Expert Comes To Central Nebraska

Reaching global markets through technology

Janell Anderson Ehrke, GROWNebraska CEO, talks with 2016Keynote Speaker Brian Fanzo.

January 2017 9

conference. I go to conferences all thetime; this is one of the bestconferences I’ve ever been to.Everybody in Nebraska should go tothis conference. We actually closedour store for two days to come,” saidFreihage. With over 250 Nebraska businessowners expected to attend this year,the networking opportunities areanother amazing benefit. “For me,coming into the business,MarkeTech has definitely been thebest thing we have utilized fromGROW Nebraska so far. From all thesessions to the networking, I learnedso much. And GROW connected us toRoy Noren there, who we use for allour labeling now, to improve all ofour labels. We were able to movefrom an outside packaging plant todoing our own packaging.MarkeTech was absolutelyamazing,” said Sierra Forrest,Director of Marketing and Sales forSonpower Industries (SimplySunflower) near Ord. This conference on technology andmarketing for small business ownersand entrepreneurs will be heldMarch 16, 2017 at the Younes Centerin Kearney, Neb. Registration opensJanuary 1, 2017, with an early birdspecial rate of $129 before February28 and a full rate of $179. Membersof GROW Nebraska receive adiscount to attend, with early birdpricing of $79 and a full rate of $129. “MarkeTech is a training event.It’s marketing and technology, right?So it’s training; it’s networking; it’shands-on experience. It’s going to bean awesome event, and I’m reallyexcited to be a part of it,” saidPetrucci. The MarkeTech Conference is aprogram of AIM/GROW Nebraska.For more information on theconference, please visitwww.marketechconference.org. Formore information on AIM, pleasevisit aimforbrilliance.org. To learnmore about GROW Nebraska, pleasevisit grownebraska.org. If you havequestions, please [email protected] or call (308)962-6767.

Above: Attendees took advantage ofseveral networking opportunities atthe conference last year. Left: MarkeTech attendees filled abanner with key takeaway lessonsthey learned at the conference. Thetagline for 2016 was “Success StartsHere”. Below: Lydia Pierson, InternetMarketing Manager for The Buckle,and Janell Anderson Ehrke, CEO ofGROW Nebraska, are interviewedabout how technology and marketinghelp businesses of all sizes.


f you would like to reduce thecost to keep your home toastyand warm, ask yourself this

question: “What’s in my attic?”Properly insulating your attic can

be one of the best ways to reduce yourenergy bills. The good news is thatattics are often one of the easiestplaces in a house to insulate.Moreover, purchasing adequateinsulation is not that expensive!Loose-fill or batt insulation is

typically installed in an attic.Although installation costs may vary,loose-fill insulation is usually lessexpensive to install than battinsulation, and when installedproperly, loose-fill insulation can alsoprovide better coverage.So how much is enough? First, you

will need to determine the R-value ofthe insulation you currently have. Theterm R-value refers to themeasurement of thermal resistance ofthe insulator. The higher the R-value,the more the insulator is resistant toheat. Building code for new homeconstruction in Nebraska requires aminimum R-value of R-39 or R-48,depending on where you live in thestate. To maximize the benefit of attic

insulation the U.S. Department ofEnergy recommends an R-value of R-60. Any amount higher brings littleadditional benefit.The best way to find out if you have

enough insulation is to measure.Using a measuring tape or yard stick,measure the thickness of insulation inseveral spots around your attic. Usethese measurements to come up withan estimated average. Now, multiplythat estimate by the R-value per inchfor the type of insulation you have.Blown in loose cellulose, blown infiberglass, and fiberglass battsusually have values of R-3.5, R-2.5and R-3.2 per inch, respectively.The next step is to prepare for your

project. Some of the basic tools youwill need are protective clothing, adust respirator, gloves, goggles, fullcover pants and shirt, and perhapsadditional lighting. Obviously, youwill also have to purchase all theinsulation necessary to cover yourattic. If you plan to use blown ininsulation, check to see if your retailerprovides a blower for you to borrow atno additional charge.It is recommended that you lay out

some temporary flooring across the

joists in the attic to provide safe andeasy access to all areas. It is best tostart blowing in the insulation at theouter edge of the attic space and workyour way back to your attic access.When working on the edges, you needto ensure that you fill far enough tocover the tops of the exterior walls.However, be careful not to block theflow of air through soffit and/or eavevents. Also, be sure not to insulateover light fixtures that are not ratedI.C. (insulated ceiling) because itcould cause a fire. It is usually helpfulto have two people for the job – oneoperating the gun and the otherloading insulation in the machine.Make sure to load slowly into themachine to avoid clogging it.Everything else is prettystraightforward. After you have aproper layer of insulation in yourattic, you can expect to see yourenergy bill drop.If you primarily use electricity or a

heat pump to meet your heatingrequirements, check with yourelectric utility to see if you are eligiblefor an EnergyWise Attic InsulationIncentive. This program may cover upto $300 of the cost to upgrade theinsulation in your attic.Source: Nebraska Public PowerDistrict

