A rural Hay Springs woman is taking her passion forphotography a step further, offering her talents to others.Shandan Platt and her boyfriend, Chad Swim, moved tothe area from Springview, Neb. in July 2019. They havenow lived in their Hay Springs country home a year thismonth.

Shandan had previously helped Chad with his busi-ness until their youngest was born. “We were doing fuelreduction management (clearing over populated treesand brush for better pasture ground and better landaccess). Chad’s business wasn’t reaching its full potentialback in Springview, so we moved out here. Things havebeen going great for us since the move,” explained Platt.

Platt grew up in Ainsworth where she graduated fromHigh School in 2014 and then attended Wayne StateCollege for three years where she competed on the trackteam for the first year. She and Chad met in Meadvillewhen she was working at the bar.

“I have always had a passion for photography andwould do some photography on the side for my own per-sonal liking. But never started my business till after I hadmy newborn, Kinzley Sue, and became a stay at homemom,” said Platt.

She took photography classes in high school and col-lege and is now mentoring under Roxane Gatewood. Sheis open to all types of photography including weddings,engagement, newborn, seniors, family... you name it! Ifshe had to pick her favorite subjects, it would probably

Shandan Platt, owner of Shandan Platt Photography ofrural Hay Springs, is now ready to share her talent to captureyou and your family.

have to be kids and high school seniors.She does have a studio in her home but is willing to

travel anywhere. “I travel free to Hay Springs and Chadron.Anything further than Chadron or Hay Springs I charge .50cents per mile,” said Platt.

What does she like about photography?? “EVERY-THING!!! I absolutely love being behind my camera. Iwould have to say my favorite thing about it is the positivereactions from the client once they receive their work,” saidPlatt.

Appointments can typically be made within a week toa month. “I always tell my clients a week with my turn(Continued on Page 2)

Hay Springs, NE 69347

Public Power District

Hay Springs Woman Expands Passion for PhotographyOctober 2020

One of Shandan’s many pictures of herdaughter Kinzley Sue.

NORTHWEST RURAL NEWS

2-A Northwest Rural P.P.D. Your Touchstone Energy Partner October 2020

(Continued from Page 1)around time but my sneak peaks are turned around tothe clients next day,” said Platt.

After a photo shoot, Shandan Platt Photography,selects the best images to edit and put her finishingtouches on them. “I then release the album online tothe clients with a download code so they can downloadthe best quality photos from their own home. That givesthe client the choice of where they want their photosprinted,” she noted.” I am willing to do professionalprints if theclient is wanting to go that route. Just seemslike many people like the digital option.”

Platt keeps busy with their three children, CadenceJaDe,11, lives with her mother in Henderson, Neb.where she is a Fifth Grader.; Maliyha Saryah, 4, whojust started Hay Springs Pre-School. Their youngest,Kinzley Sue is eight months. In addition to photography,she enjoys drawing when she is not changing diapersand chasing her kids around!

To see more of Shandan Platt Photography por-traits visit her website of the same name. She can alsobe contacted at 402-322-3289 or 308-225-4180 or byemail at shandanplatt@gmail.com. Her website iswww.shandanplattphotography.mypixieset.com

Her studio is located in their country home located10.5 miles north on Beaver Valley Road.

Shantan Platt Photoraphy-

Two area seniors, above Ella O’Brien andJaiden Anderson below.

A special memory caught of a little man taking some ofhis first steps with his parents Carsten Ganser and

Cheyenne Shurter.

One ofShandan’spersonalfavoriteshots ofherdaughterher four-year-olddaughterMaliyha.

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Northwest Rural Public Power

October 2020 Northwest Rural P.P.D. Your Touchstone Energy Partner 3-A

NORTHWEST RURAL NEWS

Quality Custom Made Hats & AccessoriesGARY & JOAN WAUGH

G: 308-532-1700 or J: 308-534-4907

Gordon, Nebraska

“Satisfaction Guaranteed”

Dehydrating VegetablesWell, it has certainly been an interesting year. I think it all

started with a toilet paper shortage. Then all of a sudden we sawother empty shelves and we started to realize that going to thegrocery store didn’t really mean that we could pick up all theitems that we needed to create our culinary delight. I flew rightthrough those problemsclaiming that I had skillstaught to me by my grand-mother. I knew how to gar-den, bake my own breadsand desserts, and to putaway enough food for thewinter. “I had skills – Noproblem”

