Surge Protection 101
A power surge is an unexpected increase in voltage, and it can occur from a variety of sources. Regardless of the cause, power surges...
Coon Hunt
My dad had 17 coon hounds and a war surplus Willys Jeep (circa 1940s). It had a canvas top, a windshield, and no doors....
Johannesburg Family: Seeding Success Through Tradition
Ben and Alison Sklarczyk’s five-year-old daughter Morgan has a dream to be Johannesburg, Michigan’s first farmer-police officer.
She and her little brother, Dane, are the...
The Thrill Of The Chill
By Yvette Pecha
It’s February in Michigan, and the deep freeze is here. Some people will complain, some will seek respite in warmer regions, and...
Farmyard Memories: The Chickens That Followed My Father
By Stanley Hagemeyer, a Great Lakes Energy cooperative member
When I was growing up, our family lived on a farm with four cows, about 20...
Youth Tour: A Living Example of Cooperative Values
October is National Cooperative Month, a time when we take the opportunity to reflect on the unique role cooperatives play in our communities. A...
A Glimpse Through The Thousand-Yard Stare
Darren Bettinger, Midwest Energy & Communications
Growing up on the lake, I always looked forward to visits from my grandfather. He lived out of the...
Grandma’s Quilt
My paternal grandmother was a talented woman whose greatest pride was taking care of her family. Her recipes remain family favorites, and the quilts...
Get In, Get Out, Get to Work
Tornados in Michigan are unexpected and rare—but they can, and will, happen. Proof is the EF-3 class tornado that tore through Gaylord, Michigan, in...
A Cub, A Dream, A Legacy: The Story of Dean Oswald’s Bear Ranch
By Allie Brawley | Photos by Abby MoranThis article was originally published in Cloverland Connections, September/October 2025.
When Dean Oswald was 6 years old, he and his...
