Do you know what’s in your attic?

I

Meet Your State Senator

District 1DanWatermeierSyracuse471-2733

District 4RobertHilkemannOmaha471-2621

District 7TonyVargasOmaha471-2721

District 10BobKristOmaha471-2718

District 13JustinWayneOmaha471-2727

District 2Bill KintnerPapillion471-2613

District 5MikeMcDonnellOmaha471-2710

District 8BurkeHarrOmaha471-2722

District 11ErnieChambersOmaha471-2612

District 14JimSmithLaVista471-2730

District 3Carol BloodBellevue471-2627

District 6Joni CraigheadOmaha471-2714

District 9SaraHowardOmaha471-2723

District 12MervRiepeRalston471-2623

District 15Lynne M.WalzFremont471-2625

he first session of the 105th Nebraska Legislatureconvened on Wednesday, January 4th in Lincoln.It’s a 90-day session.

If you want to write your state senator during the 2017session, please address correspondence to:

Senator (Last Name)District # State CapitolPO Box 94604Lincoln, NE 68509-4604

Find your senator’s name, hometown, legislativedistrict and Capitol telephone number here.

T


District 16LydiaBraschBancroft471-2728

District 17JoniAlbrechtThurston471-2716

District 19JimScheerNorfolk471-2929

District 22PaulSchumacherColumbus471-2715

District 25SuzanneGeistLincoln471-2731

District 28Patty PansingBrooksLincoln471-2633

District 31RickKolowskiOmaha471-2327

District 34CurtFriesenHenderson471-2630

District 20John S.McCollisterOmaha471-2622

District 23BruceBostelmanBrainard471-2719

District 26MattHansenLincoln471-2610

District 29KateBolzLincoln471-2734

District 32LauraEbkeCrete471-2711

District 35DanQuickGrand Island471-2617

District 18BrettLindstromOmaha471-2801

District 21Mike HilgersLincoln471-2673

District 24Mark A.KoltermanSeward471-2756

District 27Anna WishartLincoln471-2632

District 30RoyBakerLincoln471-2620

District 33SteveHalloranHastings471-2712

District 36Matt WilliamsGothenburg471-2642

13January 2017


District 37John S.LoweKearney471-2726

District 38John KuehnHeartwell471-2732

District 40TysonLarsonO’Neill471-2801

District 41TomBrieseAlbion471-2631

District 39Lou AnnLinehanElkhorn471-2885

District 42MikeGroeneNorth Platte471-2729

District 43TomBrewerGordon471-2628

District 44Dan HughesVenango471-2805

District 46AdamMorfeldLincoln471-2720

District 49JohnMuranteGretna471-2725

District 47SteveErdmanBayard471-2616

District 45SueCrawfordBellevue471-2615

District 48JohnStinnerGering471-2802

Plan a visit with your State Senator

Emailing your State Senator

n effective way of conveying a message to your senator is by meetingwith them or their staff. Below are a few simple steps which will helpmake your visit a successful experience.

Plan your visit: Know what you want to achieve and do your homework.Make an appointment: Contact the senator’s office and try to schedule ameeting. Explain why you desire a meeting and who you represent.Be prompt and patient: It is not uncommon for state senators to show upto an appointment late or to have a meeting interrupted. Be understanding,flexible and on time. State senators do not have time to wait on you.Be prepared:Know what you want to say and be equipped with informationand materials that support your position. If a senator is not available for ameeting, talk with that member’s staff.Be pertinent: Demonstrate the connection between your issue and theinterests of the member’s constituency. Try to convey to the member how youor your group can be of assistance to him or her.

A

mail has become generally accepted amongrepresentatives as an acceptable form ofcommunication. Email carries with it the

benefit of having your information transmittedinstantly. If you opt to use email, yourcorrespondence should be similar in format to atraditional letter. Do not make the mistake of sendingan informal letter through email correspondence.