Okay, I did encountersome seed shortages (HMMM – Did they know we were going totry to survive on our skills last fall when seeds were harvest-ed????) But we ‘hardy types’ just kept on moving. Of course,many of us encountered drought, hail storms, and grasshoppersjust to keep things interesting. Now it is fall and time to harvestwhat we have left. My grandmother and mother taught me howto preserve the garden by canning everything. Nothing is moresatisfying than seeing your shelves lined with jarred beans, beets,tomatoes, pickles of every kind, fruits from the trees and relishesand sauces from the garden. SO NOW WE CAN’T GET JARLIDS for canning…..What the……?

Well, I have tried to overcome that challenge with a new skillthat my grandmother never taught me – DEHYDRATING.Dehydrating is a great way to put away your garden produce. Itwill keep for months as long as you don’t get it wet. It is a pret-ty easy process and you will end up with jars of garden produceready to be used in soups, casseroles, or desserts. You can dehy-drate vegetables, fruits, herbs, tomatoes, cabbage, peppers – justabout anything. When I get finished drying and tucking every-thing away in jars, my intention is to combine them into soupmixes. It is an easy lunch dish as well as makes great gifts forfriends and relatives.SO LET’S GET STARTED

Clean your fruit or vegetable that you intend to dry. Thendice or slice them into ¼ inch pieces. When I did my carrots,beans, and peas, I blanched them before putting them in the dehy-drator although I read many recipes where they said this wasn’tnecessary. Place them on a tray that allows air circulation andplace in the dryer for anywhere from 6 – 12 hours at 125 degrees.When I dehydrated my tomatoes, I used roma or paste tomatoesas they do not contain as much moisture in their original state. Isliced them crossways making small rounds. They came out sopretty and full of flavor.

Along The Garden Path -by Karen Runkle, Master Gardener

I personally have a dehydrator which I purchased severalyears ago but you can also use your oven. It is important toplace the vegetables or fruits on a rack where air can circulate -Maybe a cooling rack versus a cookie sheet. If you don’t haveone of these, take time to turn your vegetables over several timesto help the drying process. No dehydrator or oven – simply airdry them in a warm, dry place. This, of course, will take longerbut it will work.

This year I started this process with my zucchini – I wasdetermined to use all the zucchini instead of letting it becomebig bats to stow away in my neighbor’s car. I found a recipe fordehydrated zucchini chips – A healthy alternative to potatochips. They are delicious. I was planning to have jars and jarsof these to have through the winter. That didn’t happen. We atethem as fast as they came out of the dryer. I think they wouldmake a great addition to the soup mixtures if I can ever saveenough of them. Zucchini Chips• 10 cups of thinly sliced zucchini (the thinner the better)• 2 Tablespoon Olive Oil• ½ teaspoon sea salt• 1 teaspoon garlic powder• 1 teaspoon onion powder• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning• ½ medium lemon, juiced•¼ teaspoon black pepper• 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Toss Zucchini slices with seasonings and place on dryerrack. Heat 125 degrees about 10-12 hours. They come out socrisp and delicious.

For more dehydrating information go to www.littleladybug-gardens.com and check out the blog for further recipes.

Page 4-A Northwest Rural P.P.D. Your Touchstone Energy Partner October 2020

NRPPD ENERGY SAVINGS

Young’s Repair, Inc.Major to Minor Mechanical Work

Tractors, Truck & Car Repair• Vehicle & Farm Tires • Batteries

• Oil • Grease • BoltsSERVICE CALLS • HAULING

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youngsrepairinc@gpcom.net

Frigid temperatures and winter snow piles arrive hand-in-hand every year with the reality of increased energy bills andheightened home safety concerns. Getting your home ready forwinter is a crucial task to control home heating costs and miti-gate any potential hazards. Increase the energy efficiency ofyour home this season and protect your family from danger withthis checklist for winterizing your home.How to Winterize Your Home on the Inside1. Insulate Your Windows

Windows are a natural place for heat to escape your house,but insulating them is one of the easiest ways to keep the warmair from leaking out. Virtually every hardware store sells plasticindoor window insulator kits that are inexpensive and easy toinstall.2. Check for Air Leaks