EVisit our grass-roots websiteand find yourstate senator.

January 2017 15

Washington, D.C. Office:386A Russell Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510Phone: (202) 224-4224Website: sasse.senate.gov

Washington, D.C. Office:454 Russell Senate Office Bldg.,Washington, D.C. 20510Phone: (202) 224-6551Website: fischer.senate.gov

Washington, D.C. Office:1514 Longworth House Office Bldg.,Washington, D.C. 20515Phone: (202) 225-4806Website: fortenberry.house.gov

Office information not available attime of printing

Washington, D.C. Office:2241 Rayburn House Office Bldg.,Washington, D.C. 20515Phone: (202) 225-6435Website: adriansmith.house.gov

Sen. Ben Sasse

Sen. Deb Fischer

Rep. Jeff Fortenberry

Rep. Don Bacon

Rep. Adrian Smith

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Your Congressional Delegation


SAFETY BRIEFS

Garage Door Safety: An Open and Shut Casery this riddle: What weighs600 pounds, detersintruders, and goes up or

down at the push of a button? It’syour automatic garage door, thelargest moving piece of equipment inmany homes. Automatic garage doors may be a

routine part of leaving and arrivinghome, but you should be aware of thepotential for injury. UnderwritersLaboratories, Inc., recommends thesetips to make safety an open and shutcase when it comes to your home’sgarage:1. Always keep automatic garage

doors fully open or fully closed. Somefolks may leave a small opening atthe bottom for pets to get in and outfor food or shade. But a smallopening could also be an invitationfor a child to try to crawl through andget stuck. Another push of the buttoncould send the heavy door down —causing injury — instead of bringingthe door up when trying to freeanyone stuck underneath. If youencounter someone stuck in anautomatic door, call your local firedepartment.

2. Read instructions on how tooperate and maintain your garagedoor properly. Check your automaticdoor monthly to be sure safetyprecautions are working. Manygarage doors boast a safety featurethat triggers an automatic reversal ifanything is encountered whileclosing. To check, place a 1.5-inchobject (like a flat 2x4) in the path of

the door to make sure the doorcorrectly reverses when contact ismade. Instructions should alsoadvise on maintaining a properlybalanced door. Call a qualified repaircompany for service or maintenance.3. Do not allow children to operate

a garage door. It may seem like aharmless, simple task to allowchildren to push the garage opener.But activating heavy equipmentshould be taken seriously.4. Avoid walking under a door that

is opening or closing. You never knowwhen a malfunction may take place.Steer clear of a moving door. 5. Know when and how to use the

emergency release. You’ll find a cordwith a handle hanging along thetrack of your garage door. Always usecaution when using this release, andonly use it when the door is fullyclosed. An automatic garage door opener

is a common convenience powered byelectricity. Just as electricitydemands safety and respect, so doesthe equipment it operates. Source: UnderwritersLaboratories, Inc.

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Garage doors add convenience andsecurity to a home, but should beroutinely inspected. Photographprovided by Overhead Door

January 2017 17

cross the U.S., cases offraud and identity theftare at all-time highs.

Energy scams are becoming moresophisticated and prevalent,and it’s possible foranyone to be tricked bythem. The best way tostay safe is to beaware of some of thecommon ploys, besuspicious of freeenergy claims and tocontact your public power districtor electric cooperative if anythingseems amiss.

Phone scamsEach year, thousands ofconsumers from coast-to-coast,including members at electriccooperatives, fell prey to atelephone scam promising bogushelp with energy bills. Thecriminals claimed that PresidentObama had authorized a specialfederal program to pay electricbills. Then, they asked eachvictim to provide personalinformation, such as a bankrouting number or a SocialSecurity number to receive thepayment. Although thisparticular scam has run itscourse, scammers are alwayscoming up with new stories tosteal consumers’ personalinformation.

EmailMany of these emails will mimicemails from legitimate sourcesand contain personal informationsuch as your name, address, bankname and more. Unfortunatelythis information is not difficult tofind and can make otherwisesensible people send backsensitive information or click alink in the email. If you open anemail that you suspect is a scamor asks for private information,you can always call your utility toconfirm its authenticity. Justdon’t click the link first.