Among the most effective strategies for winterizing yourhome and guarding it from frigid temperatures is to prevent coldair from getting in. Walk around indoors and outdoors lookingfor cracks or holes near any window or door. Check weatherstripping by closing a dollar between a window or door and itsframe. If you can easily pull the dollar out, it’s time to replacethe seal. Self-adhesive weather stripping is available at hardwarestores and is easy to apply.3. Rotate Ceiling Fans Clockwise

Hot air rises, which means you can waste a lot of moneyheating the air above your family's heads. Reverse your ceiling

fans so that they rotate clockwise, pushing hot air down to theliving spaces to increase your comfort and help you keep thethermostat cranked down an extra degree or two.4. Seal Off Unused Rooms

Some folks feel it helps to close off a room nobody usesinstead of paying to heat it. Install insulation around the win-dows and the inside of the door and add a draft guard to thebottom of the door to make sure the cold air inside doesn'tseep into the rest of the house. Keep in mind that closing cen-tral heating vents in these rooms will actually make your cen-tral heater less energy-efficient, so stick to room heaters whenusing this method.5. Unplug Unused Electronics

Electronics and appliances can have a large impact onyour home's monthly electric bill. To cut these expenses, itmay help to unplug non-essential appliances like computers,televisions, entertainment systems, and microwaves when notin use. This will eliminate the costs associated with standbypower and protect your electronics from power surges. Inareas with lots of electronics, like your entertainment centerand and computer desk, surge protection power strips can pro-tect your devices while making it easy to shut all of them offwith a single switch.6. Insulate Your Basement

Your basement can really eat up a lot of energy, simplybecause heat naturally wants to rise and escape. For this rea-son alone, it's vital that the walls and windows are properlyinsulated,(Continued on Page 5)

Tips for Winterizing Your Home: Checklist for Safety/Efficiency

September 2020 Northwest Rural P.P.D. Your Touchstone Energy Partner 5-A

NRPPD ENERGY SAVINGS

(Continued from Page 4)even in unfinished basements. Rolls of fiberglass insulation are

the most efficient solution.7. Change the Furnace Filter

A new filter is one of the easiest ways to ensure your heatingsystem works efficiently. Replacing the filter on schedule not onlyoptimizes the performance of your furnace, it can also extend thelifespan of the system. 8. Winterize Your Furnace

Having a professional examine your furnace is essential towinterizing your home and the best way to ensure it's ready for thewinter ahead. Schedule an appointment with a licensed HVACtechnician ahead of time to avoid the winter rush.9. Keep Your Thermostat Turned Down

To save money on your monthly bills, set your thermostat to68° F when your family is home and try a lower setting wheneveryone is away or sleeping. Bundle up with blankets and winterclothing to stay comfortable without using your heater. If you planto take a winter trip, it's best to set your home's thermostat at 50°F, according to Popular Mechanics. This will keep your housewarm enough to prevent frozen pipes while minimizing the ener-gy expenditure.10. Invest in a Smart Thermostat

One of the best ways to save money on your winter heating

costs without reducing your comfort levels is to purchase asmart thermostat. These devices are programmable to maintainyour preferred temperature levels while you are home, whilereducing the heat while you are away. They can also be con-trolled from anywhere with a smartphone or tablet, and somesmart thermostats can even track your behavior and automati-cally make tweaks to provide you maximum efficiency.11. Clean Your Chimney

A yearly sweep of your chimney can increase your fuelefficiency by allowing proper venting and protecting yourhome from serious danger. If you neglect to clean the chim-ney, creosote will accumulate and create a fire risk, while birdnests or other debris could also cause an unexpected hazard. Inaddition to fire, blockages in the flue could lead to smoke orother gases backing up into your house, affecting air qualityand potentially risking health and life.12. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

One of the most critical steps you can take to protect thesafety of your family is to test your smoke and carbon monox-ide detectors regularly. This is an important task year-round,but becomes especially crucial in the winter when you are run-ning your furnace and have increased risk of fire or fumeleaks. Checking the detectors just takes a few seconds, and itcould save your life.

Winterizing Tips--

6-A Northwest Rural P.P.D. Your Touchstone Energy Partner October 2020

Northwest Rural Territory Activities

JAMIE ROESJERRY PIERCE

920 E. Third - ChadronToll Free: 1-888-363-3636 • 432-3636

www.tommyscarlot.comtommyscarlot@hotmail.com

Tractor & Farm Equipment RepairSpecializing in John Deere

Roller Chain • Baler Belting - Guards & Sickle SectionsNathan Davis, Owner

212 N. Scott • Hay Springs • (308) 430-2615

D A V I SR e p a i r

Hemingford • Hay Springs • Gordon308-487-3317 - www.farmcoop.com

• Feed• Grain• Fertilizer• Chemical& AnimalHealth Care

Gordon-Rushville MustangsThurs., Oct. 1 VB WTC at Kimball, 1 p.m.

CC at Bayard, 2:30 p.m.VB (MS) vs. Valentine, 4 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 2 FB vs. Bridgeport, 6 p.m.Sat., Oct. 3 VB (V) at Lead-Deadwood Invite, 8:30 a.m.

VB (MS) at Hemingford, 9 a.m.FB (MS) at Bennett Co., 9:30 a.m.

Mon., Oct. 5-6 Girls Golf DistrictsMon., Oct. 5 FB (JV) at Pine Ridge, 6 p.m.Tues., Oct. 6 GRHS Parent-Teacher Conferences, 4 p.m.

VB (MS) at Hay Springs, 5 p.m.Wed., Oct. 7 RES-GES No School

GRMS-GRHS Noon DismissalThurs., Oct. 8 FB (MS) at Valentine, 4 p.m.

VB (C-JV-V) vs. Valentine, 5 p.m.Fri., Oct. 9 CC WTC at Bridgeport, 11 a.m.

FB at North Platte St. Patrick’s, 2 p.m.Sat., Oct. 10 VB (9th-C) G-R Invite, 9 a.m.

VB (MS) at Bennett County, 9:30 p.m.Oct. 12-13 Girls State GolfMon., Oct. 12 FB (JV) vs. Valentine, 4:30 p.m.Thurs., Oct. 15 CC DistrictsFri., Oct. 16 End of 1st Quarter, Noon Dismissal

FB at Valentine, 6 p.m.Sat., Oct. 17 FB (MS) vs. Chadron, 9 a.m.

VB (V) at Valentine Invite, 9:30 a.m.Mon., Oct. 19 VB (C-JV) vs. Hemingford, 5 p.m.Tues., Oct. 20 VB (JV-V) at Morrill, 4:30 p.m.

Wed., Oct. 21 GRMS - No SchoolRES-GES Noon Dismissal

Thurs., Oct. 22 VB (C-JV) at Hay Springs, 5 p.m.Fri., Oct. 23 State Cross Country

FN vs. Chase County, 6 p.m.Mon., Oct. 26 VB Sub-Districts

No School - Fall BreakTues., Oct. 27 VB Sub-DistrictsSat., Oct. 31 VB District Finals

Bowling Squad at Alliance, 10 a.m.Nov. 5-7 State VolleyballThurs., Nov. 5 WR (MS) G-R Invite, 1 p.m.

CrawfordRamsTThurs., Oct. 1 VB (JV-V) vs. Hay Springs, 4 p.m.

FB vs. Hay Springs, 7 p.m.Fri.,Oct. 2 No School - Staff In-ServiceSat., Oct. 3 VB (JH) at Hemingford Tourney, 9 a.m.

VB (V) at Morrill Invite, 9 a.m.Mon., Oct 5 VB (JH) vs. Hemingford, 4 p.m.

FB (JH) vs. Hemingford, 5 p.m.VB (JV-V) at Hemingford, 6 p.m.

Thurs., Oct. 8 CC at Sidney, 3 p.m.Fri., Oct. 9 FB (JH) at Sioux County, 11 a.m.

FB (JH) at Sioux County, 11 a.m.FB (V) at Sioux County, 2 p.m.VB (JV-V) at Sioux County, 4:30 p.m.

Thurs., Oct. 15 CC Districts, tbaFri., Oct. 16 End of First Quarter

FB (JH) at Cody-Kilgore, 11 a.m.VB (JH) at Cody-Kilgore, 11 a.m.

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FB (V) at Cody-Kilgore, 1 p.m.VB (JV-V) at Cody-Kilgore, 3:30 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 17 VB (V) PanCo at CrawfordTues., Oct. 20 Parent-Teacher Conf., 4-8 p.m.Thurs., Oct. 22 Parent-Teacher Conf., 4-8 p.m.Fri., Oct. 23 No School

CC at Kearney, tbaVB (JV-V) vs. Minatare, 4 p.m.FB (V) vs. Minatare, 7 p.m.