Door to doorEven in the digital age, there arestill scams being perpetuated faceto face. Typically these scamstarget the elderly or people whomay be easier to intimidate.Claiming to be from theutility (or associated insome way), they will tellyou that something iswrong (bill past due,equipment missing or

broken) and that you need topay them money immediately orbe disconnected. Rural electricutilities do not demand paymentlike this in the field and do not goto a member’s house unless thereis a scheduled appointment.Again, if you want to check if theperson at your door is a utilityemployee, call your public powerdistrict or electric cooperative.

Avoid energy scams withthese tips: • Always guard your personalaccounting and bankinginformation, and never share thisinformation with family, friendsor strangers. • Remember – your electricutility will NEVER call and askfor sensitive personal informationover the phone. • Only use methods authorizedby your utility to pay your bills. • Utility employees visit ahome only in response to a servicerequest. If a service call has notbeen scheduled or requested, donot allow the person to enter yourhouse. • When an employee doesrespond to a service call, checkidentification and make sure theservice truck is clearly markedwith the proper logo. By following these steps, youcan avoid falling for manycommon energy scams, and if youare looking to save money on yourenergy bill, or understand yourbill better, contact your localelectric utility.

Don’t fall victim to energy scams

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: My family is planning toremodel our kitchen in the

coming months. The remodel will bepricey, but we hope to incorporateenergy efficient features that willhelp reduce our energy costs. Whatare some things we can do to makesure our kitchen is as energyefficient as it can be?

: Undertaking a remodelingproject in any part of your home

gives you the chance to make a spacework better for your needs—including reducing your energy use.For many households, the kitchen isthe heart of the home—meaning it isused the most—so incorporatingenergy efficiency measures here canhave a real impact on your energybills. Before starting a remodel, considerhaving a home energy auditcompleted by a certified professional.This energy assessment can help youidentify major efficiency issues inyour kitchen that you can address asyou remodel. The audit can alsoidentify other large efficiencyinvestments your home may needthat could make sense to invest in atthe same time. For example,upgrading your heating and coolingsystem and ductwork during thesame time as your kitchen remodelcould be more cost-efficient thancompleting two separate projects. Below are some additional tips andthoughts to consider while you gothrough your kitchen remodel:Kitchen layout and design During a remodel, homeownersoften want to expand the kitchen.However, bigger isn’t always better—and enlarging the footprint of your

kitchen will likely mean higherheating and cooling bills. Considerwhether a more efficient layout inyour kitchen could prevent a need forexpansion. The design phase of your project isalso when you will decide onplacement of your major appliancesand kitchen features. There may beopportunities to shorten plumbingruns to make hot water delivery toyour sink and dishwasher moreefficient and to add plumbinginsulation to reduce heat loss. Alsothink about heat sources in yourkitchen and how they will affect yourrefrigerator. Placing it in a verysunny spot or next to your oven willmake this appliance work harderand use more energy.

Appliances If you are replacing any kitchenappliances, look for Energy Star-certified refrigerators, dishwashersand freezers to help save energy. Inparticular, refrigerators that areEnergy Star-certified will use about10 percent less energy than standardmodels—and up to 40 percent lessenergy than a refrigerator from2001. Once it is replaced, rather thanmoving your old refrigerator into thegarage where it could use even moreenergy, ask your electric utility howyou can recycle it. They may evenoffer a program that hauls away yourolder appliance.

Lighting Many remodeled kitchensincorporate lots of windows to ensurea bright, naturally-lit kitchen. Usingnatural light can make your kitchenfeel more open and reduce reliance

on overhead lights, but beware ofoverheating the room in the summer.When thinking about your windowsand lighting, consider your home’sclimate and orientation and how touse natural light strategically. In addition to overall lighting, akitchen needs bright task lighting.Installing individual task lights onseparate switches can help minimizethe energy you use for lighting.Throughout your kitchen, installEnergy Star light fixtures and bulbs,which are certified for energysavings, high quality andperformance.

Kitchen ventilation Increasingly, homeowners areinstalling professional-looking hoodsabove stoves in their remodeledkitchens. Be sure to pick a high-efficiency model sized for your needsand install it so that it vents directlyto the outside. Remember thatrunning a hood exhaust fan morefrequently than needed can makeyour heating and cooling systemwork harder, as conditioned air ispulled outside.