Mon., Oct. 26 VB (V) Sub-Districts, tbaFri., Oct. 30 FB First Round 6-Man Playoffs, tbaSat., Oct. 31 VB (V) Districts

WR (JH) at Banner County, 9 a.m.Nov. 5-7 State VolleyballThurs., Nov. 5 Health Screenings Pre-K-12th GradeFri., Nov. 6 Early Out, Staff In-Service

HemingfordRamsThurs., Oct. 1 VB WTC Tourney at Kimball, 1 p.m.

CC (JH-HS) at Chimney Rock, 2:30 p.m.Fri., Oct. 2 FB (V) vs. Perkins Co., 6 p.m.Sat., Oct. 3 VB (JH) at Hemingford Invite, 9 a.m.Mon., Oct. 5 VB (JH) at Crawford, 4 p.m.

FB (JH) at Crawford, 5 p.m.FB (JV) vs. Garden County, 5 p.m.VB (JV-V) vs. Crawford, 7 p.m.

Thurs., Oct. 8 FFA Meeting, 6 p.m.Fri., Oct. 9 CC WTC at Courthouse Rock Golf Club, 2 p.m.

FB (V) at Bayard, 7 p.m.Sat., Oct. 10 VB (JV) at Gordon Invite, 8 a.m.

Tues., Oct. 13 VB (JV-V) at Bayard, 6 p.m.

NRPPD AREA SCHOOL ACTIVITIESOct. 15-16 Fall BreakThurs., Oct. 15 CC Districts, tba

VB (JH) vs. Bayard, 4 p.m.Fri., Oct. 16 FB (V) vs. Kimball, 7 p.m.Sat., Oct. 17 VB PanCo at Crawford, 9 a.m.Mon., Oct. 19 VB (JV) at Gordon-Rush, 5 p.m.Sat., Oct. 20 VB (JV-V) at Hay Springs, 6 p.m.Thurs., Oct. 22 FB First Round PlayoffsFri., Oct. 23 CC StateMon., Oct. 26 VB Sub-DistrictsFri., Oct. 30 FB Second Round PlayoffsSat., Oct. 31 WR (JH) at Banner Co. Invite 9 a.m.

VB DistrictsMon., Nov. 1 HPS Health Screening 1st-6th GradesNov. 5-7 State VBThurs., Nov. 5 WR (JH) at Gordon-Rush Invite, 1 p.m.Fri., Nov. 6 FB Quarterfinals

ChadronCardinalsThurs., Oct. 1 FB (7th-8th) at Hot Springs, 4:30 p.m.Fri., Oct. 2 VB (V) at Scottsbluff Tourney, tba

FB (V) at Sidney, 7 p.m.Sat., Oct. 3 VB (V) at Scottsbluff Tourney, tba

CC at Sidney Deer Run Park, 9 a.m.SB at Chase Country Tri, 12 p.m.

Oct. 5-6 Girls Golf Districts, tbaGirls Softball Districts

Mon., Oct. 5 VB (8th) vs. Alliance, 4 p.m.FB (JV) vs. Alliance, 5:30 p.m.VB (7th) at Alliance, 4 p.m.

Tues., Oct. 6 VB (C-JV-V) vs. Rapid City Christian, 5,6,7 p.m.

8-A Northwest Rural P.P.D. Your Touchstone Energy Partner October 2020

NRPPD AREA SCHOOL ACTIVITIESFB (7th) at Alliance, 5 p.m.FB (8th) vs. Alliance, 5 p.m.

Thurs., Oct. 8 CC vs. Sidney at Deer Run Park, 3 p.m.VB (7th) vs. Gering, 4 p.m.VB (8th) at Gering, 4 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 9 FB (V) vs. Alliance, 7 p.m.Sat., Oct. 10 VB (V) WTC at Gering, 9 a.m.

VB (C) at Gordon-Rushville, 10 a.m.Oct. 12-16 Girls State Golf, tbaTues., Oct. 13 VB (C-JV-V) vs. Sidney, 4, 5, 6 p.m.Wed., Oct. 14 Picture Retake DayThurs., Oct. 15 CC Districts, tbaFri., Oct. 16 FB (V) vs. Gothenburg, 6 p.m.Sat., Oct. 17 FB (8th) vs. Gordon-Rush at R., 9 a.m.

VB (JV) at Alliance Tourney, 10 a.m.FB (7th) at Gordon-Rush at R., 10:30 a.m.VB (V) at Valentine Tourney, 10:30 a.m. CT

Tues., Oct. 20 Band Concert Grades 6-12, 7 p.m.Thurs., Oct. 22 VB (C-JV-V) at Alliance, 5, 6, 7 p.m.

FB (9th) vs. Gering, 5:30 p.m.Fri., Oct. 23 State CC at Kearney

FB (V) at Ogallala, 6 p.m.Sat., Oct. 24 VB (V) at Alliance Tourney, 9 a.m.Oct. 26-27 VB Sub-DistrictsThurs., Oct. 29 Choir Concert (MS-HS), 7 p.m.Sat., Oct. 31 VB District Finals, tbaNov. 5-7 State Volleyball

Hay SpringsHawksThurs., Oct. 1 CC at Bayard, 2:30 p.m.

VB (V) at Crawford, 4 p.m.

FB (V) at Crawford, 7 p.m.Fri., Oct. 2 VB (JH) vs. Cody-Kilgore, 1 p.m.

FB (JH) vs. Cody-Kilgore, 3 p.m.Sat., Oct. 3 VB (JH) at Hemingford Tourney, 9 a.m.Oct. 5-9 Homecoming WeekTues., Oct. 6 VB (JH) vs. Gordon-Rushville, 5 p.m.Thurs., Oct. 8 CC at Sidney, 3 p.m.Fri., Oct. VB (V) vs. Potter-Dix, 4 p.m.

FB (V) vs. Potter-Dix, 7 p.m.Mon., Oct. 12 VB (JH) at Hemingford, 4 p.m.Tues., Oct. 13 VB (V) HS Tri (Hyannis/Morrill), 4 p.m.Thurs., Oct. 15 CC Districts

End of First QuarterFri., Oct. 16 FB (JH) at Sioux County, 11 a.m.

VB (JH) at Sioux County, 11 a.m.FB (V) at Sioux County, 2 p.m.VB (V) at Sioux County, 4:30 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 17 VB (V) PanCo at Crawford, 9 a.m.Tues., Oct. 20 VB (V) vs. Hemingford, 5 p.m.Fri., Oct. 23 FB (V) vs. Cody-Kilgore, 7 p.m.Sat., Oct. 31 WR (JH) at Banner County Invite, 9 a.m.Thurs., Nov. 5 WR (JH) at Gordon-Rush Invite, 1 p.m.Sat., Nov. 7 WR (JH) at Scottsbluff Invite, 9 a.m.

GBB (JH) at Sioux County, 10 a.m.

Farmhouse Coffee

133 S. Main • Rushville, NE 69360(308) 327-2401

Grain BinsHarvesting Safely

As rewarding as it may be,farming is an extremely diffi-cult job -- and ranks among thetop 10 most dangerous profes-sions in the United States. At Northwest Rural, safety isa top priority for all -- our employees and our con-sumers.

Our farmers work hard to get the job done, andsometimes it’s easy to forget all the necessary steps totake when practicing safe operations. Grain bins aresiloed spaces built for storing grain and ferment feedknown as silage. These bins play an integral role in effi-ciency and profitability of farm and ranch operations,and safety regulations should always be considered whenworking around these structures.

October 2020 Northwest Rural P.P.D. Your Touchstone Energy Partner Page 9-A

NRPPD ENTERTAINMENT

CORNER

Recipe

Poor Man’s Stroganoff• 1 (12 ounce) package egg noodles• 1 pound ground beef• 1 teaspoon Greek seasoning (such as Cavender's®)• 1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil• 1 (16 ounce) package sliced fresh mushrooms• 1 pint sour cream

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook eggnoodles in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until cookedthrough but firm to the bite, about 5 minutes; drain.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stirbeef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 min-utes; drain and discard grease. Season beef with Greek sea-soning, salt, and pepper.

Heat vegetable oil in a separate skillet over medium heat.Cook and stir mushrooms in hot oil until tender, about 5 min-utes; add to ground beef.Stir sour cream into ground beef mixture; cook and stir untilhot, about 5 minutes. Serve over egg noodles.