Overall comfort The kitchen is often a family’sgathering place, so installing zonalheat in this space could makesense—you could turn up thethermostat for the kitchen withoutwarming the entire home. Other ways to ensure that thekitchen is a comfortable room foryour family are to address anybuilding envelope issues noted inyour energy audit: for example,increase wall and attic insulation,address duct and air sealing needs,invest in efficient windows andinstall window coverings that helpblock hot summer sun and blusterywinter wind.

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS

Remodeling the heart of your home

by Pat Keegan

Q

A

January 2017 19

pace heaters are small,versatile, and generally good atwarming a room, and many

people consider purchasing one atsome time or another. However, somemanufacturers claim that theirelectric space heater can cut a home’sheating bill significantly. Do theseclaims hold up?Some basic facts about space

heaters will help get at the truth ofthe matter. Space heaters work bestas a supplement to a furnace or heatpump—they rarely are used as theprimary heating source. Three maintypes of space heaters are: radiantheaters, convection heaters, andcombination heaters. These usuallycan be purchased for $30 to $100.

Radiant HeatersA radiant heater heats objects andpeople—not the air—in a room. Theirbest use is in rooms where those whowant to be warmed are in the directline of sight of the heater. Radiant

heaters can be a good choice if you arein a room for a short period of timeand want instant heat. They can posea burn or fire risk, however, andshould not be placed near furniture,drapery, pets, or small children.

Convection HeatersConvection heaters are designed toheat the air—not people or objects—in a room. Hot air from the convectionheater rises to the ceiling and forcescooler air to the floor. The cooler air iswarmed by the heater and rises to theceiling, creating a cycle that continuesas long as the heater is on. Thesetypically are either baseboard or oil-or water-filled heaters. The oil- orwater-filled heaters are the mostefficient types and often look like asmall radiator. These units generallybecome warm to the touch and,compared to a radiant heater, have adecreased fire and burn risk.

Combination HeatersAs the name implies, combinationheaters try to merge the best featuresof radiant and convection heaters.They often have an internal fan that

aids in distributing heat throughoutthe room. These heaters are versatile,but they typically do not perform aswell as radiant or convection heaters.Before purchasing a space heater,

you should determine how and whereit will be used, and whether a radiant,convection, or combination heater willdo the job best. Combination units areversatile, but you likely will get betterperformance from a radiant orconvection heater. Use a radiantheater if you want heat instantly andwill stay in one spot. If you need towarm an entire room, a convectionheater should do the trick.So can using a space heater cut your

home heating bill? Maybe. Most spaceheaters use between 600 and 1,500watts of electricity. A homeownerusing a space heater 8 hours a day, 5days a week, for a month, would spendapproximately $15.26 for thisadditional electricity. However, spaceheaters can heat only a small space.You can save significantly if you usethe space heater in this way: turn thethermostat of your central heatingsystem down considerably (as low as50 degrees in some cases). Place thespace heater in a room occupied bypeople and close that room off fromthe rest of the home. This method of“zone heating” will save money.Space heaters do have their place in

warming a house, but they simplycannot replace energy efficient centralheating or weatherizationimprovements to the home. Forexample, all electric space heatersproduce 1 unit of heat for every 1 unitof electricity consumed; in otherwords, they are 100 percent energyefficient. Those that use natural gasare 80 percent efficient. Incomparison, geothermal heat pumpscan produce more than 3 units of heatfor every unit of electricity consumed,making them 300 percent efficient.Before purchasing a space heater

you should understand how the deviceis used, as well as the energy claims ofthe manufacturer. While it may betechnically possible to cut yourheating bill by 50 percent using aspace heater, it is impractical for mostpeople.

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Understanding the Efficiency of Space Heaters

by Brian Sloboda

Before buying a space heater, it will be beneficial to takesome easy and inexpensive energy-saving measures inyour home. Any of these could solve your heatingproblems without any additional heating equipment:• Add caulk and weather stripping around doors and

windows• Add insulation to attics and exposed walls• Clean or replace furnace filters• Move furniture or obstacles away from heat registers• Insulate duct work• Close blinds or curtains at night

Before You Buy


hether you’re a fitnessjunkie, busy parent, sleep-deprived student or

diehard sweet tooth, peanut butter isan ingredient that sticks for all oflife’s moments. With a healthy boostof protein and energy, peanut butteris perfect as an on-the-go snack, fuelfor a workout, a reliable family mealor a decadent dessert. There’s no shortage of deliciousways to pack peanut butter intodiverse dishes throughout the day: • Add peanut butter to yourfavorite fruit smoothie for a nuttynew flavor. • Encourage children toexperiment with the essentialspread and go beyond PB and J byreplacing fruit for the jelly or stirringpeanut butter or peanut butterpowder into their yogurt. • A simple peanut butter andhoney sandwich makes a great on-the-go snack you can throw in yourgym bag or tuck away in a drawer atwork. • Add peanut butter to a sauce orsalad dressing for an extra zip offlavor and protein. Find more creative ways to enjoypeanut butter with these winningrecipes from Southern PeanutGrowers’ annual PB My Way recipecontest, and explore additionaldishes at peanutbutterlovers.com.