* * * * *Pumpkin Brownies• ¾ cup all-purpose flour• ½ teaspoon baking powder• ½ teaspoon salt• ¾ cup butter, melted• 1 ½ cups white sugar• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract• 3 large eggs eggs• ¼ cup cocoa powder• ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips• ½ cup pumpkin puree• ½ cup chopped walnuts• ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon• ½ teaspoon ground cloves• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8x8 inch bak-ing pan. Stir the flour, baking powder, and salt together in abowl.

In another bowl, stir together the melted butter, sugar,and vanilla extract; beat in the eggs one at a time with aspoon. Gradually add the flour mixture, and stir the batter untilit's evenly moistened. Divide the batter in half in two separate

bowls.Into one bowl of batter, blend the cocoa powder and choco-

late chips. In the second bowl of batter, stir in the pumpkinpuree, walnuts, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.

Spread 1/2 of the chocolate batter into the bottom of theprepared baking pan, and follow with 1/2 of the pumpkin batter.Repeat the layers, ending with a pumpkin layer, and drag akitchen knife or small spatula gently through the layers in aswirling motion, to create a marbled appearance.

Bake in the preheated oven until the brownies begin to pullaway from the sides of the pan, and a toothpick inserted into thecenter comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in the pan, cutinto squares, and serve.

* * * * *Pumpkin Pancakes• 2 cups all-purpose flour• 2 tablespoons brown sugar• 1 tablespoon white sugar• 2 teaspoons baking powder• 1 teaspoon baking soda• ½ teaspoon salt• 1 cup pumpkin puree• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon• ½ teaspoon ground ginger• ½ teaspoon ground allspice• 1 egg• 1 ½ cups milk• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil• 2 tablespoons lemon juice• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

Combine flour, brown sugar, white sugar, baking powder,baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl, and whisk togeth-er for two minutes to aerate.

In a separate bowl, combine pumpkin puree, cinnamon, gin-ger, allspice, egg, milk, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, lemonjuice, and lemon zest. Mix in the flour mixture, and stir just untilmoistened. (Do not overmix.)

Coat skillet with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil over mediumheat.

Pour batter into skillet 1/4 cup at a time, and cook the pan-cakes until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side.

Before Selling or BuyingFarm, Ranch or Land, Call:

Phillip RosfeldBroker

10-A Northwest Rural P.P.D. Your Touchstone Energy Partner September2020

If the lights go out momentarily, your auto-restart equip-ment will restart the well and this could be you!

Northwest Rural recommends that all discon-nects on your irrigation system be shut off during the off-season. Temperature shutdown safeguards may protectyou “providing they work”.

Shutting your system off is the only truly depend-able safeguard. This will prevent systems equipped withauto-restart switches from inadvertently starting should abump or surge occur on the main power line. Besidespreventing unwanted system startup, this may also pre-vent electrical equipment damage.

‘Don’t Let This Happen to You’

Hay Springs Lumber& Hardware Company130 N. Main • 308-638-4404

Complete Builders Supply,Sentry HardwareFree Estimates

WRECK-A-MENDEDBODY WORKS

Free Estimates • Custom Painting(308) 282-2005

Steve & Valli Petersen701 South Main • Gordon

NRPPD ENERGY SAVINGS

Rasmussen Grain ServicesRoger Rasmussen - Toby Rasmussen

Owners & Operators

MOBILE GRAIN CLEANING& TREATING

(308) 430-1926 or (308) 207-5423Hay Springs

D&SAuto Center

Car Sales & Dreams CarportsDennis & Sharon Persons

308-638-7453W. Hwy. 20 • Hay Springs, NE 69347

September 2020 Northwest Rural P.P.D. Your Touchstone Energy Partner Page 11-A

NRPPD ENERGY NEWS

Central Office218 S. GibsonHay Springs

1-800-752-9584(308) 638-4432

www.westplainsco.com L.L.C.

231 N. Main

638-4416

Hay Springs

Member FDIC

CULTIVATINGRELATIONSHIPS

Homegrown is always better.Homegrown banking meanslocal decision making and abetter understanding of whatcustomers need and expectfrom their banks.

Let’s grow together.

CHECKING • SAVINGS • PERSONAL & BUSINESS LOANSCERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT • MORTGAGES • INSURANCE

BEGUIN PROPANEPropane Delivery

Tank Rentals & SalesAsk About Our

“KEEP FULL PROGRAM”

Robbie Beguin, Owner (308) 360-3579Hwy. 20 & 280th Lane - Gordon

beguinpropane @gpcom.net

EVEN THREE IS A CROWD.NEVER OVERLOAD OUTLETS.Helping members use electricity safety, that’sthe power of your co-op membership. Learnmore from the experts themselves atTogetherWeSave.com

12-A Northwest Rural P.P.D. Your Touchstone Energy Partner

OFFICERS• President: Bruce Troester, Marsland• Vice President: Christopher Garrett,

Chadron• Secretary: Lee Ahrens, Chadron• Treasurer: Marcus Sandberg,

Hay Springs• Terry Terrell, Hay Springs• Lucas Bear, Gordon• Tri-State Director: Gary Fuchser, Gordon

Manager: CHANCE BRISCOE Office Manager: Tony Hindman

Office (308) 638-4445

Consumer/MarketingDirector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Les TlustosPublisher/EditorAdvertising Rep. . . . . . . . .Cindy Peters

Hip-Hop (308) 638-7132or E-mail hiphop@gpcom.net

___________

Office Hours:7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.Monday- Thursday

Service CallsAfter Hours:

Please call 800-847-0492 ifyour call is long dis-tance or 638-4445for the local HaySprings area at alltimes.

We have ananswering servicethat answers thesenumbers on a 24-hour basis - afterhours, Saturday,Sundays and holi-days. Please statelegal description,account number ormeter numberwhere the outage isand your phonenumber when youcall.

Public Power District5613 Hwy. 87 • P.O. Box 249

Hay Springs, NE 69347web page: http://www.nrppd.com

Bits ‘n Pieces...

Call or E-mail for more informationKaren Runkle at

308-763-1843

Fresh from the Earth!E-mail:

lilladybug7@hotmail.comor visit

LittleLadybugGardens.com

Lil LadybugGreenhouse & Garden

NRPPD ENTERTAINMENT

Happy HarvestCheck on the Web

www.littleladybuggardens.comFOR UPCOMING EVENTS

or Facebook Lil’Ladybug Gardens

You Might Be a Farmer...• If your dog spends more time each week riding in your

truck than your wife does• If you’ve ever had to wash off your boots in the back

yard with a garden hose, or strip down to your skivvies onthe carport before your wife would let you in the housebecause of mud, manure or both

• If the 5-gallon buckets hydraulic oil comes in are almostas valuable a tool as the oil for feeding livestock or forportable parts or tool storage, and you’ve never-everthrown one away that was not busted

• If you’ve ever used baling twine or wire to attach alicense plate, patch a fence, or to tie square-baled hay tothe roof of your wife’s car

• If you can remember the fertilizer rate, seed population,herbicide rate, and yields from farms you have rentedthe past three years, but cannot recall your weddinganniversary

• If you’ve driven off the road while rubber-necking yourneighbors crops or cattle

• If you’ve used the same knife to castrate bull calves orpigs to cut up your steak at the dinner table or restau-rant

• If you have ever used duct-tape or a bandanna as a band-age for bleeding hands from barbed wire fence repairs

• If you refer to land using the names of the farmers whoowned them a generation ago

• If the equipment under your barn is 10 times more valu-able than what is parked in your garage

• If buying new clothes and boots means your churchclothes can now be used for work.

• If you have more hats for different occasions and outfitsthan shoes to choose from.

• If you’ve ever had to pull off the highway because stuffstarted flying off your dusty, cluttered dashboard

because the windows were still rolled down• If your family becomes instantly silent when the weather

comes on the news each night• If you can tell the difference between the smell of a skunk

and the smell of a dairy• If you can tell the difference between a bull and a heifer

from a distance• If family picnics are most commonly shared on the tailgate

of a pickup truck during planting or harvest season• If using an elevator relates to grain harvest rather than in

a tall city building• If regular social conversation with your closest friends at

the local diner involves rainfall, equipment repairs, hybrids,or herbicides

• If your tractors and combines have working air condition-ers, but your truck doesn’t

You Might be a Farmer?• If the biggest family vacation you have had in the last five

years were the weeks spent at the Regional Fair with the4-H or FFA steers, heifers, hogs, or horses

If spending time alone with your wife in the eveningmeans she is holding the flashlight while you fix something

• And finally, if you won $1,000,000 from the lottery yourlife would not change that much. You’d keep right on farm-ing, maybe with newer equipment and more land, but you’dkeep farming because that is who you are and what you do

You Might be a Farmer?