Down Home Recipes

Boost your day with versatile peanut butter

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Sauce: 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons curry powder 1/4 cup scallions, chopped 1 cup creamy peanut butter 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar1 3/4 cups apple juice1 3/4 cups coconut milk 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Chicken: 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 small yellow onion, chopped1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch strips 1 medium apple, peeled, cored and chopped

salt, to taste pepper, to taste cooked rice (optional)

To make sauce: In medium to largesaucepan, heat oil over medium heat.Add garlic, curry powder andscallions. Saute 1 minute. Add peanut butter, vinegar, applejuice, coconut milk, brown sugar andcayenne. Bring to simmer, reduceheat and cook over low heat, stirringfrequently, about 10-15 minutes. Meanwhile, in large skillet, heatoil. Add onion and stir fry about 2-3minutes until onions start to becomeopaque. Add chicken and apples, and stiruntil chicken is cooked completely.Add peanut sauce and cook untilheated evenly, about 2-5 minutes.Season with salt and pepper, to taste.Serve warm over rice, if desired.

Peanut Apple Chicken Curry

December 2016 21

Reader Submitted Recipes

4 tablespoons creamy peanut butter 3 tablespoons lime juice 2 tablespoons water 4 teaspoons hoisin sauce 2 teaspoons soy sauce 2 teaspoons sriracha 2 French baguette rolls (6 inches each) 1/2 cup sliced cucumber 1/2 cup white onion 1/2 cup red bell pepper 1/2 cup purple cabbage 1/2 cup fresh cilantro

In small bowl, combine peanutbutter, lime juice, water, hoisin sauce,soy sauce and sriracha. Mix well. Spread sauce on both sides of breadthen layer with cucumber, onion andbell pepper. Top with cabbage andcilantro leaves.

Veggie Sammieswith PeanutButter SataySauce

Ice Cream Rolls 4 cans Pillsbury biscuits, quartered 2 sticks butter1 1/4 cup vanilla ice cream

1 cup brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1/2 cup sugar

Lucille Schliep, Glenvil, Nebraska

Bean Soup 2 cups dried beans 6 cups water 1 hambone or 1 1/2 lb. ham butt 3/4 cup potatoes 1 cup chopped celery and leaves 1 quart canned tomatoes 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Gladys Prokop, Pender, Nebraska

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix 1 tsp. cinnamon and 1/2 cup sugar inplastic bag. Shake quartered biscuits, 10 or so at a time in cinnamon sugarmixture. Place in 2 – 9” X 13” inch pan, leaving room between biscuits forthem to rise as they bake. Melt butter, mix in ice cream, brown and whitesugar. Pour 1/2 mixture over 1 pan of biscuits and the other 1/2 over thesecond pan. Bake for 15 minutes. Let cool 5 to 10 minutes and flip onto acookie sheet. They are gooey and wonderful and make a lot!

Chocolate Pretzels 48 to 50 pretzel rings 1 package (8 oz.) milk chocolate kisses 1/4 cup M&Ms

Stacey Mattox, Broken Bow, Nebraska

Place the pretzels on greased baking sheets; place a chocolate kiss in thecenter of each ring. Bake at 275 degrees for 2-3 minutes or until chocolateis softened. Remove from the oven. Place an M&M on each pressing downslightly so chocolate fills the ring. Refrigerate for 5-10 minutes or untilchocolate is firm. Store at room temperature.

Wash beans: add 6 cups water and boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat andlet stand 1 hour. Simmer beans without draining until tender, about 2hours. Add more water is necessary to cover beans, in meantime, simmerham in water. Skim fat from broth and add to tender beans. Stir inremaining ingredients and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 20minutes. Makes 10 servings. Pep up with grated horseradish.


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january 2017 - nrppd.combig pharma execs stand to lose billions as doctors and their patients...

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